Android owners receive free phone upgrade as Google releases a ‘Christmas present’ with big camera boost
GOOGLE has released a huge upgrade for millions of Android fans including some big improvements for video and photography.
The tech giant described the massive feature drop as a “present” to Pixel owners for Christmas.
Most of the changes come to its latest Pixel 8 Pro, but other Pixel models gain some improvements too.
One of the biggest arrivals is Video Boost which means you “no longer have to worry about shaky or imperfect videos”, the company said.
The clip is uploaded to the cloud where sophisticated tech cleverly adjusts colour, lighting, stabilisation and graininess.
“Once complete, the result is stunning videos that look true to life,” Google explained.
Video Boost also brings Night Sight video so footage shot in darkness has better detail and colour.
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro owners gain the ability to record “detailed” timelapse videos in low light too.
Much of the changes are made possible thanks to a substantial AI boost, after Google announced its major ChatGPT 4 rival, known as Gemini.
The new tech allows your Pixel 8 Pro to summarise conversations you’ve recorded on the Recorder app.
Meanwhile, Smart Reply will suggest “high-quality” responses for your WhatsApp chats, with plans to broaden the feature out to more apps next year.
More Google goodies
Google revealed a number of Android extras for older Pixel handsets too.
Anyone with a Pixel 6 or newer will notice that lighting now looks better in their Portrait mode snaps.
And pesky shots of your quick-moving dog or cat will now look better on the Google Photos app thanks to better sharpening on the Photo Unblur tool.
Even photos of documents get some attention, with a new Clean feature that can help remove smudges, stains and creases, so that things like a receipt with a coffee mark on it will look a lot better – Pixel 5a with 5G and up get to use this one.
Elsewhere, a money-saving feature rumoured earlier this year has finally come true.
Pixel 6 and up can now be used as a webcam on your laptop simply by connecting it to a USB cable.
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