While the software on Motorola’s Moto phones is mostly stock Android, there are some additions meant to make using the phone easier, like a gesture that’ll let you twist your wrist twice to activate the phone’s camera. It turns out that Google was planning to bring that feature to its new Nexus phones, too, but the feature ended up getting pulled.
Qualcomm issued a press release following Google’s announcement of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P that points out how both phones are powered by its Snapdragon processors. In the release, Qualcomm says that with Context Core, the cameras of both phones “can launch with two twists of the user’s wrist and display notifications with a budge.” However, that part is now crossed out, and following it is an update that reads:
“UPDATE: The feature to launch the camera via double-twist of the device was replaced by double tap of the power key. The name Context Core has been changed to Android Sensor Hub.”
A hands-on video starring the Nexus 6P shows the device with the double-twist feature, suggesting that Google loaded it up on early versions of its new Nexus phones. Given Qualcomm’s press release, though, Google will likely end up having that feature removed by the time that the Nexus 6P and 5X end up shipping to most consumers. That’s kind of a bummer, especially because I’ve found the double-twist to be super useful in my time with the Moto X, but at least another way to quickly access the camera is replacing the double-twist.