Latest news with #PixelDevices
Android Authority
11 hours ago
- Android Authority
Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) deal: We've never seen it this cheap!
Robert Triggs / Android Authority As Android fans, the Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) is obviously one of our favorite wireless chargers. It doesn't often go on sale, and the lowest we've seen it go for was $53.93 back in 2022! Today, it's on sale for just $43.99, making this a record-low price. Get the Google Pixel Stand 2nd Gen for just $43.99 ($35.01 off) This offer is available from eBay, but the seller is actually Best Buy. This gives us a level of confidence, as it is not just a random online seller. Google Pixel Stand Wireless Charger (2nd Gen) Google Pixel Stand Wireless Charger (2nd Gen) Much more than just fast wireless charging for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 6. The Pixel Stand (2nd gen) is built to unlock your Pixel 7's Assistant capabilities while fast charging. It also wirelessly charges a wide range of other smartphones quickly too. See price at eBay Save $35.01 The Google Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) is an excellent wireless charger, especially if you use a Pixel smartphone with it. It can charge Pixel devices at up to 23W, but those speeds don't work with all devices. For example, you can charge a Pixel 9 Pro XL at 23W, but the Pixel 9 Pro speeds are reduced to 21W, and the Pixel 9 can juice up at 15W. For non-Pixel phones, the maximum charging speed is 15W. It's not the fastest charger out there, but it is pretty speedy, especially with compatible Pixel devices. Robert Triggs / Android Authority The integrated fan makes it more efficient, as it keeps your device cool while charging. This means charging will throttle less, as phones usually slow down charging when they get too hot, and wireless charging produces a lot of heat. Additionally, batteries get slowly damaged with heat, so keeping the phone cooler will extend the battery's overall life. I also happen to love its clean, minimalist design. Not to mention the fact that it doubles as a stand, offering easy access to your apps and content even while charging. It's great for desks, side tables, and so on. This is a really nice deal if you want to catch Google's best wireless charger. Make sure to act quickly, though, as this is a record-low price on a product that seems to be going away soon. Google doesn't even have it in stock anymore, so chances are retailers are getting rid of extra units.
Android Authority
13-06-2025
- Android Authority
Magic Cue on the Pixel 10 sounds like Pixel Screenshots on steroids
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Google has reportedly been working on a new AI-powered assistance tool for Pixel devices since 2023. The system would monitor your screen and actions in apps, and offer 'personal predictive suggestions.' First known as Pixie, and then Pixel Sense, a new leak suggests Google has renamed the tool to Magic Cue. Who doesn't love a good mystery? In the smartphone world, upcoming high-profile devices sometimes leak so much that it feels like there's nothing left to know about them. While that can be really satisfying, it's also a lot of fun to watch a more nebulous rumor evolve over time, raising question after question as the story behind it slowly unfolds. We're still not quite to the bottom of this one yet, but this week a new leak adds a curious chapter to the story of Pixie and Pixel Sense. In case you haven't been following this one, we first heard about Pixie back in late 2023, described as a new on-device AI-powered assistant for Pixel hardware. It failed to materialize for the Pixel 9 series, but then just this March we reported on Google's interest in retooling the service as Pixel Sense and introducing it with Pixel 10 phones. Further analysis suggested this would be less like the interactive voice assistants we have with the Google Assistant and now Gemini, and more like an automation tool — even spinning off into Pixel Screenshots. Apparently Google wasn't done with reinventing this project yet, because over on Telegram, Mystic Leaks shares a short video recording with the claim that Pixel Sense has found a new name in the form of Magic Cue (via 9to5Google). As you can see in these screengrabs from the video, Magic Cue does indeed seem to be taking the form that we were beginning to expect from Pixel Sense, using AI to gather information about what you're doing in apps, and predictively trying to help get stuff done. If the idea of AI reading your chats just sounds like a privacy trade-off you could do without, it's reassuring to see that users will have to positively opt in to Magic Cue, as this setup screen does not depict the service as being on by default. The source here claims that Magic Cue is on track for introduction alongside the Pixel 10, and considering the false start with the Pixel 9, we really hope that's finally true. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
The Verge
10-06-2025
- The Verge
Android 16 is here, but its big redesign isn't ready
Google rolled out a bunch of new features with Android 16 on Tuesday, but the company appears to be saving its big Material 3 Expressive redesign for a future update. The update doesn't feature the design language's revamped elements, and a source tells Android Authority 's Mishaal Rahman that Google is planning to launch the new look on September 3rd, 2025, instead. With Android 16, Google is starting to roll out support for Live Updates with progress-centric notifications and enhanced settings for users with hearing aids. The updates are coming to Pixel devices first, but according to Google, Android users will have to wait for another update to see Live Updates 'fully realized.' Google officially took the wraps off Material 3 Expressive following a leak last month, which features updates to icon shapes, type styles, and color palettes with 'more natural, springy animations' across the Android interface. You can still check out some Material 3 Expressive updates in the Android 16 QPR1 beta that's available now, but Rahman notes that Google plans on launching more design updates in the next Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2. Google is expected to include Android's desktop mode in a September launch as well. The new mode, which builds on Samsung's DeX platform, optimizes apps and content for large-screen devices. It will allow you to resize multiple app windows across your screens, as well as connect phones and tablets to external displays for a desktop-like experience. Users with a Pixel 8 and up can try out these features in the Android 16 beta, but the rest of us will likely have to wait a few more months.
Android Authority
10-06-2025
- Android Authority
Android 16 wants to make your next phone trade-in process a lot faster
Joe Maring / Android Authority TL;DR Android 16 introduces a new 'Trade-in Mode' to make trading in your old phone a faster process. This feature allows technicians to quickly access device details and run diagnostics by bypassing the usual setup wizard. Activating Trade-in Mode ensures security by forcing a factory reset on the next reboot, preventing misuse. The Android 16 update is rolling out to Pixel devices today. While Google's official changelog is brief, the release is packed with new features. The update adds the groundwork for major features like Live Updates and App Functions, introduces much-needed options like Advanced Protection, changes how many apps look and behave, and makes several quality-of-life tweaks. One such tweak won't affect your day-to-day use, but it could noticeably speed up your next phone trade-in. Android 16 adds support for Trade-in Mode, a new feature that, according to Google, 'provides quicker access to key device details at the point of sale' and 'makes it faster to trade in a device, get a refund and upgrade.' Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority The company didn't share further details on how Trade-in Mode works, but we documented it extensively late last year. Essentially, Google is introducing a new command in Android 16 that technicians can enter on the first screen of the setup wizard. This command bypasses the usual setup process, allowing technicians to install or run their automated device diagnostics more quickly. To prevent this command from being used to bypass factory reset protection, activating Trade-in Mode sets a flag that forces a factory reset on the next boot. While Trade-in Mode won't save technicians a lot of time on each individual phone they inspect, those time savings can add up. The faster they can complete tests on one device, the quicker they can move on to the next. This should lead to faster trade-in evaluations, meaning you get your money or store credit sooner. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
10-06-2025
- Android Authority
Here's when Android 16's Material 3 Expressive redesign and Desktop Mode will roll out
TL;DR The Android 16 update is now available for Pixel devices, but the anticipated Material 3 Expressive UI and new Desktop Mode are not included in this initial release. Google plans to launch the Material 3 Expressive redesign with the Android 16 QPR1 update, which is expected to roll out on September 3, 2025. The new Desktop Mode is also slated for the Android 16 QPR1 release and is currently available for testing in QPR1 Beta 2. Google is finally rolling out the Android 16 update to supported Pixel devices today. The update introduces some nice quality-of-life improvements to notifications, welcome accessibility features, and a new security mode. However, it doesn't bring two of the biggest changes that Google announced last month: the new UI based on Material 3 Expressive and the new Desktop Mode experience. Fortunately, both of these features are launching very soon, and you can even try them out right now. When is Google rolling out Android 16's Material 3 Expressive redesign? Material 3 Expressive, the latest iteration of Google's design language, promises a bolder, more fluid, and more engaging UI. It introduces a revamped Quick Settings panel, new physics-based animations, fresh dynamic color schemes, background blur effects, more customization options, updated buttons, and refreshed icons, among other changes. Android's big Material 3 Expressive redesign is set to go live in the upcoming Android 16 QPR1 release. According to a source, Google plans to roll out the update to supported Pixel devices on September 3, 2025. The update's source code will be released a few weeks earlier, on August 20, 2025. These release dates aren't set in stone, as Google can change things at the last minute to address major issues that arise or in response to other news. For example, the company originally planned to release Android 16 on June 3, 2025, but it decided to delay the release to today for unknown reasons. While we can't say for sure that Android's Material 3 Expressive redesign will roll out on September 3, 2025, we do know that it will go live in Android 16 QPR1. Google explicitly said that 'much of the new visual polish associated with Material [3] Expressive' will arrive in the 'Q3 update in-between the API releases.' Android's 2025 release timeline overview The 'Q3 update' Google mentioned refers to its third quarterly Android release of 2025. Internally, this is called '25Q3,' which corresponds to the public Android 16 QPR1 release. For context, today's Android 16 launch is considered '25Q2,' the second quarterly release of the year. Thus, the Material 3 Expressive UI overhaul is confirmed to go live in Android's third quarterly release of 2025, which typically rolls out in the first week of September. If you would rather not wait until then, you can try the new design right now on your Pixel device by installing the Android 16 QPR1 beta. Much of the new UI is already available in the Beta 1 release, but more changes are coming in the next Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 update, which will also bring the long-awaited Desktop Mode. When is Google rolling out Android 16's new Desktop Mode experience? Power users have been begging Google to add a proper desktop mode like Samsung DeX for years, and the company is finally delivering. In collaboration with Samsung, Google is developing this new experience for Android 16 QPR1. The feature brings a desktop-like interface to connected displays, complete with a taskbar, status bar, freeform window support, and mouse movement between screens. When we first showed off Android's new desktop mode experience last month, we didn't know when it would go live. Today, however, Google announced that the feature is now available to try on your Pixel phone. The company said that 'connected displays support on compatible Android devices is now in developer preview with the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release.' Since the Desktop Mode feature is in developer preview, it isn't enabled by default. To enable it, you need to go to Settings > System > Developer options and toggle 'enable desktop experience features.' Alongside connected display support, Android 16 QPR1 also brings enhanced desktop windowing capabilities. Google is introducing flexible window tiling, multiple desktop sessions, enhanced app compatibility, multi-instance management, and desktop persistence. These features are available for testing in the new Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release and will be included in the stable update rolling out in September. Google hasn't said when it'll enable Android's new connected display support and enhanced desktop windowing capabilities by default. It's likely the features will remain locked behind a developer option even in the stable release of Android 16 QPR1, but we'll have to wait and see. When these features do launch, the connected display support will only be available on devices that support a DisplayPort connection. Among Pixel devices, this means the Pixel 8 and later, including the A-series. Although the Pixel Tablet doesn't support a DisplayPort connection, its display is large enough to run a desktop session, so it can at least use desktop mode on the internal display. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
