Google launches AR Stickers for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

If you’ve seen our video demo for the Google Pixel Stranger Things AR Stickers (which you can watch above), you’ll be familiar with this new feature. Now, Google has officially brought AR Stickers to the Play Store, making it available for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users. You can access these under the My Apps section under Updates, when these are installed, it’ll show up in your main Camera app, just swipe from the left edge. The AR Stickers available include three generic packs and Star Wars and Stranger Things. If this is something you’ve been wanting to play around with, now’s the time to do just that.

Source: GSMArena

Final beta version of Android 8.1 unlocks Pixel 2’s hidden imaging chip

While there aren’t that many exciting things released in the final preview build of Android 8.1, it does introduce one interesting feature for Pixel 2 owners: unlocking the Visual Core chip on the new Google devices. This imaging chip has been dormant since the phone was released but it looks like Google is ready to share it with developers. For those who are using the correct API, they can use Google’s HDR+ using the dedicated imaging chip. The processor, which was designed by Google, is meant to speed up photo taking while taking advantage of the clean HDR+ images the camera can produce. And we’re happy that eventually we’ll get more apps who can use this feature. Android 8.1 is expected to be released widely next month.

Source: The Verge

Google Lens shows up on Assistant for Pixel devices

Google Lens, the company’s visual search feature, has been slated to come to Assistant but a definite date wasn’t said when the news was announced. Now, it looks like it’s starting to roll out for both Pixel and Pixel 2 devices. Owners of the original Pixel and XL as well as the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL should be able to launch Lens right from Google’s artificial intelligence helper, taking away the extra step of needing to use Google Photos to have Lens work its magic. Now, the camera button within Assistant will help perform search when you take a photo.

It can do everything from identifying what you’re looking at, look thing sup online, and launch other apps. You can rate the results it finds, which should hopefully help refine its results for the future. The feature isn’t widely available yet so keep your eye out for that. We also don’t know yet if other Android devices will be getting the feature.

Source: Engadget + 9 to 5 Google

YouTube brings zoom-to-fill mode to the Pixel 2 XL

With more smartphones coming out with 18:9 displays, developers have to work around the new display aspect to get the most out of their apps. Google is helping out Pixel 2 XL users with a new YouTube mode just for them. The streaming app now has a zoom-to-fill mode. By default, the video will fit inside the screen but you can do the zoom in gesture to fill the entire display. To revert to the default size, all you need to do is make the zoom out gesture. This feature comes to the Pixel 2 XL via version 12.40 of the YouTube app.

Source: Android Police