Google’s new ‘Platform and Devices’ team puts Android, Chrome, Pixel, more under Rick Osterloh
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I want the Moto X double twist camera shortcut to come back… for Google Lens
My technological “how often do you think about the Roman Empire” is the double twist shortcut introduced with the Moto X that would launch the camera from anywhere, including when the screen is off.
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Android still doesn’t show battery health, but it could soon show storage health
Google is working on a new way to show the health of storage in your Android phone.
Expand Expanding CloseNothing Phone (2) and Nothing earbuds get ChatGPT integration with latest update
Following the launch of Nothing Ear and Ear (a) this week, Nothing is also rolling out a new update for Nothing Phone (2) which delivers quite a few upgrades, including ChatGPT integration.
Expand Expanding ClosePixelated 006: What’s in your (Google) Wallet?
Welcome to the sixth episode of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. We talk about Android 15 Beta 1, widgets, and Google Wallet.
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Android game and app deals: Exolotl Zian, Super Onion Boy 2, Million Onion Hotel, more
Before we head off into the weekend, let’s gather up all of Friday’s best deals on Android games and apps. Joining today’s Google Play offers, we are also seeing notable deals on Google’s latest Nest Thermostat with Matter, the HD Chromecast with Google TV, and Google Nest Cam Indoor, but for now we are focused on the apps. Today’s highlights include titles like Exolotl: Zian, Super Onion Boy 2, Million Onion Hotel, Bloons TD 6, and more. Head below for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals.
Expand Expanding CloseYou gotta see this wild ‘Coach Prime’ edition Motorola Razr
The Motorola Razr is one of the most affordable foldable flip phones, and also one of the best you can buy today. Now, Boost Mobile is debuting a custom Motorola Razr in collaboration with “Coach Prime.”
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Qualcomm teases Snapdragon X Elite news for next week as first Lenovo laptop leaks
Qualcomm first announced its new Windows chipset last year, but no machines have actually gone on sale with Snapdragon X Elite thus far. Now, though, Qualcomm is teasing some sort of announcement on April 24.
Expand Expanding CloseHuawei’s next smartwatch looks like a blatant Apple Watch ripoff
Huawei this week revealed its super interesting new flagship smartphone, but around the corner still is the new “Watch Fit 3,” which does nothing to hide the fact that it’s a clear clone of the Apple Watch.
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Android Auto gets some slight icon redesigns in Google Maps [Gallery]
The Google Maps app for Android Auto is picking up some minor tweaks to icons which offer a bit more contrast to the design.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Nest Cams start from $67, Jabra Elite 8 earbuds $161, Chromecasts, more
A new all-time low has the Nest Cam Indoor marked down to $67 to go alongside some of Google’s other Assistant cameras. Jabra’s Elite 8 Active ANC earbuds now have wind cancellation and sell for $161 on sale, and the first drop of the year takes 33% off the HD Chromecast with Google TV at $20. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.
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Android adds new software-based AV1 decoder to most devices, YouTube uses it
Every video you watch on a smartphone, tablet, or other device has to be run through some decoder, and AV1 has long been touted as the “next big thing.” To get around AV1 hardware requirements, though, Google has quietly added a software-based AV1 decoder to the vast majority of Android devices.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel 9 Pro leaks in real-life images with 16 GB of RAM [Gallery]
Following renders back in January, there’s now a leak of real-life Pixel 9 Pro images showing off the new design language.
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Pebblebee trackers for Android’s Find My Device network get a shipping date
Google is finally rolling out the Find My Device network on Android, and with it comes the AirTag-like trackers we’ve been waiting on for almost a year now. Pebblebee, after initially revealing a May launch date, has now officially confirmed when its Android trackers will start shipping.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages preps parental controls that can stop users from sending a message
While it’s not live just yet, it appears that Google Messages is adding support for powerful parental controls that can stop a user from sending a message until they’re granted approval.
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Google rolling out new April OTA for some Pixel 7, Fold, and 8 owners [U]
Google today released new Android 14 QPR2 builds with the April 2024 security patch for the Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Fold, 8, and 8 Pro, though there isn’t an on-device OTA update at the moment.
Expand Expanding CloseYouTube now supports 8K streaming on Meta Quest
YouTube videos streamed through Meta Quest may start looking sharper, as the app now supports streaming at 8K resolution.
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Roku forces two-factor authentication after two massive security breaches
In an update shared recently, Roku has announced that all customer accounts will be forced to use two-factor authentication following a couple of massive security breaches.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Keep reminders will soon appear in Tasks and Calendar too [U]
Google Keep is super useful as a notes app, but it also features the ability to create reminders too. Soon, it appears that Google Tasks and Calendar will be able to show reminders from Keep.
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Android game and app deals: Down in Bermuda, SpongeBob Cosmic Shake, more
Thursday afternoon is here and now it’s time to gather up all of the day’s best Android game and app deals. On your way to scope them all out, check out the deals we have on Jabra’s Elite 8 Active ANC earbuds, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A9+, and the ASUS Chromebox 5 with Thunderbolt 4. Moving on, highlight titles on sale today include Down in Bermuda, Cyberlords – Arcology, Million Onion Hotel, SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake, Chicken Police, and more. Head below for a complete look at today’s Android game and app deals.
Expand Expanding CloseSundar Pichai on merging Android and Pixel teams, Google DeepMind, more
Sundar Pichai is out with an internal email today detailing the big “Platforms & Devices” reorganization of Android, Chrome and Pixel, as well as other company-wide changes.
Expand Expanding CloseHuawei’s Pura 70 series flagship houses a motorized retractable camera for over $1,300
Huawei has come around to release the Pura 70 series, which consists of four individual models. One of the Pura 70 models incorporates a unique camera function that doesn’t make an appearance too often – the motorized retractable camera.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s big Android/Chrome & Pixel reorg is about faster AI updates and launches
It remains to be seen how the new combined Android and Pixel division will actually work in practice, but this is what Google has said so far about its AI future.
Expand Expanding CloseThe next OnePlus Pad reportedly ditches MediaTek for Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
The original OnePlus Pad is a stellar Android tablet, but it sounds like the sequel will pack a bigger punch with the addition of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s new ‘Platform and Devices’ team puts Android, Chrome, Pixel, more under Rick Osterloh
Google has announced a major internal reorganization which forms the “Platform and Devices” team that, under Rick Osterloh, will oversee Pixel, Nest, Android, Chrome, and more.
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