Due to a recent DOJ decision, Google’s lucrative relationship with Apple’s iPhone is in jeopardy, and that means the Pixel is even more important than ever to the company’s success. In 2024, it seems like the company will be leaning into AI. It’s got the Pixel 9 Pro with plenty of Gemini AI features, plus the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The company’s also launching a new Pixel Watch 3 as well as the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
9to5Google spotted reports across Reddit that Pixel phones’ Take a Message live voicemail transcription is leaking audio from the recipient’s microphone back to the caller. It doesn’t seem to be affecting every Pixel — 9to5Google couldn’t replicate the bug — and could be limited to older handsets. Google says it’s investigating.
The Mous Pixel Watch Charger, available through Google’s online store for $50, is the first third-party charger that works with the Pixel Watch 4’s side-mounted charging pins. It’s larger and potentially more stable than Google’s $30 Pixel Watch Quick Charge Dock, and can connect to other Mous charging pads.
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For everything from the Pixel 6 on up, there are a lot of bug fixes and improvements on the list for this month’s update, as well as two “Critical” severity security bugs patched.
In addition to the wider list of Android updates confirmed today, the list covers a bunch of freezes and screen glitches on newer devices, including screen brightness that could dim unexpectedly on Pixel 10 phones.
[ Google Pixel Community]
First announced as part of the November Pixel Drop, the feature gives Google Maps a simplified black and white interface when you press the power button while navigating with your phone in portrait mode. Google says the feature can extend battery life up to 4 hours while still displaying basic directions including upcoming turns.
Android Police spotted that just opening the file send menu is enough to disconnect your phone from Wi-Fi following the new Quick Share update that lets Pixel 10 users send files to iPhones over AirDrop. Switching focus to another app is enough to reconnect though, so this bug feels harmless enough.
The latest ads featuring Apple and Google’s mobile flagships could combine for a Nike football cleat and appeared within hours of each other today, before likely going into rotation over the holiday.
For the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple is highlighting its built-in vapor chamber cooling, while the Pixel 10 Pro teases its 100x AI zoom with a Love, Actually tie-in.
Android Authority spotted a new home screen toggle in an Android Canary build. Google shrunk the mandatory widget a little earlier this year, but users want the option to remove it entirely. Then again, Google tested this toggle in 2023 too, and never gave it a release.
[Android Authority]
A new Theme Packs app has appeared on the Google Play Store that says it’ll instantly update the wallpaper, icons, sounds, GIFs, and more on Pixel devices in a single tap. The first seasonal pack is themed around Wicked: For Good, but as Droidlife notes, it’s not ready yet: the app doesn’t do anything if you install it.
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Just as it did with its Weather app for wearables in September, Google has announced that new Wear OS devices from other manufacturers will have to rely on something else. If you have a non-Pixel watch with the Clock app already, it will keep working, but without new updates.
With your favorite watch brands offering their own default clock apps on Wear OS, Google’s Clock app (alarm, timer, and stopwatch) is no longer available for download on Wear OS smartwatches – except for pre-installed on the Pixel Watch.
Android Headlines and leaker OnLeaks have shared CAD renders of next year’s affordable Pixel handset based on leaked info, and you’d be hard-pressed to spot the difference between it and this year’s 9A. Hopefully Google has some upgrades planned under the surface if the design really is going to change so little.
The issue is caused by a font in the latest update to the app (version 10.x) that’s only available through Google Play Services. As a result, it’s crashing or simply failing to launch on phones running GrapheneOS and other “de-Googled” versions of Android, reports Android Authority.
Google published a deeper dive on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s new folding mechanism, highlighting the work of the hingeneers and as MKBHD christened them. The blog post offers a few more details on the process to create the gearless mechanism, which instead relies on CAMs to turn the rotational motion of the hinge into linear motion. It’s interesting stuff, and the beefed up dust resistance is no joke.
The company has... let’s just say a rep for killing its products off. So I’m going to celebrate the fourth Pixel Watch turning out to be the best Android smartwatch around, and hope Google learns that there are upsides to seeing something through.
Ollieollieollie:
Amazing what happens when you actually stick with a product, isn’t it?
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8
Verge Score
Google’s latest folding phone isn’t afraid of a little sand. Ask me how I know.
Two of the best Pixel features are hitting more countries. Google phone owners in Australia, Canada, and Ireland now get Call Screen, with a Hindi beta coming to India soon. They’re all getting Scam Detection too, as are UK users, who got Call Screen last year.
The update to firmware version 4.467 is rolling out, letting the buds adjust ANC on the fly to keep you aware of your surroundings. Announced in August, the update also brings loud noise protection, clearer mic audio for Gemini Live, and head gesture controls to take or decline calls.
8
Verge Score
A great, basic Android phone — now with magnets.
