Google made good on its private browsing promise for Pixel users
Good things come to Pixel users who wait.
After teasing private browsing at its Pixel event this past October, Google's finally delivered. Today, the search giant dropped a bunch of new features for its line of smartphones, including that built-in VPN for its Google One cloud storage service. Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users will now have access to this VPN through the Google One app at no extra cost and with no subscription necessary.
VPN by Google One works by encrypting your internet activity and hiding your IP address. If you're using a public network or simply don't want your location tracked, a VPN gives you that protection. In the Google One app, users can toggle "Use VPN" to instantly protect their browsing data and location. Apple has a similar tool for iPhones called Private Relay that similarly comes with a subscription to its iCloud+ or Apple One services, but it's not free for iPhone 14 users. That said, Private Relay only protects user traffic within the company's own web browser, Safari.
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In addition to the VPN announcement, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro now have a module for checking security and privacy all in one place; a Clear Calling feature which enhances the caller's voice and reduces background noise; and an improved Recorder app which can identify and label speakers in the recorded transcript.
Topics Google
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
