Tag: Pixel

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Older Pixel phones get updated with slightly better controls

Google is now rolling out some camera features for the Google Pixel series of devices that can help make the camera a little better.

The most noticeable update is a new gear camera settings icon beside the arrow at the top of the screen. Beyond that, the camera is also getting a new manual sub-section in the camera’s settings that allows you to disable the exposure slider if you want fewer controls.

There is still no actual ‘Pro’ mode that allows you to control the camera manually, but perhaps this sub-section hints at more to come.

The final update sits in the ‘Advanced’ section of the Camera app’s settings, and it allows you to use the flash as a countdown timer so you can more accurately track when a timed photo is about to go off.

9to5Google says that version 8.4.300.x carries the update, and it’s rolling out to Pixel 5 and Pixel 6 devices. Ideally, Pixel 4a and older Pixels will get the update soon.

Source: 9to5Google 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google reportedly ditches its early 2022 foldable Pixel plans

Ross Young, the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), has offered several important details regarding Google’s rumoured foldable pixel smartphone.

According to Young’s report, Google won’t launch its rumoured foldable Pixel in the first half of 2022 despite what previous rumours indicate. Young says that his sources state Google believed its foldable isn’t currently as competitive as it needs to be, particularly when compared to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series that dominates the North American and European markets.

The Pixel Fold reportedly offers similar sizing and display specs as the Z Fold 3; however, it reportedly lacks an in-display camera. Additionally, Google’s foldable likely won’t feature the Pixel 6′s new and improved camera sensors and utilizes the shooter featured in the Pixel 5, Pixel 4 and Pixel 3 series (yes, Google used the same sensor for three years). That said, it’s worth noting that Samsung’s Z Fold 3 also utilizes a 12-megapixel sensor that isn’t quite as good as what’s available in its flagship S series.

It’s expected that the first Pixel foldable will run Google’s recently announced Android 12L OS. Android 12L is an Android 12 variant designed specifically for larger screens thanks to its more intuitive multi-tasking and other features.

DSCC’s upcoming ‘Quarterly Foldable/Rollable Display Shipment and Technology Report’ should offer more insight into the foldable smartphone technology that could appear over the next year and possibly even Google’s rumoured foldable pixel.

Source: Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC)

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google reportedly ditches its early 2022 foldable Pixel plans

Ross Young, the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), has offered several important details regarding Google’s rumoured foldable pixel smartphone.

According to Young’s report, Google won’t launch its rumoured foldable Pixel in the first half of 2022 despite what previous rumours indicate. Young says that his sources state Google believed its foldable isn’t currently as competitive as it needs to be, particularly when compared to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series that dominates the North American and European markets.

The Pixel Fold reportedly offers similar sizing and display specs as the Z Fold 3; however, it reportedly lacks an in-display camera. Additionally, Google’s foldable likely won’t feature the Pixel 6′s new and improved camera sensors and utilizes the shooter featured in the Pixel 5, Pixel 4 and Pixel 3 series (yes, Google used the same sensor for three years). That said, it’s worth noting that Samsung’s Z Fold 3 also utilizes a 12-megapixel sensor that isn’t quite as good as what’s available in its flagship S series.

It’s expected that the first Pixel foldable will run Google’s recently announced Android 12L OS. Android 12L is an Android 12 variant designed specifically for larger screens thanks to its more intuitive multi-tasking and other features.

DSCC’s upcoming ‘Quarterly Foldable/Rollable Display Shipment and Technology Report’ should offer more insight into the foldable smartphone technology that could appear over the next year and possibly even Google’s rumoured foldable pixel.

Source: Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC)

Categories
Mobile Syrup

You can buy a ‘like-new’ Pixel 4 XL at Public Mobile for $540

I doubt this is a device many people are looking to purchase in 2021, but if you want a Pixel 4 XL, Google’s smartphone is currently available at Public Mobile.

Public Mobile sells used “like-new” Google Pixel 4 XLs in ‘Clearly White’ for $539. However, only the 64GB of storage variant is available.

If you’re worried about a ‘Certified Pre-Owned’ phone, below is how Public Mobiel describes its ‘Like New’ smartphones:

“Someone opened the box on these phones and then changed their mind: it’s as close to perfect as you can get with a pre-owned phone.”

I reviewed the Pixel 4 XL back in 2019 and felt it was a relatively incremental update over the Pixel 3 XL. It’s also worth noting that the smartphone is almost two years old and that Google will reveal the Pixel 6 series next week.

Still, it’s cool Public Mobile is still selling Pixel 4 XL, especially considering Google stopped selling the device a year ago.

Source: Public Mobile 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

New Assistant feature to let users skip ‘Hey Google’ with certain commands

A useful new feature that lets users interact with the Assistant without saying the phrase “Hey Google” seems to be making its way to Google Assistant on devices running the Android 12 beta.

According to XDA Developers, the feature is available on Pixel devices running the Android 12 beta. When this new form of interaction rolls out to everyone, users will be able to answer or decline a phone call by saying “answer” or “decline,” and “stop” or “snooze” when an alarm or timer goes off.

It’s worth noting that you can already say “stop” to halt an alarm with Nest smart speakers.

After you enable these quick phrases, you’ll see a message below the phone call or alarm notifications to remind you that you don’t need to say “Hey Google.”

To check if you have this feature, head to Assistant Settings > Quick phrases, and from there, you can enable the settings. Quick Phrases might also include tasks like “What’s the weather?,” “Turn up volume,” “Skip this song,” “Create reminder,” and more, but these weren’t spotted in the most recent Google App version, ‘12.39.17.29.’

While I don’t yet have Quick Phrases on my Pixel 5 running the beta, I hope it arrives soon.

Source: XDA Developers

Categories
Mobile Syrup

October Android 11 security patch now hitting Pixel devices

Unfortunately, Android 12 didn’t drop today on Pixel devices like many expected it would, so here’s the next best thing — Android’s October security patch.

The update is available for the Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a devices.

You can check out the October 2021 Android Security Bulletin, here. The bulletin indicates there are no actual updated features and that it offers 20 security fixes. The vulnerabilities range from moderate to critical.

You can download the update over the air or via factory image.

Source: Android Security Bulletin 

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Google Pixel Foldable concept video shows off cool design

Yesterday, a leak about a Google Pixel foldable with the codename ‘Jumbojack’ surfaced on the net. Now, Waqar Khan, a well-known designer, has released a design concept video of that phone based on the leaks.

The foldable concept looks like it was inspired by both the Pixel 6 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3. 

The designer added the look of the Pixel 6 Pro on the back with the same type of camera design. There’s also a hole-punch camera on the cover screen in the top left corner, and on the larger inner display, there’s a hole punch shooter on the right side.

The hinge looks similar to Samsung’s Z Fold 3, and the device has quite a large bottom bezel and a thick top bezel on the main screen.

Previous rumours indicate that Samsung provided the foldable display tech to Google for this Pixel handset. The rumoured phone will reportedly sport a 7.57-inch panel with a 120Hz panel.

Rumour has it that Google will launch this device before the launch of Android 12.1, so hopefully, that’s before the end of the year. It’s worth mentioning that this is only a concept, and the foldable Pixel smartphone might look very different from what’s seen here.

Source: Waqar Khan, Via: Android Headlines

Categories
Mobile Syrup

Some Canadian Pixel owners are getting access to the ‘Hold for Me’ preview

Last October, Google rolled out ‘Hold for Me’ on the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G as a preview in the U.S. Now, it looks like the feature is rolling out to some Canadian Pixel owners.

Several members of the MobileSyrup team saw the Hold for Me feature pop-up on their Pixel phones, and according to a Reddit thread, other Canadian Pixel owners have seen the feature pop-up over the last week. Judging by what both Redditors and MobileSyrup team members have said, it appears that you need to be running both the Android 12 beta and the latest Google Phone app beta to get Hold for Me.

However, having both of those isn’t a guarantee you’ll get the feature. For example, across MobileSyrup’s Pixel 4, 4a, 4a 5G and 3 all running the Android 12 beta and all with Phone app version ‘70.0.394259711-publicbeta.’ However, only the Pixel 3 and 4a 5G have the Hold for Me feature. Additionally, another team member with a Pixel 4a on Android 11 doesn’t have the feature, while Redditors who reported having it said they had the Pixel 4 XL.

MobileSyrup has reached out to Google Canada about the apparent Hold for Me rollout.

If you meet the conditions and are also blessed by Google, you should see a pop-up detailing Hold for Me next time you open the Google Phone app. It looks like the screenshot above and features the following description:

“Hold for Me can wait for you when some of the places you call put you on hold. Your phone will ring when someone’s ready to talk to you. Hold for Me temporarily records your call and is available for only English-language calls. Go to Settings to learn more or turn off this experimental feature.”

If you don’t see the pop-up, you can tap the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner > Settings > look for ‘Hold for Me’ under the ‘Assistive’ heading at the top of the menu. You can turn the feature on or off from there.

Those interested can learn more about how Hold for Me works by checking out MobileSyrup’s previous coverage.