#Updates #Pixel
January 2022 Security Patch is rolling out!
Changes

UPDATE: Pixel 6 January Update has released!

Pixel owners are now receiving 2022 first update for their phone. This month bring in minor fixes for all supported Pixels. Pixel 6 series are set to receive the update later this month.

One of the important fixes that Google include in this update is the emergency calling issue. Also it include 10 functional updates which you can learn more in the post above.

Pixel 3 series update
After investigating for a while, the Pixel 3 update that Google provide is just to fix the emergency calling bug, nothing else included. This won't be the last update for the device yet, which is coming around Q1 2022. Pixel 3 is receiving update but still on October 2021 security patch.

Download for Google Pixel devices:
Pixel 3 (Oct 2021 patch): Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 3 XL (Oct 2021 patch): Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 3a: Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 3a XL: Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 4: Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 4 XL: Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 4a: Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 4a 5G: Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 5: Factory Images | OTA
Pixel 5a: Factory Images | OTA

*Build ID
Pixel 3 & Pixel 3 XL: SP1A.210812.016.A2
Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a: SQ1A.220105.002

Source:
Pixel Phone Support Forum

Follow @PixelHubUpdates

#Pixel6
Google removed December 2021 update for Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro from developer sites
9To5Google

Due to issues reported by Pixel 6 owners, Google has already stopped serving December OTA update for Pixel 6 series. And just a few hours ago, Google has removed it from their developer websites to prevent users from manually updating it.

A lot of Pixel 6 owners reported that their phone are having poor connectivity issue. When Google announced they are pausing the December update for Pixel 6, they also advised owners who are on the December update to downgrade to the previous November 2021 update for a better experience.

In order to prevent users from downloading the wrong firmware, Google has already delisted all December update for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, including region and carrier builds. Now visiting the developer site no longer show those builds anymore.

#Apps #Chrome
Chrome 97 released to stable channel
Upcoming Chrome 98 release date: 1 Feb 2022
Android Police

What's New:
• PC: Website data deletion improvements (Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Site Settings -> View permissions and data stored across files)
• PC: Better international keyboard support
• PC: Installed web apps will feel even more native
• Android: Per-site page zoom (chrome:flags#enable-accessibility-page-zoom)
• HDR improvements for CSS

Download:
Play Store | APKMirror

#Android
Google makes Android experience much more seamless to use
Google bring in some neat updates to Android, making the experience much more seamless to use. Posts with explanation of all the introduced updates are coming soon.
https://blog.google/products/android/ces2022-bettertogether/

#Android
You can share files from your Android phone to Windows PC with Nearby Share
This is probably one of the features that most people are requesting for, Nearby Share support for Windows PC, and it's happening soon.

There's not much information on how this feature will be made available, with Google only announcing select PCs by Acer, HP and Intel are receiving the feature first soon later this year. From the illustration provided, it seems like the feature will work with a standalone app, but it might subject to change.

With Nearby Share, you can sync text and share files between two devices without Internet connection wirelessly.

Follow @PixelHubUpdates

#Android #WearOS
Wear OS devices will have the ability to unlock Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks
Smart Lock let you skip the process of having to authenticate, and Google is kind of expanding the features over to Wear OS watches.

When the watches is unlocked and nearby to any of your Android devices or Chromebooks, you don't need to go through the unlocking process when you want to use it. On the watch, you will be given the option to "Lock again" if you want the device to be lock. Your Android phones and tablets will tell you that if it was unlocked by the watch or not on the lockscreen.

Eligible Wear OS 3 smartwatches will be receiving the feature in a few months time.

Follow @PixelHubUpdates

#Android #Auto
Android Auto gaining expanded digital car key support, Fast Pair, improved voice control, and more
Google Blog

Android Auto is set to get even better with all these updates.

Pixel 6 series and select Galaxy devices have already received digital car key feature, and Google planned to expand it to Android devices with UWB technology included soon this year.

Fast Pair is also made available on select BMW and Ford cars starting today, expect more cars to get the feature soon.

Besides, Google is working on remote actions feature which will let users to lock and unlock their car with their voice, also be able to know what's the phone battery percentage. It is first arriving on Volvo cars, with "more to follow."

There are actually a lot more minor changes besides these features that we written above. You can learn more over in the original article.

#Android #Highlights
Seamless experience on Android Update Highlights
• Android and Chrome OS relationship is much closer than before, bring in Quick Start, reply chat apps support and more
• You can share files from your Android phone to Windows PC with Nearby Share
• Wear OS devices will have the ability to unlock Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks
• Fast Pair is arriving on Google TV, Android TV, and Matter smart home products
• Android gains headphone auto-switching, Bose speakers getting built-in Chromecast
• Android Auto gaining expanded digital car key support, Fast Pair, improved voice control, and more

Source:
Google Blog (2)

Follow @PixelHubUpdates

#Android #A12
Cast volume controls is fixed with January security patch for Pixel devices
Mishaal Rahman

Apparently cast volume controls is now working normally with the January update for Pixel devices, according to Mishaal Rahman.

Earlier Google said they have disabled cast volume controls due to a legal issue, which is later confirmed due to Sonos lawsuit. In the first beta of Android 12L, it kind of return back but only halfway, you can't control it with the volume keys yet. With the January update that is just rolled out yesterday, Google has finally restored the default behaviour.

The relevant patch for the cast volume controls can be found here. Google has probably found some other way to bypass the lawsuit, but no one is sure for now.

#News #AndroidTV #GoogleTV
Android TV and Google TV have over 110 million monthly active devices
9To5Google

Google's TV platform has been steadily growing, as of today, both Android TV and Google TV have recorded over 110 million active devices out there.

Back in May 2021, Google reported that both platform have recorded over 80 million active devices, which means in just around 8 months time, approximate 30 million more Android TV and Google TV devices have been activated and since then being used actively.

#YTMusic #WearOS
YouTube Music upcoming Wear OS Tile will show your recently played music playlist
9To5Google

Google is preparing a Wear OS Tile for YouTube Music, which you can then jump back into your favourite playlist quickly from the home screen of your watch.

The preview of the tile is given the name "Recently played." From the image provided, we can see that the tile is giving users a quick shortcut to let them play their recent playlist or album. There a "Browse" button which will probably give you access to choose a song to play in the playlist.

There another preview image of the tile, which is going to be the Tile’s “background,” according to 9To5Google. The tile isn't going live yet for anyone, but it has been prepared and hidden under the app version 4.59.