Due to a recent DOJ decision, Google’s lucrative relationship with Apple’s iPhone is in jeopardy, and that means the Pixel is even more important than ever to the company’s success. In 2024, it seems like the company will be leaning into AI. It’s got the Pixel 9 Pro with plenty of Gemini AI features, plus the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The company’s also launching a new Pixel Watch 3 as well as the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
This demo of Video Boost shows how it’s supposed to make low-light scenarios much brighter. Except, to my eye, it looks kind of artificial. I lived in Tokyo for seven years, and the muddy contrast between the neon lights and dark alleys... doesn’t really feel like what I just saw. In my opinion.
In introducing Video Boost, Google’s just straight-up showing comparisons to the iPhone footage. Somebody in Cupertino is probably not loving that, but the folks in here are loving the extra spiciness.
Here’s a side-by-side crop of the before / after with the new Best Take feature. Would I use this? I have to admit I would; pretty hard to get the kids to sit still for a photo, and they did make those faces, after all!
There’s a new main 50-megapixel main camera sensor, an upgraded telephoto camera, and autofocus on the selfie camera. You’ll also get access to manual camera settings in the native camera app. You hear that, Apple?
It was announced at I/O. It’s Google Photos’ new generative AI photo editor. We saw a demo showing object removal and fully moving one element in the scene and putting it somewhere else. Oh, and you can mess with the lighting and sky. It looks intense.
This video demonstrating the Best Take feature speaks to the vain among us. The main character of this vid keeps haranguing his friends for being “photo ruiners.” As someone who always blinks in the group photo, I, once again, am feeling attacked during this keynote.
But what was that pot-shot at the lactose intolerant among us?
Best Take is a new Google Photos feature that lets you choose the expressions you want on the faces in your photos when you take a series of photos. Parents are stoked.
We’re getting better quality from the 2x optical crop zoom mode and improvements to low-light video, like faster autofocus. Audio Magic Eraser uses machine learning to identify different sounds and in videos and separate them so you can minimize the ones you don’t want. Also, adorable baby video alert!
If you’ve got a Tensor-equipped Pixel and Pixel Watch, you’ll also be able to screen calls from your watch. Hanging up on robocalls got a lot of claps from the room, and it’s great that we, as humans, can all agree that we want to tell the robocallers to get lost in as many ways as possible.
The feature will come via a feature drop later this year.
Google’s Monika Gupta mentioned how the Pixel phones can now tell what language you’re speaking and switch back and forth between multiple languages. Big if true! I’ve had a lot of trouble when dictating Konglish (a mix of Korean and English) with friends and family. For immigrant kids or multilingual folks, it’ll be such a boon whenever a company truly nails this.
Monika says it runs more ML models and more complex models, which brings AI enhancements to just about every part of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. It’ll read webpages out loud for you with a “more natural” voice and can read them in different languages. Call Screen is getting an upgrade, and the virtual assistant speaks more naturally.
Pixel 8 Pro has one, for some reason. Google is applying to the FDA to let you use it to read body temperature. It’s giving real mid-2020 product map vibes.
We got some lip service toward repairability for the Pixel 8 and Google’s partnership with iFixit. And yet, this wasn’t addressed for the Pixel Watch 2 at all. Google recently confirmed to me that they have zero repair options for the Pixel Watch so this... hm. Hmmm, I say.
The new screens are called “Actua” displays, and the 8 Pro gets a “Super Actua” display that’s the brightest on a Pixel yet. It has 1-120Hz refresh rates and a peak brightness of 2,400 nits, which is hella bright.
The pink iPhone 15 was the belle of the ball in September. Well, the influence of Barbie has hit Google, too, because we got a beeyootiful pink color Pixel 8, too. Hopefully, hopefully, it’ll be a more saturated pink. Never trust the renders!
Not sold on this bay blue for the Pro, though.
The Pixel 8 Pro — not the regular Pixel 8 — gets a new soft-touch back panel. There’s also a bright new “bay” blue that is “energetic and hopeful.” I mean, it’s blue for sure!
They’re the “next evolution of AI in your hand.” They’ve got Tensor G3, an updated silhouette with more rounded corners, and, of course, lots of AI.
They’re the same cost, starting at $349. It’s $50 more for LTE. You get six months of Fitbit Premium. That’s even though we’re downgrading from stainless steel to recycled aluminum. Hm.
The Fitbit app redesign rolled out a couple of weeks ago, but Park is onstage talking about the sleeker, more Material You-inspired design and how personalized AI folds in. Park is talking about generative AI within the app to give extra context as to your recent trends. Park’s using it to demonstrate how AI can tell you why you’re not doing so hot on your 5Ks. (Feels like a personal attack, honestly.) Whoop also announced something similar to this very recently.
This AI program will roll out early next year with priority access to Pixel phone owners.
The Pixel Watch’s new body response features are reminding me of the iPhone’s new mood logging prompts. Not gonna lie, I dismiss those notifications as soon as I get them. But thanks for caring, I guess?
Unlike the single line of LED sensors in the original, the Pixel Watch 2 has a new multipath sensor and an algorithm that is supposedly 40 percent more accurate during vigorous activities. And yup, we’re getting the cEDA sensor from the Sense 2 to get stress tracking and active prompts to help manage your stress in the future.
Safety check is a new proactive timer Google just announced. If you set the timer and don’t turn it off when prompted, your location will be shared with your emergency contacts.
James says we’re getting improved battery life on the Pixel Watch 2, and I am here for it. Faster charging sounds great, too.
Park is leading this announcement talking about how this new watch has the “best of Fitbit health and fitness tracking.” People apparently love the water droplet look, with a “more durable cover glass” and swapping stainless steel for recycled aluminum. We’ve got a glimpse of a new metal slim band and sports bands. Last year’s bands will still work with this year’s watch, too.
Most importantly, 24 hours of use on a single charge with the always-on display and 12-hour charge in 30 minutes.
Dual Screen translator mode is arriving via update. We’re also hearing about improvements to the Google Home app — coming next year.
