Kamila Wojciechowska at Android Authority has been on a run when it comes to Pixel leaks, and her latest shows off four new faces reportedly destined for the Pixel Watch 2. This one below reminds me a lot of some complication-heavy Apple Watch faces.
After ten years, it’s time to call it for Android 4.4. The Google packages that enable tons of apps and features will cut out that version of Android starting... now.
As of July 2023, the active device count on KK is below 1% as more and more users update to the latest Android versions. Therefore, we are no longer supporting KK in future releases of Google Play services.
The candy-branded version of Android that was “more google than ever” had both Chromecast streaming and support for IR blasters. It truly contained multitudes.
Since launching its first pair of noise-canceling earbuds a year ago, Google has added useful new features to the Pixel Buds Pro like customizable EQ and immersive spatial audio with head tracking.
I’m biased because these are some of my favorite review photos, but if you’ve got a Pixel phone and somehow haven’t tried the Buds Pro, now’s a great opportunity: they’re only $133.
The Google Pixel 6A is just $249 today, down from its newly reduced price of $349. A 6.1-inch 1080p OLED, IP67 rating, and security updates for the next four years? Try and find that on any other phone under $300.
Whether your Pixel device was released in 2020 (Pixel 4A) or 2023 (Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet), it has an update coming its way.
The bug fixes listed mention charging, battery usage, or thermal performance, as well as addressing some UI issues.
But as Mishaal Rahman points out, the security fixes include several that Google says are under “limited, targeted exploitation” already, so make sure that patch is installed ASAP.
A new “Effects” tab has been added to Google Photos that provides 12 effects and filters for jazzing up video footage, like “Fish Eye” and “Retro Film.”
Android Police got the feature working on a Pixel 6 running Android 13, so this update isn’t tied to an Android preview build. It appears to be a Google beta feature that’s rolling out to Pixel phones first though.
Mishaal Rahman writes on Android Central explaining why Google’s Pixel devices — like the Pixel Fold — tend to be more constrained than others, specifically Samsung’s Galaxy Fold series. It comes down to developer expectations versus user preferences:
Google’s decision to letterbox apps, in my view, is the correct one: It compromises between the desire of developers to not have their apps’ aspect ratios distorted and the desire of users to use their apps in their preferred orientation.
Google is Android’s steward, and as such, it’s important for it to make sure apps behave the way developers intended — even if it means running afoul of user preferences.
As foldables go mainstream, perhaps developers will feel more pressure to optimize for larger screens.
[Android Central]
