We reported earlier that the Google Pixel March Feature drop will be available very soon. Well, it seems the Google Pixel March Feature drop is finally rolling out with a slew of features for a vast majority of Google Pixel smartphones. Not just the features(however), there’s the March security patch bringing in fixes for some vulnerabilities and the Android 13 QPR2.
All there is to the security patch and the Google Pixel March Feature drop
After QPR1 in December, Android 13 QPR2 has only a few minor cosmetic changes. When you fully open Quick Settings, the largest display is a giant digital clock. (See how the time in the top-left corner grows larger as you swipe down.) It’s in the top-left corner, with the day and date below, and your cellular provider is now visible above the row of status bar icons. Under Quick Settings, Google has also replaced the battery % with a remaining day/hour or “Till hh:mm” estimate.
There are also small changes to the padding in the Pixel Launcher and folders. Meanwhile, Currently Playing appears higher up on the lock screen, the “Emergency” calling button has been increased in size, and the Google Home symbol has been added to the Device controls.
Onto the Google Pixel March Feature drop, The Pixel 7 series supports Dual SIM Dual Standby with two eSIMs, as well as T-Mobile 3CA and 5G in India for the Pixel 6a and 7/Pro. Pixel 6 Pro owners may now convert from 1440p to 1080p FHD+ “High resolution,” and Night Sight on the Pixel 6 series is now quicker thanks to new and enhanced algorithms on the first-generation Tensor processor.
Support for ultra-wideband digital vehicle keys will be available in the coming weeks, allowing you to keep your Pixel 6 Pro or 7 Pro in your pocket for car locking and unlocking. Individuals who own compatible vehicles (2022+ BMW models) can start the engine with the phone in their pocket rather than in the phone tray.
Direct My Call will be available(via the Google Pixel March Feature drop) on the Pixel 4a, 4a 5G, 5, and 5a, and Health Connect is now included on Pixel phones courtesy of Android 13 QPR2. Hold for Me is presently available in the United States, Australia, and Canada, and it will soon be accessible in Japan.
At a Glance is introducing a Cross-Device Timer feature, which displays the status of countdowns set on Nest displays/speakers. After the timer expires, your phone will receive an Assistant message with details and the option to “Stop” or “Add 1 minute.” Finally, there are 21 new emoji characters, including a pink heart and a goose.
Google is emphasizing Fall Detection and a set of accessibility enhancements revealed last month for the Pixel Watch. Mono audio is available to reduce confusion caused by split audio, as are color correction and grayscale settings to “better adapt the display for a wider variety of visual preferences.” This will be available on “Wear OS 3+” in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, The Android 13 March patch, dated 2023-03-01, resolves 31 security problems, while the 2023-03-05 patch resolves 29. The severity of vulnerabilities ranges from high to critical. The specialized bulletin for Google smartphones contains 120 security patches spread across many carriers’ builds.
Google mentions that you must opt out of the Beta Program if you are running Android 13 QPR2 Beta 3.2 and enrolled in the Beta Program to receive the stable 13 QPR2 version. After doing so, the March update may not yet be available on your device. In such a situation, you may safely disregard the downgrade OTA and/or 13 QPR3 Beta 1 (due later this week) until the stable March release is available on your phone. Your device will be erased if you opt out after installing the Android 13 QPR3 Beta. Links to download the Google Pixel March Feature drop can be obtained via the link below.
Source | image source: 9to5google
