Google’s Stretch Band is easily the most comfortable way to wear the Pixel Watch, but it comes with a few important caveats.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Pixel Watch Stretch Band is soft like a warm, cozy sweater
Author
Kyle Bradshaw joined NewGeekGuide in 2018 with a special interest in Google’s Fuchsia OS, rooted in his experience of being the first to offer a visual preview of the revolutionary design of the in-development operating system. Since then, his attention has broadened to include the secrets hidden within other areas of Google’s public codebases.
By reading the public Fuchsia code, Kyle was able to prove the existence of the Nest Mini and the Nest Hub Max months ahead of their respective announcements. With evidence from Chromium, he reported on Google’s since-canceled efforts to create an offshoot of Android designed for “touchless” feature phones.
In 2018, Kyle reported on three distinct Made by Google Chromebooks in development, the Pixel Slate, the Pixelbook Go — a full year before its release — and “Meowth,” the original version of the Pixel Slate that was canceled due to Intel’s delays that year. For ChromeOS itself, Kyle was the first to demonstrate the upcoming light theme redesign in action.
Looking at the early evidence of the Pixel 5’s specs, Kyle accurately predicted in February 2020 that the Pixel 5 might not be a traditional “flagship” phone. In 2021, he reported that Google’s next headset would be the “Pixel Buds A.”
Kyle was the first to report that the Pixel 6 would mark the debut of Google’s in-house processors, later revealed to be the Tensor chips.
Kyle contributes to the APK Insight column at NewGeekGuide, discovering the hidden changes in Google’s apps. These efforts have revealed hotly anticipated features, details about upcoming devices, and unexpected connections between companies.
He can be reached for tips or just friendly chat by Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky, or email. If you’re looking for his other works or side projects, head over to Kyle’s personal portfolio.
Google begins reaching out to fix ‘declined’ Stadia refunds
Continuing the complex process of refunding every Stadia purchase, Google is now reaching out to those whose refunds were “declined” for any reason.
Expand Expanding CloseNovember Google Play System updates: New Android photo picker, Wallet tweaks [U]
Google has begun previewing the latest changes to Android as part of November’s Google Play System updates, including improvements for Wallet and parental controls.
Update: Google is bringing its updated photo picker to nearly every Android device, including ones that are quite outdated.
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This Chrome extension separates verified Twitter accounts from Blue subscribers [Updated]
Following adjustments to Twitter’s verification system, a new Chrome extension can reveal which accounts are verified as notable and which are simply Twitter Blue subscribers.
Expand Expanding CloseThird time’s the charm: Everything we know about the Google Pixel Fold
Now that we’ve gotten our first plausible look at next year’s Pixel Fold, let’s recap everything we’ve learned about Google’s first foldable Pixel — or more accurately, its third — over the last few years.
Expand Expanding CloseStadia refunds causing Play Store credit as Google fixes negative Play Points [U]
Some customers are seeing massive Google Play Store credits and negative Play Points balances upon receiving their Stadia refunds.
Expand Expanding CloseUpcoming Nest speaker should bring UWB, matching Handoff on Apple’s HomePod
Google appears to be preparing a next-generation Nest smart speaker with support for ultra-wideband (UWB) connectivity, likely matching the “Handoff” feature of Apple’s HomePod.
Expand Expanding CloseSoon, your Chromebook will make a fun sound when you plug it in
Google is preparing to make ChromeOS a bit more delightful by playing a sound effect when you plug your Chromebook into power.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Chrome gaining dynamic color theme based on New Tab Page background
Taking inspiration from Android, Google Chrome on the desktop is gaining a new dynamic theme, made from your current background.
Expand Expanding CloseNest Wifi Pro issue limiting speeds to 50Mbps for some, Google says fix incoming [U]
The Nest Wifi Pro has only been available for a few days now, but some customers are already seeing an issue that limits their download speeds to 50Mbps.
Update: Google has provided a timeline for when this issue will be fixed.
Expand Expanding CloseSearching for Stadia: GeForce Now is the king of quality
Nvidia GeForce Now is currently the only cloud gaming service to match the level of streaming quality and low latency of Google Stadia, even exceeding it in some areas.
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Google asked US Marine Corps veteran to create Veterans Day Doodle
Today’s Google Doodle in honor of Veterans Day in the United States was created by a US Marine Corps veteran and Diné.
Expand Expanding CloseChromeOS may soon offer screen recording to animated GIFs
Google is preparing an option to save ChromeOS screen recordings as animated GIFs, for easier sharing with others.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Pixel Watch’s Crafted Leather Band offers the classic timepiece experience
Google’s Crafted Leather Band for the Pixel Watch brings the refined, jewelry-like feeling of a luxury timepiece.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung Galaxy Fold drops from monthly updates down to quarterly
First released in 2019, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has been downgraded from monthly updates to a less frequent schedule, along with a few changes for other Galaxy phones.
Expand Expanding CloseSteam on ChromeOS: Here’s what games and Chromebooks are supported
Google and Valve have finally launched the fruits of their partnership to bring Steam to ChromeOS; here’s which Chromebooks are ready for playing games and which titles are supported.
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Google Doodle celebrates jollof rice, an iconic West African dish
Today, the Google.com homepage logo is dedicated to jollof rice, one of the most iconic foods of West Africa.
Expand Expanding CloseHere are the best Mastodon apps to download for Android
With many looking to Mastodon as a potential replacement for their favorite social networks, here are some of the best apps for Mastodon available to download on Android.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle is shutting down its dedicated Street View app next year
Google is preparing to shut down the dedicated Street View app on Android, keeping the feature in Google Maps.
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Google Doodle showcases Indigenous North American stickball
The latest Google Doodle shines a spotlight on Indigenous North American stickball, one of the oldest sports in North America.
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Google brings back beloved multiplayer Halloween game w/ new maps, hats, and more
Over the years, Google has crafted some fun and spooky games for Halloween, and this year they’ve expanded The Great Ghoul Duel with hats, new maps, and so much more.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel 7a set to be a big upgrade w/ flagship camera, wireless charging, and more
Google’s affordable mid-range phone for 2023, the Pixel 7a, is shaping up to be a significant upgrade over every A-series Pixel before it, with better cameras, wireless charging, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Pixel Watch Active Band is a great default, but not perfect for everyone
Out of the box, the Pixel Watch comes equipped with an “Active Band” that takes very clear inspiration from Fitbit, for better or worse.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Nest Wifi Pro is built for the work-from-home era
Nest Wifi Pro is designed to be the perfect investment for upgrading your office in the work-from-home era, but are the benefits of Wi-Fi 6E worth the increased cost?
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