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Google's powerful Recorder app now works on older Pixel phones
Over its last few Pixel cycles, Google has made a point of bringing some features of its most recent phone to other devices. This week, for instance, Pixel 4's live audio captioning tool expanded to Pixel 3 and 3a devices. Now, owners of older Pixel handsets can check out one of Pixel 4's niftier aspects: the Recorder app that can capture and transcribe audio simultaneously.
Stadia hits Google's Play Store ahead of its debut this month
Google is set to flip the switch on its Stadia game streaming service this month. While you can play through Chrome or your TV (with Chromecast Ultra), you'll also be able to run games like Destiny 2 and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey on some Pixel devices. To help you get ready for the big day on November 19th, Google has added the Stadia app to the Google Play Store.
Android 10 goes live for Google's Pixel phones today
Android 10 might not have a delicious, dessert-themed name (and for good reason), but some of you can take solace in the fact that it's available to install today. As usual, Google Pixel owners are getting first crack at the update, and we wouldn't be surprised if other phone makers announce their own Android 10 upgrade plans throughout the day. That's no guarantee of news, though: OEMs like Samsung, Sony, Lenovo and others often handle these announcements at their own pace, and all Google will say on the matter is that it's "working with a number of partners to launch or upgrade devices to Android 10 this year."
Our readers tell us what’s wrong with the Google Pixel Slate
Though he's well-known around the Engadget office for being a Chromebook enthusiast, deputy managing editor Nathan Ingraham found little to recommend about Google's Pixel Slate. It would appear, given the responses from our user reviews page, that many real-world owners feel the same. Despite having a lovely 12.3-inch display, a comfortable keyboard folio and solid battery life, the Pixel Slate floundered on the software side: Its poor implementation of Android apps ultimately earned it an embarrassing score of 69. However, the Pixel Slate owners in our user reviews section were a bit more forgiving, giving it an average of 77.
Google Pixel 3 XL bug adds an annoying second notch
Several Google Pixel 3 XL owners have encountered what must be the most annoying of bugs. As if one notch wasn't bad enough, a second "software notch" is popping up on various parts of some screens, more or less making the display look like an expensive puzzle piece. Some users whose devices sprouted a second notch posted about the plague on Twitter and Reddit over the last few days.
Some Google Pixel 3 users claim their photos aren’t saving
If you're having issues with your Google Pixel phone not saving photos, you're not alone. According to reports on Reddit and Google's own forums, some owners of Google Pixel 3, 3XL, 2 and 2XL models -- and potentially other Android phones as well -- are experiencing a bug where photos disappear shortly after they've been taken.
The notch on the Pixel 3 XL sucks
The deep notch on the Pixel 3 XL isn't a huge surprise. It was first revealed in leaked photos posted by an XDA forum user on June 6th. Some people hoped, or prayed, that it wasn't real or could somehow be fixed before the phone's release. But as more leaks trickled out, including Engadget's own sneaky peek, it became clear that the notch was frighteningly real. Today, Google revealed the phone and its smaller notch-free sibling, the Pixel 3, at a glitzy event in New York City. I can't help but feel a tad disappointed.
Google's $30 USB-C earbuds offer access to Assistant, translations
Google's first attempt at wireless earbuds, the Pixel Buds, aren't for everyone. Not just because they don't live up to the hype -- due to jerky performance, overly sensitive touch controls and a tedious case design -- but also because they cost $159. If that's a lot more than you're willing to spend, Google has a budget-friendly option for you: the Pixel USB-C earbuds, priced at $30.
Google Pixel 3 XL hands-on (again): Everything you didn't already know
We technically already spent some time with the Pixel 3 XL outside a dinky electronics store in Hong Kong, but this is one of the most important phones of the year. So it definitely deserves a little more scrutiny. Thankfully, Google's presentation here in New York has just wound down, so it's time to take a closer look at what the company has managed to pull off this year. I already know what some of you are probably thinking: Can a phone that has been leaked this thoroughly actually offer any surprises? Well, maybe not. What has been surprising, though, is just how complete and competent the 3 XL feels despite the fact that Google mostly played it safe with this generation of hardware.
Android 9 Pie review: Google gets more thoughtful
After a late night at the office, I hopped on the subway and noticed something unusual: My Pixel 2 suggested I listen to some new Capital Cities tracks in Spotify. I took Android's advice, and while it didn't dramatically shift the trajectory of my day, it was still a pleasant, unexpected diversion.
Google’s Pixel 3 XL could come with Pixel Bud-style headphones
Today, a Ukranian tech blogger named Luchkov may have leaked images of the white version of Google's Pixel 3 XL. These look like the real deal, though they include a bit of a puzzle. The images show a pair of wired USB-C earbuds included with the device.
Google's Pixel 3 XL might have a notch and edge-to-edge screen
We've been impressed with Google's Pixel phones, but their terrible sales haven't lived up to their critical reputation. The Pixel 2 replaced the first model after just a year, so it was a good bet that the Pixel 3 would come out around the same time this fall. Now we have a hint at what the tech giant's next smartphone may look like. According to Bloomberg sources, odds are there will once again be a standard and 'XL' version, with the larger featuring an edge-to-edge screen and (unsurprisingly) a notch at the top.
Lawsuit claims Google 'knowingly sold' Pixels with microphone issues
Shortly after Google released its first branded smartphones in 2016, the Pixel and Pixel XL, some early adopters reported a microphone issues. While they were fixed in phones produced later, the problems disabled all three mics on the devices and often cropped up at odd times, like when holding the devices in different ways or in cold temperatures. Now the search giant faces a class-action lawsuit alleging that the company knew about the issues but sold the phones anyway.
Select Chromebook owners can get six months of Netflix for free
If you're picking up a Google Pixelbook, a Samsung Chromebook Plus or a Samsung Chromebook Pro this holiday season, Google wants to make your present (whether to yourself or someone else) even better. Through the end of the year, any of these devices comes with six months of Netflix for free. This appears to apply to recent purchases as well.
Google Lens is rolling out to first-generation Pixel phones
Google is working on some impressive artificial intelligence tricks. And, many of them are finding their way to the public. We can already interact with the company's digital assistant on our phones and through Google Home. Now, Google Lens is arriving on the original Pixel and Pixel XL. As Android Police notes, a number of users have spotted the feature in the Photos app on the first-gen handsets. We knew Lens was coming, but we didn't know when. In case you missed its unveiling in May, Lens uses computer vision to understand what's in your photos, videos, and the world around you. In the words of Engadget's Devindra Hardawar: "It's basically Google search for everything outside of screens."
The Google Pixel 2 XL vs. the original Pixel XL: What's changed?
Today we got our first look at the new Google phones, with the larger Pixel XL bringing back the staid design but also buffing it up with a better camera and more robust water protection. How big of a leap is this over last year's model exactly? While you'll have to wait a few weeks for the full rundown in our review, for now you can check out the new XL's specs as compared to its predecessor in our handy table below.
The Google Pixel 2 vs. the original Pixel: What's changed?
The new Pixel phones are here and, while they don't give us much more to look at compared to last year's models, it's the inside that really counts. This year's 5-inch Pixel gives us a better camera and more powerful processor compared to the original, but we've also lost the headphone jack. What else has changed? Give the specs below a peep, and stay tuned as we put Google's new handset through its paces soon.
The Google Pixel 2 XL vs. the competition: Cameras rule
In a year where the Galaxy Note made a comeback and Apple is mixing things up by offering both the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, it's hard to know what to make of Google's newest handsets at first. The Pixel XL isn't particularly flashy on the outside, though the single 12.2MP camera looks promising. But can it compete against the dual camera rigs on other flagship handsets? To see what else this 6-inch handset has to offer versus some of its major competitors, we've stacked up their specs in the table below. Be sure to check back later this fall to see how both the new Pixels and the iPhone X fare in their respective full reviews.
Google unveils the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
Google has announced the second generation of its venerated Pixel handsets, the Pixel 2 and its larger sibling, the Pixel 2 XL. Rather than attempting to compete on specifications, the company is hoping that its software know-how and a refined design will woo customers. The headline feature, perhaps, is that the Pixels will abandon the 3.5mm headphone jack on its smartphones. Instead, users will need to connect their analog headphones using the bundled 3.5mm USB-C adapter.
How Google’s smartphones have evolved since 2007
Google is expected to show off a ton of new hardware at a press event in San Francisco this week, and -- as expected -- most of the hype is centered around a pair of new Pixel phones. Now, the Pixel line itself is only a year old, but Google's smartphone ambitions have been part of the company's vision for over a decade now, and we felt that was worth celebrating ahead of Wednesday's big reveal. Join us as we take a look at Google's surprisingly long history in smartphones, starting with a device many of us had forgotten about completely.
