KEY POINTS

  • Google releases Feature Drop
  • It is a revolutionary kind of update that refreshes devices' with new abilities instead of new features and usual security patches
  • Feature Drop is environment-friendly and promotes brand loyalty among consumers

Google Pixel owners who want to automatically screen phone calls, use Live Caption, or blur the background of older images would be delighted with this latest update called Feature Drop. The new update introduces new skills to both older and current devices. Interestingly, a new report claims that Feature Drop is not an ordinary update and indicative of the future Android OS is planning to tread.

The latest Google Pixel update, unlike the standard build roll out, does not include a plethora of new features but a mid-cycle refresh that updates and refreshes the abilities of the device. It is the mobile version of downloadable content we usually hear in video games released to keep the users impressed with sparkling new things until the next Android build releases. The promise of totally new features, as in real, genuine features users could interact with could be Android and Google’s new winning formula, says Forbes.

Google Pixel 4 XL 4
Google Pixel 4 XL Jeff Li/IBTimes

Google’s feature drop is an entirely unique and different approach with completely new abilities mid-way through the life cycle of a device. This is a strategic and clever way to build loyalty and extend the devices’ life. One of the reasons why global smartphone sales dropped recently is because users are trying to hold on to their devices for as long as they can.

The consumer behavior towards buying a smartphone every year, for now, is waning. Google’s Feature Drop is the new thing and the next best method to keep devices updated not with security patches but next-generation features without the need to purchase a new smartphone. It is a winning solution for consumers and environmentally-friendly.

It is not a surprise to see Google go this route since it has always emphasized software over hardware when it comes to Google Pixel phones. The search engine giant is the first to launch and release an update like this—Feature Drop. We are looking forward that other smartphone makers would do the same. For Feature Drop, Google states:

Your phone should get better over time. Your Pixel automatically updates regularly with fixes and improvements. Now, your Pixel will also get bigger updates in new Pixel feature drops. Our first one, coming this month, includes a new way to capture portraits, easier Duo calls and automatic call screening.

Google