The software program options on Pixel smartphones are the most effective causes to purchase them. Nevertheless, relying on what you need, there is a good probability you may get a collection of Pixel-exclusive options operating on the Android gadget you already personal.
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Google Digital camera Performance
The crown jewel of Pixel units is the Google Digital camera app. Whereas Pixel digicam {hardware} has improved through the years, Google’s experience lies within the software program magic of its digicam app. Options like Night time Sight, HDR+, and Portrait Mode can work wonders whatever the bodily cameras.
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Porting this function to some other Android gadget is surprisingly easy. First, it is advisable to test in case your gadget helps the Camera2 API utilized by the Google Digital camera app. Do that by downloading and operating the Handbook Digital camera Compatibility app from the Play Retailer. In case your telephone is appropriate, you possibly can then obtain a modified Google Digital camera app APK file on your gadget, and also you’re all set.
There isn’t any common third-party Google Digital camera app that’ll work on all telephones. Based mostly in your telephone’s SoC, Android model, and Camera2 API assist, you need to experiment with completely different APK information to seek out the one which works greatest. Probably the greatest collections of GCam APKs is Celso Azevedo’s repository, however there are different websites for protected APK downloads as nicely.
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Sideloading: Why Putting in Unofficial Apps Could Put You at Danger
Cannot discover the app you are searching for on official app shops? You could be tempted to sideload content material. Here is why you should not.
Be extraordinarily cautious when putting in third-party APKs, although. We have lined easy methods to sideload APKs on Android prior to now, however relying in your Android model, you’ll have to allow a couple of extra permissions.
5
Now Taking part in
Now Taking part in is one other spotlight Pixel function; it identifies music taking part in round you in your lock display. That is a particularly useful device since you do not have to open an app, and it even works offline.
Much like GCam, you may get this function on any Android smartphone by sideloading the Ambient Music Mod in your telephone. That is an open-source port of Google’s Now Taking part in function, based mostly on the latest model from Pixel units and the most recent music databases. It additionally affords options like Taking part in Historical past, Favorites, and Abstract Report; you possibly can even management how typically the popularity runs.
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The set up course of, nevertheless, is completely different from merely sideloading an APK file. First, observe these preliminary setup steps:
- Set up the Shizuku app from the Play Retailer. That is an open-source service that enables apps to make use of system APIs immediately with root privileges. It is also open supply; take a look at the supply code on GitHub in the event you like.
- Set up the Ambient Music Mod APK file from its official GitHub repository.
- Entry the Developer Choices menu in your telephone and allow USB Debugging mode, in addition to Wi-fi Debugging so that you needn’t have your telephone plugged in.
Subsequent, contained in the Shizuku app:
- Choose Pairing underneath Begin through Wi-fi debugging, then faucet Developer Choices. (Some telephones like Xiaomi, OpenPlus, Oppo, and Huawei require further settings to be enabled, which you could find in Shizuku’s consumer information.) Chances are you’ll be prompted to permit Shizuku to indicate notifications.
- Shizuku ought to ship you again to Developer Choices. Scroll to seek out Wi-fi Debugging, choose it, and faucet Pair Gadget with pairing code.
- Open your notification drawer and kind the pairing code discovered within the final step.
- Return to the Shizuku app and faucet Begin underneath the Pairing button. If it really works, a terminal window will seem confirming the connection and shut routinely.
Now, open the Ambient Music Mod app:
- Undergo the essential setup, together with deciding on the suitable information and area settings.
- Ambient Music Mod ought to routinely begin downloading the Now Taking part in app. Set up it when prompted. Additionally, grant telephone and microphone permissions and disable battery optimizations when prompted.
- Go to the app’s settings, then faucet Superior. Allow the Use Various Encoding function. You may go away this disabled, however the mod works extra reliably with the function enabled.
- Return to the app’s principal web page and configure your lock display and place settings to regulate the way you need to see the “now taking part in” textual content. Take into accout you will have to present the app entry to accessibility settings.
There are much more configuration settings within the Ambient Music Mod app that allow you to fine-tune battery utilization and discover a steadiness that works for you. You may as well set up new updates to the app from inside it. Each time you restart your telephone, you will must restart the Shizuku service by repeating the steps underneath it above.
It is not the simplest setup course of, and having to restart the service each time you reboot your telephone is a trouble. In any other case, the app works nice and shares the identical music library as a Pixel (up to date weekly). Meaning if a Pixel can detect a bit of music, so can your telephone.
4
Magic Eraser
Magic Eraser is a much more useful device than I first imagined. Since I began utilizing a Pixel, I’ve used it to wipe objects, distractions, and even total crowds from my pictures. And fortunately, porting it to any Android gadget is straightforward.
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Whereas initially unique to Pixel house owners, this function has since change into part of the Google One subscription. Google One members get entry to Magic Eraser, an HDR video impact, and unique collage types on each Android and iOS.
If you’d like the function with out including yet one more subscription, you want a modified Google Images APK file. First, obtain the Break up APKs Installer (SAI) from the Play Retailer. Then, observe the Android app uninstall course of to uninstall updates from the Google Images app (since it is a system app, you possibly can uninstall updates however not your complete app). Following that, set up the modified APK utilizing SAI.
The one catch is that updating Google Images can lead to dropping this function, so you will probably have to stay with an older model of the app. You may disable automated app updates for Google Images to get round this, however subscribing to Google One stays the easiest way of getting Magic Eraser on any gadget.
3
Name Display screen
Name Display screen is a lifesaver that allows you to spot and cut back spam calls, or at the very least get some context earlier than you determine to reply a name from an unknown quantity. The function lets Google Assistant reply calls in your behalf and supplies transcripts of what callers are saying earlier than you are taking over.
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Sadly, there is no dependable manner of porting the precise Pixel model of the function to any Android, because it requires deep system integration to work correctly. You may, nevertheless, get comparable performance utilizing the Kontxt Display screen Calls & Block Spam app, obtainable on the Play Retailer.
2
Google Recorder
Google Recorder is among the greatest voice recording apps you should utilize, in my view. It supplies real-time transcriptions and a strong search function. Should you often report voice notes or analyze conversations, this app can prevent a whole lot of effort and time.
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Porting it over to any Android telephone that is not a Pixel is an easy matter of putting in a modified model of the Google Recorder app. That stated, discovering an APK of the app that works may be tough. You may attempt your luck with the most recent variations from APKMirror, however you will must do some trial and error to discover a model that works for you.
Take into accout some necessities for the app to run correctly. First, it is advisable to be operating Android 9 or larger. Second, in case your telephone producer has made modifications to the TextView element in Android, chances are high the app’s transcription options will not work. There isn’t any method to inform if the app will work in your gadget with out testing it, so I like to recommend you give it a shot.
1
Pixel Launcher
Pixel Launcher would possibly look easy at first look, and that is its largest promoting level. It affords a clear, minimalist interface coupled with options like At a Look widgets and integration with Google companies. That is as pure as an Android launcher can get, making it good in the event you’re after a vanilla Android expertise.
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Fortunately, there are many apps that provide rootless ports of the Pixel Launcher and work on most Android units. You need to use the Lawnchair Launcher, which affords further customization choices whereas retaining genuine Pixel Launcher options and look.
Alternatively, you possibly can obtain AmirZ’s Rootless Pixel Launcher from the official GitHub repository. I’ve used AmirZ’s Rootless Pixel Launcher prior to now to get the Pixel Launcher on my outdated Motorola telephones, nevertheless it hasn’t been up to date since 2019. You thus would possibly miss out on a few of the newer Pixel Launcher options.
Pixel-exclusive options are one of many causes so many individuals get these units. Nevertheless, with some software program wizardry, you possibly can get pleasure from the very best of those options in your present telephone. Whereas not at all times a precise copy, these workarounds maintain you free from Google’s {hardware} ecosystem.
