Google Pixel Recorder upgrade, new Pixel Watch gestures, Circle to Search expansion & more

Google’s big Android 16 QPR2 rollout this week wasn’t without drama. As we covered earlier, some Pixel users are already running into a series of fresh problems, ranging from the Pixel 10’s always-on display flickering, to One-Handed Mode gestures breaking, to lock screen widgets being nearly unusable with Face Unlock, and Google’s new Expanded dark mode struggling with apps like Amazon and map-based services.

But while the update is proving a mixed bag for some Pixel owners, Google has pushed out a flurry of new features and changes across the Pixel ecosystem in the past week. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the things you might have missed.

Google Recorder update brings ‘Create music’ to Pixel 9, plus UI and language upgrades

Google is rolling out Pixel Recorder 4.2.20251104.x, and the biggest news is that the Pixel 9 series is finally getting ‘Create music’, a feature previously exclusive to Pixel 10 devices.

‘Create music’ lets you layer ambient musical “vibes” onto your recordings. From the three-dot menu, Pixel 9 owners can now pick from six preset moods, namely Chill Beats, Cozy, Dance Party, Rainy Day Blues, Romantic, and Surprise Me, or build completely custom vibes by mixing a genre with a tone. Google then processes the recording for a minute or two using a refreshed Material 3 Expressive interface.

The update also adds:

• More summary languages
  • Hindi, Mandarin, and Italian summaries on Pixel 8 & 9
  • English, German, French, and Japanese summaries newly enabled on Pixel 8
• Clear Voice UI tweaks, including a new bottom label on the playback screen
• Updated toggles with clearer checkmarks
• A renamed “Auto Clear Voice” setting, with a storage note and a disclaimer about external mics/stereo not being supported
• A revamped full-screen account menu (force-stop the app after updating to enable it)

Pixel Watch may soon get Apple Watch-style pinch gestures — and resurrected wrist flicks

A teardown of the latest Pixel Watch app (v4.2.0.833802130) reveals Google is preparing new system gestures for the Pixel Watch line, including features once found on early Android Wear versions.

The most notable addition is “Double pinch.” According to Google’s own strings, the gesture can answer calls, interact with notifications, take photos, and more. That sounds extremely close to the Apple Watch’s accessibility gesture.

The same app build also references “Wrist turn” gestures, which resemble the classic wrist flicks from the Android Wear era. Back then, these gestures could scroll through notifications hands-free. Google’s new version appears simpler: wrist turns will be able to silence calls or dismiss alerting notifications.

None of these gestures is live yet, but their presence suggests a considerable upgrade for hands-free controls on Wear OS.

Continuous Circle to Search translation rolls out to Pixel phones

Google is now expanding Continuous Circle to Search translation (a.k.a. “Scroll and translate”) to Pixel devices with Android 16 QPR2. Previously reserved for Samsung phones, the feature lets users scroll through a page and see translations update dynamically and avoid relaunching CtS every time new text appears on-screen.

A glow effect and a persistent bottom pill indicate continuous translation is active. Tap X to stop, or collapse the pill to the corner.

Google still lists the feature as “available on select devices,” but we’re already seeing reports of the feature on multiple Pixel units, even those running the stable Google app.

The expansion arrives alongside Google’s ongoing push to integrate Lens and Circle to Search into anti-scam protections across apps.

Android rolls out major accessibility improvements

Google also announced a sweeping set of Android accessibility upgrades alongside QPR2, some of which are already live on Pixels and others rolling out soon.

We’ve already highlighted the expanded auto-dark theme for unsupported apps even in its imperfect glory, but there’s more. Gemini upgrades for accessibility on Pixel include Guided Frame, which gets Gemini-powered, richer descriptions for framing photos. Smart Dictation upgrades were initially announced but later retracted by Google.

There are also TalkBack and Voice Access improvements, such as a new two-finger Gboard gesture to activate dictation, Gemini-based “Hey Google, start Voice Access” hotword activation, and support for Japanese, better command recognition, and the ability to toggle device settings.

Google’s Find Hub gets a major push, now integrated into the Android setup

Google is improving the adoption of Find Hub, its crowdsourced item-tracking network, by adding a new enrollment screen to the Android setup process.

This new page, titled “Find your device and help others too,” simplifies tracking choices to just two:

1. Findable everywhere
   • Most reliable
   • Works even in low-traffic or remote areas
   • Uses your device’s location even if it’s the only one nearby
2. Findable in busy places only
   • Works only when multiple devices detect an item
   • May struggle in rural or low-traffic areas
   • Mirrors the current default setting

The new language is far clearer than the old four-tier menu and explicitly warns users about the limitations of the “busy places only” option.

Reports suggest the screen is currently appearing on new Pixel 10 units, especially those shipping with newer Google Play Services builds. The default setting may also carry over from previous devices, meaning behavior will vary until rollout is broader.

If widely adopted, this setup integration could significantly strengthen the Find Hub network, especially in regions where device density is low.