There are many ways to access the Google Assistant on your phone, but Android 12 adds another one for Google Pixel ...| Gadget Hacks
Google dropped new features for its Pixel lineup of phones, and there's something here for everyone. With the launch of Android 12, Google gave its smartphones (Pixel 3 and newer) a handful of exclusive features that Android phones from other manufacturers don't have. Examples include the new app icon grid choices in the Pixel Launcher and custom Material You interface colors. As Google continues to improve its operating system, you can expect Pixel phones to get the first crack at many new f...| Gadget Hacks
The Pixel 5 is a bit of a departure from previous Pixels. Gone are the Pixel 4's Soli-based Motion Sense gestures, the Pixel 3's dual front-facing speakers, and the glass back panel of previous generations. But perhaps the most notable omission for long-time Pixel users is the lack of a squeeze gesture to trigger the Google Assistant. Thankfully, a simple, no-root app can bring this functionality back. It uses data from the phone's various other sensors to detect when you squeeze the sides wi...| Gadget Hacks
The Pixel 5 is the first mainstream phone with perfectly symmetrical slim bezels. Most other "bezel-less" phones have had a disproportionately large bottom bezel, and while the iPhone's side and bottom bezels are symmetrical, there's a huge notch across most of its top bezel. The downside to the Pixel's approach is it has a pretty big display cutout for the front camera. The cutout itself isn't bad, but the way Google has accommodated it in software UI elements is a bit of a problem. The top ...| Gadget Hacks
Google's version of Android is best described as AOSP with extra features. But while the Pixel's UI is rightfully praised for its simplicity, those "extra features" aren't as numerous as they are on other OEM skins like Samsung's One UI. Case in point, there's no real system-wide audio EQ. In the past, getting a true system-wide audio equalizer on your Pixel meant flashing a root mod like Viper Audio, but new Android APIs have allowed apps to do this without superuser access. And while there ...| Gadget Hacks
Android's hidden Developer Options menu, sometimes called "Developer Mode," has a ton of cool settings inside of it. You can enable wireless ADB, spoof your...| Gadget Hacks
There was a period when Google knew they were switching to gesture navigation, but felt users weren't quite ready for it. The result was Android 9's two-button nav bar that you could both tap and swipe. Android 10 has since brought full-on gestures, and that's the version the Pixel 4 shipped with, so it never had that quirky, fun two-button setup. But you can bring it back, so to speak.| Gadget Hacks
Everyone has that one app they use more than any other. What if I told you there was a way to open these apps on newer Google Pixel devices with one quick gesture? I imagine you'd want to know how to do it. Similar to Back Tap for iOS, Quick Tap for Android 12 and newer triggers shortcuts for apps and actions by briskly tapping the back of your device twice. It's only available for Pixel 4a (5G) and newer devices, and some shortcuts require you to unlock your Pixel before you can use them. If...| Gadget Hacks
If you own a Google Pixel 4a or newer, there are new live wallpapers for you to explore that other Android devices can't have. Since launching its Pixel Feature Drop in December 2019, Google has gifted Pixel owners with new features once every three months. The new Live Bloom wallpaper collection, which features photos of colorful flowers, was released with the Dec. 2022 Pixel Feature Drop. These live wallpapers also feature a 3D effect where the flowers appear to "shift and sway" as you tilt...| Gadget Hacks
The most recent premium flagship smartphones from Google — the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 6 Pro — are equipped with displays cable of 1440 QHD+ resolution. But they also come with a tool to downgrade to 1080p FHD+, which you may want to do in certain situations. QHD+, a higher resolution than standard Quad High Definition, and FHD+, a higher resolution than standard Full Hide Definition, are available on the Pixel 7 Pro out of the box. The Pixel 6 Pro just recently gained the ability to make t...| Gadget Hacks