Google adds feature to Pixel 8 Pro that can measure body temperature
Google has released the first feature drop of the year for its Pixel phones. Among other things, a function has been added to the Pixel 8 Pro that allows users to measure their body temperature. The update also includes some generative AI features.
Measuring body temperature
After the update, the temperature sensor of the Pixel 8 Pro will make it possible to measure users’ body temperature, Google said. To do this, users must scan their forehead via the Thermometer app. The results can then be saved to the Fitbit app. Previously, this sensor could only be used to measure the temperature of objects, as Google did not yet have approval from the health authority to measure body temperature with it.
Magic Compose function
A number of features have also been added that use generative AI. One of these is Magic Compose, which allows users to have a composed message rewritten in different styles. According to Google, this allows users to make messages ‘more concise’ or ‘more professional’, among other things. This feature will be available for the Pixel 6 and newer phones. On the Pixel 8 Pro the function works on-device, while the AI processing on the other smartphones takes place via the cloud.
Circle to Search function
The Pixel 8 series will also have the ‘Circle to Search’ function, which Google announced earlier this month. If users press and hold the home button or navigation bar, they can bring up Google, after which it is possible to circle something on the screen. This could be text or an object. It then becomes part of a search query, which can contain text in addition to the cut-out image. Users can also ask a specific question about the cut image, which is then answered via AI. This function should also be available for the Samsung Galaxy S24.
The update also merges Nearby Share with Samsung’s Quick Share function. As a result, Nearby Share will from now on be known as Quick Share, as previously announced. Audio Switch will be available for the Pixel Watch. This should make it easier to use the Pixel Buds Pro on different connected devices. For example, if users switch from the Pixel Watch to a Pixel phone, the latter will automatically connect to the Pixel Buds. If users switch back, the same applies to the connection to the earphones. Finally, Google is adding the ‘Photomoji’ feature to the Messages app. This should make it possible to automatically convert an object in a photo into an emoji.
The feature drop update should be rolled out between today and the coming weeks, Google said. At the same time as the announcement of the new features, the company announces a new color variant of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro: mint. The mint-colored phone will be available immediately.
Mint Pixel 8 phones