Google Pixel Feature Drop: The new features of the March update at a glance
from David Wurm 
on March 04, 2020, 17:21 | Write a comment
In this Google Pixel “Feature Drop” March update, the current Google Pixel smartphones are getting some new features. Here some things are more noticeable, others less. In addition, some features from Android 11 have made it into the update. You can read what these are here with us.
Google regularly provides its Google Pixel family with new updates. More precisely, there is a new security update every month. Since December, new functions have been distributed to their smartphones every month in the so-called “feature drops”. Probably the biggest update so far will be available this March. Overall about ten new functions make it into the package. All innovations at a glance.
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Google Pixel “Feature Drop” update from March: This is new
In the following overview you will find all the new functions, along with a note on which device is receiving the update. Some features are just the latest Google Pixel 4 Models reserved.
- Cards & Passes: The menu for switching the Pixel devices on and off has been revised. After a longer press on the power button, you can now find all your cards from Google Pay to wipe through. This means that if you have multiple cards to pay, you no longer have to switch to the app to select the correct card or tickets saved in Google Pay.
[available for Pixel 2, Pixel 3 / 3a and Pixel 4 in certain countries, including Germany - Austria will not receive the update] - Time-controlled dark mode: From now on you can activate the dark mode automatically at sunset and deactivate it again at sunrise. So far, this has only been possible with third-party apps. A manual schedule will only be available in Android 11.
[available for Pixel 2, Pixel 3 / 3a and Pixel 4] - Regulate: In the settings you can now find under “System” a point “Rules”. Here you can, for example, set the location at which the smartphone should automatically switch to mute. You can also define WLAN-based rules there. For some users (including me) the function appeared before the March update, but it is now officially activated.
[available for Pixel 2, Pixel 3 / 3a and Pixel 4] - Emoji 12.1 update: Even more emojis! A total of 169 new emojis are being used on Pixel devices. Including even more different skin colors and more variations between men and women. There are also new combinations of couple emojis.
[available for Pixel 2, Pixel 3 / 3a and Pixel 4] - Live subtitles: For some users, this function was also visible in advance. "Live captions" can be used as subtitles in any app, but initially only in English. The option to activate the subtitles can be found in the volume control menu.
[available for Pixel 2, Pixel 3 / 3a and Pixel 4]
- Add flight tickets to Google Pay using a screenshot: Boarding passes for flights can now be added in Google Pay. Simply take a screenshot of your boarding pass, then the ticket will be available in Google Pay and you will receive notifications about the flight on the respective day.
[available for Pixel 3 / 3a and Pixel 4 in all countries that support Google Pay] - Duo AR effects: There are new AR effects that can be used on Duo video calls. These change with the facial expression - just like the AR emojis from Apple.
[available for Pixel 3 and Pixel 4]
Exclusively for Google Pixel 4 (XL)
In addition, there are a few features exclusive to the Google Pixel 4:
- Motion Sense can now pause songs: With Motion Sense you can now pause songs. This feature can be activated in the settings.
- Accident detection: The Google Pixel 4 can now automatically dial the emergency call after 10 seconds if it detects an accident. For the time being, this function is only available in the USA.
- Better selfies
- Improvements when pressing longer on the home screen
- Auto brightness improvements
Other improvements and bug fixes
In addition to new functions, some improvements in bug fixes have also been tackled. The following table shows the "noticeable" changes:
All bug fixes in the March update. (Screenshot: Google)
The update is currently being rolled out worldwide. The update has already arrived on my pixel. If you have not received this yet, simply search for the update manually in Settings> System> Advanced> System update.
