Skip to main content

Google Call Screen transcripts start rolling out to Pixel smartphones

Google’s Call Screen remains one of the most impressive additions to the Pixel 3 — and it’s set to become even better with the rollout of a new feature.

Call Screen, which was built into the Pixel 3 phone app and eventually also released for the Pixel 2 and Pixel, uses Google Assistant to answer calls. It can be activated by tapping on the “screen call” option that appears whenever someone is calling.

Recommended Videos

Upon activating Call Screen, Google Assistant asks the caller the purpose of the phone call. Users will then be able to see a live transcription of what the caller says. The transcription’s quality may vary from call to call, but it should give users a good idea whether the incoming call should be answered — and let them block unwanted spam callers.

To make the feature better, Google has started rolling out a new transcripts option for Call Screen. Transcripts disappear after a call ends, but with the new feature, users will be able to save them to use however they wish.

To access saved Call Screen transcripts, users will need to go to the Recents tab of the phone app, select the call they want to look at, and then choose Call Details. Users should then see a See Transcript option.

In addition to showing the conversation between Google Assistant and the caller, the feature also allows users to submit simple feedback (a thumbs up or down) regarding the quality of the transcription.

Call Screen transcripts is not a surprising addition, as the original support documentation for the feature contained references to it. Google previously mentioned that Call Screen transcripts would arrive before the year ends; it seems Pixel owners are gaining access to the feature right on time.

It remains unclear how widely Call Screen transcripts is being rolled out, but Pixel owners may check by using the “screen call” option for an incoming call, then going through the process of retrieving the transcripts.

The purpose of Call Screen is to stop users from wasting time picking up calls from unknown numbers. The saved transcripts will make it easier for users to look back and remember if they made the right choice in answering a call.

Aaron Mamiit
Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…
A brilliant Google app fixed my problem with the Pixel 9a’s camera
OuttaFocus: A brilliant Google app fixed my problem with the Pixel 9a’s camera

The Google Pixel 9a’s camera isn’t the most feature-packed on the market, it doesn’t have four or more lenses on the back, and it doesn’t even have a telephoto camera either. Yet, here I am, thinking it may be all the smartphone camera I need. However, it only becomes this good after you spend some time editing your photos once you’ve taken them.
Why it may be all the camera I need

There’s something very special about the Pixel 9a’s camera app. It’s sensibly set out and fast to react, and does what I want when I want it. You can double press the phone’s power button to jump into the camera app, plus it’s possible to make small tweaks to the brightness and shadows in real time. It’s less complicated than a full Pro mode, and easily ignored if you don’t want to bother with any of it.

Read more
We just got our best look yet at the Google Pixel Watch 4
Active watch face in Rosebush color scheme on Pixel Watch 3.

The Google Pixel Watch 4 is the next entry in Google's celebrated wearable lineup, and we just got a great look at a set of new leaks. The images come courtesy of Steve Hemmerstoffer, better known as OnLeaks, as well as 91mobiles. In addition to 5K renders, we also have a 360-degree video that lets us examine the phone from multiple angles.

Right off the bat, you'll notice the Pixel Watch 4 hasn't shifted away from the circular design of the Pixel Watch 3 in any major way, but it does look to have smaller bezels. That's not surprising, given the ongoing push across the entire industry for smaller bezels on every display.

Read more
The Google Pixel 9a is the super slimline phone we’ve been waiting for
The back of the Google Pixel 9a.

I’ve never let a camera bump bother me. They’re a fact of modern smartphone life, as brands shove bigger and better cameras into a small space which is also occupied by processors, batteries, and all kinds of other tech. But going forward, things will never be the same as I’ve been using the Google Pixel 9a for a few days, and I can tell you, the slimline life is so good.
Is it really that different?

The Google Pixel 9a doesn’t have the now-iconic Pixel visor or island containing the cameras. Instead, it doesn’t have anything as its two cameras live inside a stadium-shaped glass unit that sits almost flush with the surface of the rear panel. It’s raised by a millimeter or so, which you only notice when you run your finger across it. A flash unit sits alongside it, and it’s entirely built into the back of the Pixel 9a.

Read more