Tag Archives: Google Pixel

Technology

Don’t Buy Google’s Official Pixel Cases

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Smartphones and cases go hand-in-hand. After all, these pocket computers we carry with us everywhere are expensive and fragile; it only makes sense to protect them. Smartphone manufacturers like Google know this, and make their own cases to sell to you alongside one of their devices. However, when Google asks if you want one of their cases when picking up a new Pixel phone, say no.

As reported by The Verge, there are dozens of complaints on both Reddit and Amazon surrounding Google’s official Pixel 6 cases, surrounding three main issues that seem to be recurring with these cases: the material is yellowing; the cases don’t fit the phones; and, if they do fit the phones, the case itself is warping, so the material juts out around the buttons. Some even accuse the cases of scratching their phones, which is, of course, what you buy a case to prevent.

One post from Redditor A_Giant_Baguette that inclued photos caught the attention of the crowd in r/googlepixel. You can see from this image the way the case warps around the Pixel’s volume buttons, while this photo shows off how badly the case has yellowed. These issues reportedly cropped up over the course of seven months, which is way too fast for a $30 smartphone case, especially one made by the same company as the phone itself.

Even worse, seven months is a long time compared to the experiences of some other customers, who reported their cases started to deteriorate after two or three weeks. Whether your case looks new for two weeks or seven months, you have a right to be frustrated with a clearly defective product.

That’s not to say everyone who buys a Google case for their Pixel experiences these issues. If you scan the review pages for them, you’ll find plenty of positive assessments in addition to the complaints. However, the complaints are hard to ignore. Some users who bought through Google’s store Amazon can’t even get their money back; A_Giant_Baguette, who id just that, reports that when they asked for a refund from Amazon, they were sent to Google, who, in turn, sent them back to Amazon.

When they finally got in touch with someone at Google, they were told the company doesn’t provide warranties on products purchased through third-parties—even though that “third-party” was the official Google Store on Amazon. (Take that as another lesson here: don’t buy anything Google-made from anyone other than Google if you want Google to cover it.)

For now, your best course of action is to look elsewhere for your Pixel case. Hopefully, Google figures out the issue and does better with the next case it makes. The company’s fabric cases were a hit, so maybe we’ll see those return for the Pixel 7, if not one of Google’s other upcoming devices.

[The Verge]

  

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Update Your Pixel Now to Squash These Bugs

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Photo: Gabo_Arts (Shutterstock)

Google’s Android 12 security patch for the month of May is here. If you have a Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6 Pro (including any XL variants), you should see this update hit your device shortly. While it’s called the security patch, the update doesn’t just fix security flaws; it also solves these three bugs you might have run into.

Let’s start with the squashed bugs (may they rest in peace). The May security patch includes fixes for just three of them this time around, affecting your Pixel’s display and graphics, sensors, and UI:

  • Display / Graphics: Fix for issue occasionally causing display to wake without user interaction.
  • Sensors: Improvements for haptic feedback under certain conditions and use cases (Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro only).
  • User Interface: Fix for issue causing launcher crash after restarting device in certain conditions.

If you noticed the display starting up without your input, that should stop after this update. Likewise, haptic feedback on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro should now be working better than it previously was, and your Pixel’s launcher should be more stable.

That’s it for the bug department. Before you run to Google, complaining about the other bugs on your Pixel this update doesn’t solve, don’t worry: According to 9to5Google, next month’s update, Android 12 QPR3 should come with an array of bug fixes.

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However, you should still install the May security patch, even if you don’t care about fixing any of the three bugs listed here. According to patches dated May 1, 2022 and May 5, 2022, Google patched 37 vulnerabilities in total. Notably, the security patch features a fix for the “Dirty Pipe” flaw, which could potentially allow hackers to control your phone by running malicious code through apps that ask for access to your phone’s files.

Luckily, it doesn’t seem as if any of these vulnerabilities have been actively exploited yet, even Dirty Pipe, so there isn’t the same immediacy to installing the patch as there would be if hackers knew how to exploit the vulnerabilities. That said, there have been examples of how Dirty Pipe could be exploited, so it’s likely only a matter of time before hackers decide to go after the flaw.

Regardless, it’s always good practice to keep your device up-to-date with the latest security patches; you don’t want to compromise your data or privacy because you didn’t bother to update. To check for the new update, go to Settings > System > System update.

[9to5Google]

   

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Technology

Google Pixel Watch Release Date Rumored to Be May 26

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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 was the first Wear OS 3 smartwatch.
Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo

Rumors surrounding Google’s forthcoming Pixel smartwatch have been circulating for more than a year, and while we know some details about the product, a specific release date hasn’t even been speculated.

Today, that changed. Leaker Jon Prosser posted on Twitter that Google is planning on launching the Pixel Watch on May 26, a date that aligns with the company’s I/O developer conference.

Prosser had previously said that Google might reveal the watch alongside the Pixel 6 in October but warned that the date was a moving target. He later corrected the timeline, claiming the watch had been delayed to Q1 2022. Now the device looks likely to arrive in Q2.

While Google hasn’t confirmed the release date—no less the existence of a Pixel Watch—just yet, this latest leak should be encouraging Android users waiting for a proper Apple Watch rival because, as Prosser points out, this is the “first we’ve seen a set date on the device behind the scenes.” Moreover, Google’s I/O 2022 conference, which took place from May 18 to 20 last year, would be a logical launchpad considering it’s where Google announced Wear OS 3, the most meaningful update to its watch OS in years.

We’ve been hearing about a Google-made smartwatch for a long time now, and while Google has squashed those rumors in years past, now might finally be the time. A December report claimed the codename for the device is “Rohan” and that it’ll have a round face (like basically every other Android smartwatch). It is said to offer basic fitness-tracking, like step counts and heart rating monitoring, along with other features taken from Google-owned Fitbit.

There had been plenty of speculation about how Google would approach smartwatches after finalizing its acquisition of Fitbit last year. It was unclear whether the company would release a Pixel-branded device or go the Nest route and put its smartwatch division under the Fitbit brand. Anything is possible, but leaks and rumors suggest the wearable will be a companion device to Google’s smartphones.

If past leaks are accurate, then we’ve already seen the device. Late last year, Prosser posted on his YouTube channel what he claims are official promotional photos. They show a watch similar to the one featured in renders from April—it has a circular design and a practically bezel-free watch face that waterfalls around the edges.

As for specs, the rumored wearable could be powered by a Samsung Exynos chip and support Google Assistant, based on a report from 9to5Google that claims to have found a “PIXEL_EXPERIENCE_WATCH” feature tag within a Google app. It might have been assumed that Google would turn to Qualcomm, but remember, Google partnered with Samsung to help it fix its tragically failing smartwatch OS. We wouldn’t be surprised if this partnership also involved using the other’s hardware.

We don’t know how much the watch will cost, but a recent Business Insider report, corroborated by The Verge, claims it will be more expensive than a Fitbit and priced to compete against the Apple Watch. And like the Apple Watch, the Pixel Watch (if it’s named that) will need to be charged daily. In any case, most of what we think we “know” about the Pixel Watch is based on speculation and rumor, so this Android user is keeping his excitement in check.

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Google’s Pixel Watch Might Get an Ultra-Fast Google Assistant

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Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo

Google’s Pixel smartwatch is one of the most anticipated devices on the horizon despite not being a confirmed product, and a new report makes us even more eager to see what’s coming.

The rumored Pixel Watch will apparently be powered by a Samsung Exynos chip and support Google Assistant, according to a report from 9to5Google that claims to have found a “PIXEL_EXPERIENCE_WATCH” feature tag within a Google app.

As the site notes, previous Pixel phones contained similar feature tags that told apps when to provide Pixel-exclusive features. If the forthcoming smartwatch does indeed have its own feature tag, it would suggest that it will receive features you can’t find on other watches.

Hold on, though, because it only gets better from here. The folks at 9to5Google also found references to “Rohan,” the codename linked to the Pixel Watch, and tied them to the next-generation Assistant, or the most recent version of the Google Assistant that debuted in the Pixel 4. The advantage of using the next-gen assistant is that speech can be processed directly on your device in real time, allowing you to quickly open apps, translate speech into text, or perform various functions offline.

As it stands, the latest version of Google’s watch OS, Wear OS 3, is still missing an assistant altogether (the poor Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 relies on Bixby).

Between finding a feature tag containing “PIXEL” and spotting what has been, to this point, a Pixel-exclusive feature, 9to5Google seems pretty convinced that Google’s next watch will indeed be called the Pixel Watch (as has been rumored). This comes just a few weeks after a Business Insider report said it was “unclear” what brand Google would use if it even decides to release the watch.

And while there remains a sliver of doubt as to whether this thing will ever arrive, we have a pretty good idea of how it’ll look if it does. Again, 9to5Google did some digging, but this time, it looked through the Wear OS 3 emulator and found a watch face that seems to give us a glimpse at the Pixel Watch’s design.

One graphic it found shows a round watch face with a prominent crown. On the display is a curved light bar in Google colors (red, yellow, green, blue). While we don’t know for sure, this very much looks like the sort of icon that would appear when you summon the Google Assistant.

It’s worth pointing out that the image found in the emulator looks like the generic watch icon Google used in its Wear OS 3 announcement, and the addition of a pusher button deviates from the leaks we’ve seen thus far.

If those weren’t enough juicy Pixel Watch leaks, we get one more courtesy of 9to5Google, which claims to have “seen evidence suggesting” the Pixel Watch will be powered by a Samsung Exynos processor instead of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus chip. Google and Samsung worked together on Wear OS 3 so it’d make sense for them to share hardware.

It’s possible Google’s upcoming watch will be powered by the same Samsung Exynos W920 found in the Galaxy Watch 4, but like everything else in this latest rumor batch, we can’t say for sure until Google confirms this thing is real.

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Technology

All the Best New Pixel Features Worth Checking Out

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It’s time for a Feature Drop! Google hit us with the news on Monday, Dec. 6, announcing a handful of fun new features for the Pixel lineup of devices. While not all features are available on all Pixels, there is something new for everyone, so long as you have a Pixel 3 or newer. That said, the update isn’t here yet on Pixel 6 and 6 Pro; Google says those users will see the update sometime next week.

Quick Tap to Snap

This catchy name represents a feature for any avid Snapchat user on Pixel. With this latest update, you will now be able to launch Snapchat directly from the lock screen, by setting Snapchat as a Quick Tap action. This feature is available for Pixel 4a with 5G and newer.

Digital car key

There will soon come a day when you can truly leave your house with nothing but your smartphone. Google is getting Pixel users one step closer to that reality with its initial digital car key rollout. This feature, exclusive to select 2020–2022 BMW models (in applicable countries), allows you to lock and unlock your car door by simply tapping your phone on the handle, as well as start the car by treating the Pixel like a key fob.

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This feature is exclusive to Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.

Ultra-wideband is finally here

Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are equipped with ultra-wideband capabilities, but Google disabled the feature upon launch. With this latest update, UWB is finally here; the biggest sell is Nearby Share, which lets you send photos, videos, files, and other types of data to other UWB-enabled devices.

Updates to Now Playing

Now Playing is a great feature; if you want to know the name of a song playing in your space, just take a look at your Pixel’s lock screen. If your phone can identify it, you’ll see the song’s title at the bottom of the display. If your Pixel isn’t automatically identifying a song in your area, however, you can tap the new search button to get things moving (Pixel 4 and newer). If you want to save the song as a favorite for later listening, just tap the music note next to the title.

Customize activating Google Assistant from the power button

You can now choose how long or short you need to hold your Pixel’s power button before you trigger the Assistant.

Conversation mode (beta)

This feature, still in beta, helps you focus on the conversation at hand, and tune out background noise when using earbuds or headphones. All the processing that goes into this feature happens on-device, so Google never sees any of the data generated by your conversations.

New wallpapers

Google added three new wallpapers for International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The new pieces come from artist Dana Kearly, and can be found in the Curated Culture section.

Car crash detection expansion

Car crash detection, an awesome feature already present in Spain, Ireland, Japan, the UK, Australia, Singapore, and the US, is now coming to Taiwan, Italy, and France, for Pixel 3 and newer.

Recorder app expansion

Similarly, the Recorder app has now expanded its library of languages. You’ll now see transcriptions available in Japanese, French, and German, also on Pixel 3 and newer.

Bonus: Pixel Buds A-Series gets a base boost

This isn’t a Pixel feature, but Google highlighted it and so will we. On any Android 6.0 and up phone, you can use the Pixel Buds app to boost the bass from -1 to +4. According to Google, that’s twice the Buds’ original bass range.

You can see Google’s announcement video for many of these new features here:

[9to5Google]

This article was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 7 to clarify changes to Now Playing.

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Google Is Ending Support for Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

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The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are done.
Photo: Sam Rutherford / Gizmodo

Yesterday Google pushed out a November security patch for its Pixel phones, but notably the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL did not get the update.

Pixel users feared the worst: No update means the end of support for the 2018 flagship. It’s true. Google first confirmed to 9to5Google and then separately to Gizmodo that it plans to push out one more update to the Pixel 3 lineup before ending support for good.

The final update for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL should arrive sometime in Q1 2022. This tracks for Google’s typical “kill cycle,” which is a phrase that I just made up to describe when the company sunsets a product.

The original Pixel suffered a similar ending of sorts when the Pixel 5 took center stage—it took some time for its last over-the-air update to roll out. But at the very least, the Pixel 3 gets Google’s big Android 12 update, and it even sports the new Material You user interface.

The writing has been on the wall for the Pixel 3 for some time. It launched three years ago, and on Google’s support page it states clearly that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were guaranteed Android version updates and security updates only until October 2021. I guess Pixel 3 owners are getting a little bit more time than promised.

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The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be supported by Google much longer than their predecessors, which is one reason to upgrade. The Pixel 6 is guaranteed Android version updates until October 2024. Security updates are guaranteed for two years past that, through October 2026.

Google will end support for the Pixel 5 in 2023, while the Pixel 4 will get its last update next year. The Pixel 4a, 4a 5G, and 5a will be supported well into the last half of 2023, and the Pixel 3a and 3a XL will see updates through May 2022.

If you own a Pixel 3 or 3 XL, your phone won’t stop suddenly stop working, but the lack of updates leaves you vulnerable to bugs or security flaws that won’t be getting fixed. At that point, upgrading to a new phone might be worth it.

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Google’s Pixel 5a Gets Leaked Ahead of Launch Later This Month

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While the upcoming Pixel 5a looks to feature a similar design to last year’s Pixel 4a 5G (pictured above), new leaks suggest its internal specs are closer to those of the standard Pixel 5.
Photo: Sam Rutherford

After not making an appearance earlier this summer as previously expected, new leaks have now revealed a bunch of the Pixel 5a core specs ahead of its official release later this month.

According to Front Page Tech’s Jon Prosser, the Pixel 5a is set to go on sale on August 26, though strangely it seems the phone will only be available in two countries (at least initially): the U.S. and Japan.

But more importantly, Prosser also detailed a few of the Pixel 5a’s headline specs, which appear to be quite similar to last year’s Pixel 5, but with a much larger display. Prosser says the Pixel 5a will feature a 6.4-inch display (most likely using an OLED panel) with a 90Hz refresh rate, which would be a significant jump up from the 6-inch screen on the Pixel 5 or the 6.2-inch display on the Pixel 4a 5G. And unlike last year, there doesn’t seem to be a smaller or cheaper version of the Pixel 5a like we got with the standard Pixel 4a. 

Other specs are rumored to include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 chip (which should mean the Pixel 5a will come with 5G connectivity), 6GB of RAM, and a decently large 4,650 mAh battery. Though sadly, unlike the Pixel 5, it seems the Pixel 5a won’t come with support for wireless charging.

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Notably, the Pixel 5a is also expected to feature the same cameras used on last year’s Pixel 5, while also supporting an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and a dedicated 3.5mm audio jack. As for the Pixel 5a’s design, based on recent renders, it seems Google is sticking with a very minimalist approach, with the Pixel 5a featuring a simple matte black body, rear fingerprint sensor, and a punch-hole selfie cam in the top left corner—which is basically the same as last year’s Pixel 4a 5G.

It’s also important to note that while Google has yet to reveal pricing for the Pixel 6, with Google’s upcoming flagship not only getting a fresh new design, a new custom-built SoC, an in-screen fingerprint reader, and improved cameras, it’s clear Google is positioning the Pixel 6 as a high-end premium device. And if the Pixel 6 comes out with a price tag of around $800 or more, that could make the Pixel 5a a more important alternative for anyone looking for an affordable mid-range alternative.

Even though Prosser’s track record of leaks has been somewhat spotty this year (especially when it comes to his Apple leaks), he says that due to the nature of his source, he is “confident” that the details above will be what we get on the final device. Either way, with Prosser saying the Pixel 5a is due out on August 26, we should know a lot more before the end of the month.

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New Pixel 6 Leak Reveals Specs Months Ahead of Launch

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If these leaked specs are accurate, Google seems to be taking a very different approach with the Pixel 6 than it did for the Pixel 5 (pictured above).
Photo: Sam Rutherford

Google isn’t expected to announce its next flagship phones until sometime this fall, but now a recent leak may have just revealed the specs for the upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro months ahead of schedule.

Now before we get into the specs themselves, it’s important to note that these leaks are coming from Jon Prosser, who has had a spotty track record as of late when it comes to leaks and predictions. That said, these new leaked specs seem to be in line with previous rumors and forecasts, so while every detail may not end up being 100% accurate, this leak should give us a decent idea of what Google is working on for later this fall.

According to a “very trusted source” who spoke to Prosser, the Pixel 6 line will be split into two different models, the standard 6.4-inch Pixel (codenamed Oriel), and the larger Pixel 6 Pro (codenamed Raven).

The standard Pixel 6 specs are said to include:

  • 6.4-inch Samsung-made AMOLED screen
  • 8GB of RAM
  • 128GB or 256GB of storage
  • 8-MP selfie cam
  • 50-MP (primary) and 12-MP (ultra-wide) rear cams
  • 4,614 mAh battery

Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro specs are said to include:

  • 6.71-inch LG-made pOLED screen
  • 12GB of RAM
  • 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of RAM
  • 12-MP selfie cam
  • 50-MP (primary), 48-MP (telephoto), and a 12-MP (ultra-wide) rear cams
  • 5,000 mAh battery

Also, both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are expected to be powered by a custom Google chipset and will feature support for Wi-Fi 6e and 5G connectivity.

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Just by looking at those leaked specs, there are a couple of notable takeaways. The first is that with 4,614 mAh and 5,000 mAh batteries, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro would have the largest battery capacity of any Pixel yet by far, which should go a long way towards addressing a common complaint about the Pixel line: mediocre battery life.

But on top of that, aside from the standard Pixel 6 having just two rear cams, for once it feels like Google isn’t skimping on hardware for its upcoming Pixel, which stands in stark contrast to last year’s Pixel 5 which didn’t even attempt to compete with other high-end Android phones. Personally (and I’m sure I’m not the only one), one thing I’ve been wanting Google to do for a long time is put a bigger focus on specs and hardware, and if these leaks are accurate, it seems that might finally happen with the Pixel 6. Google is even bringing back a dedicated telephoto cam for the Pixel 6 Pro, which we haven’t seen on a Pixel since the Pixel 4. 

Unfortunately, there’s no word on an exact price or release date for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro yet, though Prosser says we should keep an eye out for more info in October.

Additionally, even before the Pixel 6 comes out, there’s another Pixel that’s rumored to be on the way. Just this week, the Pixel 5a was spotted in a filing with the FCC (via Android Police), suggesting that we could see a concrete release date in the near future, most likely before the Pixel 6 comes out in the fall.

Aside from some light info about sub-6Ghz 5G support, there aren’t a lot of details regarding the Pixel 5a’s specs. Previous rumors have hinted that the Pixel 5a will include a 6.2-inch OLED display, two rear cameras (including an ultra-wide cam), and possibly a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor.

Either way, Google’s been relatively quiet in terms of new devices throughout the spring and summer thus far (aside from the Pixel Buds Series-A), and it’s starting to feel like the company could be prepping for a huge wave of new gadgets later this fall, so stay tuned for more info as we get it.

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