July's Google Pixel update is here with more bad news than good
Google updated its factory images page today, adding the July 2025 firmware upgrades for all Pixel devices dating back to the 6a. This update has a build number of BP2A.250705.008 and contains the latest Android security patches, but there's some bad news if you have one of Google's sixth-generation Pixel models.
Today's update marks the beginning of the Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program. Like the Pixel 4a "update of death" in January 2025, this firmware version will reduce battery life on certain Pixel 6a models in order to "address a potential battery overheating risk." Google says this is a "mandatory software update" that will be automatically applied, and the company has already removed older firmware downloads for the Pixel 6a, so there's no going back.
Not all Pixel 6a devices will see reduced battery life with this change — only what Google is calling "Impacted Devices," and even then, just those that have been put through 400 charging cycles. You can check to see if yours is one of the affected models with Google's eligibility page, and if it is, you can apply for a free battery replacement, a cash payment, or a credit to use towards a new Pixel.
Notably, the Pixel 6 has been left off the supported devices list with today's update. After unexpectedly receiving extended support beyond the initial three-year OS upgrades promise, 2021's Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were just updated to Android 16 last month.
However, when Google announced the extended support, it said these models would continue to receive OS upgrades until October 2026, so we're not entirely sure if this is the end of software support or if Google is just skipping this month's update on these devices.
When Android 16 first rolled out to the stable channel last month, many users noticed a bug that made the back gesture unresponsive at times. Others noticed 3-button navigation randomly becoming broken, and both sets of users reported that restarting was the only apparent fix.
Google acknowledged the issue several weeks ago, saying a fix would roll out in the next update. So we were expecting that fix today, but Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii contacted Google to verify that was the case, and the company said this fix didn't make the July deadline, so it wasn't included in today's update. In short, we will have to wait until August to receive the fix that beta users already got two weeks ago.
If your back button is working fine and your Pixel's series number doesn't start with a 6, you'll have some reason to be excited about today's update — Google is including a fix for glitchy display graphics on Android Auto and in certain apps, and Wi-Fi performance has also been upgraded.
What's included
The July 2025 update includes bug fixes and improvements for Pixel users – see below for details
Display & Graphics
Fix to improve smoother visual experiences in apps like Android Auto
Wi-Fi
Fix to improve Wi-Fi connectivity stability and performance in certain conditions
The update is in the process of rolling out now, but Google is sending it out in phases "over the next week." To see if it's available on your device, head to Settings → System → Software updates → System update and tap the Check for updates button.An earlier version of this story erroneously reported that Google had fixed the back button bug with this release. Google has now confirmed that the fix didn't make the cut in time for July's patches, so we'll have to wait until the August update for the situation to be resolved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
What To Expect in Markets This Week: Tesla, Google Lead a String of Big Earnings Reports
Key Takeaways Tesla earnings are scheduled for Wednesday as the EV maker's sales falter; other tech companies set to report this week include Google, Intel, and IBM. Investors are also set to hear from Coca-Cola, General Motors, Verizon Communications, and HCA Healthcare this week. New and existing home sales for June will illustrate the state of the housing market. Jobless claims and durable goods orders data will also be earnings will dominate business headlines this week, with reports from a range of major U.S. corporations expected. Tesla, Google, Intel, Verizon Communications, and Coca-Cola lead the companies on the earnings calendar. They'll arrive after a trading week in which the S&P 500 edged higher and the Nasdaq set closing highs on five straight days. Tesla's results will be watched for a range of reasons, including questions about the health of its core auto business but also CEO Elon Musk's public profile and its recent robotaxi launch. Consumer and industrial goods makers are also set to report, along with energy and health-care companies. New and existing home sales data for June will give insight into whether poor sales continue in the housing market. Read to the bottom for our calendar of key events—and one more thing. Tesla, Alphabet Lead Packed Earnings Calendar Tesla's (TSLA) report, due Wednesday, comes amid headlines about analyst downgrades, declining sales, and executive departures at the EV maker, whose shares have slid close to 20% this year. UBS analysts recently said the company's shares were "fundamentally overvalued." The EV maker has reported weakening sales, especially in Europe, while recently unveiling its long-awaited robotaxi system. Musk has continued to spar with President Donald Trump, even suggesting that he might create a new political party. Google parent Alphabet (GOOG) is also lined up to report Wednesday. Investors will be looking for updates on the search giant's AI plans. Intel's (INTC) scheduled earnings release the next day comes amid layoff announcements for the struggling chipmaker, while new CEO Lip-Bu Tan considers a shift in the manufacturer's contract chip-making business. GE Vernova (GEV) earnings could give insight into the energy demands of new AI facilities. Verizon (VZ) may show signs of improving its subscriber base when it reports on Monday; AT&T (T) is also scheduled to report this week. Coca-Cola (KO) and General Motors (GM) earnings could provide insight into how tariffs are affecting U.S. businesses. HCA Healthcare (HCA) closes the week with earnings set for Friday as the hospital operator grapples with a data breach. Home-Sales Data May Reflect Market Struggles Home sales have languished under elevated mortgage rates, high housing prices, and limited inventory. While existing home sales improved in May, the annual sales level of about 4 million still hovered near historically low levels. Investors will be watching to see if Wednesday's release of June data shows any improvement. The next day, new home sales data is set to be released; that piece of the housing market has produced improved results on greater inventory levels. Investors will also be following initial jobless claims on Thursday. Durable goods orders, due Friday, provide a barometer for the manufacturing sector. Scheduled remarks from Fed Chairman Powell and Gov. Bowman on Tuesday are part of a Fed banking conference. They occur during the blackout period before the Fed's next meeting, so they may avoid addressing interest rates. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is also expected to speak at the event. Quick Links: Recap Last Week's Trading | Latest Markets News This Week's Calendar Monday, July 21 Leading economic indicators (June) Key Earnings: Verizon, NXP Semiconductors (NXPI), Roper Technologies (ROP), Domino's Pizza (DPZ) Tuesday, July 22 Federal Reserve Chair Powell and Gov. Bowman speak at a Fed banking conference Key Earnings: SAP (SAP), Coca-Cola, Philip Morris (PM), Texas Instruments (TXN), RTX Corp. (RTX), Intuitive Surgical (ISRG), Lockheed Martin (LMT), Sherwin-Williams (SHW), Capital One Financial (COF), Northrop Grumman (NOC), General Motors (GM) Wednesday, July 23 Existing home sales (June) Key Earnings: Alphabet, Tesla, International Business Machines (IBM), T-Mobile US (TMUS), ServiceNow (NOW), AT&T, Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO), NextEra Energy (NEE), Boston Scientific (BSX), GE Vernova (GEV) Thursday, July 24 New home sales (June) Key Earnings: Honeywell International (HON), Union Pacific (UNP), Blackstone (BX), Intel More Data to Watch: Initial jobless claims (Week ending July 19), S&P Flash US PMI (July) Friday, July 25 Durable goods orders (June) Key Earnings: HCA Healthcare, Aon (AON), Charter Communications (CHTR), Phillips 66 (PSX), Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) One More Thing The 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' introduced several new tax deductions, some which will apply to the money you're making this year. Investopedia's Elizabeth Guevara looked at how the budget legislation will change tax benefits for many filers, including those making tips, earning overtime pay, or paying interest on auto loans. Read more here. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Samsung's 'default' Galaxy AI features will remain free indefinitely — here's what you need to know
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Samsung has shut down the lingering rumors that it was going to start charging users for the Galaxy AI features it launched alongside the Galaxy S25 series last year. In a report from Android Police, the site says it has direct confirmation from Samsung that default features will remain free "indefinitely". Earlier in the year there was some heavy speculation Samsung would put Galaxy AI behind a paywall after it stated Galaxy AI would be "provided for free until the end of 2025." Android Police doesn't give any reasoning for the U-turn, but Samsung told the publication it will never charge for the features that "are on your phone by default." This likely covers the following: Live Translate Note Assist in Samsung Notes Zoom Nightography Audio Eraser Browsing Assistant Generative Wallpapers Samsung users are also able to access Google's Gemini features for free — and anyone upgrading to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Z Flip 7 will receive a six month Google AI Pro subscription for free. That gets them access to advanced features like Veo 3 Fast. Lingering questions The fact Samsung is making these features available for free, indefinitely, is obviously good news. But it does leave a lingering question about whether Samsung may develop better, non-default AI features down the road and charge for that. This could be a single paywall or a tiered system similar to what Google does with its Pro and Ultra plans. The pace (and cost) of AI is not going to slow down any time soon and Samsung faces tough competition in the space from Google, Meta and Microsoft. If this does prove to be the case, time will tell whether or not Samsung has the goodwill to upsell users from free features to paid-for alternatives. Alternatively, this could be the start of something very good for Samsung owners if the company continues to keep handing out its AI developments as freebies. Especially since it just launched a whole set of great new AI features earlier this year alongside the S25. If you're a Samsung owner and new to Galaxy AI, then check out these tips for getting started. More from Tom's Guide Samsung Galaxy S25 AI features — here's everything that's new Galaxy AI beats Gemini for me — 5 features that make it smarter Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 hands-on: The first foldable I'd actually want to buy
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Google Gemini just got an AI video feature that beats ChatGPT — here's how to use it
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Although we generally enjoy watching videos, they can be rather time-consuming. They can also be a waste of time, particularly if they contain content that you ultimately find you don't need or won't enjoy. To make life easier, Google Gemini has introduced a new video analysis feature that works with uploaded footage. Use the Android, iOS or the web, and you can ask it to describe what can be seen. Not only that, you can ask follow up questions. It works with videos of up to five minutes in length and you can dive as deep as you want, perhaps asking it to point you to a specific section or piece of information. The feature gives Gemini an advantage over ChatGPT which cannot currently work with video uploads 1. What you need to know about Gemini's video feature (Image: © Future) The feature works with videos of up to five minutes in length and you can dive as deep as you want, perhaps asking it to point you to a specific section or piece of information. It may be able to tell you where the video was taken too. Uploaded footage can be played within Gemini if you decide you would like to watch it after all. The feature is available for free and paid users and it works in 2.5 Flash and 2.5 Pro — giving Gemini an advantage over ChatGPT which cannot, at present, work with video uploads. You should update the app to the latest version (unless you're using it on the web) and bear in mind that you have to upload pre-shot footage since you can't record videos within Gemini yet. We hope this comes soon because it would be great for quickly generating video descriptions on social media. Gemini can still summarize YouTube videos — a long-standing feature. If you have a video longer than five minutes, uploading it to YouTube and using the link in Gemini will get you around the upload restriction. 2. Select a video (Image: © Future) Launch the Gemini app and tap + in the prompt box. Next, select Gallery and choose a video to upload. Follow this by selecting Add. Alternatively, you can go to the website and drag a video into the prompt box. 3. Ask a question (Image: © Future) Now, simply ask Gemini a question. It can be a good idea to start with "What can you see in the video?" to get a comprehensive overview. When you get a response, have a read and ask any follow up questions you may have. The AI can handle detailed queries about specific timestamps, locations, or elements within the footage. Now you've learned how to use Gemini's video feature, why not take a look at our other useful guides? If you're using the AI on mobile, check out 5 smart ways to use Gemini Live with your phone right now and Gemini Live is free for everyone — here's how to share your screen and camera. And now summer's well underway and we're off out exploring the great outdoors, don't miss how to identify poison ivy using Gemini Live.
