When it launched the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro back in the fall of 2021, Google also introduced a refreshed approach to the Pixel's camera hardware design, which came with a rather distinct look compared to older Pixel models. This has since grown to be one of the signature design aspects of the company's flagship smartphone line.

The upcoming Pixel 8 series will also retain this visual element, and as such Google decided to give users a bit of insight into how the camera bar was designed. Given the upgrades that came with the Pixel 6 series' cameras, Google's design team wanted to move away from the squared-off island that originally dominated the rear panel of older Pixel models. Industrial Designer Sangsoo Park states:

"If you look back at Pixel 5 all the sensors were all grouped into this little square - so when we knew the camera would be greatly improved, we wanted to do something different. We didn't want the phone to be bigger, and wanted to really maintain everything being contained and streamlined, but also celebrated in a way."

Sangsoo also says that the engineering and design teams wanted to try something new with a camera design that was completely different, adding that it was a massive undertaking to rearrange the Pixel's cameras, which now came with a third sensor (on the Pro models). The design team would end up calling the new design "visually clean" (we couldn't really argue with that).

The Pixel's new camera window has since evolved to add newer elements, moving from a completely black visor look to a metal frame that houses the camera lenses and keeps the overall shape of the camera bar. based on what Google has revealed about the Pixel 8 so far, it looks like this year's phones will retain the design seen on the Pixel 7 series.

Assuming there is one thing Apple truly does right with its iPhones and iPads, it would be with programming refreshes. The organization normally upholds its items for far longer than the typical Android handset producer, yet presently it seems as though Google could make up for lost time.

As per a new report from 9to5Google, it appears to be that Google could be hoping to offer its Pixel phones fueled by its Tensor chipsets with as long as five years of programming refreshes. This would be longer than whatever Google right now offers, which is three years, and longer than Samsung, who offers four years of updates.

It would likewise basically put Google comparable to Apple, where Apple's iPhone XS, which was delivered in 2018 with iOS 12, is as yet qualified to get the forthcoming iOS 17 update, which is five years worth of updates. This is extraordinary information for would-be Pixel proprietors who don't anticipate purchasing another phone each two or three years.

In a manner this seems OK. Since Google basically controls Android and with its Tensor chipsets, Google would have a more prominent say in its product concerning similarity and improvement. Thus, in the event that you are considering purchasing another Android phone and assuming that product refreshes are critical to you, perhaps your next phone ought to be a Google Pixel handset.

If there's one thing Google does really well with its Pixel phones, it's with its software processing. The company has proven that it isn't just about hardware and that with great software, you can get images that are of equal, if not better, quality compared to phones with supposedly better cameras.

Now according to a recent survey that Google has sent out to Pixel Superfans, the company is hinting at more AI powered camera features that could debut in its Pixel 8 phones. This includes how video shots with the Pixel 8 could eliminate unnecessary background noise. For example, if you're at a game and you're trying to record but the person next to you keeps shouting, the phone's AI will be smart enough to eliminate that sound.

It also hints that the AI on the phone can "fix" people looking distracted in your photos, so instead of asking everyone to pose again, the AI will be able to fix it. We're not sure how this is supposed to work, but it sounds like a pretty cool feature.

Google had previously included AI camera features on its Pixel phones like the Magic Eraser, allowing users who aren't savvy with tools like Photoshop to cleanly and quickly remove unwanted objects in their photos, so in all honesty, these features aren't that surprising. Google has yet to set a date for the Pixel 8's launch, but if previously launches are anything to go by, it shouldn't be too long.

Google has just announced that the protection for additional sensitive actions taken in Gmail that were introduced last year has been extended to specific actions. All these actions will get a "Verify it's you" prompt if Google deems them risky enough.

This will provide an additional layer of security for Gmail users that are taking sensitive actions in the app, specifically actions related to:

• Filters: creating a new filter, editing an existing filter, or importing filters.
• Forwarding: Adding a new forwarding address from the Forwarding and POP/IMAP settings.
• IMAP access: Enabling the IMAP access status from the settings. (Workspace admins control whether this setting is visible to end users or not)

After getting the prompt, Gmail users will be able to confirm the validity of the action via a 2-step verification code or another similar trusted factor. More importantly, Google says that if a verification challenge is failed or not completed, Gmail users will receive a "Critical security alert" notification on their devices.

It's important to mention that this additional security feature only supports users that use Google as their identity provider and actions taken within Google products (SAML users are not supported).

End users won't have to look for this feature in the app's settings, although it's recommended to enable 2-step verification. The stronger protection for sensitive actions in Gmail will be available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts.

According to Google, the rapid release domain will be getting the new security feature in the next two weeks, while scheduled release domains will get it in up to 3 days starting September 6.

The race to further develop satellite communications on smartphone is on - while some could say that Apple's SOS calling feature kickstarted the trend, Google has long been working on its own take on the much-welcome emergency calling function, although a new development hints at an important upgrade.

More specifically, information shared on social media by Neil Rahmouni and subsequently reported on by Mishaal Rahman shows that Google Messages has added interfaces for conversations and SOS messages using satellite communication.

Rahman adds that the feature is merely a placeholder at the moment, although it's very likely that Google will launch the feature once Android 14 drops this year. He adds:

Google Messages is the default messaging app on many Android phones from different brands, so it needs to support this feature so that a separate messaging app won't have to be built for phones that support satellite connectivity.

Satellite calling isn't an entirely new technology however, as an increasing amount of manufacturers have been adopting the feature for use with smartphones. Earlier this year, companies like Motorola and Bullitt unveiled their own satellite-calling technology, which allows users to access SOS services on their devices.