As we near the launch of Pixel 10, I’m getting some déjà vu with Google’s new devices, as the company has been pushing forward with its flagship phones for the betterment of the entire Android ecosystem, rather than just its own benefit. Sound familiar?
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Apple’s iPhone 13 event just ended, and Google has a secret message for you: Wait for its upcoming flagship. That piece of Pixel 6 buying advice comes from the long-dead Google Nexus Twitter account.
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As Google’s Pixel brand prepares to launch its fourth-generation flagship, a piece of the company’s past is being pushed further back. Recently, Google made the official Google Nexus account on Twitter private, hiding its legacy.
While Android P Developer Preview 2 is pretty stable in our experience, most users should stay on Android 8.1 while Google readies the next version of its mobile OS. In the meantime, the June security patch is rolling out today with the perfunctory bug fixes and security updates for Pixel and Nexus devices.
Even as we near I/O 2018 and likely P Developer Preview 2, we are months away from a consumer release, with Android 8.1 still receiving monthly updates as particularly showcased by April’s Pixel-heavy update. The May patch is today rolling out with the perfunctory bug fixes and security updates for Pixel and Nexus devices.
Due to the deluge of Assistant news at CES 2018, you might have missed that Google was demoing Android Auto between phones and car head units without a cable. Android Auto Wireless went live earlier this week for Pixel and Nexus devices, with non-Google phones coming soon.
We still have several more months with Android 8.1 as Google’s latest stable operating system even after the P Developer Preview in early March. Today, the April security patch is rolling out with the perfunctory bug fixes and security updates for Pixel and Nexus devices.
Following Google’s release of updated Pixel Visual Core algorithms earlier this week, a new service app has been uploaded to the Play Store today. “Google Time Zone Data” which does as the name implies and is specifically for Pixel and Nexus devices.
The “Check for update” button on Pixel and Nexus devices finally works with the latest Google Play services. Version 12.2.09 hit the beta channel this evening and many are reporting that tapping the button now pushes the latest Android security patch to their phones.
Back in September, a Googler noted that the “Check for update” button on Pixel and Nexus devices would work to offer any available OTAs for download. This has clearly not been the case in recent months, but it will finally work again in 2018.
Despite their October release, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL launched with the September security patch. Thankfully, Google’s latest devices are now finally up-to-date thanks to the November patch that is also rolling out to the original Pixel devices and older Nexus ones.
Ahead of last week’s October 4th hardware event, Google uploaded the “Pixel Ambient Services” app responsible for the Pixel 2’s music recognition feature. Today, the battery app found on Pixel and Nexus devices has been similarly added to the Play Store for easier updates.
While last month’s updates were slightly delayed, the October security patch is rolling out today on schedule. It contains the usual minor bug fixes and security patches for Pixel and Nexus devices.
Until recently, repeatedly tapping — but really violently smashing — the “Check for update” button in Settings would not push OTAs to your device any faster. However, Google has changed its update system so that tapping the button will actually offer the download.
The September security patch is now available for Pixel and Nexus devices, marking the first — albeit small — update to Android 8.0 Oreo. Other manufacturers began releasing updates last week, while Google was uncharacteristically late this month to post factory and OTA images for their phones and tablets this month.
Late last month, Google announced that Android O’s official launch is coming soon. In the meantime, the August security patch is now rolling out. It contains the usual minor bug fixes and security patches for current Pixel and Nexus devices.
The July security patch is beginning to rollout for Google Pixel and Nexus devices not running the latest Android O developer preview as part of the Beta Program. Still on 7.1.2, this update features the usual bug fixes and a number of security patches.
For those not in the Beta Program running the latest Android O developer preview, the June security patch is now rolling out. Still on 7.1.2, this update features minor bug fixes and a number of security patches for Google Pixel and Nexus devices.
Following some devices accidentally receiving the May security patch a few weeks early, the OTA is now officially rolling out. The first update to 7.1.2 features minor bug fixes and a number of security patches for Google Pixel and Nexus devices.
Following the second public beta of Android 7.1.2 last month, Nougat’s second maintenance release is now rolling out. Mainly focusing on bug fixes and optimizations, there are some minor new features for the Google Pixel and Nexus devices.
Following the second public beta of Android 7.1.2 and the O Developer Preview last month, the April security patch is now rolling out. Still on Android 7.1.1, it features minor bug fixes and security patches for Google Pixel and Nexus devices.
Still on Android 7.1.1, the March security patch is beginning to rollout for current Pixel and Nexus devices. Likely addressing minor bugs, but otherwise lacking significant new features, there are fixes for 60 vulnerabilities.
Overshadowed by the 7.1.2 Developer Preview, the February security patch is beginning to rollout. Still on 7.1.1, there are fixes for 35 vulnerabilities, with factory images and OTAs now available for current Pixel and Nexus devices.
