Google Photos now have smarter albums

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Google Photos have probably made our lives easier in some way, assisting the semi-photographer-wannabe in us when it comes to organizing our countless selfies, food shots and near-symmetrical landscape photos. The app is pretty much user friendly to begin with, and offers unlimited cloud storage for HQ images captured on your smartphone. The app also has an assistant, who suggests albums from your weekend getaways at different places, or makes fun of you by creating animations out of your badly taken photo duplicates.

Google has sneaked in a feature which smartens up the assistant in the app. On top of organizing your photos into albums, Google Photos will pick your best shots from the countless photos taken for the album:

“Starting today, after an event or trip, Google Photos will suggest a new album for you, curated with just your best shots.”

Also added in the albums are maps and location pins just in case you wanderlusted yourself to neverland or just places you can never seem to recall. On top of that, you can now add your own text captions to the album. This new feature is currently rolling out to Google Photos on the web, Android and iOS.

Source:
Google Blog

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Google Photos will soon have an editing tool to remove audio from videos

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You’ve shot a great video but the audio included people screaming at the background and you want that gone. Well, you don’t need to look far; the Google Photos app will let you do that soon.

Reverse-engineer Jane Manchun Wong is at it again and this time, she discovered that Google Photos will soon offer a tool for users to remove audio from videos. With just a single tap on the “mute” button, you’ll get the video without the audio which can be paired with other background music of your choice.

Google Photos is working on the ability to remove audio from videos
pic.twitter.com/BDxOapsvgr

— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane)
April 20, 2020

 Apart from that, there are a few other editing tools you can find in Google Photos — this includes video-rotating, trimming and exporting individual frames. All these are available on the Android version of Google Photos, but for iOS devices, there’s still no option to export frame.

But if you’re not a Google Photos user, there’s also a bunch of other apps that can help you remove audio from video. There’s iMovie on iPhone, but you can also download VivaVideo and DJI Mimo app from both App Store and Play Store.

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Google Photos stopped providing unlimited storage for unsupported videos

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Google Photos is an app that provides users with unlimited photos and videos storage but starting from 6 December 2018, it will now take up storage space when users upload unsupported videos.

While unsupported videos will start to take up space, those that were uploaded before 6 December will remain unaffected. When users upload photo and video files onto Google Photos, the files are usually compressed which cause a loss in quality so to solve the issues, there are users who upload unsupported formats such as RAW so that they can still get high quality files, but with the new update, it seems like they will be unable to do so any longer.

Image credit: Google Support

However, if you’re one of the casual users that are not doing any professional work that requires high quality videos, the new update probably will not affect you because Google Photos still supports many types of files such as .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx, .mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts, and .mkv files for videos, and .jpg, .png, .webp and some RAW files for photos. The video files that are supported will also need to be at least 1 second long and playable when downloaded to user’s device. If the video is corrupted or less than a second, it will be considered as unsupported video.

Simply put, the new update will probably be more impactful towards those who’ve been using the Google Photos for professional work, while the casual smartphone users who maybe just save videos and photos for their personal purposes will likely to be unaffected.

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Google Photos: Unlimited storage ends June 2021

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Google Photos
 have been offering unlimited storage for the past five years, but that’s about to end once it’s June 1, 2021. Google will start limiting your storage to 15GB unless you’re a Google One member.

Unlimited storage for Google Photos still applicable now

This means that you can continue to upload any photos and videos in your Google Account storage as long as it’s before June 21, 2020. These photos will also need to be in High quality; Google started counting
Original quality
 photos and videos towards the free 15GB of free storage since last year when the Pixel 4 was released.

Sign up for Google One for more storage

With Google limiting the amount of photos and videos users can keep in their accounts, users can no longer store their images freely without worrying about the storage cap. However, they can choose to subscribe to Google One if they want more — the member ship starts at RM8.49/month in which you’ll get access to 100GB storage and access to Google experts.

That being said, Google estimated that your 15GB of free storage will be able to store another three years worth of memories.

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The Google Pixel 2 only needs one rear camera for portrait photos

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This might be the moment all of us are waiting for. Google has officially announced the Pixel 2 series, live from its event at San Francisco. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are the first ever refresh of Google’s Pixel smartphones, making them the second generation Pixels since the company switched from the Nexus branding.

As seen above, you probably won’t find the design of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL alien if you’ve come across the countless leaks and renders of these handsets. The glass accent on the back panel of the Pixel 2 is smaller compared to the Pixel. On the front is where you’ll see the difference between the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. The Pixel 2 features a 5-inch display with standard sized bezels while its larger sibling sports a near bezel-less 6-inch display. It doesn’t look as impressive as most full screen smartphones in the market right now as the bezels house the dual front firing speakers.

Apart from the difference in the display, the rest of the features and specs should remain the same throughout the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. It has been claimed during the event that both phones should be the same in terms of features and performance, plus there shouldn’t be one better phone, as part of taking a jab at Apple’s iPhone lineup this year.

Google has also boasted that the Pixel 2 does not require an extra camera to produce blurred background shots. This is thanks to the dual pixel sensor of the Pixel 2’s rear camera, which is capable of producing impressive portrait images without the need of a secondary camera. The feature even extends to the front facing camera, enabling it to take similar bokeh shots like the rear camera.

When it comes to video recording, unlike other smartphones, the Pixel’s camera will make use of both OIS and EIS at the same time for unparalleled stabilization in videos. Google too flaunted the DxOMark score of the Pixel 2’s camera at 98, 4 points higher than the iPhone 8 Plus. Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL users will enjoy unlimited photo storage in original size on Google Photos like the original Pixel and Pixel XL.

Other features include Active Edge, which allows users to squeeze the Pixel 2 to trigger Google Assistant, or to silence incoming calls. Google Lens, which was introduced a couple of months yet, will roll out first to the Pixel 2. Google Lens will bring out information of things around us when the camera is pointed towards them, ranging from WiFi passwords, objects, phone numbers and more through computer learning.

The Pixel 2 will come in Black, White and Kinda Blue color options while the larger Pixel 2 XL will come in both Black and White. Both the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL are now available for pre-order at select regions for prices of $649 and $849 respectively.

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Google Pixel 2 to have a higher price tag, budget variant in tow

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Last year saw Google put an end to its own Nexus branding of devices, going with the newer Pixel name. The company launched its first ever Pixel series of handsets, dubbed the Pixel and the Pixel XL. Both phones were not only premiumly priced, but performed impressively in every aspect and they managed to wow consumers and critics alike. Google is expected to refresh its Pixel lineup later this year, and we already have a rumor or two in our hands to share with you.

According to 9to5Google, this year’s Pixel refresh will of course include improved specs, such as an upgraded chipset, possibly a Snapdragon 83x processor. 9to5Google’s source has also suggested that Google will be especially focusing on the Pixel 2’s camera optics this time round, but the megapixel count is said to still be retained from last year’s Pixel phone at 12MP. Google is tipped to make the Pixel 2 truly excel in low light photography, hence the particular focus in its camera department.

Waterproofing of the Pixel 2 was previously rumored to be a sure thiing, but the source this time has stated that the feature is still “on the table”. Another Pixel phone without water resistance might prove to be a real deal breaker in 2017, so it will be wise for Google to not chuck it out in this year’s Pixel refresh. Also, the Pixel 2 will feature a higher price tag than its predecessor. On top of that, Google is said to be developing an affordable budget version of the Pixel 2 this year to be offered to consumers who aren’t willing to burn holes in their pockets.

It’s pretty clear that these rumors are still in a very early stage, but there’s got to be something to begin with. What will you be expecting from the Pixel 2 this year?

Source:
9to5Google

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Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL goes official for $799 and $899 respectively

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While the Google Pixel 3 is probably the worse kept secret of all smartphone leaks we have seen, not to forget to mention that it already went on sale at a Hong Kong retailer before launch date, the Pixel 3 is finally official at long last.

Rather than an entire hardware revamp, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are very much iterative updates to the older devices.

For starters, both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 845 chip and surprisingly, Google is still keeping 4GB RAM for both devices with either 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage, there’s also no way to expand the storage either, which you will need to resort to Google Drive storage if you need more storage.

While the specs aren’t actually interesting, the Pixel 3 and 3XL now feature bigger displays at 5.5-inches and 6.3-inches respectively, both devices have reduced screen bezels, which is fortunately not going to be as big as their predecessors.

The Pixel 3 XL has a notch like any other modern Android smartphones, which you probably won’t find it as annoying since Google has made optimizations on Android Pie to tackle the screen cropping issues, while admittedly this is already one of the most popular full screen designs to go with smartphones these days.

Another convention that Google has stuck to the Pixel 3 and 3XL is a single rear 12.2-megapixel camera, that’s fine considering that the Pixel 2’s single camera outperforms many other phones with dual lenses.

However, that doesn’t mean Google isn’t doing anything at all to the main camera, as it is reportedly to come with better performance with AI enhancements, things such as a new Top Shot option helps select the best image from burst shots, flaw detection and Super Res Zoom are new software features that helps you take better pictures on it.

In addition, the front now comes with two camera lenses, one that takes wide-angle and the other a standard selfie angle lens, which we expect it to be really good when it comes to taking front facing group photos.

Image Credit: The Verge

Otherwise, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL now supports wireless charging at 10W, which obviously you are getting a glass back for that purpose; if you prefer, you can also purchase the optional $79 Pixel Stand that charges your phone wirelessly, which shows information from Google Assistant when you place the phone on it.

The new Pixels will ship with Android Pie and will be available starting October 18th. In the US, Verizon Wireless will remain the only carrier that you can get the phone on contract, otherwise you’ll need to purchase the unlocked version from Google through the company’s Project Fi mobile service, which will set you back for $799 for the Pixel 3 and $899 for the Pixel 3 XL.

Fortunately for us Malaysians, you can probably head on over to Singapore to get one if you are interested.

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Google pixel 3 XL’s Geekbench listing shows it comes with a Snapdragon 845 and 4GB of RAM

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The Google Pixel 3 XL has been leaked many times over the past months and we know how the phone looks like from the outside as well as the display coming with a notch. The only information that we do not know about the phone, is its internals.

However, a listing on Geekbench has shown us what the Pixel 3 XL will be running on. Based on the listing, it will come with a Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM and Android 9.0 out of the box. It is disappointing that a phone like this is still coming with 4GB of RAM when other phones and even mid-range phones have the 6GB of RAM options. It might seem like its sufficient but 4GB of RAM is not inclusive of the memory needed for the OS, so you will have lesser than 4GB to use.

The scores that the phone achieved on Geekbench is not great as well, which is quite surprising as it does not surpass or is it on par with other phones that have the same processors. Let’s hope Google is aware of this and does some changes to the phone especially with the amount of RAM.

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Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL will have OLED screens, 4GB RAM and eSIM support

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We’ve long been expecting a Google Pixel 3 Lite but according to 9to5Google, the mid-range Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will instead be named Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL.

9to5Google also confirmed several specs of the phone, stating that the previous renders done by @OnLeaks and 91Mobiles of the Google Pixel 3 Lite and 3 XL Lite are accurate and matches the 3a and 3a XL. The Pixel 3a will have a 5.6-inch OLED display, a slightly larger screen than the Pixel 3, while the 6-inch Pixel 3a XL will have a slightly smaller display compared to the 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL.

Image credit: @OnLeaks/91Mobiles

The Pixel 3a is also said to sport a 3,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging, in addition to having a Snapdragon 670 processor and 4GB RAM paired with 64GB storage. The camera specs will also be similar in which the Pixel 3a will come with a 8MP front camera and a 12MP rear camera.

Despite being a lite version, the two new Pixels will still have many features from the Pixel 3 series; it still gets the Active Edge feature, the Titan M security chip and eSIM.

Hopefully in time there’ll be more clarity on both the Pixels, but we’ll be expecting them to arrive sometime this year.

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Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL mid-range Android smartphones to launch on May 7

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Google today confirmed that it will be holding a launch event on May 7 to announce “something big”. Even though the teaser on the Google store does not include any major clues, it is being speculated that the company may unveil the rumored
Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL
 smartphones at the I/O 2019 keynote on May 7
th
.

The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will be the Mountain View-based company’s first mid-range smartphones to carry the Pixel branding. Going by recent leaks, the two smartphones will be priced competitively in emerging markets such as India. Elsewhere, however, they will carry a premium over other mid-range Android smartphones.

In Canada, a new
leak
 suggests the smaller Pixel 3a will start at CAD 649 (RM2,008), while the Pixel 3a XL will start at CAD 799 (RM2,472). In terms of hardware specs, the smaller Pixel 3a is expected to run on an octa-core Snapdragon 670 chipset. The bigger Pixel 3a XL, on the other hand, may run on a more powerful Snapdragon 710 instead. Apart from being less powerful than the Pixel 3 devices, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will have a less impressive polycarbonate build.

For optics, the two smartphones will have a single 12.2MP resolution camera on the back and an 8MP sensor on the front for selfies. Both models are rumored to pack a 3000mAh capacity battery with fast charging support.

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Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL official renders leaked, formal launch expected on May 7

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Earlier this week, Google
teased
 an upcoming hardware announcement on May 7. Even though the Mountain View-based company is yet to officially confirm anything, many are speculating that the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL mid-range smartphones could be unveiled at the upcoming event. The first official renders showing the upcoming Pixel smartphones have now leaked online, courtesy of AndroidHeadlines.

As you can see in the renders above, the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones will have relatively thick bezels on all sides. Especially when compared to the latest crop of mid-range Android smartphones. Additionally, the renders confirm the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top and a single speaker placed in the bottom chin.

The Pixel 3a is expected to have a 5.6-inch display with 1080 x 2220 Full HD+ resolution, while the “XL” model will have a bigger 6-inch display with a 1080 x 2160 Full HD+ resolution. Both the smartphones will arrive running on Android 9 Pie, which isn’t surprising.

Under the hood, Google Pixel 3a is rumored to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 octa-core processor. On the other hand, the Pixel 3a XL will have a Snapdragon 710 chipset inside. Both phones will pack 4GB of RAM, just like the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. They are also expected to have the same 12.2MP primary camera on the back.

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Google Pixel 3a press render leaks ahead of formal launch on May 7

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Google
recently teased
 some sort of a hardware announcement at its upcoming I/O 2019 event on May 7. Even though the Mountain View-based company did not specify its plans, many are speculating that it could unveil the rumored mid-range Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones at the event. A press render of the upcoming Pixel 3a has now been leaked online, seemingly confirming the launch date.

As shown by
previously leaked renders
, the Google Pixel 3a will look nothing like other mid-range Android smartphones that have been released so far this year. For the most part, the Pixel 3a looks very similar to the Pixel 3 devices. While it has no notch, the bezels are significantly larger than what is expected in 2019.

In addition to giving us a clearer look at the smartphone’s design, the press render confirms that the device will indeed launch on May 7. In case you aren’t aware, May 7 will be the first day of Google I/O 2019. Along with the Pixel 3a, Google will also announce the Pixel 3a XL with a slightly larger display and a more powerful chipset.

The Google Pixel 3a is
rumored
 to feature a Full HD+ resolution display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 octa-core processor, 4GB RAM, and a 12.2MP rear camera. If rumors are to be believed, the smartphone will be priced slightly on the higher side when compared to its rivals.

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Google Pixel 4 and 4 XL will come with 90Hz displays and dual rear cameras

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Google has already revealed the Pixel 4 and 4 XL but most of their specs weren’t confirmed yet. However, a reliable source recently offered information that reveals more about the phones.

We already know the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4XL come with 5.7-inch and 6.3-inch OLED displays respectively, but now these displays are also said to sport 90Hz displays dubbed “Smooth Display” so it’ll finally be on par with other phones like the OnePlus 7 and Razer Phone 2.

Apart from that, the Pixel 4 and 4XL are also reported to finally sport dual rear camera setups. The main camera will be a 12MP sensor while the second camera will be a 16MP telephoto lens. Though other smartphones are already out with quad-camera setups, Google Pixel phones have always managed to offer great quality pictures with lesser lenses so we’re not too worried about that.

These devices are also confirmed to come with stereo speakers and ship with the latest Android version, in addition to being powered by a Snapdragon 855 processor. We’re also expecting 6GB RAM and up to 128GB storage for these devices, in addition to a slight difference in terms of batteries.

The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are expected to launch in October, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

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Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are official – boasting improved camera software and air gesture features

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The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are official. During the Made by Google event in New York, the highly-anticipated smartphones we’re unveiled to the public, sort off. The company’s presentation on the phone was brief and kept out every technical specs of the phones.

Instead, they spoke mostly about the new software upgrades done to the phones’ cameras. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves; let’s begin with size. The Pixel 4 measures at a small 5.7-inches while the Pixel XL is a 6.3-inch beast. Both displays are QHD+ OLED panels that push 90Hz refresh rate.

Over on the back, we see a square camera module which houses two camera lenses (16MP + 12MP) and a flashlight. What’s new to the cameras is the introduction of ‘dual exposure’, a feature that allows you to adjust shadows and brightness with two separate sliders. This, along with improved machine learning, helps adjust white balance and colour corrections.

Plus, Night Sight is also improved and is now capable of taking brighter astro photography images in four minutes. Portrait mode also gets some tweaks, again with the help of machine learning, subject and background separation is better this time around.

For selfies, you get an 8MP shooter. Also at the front is a radar sensor that uses Google’s Soli tech. This allows you to use air gestures to interact with your device. One example provided during the presentation was that it helps with face unlock – the phone detects your movement towards it and preps the camera even before you touch it. Once you pick it up, the camera is ready to scan and your phone will be unlocked.

Under the hood is a Snapdragon 855 chipset along with 6GB RAM with up to 128GB internal storage. A 2,800mAh battery powers the Pixel 4, while the bigger Pixel XL gets a 3,700mAh battery. Both devices support up to 18W fast charging via USB C, along with wireless charging too.

Both devices will be available in Clearly White, Just Black and Oh So Orange, which is limited. The Google Pixel 4 is priced from $799 (RM3,348), while the Pixel 4XL is priced from $899 (RM3,767).

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Google Pixel 4’s new Recorder app comes with automatic audio transcription

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The Pixel 4 is launching in two week’s time, but there have been so many leaks regarding the device that we almost don’t need any more information — except for its price. Google also included a new voice recorder app called “Recorder”, which supports automatic audio transcription.

According to XDA Developers who received the update, not only does the update offer automatic audio transcription, it also comes with audio search that allows users to find certain words or phrase from their audio recording. This means you can record your speeches and the app will transcribe it into texts, in addition to using keywords to skip to the parts of speech you’re looking for.

XDA Developers also found several features when they explore the APK files, including a retail demo mode — probably for when the Pixel 4 are demo-ed in retail stores, recognised audio events such as laughter, applause, bird, dog and so on, and also that the app currently only support English (U.S) language for transcription.

We’re always concerned about how our audio data is used, especially since recently there’s the whole drama with Siri and Google Assistant where language experts are hired to listen to snippets of the audio recordings. It was made clear at the welcome screen of the app that all the recording and transcription will be done offline, so you don’t have to worry about your audio recordings being sent to online servers for the transcription.

Just like the Pixel 4, we’re expecting this new feature to be announced on October 15.

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Google Pixel 4 camera samples leaked, boasting great contrast and long exposure shots

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The Google Pixel 4 is touted to make its appearance this October 15 during this year’s Google Hardware event, but at this point, leaks and renders have given us a prettier clear picture of what the phone will look like and offer.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

The newest leak, details the phone’s photography performance – and we are impressed. Great day time photography is expected, but lowlight imaging is now so much better. Subject and background separation is accurate, allowing the device to amp up the brightness of the subjects.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

What’s even more impressive is that the phone is capable of capturing the night sky in all its starry glory. This suggests that the main camera has a wide enough aperture to make this possible.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

These, of course, are professionally shot and look highly produced – meaning we don’t know for sure if there was a studio light somewhere lending a bit of shine to the subjects. In any case, sharp and high contrast nature of every photo looks incredible, and we’re excited to see if the phone can really perform at this level.

Stay tuned on our website as we cover the Google Hardware event this October 15.

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The Google Pixel 4 faces inconsistent refresh rate issue; Google promises to fix it soon

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Google may have just launched the Google Pixel 4, but there are already several complaints regarding the phone, including its inconsistent 90Hz refresh rate display.

The Google Pixel 4 has what Google labelled “Smooth Display”, but the 90Hz refresh rate has found to reduce when the screen brightness level drops. Reddit users found that the inconsistent refresh rate drops whenever the screen brightness is below 75%, yet if the room lighting is bright enough, the refresh rate stays at 90Hz.

Image credit: Trusted Reviews

Google has responded to The Verge when asked, revealing that the refresh rates are sometimes lowered down when battery saver is switched on or when certain video content is at 24fps/30fps. However, Google also mentioned that it will be offering a fix to this issue so that the display will remain at 90Hz in different brightness conditions.

Google was also criticised recently for excluding eye recognition in its face unlock authentication. The tech giant has also promised to issue an update for that problem, but the update will be coming later in the next few months, while the current refresh rate issue will be fixed in the next few weeks.

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Google Pixel 4 leaks show two front selfie cameras and no notches

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The upcoming Google Pixel 4 got people talking about its square camera module – it began with render leaks which were later confirmed by Google themselves to be true.

Given the accuracy of the leak, new reports of how the front may look like bears a lot of significance now – according to Endagdget, the new Google Pixel 4 is touted to come with no notches or pop-up mechanisms, but rather two lenses and a sensor and the earpiece placed on a sizeable bezel.

Well, since there seems to be some interest, 1 month after delivering your very first glimpse at the
#Pixel4
, here comes your very first full look at the
#Pixel4XL
! 360° video + gorgeous 5K renders + dimensions, on behalf of my Friends
@Pricebaba
 again ->
https://t.co/mCQCOp5Pp1

pic.twitter.com/MeAIID0FDz

— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks)
July 8, 2019

We reckon the square camera module at the back actually takes up a significant amount of space internally and a pop selfie camera would interfere with the layout – hence what we see in these renders.

Engadget also points out that there looks to be an absence of any physical fingerprint sensor, leading to suggestions that the Pixel 4 could come with an in-screen fingerprint reader – as most flagships do today.

There are currently no specifications for the selfie lenses yet, but with phone expected to be released this October, it isn’t that long until we know what Google’s new hero device will really look like.

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Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL official specs leaked – powerful devices with weak batteries

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With the Google Made event happening tomorrow at 10pm, we’re expecting the launch of the company’s flagship smartphones, the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.

With this, American and Canadian retailers have started prepping their online portals for pre-orders of the devices, and have accidentally made it available for all to see – official product pages for the phones along with its looks and specs have all been disclosed.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

We’ve seen a lot of the phone’s aesthetics already, so we’re going to forego that and focus on the internals. According to 9to5Google, both devices will sport a dual rear-camera setup (12MP + 16MP) along with support for 4K video recording. For selfies, you get a single 8MP selfie lens.

The regular Pixel 4 sports a 5.7-inch FHD OLED ‘Smooth’ display while the Pixel 4 XL will sport a much bigger 6.3-inch QHD+ OLED ‘Smooth’ Display – we reckon the ‘smooth’ here refers to the panel’s refresh rate, which could be 90Hz.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

Both phones will come equipped with a Snapdragon 855 chipset along with 6GB RAM. For storage, pre-order models come with 64GB internal storage, while retail releases should offer up to 128GB of storage at the very least.

What’s surprising is that both phones will come with relatively small batteries – the Pixel 4 with a 2,800mAh battery, while the Pixel 4 XL with a 3,700mAh pack. The latter is still decent, but with the Pixel 4, you’re going to struggle with battery life.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

But hey, at least both phones support Soli, an air-gesture centric feature that lets you control your phone without actually touching it. There’s also Active Edge as usual which also lets you summon your Google Assistant. Colour options include Just Black, Clearly White, and Oh So Orange.

These leaks seem pretty legit, but we recommend you reserve judgement until the phones’ official launch tomorrow.

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Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are set to launch on October 15

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This just in: Google is revealing the Pixel 4 and 4 XL on October 15 and we’re more than ready to see what Google has to offer.

Google has already teased the phone multiple times, including a feature called Motion Sense that lets you control some functions of the phone just by hand gestures. Apart from that, we also know that the Pixel 4 will support face unlock that is more similar to Apple’s Face ID compared to other Android devices’ face unlock.

As previous rumours have suggested, the Pixel 4 XL is expected to sport a 6.3-inch AMOLED display while the Pixel 4 will sport a 5.8-inch AMOLED display — similar to the current iPhone 11 Pro. These devices will come with 90Hz refresh rate and like mentioned, will support face unlock.

Other than that, rumours suggest the phone to be powered by a Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with 6GB RAM and up to 128GB storage. Unfortunately, the Pixel 4 will only come with a 2,800mAh battery while the Pixel 4 XL will come with a 3,700mAh battery.

As for its cameras, the Pixel 4 models will sport a 12MP main lens paired with a 16MP telephoto lens while its front camera is going to be a wide-angle single lens.

We’re so glad the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL is launching next month; the number of smartphones that was and will be launched this month i.e the iPhone 11, HUAWEI Mate 30, OPPO A9 2020, vivo NEX 3 5G and etcetera have been drowning us.

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Google Pixel 4 renders suggest an iPhone 11-like square camera module

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When there are leaks of renders that supposedly look like renders of other phones, you know the smartphone “leaker” community have gone a bit far.

So get this, news have surface that Google’s upcoming flagships, the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL , will apparently look like the purported iPhone 11 – specifically talking, the Pixel 4 series of phones could sport a square camera module at the back.

Yesterday, other leaks pertaining to iPhone’s own camera module were met with jeers because of how awkward it looks, but we have to remember that these are renders and could greatly differ from the final product.

Image credit: Pricebaba

When you really think about it, iPhones and Google Pixel phones are best known for their photography performance – so we guess it makes sense that they’re copying each other?

The person who published these leaks, Steve Hemmerstoffer, believe that the Pixel 4 could come with at least two imaging sensors, but a triple-lens setup is most likely.

Looks aside, you can expect the Google Pixel 4 to ship with Android Q along with the Snapdragon 855 chipset. We won’t see the phone arrive in at least another few months, so we’ll have to wait some time before we get a look at the device.

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Google Pixel 4 specs and renders leaked detailing a minimalist flagship

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If its one thing that people go for in a Google Pixel is the flagship stock Android experience – last year’s Google Pixel 3 sold like hotcakes while recent reports suggest that the phone is a go-to option for many existing Android users who’re making the switch from a different brand.

Image credit: BGR

Now, fans will glad to know a new Google Pixel 4 is reportedly on the horizon as supposed specs make its appearance online. BGR reports that the Pixel 4 could be fitted with a Snapdragon 855 chipset along with 6GB of RAM.

Elsewhere, patent rumours had surfaced detailing a possible full-screen display and possible sliding camera module. However, renders of the phone suggest that the Pixel 4 could come with a dual-front camera punch hole display with no sliding panel as hinted by the patents.

Image credit: BGR

The renders show a single-lens back camera setup with a USB Type-C charging port. The design resembles the current generation’s but bigger and without notches and a glossier back panel. If the renders and rumours are true, then we could be in for a really good Pixel phone in the near future.

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Google Pixel 4 will feature Motion Sense thanks to Google Soli leaks suggest

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We’re sure you’ve been smothered with Apple-related news for most of today, so being the kind souls that we are (please ignore that we also wrote extensively about Apple today), we’re going to be that much-needed break in the Apple course with some Android news!

Image credit: Brandon Lee

We’ve seen quite a bit of the upcoming Google Pixel 4 of late – but new developments say that the phone will come equipped with a Motion Sense feature, which lets you use gestures to perform a list of tasks, like switch songs, silence alarms, take phone calls and more.

Powered by Google’s Soli chip, Pixel’s sensing technology uses miniature radars to detect gestures. It lets you mimic familiar gestures to do everyday tasks – say unlock your phone by gesturing turning a key?

Based on the Google ATAP website for the project, other gestures that you can do include pinching to mimic pressing a button, rubbing your thumb and index finger together in a twisting motion to mimic turning a dial and pinching your fingers and sliding it from side to side to mimic adjusting a slider. However, the leaked images doesn’t show these features yet, but we reckon software updates will implement them into the Google Pixel 4.

If this news is true, you’ll be touching yourself very often if you buy the Google Pixel 4. The phone of course will ship with Android 10, here’s our quick take on how the new OS fares:

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Google teases the Pixel 4a in hilarious cryptic messages on website

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After being
delayed
 a few months back, the
Google Pixel 4a
 midrange smartphone’s launch date has been set for this August 3 according to a placeholder page on the
Google Store
, albeit in a cryptic fashion.

Once you enter the website, you’ll have to rearrange the
coloured
 blocks in the correct order of by way of how they appear on the Google logo – so it’s Blue, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Red.

Once you break the code, the blocks will reveal the copy “The Google Just What You’ve Been Waiting For Phone” – very strange way to say something so bold.

They also hint at what the phone
excel
 at in a wall of lorem ipsum texts that contain fake Latin words like
lowlightena

capturum
,
bokehus
,
vedius

chatum
, ac
megapixelum
, and
longlastingis

batterum
. Very cheeky Google.

Finally, you also see the August 3 date plastered in front of a silhouette of a phone that covered in a checkered background – suggesting that’s the general shape of the Pixel 4a, not much else to go on there.

So
 there you go, the small bits of info Google is willing to put out about the Google Pixel 4a – we’ll be sure to keep you updated on what happens this August 3 and see what all the teasing is about.

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Google Pixel 4a marketing material appears – price starts from RM1,700

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These is apparently how the Google Pixel 4a will look like and priced – serial leakster Evan Blass posted on his Twitter account and they look to be Photoshopped marketing materials for Google’s upcoming mid-range smartphone.

From the images, we know the device will be priced from $399 (RM1,696) we see a punch-hole cut out for the selfie camera along with pretty thick bezels around the front of the phone.

Image credit: Evan BlassOver on the back we see a familiar square camera module with what looks to be just one lens – the regular Pixel 4 had two, so it’s unfortunate they couldn’t retain the other lens here.

Two colour variants looks set to be available – white with an orange power button, and black with a green power button.

A hands-on video purportedly showing of the device surfaced recently and it claims that the 4G variant of the phone will come with a Snapdragon 765 chipset alongside 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage.

But it’s said that there will likely be two 5G variants too, possibly with a higher memory and storage configuration.

The Pixel 4a doesn’t look all too enticing at the moment – but should here be 5G variants and a reasonable price increase from the base $399, then we could see the Pixel 4a being an affordable 5G smartphone option.


Google Pixel 4a postponed twice, new launch date set for July

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Google’s Pixel 4a was set to launch in May, but Jon Prosser revealed in his tweet recently that it will now be delayed to July.

According to
Prosser
, the Pixel 4a will be available in two colors — “Just Black” and “Barely Blue”. Google usually takes about half a year to launch the “lite” version of the Google Pixel phones, so the Pixel 4a should’ve been launched in May. However, it is now postponed for two months on July 13.

Image credit: 91mobiles

Prosser also confirmed that the new Pixel phone will not support 5G connectivity and there might not be a Pixel 4a XL. It will, however, be equipped with a Snapdragon 730 chipset, 6GB RAM and a 3,080mAh battery.

As the Pixel 4a will be an affordable option, reports are suggesting that it will start at a lower price ($399) as compared to the Pixel 4 that is priced at $799. Let’s just hope Google doesn’t delay the launch again, or it’ll be like
Samsung and its Galaxy Fold
 all over again.

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This is how the Google Pixel 4a looks like according to leaked renders

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Remember that
teaser
 Google pulled on us for the Pixel 4a using with fake Latin words? Touted to
launch
 3
rd
 August – or probably tomorrow in local time – the mystery is all but gone now, as renders of the phone have surfaced, showing an unsurprisingly familiar smartphone.

As it’s a part of the Google Pixel 4 family, it makes sense that the Pixel 4a looks a lot like its flagship counterparts – bar a few changes here and there. The most notable change is in the camera bump, where only one lens can be spotted – it’s said to be a 12MP sensor, but the aforementioned teaser did suggest high megapixels, so perhaps 48MP?

It’s supposed Snapdragon 730G chipset is definitely capable of that, and perhaps 4K videography at 60FPS too. But let’s quickly go back to the renders – from there we also see a single selfie lens mounted on a punch hole cutout on the top-left side of the phone, and we also see rather thin bezels – much thinner than the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL.

If we look more closely, we can also see a back-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is a bummer considering competitors like the OnePlus Nord, vivo X50 Pro and OPPO Reno 4 Pro all come with an in-screen fingerprint sensor – it’s not a big deal, the feature adds to the premium feel of a 2020 smartphone.

There’s not much else we can extract from these renders so let’s quickly talk about its expected specs list – the phone comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage, plus a small 3,140mAh battery with 18W of fast charge support.

Considering it’s only a 5.81-inch smartphone, it makes sense that it has a small battery – but hey at least you get an OLED panel. As usual, it won’t officially come to Malaysia but you can expect to get it via third-party retailers like
DirectD
 and
SatuGadget
.

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Google Pixel 4XL gaming prowess with Snapdragon 855 shown off in video

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For much of yesterday, leaks of Google’s Pixel 4 were leaked – at this point we know how it’s going to look like already. With its square camera module at the back and sizeable top bezel, the Google Pixel 4 looks to be a notchless device.

Many speculated that Google allowed those with access to Pixel 4 demo units to publish their content online as a means to pull attention away from the new iPhone – and its worked. Not only have we seen a much more bearable camera module (one that doesn’t conjure tropophobia triggers), we now have an idea of how well it will run mobile games.

A video online by ReLab shows off the Pixel 4XL in all its glory (and it looks gorgeous), as well as put its chips to the test with a game of PUBG. With a Snapdragon 855 chipset, the phone runs PUBG Mobile at max graphics settings with no stutter at all. The phone comes with a 90Hz screen, but it looks like the game runs at a sub-60FPS rate.

One issue however, is that the PUBG Mobile isn’t quite optimized for the phone yet – the UI is cropped off towards the edges – but since these are demo units being shown off, the final product should fare much better. Overall, it looks like Google are set to give Apple a run for their money, with what looks to be a series of very good Pixel phones.

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Google Pixel 5: Renders reveal similar design with previous model

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New CAD renders have leaked to reveal how the Google Pixel 5 will look like.

Similar rear design but with a fingerprint scanner

The Pixel 5 looks almost similar to the Pixel 4 when it comes to its back, but you’ll immediately notice that there’s a physical fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 5. Pixel 4 ditched this with its face recognition system, but we’re guessing the Pixel 5 will come with both face unlock and fingerprint unlock.

Image credit: Xleaks7 X Pigtou

Punch-hole display

However, the Pixel 5 can be easily distinguished from its predecessor when we look at its front. Renders show that it’s equipped with a punch-hole cutout featuring a single-lens camera.
GSMArena
 also reported that the Pixel 5 will be slightly shorter and narrower than the Pixel 4.

Image credit: Xleaks7 X Pigtou

On a side note, there’s still
no launch date for the Pixel 4a
 which has led to some speculations that it will be launched alongside the Pixel 5 and Pixel 5 XL. Unfortunately, the Pixel 4a won’t be accompanied by the Pixel 4a XL.

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Pixel 4a
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Google Pixel 5 won’t come with a Snapdragon 865 according to reports

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The Google Pixel flagship family of smartphones usually come with the best chipsets available at the time – so you’d expect the upcoming
Google Pixel 5
 to ship with the latest Snapdragon 865 processor; but new reports are saying that won’t be the case.

Image credit: Fudzilla

According to Android Central, the base variant of the Google Pixel 5 will sport a Snapdragon 765G chipset – and although Qualcomm markets this processor as a premium entry; the brand’s 700-series have become synonymous with being an upper-midrange offering – not the premium flagships that are the SD 800-series.

Despite this, other phones that sport the SD 765G such as the vivo X50 Pro and the
OnePlus Nord
 perform fine on a daily basis – you may notice a slight drop in
performance
 when it comes to gaming compared to a Snapdragon 865; but for the most part, the SD 765G is a capable chipset.

vivo X50 Pro

It’s also energy-efficient and comes with 5G support, meaning you’re not losing all that much – but with this said, we still think a flagship brand like the Google Pixel should still come equipped with the best Qualcomm chip, so we’re guessing Google’s decision to use the SD 765G leaves room for them to put out a bigger and better Pixel 5 with the SD 865 or even SD 865 Plus. We can’t help but think this is their way of enticing customers to spend big on the more premium variants of the Pixel 5.

Well, enough about chipsets – the aforementioned reports also say the Pixel 5 will pack a 6-inch OLED 90Hz display, 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

That’s all we know about the Google Pixel 5 for now – and we still have to wait about a month before the phone launches; until then, we’ll be sure to keep bring you the latest update on Google’s latest as more information comes.

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Google Pixel 5 specs leaked: Snapdragon 765G with 90Hz display

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The Google Pixel 5 is the next big-name flagship that’ll enter the market, and as usual, people have somehow managed to get hold of its specs ahead of its release.

According to
WinFuture
 (via GSM Arena), the flagship actually doesn’t come with a premium chipset; it’ll instead pack a Snapdragon 765G chip, which confirms our previous
report
. This means that the phone will not support the faster
mmWave
 5G connection, but only the more widely-available Sub-6 networks.

There’s just 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage – which should be enough for day-to-day usage; perhaps the higher-end Pixel 5 models will pack a higher capacity.

The phone come with a 6-inch FHD+ OLED panel that pushes a 90Hz refresh rate with HDR support. The display is layered with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 for added protection.

Image credit: Pricebaba

Photography has always been the Pixel’s strongest suit – even with a 12.2MP main lens and a 16MP ultrawide shooter, the Pixel 5 should still produce fantastic images thanks to its ever-reliable software. For selfies, there’s an 8MP camera that packs a decent 83-degree field-of-view. In terms of video recording, you get a respectable 4K @ 60FPS setting, or even 1080p at 240FPS for smoother slow-
mo
 effects.

There’s a 4,080mAh battery and an 18W charging brick. That’s all we know about the phone so far – and although Google Pixels have never really been blessed with the best specs, the Pixel 5 does seem a tad underwhelming. We can only assume that Google is keeping the higher-end stuff for their pricier models.

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Pixel 5 announced: Google improves camera software in its new 5G phone

414

Finally, the
 Google Pixel 5
 has been announced at the price of $699, featuring a Snapdragon 765G processor.

Pixel 5 uses a Snapdragon 765G chipset

Unlike the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, the Pixel 5 did not sport a flagship processor; this time, it’s powered by a Snapdragon 765G processor that come with 5G support.

There’s only one storage option — 8GB RAM paired with 128GB storage.

Same camera hardware, better camera software

This time, Google focused on improving its
camera software
 instead of introducing new technology like last year’s Motion Sense. It comes with an 8MP front camera, a 12.2MP rear camera that is equipped with OIS and EIS and another 16MP ultra wide camera that is able to shoot 107, but what makes it better is being able to shoot portrait images using Night Sight. Google also included three new stabilisation modes for video shooting and a new AI-powered “Portrait Light” mode.

Pixel 5 priced lesser than the original Pixel 4

The Pixel 5 has a 6-inch display and comes in two colours — Just Black and Sorta Sage. It has a 4,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging, wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. It’s not surprising that the phone is priced $100 less than the Pixel 4 when it was launched, but then again, the Pixel 5 isn’t using a flagship processor.

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google pixel 5
Pixel 5


Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro differences leaked ahead of launch

692

The
Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
 have been confirmed to launch on October 19, but leaked images have revealed differences between both phones.

According to Evan Blass’s
leak
, the Google Pixel 6 will be available in three colors called Kinda Coral, Sorta Seafood and Stormy Black. On the other hand, the Pixel 6 Pro will be available in Sorta Sunny, Cloudy White and Stormy Black.

P6 in Seafoam Green
pic.twitter.com/I4vd07W1A8

— E (@evleaks)
October 12, 2021

The leaked images also revealed a camera bar design that was previously confirmed by Google, but this camera bar turns out to be quite protruding.

Another difference in appearance is the display — the Pro model have thinner bezels and a slightly curved display on top of a 6.71-inch 120Hz screen. The smaller 6.4-inch Pixel 6 will have a 90Hz AMOLED display.

Other than that, the standard model will have a 4,615mAh battery while the Pro model gets a 5,000mAh battery. Both will come with 50MP lens accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide lens, but it seems like the Pro model will be the only one getting an additional 48MP telephoto lens.

google
Pixel 6
pixel 6 pro


Google Pixel 6 series is launching this October 20 via livestream event

597

The Google Pixel 6 series has been confirmed to arrive this October 20 at 1am (or October 19, 10am PT) and the devices will be unveiled via a livestream.

This will bring to the market the first few Android 12 smartphones, as well as the first devices to be equipped with Google’s new Tensor chipset.

In our previous
report
, we highlighted that Tensor isn’t a flagship chipset meant to take on the Snapdragon 800-series chips nor Apple’s A14 SoC; instead, it’s a midrange chipset that makes use of AI and machine learning to run Google’s own apps smoothly.

The regular Pixel 6 is said to come with a 6.4-inch 90hz panel, while the Pixel 6 Pro will pack a 6.7-inch QHD+ 120Hz display instead. The latter will also sport a curved screen.

For imaging, the Pixel 6 Pro is expected to run a 50MP main lens, a 48MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultrawide shooter. The regular Pixel 6 will omit the telephoto lens while retaining the main and ultrawide cameras.

According to speculative
reports
, the Pixel 6 will be priced from 649 Euro (RM3,145), while the Pixel 6 Pro will cost at least 899 Euro (RM4,357). These numbers are not confirmed, so we’ll have to wait until October 20 for the official launch and prices.

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Google Pixel 6 series officially launched: Priced from about RM2,486

1K

The
Google Pixel 6
 and 6 Pro have officially been launched and it’s priced from $599 (about RM2,486) and $899 (about RM3,732) respectively.

The Pixel 6 comes with a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel along with a 90Hz refresh rate, while the Pixel 6 Pro packs a 6.7-inches 1440p LTPO AMOLED 120Hz display instead. Both phones come with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for protection.

The design of the device is what we’ve already
seen before

– curved panels with a black horizontal bar accents the phone’s paintjob. The Pixel 6 comes in Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral, and Stormy Black; while the Pixel 6 Pro comes in Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, and Stormy Black.

Under the hood is Google’s Tensor chip which we’ve spoken extensively about before – it’s a product of the collab between Google and Samsung, and it‘s built based off of the latter’s Exynos 9855.

Tensor isn’t as powerful as the likes of the Snapdragon 888 or A14 Bionic, but it’s a chip that’s well-optimised to run Google apps very smoothly, and offer better computational photography than previous Pixel devices.

Speaking of, both phones come with a 50MP main lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens; but Pixel 6 Pro packs an extra 48MP telephoto lens.

Although the camera hardware doesn’t look all that impressive – it’s the list of imaging software features that impress; there’s Face Unblur that sharpens facial details; Portrait Mode now comes with better subject-background separation; Super Res Zoom that offers 20x zoom; Magic Eraser that lets up you remove background objects; and more.

Powering all of this is a 4,600mAh and 5,000mAh battery for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro respectively. Both phones charge at 30W, however the former supports 21W and 23W of wireless charging respectively.

Pre-orders begin this 28 October in the US; as usual, it will likely be available in Malaysia through third-party retailer.

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Google Pixel 6 series: What we know so far

781

The
Google Pixel 6
 series is set to launch tomorrow and what these phones offer aren’t well-kept secrets – information of their designs and hardware have been made public, so here’s a roundup of all the things we know so far.

New chipset

Powering the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is Google’s own Tensor chipset which was co-developed with Samsung. Tensor is not a blazing-fast SoC that rivals the likes of the Snapdragon 888 or A14 Bionic, but it will still be plenty fast enough for the new Pixel phones.

We say this because Tensor is built very specifically to run Google apps smoothly – meaning the chip is well-optimized for the Pixel 6 series of devices.

Under the hood are four power-efficient cores that run at 1.8GHz, two middle cores clocked at 2.25GHz, and a couple of performance cores that run at 2.8GHz.

Tensor is supposedly based on the unreleased Exynos 9855, so we can expect Tensor to be built on a 5nm architecture and have the same performance level as the Exynos 2100.

Specs you need to know about

The Pixel 6 is expected to sport a 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel that pushes a 90Hz refresh rate, while the Pixel 6 Pro will come with a 6.71-inch panel instead which supports 1440p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.

Protecting the display is a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus,

The former will run on a 4,600mAh battery, the latter will pack a larger 5,000mAh unit. Both phones will support up to 30W of fast charging too.

Cameras

For imaging, both phones will come with a 50MP main shooter that utilises Samsung’s GN1 sensor. We’re also expecting a 12MP ultrawide camera too. The Pro model will apparently get a third camera, which should be a 48MP telephoto lens.

The Tensor chip we mentioned will allow the phone to achieve a 20x zoom magnification thanks to the Super Res Zoom feature.

In terms of the imaging software, portrait mode will offer different blur modes, and even apply artificial lighting to faces. There’s Motion Mode that adds extra depth to a scene, Face Unblur for sharpening faces, and Magic Eraser that lets users remove objects in the background.

 Google Pixel Stand

This is a wireless charger that’s expected to arrive the same time as the Pixel 6 smartphones – it supports up to 21W of charging, which is great for the Pixel 6 that supports the same rate of fast charging.

The device is made 39% of recycled materials and is expected to cost around $79 (about RM325).

That’s all we know so far about the Pixel 6 series – stay tuned on our website as we bring you the latest coverage of the launch which will include official prices and availability.

Source

android
google
google pixel 6
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Google Pixel and Pixel XL specifications leaked in full

273

Google is gearing up for its event on the 4th October, which happens to only be roughly a day away from now. The company is be releasing its next line of handsets, carrying the Pixel branding and ditching the Nexus titles altogether. Prior to that, a couple of retailers have allegedly published details regarding the Pixel and Pixel XL on their respective sites, and this particular leak comes from Carphone Warehouse, giving us the full spec sheets of both handsets.

The smaller Google Pixel features a 5-inch Full HD AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass 4 protection, a quad core Snapdragon 821 processor clocked at 2.15 GHz, 4GB of RAM with 32GB and 128GB storage configurations. The phone sports a 12MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and OIS, alongside an 8MP selfie shooter on the front. The Pixel has fast charge support for its 2,770mAh battery. Like its predecessor the Nexus 5X, the Pixel will have a rear fingerprint sensor as well.

The Pixel XL on the other hand, had its AMOLED display size shrunk from 5.7-inches to 5.5-inches, at the same resolution of QHD, also with Gorilla Glass 4 protection. Its internals are pretty much the same with its smaller sibling, the Pixel. A Snapdragon 821 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 32GB and 128GB variants for storage. Camera wise, things remain the same as well with a 12MP/8MP pair of rear and front cameras respectively. The other difference lies within its battery, sporting a capacity of 3,450mAh to power the larger QHD screen.

Both the Pixel and Pixel XL will be running Google’s latest Android Nougat 7.1 out of the box. Google is also offering unlimited backup for photos in full resolution via the Photos app, a feature which currently applies only in High Quality format. Other highlights include Google Duo and Allo, messaging apps which were launched just recently by the company, plus Pixel and Pixel XL Live Cases which will be available separately.

While all of the above mentioned specs might be true, we’d rather wait just a little longer before confirming anything regarding Google’s brand new Pixel lineup. Nevertheless, what do you think of the specs of both the Pixel and Pixel XL?

Source:
Archive

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Google Pixel Fold: Google’s First Foldable Phone to Debut at Google I/O 2023 Event

20.9K

Google is set to reveal its first foldable phone, the Pixel Fold, at the upcoming Google I/O 2023 event. While the tech giant has kept mum about the phone’s specifications, a teaser video showcases a full-size outer display that opens up similarly to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold devices.

The back of the phone features a camera bar similar to other Pixel devices but doesn’t protrude as much, it is rumored to have a 5.8-inch screen that folds out into a 7.6-inch tablet, with a Google Tensor G2 processor, a durable hinge, and a weight of 283g.

In addtion, the Pixel Fold  is expected to cost over $1,700 (RM7,546), matching Samsung’s Z Fold 4, which was launched for $1,799.

While most the details remain scarce, it will be interesting to see how Google leads the foldable smartphone market, as the company has already optimized Android 13 for large screen and foldable devices, it will be interesting if it has even taken a page from Samsung’s One UI, considering both Google and Samsung have worked closely together to develop the Z Fold4’s software capabilities.

The Pixel Fold will make its debut on May 10th, which you can sign up for early purchase details
here
 if you are in the US.

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Google Pixel Fold reportedly launching by the end of 2021

555

Google are reportedly gearing up to launch their own foldable smartphone too – this new revelation comes after the company showed off its upcoming Google Pixel 6 a week ago.

Oriole, Raven, Passport, “Slider” are 4 out of 5 devices that have a modem referenced as “g5123b”. The most recent Samsung Exynos (“shannon”) modem is 5123A. Can’t confirm the last one right now.

— cstark27 (@Cstark_27)
August 11, 2021

Aptly dubbed the Google Pixel Fold, proof of its existence was spotted by prominent Google camera modder
 cstark27

who noticed the word “Passport” while delving into the Android 12 code. Passport is known to be a codename for the brand’s foldable products.

With Android arriving by the end of the year alongside the
Pixel 6

series of flagships, there’s cause of believe that the Pixel Fold will be unveiled around the same time too – perhaps even alongside its Pixel 6 counterparts.

The Pixel Fold has been a long time coming – earliest mentions of the product date back to
 August 2020

when an Internal Google document was surfaced.

If these reports and suspected launch date are true, then we won’t have to wait long now for us to see how it stacks up against Samsung’s very impressive
Galaxy Z Flip3 and Z Fold3 phones
.

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Google Pixel phones are supposedly getting the new Android 10 today (UPDATED)

370

Android 10 has been beta-tested for quite some time and it’s finally launching today for Google Pixel phones. This means other Android phones will soon be able to download the new update too.

According to 9to5Google, Canadian career Rogers announced September 3 as the launch date, where eight of the Pixel phones will be getting “Q OS” — referring to the previous name of Android 10. Previous reports also suggested that OnePlus wants to launch the software update simultaneously with Google, so if the company stayed true to its statement, OnePlus devices might also be getting the new Android 10 today.

However, if OnePlus couldn’t make it, we’re still expecting it to be one of the early birds to come with the update. Also, the OnePlus 7T Pro is set to launch at the end of this month, so it’s possible that the company will bring in the software update sooner so that the latest device could sport the latest Android 10. Nokia and Essential users might also be getting the update earlier than others, but this information cannot be confirmed yet.

For now, Pixel users should be notified when Google launches the newest version of Android 10. The rest of you Android users will have to wait for your OEMs to make the announcement.

Update
: Android 10 is now available in Malaysia with a download size of 1336.4MB. Our Google Pixel 3XL has already been updated and yes, we’ve already switched on its Dark theme.

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Google Pixel phones experiencing abrupt shutdowns at 30 percent battery

348

Not too long ago, there were numerous reports by Nexus 6P users that their devices had unexpected shutdowns although the battery was between 10 to 60 percent. Initially, only Nexus 6P users who have upgraded to Android Nougat experienced this issue, but it turns out that the issue still persists after downgrading back to Android Marshmallow. Chinese company Huawei is said to be investigating this issue with Google, after the company first claimed that the problem lies within the software side.

It turns out that the battery problem isn’t just limited to Nexus 6P devices, but Google’s latest Pixel lineup of smartphones have also caught the disease. According to a thread on Reddit, Pixel users have claimed that their phones abruptly shutdown even though they had 25 to 35 percent of battery remaining. The Pixel handsets were said to not be able to power up until they were plugged in to be charged.

The current battery issue with the Pixel smartphones, plus similar occurrences with Google’s 2015 Nexus 6P flagship tell us that problem might actually lie within Google’s stock Android software. Also, another thing to note is the Pixel series and the Nexus 6P were designed by two different manufacturers, with the former being made by Taiwanese company HTC. Do you own a Pixel smartphone? Are you experiencing a similar problem like this one?

Source:
Reddit

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Google Pixel Watch leaked: Round display with a bezel-less design

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Last week, there were talks that Google could launch its own smartwatch that would compete with the Apple Watch. It was codenamed “Rohan” with speculation that it was named the ‘Pixel Watch’. But after all the
rumors
, we finally get a first look at what we can expect from the upcoming Google smartwatch.

Leaks of the watch were revealed by the YouTube channel
Front Page Tech,
and it shows that the device will indeed be called the Google Pixel Watch. They also did some renders for the device that match exactly what the images show; with a round body, bezel-less display, and a single rotating crown to control the device with.

Image Credit – FrontPageTech

The Google smartwatch’s initial release was rumored to happen at the same time as the Pixel 6 launch but was delayed to Q1 of 2022 due to chip shortages. As for its software, the Pixel Watch will most likely integrate Wear OS 3 as Google wants to display what Wear OS is capable of with the proper hardware.

Image Credit – FrontPageTech

Although nothing is confirmed, we can expect an array of features on the Google Pixel Watch, like a heart rate monitor, step counter, fitness tracking, location tracking, and more. However all of this information is merely speculation and leaks, so it’s important to keep an open mind before it’s released; and if you want to keep updated on the Google Pixel Watch, stay tuned for more updates from us.

Source –

FrontPageTech
, Via
 –
AndroidHeadlines

google
Pixel Watch
smartwatch


Google Pixel won't be as water resistant

327

Water resistance in smartphones is slowly turning into a need from a want. Although a handful of manufacturers have experimented with water resistance in feature phones around a decade ago, the first known water resistant smartphone was the Sony Xperia Z. The company carried on the feature with its flagship refreshes, as Samsung followed suit with its Galaxy S series, and now Apple has hopped on the bandwagon with the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus featuring an IP67 rating. Although fans are expecting Google to do the same with their upcoming Pixel phones, it seems that the Pixel will not be as water resistant when compared to the competition.

According to one of the latest rumors, the Google Pixel handset is said to only have an IP53 rating. According to the IP rating chart, the digit “3” means that water spraying at any angle up to 60° from the vertical won’t bring harm to the device. Spray does mean at a relatively low pressure and amount, lesser than a splash. The digit “5” on the other hand is for dust resistance, and “5” indicates that the device is dust protected but ingress of dust isn’t fully prevented. Meanwhile, the IP68 rated Galaxy S7 is completely dust tight, and can survive beyond 1 metre of submersion for a some time.

If this rumor happens to be true, this might turn out to be a deal breaker to some eager Android fans out there. This also means that Pixel users won’t be able to dunk or wash their phones, for that matter. Considering the fact that Apple has started “waterproofing” their phones, many would think that Google should be stepping up as well. However, we should all take this rumor with a pinch of salt, as possible as it may sound. What do you think?

Source:
Android Police

dust
google
ip
pixel
rating
resistance
water
xl


The Google Pixel XL2 will have “squeeze” feature

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The Google Pixel lineup from 2016 still remains very much popular to this date. The Pixel and the Pixel XL were the first two phones unveiled by Google after the company did away with the Nexus branding. Google is expected to refresh its Pixel series later this year with the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2. A new leak suggests that the larger of the two will sport a squeeze feature similar to that of HTC’s recently unveiled Edge Sense technology.

First off, earlier leaks leading till today indicate a similar build material in general when compared to the original Pixel series. The back panel will have a metal design along with a glass portion covering the top third of the panel. However, the rear fingerprint sensor will be located on the metal portion instead. The display on the front is said to be by LG, which means a 18:9 screen aspect ratio, measuring at 6 inches.

Like the previous iteration, the Pixel XL2 will still omit the water resistance feature, something which has been increasingly common as of late. The headphone jack is said to make a departure as well, but a source claims that the phablet will feature a squeeze feature like HTC’s Edge Sense. It will of course carry a different name.

One other thing to note that features such as the bezel-less front and the squeeze tech will only be found on the larger Pixel XL2 to showcase Google’s engineering and cutting edge technology. The Pixel 2 on the other hand will largely retain the design from its predecessor and will be the lower end of both devices.

18:9
bezel
display
edge sense
google
htc
pixel 2
squeeze
xl2


Google Pixelbook Go prototype leaked showing interesting back panel design

484

The upcoming Google Pixelbook Go has been ‘leaked’ by the folks at 9to5Google and it’s an apparently a very interesting device.

Touted to be announced during Google’s hardware event later this October 15. What makes this 2-in-1 different is that the bottom panel is made of a textured, ribbed material. We reckon it helps with grip when your clutching it under your arms.

Image credit: 9to5Google

The lid is also smooth with a matte finish, while the prototype that’s been leaked only has a placeholder logo. The laptop comes with two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The 13.3-inch device has a 1080p touchscreen display panel.

Under the hood, an Intel Core m3 CPU powers laptop, with up to 16GB RAM and 256GB storage. According to reports, you can upgrade your device with either a Core i5 or Core i7 chip if you need something snappier. This is just a prototype however, so reserve judgement until Google unveils the actual device come October 15.

2-in-1
chromebook
Google pixelbook
intel core
laptop
tablet


Google Pixelbook might be able to boot Windows 10 in the future

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The Pixelbook is one of the best devices for users that what to experience Chrome OS and it comes with a really sleek design that adds to the appeal. Now, new reports have indicated that Google is trying to get their Pixelbooks certified to work with Windows 10.

9to5Google has reported that new codes from Google developers are showing us that Google is working on a way to allow the system to perform a dual-boot. This would mean that users will have the option when turning on the device, to choose between Chrome OS or Windows 10. This is further proven when some people saw the phrase “AltOS” in Google’s documentation and another on “Picker Screen” which will allow users to chose their operating system on boot. Even more proof comes from XDA Developers when they USB-related issues on AltOS, and it shows more reference to Windows Hardware Certification Kit and Hardware Lab Kit.

This is pretty interesting development as the Pixelbooks were well received when they first landed in the market. Giving users the option to boot-up Windows on their Pixelbook will surely boost the product even more. Although, you should not expect to be playing high-end games when it happens.

10
book
boot
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Google plans to add ad-blocking feature in Chrome

397

The good people at Google have plans to introduce an ad-blocking settings in the mobile version of Chrome and the desktop version. The new option will remove any ads that the Coalition for Better Ads industry group deems unacceptable. Ads like this include pop-up ads, auto play videos and full screen ads that show before taking you to the website’s main page.

How Google plans to implement this feature is still under discussion as some sources have mention that, one of the options will be disabling all ads on the website even if just one of those ads falls under the unacceptable range. This is to ensure that website owners keep up their standards when it comes to adding ad content to their website. The other option is to just block the unacceptable ad. It unknown at this point which option Google will go with as they declined to comment on this matter.

Currently, website owners do not have to worry too much about this as Google wants its users to stop using third-party ad-blockers, as majority of them do not know the difference between an acceptable and unacceptable ad, which pushes website owners to pay a fee to bypass these ad-blockers. It’s good to know that Google is taking the proper steps to ensure that websites are safe and friendly to surf for all its users, and making sure website owners adhere to the proper practices when monetizing their websites.

Source:
The Verge

adblock
google
google chrome


Google plans to build standalone VR headset

347

Thus far, Google’s sole entry into the Virtual Reality market is the Cardboard. This may no longer be the case as it seems that the tech giant is now working on a proper VR headset of its own.

If Wall Street Journal is to be believed, Google is aiming to create a VR headset that does not require a phone or a PC to work. Keep in mind that all VR headsets that have been revealed so far require either devices to work. Should this be true, it would make Google’s VR headset the first all-in-one VR headset. According to the report, Google is working with Movidius on motion-tracking cameras for the headset. Both companies have collaborated before on Project Tango, a smartphone that features 3D depth-sensing tech.

This would also mean that Google is currently working on two seperate VR headsets as there were reports last week that Google is working on a VR headset that is powered by a smartphone, similar to Samsung’s own Gear VR headset.

Don’t get too excited about this report though, as sources say that the device is currently in its early developmental stages and may even be scraped entirely. While it is highly unlikely that this particular headset will be revealed at the upcoming Google I/O developer conference, sources have said that Google’s own smartphone-powered VR headset will be revealed at the conference.

Source :
Wall Street Journal
,
Engadget

cardboard
gearvr
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googleio
virtualreality


Google plans to enter the smartphone market with its own handset

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Google is no longer interested in sitting at the sidelines of the smartphone market as reports from The Telegraph shows that the tech giant is looking at developing and manufacturing its own smartphone.

Thus far, Google has yet to truly create their own smartphone. While the Nexus line is emdorsed by Google, the creation of these Nexus phones are mostly handled by partners such as Huawei and LG. According to the report though, this upcoming smartphone will be made strictly by Google, with the company taking more control over design, manufacturing and software. With Google producing a phone of their own, the company would also be able to control the software, securing the future of services such as the Google search engine and Google Play app store that run on it.

It isn’t too surprising that Google is looking at developing their own smartphone of course. Google has been busy developing its own hardware for the past few years, ranging from laptops, tablet computers and other gadgets. In fact, Google has just recently hired Rick Osterloh, former president of Motorola, to lead the company’s own hardware ambitions. As to why Google has decided to enter the smartphone market right now, Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight claims that Google is concerned that Android is fragmenting and Google wants to control Android more, much like Apple.”

Nothing else is known about this so-called Google Phone, but rumours are going around that this new device will be available by the end of the year.

Source:
The Telegraph

android
google
nexus
smartphone


Google plans to introduce a new revenue-sharing model for developers

308

We’ve reported yesterday that Apple intends to announce a new revenue sharing model with its developers once they’ve introduced a major update to the App Store. Well, it seems that Google will also be changing its revenue-sharing model as well, but unlike Apple, this new revenue-sharing model will be introduced without needing to fulfill any requirements.

According to Recode, this new revenue-sharing model will introduce an 85/15 split from the current 70/30 split, much like what Apple has. Where Apple requires developers to have an active app subscription base for a year before switching to the new revenue-sharing model, Google will be offering the 85/15 split the instant it goes live.

This new 85/15 revenue split isn’t exactly a new thing for Google as reports from various sources states that Google has been testing out this new split over a year ago with video services as a way to get Play subscriptions to work with its TV streaming offerings like the Cast dongle.

No timeline was given as to when this new revenue-sharing model will be rolled out, but we’re assuming that it wouldn’t be too long until it goes live.

Source:
Recode

android
developers
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Google Play apps with Android adware had 150 million downloads before removal

343

It’s not the first time Google Play Store experiences invasion by malware or adware and this time, a massive adware campaign has managed to infiltrate Google with more than 200 apps that has a total of 150 million downloads.

The adware was first discovered by two researchers Elena Root and Andrey Polkovnichenko, in which 206 applications are affected by the adware. Root and Polkovnichenko dubbed the malware as “SimBad” as it majority of the affected applications are simulator games.

They also believe that developers were unaware of the malware that is hidden within the ‘RXDrioder’ SDK, which led to three consequences – background ads, phishing and also exposure to other applications. With the malware’s infiltration into users’ phones, the hacker can then access the phones to open external URLs, other applications and also download remote apps.

The researchers also wrote, “With the capabilities of showing out-of-scope ads, exposing the user to other applications, and opening a URL in a browser, ‘SimBad’ acts now as an Adware, but already has the infrastructure to evolve into a much larger threat.”

If you’re a Google Play user and you’re worried that you’ve installed one of the infected applications, you can check the full list of infected applications
here
. Fortunately, the research wrote that Google has already been informed and has since removed the infected applications.

Adware
google
play store


Google Play Games discontinuing Google+ requirement

322

Google+ receives yet another blow today as Google has decided to remove the need to have a Google+ account in other to use Google Play Games.

In an update to Play Games that was launched today, you no longer need to have a Google+ account to use the service. All you need is a regular Google account and you’re allowed to choose a Gamer ID and avatar to represent you.

Signing into Play Games has also been made easier as you only need to log in once. Previously, you had to log in seperately for every game that you’ve launched. With this system, you’ll now be automatically signed in whenever you install a new app and start a new game.

As for the developer side of things, Google has mentioned that most developers won’t have to make any changes to their games, unless they’ve added additional scopes to the sign in process. Even if they do, these developers only need to remove these extra calls and the app should work as per normal.

Currently, Google is busy rolling out the update to Play Games over the course of the next week, so if you’ve yet to receive the update, you’ll need to wait a little longer.

Source :
TechCrunch
,
Official Android Blog

android
google
googleplaygames


Google Play gift cards finally arrive in Malaysia’s 7-Eleven stores

474

While Google Play gift cards are not something new to other countries, its availability in Malaysia is definitely something unheard of. The gift cards are now available in Malaysia, and while it might not be seen nationwide yet, it was already spotted at 7-Eleven stores in Kuala Lumpur.

The gift card comes in three different amounts; RM50, RM100 and RM200. The gift cards can be used for purchase of things in the Google Play Store such as newsstands, movies, books and apps. The gift card will only be available in 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia for now, as listed on the Google Play’s official website.

The gift card can be useful for those who do not own credit or debit cards and want to purchase apps from the Play Store. That being said, if the Android user actually has a credit/debit card, then the Google Play gift card will probably be a minor news to them, though it can also be a great gift idea.

There is also a maximum amount that one can have on their account, and that is RM2,999. Like many other gift cards sold on 7-Eleven stores, the Google Play gift card will need to purchased at the store before user is allowed to redeem the credits through their Google Account on their Android devices.

For more information on the terms and conditions of the Google Play gift card, you can visit
play.google.com/intl/ALL_my/about/card-terms.html
.

google
Google Play
play store


Google Play Include Pre-Register Function

344

In near future, when you read about a great new Android app, you might be able to easily set up an alert so that you don’t miss it hits Google Play. There’s now an option to “pre-register” for apps and games on Google Play before they come out. Your device will get pinged with a notification when they’re finally available to download or buy.

For example, Terminator Genisys is one of the games that the developer have put up for pre-registration, in which users will be able to get earlier access to the game. With this feature, developers will be able to understand how interested its customers are in purchasing the app, best of all users are not committed to buying the app and can unregister themselves before the release dates.


435

In near future, when you read about a great new Android app, you might be able to easily set up an alert so that you don’t miss it hits Google Play. There’s now an option to “pre-register” for apps and games on Google Play before they come out. Your device will get pinged with a notification when they’re finally available to download or buy.

For example, Terminator Genisys is one of the games that the developer have put up for pre-registration, in which users will be able to get earlier access to the game. With this feature, developers will be able to understand how interested its customers are in purchasing the app, best of all users are not committed to buying the app and can unregister themselves before the release dates.


Google Play is getting a small makeover with app overflow buttons gone

321

Overflow buttons are an Android staple – its three-dot icon has become synonymous with the ‘right click’ on a computer, allowing you to view more options for action.

Google however deems this unnecessary in the pursuit of aesthetics. Google Play will gradually roll out an update that replaces the app overflow button with a ‘tap and hold’ gesture.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

Images show that, upon implementation, the Google Play UI does appear cleaner, even only at the slightest bit.

According to 9to5 Google, the tap and hold gesture will bring up a menu which will display shortcuts for installing and purchasing options, as well as app details like review ratings, name and more.

Image credit: 9to5 Google

It took me long enough to teach the folks at home how to use an Android, and it seems like a follow up lecture is due thanks to this update – no dad, you don’t double tap on apps to open them!

android
google
googleplay
menu
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Google Play Movies to offer free content soon but with ads

460

With the advent of Netflix, YouTube Premium and Apple TV – streaming
movies and
 TV shows have become easier than ever. That leaves smaller players digging for ways to adapt to their gargantuan counterparts.

One such player is Google Play Movies – the company that owns the app isn’t tiny, obviously, but the number of users who use this app is comparatively minute compared to Netflix, YouTube and even Apple TV.

To remedy this, Google may implement free content but with ads – what Google Play Movies has to offer however, is having newer movies in their stockpile available for purchase or rent. With a movie costing upwards of RM20 and rent anywhere below that – offering them for free could
entice
 movie lovers to flock to the app.

According to 9to5Google, a string of codes found in the app reveal the presence of this service which could suggest Google has the feature ready to roll
ou
 in the near future.

It needs to be pointed out that this feature is an extension of YouTube Movies and share the same library of films. YouTube Movies however is not available here, so our next best option would be Google Play Movies.

As 9to5Google points out, there’s no clear timeline when the feature will arrive, but now would be an ideal time considering the world is under the MCO at the moment.

android
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google play movies
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Google Play now boasts over 2 million app titles with over 11.1 billion downloads in Q1

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Although Google Play is still behind Apple’s iOS App Store, which is slightly more mature, polished and well moderated, figures still matter a lot to tech giants like Google and Apple, with both most companies out there usually bragging about numbers in their annual keynotes and conferences respectively. The Google Play Store has hit yet another milestone, currently surpassing 2 million app titles .

The 1 million mark was achieved nearly three years ago in July 2013. In addition to that, the Google Play Store also boasted a whopping 11.1 million downloads in Q1 this year. The impressive figure sees an increase of 6.7% from Q1 in 2015. The report was made by Sensor Tower, who also stated that social media applications fill the top three spots in the app download chart, all of which are owned by social media giant Facebook. The three apps are WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook.

If you haven’t heard of Clash of Clans or Clash Royale, chances are that you don’t download games on your Android device. Clash Royale has booked spots in the top 20 of both the Google Play Store and iOS App Store globally. Clash Royale is now the more popular app, being the more recent app launched by Supercell than Clash of Clans which was equally addictive. With the ridiculously rapid growth of apps in app stores, users can now download any type of applications they can possibly think of.

Source:
Sensor Tower
  Via:
Phandroid

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Google launches its own game subscription service, Play Pass at $4.99/month

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Google just launched Play Pass — the new rival to Apple Arcade that is similarly priced at $4.99/month.

With Play Pass, Google users can now subscribe and get access to over 350 apps and games with titles like Monument Valley, AccuWeather, Risk and more. However, unlike Apple Arcade, Google doesn’t have any exclusive content.

Google Play Pass will be available to Android devices in the US this week and for a limited time, users can gee the Play Pass for $1.99/month for the first 12 months before reverting to the standard price of $4.99/month. In addition, users will also get a 10-day free trial. Just like its rival, Google lets its users share the subscription service with another five family members.

Google also mentioned that the service will expand to additional countries soon, so don’t worry if you don’t get access to the service yet. Once the service is available to you, you’ll be able to see an additional Play Pass tab located at the bottom of the homepage.

google
Play Pass


Google Play Store drops reviews thumbs down button

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Google has made a slight tweak to the Google Play Store, particularly at their review ratings section. It works a tat bit different now.

Before the minor change, you’re able to give a user’s app review/comment a thumbs up or thumbs down rating. Reviews with the most thumbs up rating will be under the app’s “most helpful reviews”. But Google has since made a move to ditch the thumbs down button.

We are unsure about Google’s decision to rid that thumbs down rating option, but Google has added a tiny option, which should be the replacement for the now missing thumbs down button. Tapping on the small options menu beside a review would bring out a “spam” button, allowing users to mark a review as spam.

Google’s minor decision might upset some users out there who intend to “dislike” certain reviews. However, with an option to mark a review as spam, we might see a decline in nonsensical reviews on an app which is a good thing.

Source:
Phandroid

google
playstore


Google Play Store has 8 apps involved in an ad fraud scheme

295

Eight Android apps have been found to be involved in an ad fraud scheme, and these apps that can be downloaded in Google Play Store have more than 2 billion downloads in total.

The ad fraud was discovered by an app analytics and attribution company called Kochava, and 7 of the apps are owned by a Chinese company known as Cheetah Mobile that was previously accused of fraudulent business practices. The remaining app is by Kika Tech which is a company that received huge investment from Cheetah Mobile two years back.

The fraud is predicted to have stolen million of dollars by ripping off app developers who pay their partners a certain amount of fees when they drive users to install new apps. The two companies claimed credit for causing downloads of other apps, which is known as click flooding and click injection, whereby the rewards are credited to them despite the fact that they’re not involved in any part of the installation processes.

However, both companies have denied the claims made by Kochava, with Kika Tech’s US general manager stating that they were unaware and have no plans to be involved in fraudulent practices. On the other hand, Cheetah Mobile told BuzzFeed News that the fraud was carried out by third-party software development kits (SDK) and the company will look into the matter. These are rather doubtful statements as Kochava found that the click flooding and injection in Kika Keyboard app are done by the company’s own software and functionalities, and the SDK that is involved in the fraud was developed by Cheetah itself, not third parties.

That aside, Google has yet to remove the apps from Play Store, nor did the company advise users against downloading the apps. Google has just recently got through the incident of 13 apps with malware that affected over half a million users, but with this new incident, Google will need a longer time to rebuild their reputation. Perhaps it’s really time for Google to be slightly more like Apple in terms of the strict regulation of Apple’s App Store.

Cheetah Mobile
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Google Play Store’s new all-white design is on its way

344

Sooner or later, your Google Play Store will be getting a major redesign that makes the store less colourful and more monochromatic.

The redesigned Play Store will remove its colourful headings — green for Games and Apps, pink for Movies, blue for Books. Instead, it will be all-white so it resembles Google’s homepage. However, you’ll still get the remnants of the old design because the colour of the categories’ fonts and the icons remain pink, blue and green accordingly.

Image credit: Ron Amadeo

In addition, the different tabs will be relocated to the bottom of the app while the music tab will be moved to the sidebar. Speaking of the sidebar, Google Play Store will have a new tablet UI that place the navigation tabs in a sidebar.
Arstechnica
 mentioned the importance of the new UI since foldable phones might a common device used by many in the near future.

Although the new design hasn’t been reported to support Dark Mode, it is possible that Google already has plans to introduce Dark Mode to Google Play Store, hence the removal of colourful designs in its UI.

google
play store


Google predicted to sell up to 9 million units of Pixel phones by the end of 2017

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With the recent dismissal of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, anything seems possible. Many smartphone manufacturers have been scrambling under tight competition to claim the crown of 2016’s “best smartphone”, a title which apparently belonged to the late Galaxy Note 7. While Google’s phones haven’t exactly been mainstream, the company went with a bang this year with a new “Pixel” branding for its smartphone lineup. According to a forecast by US banking firm Morgan Stanley, up to 9 million units of Pixel handsets will be sold when 2017 ends.

Morgan Stanley has reported that the company is expected to sell around 3 million units of its new smartphone lineup by the end of this year, and based on the prediction, Google is predicted to ship out a further 5 to 6 million units by the end of next year. While these figures sound impressive by the standards of Google’s sales numbers of its Nexus phones over the past couple of years, a comparison with Cupertino giant Apple tells a whole different story.

By contrast, Apple has sold a total of 212 million iPhones in the 2016 financial year, raking up a whopping $137 billion (RM611.22 billion) in revenue. In Q3 2016 alone, Apple has managed to ship 45.5 million iPhones, generating $28 billion (RM124.92 billion) in revenue. Assuming that Google hits 3 billion units of Pixel phones within Q4 2016, its revenue will pale in comparison at a tame $2 billion (RM8.92 billion).

Google’s lesser earnings are due to the fact that Pixel phones only generate 22 to 25 percent of gross profit margins. For reference and comparision, the Apple iPhone 7 has a 41.1 percent gross profit margin. Both series of phones belong to the premium pricing spectrum, but Apple has a seemingly more diehard and loyal fanbase compared to Google. What are your thoughts on these figures?

Source:
The Business Insider

2016
2017
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Google predicted to ship as many as 4 million Pixel phones this year

321

The long awaited and highly anticipated Google Pixel series of handsets were officially debuted earlier this week. Both the Pixel and Pixel XL, with only their displays and batteries being the only differences, has been getting mixed reviews from fans and critics alike since it was launched a couple of days ago. A report has stated that the Pixel phone shipments will be hitting as much as 4 million by the end of the year.

Based on a report by DigiTimes, Google will be shipping out around 3 to 4 million units of the Pixel handsets in total this year. While the figure pales in comparison to Samsung’s Galaxy S7 sales – reported to hit more than 25 million units during the first half of 2016, and the iPhone 7 series by Apple, which was said to have pushed out approximately a whopping 13 million units during the opening weekend of sales, the sales of the Pixel phones are expected to lift the spirits up of Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, who has shown a lacksture sales performance so far in 2016.

As impressive as HTC’s 2016 handsets may be, with the likes of the flagship HTC 10, the company hasn’t been doing well, with profits plunging every quarter. The Google Pixel shipments will account for 40 to 50 percent of HTC’s handset shipments, which will definitely shed new light on the struggling smartphone maker. What do you think?

Source:
DigiTimes

2016
google
htc
pixel
sales
xl


Google publishes End of Life dates for pre-existing Nexus devices

357

No device gets supported forever. This saying holds true to Google’s own Nexus line of smart devices as well. Last year, Google revealed that all Nexus devices will be kept up to date via monthly security patches for three years after release with major over the air updates contining to roll out for at least two years. Today, Google has officially published the End of Life (EOL) dates for some of the pre-existing Nexus devices.

As the list shows, the Nexus 9 will no longer be receiving guaranteed Android version updates after October of this year. For the current batch of Nexuses: the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P, the devices will not be receiving guaranteed Android version updates after September 2017. While these devices may not be receiving any updates to its Android version, they will continue to receive security updates for another year. In certain cases, the device may receive security patches for 18 months from when the Google Store last sold the device.

In short, Nexus devices will be supported for up to three years. Once those three years pass, Google would highly recommend that you replace your aging Nexus for a new one.

Source:
Android Authority
,
Google

endoflife
google
nexus