Pixel 8

AppWizard
July 14, 2025
A new "Parental controls" feature has been identified in the Android Canary build for Pixel devices, aimed at establishing digital ground rules, setting screen time limits, and filtering content for child safety. This feature was discovered on a Pixel 8 Pro and is currently non-functional. It is expected to align with the "Supervision" tools from Android 16 Beta 4. The upcoming Pixel 10 series, launching on August 20, will include the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold, all equipped with stable Android 16.
AppWizard
July 9, 2025
Google has begun rolling out the July 2025 update for Android 16, specifically for Pixel devices, with the build number BP2A.250705.008. This over-the-air (OTA) update focuses on bug fixes and performance enhancements, particularly for network connectivity and app rendering. The Pixel 6a is now part of the Google Battery Performance Programme, which aims to improve battery longevity and safety by introducing background controls that limit charging speed and capacity after around 400 charge cycles. Users may qualify for free repairs, partial refunds, or trade-in bonuses for battery-related issues. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 8 series receive performance enhancements, especially in app visuals and Wi-Fi stability. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series see general stability improvements, while the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold experience app optimization for display orientation. Notably, the update does not include the July Android security patch or a list of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). The update is available for the Google Pixel 9, 8, 7, 6, 6a, Fold, and Tablet.
AppWizard
June 20, 2025
Google is planning to develop its own version of Samsung’s Now Bar to enhance the At a Glance experience on Pixel devices. The upcoming Pixel 10 may feature a significant upgrade, potentially rebranded as Gemini Space, which could include live sports scores and financial market summaries on the lock screen. Initial hints of this feature were found in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, with a system configuration file labeled "Ambient Data" discovered in the firmware for the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro. References to an "Ambience Hub" have also been found, suggesting a new way to present information on the lock screen. The Android System Intelligence app, which supports the At a Glance widget, has revealed mentions of Gemini Space and features like finance recaps and sports updates. These upgrades are expected to be incorporated into the Pixel Launcher’s At a Glance widget, although they remain speculative.
AppWizard
June 17, 2025
Android 16 is causing significant issues for Pixel users, particularly with navigation gestures and buttons freezing, lagging, or becoming unresponsive. Pixel 8 Pro owners report delays of up to 30 seconds when swiping or navigating back, while Pixel 9 Pro XL users face similar problems with the swipe-up gesture. Complaints have surged on forums, especially Reddit, where users describe their navigation actions failing altogether. The issues affect models from Pixel 6 to the 9 series. Artem Russakovskii from Android Police shared a screen recording highlighting the severity of the bug. Google has not addressed the problems, and users are advised to use the bug report tool to voice their concerns in hopes of a patch being released.
AppWizard
June 11, 2025
Google is testing a redesign of its Phone app for certain Pixel 8 Pro devices, specifically version 178.0.765584175-publicbeta. The update removes the dedicated Favorites tab, replacing it with a horizontal row of favorite contacts at the top of the Recents screen. This change was first reported by a Telegram user, @h_muc, who shared screenshots of the new interface. The redesign also eliminates the frequent contacts section that was previously located beneath the favorites. A new Add button has been added to allow users to link directly to their contact list for adding more favorites. The rollout is still in the testing phase, and it is uncertain if these changes will be implemented across all devices.
AppWizard
June 10, 2025
Developers and select Pixel devices are currently experiencing the enhanced connected displays feature through the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release. This feature allows users to connect their smartphones to external monitors, transfer apps seamlessly, and enhances productivity. It supports desktop windowing, flexible window tiling, multiple desktop sessions, and a new taskbar for easier app switching. The Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 is available on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 series. The Google Pixel 9 features a Tensor G4 chip, a 6.3-inch Actua Display, a dual-camera system with 50MP wide and 48MP ultrawide lenses, a 4,700 mAh battery, 12GB of RAM, and promises seven years of OS and security updates in an IP68 water-resistant design.
AppWizard
June 7, 2025
Google introduced Linux Terminal support integrated into Android for Pixel users running the latest stable version of the operating system. The terminal operates within a virtual machine, ensuring separation from core device functions. A recent poll showed that 24% of users have enabled the Linux Terminal app, 51% are considering it, 10% do not want it, and 15% have phones that do not support it. Key commands include "help" for available commands and "man" for manual pages. Users can install system information tools like neofetch and htop, as well as terminal games such as Bastet, Pacman4console, Moon-Buggy, nsnake, and ninvaders. SSH can be installed for network device control, and text editor nano can be used for note-taking. Users can also install cmatrix for a Matrix-like display and stress testing tools. Nyan Cat can be displayed in the terminal as well. Future plans include full-scale Linux apps in Android’s desktop mode.
AppWizard
May 22, 2025
Google I/O 2025 has concluded, and the Android 16 QPR1 Beta has been launched, introducing the Material 3 Expressive design language. This update is the first Quarterly Platform Release following the stable Android 16 Beta program and is primarily aimed at developers and testers. It enhances user experience with a fresh visual design, which will also extend to Wear OS 6. Key features of the update include a redesigned user interface with increased space for widgets and apps, new system icons in the status bar, a colorful quick settings panel, expanded customization options, and enhanced controls for home and lock screens. The beta is available for various Pixel devices, including Pixel 6, 7, 8, and 9 series, as well as Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.
AppWizard
May 20, 2025
The Amazon Memorial Day sale and the OnePlus early summer sale have begun, offering significant discounts. The wireless 144Hz Samsung The Frame Pro is discounted by up to 0, and the unlocked Pixel 8 Pro has price reductions of up to 3. Acer’s Predator Helios Neo 14 gaming laptop is also available at a substantial markdown. The game "Endurance: Infection in Space" is highlighted as a recommended action-packed space-shooter with a mystery story.
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