Google Releases Android 17 and Wear OS 7 First on Pixel Devices

Google on Tuesday released the final version of Android 17 and Wear OS 7. The operating systems arrive first on Pixel devices and are accompanied by a Pixel Drop that adds support for the Lyria 3 music-generation model, the Gemini Omni multimodal model, and speech-to-translation tools using AudioLM for Pixel 10a devices.

Android Quick Share became compatible with Apple AirDrop on Pixel 8a and 9a devices.

Gemini Omni now allows users to edit videos in a conversation. Lyria 3 lets users create music tracks using text prompts and images in the Gemini app. Pixel 10a devices received improved speech-to-speech translation tools with AudioLM.

Users can now record a personalized outgoing audio message for callers when unable to answer. The Take a Message feature is arriving in more global markets. Emergency detection features were added to the Google Pixel Watch, which will automatically contact emergency services and selected contacts upon detecting a car crash, fall, or lack of pulse.

Android 17 introduces a bubble bar UI element for organizing and accessing recent apps. The system allows simultaneous recording with the selfie camera and phone screen for reaction videos. Android 17 adds a Mark as Lost feature in Find Hub and Live Threat Detection along with other threat defense tools.

Parental controls in Android 17 can now be set with a PIN without linking a Google account. Android 17 introduces a new foldable gaming mode with a 50/50 layout and dynamic game pad. Wear OS now supports live updates from phone apps mirrored to the Pixel Watch.

Wear OS will gain more Gemini Intelligence features this summer, including tools to create personalized widgets by describing them. Wear OS will offer Personal Intelligence by connecting Google apps and chat history with Gemini this summer. Google claims battery life improvements of up to 10 percent.