Pixel/Pixel XL – Amazing Features
The powerful devices Pixel and Pixel XL from Google tend to bring in amazing features with them and some come from Android Nougat. The following tips and tricks will provide great insights on Pixel smartphones –
Install and manage widgets
By adding a widget you could customize the home screen ofyour Pixel or Pixel XL. You could touch a vacant spot on the home screen holding your finger there and then tap `Widget’. On touching and holding a Widget drag and drop it to any of your home screens to where you would prefer placing it and then let go. If the size of the widget is to be changed, you could touch and hold it and then let it go. If it needs to be re-sized, you will see dots on the sides which can be dragged to the size needed. When done with, tap in a different place
Turn the display off and save battery
If one tends to be using the notification LED, you could turn off the ambient display together with the gesture to wake up the display. The sloth display is said to turn on the display at the time of notification and utilises power which can be switched off by going to Settings under Display. There are three types of gestures that can be utilised rather than having the display accidentally turned on which can be found under `Moves’ which are called `Jump to Camera, Double tap to check phone and Lift to check phone.
Screenshot to be taken
In order to take a screenshot with the Google Pixel or Pixel XL, you could hold down the power button together with the volume down button simultaneously. An animation will appear if it tends to work and your screenshots will be found in Photos > Albums > Screenshots all in the Photos in the device section.
Notification LED to be activated
The notification light is not active by default on the Pixel as in the case of Nexus 6P. In order to turn the light on you could go to Settings > Notifications > Gear icon > Pulse notification light and then slide it to the `On’ position
Enhance readability or see more content
This is said to be an Android Nougat feature instead of a Pixel specific type, however it is worth mentioning: changing font and display size to one choice. Smaller sizes tend to portray more content on the screen and larger one seems to be friendly for weary eyes. If one prefers changing the font size of the phone you could go to Settings > Display > Font size and slide till the preview information is of the desired size. For changing the display size, go to Settings > Display > Display size and slide till you get the suitable size
Reset Pixel Phone
For resetting your device to its factory state, you could go to Settings > Backup & reset then tap Factory data reset. Here the user will be urged to endorse the code of the display lock once again before going ahead. This procedure tends to reset your Pixel to factory settings instantly and the first time it is started again you will have to specify the last Google account you had used. This is said to be the theft protection feature and if one cannot enter the Google account, the device would not be operational.
Start Pixel in safe mode
You can restart the Pixel in safe mode like the old Nexus. This mode tends to support in troubleshooting should there be some fault with the Pixel. In safe mode, one can only start the apps which are installed from the factory.
A possibly defective app that one had installed later would not start but if the Pixel tends to continue having problems, it is not likely owing to any of the new apps. In order to begin safe mode, the user could hold down the power button, tap and hold the Restart option which will be followed by a prompt asking if you want to `Reboot to safe mode’ and one should opt for `OK’.
When the safe mode is turned on, the apps that have not been started tend to show up grey on the home screen. These are listed in the Play Store in the apps list and in the app settings, they can be uninstalled. If the apps tend to create an issue to the phone and is not functioning in its normal mode, you could boot it in safe mode and eliminate the same.
Easter Egg at start-up
The Google Pixel and Pixel XL is said to have an Easter egg. To get the same one could go to Settings > About phone, and tap the Android version repetitively and tap the N in different areas till a cat head icon is displayed below the N. Go to the home screen and then swipe down twice in order to get your quick settings and then tap the pencil icon to edit it. The new cat icon needs to be dragged into the quick setting bar. Then tap the empty dish and opt for a food to entice the cats. Wait a while for a cat to show up then name it and share with friends. Any help needed with Pixel phone is available at Google Support’s Pixel page.
