Google Pixel

Just like last year, Google released the first developer preview for its forthcoming major software update in the middle of spring — March, to be exact. Now, just about 5 months later, Android 8.0 (Oreo?) is finally nearing public release. According to some tweets from a pair of well-connected Android reporters, the specific day to mark on your calendar is August 21st.

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Project Fi, Google’s own mobile carrier, piggy backs on T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular networks to bring cheap data plans and an easy-to-use interface when dealing with data usage and bill payments. Its biggest downside, though, is the limited number of compatible phones.

Once several new phones are announced this fall, which device would you buy to use on Project Fi?

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I’ve had the privilege of testing out most flagship and mid-range Android phones over the last couple of years. While in the past I have always been partial to Nexus devices because of its “stock” Android, I always preferred other OEM’s hardware and features.

This all changed with the Google Pixel, the first phone which, at least for me, was the most ideal package of software and hardware Android has seen to date…

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Late last month, Google announced that Android O’s official launch is coming soon. In the meantime, the August security patch is now rolling out. It contains the usual minor bug fixes and security patches for current Pixel and Nexus devices.

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Cases aren’t for everyone. While protecting your investment is important, many just don’t want to lose the thin profile their phone has out of the box. With recent phone designs, though, scratches are incredibly easy. That’s where Peel cases come in. These ultra-thin cases protect from scratches without adding any bulk.

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Developers have long paid much closer attention to Apple’s platform due to the sole fact that people are more likely to fork over cash on an iPhone compared to most Android devices. Now, new data is showing that the gap is finally closing, at least on some devices.

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Hot on the heels of the leaked render of Google’s forthcoming Pixel XL 2 (or whatever it ends up being called), another report out of XDA is adding a few more details about the phone. The site claims the higher-end Pixel will have always-on ambient display features, a variety of use cases for the phone’s purported squeezable frame, a few different display profile options, and other miscellaneous features…

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Following a set of sketchy case leaks earlier today, the first big Pixel leak for 2017 has hit the web. In this first render, we get a look at the somewhat familiar design of the next phone as well as getting some new details on what Google has in mind for its 2017 flagship.

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As we get closer to the release of the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, we’re unavoidably going to start hearing more rumors. While we’ve already heard some tidbits about each of the devices, we haven’t yet seen what they might look like. We’re now possibly one step closer to that, however, as a pair of purported cases for both the Pixel 2 and XL 2 have now leaked.

But as for the legitimacy of these cases, unfortunately, we’re leaning towards dubious at best.

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When Google unveiled the Pixel and Pixel XL late last year, the company announced that the phone would, of course, be available in the typical black and silver colors. What surprised people was a bright blue variant that Google deemed “Really Blue.”

With the next generation of Pixel smartphones supposed to be announced in the coming months, what color do you really hope Google decides to ship the handsets in?

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The Google Pixel and Pixel XL do not take full advantage of their AMOLED panels. While there is an Ambient Display, other devices like the LG G6 and Samsung Galaxy S8 have long offered always on modes. Fortunately, Google appears to be working on such a feature for the Pixel according to code in the Android O Developer Preview.

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Over the weekend, a new leak surfaced that reportedly sheds more light on the upcoming Walleye and Taimen devices. The leak hints at both of the devices’ specs, hardware design, and IO. Based off of these leaks, which of the two new upcoming Google smartphones are you most interested in?

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In recent weeks, rumors of Google’s next generation ‘Pixel 2’ devices have increased in frequency. We reported earlier this month that LG would be manufacturing the likely Pixel XL successor, while back in March we got a look at Google documentation that suggested no headphone jack.

New rumors today corroborate both details and provide the first solid — thought expected — insight into what specs will power these upcoming devices, as well as other design changes in store.

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Google has had various social media campaigns that highlight the Pixel and Pixel XL’s camera prowess. The latest wants to feature photos taken with a Pixel as Backdrop screensavers on Chromecast.

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Yesterday afternoon, the Pixel Launcher surpassed one million installs according to its Play Store listing. You might assume this means Google has sold 1 million Pixel phones, and for that you’d be partially correct. For a variety of reasons, it’s unlikely that this install count directly correlates to sales figures for the Pixel and Pixel XL.

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Every smartphone and tablet has an end-of-life date when the manufacturer will stop spending the money and effort to keep it updated. Although some companies don’t actually tell customers when their devices will no longer receive updates, Google guarantees that its Pixel and Nexus devices will get feature updates for at least two years and security updates for three.

Now, Google has updated its Android updates page to clarify how long they will cover both Nexus and Pixel devices with telephone and online support…

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For those not in the Beta Program running the latest Android O developer preview, the June security patch is now rolling out. Still on 7.1.2, this update features minor bug fixes and a number of security patches for Google Pixel and Nexus devices.

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Google’s Pixel is still one of the best phones on the market today, but getting your hands on it has been nearly impossible for quite some time. That’s led to some very high resale value on outlets like Swappa, and it seems that some people have been taking advantage of that. Now, not those sellers, but the buyers who purchased the phones are seeing the consequences.

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