Google finally took the wraps off the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro today, and you can officially buy the company’s new Android flagships. But good luck actually placing your preorder. Although the company increased its inventory in anticipation of how the public would receive the pair of revamped Pixel phones, it seems…
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This morning Google and Snap announced a set of features that’ll launch on Google Pixel 6 exclusively. Or exclusively for a period of time, at least. This will be the first time the Snapchat Camera will be “accessible directly from a phone lock screen.” Earlier this year, a beta build of Android 12 revealed a feature called “Quick Tap.” With … Continue reading
Smart home company Wyze has launched its new Video Doorbell Pro for preorder. The device is exactly what it sounds like: a smart doorbell with a built-in camera, offering consumers an alternative to similar products from larger companies. Wyze promises a wide-angle view, rapid installation, long battery life, and more. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro features a 1440 x 1440 … Continue reading
Google released the Pixel 6 on pre-order today, and with it, some rapid confusion. If you were looking to purchase the Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro from the Google Store or through Google Fi, here, on pre-release day, you were out of luck – both stores crashed. If you were attempting to buy an mmWave-UW-capable Pixel 6 off-contract, you … Continue reading
The Food and Drug Administration is moving closer to making more affordable over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids a reality for millions of Americans with mild or moderate hearing loss. The agency issued a proposal to create a category of approved devices that people would be able to buy without a prescription, hearing exam or having to arrange a fitting with an audiologist.
“The proposed rule is designed to help increase competition in the market while also ensuring the safety and effectiveness of OTC and prescription hearing aids,” the FDA said. Around 15 percent of adult Americans (some 37.5 million) have hearing difficulties, according to the agency.
The FDA’s goal is to make it easier for those who could benefit from hearing aids to actually get one — it says only a fifth of people who fall into that category use such a device. The agency is hoping to tackle some of the barriers people might encounter, including cost, ease of access, social stigma and state and federal regulations.
In 2017, the federal government passed the Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act with the aim of improving access to more affordable hearing aids. Hearing aids have only available with a prescription as the FDA classed them as Class I or II medical devices. President Joe Biden signed an executive order in July that, in part, instructed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish a proposed rule for OTC hearing aids within 120 days.
The proposal is now open to a 90-day public comment period. If and when the rule is finalized, it will come into effect 60 days after it’s published in the federal register.
Several companies have already made moves to gain a foothold in the OTC hearing aid market. Earlier this year, Bose started selling its SoundControl hearing aids after gaining approval from the FDA, while Jabra unveiled its Enhance Plus earbuds a couple of months ago. Other companies are blending hardware and tech in hearing aids, including Bragi and Olive Union.
Apple, meanwhile, recently updated AirPods Pro with a feature that amplifies the volume of other people’s voices in conversation while reducing ambient noise. The company is also said to be looking into ways of using AirPods as health devices.
Google may have announced the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro in August, but we had to wait more than three months to get the full story on its latest phones. On Tuesday, the company did just that, detailing nearly every aspect of their design and software.
Unsurprisingly, Google spent a lot of time talking about the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro’s hardware. There’s a lot to unpack between the two phones, but the most important thing you need to know about them is that they’ll start at $599 and $899. In the case of the Pixel 6, that means it’s $100 cheaper than last year’s Pixel 5.
Headline features shared by both phones include Google’s eight-core Tensor processor, a fresh new design, a rear camera array that includes a 50-megapixel main sensor and new security features courtesy of Android 12 and the company’s Titan M2 chip. To that package the Pixel 6 Pro adds a 6.7-inch “waterfall” display with a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, 12GB of RAM and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera with 4x optical zoom. With both phones, Google says you can expect more than 24 hours of usage on a single charge.
Both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are available to pre-order today, with general availability to follow on October 28th. For more information on the phones, make sure to check out our hands-on.
Alongside the new phones, Google will offer Pixel Pass. The subscription includes a Pixel 6 or 6 Pro, an extended warranty, 200GB of Google One storage, Google Play Pass, YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium. It also comes with a device upgrade after two years. If you want a Pixel 6, the Pass costs $45 per month. It increases to $55 per month with the 6 Pro.
Of course, hardware was only part of the story on Tuesday, and Google had just as much, if not more, to say about all the new software it’s built for its latest phones. One such feature is Live Translate. With the help of its Tensor chip, the Pixel 6 can translate text as you type. It can do so almost instantaneously and without help from the cloud.
Google’s Tensor chip will also make Assistant more capable. If you need to contact a call center, it will generate an automated on-screen menu so you don’t have to listen to the assistant on the other side.
On the security front, the Pixel 6 comes with a new dashboard that provides an at-a-glance overview of any issues you may need to address. For instance, it will identify potentially “harmful” apps, and prompt you to set a fingerprint or PIN to unlock your device.
Looking to other software feature, Snap is creating a Pixel 6-first shortcut that affords quick access to Snapchat’s camera mode. When taking photos, the Pixel 6 should also do a better job of capturing darker skin tones thanks to a feature called Real Tone. Google worked with a variety of experts to fine-tune its camera algorithms to ensure its cameras “work for everyone.”
Catch up on all the latest news from Google’s Pixel 6 event!
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