Google’s latest feature promises improved functionality in its Pixel line of smartphones; new features such as music tracks, smartphone access for vaccination cards and pride month wallpapers are now rolling out to Pixel 4 through Pixel 6 and 6 Pro devices.

Say goodbye to background noise

Talk mode has arrived in the Sound Amplifier app. Designed for and with people who are hard of hearing, the feature uses your phone’s camera to focus on and amplify important sounds, like someone’s voice talking to you, and suppress the rest. Google Meet’s noise canceling feature, meanwhile, filters out distracting background noise from your microphone, like passing traffic or barking dogs.

Vaccine Advantage Home Screen

People in Australia, Canada and the United States who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine can now take a screenshot of their digital vaccine card and add a home screen shortcut for recovery easy. However, not everyone can take advantage of this benefit. Access to digital vaccine cards varies by state and health care provider. Check local support(Opens in a new window) via Google’s help page.

Information at your fingertips

The update includes three new At a Glance features for Pixel:

• Nest Doorbell Video Stream: Receive a notification on the lock screen when someone rings your Nest Doorbell.

• Flashlight reminder: See a reminder and a shortcut to turn off your digital flashlight if it’s accidentally left on.

• Air quality alerts: Air quality alerts for your current location will soon be available in Australia, India and the United States.

Create your own music

Turn everyday noises into a soundtrack for life with Pocket Operator for Pixel. Created in collaboration with Swedish consumer electronics company Teenage Engineering, the feature invites users to turn their own recordings into “fun music and video cuts”.

Available on Google Play Store for Pixel 5 and later, Pocket Operator lets you layer sounds, add visual effects, create patterns and beats, and mix it all up to produce unique tracks.

Wear your pride on your screen

Google is celebrating Pride Month with three new wallpapers from illustrator Yann Bastard, a member of the LGBTQIA+ community with “a soft spot for big, bold shapes and bright colors,” the company said. It’s unclear if the trio of vivid and inclusive backgrounds (above) will be available after June 30.

And more…

Additional updates include True Tone Filters in Google Photos, as well as expanding existing features to more regions, languages ​​and devices: Car Crash Detection is now available in Canada for the Pixel 3 and later, while chat translation in messages now works with the traditional version. Chinese, Dutch, Korean, Thai and Turkish for Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.