What do you want to know
- Google Camera version 8.6 was released with the Pixel 6a.
- A teardown of the APK reveals continued development on the Pixel Notepad.
- A new camera mode has been discovered, named Jupiter, but it is unclear what this feature is for.
It’s an exciting day for Pixel fans, as the Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro have officially gone on sale and are available at some of your favorite retailers. Along with the release of these new Pixel products, Google is also releasing new software updates with them.
A day one update is available for new Pixel 6a owners, which includes the August security patch and probable bug fixes. But Google has also just released version 8.6 of the Google Camera app. Unlike the Pixel 6a-specific software, Google Camera v8.6 is available to all Pixel owners and, according to 9to5Google, it offers more than a few bug fixes.
Before we dive into the “juicy” stuff that’s been found, version 8.6 of the Google Camera app adds a new “Hotshot” feature that “will use visual, audio, and haptic feedback to provide selfie guidance.” The accompanying glyph shows a person perfectly positioned in the middle of a phone, but it’s unclear exactly how the feature will appear when available.
9to5Google points out that the different types of feedback “probably refer to a gentle alert that the photo you framed should look great and ready to be captured.” But at the time of this writing, we checked to see if Hotshot was available in the latest Google Camera update on our Pixel 6 Pro, and it has yet to appear.
Even more exciting than helping you snap properly lined up selfies is a reference to another new mode that’s codenamed “Jupiter”. This is not so surprising in itself, since Google regularly tests different features that never end up appearing. But what makes this intriguing is the icon that accompanies it.
The icon is pretty basic on its own, but shows a device that bends in half, with a dipping arrow coming from the back of the device. It’s possible that “Jupiter” is for a feature similar to the cover screen preview feature offered by Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3. This lets you still see a preview of the image while using the vastly superior rear-facing cameras as opposed to the under-display selfie camera.
Given that foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 3 rely on Samsung’s own camera app, it wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense if Google weren’t already working on developing the supposed Pixel Notepad. According to the leaks and rumors, Google hasn’t given up hope on a foldable Pixel but has apparently delayed the launch several times for various reasons. Hopefully we’ll continue to see more information ahead of the reveal, but until then we just have to keep our fingers crossed that it comes to fruition.
Google Pixel 6a
The Pixel 6a is Google’s latest mid-range smartphone, powered by the company’s flagship chipset. It sports a great design, decent battery life, and cameras as good as the Pixel 6.