Latest Pixel Update Quiets Background Noise, Adds Nest Camera Feed, More

pcmag.com:

Google's latest feature drop promises enhanced practicality across its Pixel smartphone lineup; new features like music tracks, smartphone access for vaccine cards, and Pride Month wallpapers are rolling out now to Pixel 4 through Pixel 6 and 6 Pro devices.

Conversation mode has arrived in the Sound Amplifier app. Designed for and with people with hearing loss, the function uses your phone's camera to focus on and amplify important sounds—like the voice of someone speaking to you—and remove the rest. Google Meet's noise-reduction feature, meanwhile, filters distracting background noises from your microphone, like passing traffic or barking dogs.

Folks in Australia, Canada, and the US who have received at least one COVID-19 jab can now take a screenshot of their digital vaccine card and add a home screen shortcut for easy retrieval. Not everyone can take advantage of this perk, though; access to digital vaccine cards varies by state and healthcare provider. Check for local support(Opens in a new window) via Google's Help page.

The update includes three new At a Glance features for Pixel:

Nest Doorbell video feed: Receive a lock-screen notification when someone rings your Nest Doorbell.

Flashlight reminder: See a reminder and shortcut to power down your digital flashlight if it's been accidentally left on.

Air quality alerts: Air quality alerts for your current location are coming soon to Australia, India, and the US.

Turn everyday noises into a soundtrack for life with Pocket Operator for Pixel. Created in collaboration with Swedish consumer electronics firm Teenage Engineering, the function invites users to turn their own recordings into "fun music and video cut-ups."

Available in the Google Play Store for Pixel 5 and