Tag Archives: Pixel 6

Is ‘Google’ Expecting You To Have The $9/Month ‘Preferred Care’ To Take Care Of the ‘Pixel 7’ Camera Lens Shattering Problem?

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by Anura Guruge
on January 20, 2023

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Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google News’.
Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google Store’.

As a ‘Pixel 7 Pro (512GB)‘ owner, as of last month, these widespread reports of the camera lens self-shattering worries me much — especially because many think it is related to using the phone in the COLD. Well, I have no choice. It is cold up here in the New Hampshire arctic circle.

That Google is refusing the fix the problem under warranty surprises me little. Over the last couple of years Google, inexplicably, has become customer-hostile. They used to be so good. Not anymore. Their ongoing trade-in scam is but a good example.

I wonder IF Google is expecting you to have ‘Preferred Care‘.

I am NOT 100% sure that ‘Preferred Care’ covers this, BUT I sure hope they do. It claims to cover accidental damage. So, IF it isn’t covered by warranty this should cover it — one hopes.

Well, for the first time, I got Preferred Care for this Pixel 7. $9/month. I am going to maintain coverage for 12 months. So, $108.

Last year I did drop my ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ & broke the screen. Getting it fixed was not cheap or straightforward. Hence this precaution.

I Finally Got ‘Android 13’ On My ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ After 4-Days Of Trying.

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by Anura Guruge
on August 19, 2022

Click to ENLARGE. On my ‘Pixel 6 Pro‘.

On Tuesday of this week (i.e., August 16, 2022) I read on ‘Google News‘ that ‘Android 13‘ was being sent out to Pixel phones. I, as a ‘Pixel 6 Pro‘ owner, thought I would get it fairly quickly. WRONG! I was checking 4 to 6 times a day with no joy. Nothing. NADA. I was getting slightly worried.

Then today, on the 4th try, I finally got the notification that I had an update. Wow. Hurrah! Well, as of then it was a piece of cake. The update didn’t take that long.

I used to get Android updates quite quickly, i.e., soon after it was released. Then I realized that I have a NEW Pixel 6 Pro — i.e., one that I only got on June 28, 2022 after I cracked the screen on the 6 Pro I had bought at Christmas 2021. I guess the updates are sent out in serial number order. I don’t know for sure. Just a supposition. If so, it would make sense. Newer the phone, later the update.

But for now I am just happy that I finally got Android 13. I am NOT, by a long chalk, a power user when it comes to Android or mobile phones. So, I have not noticed any changes, improvements or problems. But, I will be vigilant. Stay tuned.

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‘May 5, 2022’ Android 12 Update For Google Pixel 6s Seems To Have Improved Battery Life.

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by Anura Guruge
on May 4, 2022

Click to ENLARGE. On my ‘Pixel 6 Pro‘.

As I posted yesterday I got the May 2022 Android 12 update yesterday — thought it is dated ‘May 5, 2022’.

I could be wrong, but since I had that update at around 9:30am yesterday I have noticed that my battery life — with me making NO other changes — appears to have improved slightly. So, last night rather than seeing ‘remaining’ at around 45% I saw 50%. Again, this could have been a one day anomaly. Today, early on in the day, I had noticed that it was holding onto the 100% longer than it had done previously.

I will, of course, monitor this & if I see anything worth reporting I will, of course, share it with you.

All the best.

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I Already Have The ‘May 5, 2022’ Android 12 Update Installed On My Google Pixel 6 Pro.

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by Anura Guruge
on May 3, 2022

Click to ENLARGE. On my ‘Pixel 6 Pro‘.

I had seen last night that the Android 12 May 2022 was available for the new Pixels, such as my Pixel 6 Pro. So, this morning I checked. It started downloading right away. Cool. Two days ahead of schedule. Installed fine — maybe a tad quicker than the last few monthly updates.

So, I thought I will let you know. You should try updating. If you have a Pixel 5 or 6 it should be ready for download.

All the best.

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I Finally Got The March 2022 ‘Android 12’ UPDATE For My ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ On March 26.

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by Anura Guruge
on March 27, 2022

Click to ENLARGE. On my ‘Pixel 6 Pro‘.

I had read on ‘Google News’ that the March 2022 Android 12 update for Pixel 6s & Pixel 6 Pros had been delayed — supposedly to include some new features for the new phones. Given my curiosity I did check for updates around March 6 & 7. Sure enough, Nada.

Then, yesterday (i.e., March 26) morning I read that the update was finally available for Pixel 6s. Later on that day I tried. BINGO. Yes, there were some new features, none of which were of interest to I. But, at least, I now have the March 2022 update.

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Google ‘Pixel 6’: I Get Around The Fingerprint Unlock Problems In Cold Weather Using Temp. ‘Lockdown’.

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by Anura Guruge
on January 28, 2022

Click to ENLARGE. From Google.
Click to ENLARGE. My Google Pixel 6 Pro screen.

Yes, the finicky fingerprint sensor in the new Google Pixel 6s and Pixel 6 Pros are by now legendary. You can’t deny that there is an issue. It always feels like it is going to be a crapshoot. You can never be sure.

The sensor is particularly annoying in cold weather — & as some of you know I spend at least 3 hours a day, every day, outside, irrespective of the temp. Plus, when I am outside I like to take pictures — I want to take pictures — I need to take pictures.

A couple of days ago I gave up struggling with the fingerprint sensor when outside. It was just too aggravating.

So, I now just use ‘Lockdown’ each time. Faster just to bang in my 4 digit PIN than fighting with the fingerprint sensor. I have set up my Pro so that the ‘Quick Menu’ comes up whenever I press the ‘Power’ button. So, it is quick enough. I find it much easier. Less annoying. Just passing this along. It might help.

‘Google’ No Longer Even Bothering To Copy Across ‘Android Auto’ To New ‘Android 12’ Phones.

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by Anura Guruge
on January 2, 2022

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Click to ENLARGE. My NEW & old Google Pixel phones.
Click to ENLARGE. From ‘Google’.

Yes, I had known that Google was phasing out ‘Android Auto‘.

I did NOT need Android Auto to connect & use my Google Pixel 5 with my new (as of November 2, 2021) ‘Volvo’ ‘XC60’. The phone connected directly to Volvo’s (error-prone) Google-based infotainment system. That was also the case, yesterday, with my new Pixel 6 Pro. Just added the phone directly.

I hope I got my years right! SMILE. It is easy to overlook one. I got 1999 right away, BUT forgot 2000. Yikes. So, please check out my math. I will update the second chart if I have it wrong.

When I had asked for the APPs to be copied over I noticed the gap. I had to check on the old phone to see what was missing. Ahhh! Android Auto. I was slightly concerned that I might not be able to connect to my Volvo. It was NOT an issue.

So, a heads up just in case you run into this.

Android Auto is on the way out.

OK? Got that.

Two Of The ‘Pixel 6s’ I Ordered From The ‘Google Store’ Finally Shipped Today; I Cancelled The 3rd.

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by Anura Guruge
on December 5, 2021

Click to ENLARGE. Todays status. 2 units FINALLY shipped.

As I pointed out just last week it has been frustrating & confusing trying to get some Pixel 6 Pros from Google. I needed two. One for I (to replace my Pixel 5) & another for the wife to replace quite an old Samsung. She wanted ‘Cloudy White‘. I want my phones to be black since I use them mainly as cameras. When taking pictures a black camera/phone is less ‘obvious’. That has always been the rationale & why expensive cameras (these days) are invariably all black.

The Pixel 6 has a much bigger sensor & hence native image size than previous Pixels. As you know, I take quite a few pictures, EVERY DAY — sometimes in the high hundreds if I am travelling. So, I wanted to make sure I would have plenty of space. For a $100 difference it was kind of a no-brainer getting the 256GB rather than the 128GB.

As you can see I ordered the 1st of the 3 phones on November 12, 2021. I went for the UNLOCKED since that was the ONLY 128GB model Google was accepting orders for. Well, you can see the sorry saga.

We are ALL with ‘Google Fi’. So getting a Google Fi model, as opposed to an unlocked, made no difference. Both would have worked, just fine, with the built in software eSIM, on Google Fi.

So, my plan worked. Google lets you cancel, with no penalty, until the time a phone is shipped. So, once I got e-mails confirming the shipment of the two Google Fi phones I cancelled the unlocked. I would not have been heart-broken IF I was not able to cancel. I doubt I would have had trouble getting rid of a brand new, unused Pixel 6 Pro. SMILE.

Well it appears to have all worked out.

I will, however, only be fully relieved when I have the boxes in my grubby paws. That should be in the next few days. I will post a picture. SMILE. They are both Christmas presents.

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‘Pixel 6’ Order Fulfilment By ‘Google Store’ Appears To Have No Rhyme Or Reason.

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by Anura Guruge
on November 29, 2021

Click to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE.

I have, as I chronicled in this post 17 days ago, been trying to get a 128GB, ‘Cloudy White’ Pixel 6 Pro that will work on ‘Google Fi’ — that being our cellular carrier. Earlier this month, when I went to place an order, Google Fi Pixel 6 Pros were out-of-order though unlocked Pixel 6 Pros could be ordered. As you can see from the top image I placed an order & was given a December 16 – 17 delivery date. I could live with that since I only needed it BEFORE Christmas.

A few days later I ordered a 256GB, ‘Stormy Black’ Pixel 6 Pro for myself. That, $100 more expensive that the 128GB model, was available in the Google Fi variant & I got a December 2 – 3 delivery date — which is but a few days away.

I checked the delivery status on a near daily basis. No updates. They still sit their static.

A few days ago I noticed that the 128GB Google Fi models were no ‘in stock’. Since, Google claims I can cancel orders right up to the time they are ready to ship, I placed a third order. Sure enough it has an earlier delivery date than that of my first order! Go figure.

But, as of now I have yet to see any of these three orders getting shipped. Yes, of course, I will monitor the status, with great diligence over the next couple of days. At least two of these should ship this week.

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Do NOT Be Misled By ‘Out of Stock’ Claim By Google, The ‘Pixel 6 (Pro)’ Unlocked Is Totally ‘Google Fi’ Compatible — Out-of-the-Box.

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by Anura Guruge
on November 12, 2021

Click to ENLARGE.

I have been both a ‘Google Pixel’ owner & a ‘Google Fi‘ customer for the last 4 years.

I bought a Google Pixel 2 because it was natively compatible with Google Fi with the (then revolutionary) ‘software SIM’ (now called eSim).

So, I was kind of confused to be confronted with the above at the ‘Google Store’ this morning.

Unlocked Pixel 6 Pro — in stock.
Google Fi Pixel 6 Pro — out of stock.

Did NOT make sense. I knew the unlocked would work on Google Fi, with the eSIM, out-of-the-box. Since, I have a Pixel 5 I was able to get through, on the phone, with Google Fi quite quickly. They confirmed that. Unlocked will work fine with Fi. Moreover, even the Google Fi APP, readily available from the ‘Play Store’ (given it is a Google APP), is pre-installed on ALL Pixel 6s! So, there is NO DIFFERENCE between an unlocked & a ‘Google Fi’ Pixel 6 (Pro) — other than one is in stock, the other isn’t.

So, don’t let this fool ya. OK?

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