Tag: Pixel 7

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google releases January 2023 Play system update for Pixel 7 and 6

The Pixel 7 and 6 are finally getting the latest Play system build update.

The update comes in at 63MB for the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 6 at 59MB. Oddly, after some users on Reddit updated their Play System, the build will continue to say November 1st, 2022.

It’s unclear why this is happening, but the update should still work. However, some users aren’t receiving the update at all, unfortunately.

The Google system updates have the following updates this January.

Critical Fixes

  • [Phone, Wear OS] Bug fixes for Account Management, Security & Privacy, System Management & Diagnostics, and Utilities related services.

Games

  • [Phone, PC] Expanding the range of users and use cases supported by the Play Games profile.

Google Play Store

  • New Features to help you discover the Apps & Games you love.
  • Optimizations allowing faster and more reliable download and installation.
  • Continuous improvements to Play Protect to keep your device safe.
  • Various performance optimizations, bug fixes and improvements to security, stability and accessibility.

Security & Privacy

  • [Phone] Password manager helps you save different passwords to your Google account and lets you use them across various websites and devices. With the new change, you will be able to add notes to your existing and new passwords.

Wallet

  • [Phone] Visual and infrastructure updates to Wallet mobile web experience.

Developer Services

  • [Phone] New developer features for Google and third party app developers to support Device Connectivity, and Machine Learning & AI related developer services in their apps.
  • [Phone] Update the platform QR scanner with the ability to select an existing photo and add support for handling Matter and UPI codes from OEM cameras.

System Management

  • [Phone] Updates to System Management, and Usability services that improve Device Connectivity, Device Performance, Network Usage, Privacy, Security, Stability, and Usability.

Source: Google Support Via: Android Police

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google’s Pixel 7 occasionally freezes when watching YouTube in full-screen

Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have experienced a few issues since launch, now including a problem that occurs when watching videos in full-screen mode on YouTube.

According to several reports, the app causes the device to freeze when watching YouTube in full-screen mode and trying to exit the app by swiping up on the navigation bar (either going back to the home screen or the Recents menu).

The video player becomes static and touchscreen taps and swipes no longer work. Audio will sometimes continue to play and hardware buttons also stop working. Some users say they can lock the screen after a few moments.

According to 9to5Google, they haven’t had this issue with other streaming apps. The publication also believes this is a system/Android issue and isn’t a problem on the app level. This problem doesn’t occur if you watch videos on the regular player.

9to5 says that this doesn’t happen every time you watch videos on YouTube, and there’s no apparent pattern.

I haven’t had any problems, and I haven’t heard anything from Jon on the team, either.

Source: 9to5Google

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Up to 25 percent off Google Pixel 7, Pixel Buds and accessories

Google has taken some time to continue the discounts of some of its latest tech. If you’re interested in buying Android, or moving from iOS to Android, then check out the deals below.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Source: Amazon Canada

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Several Pixel 7 owners report spontaneously shattering camera glass

Several Pixel 7 owners have complained on social media about the phone’s rear camera glass shattering spontaneously.

As spotted by Android Police, reports from across Twitter and Reddit detail Pixel 7 owners’ experiences with the camera glass suddenly cracking or shattering. The majority of people claim they didn’t bump their phone into anything and that they didn’t drop it. Some complaints point to a sudden change in temperature as the potential culprit for the shattering glass.

If significant temperature changes are the culprit here, it could explain why the issue started showing up now. Over the last few weeks, many places in North America have experienced lower temperatures, thanks in part to a wicked winter storm. We may continue to see reports of this problem as winter continues. So far, my Pixel 7’s camera glass has remained intact, but that could change if I need to spend time outside on a particularly cold day.

Unfortunately for Pixel 7 owners, Google hasn’t publicly acknowledged the problem is a manufacturing defect, although support did assure one Pixel 7 owner that the company was aware of the issue. Some of the reports include details of frustrating interactions with Google’s support. Some of those ended with support telling people the damage was their fault and they would need to pay upwards of $400 USD (roughly $542 CAD) to replace the entire back panel. Others got lucky and Google support agreed to replace their phones.

If Google decides the problem is a manufacturing defect — it seems like it is to me, but unfortunately, it’s not up to me — then affected Pixel 7 owners will be able to get their phones fixed under warranty. Hopefully, Google will make that decision sooner rather than later.

Source: Reddit, (2), Twitter, (2), (3), (4) Via: Android Police

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google drops Pixel 7 to $649, Pixel 7 Pro to $879

All Boxing Week long, Google is selling the brand new Pixel 7 series of phones for discounts akin to its Black Friday deals.

If you’re considering buying either of these phones, you can read our reviews below. In summary, the Pixel 7 ($649) is an excellent value for a solid phone, while the Pixel 7 Pro ($879) has a zoom camera, a slightly better screen and a bigger body. There’s also a discount on the lower-cost Pixel 6a ($499).

You can view all the deals on the Google Store here.

While not usually a better buy, most Canadian carriers also have the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro on sale. For instance, Bell, Rogers and Telus have it down to 15 per month, which works out to roughly $360 for the phone over a two-year contract.

In a year when iPhone discounts seem harder to come by, Google’s aggressive pricing and marketing might finally help it generate some market share — a good thing in iPhone-dominant North America.

Source: Google

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Casetify’s Pixel 7 cases are stylish and pricey

Earlier this year, smartphone accessory maker Casetify rolled out new cases for Google’s Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The company sent me a couple Pixel 7 cases to test out. My impressions so far are that they’re well-made, durable and sport excellent, fun designs. My only real complaints come down to the thickness (I am ever in search of a thinner case) and price.

Let’s start with the good stuff. Casetify says its ‘Impact’ series of cases of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are made with 65 percent upcycled plastic and can withstand a drop of 8.2 feet (I did not drop test my phone to see if this is true, but if my Pixel 7 does take a significant tumble some day, I’ll update this with the results.) Beyond that, there are a ton of designs to pick from, and there’s an option to make your own custom cases too.

The wide range of options helps make up for the fact that Casetify only offers one type of case for the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro — the ‘Impact’ series — and only three colour options, two of which are black. While I would have liked to see more options (for example, the iPhone 14 Pro has nine different case types), the range of back designs makes it easier to accept the limited number of case designs.

However, when it comes to the three colour options, matte black is king. The other options are ‘clear black’ and ‘sheer kiwi’ — the former looks fine but doesn’t have as nice a feel as the soft-touch matte, and the latter didn’t really thrill me, although I’m sure some people might like the kiwi colour.

The two Casetify cases I tried were the ‘I’m leaving this planet‘ design in matte black and the ‘Research by Other Minerals‘ design in clear black. I really like both, but as mentioned above, I found I preferred the feel of the matte black. It’s more of a soft-touch texture and feels grippier than the glossy clear black. It’s a bit of a bummer since I really like the Research by Other Minerals design.

Interestingly, both cases came with a QR code attached, which I could scan to “authenticate” the case. Whether or not you care about having an authentic Castefiy case, going through the process does net you $5 USD to go towards your next Casetify purchase. Which, frankly, you’ll need.

All the Pixel 7 Casetify cases I looked at cost $50 USD (about $68.46 CAD). Casetify offers free worldwide shipping, which is nice, but the price is still steep, in my opinion. And if you start looking at some of the other options available for iPhone, prices can climb as high as $90 USD ($123.23 CAD). For me, that’s far too much to spend on a phone case, but if you’re flush with cash and want a nice case with a cool design, Casetify does deliver.

You can check out all the Pixel 7 cases here, or view Casetify’s other accessories here.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google Boxing Week deals include up to $300 off Pixel 7 Pro

If you’ve been waiting for a significant price drop before picking up the Pixel 7 Pro or Pixel 7, the time has arrived.

The Google Store’s Black Friday offers have returned for Boxing Week, with the Pixel 7 Pro’s cost being slashed $300 down to $879 (regularly $1,179) and the Pixel 7’s price coming down $150 to $650 (regularly $799). Though this is identical to what Google offered during Black Friday a few weeks ago, it’s still a stellar deal on the tech giant’s recently released flagship smartphones.

Further, if flagship devices aren’t what you’re after, Google’s well-reviewed Pixel 6a is $100 off, bringing its cost down to $499 (regularly $599). Google is also offering several other notable deals, including $70 off the Pixel Watch and discounts on various Fitbit wearables.

Below are all of Googe’s offers on smartphones:

Pixel 7 Pro: Now $879, was $1,179 ($300 off)

Pixel 7: Now $649, was $799 ($150 off)

Pixel 6a: Now $499, was $599 ($100 off)

Source: Google

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google Pixel 7, Pixel Watch, Pixel Buds and accessories are up to 40 percent off today

Looking for holiday deals on Google Pixel devices and accessories? Look down below as the company has discounted its newest smartphone, watch, earbuds and accessories.

Below are all of the discounted offers:

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though we may earn a commission on purchases made via these links that helps fund the journalism provided free on our website.

Source: Amazon Canada

Categories
Mobile Syrup

New Pixel 7 ad takes subtle jabs at FIFA and Qatar

A new Google Pixel 7 World Cup ad that aims to show off the device’s prowess, including its inclusivity features, also doubles as a subtle diss towards FIFA and its decision to ‘sell’ the 2024 World Cup to Qatar.

Titled “Google Pixel 7: The Beautiful Game Belongs to All of Us,” the one-minute-long ad shows off features like Macro Focus, Magic Eraser and Super Res Zoom, while more inclusive features, like Live Translate, Face Unblur, and improved Real Tone photography are also showed off.

Check out the ad below:

The ad also features former Colombian national team captain Carlos Valderrama, and the U.S. Women’s team player Meghan Rapinoem while flags and jerseys of several other participating nations are also clearly depicted in a show of diversity and solidarity.

Fan ‘Pride’ imagery is also spread across the ad, which contrasts the beliefs of the tournament hosts. Qatar’s anti-LGBTQIA+ stance is strict, with fines, prison sentences of up to seven years and even death by stoning.

Participating teams have also been asked not to wear ‘OneLove’ armbands in support of LGBTQ rights during the tournament, and any team captain that does wear the rainbow-coloured band can be penalized with a yellow card.

“We are very frustrated by the FIFA decision, which we believe is unprecedented,” reads England, Wales and the Netherlands’ joint statement.

Elsewhere, harsh treatment of migrant workers, accusations of bribery and corruption, and strict dress codes for female fans, are just a few of the several reasons that paint a not-so-pretty picture of the oil-rich Gulf nation.

“The Beautiful Game Belongs to All of Us,” is an appropriate title for the Google video to point out to FIFA and Qatar that although the tournament is taking place on Qatar’s soil, the game belongs to the fans and the player’s participating, and not people with deep pockets sitting behind desks.

Image credit: Made by Google

Source: Made by Google Via: 9to5Google

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Pixel 7 available for $9/mo at several Canadian carriers

Google’s Pixel 7 might be one of the big winners of Black Friday 2022. The phone is on sale at Google but is also deeply discounted at several carriers, making it a steal.

Koodo, Virgin Plus, and Fido all have the Pixel 7 on sale for $9/mo (well, Fido is $9.50/mo) on a two-year term. That works out to $216 total for the phone (or $228 with Fido) over 24 months. Moreover, the phone costs $0 upfront, which means, in total, you’re paying just $216 for a phone that retails for $799. Even Google’s sale isn’t this good, with the phone currently available for $649.

Koodo previously charged a $33/mo Tab fee for the Pixel 7, while Virgin and Fido charged $39/mo device financing for the phone.

The Big Three carriers also have discounts on the Pixel 7, but arguably the flanker brands are better offers since they have cheaper plans to boot. The exception is if you want to borrow a Pixel 7 for two years at virtually no cost, which the Big Three all currently let you do:

  • Telus Pixel 7 – $0 down, $9.50/mo financing (or $0/mo with Bring-It-Back)
  • Bell Pixel 7 – $0 down, $9.50/mo financing (or $1/mo with Device Return Option)
  • Rogers Pixel 7 – $0 down, $9.50/mo financing (or $0/mo with Upfront Edge)

Overall, these are some pretty solid deals on Pixel 7 pricing. Coupled with the decent plans (like $55/20GB) available from Koodo, Fido, and Virgin Plus, it seems like now is a great time to get a Pixel 7.

You can learn more about the Pixel 7 here, or check out other carrier deals here.