Google's Pixel 2 XL problems aren't going away as another issue with the new smartphone has cropped up, though Google promises a fix soon.

Some users on the Pixel User Community forums have reported "very bad" sound quality when recording audio. Users describe the sound as high pitched and tinny. 

One user said they have little distortion during some recordings, while in others, the sound is significantly distorted. CNET was first to report the issue.

This video, uploaded by a Pixel 2 XL user, demonstrates the poor audio quality when recording a video in 4K. Another user on the community group said their 4K videos have "crazy hazing" when the camera is in motion.

As you can hear, the sound in the video is greatly distorted, not what you'd want from any phone, let alone a high-end device like this. The audio is garbled and higher notes have a scratchy, tin-tan effect. The person who recorded the video, which was posted on October 24, said they returned their Pixel 2 XL. 

It's unclear how widespread the problem is, and there don't appear to be any reports of the smaller Pixel 2 experiencing the same audio issues. 

Google is aware of the Pixel 2 XL audio issue reports, and told us in a statement a software fix is "rolling out in the next few weeks." 

This isn't the first problem to plague the Google Pixel 2 XL. Screen burn-in on the new phone was widely reported, and late last week Google defended the screen tech it used in the Pixel 2  XL while also noting a software update to address the problem is on the way. Screen burn-in happens when an image lingers on the screen, and a ghost image remains visible. 

We'll let you know when the Pixel 2 XL fixes begin to make their way out.

Via The Verge

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O2 has thrown down a challenge to its competitors by permitting its customers to change the data allowance of their mobile phone deals every month.

The company has introduced new tariffs that will be adjusted according to how much data the customers expects to use in the coming month. Anyone expecting a larger than average bill, for example, someone expecting a binge-watch video session can tweak the tariff so the next bill doesn’t hit stratospheric heights. For example, customers who want 50GB of data one month can do so on a £41 tariff, then switch to pay only £19 a month if they want to decrease their data allowance over the following period.

O2’s new flexible tariffs are available to existing O2 Refresh customers and new customers choosing selected handsets from 27th October 2017.

Generation Flex

Last week, Citizen Advice published research showing how the UK’s phone users were over-paying for the phones, by continuing to pay a higher tariff than was necessary. O2 was not named as one of the offending companies and by offering its customers the possibility of more flexible data allowances, it has really thrown down the gauntlet to competitors.

O2 CEO Mark Evans said: “Today’s customers want even greater flexibility and control over what they’re spending. Generation Flex expect more from their services and we believe mobile contracts should be no different.

 “In 2013 O2 transformed the way consumers could purchase the latest mobile phones with the launch of O2 Refresh. With O2 Refresh customers don’t have to pay for a phone they already own, unlike customers of other networks. Now we’re going even further, offering customers complete flexibility by also giving them the ability to control the amount of data they use and pay for each month.”

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