Tag: Source: Androidcentral.com

Pixel 10 users have faced significant challenges over the last few months, but Google is releasing updates to provide assistance.

What you need to be aware of

– The January update from Google is now available, featuring GPU corrections for issues that Pixel 10 users have encountered.
– The announcement indicates that “general performance” enhancements for the GPU are included, along with fixes for touchscreen sensitivity, battery drain, and additional improvements.
– Owners of the Pixel 10 reported lag and freezing issues during gaming in October, prompting the company to pledge ongoing GPU updates.

Google is commencing the week on a positive note, as its monthly security update is being distributed to Pixel devices with a substantial fix that has been highly anticipated.

Earlier this morning, Google shared the changelog for its January 2026 security update within its Pixel community. The patch is being rolled out to devices from the Pixel 7a up to the Pixel 10 series. All models are set to receive the update labeled as vBP4A.260105.004.E1. The primary feature of this update is that Google is finally addressing a number of GPU-related concerns that have affected various Pixel phones.

The announcement specifies, “General enhancements for GPU performance in specific scenarios” are being introduced today (Jan 12).

Naturally, these concerns mainly affect the Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and the 10 Pro Fold. Additional fixes this month also include another AOD (always-on display) correction for “flickering under certain conditions.” This was an issue that the Pixel 10 series had often encountered in December, following the last update. Moreover, editing images in Adobe Lightroom on the Pixel 10 would occasionally generate “noisy line flashes.” This issue has now been resolved.

Interestingly, Google mentions that it is addressing an issue with the Pixel 10 series’ touchscreen, as some users reported it would intermittently stop functioning. This should no longer be a problem following this update, but as always, exercise caution.

The remainder of the January 2026 update includes:

– Correction for noisy ringback tones during Webex calls in certain situations
– Resolution for battery draining issues in specific circumstances
– Fix for a problem where deleting a Live Universe wallpaper could sometimes cause the Wallpaper and style app to become unresponsive until the device is rebooted

Addressing the issues

The Pixel 10 has been wrestling with GPU performance since its release, as Google has been implementing minor updates since September and October. It’s not surprising that the series features the Tensor G5 chip, yet Google’s proprietary chip still lags in performance, often disappointing users of high-end games. In October, users were experiencing lag and freezes during gaming, which resulted in dissatisfaction.

Google has reportedly committed to ongoing improvements and updates for the GPU in the Pixel 10 series, which are now being observed in January.

It’s also worth noting that several fixes included in January’s patch were referenced in December, such as touch problems and battery drain. Display responsiveness and problematic touchscreen issues were reported by Pixel 10 users, which led to a crucial mid-December update. However, it appears that users are still facing some residual issues. January’s update will gradually roll out, and hopefully, this will mark the resolution of these concerns.

We are eager to receive your feedback!

Recent leaks have significantly altered projections concerning the release date of Google’s upcoming mid-range smartphone, the Pixel 10a. Initially, it was thought that the device could launch in March 2026. However, fresh details indicate a much sooner release, with the specific launch date now rumored to be February 17, 2026.

The Pixel 10a is expected to come in four color variants: Obsidian, Fog, Lavender, and Berry. Regarding specifications, the device is likely to closely mirror its predecessor, the Pixel 9a, boasting a ~6.3-inch display, a 5,100mAh battery, and an 8GB RAM coupled with a 128GB storage option. Moreover, there are suggestions of a 48MP primary camera and the potential inclusion of a Tensor G4 chip, though these specifics remain unverified.

The change in the speculated launch date was emphasized by tech leaker Roland Quandt, who shared information on BlueSky, further corroborated by retail listings found by DroidLife. These updates have ignited interest and anticipation among tech aficionados, eager to see how the Pixel 10a will stack up against earlier models and its rivals in the mid-range smartphone segment.

**A Comprehensive Overview of Every Place You Used Your Card**

In the advancing landscape of digital transactions, efficiently overseeing your payments across various devices is becoming ever more crucial. Google Wallet for Android is reportedly preparing for an update that promises users an extensive overview of their digital card transactions. This expected feature aims to replicate the functionalities currently provided on the web, giving a unified perspective of transactions conducted with digital cards across all devices.

**What You Should Be Aware Of**

A recent upgrade to Google Play Services has suggested this upcoming improvement for Google Wallet on Android. The enhancement is anticipated to enable users to view transactions from multiple devices and online purchases utilizing virtual card numbers. This means that users could soon experience an overarching view of their digital card payments directly from their mobile handsets, without the need to use a web browser or access their bank account.

The update is rumored to encompass transactions conducted using Wear OS devices, further unifying the ecosystem of Google’s digital payment options. Moreover, a search feature for transactions is expected, allowing users to sort through their transaction history by amount, merchant, or date, akin to the web version of Google Wallet.

**Simplifying Digital Payments**

Though the deployment of this capability has yet to be officially announced, Google Wallet has already rolled out several updates to enrich the user experience. Recent enhancements have included context-aware functions that display digital passes on your lock screen as you near relevant venues, such as airports or retail stores. This feature removes the necessity for users to manually look for their passes, streamlining access to digital tickets and passes.

Additionally, Google Wallet has incorporated Android 16’s Live Updates to furnish real-time data on transport schedules directly on users’ lock and home screens. This function, initially designed for ride-sharing and food deliveries, now applies to more essential areas like airline and train timetables.

In summary, the expected update to Google Wallet on Android represents a move towards a more cohesive and user-friendly digital payment experience. By providing a comprehensive overview of transactions across devices, Google strives to ease the management of digital payments, allowing users to monitor their spending behaviors and financial activities with greater ease.

OnePlus Watch 2 and 2R users in India received the update late last year and quickly noticed their signature 3-day battery life was insufficient.

What you should know:
– OnePlus deployed Wear OS 5 to Watch 2 and 2R devices in the final week of December 2025, albeit only in certain regions like India.
– Users who got the update have reported significant battery depletion, reducing the 3-day forecast to 1–2 days.
– OnePlus initially promised the update in Q3 2025 but later adjusted its timeline to Q4 2025.
– OnePlus’s version of Wear OS 5 mainly features standard updates, including enhancements to Google apps and changes in animations.

Similar to a college student submitting their assignment to the professor at 11:59 p.m., OnePlus released its Wear OS 5 update to select OnePlus Watch 2 and 2R users on December 29, just making it under their self-imposed end-of-year deadline. As anticipated, this last-minute release has been creating issues ever since.

The OnePlus Watch 2 and Watch 2R, both launched in 2024 with Wear OS 4, were originally expected to get Wear OS 5 between July and September 2025; it wasn’t until Android Authority inquired about the delay in October that the company indicated the update would be available “in the near future.”

Now, some OnePlus Watch owners have received the update, but not all; for instance, my U.S.-based OnePlus Watch 2R still displays Wear OS 4 and the May 2025 security update. However, this might turn out to be a hidden advantage, considering the update’s consequences.

This Reddit discussion and numerous OnePlus forum threads have noted that the update is leading to severe battery drain. The Watch 2 and 2R could typically last around three days in smart mode before the update; currently, some users report it won’t even last a full day, despite attempting factory resets and other remedies.

“I’m completely disheartened and irritated by the significant battery drain issue affecting my OnePlus Watch 2 after the Wear OS 5 update,” laments one user. “My OnePlus Watch 2 drops from a full charge at 1:00 PM to a critical 10% by 11:00 PM with light usage.”

“Previously, I easily got 2.5 days with most settings on (at least 2 days)… Now I’m barely getting 1 day,” adds another user. A response indicated that his battery drain wasn’t as severe, but he had gone from 3–4 days down to “a strict 2 days” now.

Several users highlight specific applications responsible for the drain, such as the Weather app, Play Store, or “Wear OS” itself, yet the diversity implies this is a systemic issue rather than being tied to a single app.

What adds to users’ frustration is that stock Wear OS 5 is (A) a subtle update with minimal notable changes and (B) intended to enhance the efficiency of Wear OS, as observed on Pixel and Galaxy Watches. The OnePlus Watch 3 has been running this version since April without issues, making this unoptimized update on previous models disappointing.

Any brand can release a problematic update, but two weeks later, I expected OnePlus to either revert it or provide a timeline for fixes. Instead, OnePlus hasn’t made any official statement, based on what we’ve observed. My colleague contacted OnePlus regarding the update a few days ago, but we’ve yet to receive a response.

Having recommended the OnePlus Watch 2R as my top budget Android smartwatch choice, primarily due to its battery life, this update raises significant concerns for me. OnePlus must demonstrate that its commitment to two Wear OS updates and three years of security updates isn’t merely hollow promises, and that it will adequately support these devices.

As it stands, it’s noteworthy that the recent OnePlus Watch Lite completely bypassed Wear OS, utilizing a proprietary RTOS like the original OnePlus Watch.

Google has rolled out a new feature in Android 16 that incorporates Parental Controls straight into the Settings app on Google Pixel phones and tablets. This enhancement, part of the December 2025 Pixel Drop, enables parents to oversee their child’s device without requiring the standalone Family Link app. The revamped Parental Controls section in the Settings app simplifies the configuration process and offers choices for app limits, screen time constraints, and content filtering. This feature improves the parental control experience on Pixel devices, delivering a more efficient method for managing children’s device usage.

The Moto G Power 2026 and Samsung Galaxy A26 are each available for $299, offering a decision between functionality and software enhancements. The Moto G Power 2026 boasts a robust design with an IP69 certification, MIL-STD-810H approval, and a more substantial battery. It comes with a 6.8-inch screen, stereo audio output, and a 32MP front-facing camera, yet it only includes two operating system updates. On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy A26, showcasing a more upscale aesthetic, features a Super AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass Victus+, and guarantees six operating system updates. It does not include stereo speakers and has a lesser battery capacity but delivers superior software assistance and artificial intelligence capabilities. Ultimately, the decision hinges on whether you value toughness and features or extended software updates.

If you’ve been thinking about switching to Verizon, now is an ideal moment to take the leap. Verizon is currently running a limited-time offer where new customers can get a complimentary $200 gift card when they buy a new phone and add a line at Verizon.com. However, this promotion is set to end tomorrow, January 14th, so swift action is required.

This deal is especially attractive because it can be stacked, meaning you can combine it with other Verizon promotions to enhance your savings. For example, you can acquire a free Google Pixel 10 Pro with qualifying trade-ins or benefit from an offer that provides four Galaxy S25 phones with four lines for only $25 per month.

Verizon’s myPlan options, including the Unlimited Welcome plan and the Unlimited Ultimate tier, qualify for this promotion. These plans deliver unlimited talk, text, and data on Verizon’s expansive 5G network, as well as extra perks like premium mobile hotspot data, international coverage, and entertainment benefits.

The $200 gift card can be utilized on Verizon’s website for a range of products, such as devices, cases, and accessories, or even to reduce your phone bill. It’s an excellent opportunity for anyone already contemplating a switch to Verizon, as the gift card amounts to essentially free money.

While many of Verizon’s specials may persist beyond the January 14th date, the opportunity to combine these offers with a free $200 gift card is a time-sensitive chance. If you’re intending to change wireless providers, move quickly to take advantage of this promotion.

Horizon Worlds Developers Confront Job Reductions Amid Meta’s Strategic Transition

Meta’s Reality Labs segment, which is tasked with the creation of virtual reality (VR) innovations and platforms, is experiencing major transformations as the company realigns its strategic priorities. Reports suggest that Meta intends to eliminate roughly 10% of its Reality Labs personnel, equating to about 1,500 positions. These layoffs mainly focus on the metaverse sector, impacting staff involved in developing VR headsets and the VR-centric social platform, Horizon Worlds.

This move follows an earlier budget cut in December 2025, which redirected resources towards artificial intelligence (AI) and smart eyewear, instead of VR. Even though Meta Quest headsets saw robust sales during the holiday period, Horizon Worlds has faced difficulties in competing with rivals such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft.

Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, has scheduled an important meeting for January 14, 2026, to discuss these developments. The company is said to be shifting its focus towards creating an ultralight VR headset, which may debut in late 2026 or 2027. This forthcoming device is anticipated to boast premium features and a corresponding price, marking a shift away from Horizon Worlds and external Horizon OS development.

As Meta reorients its focus on first-party VR headsets and gaming, the prospects for Horizon Worlds and its developers remain unclear. The forthcoming meeting is expected to shed more light on the company’s trajectory and its implications for its workforce.

When you purchase a smart home gadget that depends on an internet connection or cloud services for operation, a countdown begins. These gadgets won’t function indefinitely, as the manufacturers will eventually opt to stop supporting them. Certain smart home and Internet-of-Things devices may endure longer than anticipated, while others may be rendered obsolete much sooner than users expect.

Devices linked to the internet will ultimately be phased out — this is unavoidable. What follows remains unclear. Some brands leave their customers stranded with inoperable hardware, while others provide refunds or store credits to facilitate upgrades to newer (supported) models.

The optimal choice, however, is for smart home manufacturers to open-source the software behind discontinued devices. This approach allows the community to intervene and maintain their smart home devices for an indefinite period. Once the software is open-sourced, users can self-host their smart home systems, integrate with platforms like Home Assistant, and utilize community-driven projects to prevent hardware from ending up in landfills.

A few months back, Bose revealed that its SoundTouch speakers were entering their end-of-life phase, ceasing official support in February 2026. What transpired afterward serves as a model for how smart home companies should engage with their customers when it’s time to gracefully retire products they can no longer support.

Bose initially faltered but then corrected its course

Speakers should ideally last indefinitely, but with the addition of smart functionalities, assumptions can’t be made. Bose’s SoundTouch range of home audio speakers and soundbars featured “smart” technology relying on cloud capabilities for music streaming and multi-room audio. Their cost was also significant, with some variants exceeding $1,000.

In its initial announcement in October 2025, Bose declared that as of February 18, 2026, it would cease cloud support for all SoundTouch offerings. The hardware would stop receiving security updates, the app would be discontinued, and features such as Spotify/TuneIn integration and multi-room listening would vanish.

Naturally, this news didn’t sit well with customers, who expressed their discontent on Reddit regarding their smart speakers becoming non-smart. According to the initial plan, SoundTouch speakers would still be able to stream music via Bluetooth, Aux, or HDMI, but that was the extent of it.

Don’t let anyone convince you that collective dissent is ineffective, as Bose altered its approach last week in light of customer feedback. An updated email from the company stated that Bose has “been listening closely” to SoundTouch users and is adjusting its plans accordingly.

Specifically, the end date for cloud support has now been pushed to May 6, 2026, the SoundTouch app will remain accessible for local control after the shutdown, and the SoundTouch API will be open-sourced for community use.

This is about as significant a victory as Bose SoundTouch owners could have hoped for. While cloud support will eventually be discontinued, AirPlay and Spotify Connect “should continue to operate,” according to the company. When the cloud services are deactivated, the SoundTouch app will be updated to a local variant, allowing users to set up, configure, control remotely, and group their systems.

Although some functionalities, like cloud music services and presets, will be eliminated in May, they may not be gone for good. Bose’s consumer-friendly choice to open-source the SoundTouch software presents the community with an opportunity to restore lost features.

Open-sourcing smart home technologies benefits all involved

Open-sourcing the SoundTouch software always appeared to be the wisest path for Bose. It serves everyone’s interests. Bose can safely deactivate the cloud infrastructure supporting SoundTouch systems, reallocating those resources to new product lines. In the meantime, consumers can continue to access most of their speakers’ functionalities, and the open-source community can assist them in reclaiming — or even exceeding — lost features.

This stands in stark contrast to how other companies have addressed the phasing out of older hardware. Last year, Google withdrew support for the first and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat models. This action effectively disabled their most valuable features, reducing them to “dumb” thermostats. Does that sound familiar? It’s a similar opening to Bose’s handling of SoundTouch speakers.

However, Google only offered owners of affected Nest Learning Thermostats a $130 discount on a new fourth-generation model. It made no attempt to restore essential functionalities or open-source the software for community access.

As is often the case, the open-source community found a way forward nonetheless. One developer, Cody Kociemba, reverse-engineered the Nest API to restore certain features of the Nest Learning Thermostat in a project named NoLongerEvil Thermostat.

The end result is arguably similar — both Bose and Google Nest users have a makeshift workaround to prolong their devices’ functionality — but the public sentiment diverges. Bose appears open to feedback and demonstrates concern for its customers, while Google’s approach seems more anti-consumer.

Major companies like Google, Amazon, and Samsung should take notes.

Rarely do companies imitate Bose’s actions from last week. It is uncommon for a business to take steps,