All articles tagged with #pixel
Google's April Pixel update is a small patch that fixes five issues across the Pixel line, including a missing Backup menu in Settings, crashes in banking/third-party apps, game crashes, a sometimes-missing quick search bar on the home screen, and Quick Share crashes, with device applicability varying by model.
Leaked renders suggest the Pixel 11 will feature slimmer bezels and a solid black rear camera bar, with rumored specs including a Tensor G6, a 6.3-inch OLED display, and dimensions nearly identical to the Pixel 10; a launch is expected in August.
Google's March Pixel Drop brings practical travel-focused features: live location sharing in Google Messages via Find Hub; secure, expiring luggage-tracking links for airlines through Find Hub; Play Store now shows short app preview videos for quick demos; personalized Calling Cards in the Phone app; and kid-friendly games in Android Auto, all aimed at smoothing daily life and travel without a drastic UI overhaul.
Google’s Now Playing feature is now available as a standalone Pixel app featuring a modern three-tab UI (Now Playing, History, Favorites) and a refreshed Home screen tile, but it’s currently limited to Pixel 10 devices running Android 17 beta and won’t work on older Pixels yet, with a broader rollout to other devices likely in the future.
Google has turned Now Playing into a standalone Pixel app on the Play Store, moving it out of Settings to enable faster updates and greater visibility. The app still identifies songs entirely on-device using a fingerprint database (no audio is sent to the cloud), and Google is testing a refreshed UI with clearer album art and easier navigation between the song history and recognition features.
The March Pixel Drop delivers eight upgrades that expand Android functionality and Pixel Watch features, including real-time location sharing in Messages, a Find Hub link to share luggage location with airlines, Google Play Shorts, new calling cards, upgraded At a Glance with live transit, sports, and finance updates, Look Circle to Search for outfit recognition and try-on, a Pixel Watch auto-lock alert when the phone is distant, and Express Pay on the Pixel Watch for contactless payments.
Google announced a March Pixel Drop with Find Hub location sharing for Messages and airline baggage tracking, a customizable Calling Card in Phone by Google, a Google Play Shorts discovery feed, Circle to Search shopping improvements, and AI features like Magic Cue for restaurant recommendations and AI-generated home screen icons. Pixel Watch owners gain new lost‑phone alerts, Express Pay, earthquake alerts, and Satellite SOS expansion to Europe, Canada, Hawaii and Alaska.
Google's March Pixel drop adds a desktop-like, multi-window mode when Pixel devices are connected to an external USB-C monitor, with mouse and keyboard support; the feature supports Pixel 8 and newer (including the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and Pixel 10 Pro Fold) and will bring a desktop windowing experience to the Pixel Tablet as well.
Google's March Pixel Feature Drop rolls out 12+ new features across Pixel devices, including AI-generated custom icons, a standalone Now Playing app, real-time location sharing in Messages, Circle to Search with Try It On, updated At a Glance widgets, restaurant recommendations via Magic Cue, Gemini groceries/ride ordering, and broader accessibility and desktop/camera enhancements across Pixel 6 and newer.
Two former Google employees and one of their husbands were indicted on 14 felony counts of conspiracy and theft of trade secrets related to Google’s Tensor processor for Pixel phones, potentially facing more than 20 years in prison if convicted.
Google has released Android 17 Beta 1 for Pixel devices, focusing on testing system and API changes with no major user-facing changes yet. Highlights include expanded adaptive-apps support that requires resizing and windowed multitasking, smoother camera sensor switching, and enhanced media encoding with Versatile Video Coding (VVC). Beta 2 is planned for March, with a final update later in 2026; supported devices include Pixel 6–10, Pixel Tablet, and the original Pixel Fold, and OTA enrollment is via Google's beta program.
Google says AirDrop-like file sharing will expand to a broader range of Android devices beyond the Pixel 10 via the Quick Share platform, with announcements expected soon—likely tied to a March Pixel Feature Drop and a broader 2026 ecosystem rollout.
Google has released the February 2026 Pixel update for devices from Pixel 7a to Pixel 10 (and Pixel Tablet/Fold), focusing on security fixes per the Pixel Update Bulletin rather than new features; updates are available via OTA or factory images, with carriers rolling them out soon and a shift to quarterly schedules for older lines. The article lists device-specific build numbers and provides flashing instructions.
Google hints at new Pixel Theme packs for the Pixel line after ending the Wicked-themed launch; there’s no announced timeline or details, and it’s unclear whether future packs will be brand-sponsored or original, with theme creation limited to Google rather than developers.
Google released Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 for Pixel devices (phones, tablets and foldables) on January 14, 2026, with OTA updates rolling out and emulator support listed as TBA. The beta carries builds CP11.251209.007.A1/CP11.251209.007 for supported devices and includes fixes for at least a dozen issues, such as unresponsive app drawer, Android Auto logging heavy battery usage, display/UI rendering glitches, charging-limit handling, Wi‑Fi speeds, radio/app crashes, audio routing during calls, and foldable activity lifecycle issues. Users can enroll in the Android Beta or install via OTA/files; supported devices include Pixel 6/6 Pro, 6a, 7/Pro, 7a, Fold, Tablet, 8/Pro, 8a, 9/9 Pro/XL/Fold, 9a, and 10 series, with security patch level 2026-01-05 and Google Play services 25.47.33.