Google Pixel 2 February Update Allows Indian Users to Turn off Camera Sounds

Google Pixel 2's Camera Fails Miserably Under LED Lighting

Google recently started pushing the February security patch for its Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL smartphones. While the marquee characteristic of the update is to enable the third-party apps take reward of the Pixel Visual Core, the update besides brings a plethora of other features. One interesting change which nosotros came across is that Google now allows you lot plow off the camera shutter sound for Indian Pixel 2 devices.

Beebom's resident photographer, Sharun Mittal, who besides happens to be a Pixel two fanboy, noticed this earlier today on his device following the update. The stock Google Camera app on the Pixel 2 and the Pixel ii XL at present testify users an option to toggle the shutter sound for the camera.

Google Pixel 2 February Update Allows Indian Users to Turn off Camera Sounds — No shutter sound toggle before update (left)
Camera shutter sound after the update (correct)

Just to be clear, theGoogle Camera app immune users to turn off the shutter sound last year. However Pixel and Pixel 2 devices in India did not have this characteristic. In fact, users take reported in the past that removing an Indian SIM revealed the toggle to let you turn off the audio previously. But now, Indian Pixel 2 devices take this choice by default.

Although this doesn't sound like a huge change, it is indeed a much-demanded feature by Indian users. However, information technology is worth wondering why it wasn't part of the app from concluding twelvemonth, or what changed to allow its inclusion now.

Pixel smartphones are not the merely ones to disable turning off the shutter audio. Samsung, for instance, doesn't give an option to disable the shutter sound. OnePlus, on the other manus, allows yous to disable it hands.

As y'all may or may not know, it is illegal to take photos without the shutter sound in some parts of the world. Take Japan for example. Aye, all cellphones in Japan must have the shutter audio and information technology can't be disabled.

As of now, we're not sure why has Google has decided to enable this feature suddenly for Indian devices. Another question is whether it will exist retained in the next update. What do you think about the privacy ramifications of this change? Allow us know downward below.