Android 17 starts hitting Pixel phones and watches today

Foldable phones are also getting a new gaming interface in Android 17. Stretching phone-optimized games to a more square foldable screen can often cause distortion and awkward control placement. The updated OS offers a new approach, or at least it will eventually. Version 17 introduces a 50-50 split interface that displays the game on top and a touchscreen controller at the bottom. If you leave the phone’s hinge at an angle, it makes the device look a bit like a real handheld game machine. The updates that begin rolling out today include new Pixel Drop features. These are exclusive to Google’s devices, and they (mostly) are not tied to Android 17. For instance, the Gemini Omni model announced at I/O last month is coming to the Gemini app on Pixels. For now, it will be used only for video generation, but Google hopes to expand Omni to more content types later. It currently requires a Gemini Pro or Ultra subscription. Similarly, Lyria 3 music generation will be available on Pixels in the app, but this one won’t require a premium subscription. Android for your wrist is getting an upgrade today, assuming you have a Pixel Watch. Google says Wear OS 7 is a major update that brings Gemini Intelligence to the latest models. It’s not all AI, though. For starters, Google claims Pixel Watch users can expect a 10 percent battery life boost after the update.