Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
TL; DR
- The Personal Safety app, which is preinstalled on all Google Pixel smartphones, has just received an update.
- It adds a new feature, Emergency SOS, which activates when a person quickly presses the Pixel’s power button five times.
- When enabled, this action can automatically call emergency services, record a video, and more.
Nobody likes to think about it, but you may find yourself in a situation where you need help. Whether it’s a car accident, a home medical emergency, or something else that requires first responders, sometimes a quicker response to a situation can keep someone alive. This week, Google Pixel smartphone owners can update an app that could save their lives in an emergency.
As for the first time from the GooglePixels Telegram Group (via XDA developer) the pre-installed personal safety app of the Pixel now has a new function, Emergency SOS. This feature is activated when a person quickly presses the Pixel’s power button five times. Pixel owners can set up the feature so that the phone can automatically call emergency services during this action. It can also send messages to any of your emergency contacts, along with real-time status updates on the owner’s location and the current battery life of the phone.
In addition, the function can be set up to automatically record a video for up to 45 minutes. The recorded clip can be backed up to a cloud server for up to seven days. A link to the saved video can also be automatically sent to any emergency contacts.
Pixel owners can continue to use their phones normally while the emergency SOS function is active. You can also go into settings and set things up so that the feature doesn’t start automatically after the power button is pressed five times, but instead allows owners to send messages to contacts and emergency services.