While the Google Pixel and Pixel XL has been largely considered on top of the heap of smartphones right now, its users still lack some key features enjoyed by older Android flagships. Google seems to be rectifying this issue after Pixel owners began receiving an update that gave their devices double-tap and raise-to-wake features.

The update, which began rolling out Nov. 22, is only available to Canadian users as of this writing. Fans in the lower side of the pond, however, should be anticipating the update soon.

New Google Pixel Features

If you have been living under a rock and are positively clueless about the double-tap and raise-to-wake features, these are functions in Android devices that allow gestures to do specific tasks.

Double-tap enable users to see notifications on the phone's display while raise-to-wake does just what its name states, it wakes the screen once the handset is lifted. Apple device owners have also been enjoying the wake function with the release of iOS 10.

It is important to note that these two features have been available to previous Google devices such as the Nexus 6P. Google watchers, therefore, consider the update not a matter of "if" but "when".

Update Details

The update comes in the form of build number NPF26J, which registered a 261-MB-file size. Once installed, users will have to manually enable the new features. They can do so by going to the Settings menu and choosing Moves. The "Double-tap to check phone" and "Lift to check phone" moves are lumped with "Swipe for notifications," "Jump to Camera," and "Flip Camera" options.

Updating Non-Canadian Pixels

If you think that your only choice is to wait before the update heads over to the United States, you are wrong. The file in all its glory has been captured by some members of the XDA Developers forum and is now promptly available for download. As of this writing the only available OTA.zip file works for the Pixel. There is an available update for the Pixel XL but this is not yet verified.

To install the OTA, users can use the adb command called sideload, which will update a Google device without having to root or flash a custom recovery. Before installing the update, it is important to remember that the file has successfully updated Pixels with build NDE63V. It is not yet clear whether it will also work for NDE63U and NDE63X, builds identified with the international and Verizon models.