#News #Pixel5a
Pixel 5a wins MKBHD's 2021 blind camera test
MKBHD (YouTube Video)

Surprisingly the Google Pixel 5a beat the Pixel 6 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro, Realme GT and OnePlus 9 Pro in the Instagram polls making it the winner of The Blind Smartphone Camera Test 2021!

The good old 12MP Sony IMX 363 (used since the Pixel 2 in 2017) shockingly beat the 50MP Samsung GN1 sensor used in the Pixel 6 Pro.

#Maps
Google Maps is testing out with Dock to bottom feature on desktop web
XDA Developers

Google Maps has gained some new features during this holiday season. Besides that, seems like there a new tool being tested on the desktop web.

Reported by Search Engine Roundtable, Dock to bottom let you save location or business you have selected to a temporary new dock at the bottom of the screen. When hovering over the card in the dock, you will be able to dismiss it and when the dock is empty. it will be hidden.

For now, the tool seems to be under development and only available to a very few users out there.

#News #Pixel6
Pixel 6 seems to prevent audiophiles from using external DAC to listen media
Android Police

In order to truly listen to lossless quality music, you need external DAC and a pair of premium headphones, but unfortunately Pixel 6 is having issues over this part.

Many Pixel 6 owners reported that connecting external Hi-Fi DACs over USB-C doesn't have any sound output, with some music apps end up crashing, and some play screeching sound. The issue is already first reported way back in November, even though the issues has been posted on Google Issue Tracker, still on the December update, the issue isn't fixed yet.

Just to mention that external DACs isn't very popular, so there not a lot of users being affected. Less reports mean Google can hardly noticed it, hence this explained why Google didn't fix it then.

#News
Google Toolbar is 21 years old, and has been officially killed
Android Police

Google has created a lot of services and killed a lot of them, and the latest one to get killed is Google Toolbars.

Google Toolbar earlier can still be download and use on Internet Explorer, but since the browser is no longer being used by many, Google has started deprecating the support to the browser, for example the company earlier has stop supporting Google Search on the browser. It is no longer available to download since December 10, 2021, which is also exactly 21 years old when retiring.

Also Ron Amadeo written an article over at Ars Technica on how the Google Toolbars works if you didn't get a chance to see and operate it by yourself. Anyway, R.I.P. Google Toolbars (2000 ~ 2021).

#News #YouTubeTV
YouTube TV is losing Disney channels today, follows with $15 price drop
9To5Google

UPDATE: Disney channels have been restored.

YouTube TV has dropped their monthly subnoscription payment price, at the same time all Disney-owned channels has been pulled down.

On December 13, YouTube announced that they are renewing agreement between Disney. If they can't reach a deal by December 17, which is today, then YouTube TV will no longer be able to watch Disney channels anymore, and they will drop the price to just #49.99/month. The notice has been updated today to reflect the changes is effective from now on.

The following channel are no longer available on YouTube TV as of 12 a.m. ET. with live recordings being removed too:
• Your local ABC channel
• ABC News Live
• Disney Channel
• Disney Junior
• Disney XD
• Freeform
• FX
• FXX
• FXM
• National Geographic
• National Geographic Wild
• ESPN
• ESPN2
• ESPN3 (by authentication to the ESPN app)
• ESPNU
• ESPNEWS
• SEC Network
• ACC Network

#YouTube
YouTube desktop web added Shorts access in the sidebar menu
Earlier we have showed you that YouTube desktop web has added unlimited Shorts scroll feed, and we expected that there will be an option on the sidebar menu sometimes soon, and seems like this is going live for some now.

As you can see from the image attached, the Shorts option is appearing under Explore and above Subnoscriptions in the sidebar menu. Clicking on it will bring you to the scroll feed page with random videos showing up.

Basically even if the option isn't live for you, simply copy a YouTube Shorts link and paste it in your browser address bar, you should get to that interface too. The option in the sidebar is just a quick way to access the page. Anyway, you can try out the experience by copying this link and open in your desktop browser.

Follow @PixelHubUpdates

#Workspace #Slides
You can now hide the filmstrip in Google Slides
Google Workspace Updates

Finally, Google Slides is giving users the ability to hide the filmstrip on the left side for a bigger slide view.

Users can now hide it by pressing the collapse button at the bottom left corner. To use the filmstrip again, just press the expand button and you will get access to all the slides that you have created. The feature is going live for all users.

#YouTube
YouTube ESCAPE 2021 Recap
YouTube (YouTube Video)

For those who didn't get the time to watch YouTube ESCAPE 2021 live stream, the recap video has been released.

Basically YouTube ESCAPE 2021 celebrated the largest trend on the platform of the year 2021. It is an interactive live stream with three chapters hosted during December 16.

One of the largest achievement being done on YouTube is that Minecraft video content has gained over total of one trillion views (that 12 "0" at the back). Another one is that BTS "Butter" music video is the fastest video to gain the most views in 24 hours, 108.2 million views is recorded. YouTube decide to merge both of them and celebrate it at the end, you can watch it over here.

There are a lot more trends happened over the past year, watch the recap video to learn more.

#Calculator #MY
Google Calculator (Dynamic Color Copy)
Updated: 19/12/2021

▪️Download
▪️Screenshot (Preview)
▪️Screenshot (Full Quality)

Introduction:
Google Calculator 8.1 Material You but with more accent colors for Android 6+.

14 variant of colors for you to choose from: Blue, Blue (MY), Cyan, Gray, Green, Green (MY), Orange, Pink, Purple, Purple (MY), Red, Red (MY), Yellow, Yellow Green

Notes:
• Changelog: Updated app base to v8.1 (Previous post)
• Uninstall the official version of the app before installing the modified APK here.
• All APKs are signed with testkey, you can install over it to change the accent color anytime.
• File name with (MY) means Material You version of the color which I try to replicate it as near as possible from the screenshot on the web. Only light theme because I can't find dark theme screenshot anywhere. (You are welcome to share it though.)

Follow @PixelHubUpdates

#News #YouTubeTV
YouTube TV is restoring Disney channels, price reverted back to $64.99/month
9To5Google | Previous post

Earlier YouTube TV and Disney both are having argument with each other, on December 17 all the Disney channels and live recordings are being pulled down, but seems the case is resolved and the Disney channels are returning back.

YouTube TV on Twitter announced that both side have managed to reach a deal, and they are restoring access to the Disney channels that got pulled down earlier with live recordings. If you go back to the old announcement page, the notice also has been updated.

Current YouTube TV members will soon get a $15 discount on their next bill if they haven't already, while new users who registered will be charge $64.99 as usual.

#News
Google Authenticator reach 100 million installs on Play Store
Android Police

You can use Google Authenticator to get more security for your online accounts, and recently the service has got 100 million installs on the Play Store.

The app is last updated in May 2020 to add dark more support, and that's pretty much it. Nothing much to talk about the service, but if you had like to have a extra security protection to your accounts, then you can probably try start using it today.

#News #Apps #Pixel6
Frustrated with poor signal on your Pixel 6? Here's a way to solve it
Android Police

So some Pixel 6 owners updated their phone to the latest December update but found out that the phone is having mobile signal reception issues. Google later have explained that it's not due to the wrong region builds being installed, and they are currently investigating the cause of the issue.

For now, someone on Reddit have found out that installing Google Carrier Services app beta version seems to fix the issue. He said he have also try other SIM card to fix but apparently it doesn't do the job until he updated the Carrier Services app to the beta version.

Other Pixel 6 users who have tried his method commented that it worked and they no longer face poor signal strength on their phone. So if you own the device and faced the issue, try install the beta version of the Carrier Services app by Google, link down below.

Download (88.0.414420665):
Play Store | APKMirror

#ChromeOS
Google reported Chrome OS users are using Android apps 50% more YoY
9To5Google

Chrome OS let you use Android apps natively, and Google reported the usage of Android apps on Chrome OS have increased 50% year-over-year, with Google mentioning “people are craving their favorite smartphone experiences on large-screen devices.”

Besides, Chrome OS grown 92% over the year 2021. Chrome OS is also set to gain some improvements, with Android 11 rolling out, improved Android app window management with Chrome 93+ on Android 11, Nearby Share in Android apps with Chrome 96+ on both Android 9 and 11 and more.

#Pixel6
Google made Pixel 6-themed Tarot deck with 78 cards
9To5Google

Google seems to be creating some interactive fun stuff over at Instagram. They posted a Tarot deck “correlates #Pixel6 features to the 22 Major Arcana cards."

Google also released a Google Slides presentation file with 93 pages to explain the history of Tarot, reading cards and ways to share it on social media. There are a total of 78 cards with accompanying meanings, 22 Major Archana cards and 56 Minor Archana cards.

Besides, Google created a physical Pixel 6 “tARot deck box” which scanning the QR code on it will open up AR effect on Instagram. You could just scan it over on your screen though.

#YouTube
YouTube Shorts hitting on desktop web feeds
YouTube has been really hard-working on developing YouTube Shorts, and earlier we have showed you the Shorts option is appearing in the sidebar menu on desktop web, now it arriving on page feeds.

You can see that instead of showing timestamp, now it just showed the "SHORTS" wording with the logo on the left side. This is a similar approach to what has been done on the mobile app a few months ago. Currently everyone can see the changes over in Explore > Trending page.

Now on the mobile app, you can hardly access the normal video player for "Shorts" videos. As far as I can see, the only way to access it is to open the video from your watch history, but you know, YouTube will be covering that part soon and making impossible to access the normal video player page for "Shorts" videos.

Follow @PixelHubUpdates

#Pixel6
Pixel 6 Pro is officially eligible for 120FPS game streaming with NVIDIA GeForce NOW’s RTX 3080 tier
XDA Developers

If you're into cloud gaming, then you have probably heard of NVIDIA new GeForce NOW plan with RTX 3080 graphics. It can support up to 120FPS streaming on select Android devices. When first launch, it only supported a few Samsung recent flagship devices like Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy S20 FE and Galaxy S21 series.

Recently, NVIDIA updated their support page to reflect Pixel 6 Pro is able to play AAA games at 1080p resolution with 120FPS. In order to experience it, you need to manually enable it over in the Settings > GeForce Now > Stream quality > Frame rate, then select 120FPS option.

#Workspace #Voice
Google Voice let you control your incoming call experience
Google Workspace Updates

Google Voice is getting some neat features to let you control how incoming calls should be handled.

In order to access the settings, you need to visit Google Voice settings and go to "Calls" section, you will see "Custom call forwarding." which will let you manage your existing rules and also create a new one. Pressing on "Create a rule" will let you select people to get a voicemail or get linked to another number.

The feature is fully available to all Google Voice users today.