&w=3840&q=100)
Google releases Android 16 for Pixels: What is new, how-to update, and more
According to Google, Android 16 sets the stage for the broader adoption of its new Material 3 Expressive design language. However, most of the visual changes tied to this new design approach are not yet live in this release.
Android 16 on Pixels: What's new
According to Google's release notes, Android 16 introduces the following features for eligible Pixel devices:
Pixel VIPs widget: A new feature integrated into the Google Contacts app that helps users stay connected with their most important contacts. Pixel VIPs functions like an enhanced favourites hub, offering VIP badges, Do Not Disturb bypass, birthday reminders, shared activities, location sharing, and more.
Live Updates: A new interactive notification banner that provides real-time progress updates from supported apps such as food delivery and ride-hailing services.
Deeper Gemini Live integration: Gemini AI can now draw context from apps like Google Maps, Calendar, Tasks, and Keep to offer more personalised and useful responses during live conversations.
AI stickers: Users can now create custom AI-generated stickers directly within Gboard using text prompts or photos. This feature is currently available in select regions and supports English, Japanese, and German.
AI Mode on Home Screen: A new AI Mode in Google Search is now accessible from the Pixel Home Screen, though it remains limited to certain regions for now.
Enhanced hearing aid support: Android 16 brings improved support for hearing aids, including native controls like volume adjustment and LE Audio compatibility.
Other updates: Android 16 also includes support for HDR screenshots, refined haptics and back animations, improvements to button navigation, and security enhancements through Google's Advanced Protection programme.
Android 16 on Pixels: What is next
Google confirmed that the broader rollout of Material 3 Expressive—the new Android design language—is coming later this year.
Material 3 Expressive builds on Material You and places greater focus on colour, shape, motion, and responsive UI elements. It features spring-like animations, dynamic colour themes, improved typography, and a more personalised user experience.
While the full suite of changes isn't yet live system-wide, early visual updates have already appeared in select Google apps like Messages and Photos. A more comprehensive rollout is expected to follow the launch of the 2025 Pixel line-up.
How to install Android 16 on Pixels
Go to the Settings app on your eligible Pixel device and select the System menu.
Within the System menu, scroll down and select Software updates.
Select the System update option and tap on Check for update at the bottom right of the screen.
If the Android 16 update is available, tap on the Download and Install option and follow the instructions.
Your Pixel may restart automatically to install the update.
Eligible Google Pixel devices for Android 16
Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a
Pixel 8, 8 Pro, 8a
Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a
Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a
Pixel Tablet
Pixel Fold
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
26 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Google Search gets smart product tracking, AI Virtual Try-On: What's new
Google is rolling out a set of new shopping features for Search in the US, which is designed to make the online buying journey more tailored and interactive. The new tools include customisable price tracking, a virtual try-on feature for clothing, and visual inspiration for outfits or interior. According to Google, these tools use AI and Google's Shopping Graph to deliver a better experience for users. Virtual Try-on Features Unveiled at I/O 2025 and tested through Search Labs in May, Google's virtual try-on feature is rolling out in the US. Users can upload a full-body image with 'good lighting' and no one else in the frame to see how clothing looks on them in real time. This AI tool uses a custom image generation model that accurately reflects how fabrics fold, stretch, and fit on diverse body types. Custom price alerts with smarter tracking Google's price alert tool lets users define their own price drop thresholds. A new slider-based setting called 'Only notify me below a specific price' enables alerts to be sent when a product drops to a set amount. Users can also choose to track specific colours or sizes. The Shopping Graph has products and prices from all across the web so it lets the user know when there is an offer that meets their criteria. These updated alerts are now marked with a Gemini sparkle icon, this highlights the use of AI-driven product suggestions. Visual inspiration for outfits or interior Google is also previewing a new feature coming to AI Mode this fall. It will allow users to explore shoppable outfit and room ideas using vision match technology. For example: whether you are looking for style inspiration for a green flowy dress for a garden party or design ideas for a bedroom. By analysing images and queries, it will surface personalised product matches from over 50 billion items in Google's Shopping Graph.
India Today
41 minutes ago
- India Today
Google admits Assistant on Home and Nest devices is broken, promises major fixes later this year
Google has publicly acknowledged the ongoing widespread problems users have been facing with its Assistant feature on Home and Nest devices. The company has admitted that the smart home device experience for many users has deteriorated significantly recently. The tech giant has now promised that it is actively working on long-term solutions, with major improvements expected to arrive later this a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer for Google Home and Nest, directly addressed the reported problem among users and wrote: 'I want to acknowledge the recent feedback about Google Assistant reliability on our home devices. I sincerely apologise for what you're experiencing and feeling.' 'We hear you loud and clear and are committed to getting this right and making sure we have a long-term solution that provides better reliability and capability. We have been actively working on major improvements for some time and will have more to share in the autumn.' Post on X by Anish Kattukaran, Chief Product Officer for Google Home and Nest Kattukaran's statement comes after several users raised complaints on forums like Reddit, about the problem of Google Home and Nest. Many users flagged noticeable decline in performance with the home assistance. According to users, these issues range from misinterpreted commands and inaccurate responses to devices completely ignoring requests. The issue has been frustrating for users, particularly among those who rely on the devices for daily routines, smart home control, and multi-room audio. One Reddit user summed up the experience bluntly: 'Now, I can barely get it to understand any command, or do anything that I could before. Nothing works, and all I get is – 'Sorry, something went wrong, try again later.''For many, the problems with Google Assistant go beyond minor glitches. Users have reported that their Assistant triggers the wrong actions entirely, such as turning off lights when asked to switch off a fan, or playing media in the wrong room. In another case, a parent shared that they can no longer get white noise to play in their child's bedroom—it now defaults to the room the command is issued from, regardless of user described how weather requests from different household members offer bizarre and inaccurate results: 'I ask for the weather, and it responds correctly every time. My wife asks for the weather, and it literally picks wherever it wants. Yesterday it was Eddyville, Kentucky. Today it picked Shawnee, Oklahoma. We don't even live in that state.'Even media playback has become unreliable. Another user recounted how asking Assistant to play 'Classic Vinyl' on SiriusXM instead launched a Spotify track by a band called 'Classic Vinyl,' which turned out to be an AI-generated country group with a politically charged song titled 'AOC.'- Ends
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk gives one word reply to Sundar Pichai's post on Alphabet's quarterly earnings
Google 's parent, Alphabet , reported quarterly results that exceeded expectations recently. The company reported earnings of $28.2 billion, or $2.31 per share, during the second quarter, which is a 19 per cent increase from the same period last year. Revenues increased by 14 per cent to $96.4 billion. Soon after the earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai shared a post on X, saying, "Just got off the earnings call - great quarter and it was our (and my) 40th call as Alphabet. August will mark 10 years since we announced Alphabet. Been thinking about the incredible growth in our new businesses since then - Cloud, YouTube, Play, Subscriptions etc. To give a sense of progress, in 2015 all of Alphabet's revenue added up to $75B. YouTube and Cloud alone ended 2024 at an annual run rate of $110B.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Public Policy Cybersecurity others Operations Management MBA Product Management Degree Project Management Healthcare healthcare Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Management Leadership Digital Marketing Finance Data Science Others CXO Technology Data Science MCA Design Thinking PGDM Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Tesla CEO Elon Musk had a one word reply to Pichai's post, commenting, "Impressive". — elonmusk (@elonmusk) Pichai in return, replied with a folded hand emoji. Live Events Earlier this month, Pichai reached another key milestone by becoming Alphabet's longest-serving CEO. He joined Google in 2004 as the head of product management and development. Over the years, he led the company to focus on several innovative products and services. Pichai became Google CEO in 2015, and then, when Google became a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., he took on the additional role of CEO for the parent company.
