Google

It was no secret going into Google’s October 4 event that the company planned to announce its second generation smartphones without headphones jacks. To not alienate owners who still preferred wired headphones, Google chose to include a USB-C to 3.5mm port dongle in the box.

According to one man who just bought his Pixel 2 from Verizon, it looks like Google had considered including wired headphones in the box…

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It was suggested back in August that Google was paying Apple $3B this year to remain the default search engine on iOS devices. That’s up from the $1B it’s known to have paid in 2014, and – as it’s almost all profit – is estimated to account for a whopping 5% of Apple’s total operating profit for the year …

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One of the flagship features that arrived with the Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL is something called Now Playing. When turned on, Now Playing identifies songs playing in the background automatically and lists the song’s name and artist on your lockscreen. Unfortunately, though, when that information disappears from your screen, it’s gone forever. ‘Now Playing History’ fixes this problem…

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While Google’s larger Pixel 2 XL has been seeing numerous complaints, the smaller Pixel 2 has been a solid overall option with minimal issues. However, we have noticed one thing about the phone that seems a little strange — the two front-facing speakers sound completely different.

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The Pixel 2 and 2 XL haven’t even been out for a full week, and the latter of the two is already experiencing a slew of different problems, most of which pertain to the display.

Now that a good number of units have shipped, we want to know if you’re experiencing any of the problems we and many others have been dealing with…

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It’s been a rough week for Pixel fans. As Google’s new flagship devices have been slowly making their way to reviewers and customers alike, many have been running into issues with the LG-made display on the Pixel 2 XL. Though the initial complaint was regarding the sRGB display looking less vibrant than the more saturated OLEDs panels we’re used to from Samsung, much more serious problems have begun popping up.

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After spending hundreds of dollars on your smartphone, you probably want it to last a while before breaking. The Pixel 2 thankfully has a pretty grippy build, but you’re probably going to drop it at some point. If a case isn’t your thing, you’ll want to know how tough the phone is naked. Thankfully, the first drop test has arrived to answer that question.

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In addition to phone cases, the Made for Google program includes screen protectors from InsivibleShield to help protect your brand new Pixel 2. The thing is, though, these tempered glass screen protectors could use some improvements, especially with its $50 price tag…

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Most “bezel-light” devices on the market make their much larger displays more manageable by adopting a thinner, more one-hand friendly 18:9 aspect ratio. In some cases, that doesn’t play well, especially with 16:9 video. Now, YouTube has a native way to adapt to that ratio for Google’s new flagship.

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When looking at case options for your new Pixel 2, it’s always ideal to find something that is a mix of drop protection and style, and is a part of the Made for Google program. Thankfully, Speck has made three different Presidio cases that provide protection from 10-foot drops and come in distinct styles to match your personal taste…

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When our initial reviews of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL went live earlier this week, it’d be generous to say that some people were unhappy with our findings. Both Ben and I criticized our respective review units for some of the aspects of their hardware, but most of our complaints were reasonably subjective — and regardless, a phone’s hardware only tells half the story.

In this week’s Friday 5, we’re covering five of the many reasons why you should still consider picking up the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL.

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Earlier this year, we reported that Google was going to forgo the headphone jack on the Pixel 2. Naturally, that tidbit was met with some pretty negative reactions at first. In a poll, we asked if the lack of a headphone jack be a dealbreaker and almost 60% of you said yes. Despite this, it appears that the demand is still extremely high for both Pixel 2 models.

Now that the Pixel 2 is arriving on your doorsteps, what are your thoughts on the lack of a headphone jack?

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With the Google Pixel 2 arriving at people’s doorsteps, you might be wondering just how durable it is, especially with the glass window around back. Thankfully, we have JerryRigEverything who has taken the Pixel 2 and completed a whole round of torture tests on the device. Long story short, the Pixel 2’s “premium coating” is extremely easy to damage…

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Update #2: The Verge has received the following statement from Google, who says it will reimburse those who paid the premium:

“This was an error, which is now fixed,” a spokesperson writes, adding “Sorry for any confusion. We’ll be reaching out shortly to reimburse those impacted.”

Update: Some report different experiences with Google’s pop-up shop, saying the company changed policy throughout the day. It sounds very much like a “your mileage may vary” situation.

https://twitter.com/jeremyburge/status/921170530236899329

Google today opened brick-and-mortar pop-up shops to promote and sell its new hardware products in Los Angeles and New York City. While Google has held pop-up stores in the past, these stores marked the first time that it was putting its Made by Google products up for sale at them.

The Verge, however, explains that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are actually being sold at a premium at these locations…

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With the release of the Pixel 2, Google launched the “Made for Google” accessory program. This meant that companies a part of the program would have its products certified by Google as being at or above the quality level needed to work correctly with the Pixel 2 and 2 XL.

One of these companies, Bellroy, has released a case that features real leather and comes in four different color choices. But is it worth $45 or more? Let’s check it out…

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One of the biggest trends of the last year has been the addition of a secondary camera on the back side of smartphones. While this second lens can be used for a lot of things, like zooming in on landscapes and taking ultra-wide photos, the most popular camera feature has been Portrait Mode, especially on the iPhone 7 Plus and 8 Plus.

Google has now released its brand new Pixel 2 smartphones and with it, the company’s own take on portrait mode. Let’s take a look and see if the Pixel’s single lens can compare to the iPhone’s dual-camera setup.

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Group communication is one of the most vital aspects of college nowadays, and Google is seemingly starting to take advantage of that. While Facebook Messenger has been a strong contender for most users, Google appears to be stepping into the ring by heavily advertising Allo as a worthy alternative…

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