It’s the middle of the week, and the Google Pixel news train keeps rolling after a busy start. Just yesterday, we highlighted the initial fix for the Pixel 10’s Android Auto grey-screen issue (with connection drops still on the radar), record Pixel 10 US sales with a massive market share leap, and the release of the November 2025 Android security bulletin, hinting at the imminent Android 16 QPR2 stable update.
Today, we dive into a trio of developments that include a welcome aesthetic and auditory update for Pixel phones, a tantalizing free phone offer from a US MVNO, and a design refresh for a key smartwatch app.
Pixel Sounds app gets a refreshed UI and new nature-inspired tones
Google has quietly rolled out version 3.3 of the Pixel Sounds app, bringing a refreshed look and several new tones inspired by nature recordings from Wild Hokkaido.
The updated app now adopts dynamic theming that reflects your wallpaper’s main color, giving the interface a more cohesive Material You aesthetic. Beyond visuals, the highlight is the addition of new alarm, ringtone, and notification sounds, including:
Alarms:
- Brown-Eared Bulbuls in Wild Hokkaido
- Dawn Chorus in Wild Hokkaido
- Frog Chorus in Wild Hokkaido
Notifications:
- Japanese Bush Warbler in Wild Hokkaido
- White-Backed Woodpecker in Wild Hokkaido
- Yezo Deer in Wild Hokkaido
Ringtones:
- Cicadas Scree in Wild Hokkaido
- Japanese Thrush in Wild Hokkaido
- Sakhalin Leaf Warbler in Wild Hokkaido
You can check your current Sounds app version by navigating to Settings > Apps > All apps > Sounds. The rollout appears to be gradual, and users on Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3.2 are still on the older version 3.1 without the new UI.
US Mobile is giving away free Pixel 10 units with its new Protect insurance
In an unexpected twist, US Mobile has launched its new Protect phone insurance service, and the first 100 new customers to sign up for the annual $36 plan will receive a free Pixel 10.
The promotion, powered by Akko, also extends a secondary offer where the first 10,000 customers can get protection for just $3 per month for the first year (before reverting to $75 annually).
While details remain limited, the plan promises “unlimited coverage” and “unlimited claims,” with full details expected when the service officially launches on November 10. New users can already sign up via their US Mobile accounts to join the waiting list.
YouTube Music on Pixel Watch gets partial Material 3 Expressive redesign
Pixel Watch users, along with other Wear OS owners, are starting to see signs of Google’s Material 3 Expressive design language making its way to YouTube Music on Wear OS.
The Wear OS tile now features a colorful, cloud-like Browse button below playlist suggestions, which is a noticeable shift from the previous minimalist look. Other interface elements have larger, more legible text and stadium-shaped buttons that better align with Google’s updated design language.
However, the redesign appears incomplete, with the main player interface still using the older visuals. It’s unclear whether Google plans to finish rolling out the update in stages or if this is an early test build. Either way, the direction signals Google’s continued effort to unify the look and feel across the Pixel Watch, Wear OS 6, and its ecosystem apps.
Hillary Keverenge
2473 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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