Pixel's at a glance adds sports & finance – a long-overdue upgrade

Google has finally rolled out long-requested sports and finance tracking to its Pixel phone's At a Glance widget, a feature many users have been patiently awaiting.

Track your favorite teams and stocks directly on your lock screen

The update, quietly released late Tuesday, allows users to customize the widget to display real-time updates on sports scores and stock market performance without needing to open separate apps. The functionality now resides within the At a Glance settings, accessible by long-pressing the widget itself.

Users can add sports teams – with options to select from leagues like the NHL – and track individual stocks or indices. The process involves navigating to the 'Sports' or 'Finance' sections within the settings and then adding the desired teams or symbols. The ability to remove tracked items is available via an 'Edit' tab within the respective sections.

The addition of finance tracking is perhaps the most significant omission. Previously, users had to navigate to Google’s Discover feed or a dedicated finance app to monitor market movements. Now, a quick glance at the lock screen provides a snapshot of key market data.

While Google warns that these updates can impact battery life, the convenience of having this information readily available is a significant improvement. For Pixel users who rely on the At a Glance widget for quick information, this is a welcome addition.

The widget has been a point of contention since its debut in 2017. The addition of sports and finance options feels like a natural evolution, delivering information directly to the user without disrupting their flow. It’s a testament to the power of subtle enhancements.