Android Auto can be used wirelessly, but only available to a select few

For those wishing to be untethered when they use Android Auto in their cars, your prayers have been answered… sort of. There are a few caveats. One is that it only works with select Pixel and Nexus devices as well as specific head units that are Wi-Fi-certified. The smartphones you need would be the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Nexus 5, or the Nexus 6P. JVC and Kenwood have a few head units that are Wi-Fi-certified but a lot of these haven’t hit the market yet.

If you’re one of the select few that does have access to these devices, setup is pretty painless. You first have to connect your phone via USB to set the feature up. But once you’ve done that, you can connect your phone to your dash wirelessly the next time. Google says they do plan to support other phones in the future. So we’re keeping an eye out for that.

Source: Android Authority

Google address Pixel 2 and 2 XL battery drain issues, claims it isn’t related to the February security patch

Following reports that the February security update for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL seems to be causing battery drain issues for the two Google phones, the company decided to address the issue saying the patch isn’t the cause of the issue. But it is hard to pinpoint what’s been causing the problems. There have been varying degrees of the issue affecting users differently. And it isn’t even limited to battery drain, some report that the phones are heating up, while others claim it takes them longer to charge. Some even report random Wi-Fi disconnections. These problems have been complained about enough that it gets a dedicated thread on Google’s Issue Tracking website. The company has confirmed it will privately reach out to users affected by these issues.

Source: Android Authority

Google confirms it’s looking into the battery drain bug affecting Pixel 2 and 2 XL users

Review: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

You may or may not have noticed the battery on your Pixel 2 or 2 XL draining faster than usual. You’re not alone. A bunch of pixel users have been complaining of this issue after the February security patch was released. Google stayed silent about the matter for a while but now the company at least acknowledges it’s looking into the problem. A community manager on the company’s user forums confirmed they are investigating the issue. There are big releases yet to remedy the issue but for now they are “reaching out privately” for bug reports.

The issue revolves around battery levels dropping faster than usual and some even report their phones are taking longer to charge as well. And it seems even some original Pixel users have been experiencing these issues. Here’s to hoping Google fixes this relatively quickly.

Source: 9to5Google

Google offers some ‘loyal Nexus owners’ in the US up to $200 off Pixel 2 phones

Review: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Google seems to be offering some handpicked “loyal Nexus owners” a great deal that might entice them to get Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL phones. News about the deal was spotted on Reddit after a number of users got an email with the subject line “20% off Pixel 2, just for you.” The first line of the email says this is Google’s way of saying thank you to Nexus users. The deal will can be redeemed until the end of the month via Google’s online store. The savings can be applied to all Pixel 2 models. However, as mentioned in the story’s title it seems to only be available in the US. And not all Nexus users seem to be getting it, not even those who’ve had multiple Nexus are guaranteed to have gotten the offer.

Source: Android Authority