Google is on a determined mission to make Gemini an indispensable part of our daily routines. With deeper integrations into popular apps like Spotify and the Pixel 9 series shipping with Gemini as the default assistant, it’s clear that Google has ambitious plans for its AI model.
The tech giant has been strategically enhancing Gemini’s functionality with new extensions. After adding extensions for Google apps like Keep, Tasks, and Calendar, along with YouTube and YouTube Music, recent findings suggest even more exciting additions are on the horizon.
An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release.
In the Google app version 15.34.32.29.arm64 beta, we could enable the toggles for new Gemini extensions for WhatsApp, Google Messages, and Android system notifications. While they aren’t working just yet, their official descriptions provide a glimpse into what they might offer.
One of the things I initially liked about Pixels was that I could uninstall/disable a lot of the proprietary garbage that would be mandatory on other phones. But now it looks like Google is abandoning that flexibility in favour of shoehorning Gemini into everything.
My only interaction with Gemini so far was telling it to kick rocks when it sent me an unsolicited text message. I also barely use Assistant to begin with. So once my current phone dies, I guess I’ll have to find something new.
Well, one of the great things about Pixels is that you can install an alternative OS (I use GrapheneOS) that doesn’t come with that crap anyway. I use GrapheneOS, and it has none of Google’s crap. I made a separate profile for the handful of apps that require Google stuff (a couple work apps), and I only access it for less than a minute at a time, and those apps (Google Play Services) have no access to the device’s storage that they don’t strictly need (hooray storage scopes!).
The ironic thing is that I use Google’s phone specifically to avoid Google.
I did similar, I needed a new phone so I picked pixel so I could use GrapheneOS continue the process of degoogling my life.
To be fair, you don’t need a Pixel to degoogle, there are a couple other high quality ROMs that can help with that. But I do think GrapheneOS on Google Pixel is the gold standard, because you get all of the security features Google has put into the Pixel, but without Google’s spyware.
Oh yeah the same “ai” that can’t tell who factually won the 2020 election.
Nice try big data.
I switched back to assistant, because Gemini still can’t do everything I am using the assistant for
Plus no alternative voices…what the hell?
I do not want this on my device at all. What are my options for my next phone that will replace my aging pixel 6 that won’t include Gemini?
a newer Pixel phone with GrapheneOS or CalyxOS installed on it.
If I could keep the good camera with Graphene, I’d be set.
You can still install the Google camera app alongside the GrapheneOS camera app. Double tapping power button still takes you to the built in camera (but you at least have the option of either app). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.GoogleCamera
you should be able to change the camera app launched when double pressing the power button.
On CalyxOS my double press opens the Google Camera. I think because I disabled the default camera app.
I agree that you should be able to change which app opens with double tap. But AFAICT you cannot on GrapheneOS build 2024082200. Someone please enlighten me, if you know a way.
I’m on the most recent GrapheneOS with both the Google Camera app and the Graphene camera app installed and enabled, and can confirm the double tap of the power button can be set to open the Google Camera app! Downside is I have no idea how I did it 😅
As another user mentioned, try disabling the default camera app and see if it defaults to the other one.
I’m unable to disable that app (app.grapheneos.camera). Its greyed out. I assume I did get a prompt initially asking me to “Complete action using Camera” and I hit “Always.” That was before I found and installed the Google camera (com.google.android.GoogleCamera). So I’m still stumped how to alter that double-tap “Open by default” to a different, non-built-in camera app (and I can’t seem to find anything in settings). Not a huge deal, but it would be nice to know. Thanks all!
this is what I get when I double press the power button
I’m certain I initially saw the screen you just posted. I hit “Use a different app” and hit Camera, then later chose Always. Any idea how to alter that double tap behavior to a different camera app (that’s not built into Graphene)? That’s the situation I’m in now. Thanks!
The camera app is just called Google camera on the play store. It works on Calyx with no internet permission so I assume it works on graphene.
You don’t need a different device, just root it and unlock the bootloader to disable the AI stuff..
Or install an alternative ROM that doesn’t ship with the AI stuff.
Ew on both accounts
Ill stick to Signal thanks
They control the OS that’s storing your encryption key and decrypting your signal messages. You still have to trust one of the leaders in surveillance capitalism to not “accidentally” capture all the data they assure you they aren’t capturing.
Who is “they”?
Why? Alternative ROMs exist.
Like hell it will, not on my phone
Yeah, I don’t have it installed, and I actively block/quarantine anything vaguely Google-related. Screw 'em.
Seems like a cool idea but, so far with Gemini on my Pixel, I hate that I can’t tell what’s on device and what’s in the cloud and I ended up uninstalling it. I’m not sure Google needs to know more about me than they already do.
Supposedly the phone can run local models but I’ve only seen it in the recorder app, which isn’t really that useful, especially after all of the hype around Tensor, AICore and Gemini Nano.
Didn’t they say that about Google assistant some time ago? And how many people just disable that on their devices?
