How to Get Google's Pixel Features on Your Android Phone

Published on: 14-11-2016 | by Misty in Google, Pixel, Android, Smartphone

Kyle Wiggers writes this review for Digital Trends.

Pixel Launcher

One of the undisputed highlights of the Pixel’s new software is the Pixel Launcher, a home screen (technically) exclusive to the Pixel and Pixel XL. It’s cut from the same cloth as Google’s previous home screen app, the Google Now Launcher, in that it retains Android’s iconic app drawer, folders, and app shortcuts. But improvements and additions abound: There’s a new search icon and voice shortcut, plus a dynamic widget that reflects the current date and weather. There’s a new wallpaper picker, too, and a Google Calendar icon that matches the day’s date.

If all that sounds appealing, good news: installing it is easy enough, but there’s a caveat. Thanks to myriad inter-dependencies, the Pixel Launcher won’t give you access to the Google Assistant, Google’s eponymous intelligent assistant. The Pixel Launcher’s “G” tab normally acts as a shortcut to the Assistant, but it’ll merely open the Google Search app on non-supported devices.

Here’s how to install the Pixel Launcher:

You’ll need two application files: the Pixel Launcher itself, and another that’ll pull a rotating collection of high-resolution wallpaper images from Google periodically, in the background. Download both using your device’s internet browser.
Once both have finished downloading, use the file explorer you downloaded earlier to navigate to your device’s download folder and install the apps in question.
After both finish installing, tap your device’s home screen. You’ll see an option to select the Pixel Launcher; tap it.

That’s all there is to it!

If you tire of the Pixel Launcher, switching back is easy enough. Here’s how:

Open your device’s Settings menu.
Scroll down and select the entry with the title Apps.
Tap the menu for the Pixel Launcher.
Select the Clear defaults button.
Tap your device’s home button and select the launcher of your choice.

Camera App

Google Camera may be available for compatible devices from the Play Store market, but the Pixel and Pixel XL pack a newer version of the app, v4.2, with features that haven’t quite made it to other phones just yet. There’s an overlay that adds shooting grids in 3×3, 4×4, and Golden Ratio configuration, plus a slider for manual exposure control. That’s not all: there’s also a lock focus option, new animations, and performance improvements across the board.

The bleeding-edge Google Camera app doesn’t play as nicely with non-Pixel devices as the Pixel Launcher, unfortunately. Reddit and XDA users have reported success with the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, but only models that have been updated to Android 7.0 Nougat; the app appears to crash on older Nexus devices, like the Nexus 6, and handsets from other manufacturers. There’s a sliver of a chance it might work on other phones, but for now, it’s likely a Nexus-only affair.

If you’re willing to take the plunge, here’s how to install Google Camera v4.2:

Download the Google Camera application using your device’s internet browser.
After it finishes downloading, install it by navigating to your device’s download folder with your file manager of choice and tapping the Google Camera app.
Tap Install.
Once the installation finishes, you’ll see an icon for the Google Camera.

That’s all there is to it.

There’s another annoyance to note: if you’ve installed the Google Camera from the app store, it won’t replace it. Instead, you’ll have two Google Camera icons side-by-side in your app drawer. One workaround involves disabling or uninstalling the original Google Camera, but we recommend against it — put simply, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

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