This Pixel update is perfect for avoiding awkward work calls

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Google has announced a slew of new features for its Pixel smartphones including the ability to type to talk during phone calls as part of its latest Pixel feature drop.

Whether you're unable or prefer not to speak on calls, the search giant is giving Pixel owners a new way to communicate using its Live Caption feature.

First unveiled back in 2019, Live Caption is an accessibility feature that uses speech recognition algorithms to assess audio being played from your browser and automatically caption it for you. Now though, the feature is being utilized for an entirely different purpose in phone calls.

Live Caption in Phone Calls on Pixel — (Image credit: Google)

Live Caption and Direct My Call

When on a phone call, Pixel owners will now be able to see captions of what the person on the other end of the line is saying in real time. However, they'll even be able to type out a response on their smartphone and have it read aloud to the person they're in a phone call with.

While this new feature will likely be a godsend for people with speech or hearing problems, it can also be quite useful when participating in conference calls and other work-related calls. This is because with Live Caption on Pixel devices, you'll be able to follow along in phone calls even in noisy environments as well as in places where you wouldn't normally be able to take a phone call.

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For those who haven't upgraded to the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro yet, Google has also announced that its Direct My Call and Wait Times features will be available for the Pixel 3a and other newer Pixel devices.

Direct My Call is a feature that makes it easier to progress through complicated phone trees when calling a business as Google Assistant can translate these complicated automated messages for you. Meanwhile, Google's Wait Time feature shows the projected time it will take to get through to an actual person when calling a toll-free number.

Google also announced a number of other useful new Pixel features and you can learn all about them by checking out this blog post.

We've also featured the best business smartphones and the best productivity tools

Via TechCrunch

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After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.