Google partners with uBreakiFix to offer same day repairs for the Pixel

Google Pixel owners in Canada and the US will have less of a downtime if and when their device’s screen, charging port, or battery breaks/fails. Google has partnered with uBreakiFix to deal with potential damages the Pixel or Pixel XL finds itself having. uBreakiFix specializes in walk-in screen repairs within one business day and has 250 retail locations in Canada and the US. uBreakiFix will charge $129 to repair the Pixel’s screen, $149 to fix the Pixel XL’s display, and $79 to repair either the charging port or the battery. You can opt to mail your devices to the company if there isn’t a retail location near where you are.

Source: 9to5Google

Nintendo Switch won’t work with your 3DS cartridges and Wii U discs

The Nintendo Switch is an exciting new gaming system from the company. But there might be things you have to consider if you’re thinking of getting one in the future. Nintendo representative says the console will not be able to play 3DS cartridges and Wii U discs. It supposedly isn’t considered a direct successor to these products so the compatibility isn’t there. It isn’t clear also if it can run digital games.

Nintendo is reportedly considering releasing a new 3DS successor but that isn’t confirmed yet. Engadget’s Mariella Moon points out that this might be Nintendo’s way of covering all its bases by saying it isn’t a direct successor to the past products, in case it doesn’t achieve the success the company hopes.

Donald Glover joins 2018 Han Solo movie as Lando Calrissian

Star Wars fans have been clamoring for Donald Glover to play Lando Calrissian that they even started a petition for it (and spawned that Photoshopped image above). That wish has been granted as the actor will play said role in the standalone Han Solo film. He will be playing alongside Alden Ehrenich, who inherited the Han Solo role from Harrison Ford. Not much is known about the film yet but Phil Lord and Christopher Miller will be directing it. The role shows Glover playing the character in his “formative years as a scoundrel.”

Glover is known for his roles in Atlanta (which he created and starred in), Community, and The Martian. He also has a Grammy-nominated album entitled Because the Internet, which he performed under the name Childish Gambino.

Source: SlashGear

Google gets rid of fingerprint gestures and Night Mode for non-Pixel Nexus devices

Looks like Google is really trying to push Pixel as a special device. The older Nexus devices are losing some key features, including fingerprint sensor gesture support, Night Light Mode/Night Mode. It’s understandable that Google will want to elevate Pixel and features like fingerprint gestures isn’t exactly supported by older Nexus devices. But dropping Night Light Mode/Night Mode is a bit off to us. This feature works like Night Shift on iOS, where it turns down the blue light the screens emit as the sun goes down. Night Mode was introduced to Android 7.0 Nougat, while Night Light is exclusive to Pixel on Android 7.1

According to Googler Ian Lake, Night Light does the color tinting through hardware that isn’t seen on the Nexus. But we can’t think of why they’d get rid of Night Mode since it’s a software solution. And according to SlashGear, it seems Night Mode has even been removed in Android 7.1, too. This leaves even the Nexus 5X and 6P without this feature. We hope Google rethinks this strategy.