Camera NX brings Pixel 2’s portrait mode to older Pixel and Nexus devices

You might not have the budget to get the Pixel 2 but if you own the first-gen Pixel, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X, you can still get access to the new Google devices’ portrait mode. Developer Charles Chow updated his Camera NX app to include the feature. Version 7.3 of the app will let you achieve what the new Pixel devices can do. All you need to do is open the hamburger menu and choose portrait mode and you’re good to go. If you want to read the technical bits of how he pulled this off, you can through this link.

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

Owners of 2016 Pixel phones get to keep free unlimited original-quality photo uploads on Google Photos

We know Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL owners have until January 2021 to be able to upload original quality photos without it counting against your storage. But it seems the original Pixel devices from 2016 won’t be affected by this change. That means owners of the 2016 Pixel and Pixel XL will be able to upload photos and videos in their original state for free for an indefinite amount of time (we can’t say that Google won’t change its mind somewhere down the line).

Source: Android Police

Google starts to integrate video calling to its built-in Phone, Contacts, and Android Messages apps

Here’s something Android users might be feeling envious over iOS users: the ability to start video calls right from Phone and Messages app. Google users, specifically those who have Pixel, Nexus, and Android One users, will soon be able to video call right from Phone, Contacts, and Android Messages apps.

To make this possible, Google is using its Duo video calling service and the ViLTE standard. The latter is an extension of the current VoLTE standard, which focuses on better video call quality over an LTE network. By default, video calls will be routed through ViLTE. That is if your carrier supports that standard. If they don’t, Google will route it through Duo. This means, you’ll need to have Duo installed and activated on your device. You also need to have the latest versions of the aforementioned apps. Later this year, Google also plans to give you the option to upgrade a voice call to a video call.

Source: Android Authority