Google to introduce double-tap function on Pixel devices with Android 12: Report

According to a report published by 9to5Google, Google is expected to launch the new ‘Columbus’ feature with the Android 12 update. This feature got its codename from the character in the movie Zombieland for his signature double-tap gesture. The report shows that it was first seen in the Android 11 Developer preview.

Google was expected to release this feature for phones that did not come with the ‘Active Edge’ feature (compression functionality) not found in previous three Pixel phones, including the hGoogle Pixel 4A, Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 5.

The new Columbus feature can be customized to the user’s interest or need. According to the report, once the update is released, the user will be able to activate one of the following functions by tapping the back of the Pixel phone twice:

Activate the Google Assistant

Take a screenshot

Pause / resume media playback

Open the notification shade

Open the recent apps view

Currently, Pixel devices support a shortcut to access the notification shade by swiping down the fingerprint sensor. The first swipe lowers the notification shade and the second swipe shows the expanded list of shortcuts in the notification shade.