Google Pixel

One of the biggest selling points of Google’s Pixel device is that they get quick and timely updates, but the past few months have seemingly put a break in that streak. This month, it seems like a lot of Pixel 6 owners have yet to see the December 2021 update which includes the latest Feature Drop. Do you have it yet?

The latest update of 2021 is rolling out today with the Android 12 December security patch for the Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, and Pixel 6 Pro.

The Pixel 6 ushered in the final iteration of Material You on Android 12, as well as a redesigned Google Translate app that could take advantage of the Tensor chip. Now, that redesigned Google Translate app is heading to more Pixel phones.

One of the best features of the new Assistant is Continued Conversation, where your Pixel’s microphone briefly stays open after a response has been given to allow follow-ups. For the past week or so, Continued Conversation on all Google phones, including the Pixel 6, has been broken.

At the end of October, Google announced a mid-cycle update to Android 12 focused on foldables, tablets, and Chrome OS. Beta 1 of Android 12L is now available as the first release for Pixel phones enrolled in the Beta Program.

Google has been under scrutiny this week as multiple reports of mail-in Pixel repairs resulted in compromised accounts and leaked photographs. Now, the company is saying that this breach of privacy wasn’t at the hands of Google employees, and the company will apparently update instructions for mail-in Pixel repairs and help customers lock down their data.

Yesterday’s December patch introduced a slew of fixes that add polish to key Android 12 experiences like homescreen widgets. One such change addresses how Material You customization was largely incomplete due to the absence of widgets.

The very latest Pixel Feature Drop has arrived alongside the December 2021 security patch, and it brings with it the very first set of new features for Android 12 devices — which means that we’ve gone hands-on.

Android 12 offers wallpaper-based colors to apps and the system, and it really shines in Material You’s design on Pixel phones. With today’s latest update, Google Pixel devices can now extend those colors to the boot animation.

In addition to a Feature Drop and the latest security patch, the December 2021 update addresses a whole slew of Android 12 issues for the Pixel 3a to 6 Pro. An organized list of those fixes is available below.

Given that this year’s big Android release rolled out to Pixel phones later than expected, there was no quarterly update that bundled together new user-facing capabilities in September. Google is now back with a Pixel Feature Drop to accompany Android 12 and the December security patch.

Smartphone repairs can be frustrating if you don’t live nearby a location that can handle the issue, and for many Pixel users, that’s exactly the problem they face. As such, mail-in repairs are a popular means of fixing broken Pixel devices. For a couple of users, though, that process has turned into a nightmare with mail-in Google Pixel repairs resulting in “hacked” accounts and more.

Over the years, Google has made several attempts to release a wearable that can compete with the Apple Watch. New Pixel Watch rumors today provide additional details.  

Google’s Android 12 update is huge and exciting, but it also came with an unorthodox timeline and quite a few more bugs than usual. Now, it’s becoming pretty clear that Android 12 is also causing some connectivity/signal issues with Google Pixel phones, including the newly released Pixel 6 series.

Every fall, the latest Google Camera features debut on the flagship Pixel before rolling out to older phones. Version 8.4 of Camera now looks to be rolling out to older Google devices with changes that first debuted on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.

With the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, Now Playing gained a manual lookup capability that appears as a search button on the homescreen. The next Pixel update to Now Playing will introduce the ability to favorite songs and a bottom bar redesign.

With the launch of the Pixel 6, Google only had phone cases and the 30W charger available as day one accessories. You can now pre-order the Pixel Stand (2nd gen) with delivery scheduled for mid-December.