Get the best Pixel 2 features on your current Android
DON’T HAVE A GRAND TO SPLASH OUT ON ONE OF GOOGLE’S NEW PIXEL 2 HANDSETS? WITH A BIT OF TINKERING AND THIRD-PARTY APPS, YOU DON’T NEED TO!
GOOGLE HAS RELEASED the new Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL, and they are packed full of envy-inducing new features (see our full reviews on page 14). The problem is, even the cheapest model is over $1,000, and over $1,500 if you go all out, which doesn’t exactly fit into all our upgrade budgets. For those who like to tinker, it’s possible to get some of the best features through third-party apps and a little elbow grease.
Our instructions are based around a Nexus 6P, so your menu layouts may be slightly different. Of course, the Pixel phones use pure Android, but a similar feel is doable by sideloading the older Pixel Launcher by following these instructions over at the XDA Developers forum ( goo.gl/
amUVy3). Using a bit of glue and an old broken headphone plug, it’s even possible to emulate our least favourite feature — the lack of a headphone socket (don’t actually do this).
ALWAYS LISTENING
One of the coolest features of the Pixel 2 is that the microphone is always listening (though, of course, this can be disabled), so the phone can be more context aware. This is leveraged with a feature called ‘Now Playing’ which will automatically identify any song playing and show the name on the lock screen, and take you to more info if it is tapped. Very handy, to be sure, but the song identifying app Shazam ( shazam.com) has a similar option. Grab it from Google Play, open it up and long press the Shazam button to enable auto mode. It’s not quite as good as the Pixel 2 version, but will run in the background (even with the screen off) and identify any music it hears and keep a record.
THE NEW GOOGLE SEARCH BAR
In a move we love, the Pixel 2 now features the search bar down the bottom of the screen and swiping up takes you to your app list. At this
stage, the new Pixel 2 launcher is not available to sideload, but we can get a similar effect using one of our favourite customisation apps, Nova Launcher ( novalauncher.com). Run the app, and head to ‘Settings > App & widget drawers’ and enable ‘swipe to open’ and disable the swipe indicator. Next, drag your apps out of the dock, then tap and hold, select ‘Icon options > Edit’ and delete the names. Next, tap and hold the ‘all apps’ button in the middle, and select remove. Then press and hold on the Google search bar, select Edit and change to the rounded style and the colourful logo, then drag it down into the empty dock. Next, head to ‘Nova Settings > Desktop’ and change the page indicator to none, and height padding to medium. Finally, go to ‘Settings > Dock > Advanced’ and enable Dock as overlay, then change dock height padding to None, and width padding to Medium. Voila, you have a launcher that looks and feels very similar to the Pixel 2.
SQUEEZE ME
The Pixel 2 phones can detect the pressure from a squeeze, and use it to activate Google Assistant. Some HTC devices have a similar feature but other phones don’t have the sensors needed. But instead we can get a similar result using other motion detection through thirdparty apps. One of our favourite is Shake ( goo.gl/swESGh), which uses a shaking motion to trigger an action of your choice. For example, it can be set to open a specific app, turn on the torch, skip to the next music track and more — plus you can set different actions for vertical and horizontal shakes.
Another option is to repurpose your hardware keys to detect a squeeze. The free app (with in-app purchases) Button Mapper: Remap your keys ( elementalx.org/button
mapper) can be used to bring extra functionality to your phone. It does not work when the screen is off, but can be used to trigger specific apps or actions based on a long press (aka, a squeeze) or double or triple presses. Combined with the app WakeUp, ( cb56developer.blogspot.com.au) which wakes your phone when picked up, then a long squeeze of the volume keys can be used to emulate the Pixel 2s squeezable feature.
UNLIMITED STORAGE
Pixel users get the benefit of free, unlimited storage of photos and 4K videos, while the rest of us are stuck with unlimited slightly compressed, 16MP photos and 1080p video. While no one offers zero cost, unlimited storage, Flickr ( www.flickr.com) comes close with 1TB of Photos and videos stored free — though it is ad supported. The best combination is to use Flickr to back up the full resolution photos and videos, while also using Google Photos ( photos.google.
com) to keep a second copy.
UPGRADED CAMERA
The new Pixel 2 claims to have the best camera ever on a smartphone — and while upgrading your existing hardware is out of the question, the software side is another story. For those who want a DSLR-like feel with loads of manual options, Camera FV-5 ( camerafv5.
com) is well worth the $3.75 purchase price. For a free option with a great depth of features (including a home screen widget), try Open Camera ( opencamera.sourceforge.net).