Google Pixel

Google’s Pixel is the home of a lot of crazy camera technology that no one else in the industry has really beaten. The biggest example being Google’s incredible portrait mode, which uses software to create some of the best portraits in the industry. However, there’s one feature that was supposed to arrive, but never did — image obstruction removal.

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Following Google’s release of updated Pixel Visual Core algorithms earlier this week, a new service app has been uploaded to the Play Store today. “Google Time Zone Data” which does as the name implies and is specifically for Pixel and Nexus devices.

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Last year, Google publicly asked for feedback on the original Pixel’s hardware design. Now, the company is seeking data on the software-side of the Pixel experience in regards to settings and device configurations.

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Updates are undoubtedly Google’s biggest problem with Android. While newer versions bring the features users want, it can be ages before major OEMs adopt that version, and well over a year before it becomes the market’s majority, if ever. Today, a “report card” for Android updates has hit the web, and the results are just pathetic…

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Google may not be entirely new to the smartphone scene, but it’s still a minor player when it comes to sales. That said, the company is quickly picking up ground with its Pixel lineup, with sales in the past year doubling.

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AR Stickers for the Pixel and Pixel 2 were announced at the October 4th event and launched in December with Star Wars and Stranger Things content. In time for the 2018 Winter Olympics, Google is now launching a new “Winter Sports” pack and updating another.

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Google’s collection of Pixel smartphones have proven to be fantastic overall, but it’s clear in more ways than one that Google is still getting the hang of this whole hardware thing. Display issues plague the Pixel 2 XL, but another issue affected original Pixel devices and now, Google is being sued over that…

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The “Check for update” button on Pixel and Nexus devices finally works with the latest Google Play services. Version 12.2.09 hit the beta channel this evening and many are reporting that tapping the button now pushes the latest Android security patch to their phones.

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While the marquee feature of the February security patch for the Pixel 2 is third-party photo apps being able to take advantage of the Pixel Visual Core, this update contains a number of other patches for Google’s latest devices.

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Just before the October 4th event last year, Google made waves when it announced a $1.1 billion partial acquisition of HTC’s smartphone division. On Tuesday, hardware head Rick Osterloh revealed that the deal is officially complete.

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Following this morning’s release of the January security patch, several Pixel and Pixel 2 devices have encountered lag after sideloading the update. Issues include slow animations and long app launch times, but fortunately these is an easy fix.

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One of the most essential features for most smartphone owners is the camera. Because of this, Google focused on image quality when it launched the Pixel 2 and introduced new features such as portrait mode. But while the search giant’s latest and greatest got new features, the original Pixel and the last Nexus devices were left in the dust.

Thanks to the developer behind Camera NX, Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X owners can now enjoy taking portrait mode photos by merely sideloading an APK…

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Google constantly changes up minor UI aspects of its various products, and often those changes aren’t received well by users. Currently, it appears that Google is testing a new change to the Pixel Launcher which adds text to the search bar, and it’s…bad.

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The Google Pixel 2’s camera is second to none on the market today, and thanks to software updates it’s only getting better and better. Now, one of Google’s biggest camera features is officially launching with AR Stickers.

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Back in September, a Googler noted that the “Check for update” button on Pixel and Nexus devices would work to offer any available OTAs for download. This has clearly not been the case in recent months, but it will finally work again in 2018.

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As part of Black Friday last week, Project Fi launched a deal on the Android One Moto X4 that nabbed subscribers $100 worth of credit that goes towards their monthly bill. On Cyber Monday, the Google MVNO has extended this offer to the Pixel 2 line and last year’s Pixel XL.

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I think it’s safe to say that one of the most important things in a phone is battery life. You can have the best phone in the world, but that means nothing if it can’t last a day. To help you better predict how your battery will perform throughout the day, Google is adding a new ‘smart battery’ feature to Pixel devices.

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Last month, the Android 8.1 Developer Preview officially brought over many of the Pixel 2’s new features and UI changes — including an updated Pixel Launcher — to the original Made by Google phones. There were some notable differences, but fortunately an update rolling out today is reconciling the disparities.

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Over the weekend, several Pixel and Pixel 2 owners noticed that Google Lens was now available on their devices. Today, Google officially announced the rollout of visual search assistant and that it would be talking place over the coming weeks.

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