Google Pixels get Satellite SOS in Canada, scam detection in feature drop

It’s time again for the March Pixel Drop. This month’s drop includes new features for Gemini Live, Scam Detection, and more.

Unless you’ve already updated to the Android 16 beta, the update should hit your phone now. I don’t see the update on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which has the beta, but MobileSyrup Editor-in-Chief Jon Lamont sees it on his Pixel 9 Pro, which doesn’t have the beta.

Gemini Live

Multimodal Gemini Live, which allows you to add images, files, and YouTube videos and talk to Live about them, is now rolling out to all devices newer than the Pixel 6. If you’re a Gemini Advanced subscriber, Google is pushing out a feature that lets you share live video and screen through Gemini Live. This feature is coming out in the coming weeks.

Pixel Screenshots

Pixel Screenshots app will now work with your work profile, which can help you organize receipts, expense reports and more. The Pixel Screenshots app will also automatically suggest screenshots to add your collections. It’s unclear if the app will start making the collections for you.

I recently reviewed the Nothing Phone (3a) and noted that its Essential Space does a better job at using AI to review screenshots and organize them by collections. If you take a screenshot of an appointment or meeting, it’ll tell you if it’s upcoming. I’ll keep an eye out for the Pixel Screenshot to see if it’ll start offering similar features.

Pixel Studio

Pixel Studio will finally let users create images of people. You can type a description of a person or scene, and the image creator will do all the work.

Health and Safety

Google Messages now has scam detection, which uses AI to detect conversation patterns commonly used by scammers and will alert users to potential scams. This is only available in English, to start.

Satellite SOS is finally coming to Canada, letting users stay connected to emergency services without cellular or Wi-Fi.

Find My Device will now let you share your live location with family and friends directly in the app. This feature took a surprisingly long time. Apple, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and other apps already let you share your location live; it’s strange that Google took so long.

Pixel Watch

The Pixel Watch 3 now supports menstrual cycle viewing. This will let you log your period and watch it on your watch. Additionally, a step count optimization now works when you’re jogging with a stroller, pushing a shopping cart or hiking with poles. The Pixel Watch will understand that this differs from typical walking patterns to provide a more accurate step count.

A new Loss of Pulse feature can warn people if their heart suddenly stops beating. However, this feature is only available in the U.S. Google is likely just waiting for Health Canada to approve it before the update hits our devices.

There’s a lot more available with the March Pixel Drop, like connecting your Pixel to another camera to live stream on multiple shooters at once, new actions on the Pixel Watch to control media, and more.