Tag: pixel 2

Google Pixel 2 Spotted Running Android Q Beta On Geekbench
Mountain View, California based Google is soon expected to release the first Android Q beta for Pixel smartphones. Before its official rollout, a Google Pixel 2 smartphone running the aforementioned version of Android has been spotted on Geekbench. The device secures a single core score of 1856 points and a multi-core score of 6307 points which is comparable to a device running Android 9 Pie.

Although Google has not yet confirmed the date of the rollout, the listing indicates that the update will be dispensed soon. Last year, the company released the first Android P developer preview for Pixel smartphones on the 7th of March. For at least a few weeks, the developer preview will only be exclusive for Google Pixel smartphones which will later be followed by devices of other OEMs. Notably, a Google executive in a podcast announced that updates of Android Q public beta will be rolled to several other devices as well.

What Features Will Android Q Bring To The Table?

With every Android update, Google strives to make the mobile OS smooth and bug-free. Therefore, the first and foremost change with Android Q will be speed and performance optimisation. A notable feature, that Android Q is confirmed to bring is system-wide dark mode. This feature will especially be useful for users of smartphones with an OLED display as it will prolong the battery life of the device. Other possible features that the upcoming Android update is believed to improve or add are as follows:
- Inbuilt Screen Recording Support – As the name suggests, it allows the user to record the media or games that are being displayed on the screen. With the surge in mobile games streaming, this feature has been in high demand. Although this feature could have been added to any Android device running versions below Android Q with the help of 3rd party applications, an inbuilt screen recorded would surely be appreciated.
- Desktop Mode – This feature will allow the user to project the display the contents of their Android device on a large screen. Hence, an Android device could be used as a desktop computer. Companies including Samsung and Huawei in the past have included a similar feature on their Android devices. However, the integration of this feature on a deeper level will result in better performance. Also, it will end the exclusivity which the users of a handful of companies are able to enjoy.
- Improved Facial Recognition – Facial recognition is not a new feature that Android Q will bring. However, the latest update will further enhance the feature so that it is faster and more secure than before.
Also Read: OnePlus To Launch A Pair Of Truly Wireless Earbuds With The OnePlus 7

Other features of the Android Q will only be revealed once Google officially lifts the curtains off its latest software offering.
March 12, 2019
Google Pixel 2 Devices Face Overheating Issues After February Security Patch

Google Pixel 2 devices have started receiving the February security patch. These updates are pushed to patch any vulnerability or a bug. However, sometimes these updates themselves start to create a new bug. Users of Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL are have started reporting that their smartphones have started heating up.

According to users, after the February security update, the smartphone tends to heat up a lot. Not only that, even the battery life of the smartphones has taken a hit.

A user on Reddit wrote that:

I recently updated my Pixel 2 to the latest security patch. I’ve checked it’s not a recently downloaded app, I’ve uninstalled all the apps I downloaded before it started getting hot just to check. It gets fairly warm almost instantly after starting to use it, within about a minute or so of anything really. Anyone got any advice? Battery life seems unaffected.

Another user said:

Battery is terrible since the latest update. Phone is getting pretty warm just using reddit anymore.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the smartphones which launched with great potential. However, these devices have been in the limelight for all the reasons. Here are some of the issues reported by Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL users.

The first known issue on the Google Pixel 2 XL was the display issue. Users complained that the display on the smartphone bit dull compared to other smartphones. The company then patched the issue with a software update. Still, a few users have a complain that the display shows cooler colour with a blue tint on a slight shift.

Soon after that, users of Pixel 2 XL started complaining about voicemail issue, which causes users low volume on outgoing voicemail via Google Allo application. Which was later on patched with a software update. Users also raised a concern about buzzing or rattling issue on the stereo speakers, which was later on patched with a software update.

Conclusion:

However, the issue doesn’t seem to be universal, as a few users have commented that they haven’t experienced anything unusual and their devices are performing normally. Google is yet to comment on this issue, with whats wrong with the latest security update or is this caused by some third party application.

February 17, 2018
Android 8.1 Oreo Running Pixel And Nexus Devices Have Lock Screen Swiping Bug

Android 8.1 Oreo started rolling out to Google Pixel and select Nexus device back in early-December 2017. There have been reports of Pixel and Nexus users facing issues with the lock screen on their devices.

Apparently, aggrieved users are unable to swipe on the lock screen of Pixel and Nexus devices that received an update to Android 8.1 Oreo. Users took to Pixel User Community forums and expressed their problems they are facing with their respective devices. Due to the issue preventing users to make swipe actions on the display, users haven’t been able to pick up incoming calls, unlock the screen, among other problems that are related to swipe actions.

While Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL owners have had their fair share of hardware and software issues, Nexus devices are facing such software issues for the first time, since Android 8 Oreo has been smooth and more or less bug-free on other devices.

Google appears to be aware of the issue as Orrin, a community manager at the Pixel User Community has stated that he’s ‘looking into that swipe issues that have been reported’. Google seems to be in a race against time to release new software updates that fix a plethora of issues reported by Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users.

Recently, soon after the Android 8.1 Oreo update, some Pixel 2 XL owners complained that they had to manually wake up the device during an incoming call. Something as basic as this is even available in a feature phone and should not be an issue for consumers who pay so much of money for a Pixel 2 XL device.

With 2018, Google would want to leave the hardware issues behind and work on its Pixel 3 devices which would need to be much better than their predecessors to achieve any amount of success in the market.

January 10, 2018
Google Pixel 2 Details Leaked In FCC Filing

New details leaked through an FCC filing by HTC, all but confirm that HTC will indeed be the maker of at least one of the new Pixel smartphones, while LG will be handling the larger variant, the Pixel XL 2. It is also worth noting that the FCC filing comes exactly a year after the commission received similar documentation for the Pixel and Pixel XL phones suggesting that the new smartphones will indeed launch in or around October.

An interesting detail revealed by the filing is a feature called “Active Edge”, which is similar to the squeezable frame feature on the HTC U11. The difference here is that the squeeze will be programmed to launch the Google Assistant. The filing has also revealed that the Pixel 2 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Chipset and have 64GB of onboard storage. As expected, the smartphone will run on Android 8.0.1 which is rumoured to be officially unveiled on August 21.

There have been renders of the Google Pixel 2 suggesting that the 2017 flagship will ditch the headphone jack. The device will also sport a design similar to its predecessor’s with big bezels around the screen and a smaller glass window at the back.

The first-gen Pixel smartphones were launched at a premium price and the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be no different. The main difference between the two variants apart from the screen and battery size will be the design. The smaller Pixel 2 will reportedly sport a 5 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display and still have large bezels around the screen, unlike many flagships of 2017. The Pixel XL 2, on the other hand, will feature a more “2017 flagship design” with thin bezels around a 6 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display. The devices will run on 3,ooo mAh battery and 3,500 mAh battery respectively.

Although, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL received a lot of flak for their design, the software and camera performance was appreciated by a lot of people. The new Pixel lineup seems to be following the same design pattern and will have to up their camera game and software performance to compete with the likes of the Apple iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and the LG V30, all slated to be launched around the same time as the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2.

August 16, 2017
Google Pixel 2 Renders Show New Colors And Big Bezels

A new render shows the upcoming Google Pixel revision-2 in its full glory, however, all is not good in leak-land. On one hand, the new design leak may show some exciting colors with some Google style exciting names like “Abundantly Red” and “Really Blue.” The front side on the other hand, shows the phone that looks like something right out of 2016. The Google Pixel for 2017 will be manufactured by LG, a company that has showcased that it is more than capable of making bezel less phones with the LG G6 and the upcoming LG Q5 and LG v30. The Google Pixel 2 seems to take a more conservative approach to bezels it appears. The Pixel 2 pictured has a big forehead and chin above and below the display along with considerable side bezel action.

The Google Pixel 2 is expected to have some simple design changes like a relocated glass shade at the back, a newer build material, removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack and possible IP68 waterproofing as well. But if these renders are anything to go by, and the display is as mundane and boring as it appears to be, we might see the most unsuccessful Google made phone this year.

The Google Pixel 2 is rumoured to run the Snapdragon 835 chipset and be offered with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of Storage along with Android O out of the box. The Google Pixel 2 is also expected to have a slightly larger battery and improved cameras when in comparison to the camera of the original Pixel which was one of the biggest positives of the “Google Phone” last year. The pixel 2 will also feature forward firing stereo speakers according to leaks.

The new “Abundantly Red” colour shown by phonearena does catch the eye and hopefully, Google does end up launching a red colored Pixel, as that alone may be reason enough to consider the phone, that and the fact that it may still be the best Android Phone out of the box, design not considered that is. This red with black front, may just be what the doctor ordered though.

August 8, 2017