Google Pixel
Physical changes are also welcome, so things like skins, cases, screen protections etc... are fine to discuss. For me, in this order: - Wi-Fi calling: it was very surprising that this was not on by default, and enabling it helped a bit with the battery life on my Pixel 7a; - Try custom launchers: I was happy with the phone but the very first annoying thing is the damn Google search bar and how there was no way to just hide it like any other widget. So I ended up installing [KISS Launcher](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/fr.neamar.kiss/) (it's FOSS and still maintained); - Bite the bullet and install [GrapheneOS](https://grapheneos.org/): you get more security, sandboxed Play Services, a more fine-grained permissions system and you can still install the default Pixel apps from the Play Store while cutting off their internet access, and most importantly you get rid of the Google bar (also enabled Wi-Fi calling as previously done).
The Pixel phone cameras and their AI photo enhancements using Google's Tensor chip are among the things where Pixel phones shine and which make their owners fall in love with them. In case you didn't see it already, please take a look at all of the beautiful shots by the members in [our Pixel photography megathread](https://lemmy.world/post/996116) and feel free to contribute your own! 😁 Whether you're a photography geek or just starting out, this thread aims to be a place to share tips and tricks to make the most out of your Pixel phone's camera and its AI magic to capture stunning shots. Please feel free to share your favorite tricks regarding but not limited to: * **Accessories**: what are your must-have accessories that level up your photography experience? * **Composition techniques**: rule of thirds, golden ratio... do you use any of these techniques? * **Digital zoom**: do you ever use it? * **Google Camera settings**: what are your go-to settings in the Google Camera app for different scenarios? Or do you prefer using another app? * **Gripping**: how do you like to hold your device when shooting photos and videos? * **Lenses**: which lenses do you use the most? Do you find yourself using macro and wide angle more, or telephoto (maybe even for close ups)? * **Lighting**: how do you deal with different lighting conditions to get the perfect shot? * **Portrait shots**: how do you get that perfect bokeh effect in your portrait shots? * **Post-processing**: which Google Camera filters do you use the most? Do you use any other Android apps for additional post-processing or do you post-process on PC? Model-specific tips are of course also welcome. Don't forget to state what phone model you have when posting! Can't wait to see what photography hacks you've got up your sleeves! 📸✨ -- *with love by AlmightySnoo & hackitfast* *(photo featuring the Google Camera app by Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian)*
We'll keep it in a single sticky thread for now and see how it goes. Please don't forget to indicate which model you used to take the photo! 😁 --- **EDIT:** Won't be pushing Pixelfed anymore. As someone in the comments already said, it reduces the quality of your photos. And Lemmy.world isn't a small instance anymore and should handle the photos so we'll ignore the recommendation below, unless of course you don't mind the lossy compression that's being applied :-) If you want a tiny bit of lossless compression before posting your photos, if you're on Linux you could feed them to [jpegoptim](https://github.com/tjko/jpegoptim). --- ~~The following is of course not necessary, but if it's not too complicated for you it might be preferable to host your photos on a [Pixelfed instance](https://pixelfed.org/servers) if they are too large to help lessen the burden on the lemmy.world instance!~~ ~~Basically, once you upload your image on a Pixelfed instance, you can embed your image here by right-clicking (or long tap if on your phone) on the Pixelfed pic, choosing "copy image link" (or opening it in a new tab and copying the URL if your mobile browser doesn't show this), and then you paste the URL here inside an image tag like this:~~ ~~``~~
Discussions and suggestions about how the community is run, the moderation, the rules etc... go here!
9to5google.com
> In a new report, it's found that the Google Pixel 9 launch has led to the "highest-ever" sales for a single quarter.
9to5google.com
> Google is adding a feature on Pixel phones that lets you limit the battery charge to 80%, but it was never in the first Android 15 release.
It seems that they have accidentally posted the announcement earlier than intended, but it will probably show up later during the day.
9to5google.com
> Google has started selling a Pixel Watch 3 screen protector for both size that's "like glass," but not actually glass.
www.androidauthority.com
> Google has detailed the security patches that are rolling out to Pixel devices through the October 2024 Android and Pixel Security Bulletin.
www.androidauthority.com
> Google has finally released the stable version of Android 15 on Pixel phones. Here are the most notable features and supported devices.
9to5google.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20898671 > Available now in the Google Store, you can get a 3-in-1 charging dock for your Pixel phone, Watch, and Pixel Buds.
www.androidauthority.com
> Here's why the new mobile network security features aren’t available in the stable Android 15 update for Pixel phones.
www.androidauthority.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20884408 > Google previously showed off the cast to nearby feature in January, and it's finally ready for launch. But did the company miss a key device?
9to5google.com
> With the October 2024 (Feature) Drop, Google is rolling out Pixel Camera 9.6 to all supported devices. The Pixel 9 series...
blog.google
No more wondering if the phone started the 4 minute exposure or if it just decided that my finger pressing the shutter button was enough vibrations for it to cancel the astro photo and just has trouble to focus so it takes a bit longer than usual to take the photo!
www.androidauthority.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20884388 > Android 15 is now rolling out to Pixel phones. The new update is bringing the ability to send and receive messages via satellite.
www.androidauthority.com
> Google has said that it's still in the process of fixing the broken Wear OS 5 update for the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2.
9to5google.com
> With the Pixel Watch 3, Google introduced a new charging screen that is now rolling out to older wearables...
9to5google.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/20643182 >Hurricane Milton is making headlines as one of the most powerful hurricanes at sea before it hits land. If you own a Pixel 9, you’ll want to make sure you know how to use Pixel Satellite SOS, just in case it becomes a necessity.
9to5google.com
> For some, Google rolled out the straightforward “Pixel Watch fully charged” notification back in November. It’s now seeing wider availability.
www.androidauthority.com
> Google made the Pixel 9 series even more secure than its predecessors by implementing changes to the baseband.
Found these on FB marketplace for $30 the other day. I think I got a pretty good deal!
9to5google.com
>Following an early Pixel 9 series launch in August, it’s now being reported that the mid-range Pixel 9a could launch as soon as March 2025, the earliest release date in the lineup’s history.
On Android 14 (Pixel 9), looking around the "settings/Default apps" and I see ""Default caller ID and spam app" is set to "none" instead of the "phone" app. Did anyone set it to "phone"? It seems it should be that way, so I wonder why it's not already?
Some say older pixels (4 or 5) have longer battery life and no (or minimal?) overheat issues when compared to Tensor chip devices. Is this true? I haven't tried any pixels yet and I'm planning to buy one even if its one of the old Snapdragon phones if that is recommended. I plan to use the device for long duration of video recording. So something with good camera and doesn't overheat.
Over the past few weeks (months, idk?) my phone (Pixel 8) gives me a message that says "Charging on hold to protect the battery" when the phone is not plugged in. The notification stays forever until I select "override" to dismiss the safety feature. It will not charge (if I later plug it in) until I say "override". When I say override, it will let me charge, but I will still see the notification again later, so it appears to be a temporary override. This morning, I saw the notification pop up while I was using the phone. It was in my hands, not plugged in, and did the animation like I had just plugged in the phone to charge. It was at about 45% battery, so it also seems to have nothing to do with battery percent. Am I just charging wrong, or I don't understand how smart charging works, or is this incorrect behavior? In normal circumstances, I charge the phone overnight. Since this has begun, I have begun leaving it off the charger overnight and instead charging it earlier in the evening for a bit then removing it before bed. I've noticed recently that it only charges to 80%, so it is usually very low when I get home.
www.androidauthority.com
> In total, 15 Google Pixel devices will get the upcoming Android 15 update, and you'll be able to download it on day one.
www.androidauthority.com
> Following reports of the Pixel Watch Wear OS 5 update locking up wearables, Google has taken steps to stop distribution.
9to5google.com
> Back in June, the Pixel 8 and newer phones gained DisplayPort Support and the Google Store is now selling a USB-C to HDMI cable...
9to5google.com
> Following the launch of the Pixel Watch 3, Wear OS 5 is rolling out to the original Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 with the September 2024...
I currently have an iPhone 14 Pro Max and I want to switch to an Android phone. First of all, I eliminated all Chinese phones. Since Samsung has limited custom rom support, I gave up on that too. At the end, I decided to get a Pixel because of its GrapheneOS support. But right now I'm stuck between Pixel 8 and 9. There's a big price difference with small improvements. I can afford both but not sure if Pixel 9 is worth it. What do you think?
www.androidauthority.com
> Picking the right third-party charger for the Pixel 9 Pro XL is nigh on impossible, thanks to some very specific power requirements.
I finally decided I should complain about the almost weekly, and getting worse, networking issues (a reboot fixes it, though nothing else will). After talking to Google, they suggested I send the device in for repairs. "Uh.. ok. How many spare phones do YOU have?" "Let me see if there's an alternative". So they sent me a replacement, putting a hold on my card so I send back mine. Sure. I can live with that. New (refurbished, I'm pretty sure) phone arrived today. Spent the day reinstalling everything. The bank apps are the worst... A little while ago, while watching a movie at home, I noticed the phone was constantly (like every few minutes) rebooting. Sigh. Guess I'll be calling Google again tomorrow. What a pain.
www.androidauthority.com
> Pixel's software policy went from three to seven years, making it a market leader. Check out details for each Pixel device here.
9to5google.com
> iFixit has listed repair parts for the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and 9 Pro XL, with the year-over-year comparison revealing some pricing changes...
9to5google.com
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/19727459 > Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 redesigns the Settings app with some Material You tweaks and better organization.
9to5google.com
> Google is updating Safety Check in Chrome, with a big focus on getting rid of unwanted website notifications through one-tap unsubscribe.
www.androidauthority.com
> We have found evidence suggesting that Google is preparing to bring two Pixel 9 exclusive photo editing features to older Pixel phones.
www.androidauthority.com
> Delayed notifications are one of the most enduring issues with Google Pixel phones, and Google seems to be aware of the issue.