They may be worlds apart, but in many ways, the new Pixel 2 and the iPhone share a lot in common. One of the many features Google borrowed from its rival is a toggle that automatically silences your phone when you’re driving.
Google’s special keynote for the Pixel 2 highlighted a few things that will already be familiar to iPhone users. Things like the missing headphone jack, Pixel Buds, Portrait Mode, and a feature that allows you to snap “Live Action” photos.
Digging into the Pixel 2’s software uncovers more. Android Police found the ability to automatically enable Do Not Disturb while driving — a feature Apple brought to iPhone with iOS 11 to prevent drivers being distracted by incoming notifications.
The feature uses motion sensors and Bluetooth connections to determine when you’re in a moving vehicle. It then silences all alerts so that you don’t feel the need to take your eyes off the road. You can then catch up with what you missed at the end of your journey.
It’s not yet clear whether you’ll need to be connected to your car via Bluetooth for this to work effectively on a Pixel 2. Relying on motion alone could mean that Do Not Disturb is activated even if you’re a passenger.
But like on iPhone, you’ll get a toggle to disable this feature if you don’t want to use it.
