Pixel 4 might introduce raise to wake Google Assistant feature
The leak machine that is the Google Pixel 4 rolls on, with the rumour that the phone will support a ‘raise to talk’ motion to invoke the Google Assistant (via9to5Google). It claims the Pixel 4 will listen for a question or command from the user after recognising the gesture.
It’s not clear if it’ll involve the face recognition feature, pictured above, that Google has confirmed will be part of the phone’s hardware.
It would introduce a fourth way to open Assistant on Pixel, joining holding home button (or holding an up swipe on Android 10), saying “hey Google” or squeezing the sides of the phone with its Active Edge feature. So no, we probably don’t need another way to turn on Assistant but it looks like Google is adding one anyway.
The report points out this may not ship as a feature with the new Pixel phones and could be in development to joina big overhaul of Google Assistantsoon. New features could include continuous commands, finally – the ability to have a contextual conversation with Assistant without having to use a wake word for every new question.
It’s almost certainly because there have been so many leaks but it’s getting quite difficult to get excited for the Pixel 4 now. We are hoping that the camera improves on Pixel 3 and the hype can focus on its great imaging. At the moment, the phone has become a running joke, which is a shame when it will likely bring some interesting if niche new software quirks too.
Check out all the rumours on the upcoming Pixel 4here.Watch the Google Event 2019 live stream.
Author: Henry Burrell, Contributor
Previously Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, Henry covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.
