The 5 issues the Pixel Pill 2 must be an iPad competitor

Google’s efforts to make a pill that sticks have been scattershot at finest, from the tablet-as-giant-phone that was the Nexus 7 to bizarre ChromeOS experiments just like the Pixel Slate. That is why, amongst different issues, the Pixel Pill the corporate launched in 2023 felt like an necessary correction — it had a function as quickly as you took it out of the field.

By primarily making it a Nest Hub Max when it is docked and a standard Android pill when it wasn’t, the Pixel Pill was tied to the good house quite than productiveness, one thing that ended up working loads higher for Google. Regardless of the variety of folks with Android units, the quantity of excellent Android pill apps nonetheless pales in comparison with what’s supplied on the iPad. Giving the Pixel Pill a part-time job as a wise house controller makes that challenge much less urgent. However that job hasn’t precisely been demanding, both. With a brand new Nest Thermostat, the one main good house product because the Pixel Pill was launched, it feels just like the Pixel Pill 2 will want extra to be well worth the improve. Here is what I feel Google ought to add to the sequel.

1 First-party stylus help

Google wants to supply its personal stylus and stylus options

Apple

The Pixel Pill is for fingers at first, but it surely does provide help for USI 2.0 stylus enter in case you personal one. There are many Android units that already provide stylus equipment, notably from Google’s largest accomplice, Samsung, however for no matter purpose, Google prevented that for the primary model of its pill. The corporate has even made a stylus earlier than — the Pixelbook may very well be used with the Pixelbook Pen to write down or draw on the convertible laptop computer’s display. Google additionally supported the identical stylus with the Pixel Slate.

For the Pixel Pill 2, Google ought to let that giant display be used for one thing apart from watching movies, searching the online, or controlling gentle bulbs. Add help for a stylus designed by Google, and combine a stylus-oriented function like Apple’s Scribble — iOS’ function for accepting handwriting in any textual content field — as a way to use a stylus as simply as you utilize your finger. If the Pixel Pill turns into extra helpful exterior the house, it ought to most likely be a spot the place you’ll be able to write and create issues simply as a lot because it already is a spot to eat issues.

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2 A desktop-approach to multitasking

Deliver on the windowed apps

Google / Pocket-lint

Android has had split-screen multitasking for longer than the iPad, however in case you wished to do one thing extra difficult than put two apps side-by-side, you needed to go for customized software program from Samsung, like Samsung Dex, to maintain a number of apps in view such as you may on a desktop working system. Google ought to use the Pixel Pill 2 as the right alternative to introduce correct desktop multitasking and windowed apps to Android tablets.

Fortunately, as of Sept. 2024, Google has already began testing “desktop windowing” in Android 15. Now it simply must make it obtainable for the Pixel Pill. Whether or not the brand new function arrives earlier than the tip of 2024 or ships on a Pixel Pill 2 in 2025, Android is greater than prepared for it. Moreover making the expertise of utilizing a Pixel Pill really feel extra computer-like, it may also go a good distance in fixing the issue of Android apps that are not correctly optimized for the Pixel Pill’s 10.95-inch show. With windowed multitasking, they might run of their pure smartphone type with out stretching throughout the display.

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3 A stand that is helpful alone

The Charging Speaker Dock ought to turn out to be a Nest Audio

Google Charging Speaker Dock

When the Pixel Pill launched in 2023, it was offered with its Charging Speaker Dock within the field. The dock and pill have been designed for use collectively, so it is sensible that they have been offered collectively, too. Although Google now sells the 2 individually, that pairing, not less than for the Charging Speaker Dock, is sort of important. The dock cannot do something by itself apart from hogging an outlet. And not using a Pixel Pill magnetically connected, the Charging Speaker Dock cannot act as a degree to forged audio to or work together with voice assistants like Google Assistant and Gemini. It is only a charger and nothing extra.

With the Pixel Pill 2, Google wants to provide the Charging Speaker Dock an improve. On the very least, it ought to have the ability to play audio when a pill is not connected, however the very best consequence is the brand new Dock slots in as one other speaker in Google’s seemingly forgotten Nest Audio good speaker lineup. That approach, shopping for the Dock by itself may really be worthwhile — assuming these new skills do not radically add to the present $129 worth — as a substitute of simply present as an adjunct for a pill.

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4 An improve to the Tensor chip and display

Google / Pocket-lint

The Pixel Pill shipped in 2023 with Tensor G2 and a ten.95-inch LCD. By the point 2023 had ended, Google had launched the Tensor G3 on the Pixel 8 and was providing a Pixel 8 Pro with its personal customized “Tremendous Actua” OLED display. The Pixel Pill’s parts weren’t previous by any means, however they have been instantly overshadowed by the massive spec bounce Google made with its new Pixel 8, and in 2024, the Pixel 9. It isn’t clear what chip Google will find yourself utilizing on a Pixel Pill 2, however it will possibly’t use the identical one and count on prospects to improve.

Past a brand new Tensor chip, Google may change the expertise of utilizing a Pixel Pill through the use of a distinct show. A high-refresh charge OLED display like the corporate makes use of on its present Pixel telephones wouldn’t solely make watching a film or TV present extra visually fulfilling, however it might permit a hypothetical Pixel Pill 2 to show data even when it is not in use. That may very well be an actual profit to the pill’s position as a wise house hub.

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5 Pill-exclusive AI options

Google ought to construct Gemini experiences for bigger screens

Now that the majority premium smartphones are neck and neck in the case of digital camera efficiency, a significant promoting level of Google’s Pixel telephones is their unique, AI-powered software program options. Issues like Pixel Screenshots or Pixel Recorder could appear area of interest, however they actually do make utilizing Google’s smartphones higher than different Android units. Unusually, Google hasn’t created something related for its solely pill. The Pixel Pill helps Circle to Search for trying to find something you see in your display, and offers you a similar quantity of entry to Gemini as some other Android gadget, however there’s nothing that is particular to the pill’s {hardware}.

The Pixel Pill 2 ought to have some sort of AI trick up its sleeve when it launches. Whether or not it is paired with deeper stylus help and appears just like the new Kindle Scribe’s handwriting conversion and word summarization or Apple Intelligence’s capability to show doodles, there must be one thing to distinguish the Pixel Pill.

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