The Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL are pretty stonking phones, or at least we think so, as you can see from our reviews of the former here, and the latter here. If you've gone ahead and picked one up, you'll be pleased to hear there are a ton of useful features built right into the handsets. Of course, they're running stock Android Oreo, but there are a few extra tweaks and perks that Pixel series phones get exclusive access to.
Read on to find out what nifty capabilities your new Pixel phone can leverage.
How To Transfer Content To Your New Pixel 2 Or Pixel 2 XL From Your Old Phone
Google wants to make it as easy as possible for you to migrate over to its official hardware, so as a result the Pixel 2 series includes some built-in content transfer features, allowing you to port everything over seamlessly.
The phones come with an adaptor, allowing you to plug your old phone into the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. You'll need the cable that came with your old phone to do this.
- If your previous phone was an Android handset, you can transfer apps, app data, contacts, settings, Google accounts, music, photos, videos, and SMS text messages.
- If you're coming over from using an iPhone on iOS, you can transfer iCloud events, contacts, iMessage/SMS messages, music, photos, and videos.
With the two phones plugged into each other you'll see a prompt when you start up and setup your new Pixel 2 phone, asking if you'd like to restore your data from the old phone.
- Connect your old phone's USB cable into the adaptor provided with the Pixel 2/Pixel 2 XL
- Plug the adaptor into the Pixel 2/Pixel 2 XL
- Follow the on-screen instructions
How To Keep Everything Backed Up To Google's Cloud Services
Google phones wouldn't be much good if they weren't directly connected to Google's suite of cloud services. Fortunately, they are, which means it's really easy to keep everything backed up just in case you need to reset your device or get a replacement due to loss, theft, or damage.
- Head to your phone's Settings
- Tap System
- Tap Backup
- Toggle the Backup switch on
- If prompted, select your Google account
- Select from the presented content categories which you would like to keep backed up to Google's cloud services
How To Use Fingerprint Security
Fingerprint security is all the rage and the Pixel 2 series, like most current flagships, comes with a scanner built-in. Here's how to set it up so you can unlock your phone or make mobile payments with it.
- Go to Settings
- Tap Security & location
- Tap Pixel Imprint
- If you haven't set up a security unlock (pattern, PIN, password) you'll be prompted to do so now, as it's required in order to use fingerprint unlock (the pattern, PIN, or password will act as a backup option).
- Once you've done this, tap +Add fingerprint
- With your preferred finger (or thumb), touch the scanner until you feel haptic feedback vibration, then lift your finger away
- You'll be prompted to do this repeatedly so that the phone gets the most accurate scan of your finger. You'll be notified when it has completed.
- You can now tap Done to finish, or Add another to continue adding other fingers to your security.
How To Use Smart Lock To Skip The Unlock Screen
Google added this feature in earlier Android builds but it has been refined a bit more for Oreo on the Pixel 2 series. Essentially this allows you to select certain cirucmstances in which the phone knows it is "safe" and can dispense with going through the standard unlocking process, thus skipping the unlock screen.
For example, you can set up a "trusted place", such as your home, and when your phone knows from geo-location data that it is there, it will not require you to unlock it, you'll simply go straight to the homescreen when you power on the handset.
- Go to Settings
- Tap Security & location
- Tap Smart Lock
Now you have to choose and set your safe parameters
- On-body detection - your phone will use its sensors to determine when it is on you and will only bypass the lock screen when this is the case.
- Trusted places – your phone will use geo-location data to determine when it is in your set "safe" places (home, work etc.) and will bypass the lock screen when it is in these places. Otherwise, it will remain locked and require you to unlock it.
- Trusted devices – you can pair your phone with a trusted device via Bluetooth (smartwatch, car etc.), this device will need to be nearby in order for the phone to bypass the lockscreen
- Trusted face – your phone will use its front-facing camera to recognise your face and will bypass the lock-screen when you turn it on
- Trusted voice – your phone will only bypass the lockscreen via voice commands issued by you
How To Show Battery Life Percentage In Status Bar
An oldie but a goodie. By default your battery icon in the status bar will just show a battery with a bar indicating how much juice is left, but if you want to know what the actual percentage is at a glance, you need to switch this on,
- Go to Settings
- Tap Battery
- Toggle on Battery Percentage
How To Use Battery Saver
The Pixel 2 and particularly the Pixel 2 XL have pretty amazing battery life, but you might find yourself in a situation, say at a festival, where you want to ensure you use up as little juice as possible and drag out the life for as long as possible. In such a situation, you need the Battery Saver mode.
- Go to Settings
- Tap Battery
- Tap Battery saver
- Toggle the switch on
- Tap Turn on automatically and choose 5% or 15%
by pbriden via Featured Articles
Posts
No comments: