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Google Pixel 6a bootloader unlocking issue fixed in the latest update
Though you may have a short wait before you get it
Most people buying a Pixel 6a will be fine with the software it ships with, but some of our audience prefers to experiment with things like third-party ROMs or root their devices. Those processes usually require unlocking a phone's bootloader to make modifications to it, and Google actually allows that practice — a lot of companies don't. When Pixel 6a preorders started arriving, though, customers trying to perform this maneuver ran into an issue where that option wasn't available to them. But Google tells Android Police that the new OTA update, rolling out now, will fix the issue.
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The Pixel 6a isn't even a day old and it's getting its first security patch update
Bumping things from an April patch level to June 2022
It's Google Pixel 6a launch day, with "pre-order" changing to "buy" at most retailers, marking the formal availability of the new phone. It's only hours old, but already Google is giving its smartphone baby some extra update attention in the form of a day-one update. The phone shipped with April security patches, and this new update, rolling out over the next few weeks in "phases," will bump things to June.
Google confirms its Game Dashboard is coming to other 'select devices' with Android 13
It's not clear if this is just for the Pixel 6a or if third-party phones will get it as well
Google has confirmed that its Game Dashboard feature will be coming to more phones in the future through Play Services, but it's unclear which phones might get it. The feature will require Android 13 to work through this new mechanism, and a representative speaking on behalf of Google previously told Android Police that the Pixel 6a would get the feature as part of its Android 13 update, so it's not immediately clear if this news means third-party devices will get it or not.
Google's scheme to kill cookies needs a little more time in the oven
Privacy Sandbox's "phasing out" of third-party cookies has been delayed until the second half of 2024
It's not clear if this is a good sign or a bad sign for Google, but today the company announced that it is delaying its plans (again) to kill cookies as part of the upcoming Privacy Sandbox changes. Under the newly revised schedule, an extension of the testing period will see Google phase out support for third-party cookies in Chrome starting in the second half of 2024.
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Google Pixel 6a vs. Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 6 Pro camera showdown: All winners
Software matters more than hardware, even if hardware ultimately wins here
Google's a-series phones have to cut a few corners to hit their value-forward pricing, and one thing it doesn't have that the bigger Pixel 6 and 6 Pro do is the upgraded camera system. While all three phones share their ultra-wide camera specs, the primary sensors differ, and the Pixel 6a doesn't have the 6 Pro's telephoto. So how does this hardware difference actually compare in terms of real-world examples? In short: The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro conclusively have a better camera, but if you aren't picky, you might not even care or notice; the differences can be so slight in some situations. In fact, there are even ways that the Pixel 6a beats the more expensive phones.
Chromebooks are finally getting the automatic light and dark themes you've been waiting for
Plus plenty of other productivity-enhancing improvements
On top of the new Google Photos wallpaper and video-editing features coming to Chromebooks that Google announced today, device owners can also look forward to plenty of other new features coming soon, like PDF editing in the built-in gallery app, better calendar integration, and Virtual Desks improvements. But best of all, the long-awaited light and dark themes, together with automatic switching, is finally going to debut after actual years of teasing.
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Reserve your Galaxy Z Fold 4 or Flip 4 right now for up to $200 in Samsung.com credit
You only have until August 10th to take advantage of this promotion
While we still have two weeks left before Samsung unveils its latest foldable phones, smartwatch, and earbuds, there's something you should do right now if you're even remotely interested in buying any of them. Before the pre-order window opens on August 10, Samsung is offering Samsung.com credit off your purchase of the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Z Flip 4, Watch 5, Watch 5 Pro, or Buds2 Pro. The amount off varies by the type of products you reserve, and if you reserve all three product types, you get a maximum of $200 instant Samsung Credit in addition to whatever enhanced trade-in values Samsung offers once pre-order opens up.
Google Play's new logo is official for its not-actually-10th birthday
Celebrate the not-birthday with 10x back on Play Points rewards that you probably won't use
Google Play's new logo, which the astute may have already spotted in certain parts of the Play Store and elsewhere, is now official and part of Google Play's "tenth" birthday. To mark the not-actually-accurate occasion, Google is giving 10x back on Play Points for purchases starting today.
What is Wi-Fi 7?
And should you be planning on an upgrade when routers that support it are released?
With our world revolving around mobile and always online devices, Wi-Fi has been the go-to wireless technology to keep all our gadgets connected. And with every passing generation, the Wi-Fi standard continues to improve while offering new features that appeal to the modern smart home user. Wi-Fi 7 is the next generation of this popular wireless technology that promises a giant leap forward over the previous two standards, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Although Wi-Fi 7 isn't quite ready for public use, you can check out the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers if you need an upgrade today.
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Google Pixel 6a review: Regression is the better part of value
Easily one of the best value phones you can get, if you're willing to pay the Pixel toll
Following up on one good product is hard enough, but Google has put itself into a bit of a spot with the Pixel 6a as the fourth product in a line of back-to-back great phones. While Google did have to downgrade a few features from the Pixel 6 and even last year's excellent Pixel 5a to hit the mark, $450 is a small price to pay (in every sense) to get Google's best phone dressed up in a smaller package. If you aren’t made of money and can deal with an inevitable software snafu, this is the Android phone to get.
Cowabunga! Get radical with dbrand's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle skins for the Pixel 6, 6a, and 6 Pro
Pixels in a half-shell
Ahead of the anticipated Pixel 6a pre-order announcement, dbrand has done a dbrand, showing off a new set of Pantone-accurate skins you can get for all Pixel 6 models that turn them into a 1980's blast-from-the-past. Building on last year's joke, you can get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-themed skin for the Pixel 6a, 6, and 6 Pro.
Google gives Android users an easy path to secure DNS
DNS over HTTPS was not in Android 13 because Google was able to roll it out to more devices through Project Mainline
If you were disappointed to hear that Android 13 wouldn't support DNS over HTTPS, I've got some good news. It turns out that Google wasn't going to deploy it as part of a major Android update because (as noted at the time) it could also actually be implemented through a separate Android Mainline/APEX module, which would bring the feature to even more Android hardware, and that's exactly what has happened. Flying in the face of "fragmentation," Google just brought DNS over HTTPS to all Android 11 devices and later, and even some Android 10 devices.
Qualcomm's new chips might be what Wear OS needs to turn around — if they actually deliver
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Qualcomm says the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 delivers the biggest generational improvement of any wearable chip yet
Google's Wear OS may be one of the oldest smartwatch platforms, but it's been plagued with issues and shortcomings, even to the chagrin of its most ardent fans. Part of that problem has been the lackluster hardware Wear OS smartwatches are typically saddled with. In what may be a familiar claim, Qualcomm says that its new Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 and W5 Gen 1 will help solve that problem, consuming half as much power and delivering twice the performance as its prior generation wearable chips. This is a pretty familiar promise at this point — that a new chipset will finally make good what ails Wear OS — but the technical argument is more convincing now.
Google's testing a new way to redeem Play Store rewards points on things you'll actually want
Use Play Points on actual hardware from the Google Store
A new change to the Play Store's Play Points rewards program has been spotted in the wild. It isn't live on any of my devices yet and could either be in the process of rolling out or part of a smaller test, but Google is allowing some customers to redeem Play Points for actual hardware on the Google Store, including Pixel phones and Nest devices.
Nothing opens the door for custom ROMs with kernel source release
Prior digging revealed an unlockable bootloader so there isn't much standing in the way now
Whether Nothing's freshman Phone (1) has you excited or not, there might be another reason to be interested in it. Nothing has just released its first set of kernel sources for the Nothing Phone (1). Paired with the fact that security researcher Linuxct revealed that the device should be bootloader unlockable, it sounds like the phone might have some custm ROMs to look forward to.
Popular South Korean app caves to Google's billing requirements
KakaoTalk will reportedly remove links to external billing so it can update its app again
Those following the Google Play Store billing changes and lawsuits might remember a law that went into effect in Korea last year, requiring that Google allow app developers in that market to offer third-party payment options. However, that's not a free pass to cut Google out entirely. In exchange for access to its platform, Google still wants a cut, whether you're using its billing system or someone else's. A few weeks ago, the popular (in South Korea) KakaoTalk app, featuring over 100 million installs on the Play Store, was prevented from updating its app since it didn't honor this requirement by directly linking to a storefront where Google made nothing. However, KakaoTalk will now give in to Google's requirements.
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If you dug the Nothing Phone (1)'s semi-transparent vibes but either can't buy one or simply don't want to, dbrand's latest gag might tickle your fancy. Its newest line of skins, appropriately called "Something," can make your Pixel look like something Carl Pei spent the last six months promoting feature-by-feature.
Google Maps could soon save you gas money depending on what kind of car you drive
Engine-specific routing might take advantage of your car's strengths to pick the most energy-efficient way there
Last year, Google announced that Maps would offer eco-friendly routes that might use less fuel and spit out a little less CO2 if they match what would otherwise be the fastest way there. According to a new teardown of the Google Maps app, that might be further optimized to take into account what sort of car you drive — different kinds are more efficient in different ways, and your route can be tweaked to take advantage of your car's strengths.
Google would rather ruin its products than pay Sonos, and that's unacceptable
Cough up the dough or start sending customers refunds, Google
The ongoing lawsuit between Google and Sonos probably isn’t in the forefront of anyone's mind right now, but after recently digging into a change YouTube made for the worse on its Chromecast app, I can’t really stop thinking about it. Did you know that if you have a Pixel phone and need to reset a Chromecast or connect it to a new Wi-Fi network, you’re basically screwed? One of the most popular streaming dongles in the world, noted for its simplicity and ease of use, now offers an inconsistent and degraded experience, adding to the other deficiencies Google itself announced for its Nest and Home speakers when it comes to volume adjustments and groups, taking away features and functionality customers paid for.
If you use the Personal Safety app on your Pixel, you're going to need to update your permissions soon
And here's how you can do it
One of the lesser-known perks of Pixel ownership is the Personal Safety app, which controls car crash detection and the Safety Check feature, alerting specific contacts with your phone's location if you fail to check in, or calling emergency services if you get into a wreck. It's a great and pretty unique app, but Google's subtly changing how it works at a technical level, adjusting which app it gets permissions from to provide that functionality. If you want to keep using it, you'll need to adjust your location permissions by September 15th to maintain full functionality.