Android’s Emergency Live Video & Pixel Watch 4 Gestures Revealed
▼ Summary
– Android phones now support Emergency Live Video, allowing users to share live, encrypted video with dispatchers during emergency calls in select regions.
– The live video feature activates when a dispatcher sends a request, which the user must accept, and can be stopped at any time without prior setup.
– Google’s Pixel Watch 4 introduces new gesture controls named Double Pinch and Wrist Turn for actions like answering calls, similar to Apple’s features.
– Apple Fitness+ is expanding despite internal challenges, including a management change following allegations of a toxic work environment.
– There is speculation that Apple Fitness+ may eventually be integrated into a rumored, broader Health+ app to consolidate health data.
Android users in the United States, Germany, and Mexico now have a powerful new tool for emergencies. A feature called Android Emergency Live Video allows dispatchers to request a live video stream directly from your phone during a 911 call or emergency text. Designed for devices running Android 8 and newer with Google Play Services, this tool requires no prior setup. When a dispatcher sends a request, you simply tap to accept, and your phone’s camera begins streaming an encrypted feed. This real-time visual information can be crucial, whether helping first responders assess a road hazard or providing remote guidance for medical procedures like CPR. Users retain full control and can stop the video stream at any moment.
In the world of wearable tech, gesture controls are becoming the new standard for convenience. Following Apple’s lead with features like Double Tap and Wrist Flick, Google is introducing its own suite of motions for the upcoming Pixel Watch 4. The new gestures, dubbed Double Pinch and Wrist Turn, allow users to perform common actions without touching the screen. A double pinching motion can answer calls, end them, or pause timers, with the watch providing helpful hints for when to use it. These join the existing Raise to Talk feature for interacting with Gemini. This marks a return to wrist-based gestures for Google, reminiscent of the flick-to-scroll controls from the early Android Wear days, highlighting a cyclical trend in wearable interface design.
Meanwhile, Apple’s Fitness+ service is navigating a period of transition. Despite being a financially modest part of Apple’s portfolio, the subscription workout platform is expanding into new international markets. This growth comes amid internal changes, including a shift in leadership following allegations of a toxic work environment under previous management. The division is now overseen by Apple Health head Sumbul Desai. For many users, the broader hope is for greater integration within Apple’s ecosystem. There is speculation that Fitness+ could eventually be folded into a rumored, more comprehensive health application, which would help consolidate the scattered health data currently spread across different iPhone apps and services.
(Source: Wired)
