Google

The Google Pixel is one of the more impressive devices we’ve seen this year, both on the spec sheet and in person. However, one of the big things that it lacks is water resistance. While Google confirmed the device is water/dust resistant with an IP53 rating, that doesn’t really mean much.

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The Pixel may have just come out today, but that doesn’t mean that some people — including us — haven’t had the chance to use one some time before the general public. And what does the public love more than a good ol’ speed test to check out how the latest and greatest measures up to its direct competition?

Well, if you’re that kind of person, just scroll down to find the results to not one but two speed tests under the jump — you may even end up surprised…

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Google’s Pixel goes on sale today, and everyone is getting pretty excited to get their hands on the company’s latest hardware. While most are still waiting for devices in the mail (myself included, Monday can’t come soon enough!), Verizon started offering the phone in stores earlier today.

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Despite a few shortcomings compared to buying unlocked, customers purchasing the Pixel through Verizon have the benefit of buying the phone in stores ─ starting today (before most Google Store orders have even shipped I might add). Unfortunately, it looks like Verizon won’t have stock of every model of the Pixel.

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The Silicon Valley tech behemoths haven’t been very successful as of yet in signing on cable content partners to sell TV streaming to the masses. The game seems to be changing, however, as a new report (via The Wall Street Journal) says that Google is planning to launch such a service as soon as early next year and has already signed on CBS as a content partner…

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Ever since the introduction of Material Design way back at 2014’s I/O, Google has put a lot more emphasis on design than ever before. “Google Design” itself became a thing, and among the initiatives promoted by the company to bolster its overhauled aesthetic sense, there are proper MD “Awards”, whose 2016 winners have just been announced…

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The cat’s out of the bag, and so are Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL. With the embargo having lifted earlier this morning, pundits from all over the tech world have shared their opinion on the handset, and, as it turns out, it’s a mostly positive one. You can read our own take here — and maybe understand a little better why this is good news for Google…

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Whenever I’m looking for a flight, my first stop for information is Google. The built-in Google Flights tool easily gives me a quick overview of what’s out there and helps me find a good deal. However, that tool has just gotten way more useful.

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Google’s Pixel event has come and gone. With it, Google introduced its first solely self-branded smartphone, claiming that the Pixel and Pixel XL bring the very best that Google has to offer — for the moment, at least — in both hardware and software. It’s a refreshing move from a company that has traditionally only sold hardware built in partnership with OEMs, and it’s finally a sign that Google wants to take a serious top-to-bottom design approach with its future products.

But what about its other product lines? Google replicated the Android strategy with Android Wear a couple of years ago, and in that case the company has yet to release any Android Wear hardware that has its name on it. The company never even did a “Nexus” Android Wear device to give OEMs an idea of what Android Wear would look like if Google did it themselves. That’s about to change according to recent reports, perhaps as soon as the first quarter of next year…

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Google is making a lot of, let’s say interesting changes in the Pixel smartphone lineup, and that’s caused many in the Android community to raise questions about the device. We already knew the Pixel had an unlocked bootloader, except on Verizon, but many have still questioned if they would be able to root it. Now a Google spokesperson has confirmed that information.

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While most of us are still eagerly awaiting the arrival of our Pixel smartphones in the next week or two, customers in Austrailia already appear to be receiving devices in the mail.

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Google has for some time prioritized mobile-friendly sites in search results, but it will soon be taking an even bigger step. Search Engine Land reports a keynote address by a Google exec advising that the company will be creating a completely separate mobile index, which will take priority over the original desktop one.

Google is going to create a separate mobile index within months, one that will be the main or “primary” index that the search engine uses to respond to queries. A separate desktop index will be maintained, one that will not be as up-to-date as the mobile index.

The plan reflects the fact that the majority of search traffic now comes from mobile devices, but the presentation raised as many questions as it answered, notes the site …

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Samsung’s problem with its Note 7‘s exploding batteries is a tricky one. Not only the recalling of the device itself is likely to leave a significant hole inside of the firm’s pockets, but also the long term effects caused by the brand image’s detriment will undoubtedly represent the gain of someone else. And, as it turns out, Google may be among the first ones in line…

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Just a hair over a week ago, Google announced a boatload of hardware at its dedicated event, but clearly the star of the show was its new Pixel smartphone. It’s actually two devices, the Pixel and Pixel XL, and Google just pushed out two new ads entirely dedicated to them…

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Despite its recent foray in the hardware business, Google is first and foremost a company that relies on advertising. And so, in turn, lots of people rely on the company’s own online monetization tool, AdSense, whose website just got a Material Design coat of paint…

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Last week we broke the story that Verizon would be managing system updates for Pixel devices that it sells, and the immediate assumption was that Verizon would delay those updates — not an unreasonable assumption at all based on the carrier’s track record. Now, less than a week later, Verizon has contacted ArsTechnica to state that it won’t be delaying updates. Good right?

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The popularity of YouTube as a platform is incredible and undeniable, and one of the reasons behind its success certainly lies in the strong connections between YouTube stars running their channels and brands whose material is often promoted, sponsored, reviewed, and whatnot in their videos.

Google is well aware of this, and today’s purchase is but another step towards strengthening those bonds even further…

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