I take screenshots, you take screenshots – we all take screenshots. It’s the quickest way to “save” information, and we love saving time so we can waste it on social media later.
Whether it’s saving a funny meme, a recipe (I do that all the time but never end up cooking it), or keeping track of something important, screenshots are basically my generation’s sticky notes. And just like sticky notes, they pile up, and before you know it your phone’s gallery looks like my mum’s basement.
So, of course, when I saw Google’s new “Pixel Screenshots” app on the Pixel 9 series, I was pumped – finally, someone is thinking about screenshots! To be honest, it’s almost like Google took a peek into my chaotic life/phone and said “it’s time to help him”…
“Pixel Screenshots” app on Pixel 9 series could change your terrible screenshot habits
Pixel screenshots is Google’s new app for saving your screenshots in one place. But there’s a lot more to it!
In a nutshell, Google’s new Pixel Screenshots app will be where all your screenshots go – this means your gallery app won’t be full of random screenshots anymore. But it gets better…
The app doesn’t just dump your screenshots into a folder and that’s it… Google’s put more thought and (you bet!) a whole lot of AI into this.
The Pixel Screenshots app will use AI to give your screenshots titles based on what’s in them. So, if you take a screenshot of a peanut fried rice recipe (I know I did), the app should label it something like “Peanut fried rice” instead of just “IMG_482742_492749”.
Is Google missing the point though? I want to take less screenshots – not more
But, but, but… Here comes my but…
As much as I love the idea of having my screenshots neatly organized into an app, I can’t help but think… Do we really need to be taking more screenshots?! I mean, at this rate, my phone’s storage is going to be as packed as an Olympic village during the summer games.
Here’s a “secret”… Screenshots take up a lot of space on your phone!
If it works, Apple’s new “Personal context” feature might be a better idea for managing screenshots (by eliminating the need of taking them)
Apple’s Personal context feature could be super helpful but it must see everything on your iPhone.
But! That’s where Apple’s upcoming “Personal context” feature in iOS 18 comes into play. Unlike Google, Apple’s trying quite something different 0 maybe even a little smarter.
Instead of organizing your screenshots, Personal context might make it so that you don’t need to take so many screenshots in the first place.
The iPhone’s AI-powered “Personal context” feature could use Siri to eliminate the need for taking screenshots by giving Siri access to your entire phone… So Siri can know and remember everything. And that’s so Siri would be able to answer questions based on all the stuff on your iPhone – texts, emails, Safari tabs, etc.
For example, and as per Apple’s demo on stage, if you ask Siri, “When is my mother’s flight landing?” it’ll pull that info from wherever it’s stored (like an email, a message, or even a screenshot you forgot you took!), and answer your question.
Where I’m going with this is that with “Personal context” on the iPhone, you might not even need to take a screenshot so your phone remembers the info. You need to see it later? Just ask Siri…
That being said, it’s not like “Personal context” is going to remember literally everything you see on your screen. I guess it’s going to depend on the apps you give it access to.
Not to mention, this feature is kinda creepy… I mean letting Siri have access to all your apps to pull out info sounds like inviting a nosy neighbor to your barbecue. They might bring a good potato salad but do you really want them to know where you keep your spare keys?
People will keep taking screenshots no matter what; AI’s goal should be to help us sort them out
Pixel screenshots working on the Pixel 9. Image courtesy of Mashable.
In the end, I’m really glad Google’s Pixel Screenshots app is a thing now. It could be a game-changer for people like me who already have a ton of screenshots and need some help organizing and finding them. It’s a simple solution and it doesn’t ask me to change the way I do things.
On the other hand, Apple’s “Personal context” might be able to fix what I call the “screenshot problem” from the ground up by making screenshots less necessary in the first place.
However, until I see it in action, I’m not ready to say it’s the better idea. Moreover, if Siri’s going to know all my info, she’d better get it right. Which, historically… She hasn’t done very well.
Anyway… I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the Pixel 9 so I can give Google’s Pixel screenshots app a try. And let’s see what “Personal context” can do when it rolls out later this year.
Who knows! Maybe by the next Olympics, I won’t even need to take screenshots of the Turkish John Wick anymore…
