Google's first-generation Pixel Buds didn't quite live up to their initial promise, but we're hoping the second-gen earbuds will represent a significant improvement. Announced at the Pixel 4 hardware event in October 2019, we've had to wait a while for them to eventually become available, but it looks like their release is almost upon us. A new app needed to make the most of them is now available on the Play Store.
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It's the same procedure as every year: Google releases new development builds for the latest version of Android, and the developer community begins digging through the code to see how it can achieve root. That's true for this year, as well, as Magisk developer John Wu has published the first canary builds of his systemless root solution for Android 11's developer preview.
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Several of us at AP, myself included, have noticed a concerning stability issue on Google Pixel devices in recent weeks that causes the whole system UI to become unresponsive. According to the many replies to Artem's tweet on the subject (below), users of phones from other OEMs also complain about the issue, so it might be a more widespread Android bug rather than one limited to Google-made devices.
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If you're looking for a great phone that won't break the bank, why not consider the one we awarded phone of the year for 2019? The Pixel 3a and 3a XL pack everything you need, and they're currently down to $299 and $379, respectively, which is $100 less than their usual price.
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Dual-band GPS — or, technically, dual-frequency GNSS — should be able to provide a better navigation experience by pulling additional data from navigation satellites. A number of Android devices have the hardware required to use this method, including the newly-announced Pixel 4. And according to Google, the feature is "coming soon."
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For several years I was a hardcore Google fan, turning my nose up at anything other than Nexus or Pixel devices. Last year, I traded in my Pixel 3XL for a Galaxy S10+, and I could not be happier. I switched because, after years of constant issues, I wanted to try something new. Now that I've made the jump and had time to reflect on it, I'd like to discuss what is keeping me with Samsung for the foreseeable future, as well as what I miss from the pure experience Pixels have to offer.
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If you only use Google Photos to view all the pics and videos you've taken, you likely never came across the messy way that media, especially portrait photos, is organized in the background. Pixels, for example, create a separate folder for each pair of portrait pics. When you browse your local storage, you can find these folders under DCIM/camera/IMG_date_time, where the date and time are specific to each pair of snaps. Besides Google Photos, local gallery apps don't usually handle these hundreds or thousands of folders properly, but now Simple Gallery Pro does.
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Google's first-party accessories have improved a lot over the last few years, especially when it comes to the fabric cases available to Pixels. When fabric cases debuted alongside the Pixel 2, they quickly became a favorite among owners, and they've become a staple of subsequent Pixel launches. The only real issue with these cases is the price: usually $40, which is a lot for a phone case, and all the more so if you're buying one for a Pixel 3a. But if you act before April 5th, you can grab one for $20 and get a free screen protector thrown in.
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The most recent monthly security update for Pixels was more than just security fixes. It was Google's second 'Pixel Drop,' with several new features and fixes, including a new option to enable the system-wide dark theme automatically at a specific time each day. However, the automatic mode doesn't seem to work with all apps.
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Last year, after the Android 10 update first started rolling out for Pixel owners, there were a handful of reports that device sensors — things like the ambient light sensor for screen brightness, orientation sensor for auto-rotation, and Active Edge sensor — stopped working. A workaround was found for those with unlocked bootloaders, and many of those affected were part of the root and ROM crowd, but almost six months later, many phones are still affected, and those with Verizon-branded, locked devices are still simply out of luck.
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