- The Google Tensor 3 for the Pixel 8 line could be built using Samsung’s next-gen 4nm process node PhoneArena
- Samsung To Start Mass Production Of 3rd-Generation 4nm Chips In H1 2023, Will Likely Be Used For The Tensor G3, More Wccftech
- Samsung is ready to begin mass production of third-gen 4nm chipsets – GSMArena.com news GSMArena.com
- Samsung to mass produce third-gen 4nm semiconductor chips soon SamMobile – Samsung news
- Samsung Electronics to Begin Mass Production of Third-Generation 4-nm Products in 1st Half of 2023 BusinessKorea
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Tag Archives: Pixel
Pixel 7 and 6 get January 2023 Google Play system update
Google Play system updates occasionally lag behind the current month, with the Pixel 6 and 7 series starting to see the January 2023 release today after skipping December entirely.
The Pixel 7 series had been on the November 1, 2022 build for the past two or so months. It received a handful of updates in the hundreds of kilobytes since the initial release, but not the December release.
This update comes in at 63MB (on a Pixel 7 Pro) and takes you to January 1. 2023. Our 7 Pro happens to be on Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2.1, with a Pixel 7 on the stable January security patch not seeing a download yet this afternoon. That said, there are several other reports this afternoon.
The Pixel 6 series, including 6a, has been in the same boat and is getting a 58MB update today. You have to restart your device for it to install after the quick download and install process.
In other related occurrences, the unified Security & privacy hub has still not widely rolled out to Android 13 QPR2 Beta users. Those on a stable release do not have this issue.
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Fitbit Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications appearing on Pixel Watch
The Pixel Watch does not have the full complement of health features found on even an entry-level Fitbit tracker. Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications are not officially supported on the Pixel Watch, but the functionality looks to be available for some people.
While the Pixel Watch has an ECG app that records electrical signals for 30 seconds and looks for signs of AFib (Atrial Fibrillation) on-demand, it does not support Irregular Heart Rhythm Notifications that work while you’re still or sleeping.
Those alerts are available on the Sense 2, Sense, Versa 4, Versa 3, Versa 2, Versa Lite, Charge 5, Charge 4, Charge 3, Luxe, Inspire 3, and Inspire 2, with the Pixel Watch explicitly not listed on support documents, product pages, or specifications.
However, some Pixel Watch owners are seeing an Irregular Rhythm Notifications page in the Discover tab of the Fitbit app. It explains the feature, and lets you “View Notifications.” This page notes when data was last analyzed.
We’re only seeing it on one Pixel Watch out of several that we checked, while there’s one other report of it being live today. For everyone else (as seen below), the Assessments & Reports page/carousel just lists “Wellness Reports” and “Heart Rhythm Assessment.”
As such, it’s not clear if this feature was intentionally enabled by Fitbit or whether a bug is responsible. It’s somewhat like how you could get Fall Detection if you reset your Pixel Watch and paired again. We’ll be reaching out to the company for more information.
Compared to most other Fitbit devices, the Pixel Watch also lacks SpO2 tracking, high & low heart rate notifications, and skin temperature variation.
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Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2.1 rolling out Bluetooth and 5G Pixel fixes
Similar to last cycle, Google is rolling out Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2.1 for Pixel phones as a bug fixer today.
Google identifies the following issues and fixes in this “minor update” to the initial Beta 2 release:
- Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented devices from automatically connecting to a 5G network even when it was available. (Issue #265093352)
- Fixed an issue where devices did not drop or reset an existing, encrypted Bluetooth connection after receiving a command to disable link-layer encryption for that connection.
The Android Beta Feedback app is available on Pixel phones to detail issues. You can access it from the app drawer or via Quick Settings to file bugs in the Google issue tracker, while the Android Beta community is on Reddit.
Android 13 QPR2 Beta 2.1 system images are available for the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro, as well as the Android Emulator. Google notes how:
If you’re already enrolled in the Android 13 beta QPR2 and your device is running Beta 2, you will automatically receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to Beta 2.1. If your device is still on Beta 1, you will automatically receive the Beta 2.1 patch once you update to Beta 2.
Beta 2.1 (T2B2.221216.008) contains the same January 2023 security patch.
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Pixel 7 users are furious at Google for not taking responsibility over shattered glass
It’s obvious by now that all of these Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users haven’t merely dropped their devices or sat on a brick. Since the Pixel 6 line has yet to see a similar issue, the problem could be related to the aluminum used on the Pixel 7 series camera bar. And while many of the Redditors on the social media site are somewhat angry at Google over the design miscues that have led to the problem, they are furious at the company for how it has responded to their complaints.
Google says the Pixel 7 warranty doesn’t include physical damage
A Reddit subscriber with the handle rsaxena6991 wrote about the glass covering the rear camera bar on his Pixel 7 Pro spontaneously shattering. He has been battling with Google ever since and he says, “However, have been struggling to get them to cover this spontaneous shattering under warranty despite sharing countless Reddit articles, google support case IDs, etc. proving that they have covered it under warranty for some customers who have faced the exact same issue. They keep saying they don’t cover “physical damage.”
The glass on this Pixel 7 Pro’s rear camera bar has shattered
He continues by noting that he is “Absolutely gutted with this and am being asked to pay $400 to repair this via their repair centre. For reference, there was no physical impact, not did I drop my phone, exert stress, or was it subject to extreme temperature fluctuations (these are the conditions where they void warranty and not “physical damage”). So would recommend anyone planning on buying this phone to keep that in mind. This is a real problem and google is taking no ownership of this or treating consumers equitably.”
This is far from the only comment that blasts Google’s behavior and while the shattering of the glass itself made some Redditors hold off on purchasing a Pixel 7 model, Google’s subsequent failure to act sealed the deal. Read this post by a Redditor using the name Popeye-sailor-man. “I was within hours of finally pulling the trigger on the purchase of a Pixel 7 Pro because of the current $150 discount sale; and the phone & power adapter have been languishing in my Google Store shopping cart for a week… waiting for me simply to execute the purchase.”
After consuming a can of spinach, Popeye goes on to say, “But after reading all these horror stories about a) the glass breaking, and b) Google not “owning” either the issue, or responsibility for the phone’s necessary, subsequent repair in forthright, fair and honest fashion, there is just no way I am going to purchase this phone. Perhaps if Google, one day (if ever) speaks to the issue, acknowledges it and, most importantly, indicates that the problem has been FULLY resolved, I might reconsider, but until then, I will stick with my relatively ancient Galaxy.”
Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users want Google to take responsibility
And as we said, this isn’t the only post from a consumer scared off from buying a Pixel 7 series device because of Google’s failure to take responsibility. Frankly, we get it. Google was pounded mercilessly for the bugfest that was the Pixel 6 line (although I must admit that I still love my Pixel 6 Pro) and rebounded to deliver one of the top phones of 2022. Google doesn’t want anything to make the Pixel 7 line look bad. But unlike software bugs, no update is going to fix shattered glass.
While it is true that some of the posts on Reddit are from Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro users whose phones remain intact, there is this from Reddit subscriber Sikkersky who writes, “A single thread on this subreddit alone had over 20 confirmed reports of the issue, and around 50 replies in total, indicating a significant number of affected individuals. It is unacceptable for a company as reputable as Google to produce a faulty product and for customers to have to fight for warranty coverage. It is important that the issue is addressed and that Google is held accountable for their manufacturing errors.”
It seems that the ball is squarely in Google’s court now. There are a decent number of Pixel 7 series owners who are waiting to see whether they will have their phone repaired or replaced by Google for a problem, that from all appearances, the company itself has caused.
Today’s best deals: Apple MacBook Air, Razer Blade, Google Pixel, and more
It’s Wednesday, which means it’s time for another Dealmaster. Our latest roundup of the best tech deals from around the web includes a solid price for the latest M2-based Apple MacBook Air, Google’s value-packed Pixel 6a, and the 15-inch Razer Blade gaming laptop, among other noteworthy deals.
For years, we’ve considered the MacBook Air to be the best Mac for most users. Blending long battery life, sleek design, and good performance, it easily handles most basic tasks any user might throw at it.
In our review of the 2022 model, we found that the M2 processor “makes this one of the most performant and efficient laptops on the market for general information work like browsing the web, working with documents, jumping on Zoom calls.” It also has a great keyboard and trackpad. For $200 off, the $999 MacBook Air is a solid deal, albeit not the lowest we’ve ever tracked. If you don’t mind going back one generation in processors to the M1, you’ll be just as pleased handling similar workloads on a 2020 MacBook Air, which is on sale for $800 right now.
Google’s Pixel 6a is on sale matching its record low of $339, as well. It may be the best value you can get in a smartphone using flagship-level processing and cameras and a clean, sleek software running things inside. Elsewhere around the web, we have discounts on the Apple Watch SE, 2022 iPad Air, Samsung SD and microSD cards, and much more. Check the full curated list below.
Ars Technica may earn compensation for sales from links on this post through affiliate programs.
Featured deals of the day
- Razer Kraken V3 gaming headset for $41 (
$75) at Amazon - Amazon Fire HD 8 (32GB) 8-inch tablet for $60 (
$100) at Amazon - Garmin Index S2 smart scale for $130 (
$150) at Amazon - WD Black D30 (2TB) portable SSD for Xbox for $190 (
$230) at Amazon - Google Pixel 6a (128GB) smartphone for $339 (
$450) at Amazon - GoPro Hero 11 Black 4K camera + one-year GoPro subscription for $350 (
$550) at GoPro - Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch (2022) Wi-Fi, 64GB for $499 (
$551) at Best Buy - LG C2 (2022) 48-inch 4K OLED TV for $999 (
$1,420) at Amazon - Apple MacBook Air (2022) 13.6-inch laptop (Apple M2, 2560×1664, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $999 (
$1,200) at Best Buy - Razer Blade 15-inch gaming laptop (2560×1440, Intel Core i7 12800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 240 Hz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $2,600 ($
2,965) at Amazon
Enlarge / The 2022 iPad Air.
Samuel Axon
Electronics deals
Enlarge / The Pixel Watch. It’s a perfect, round little pebble.
Ron Amadeo
Enlarge / Know your Pixel phones: The one with the black plastic camera bar is the Pixel 6a. The base model Pixel 7 has one black camera oval, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a second camera bar cutout for the zoom lens.
Laptop and desktop PC deals
- Apple MacBook Air (2022) 13.6-inch laptop (Apple M2, 2560×1664, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $999 (
$1,200) at Best Buy - Apple MacBook Air (2020) 13.3-inch laptop (Apple M1, 2560×1660, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $800 (
$1,000) at Best Buy - Microsoft Surface Pro 8 13-inch tablet PC and keyboard (2880×1920, Core i5 Intel Evo, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $850 (
$1,000) at Walmart) - Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 from $500, up to $150 off, at Microsoft
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 from $650, up to $646 off, at Microsoft
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13-inch tablet PC (2880×1920, Core i5 Intel Evo, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $900 at Amazon
- Microsoft Surface Pro 8 from $800, up to $500 off, at Microsoft
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 from $900, up to $200 off, at Microsoft
- Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio from $1,505, up to $200 off, at Microsoft
- Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 13-inch Chromebook (1920×1080, Intel Core i3-1115G4, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for $299 (
$420) at Amazon - Razer Blade 15-inch gaming laptop (2560×1440, Intel Core i7 12800H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 240 Hz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) for $2,600 ($
2,965) at Amazon
Enlarge / The MacBook Air looks quite a bit like the 14-inch MacBook Pro from this angle.
Samuel Axon
Enlarge / Microsoft’s Surface Pro 8.
Andrew Cunningham
Smart home and home audio deals
Enlarge / The Apple TV 4K with Apple’s improved Siri Remote.
Jeff Dunn
Enlarge / Google’s second-generation Nest Hub looks identical to the previous generation.
Corey Gaskin
- Google Nest Doorbell battery-powered video doorbell for $133 (
$180) at Amazon, Walmart - Google Nest Security Cam indoor wired second generation for $80 (
$100) at Amazon, Target, Best Buy - Google Nest Security Cam outdoor or indoor, wired second-generation for $140 (
$170) at Amazon, Target, Walmart, Best Buy - Google Nest Cam with floodlight outdoor security camera for $215 (
$250) at Amazon - Google Nest Mini smart speaker for $25 (
$50) at Target, Best Buy - Google Nest Hub smart display for $60 (
$100) at Target, Best Buy, Walmart - Google Nest Thermostat for $105 (
$130) at Amazon - Google Nest learning smart thermostat for $198 (
$250) at Amazon
Enlarge / The Xbox Series S.
Video game deals
Enlarge / Razer Kraken V3.
Razer
Gaming deals
Enlarge / With its simple design and static lighting, the G305 Wireless is a good mouse for those who don’t like the look of traditional gaming accessories.
Valentina Palladino
Accessories and miscellaneous deals
Google Pixel Fold case model shows off hinge and bezel
After many false starts, the Google Pixel Fold finally seems to be on its way, and now a case model of the device gives us some further insight into what the physical hardware, hinge, and inner display will bring to the table.
YouTuber Dave2D obtained what appears to be a case model of the Google Pixel Fold, which he claims to be “dimensionally accurate” to the actual device Google has in the works. While this model is void of any actual smartphone hardware, the design and shape do line up with previous leaks.
The case model here shows a device that is remarkably thin at 5.7mm, 0.6mm thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 4 when it is unfolded. We also get a good look at the device in hand when it is closed, confirming that the screen will be wider than Samsung’s Fold devices, as we showed in some previous mock-ups based on dimensions.
Related: Google’s Pixel Fold is going to be a bigger Oppo Find N2 – Should it?
A better look at the inside of the device also strongly suggests that Google’s device will have somewhat thick bezels, at least by modern standards, on the inner display. This allows the phone to have a camera that is not embedded in the display using a cutout or underdisplay technology. The bezels were measured at around 5-6mm. A mock-up of what the device looks like with those supposed bezels can be seen below.
The video also gives a look at the hinge, seemingly confirming that Google’s foldable won’t have a gap like Samsung’s devices do today, instead closing flush. This implies that Google will be using a “waterdrop” style hinge, similar to the Oppo Find N2, wherein the display recedes into the hinge slightly when the phone is closed up. Samsung is rumored to be moving to a similar design on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 to help lessen the visible display crease.
Dave2D says he has been told that the Pixel Fold will have a hinge similar to the Oppo Find N series.
The video goes on to point out that the speakers are positioned at the top left and bottom right of the two sides, which might lead to better stereo sound in either orientation. Samsung’s foldables position speakers at the top and bottom of the left side of the device (when unfolded), while Oppo positions its speakers at the bottom of both halves.
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Google Discover rolls out three-column UI ahead of Pixel Tablet
Google has been optimizing its first-party apps with large-screen optimizations since I/O 2022 and that’s expected to culminate with the Pixel Tablet. The latest update is a three-column UI for Google Discover on tablets.
We’ve already shown how Google is updating Assistant and Discover for the Pixel Tablet. The latter change is already rolling out to existing tablets, including Samsung’s Tab S8 with Google app 14.2.7.26 (current beta).
Instead of just two columns of articles, Google Discover now has a third that makes the feed go edge-to-edge. The fullscreen effect is particularly prominent to the left of your homescreen with a black background, while the Google logo and your profile avatar are moved to the top corners.
Meanwhile, the navigation rail in the Google app looks much better without the empty space. We’re still waiting for that side element to switch to the Material You style.
As part of this three-column change, Google now places all articles in cards with faint outlines, while cover images get smaller. The width is identical, but height differs from row-to-row. This is also the case in portrait orientation, though you stick to two columns.
On the Pixel Tablet, Google is expected to add rows of media suggestions that are “From your apps,” like Google TV, as part of a leanback experience and a color background.
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Some Pixel users on T-Mobile’s network are not getting updates
One of the reasons why many smartphone users opt to use a Pixel smartphone is the fact that they get timely Android OS and security updates. They are almost always the first ones to get a major Android OS update whenever it is released. And usually, the update comes like clockwork, almost as soon as a new month comes.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for many Pixel users on T-Mobile’s network. And today, these frustrations have come to light as many of these users turned to Reddit and T-Mo’s website to voice out their concerns.
The users on these threads seem to be complaining about the Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and more. The issue also affects both carrier-locked and unlocked devices.
According to the complaints, some users have not been getting a security update since two months ago. There are also some users who say they had to reset their device before getting the update to work. Obviously, this isn’t ideal and is not something that should be happening in the first place.
Hopefully, T-Mobile addresses these concerns and releases an update for these devices soon.
Source: XDA Developers
Random: Pixel Artist Reimagines Zelda II For Game Boy Advance
Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link might not necessarily be everyone’s favourite, but there are plenty of Nintendo fans out there who still have fond memories of the 1988 NES title.
If you have ever wondered what this game would potentially look like if it was revived for another Nintendo generation (like the GBA era), then check out this wonderful fan art from pixel artist and Twitter user ‘huttaburger’. For the enemy designs, they apparently took some inspiration from Link to the Past and the original Zelda title.
The same pixel artist has previously reimagined classics like Super Mario Sunshine as Game Boy Advance titles. And some others in the same field have reinvented titles like Paper Mario series for Nintendo’s retro handheld devices.
If the above artwork has got you interested in Zelda II, you can check out this retro entry via the Nintendo Switch Online service. Obviously, you’ll need to have a subscription to play these games. In the same NES app, you can also access a special version of the game – where you start with your attack, magic and life all maxed out at level eight. It should make things a bit easier!