June’s Pixel feature is here, and it’s awesome

One of the best parts of owning a Pixel phone is the regular onslaught of updates. Along with major OS updates every year, Google also releases Pixel feature drops every few months to keep things exciting in between. Google just announced its latest Feature Drop for June 2022, and in typical Pixel fashion, there’s a lot to unbox.
Before diving into all the new features, a quick word on availability. This Pixel Feature Drop is rolling out to all Pixel 4 and later devices starting today, June 6. This notably includes the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which received the March 2022 Feature Drop a few weeks late. Additionally, this is the first Feature Drop not is coming to the Pixel 3a.
At a Glance Widget Improvements
Vaccines home screen shortcut
Speaking of your Pixel home screen, June’s feature also adds a new way to find all the vaccination cards you need. Just post your shot on a healthcare provider’s website or app, take a screenshot of the map, and you can save it to your home screen as a little shortcut you can access at any time.
Pocket Operator App
Another thing to watch out for is the new Pocket Operator app. Created in partnership with Swedish electronics company Teenage Engineering, Pocket Operator takes the videos you’ve recorded and turns them into “fun music and videos”. You can then let your creativity run wild with options to add fun visuals, multiple sound layers, and more. It’s weird, pointless, and very Google in all the best ways.
Conversation mode is available for everyone
One of the most fascinating feature updates for June is something called Conversation Mode. It is part of Google’s Sound Amplifier accessibility app and was added as a beta feature last December. The great news now is that it’s widely available for anyone to use.
As the name suggests, Conversation mode is designed to help people more easily hear conversations that would otherwise be difficult for them. Open the sound amplifier appselect Chat mode, and use your Pixel’s camera to find the face of the person you’re talking to. Once the person is identified, your Pixel uses a “deep learning model” to amplify their speech and minimize distracting background noise.
New Pride Wallpapers
And, last but not least, the June Feature Drop comes with a new set of Pride Wallpapers! Google worked with illustrator Yann Bastard to create the wallpapers, and they stand out with bold shapes and vibrant colors. To find the new wallpapers, press and hold anywhere on your Pixel’s home screen, tap wallpaper and style, press the Change wallpaper text in the middle of the screen, then tap Organized culture.
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