MWC 2024 was my first time visiting the show, and the absolute highlight of my time at Fira de Barcelona was collecting Google’s Android pins.
Expand Expanding CloseHere are Google’s custom Android pins from MWC 2024 [Gallery]
Author
Ben Schoon is a Senior Editor at 9to5Google, working for the publication as one of its primary news writers since 2016.
In 2013, Ben helped start an independent tech publication where he learned the skills used at 9to5Google including writing, product photography, and videography. He is located in the city of Winston-Salem in North Carolina where he lives with his wife Melissa. Ben is an avid disc golf player.
He primarily covers Android products, including Google Pixel devices, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, as well as devices from OnePlus, Oppo, Motorola, and more. Beyond just covering news about these products, Ben also spends time using these products himself, speaking from experience with the articles he writes. Some of Ben’s most recent hands-on reviews include; Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Motorola Razr+, HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, and more.
Ben is also a leading source for information about Google’s Android TV, diving deeply into important parts of the platform including its powerful Operator Tier, explaining future changes to the platform, and reviewing its products such as Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, and more.
In 2019, Ben leaked one of the first in-person photos of the Pixel 4 before later revealing the Recorder and Pixel Themes apps months ahead of launch. In 2020, Ben also reported on multiple upcoming Pixel devices including Pixel 5a and the first report of Google working on a foldable Pixel smartphone. That same month, he was also the first to correctly report the $49 price point of what became the Chromecast with Google TV.
Ben Schoon is active on Twitter, @nexusben, but can also be found on Instagram and LinkedIn. For questions or tips, you can email him directly, and his portfolio is also available online.
Email: schoon@9to5mac.com | Encrypted Email: benschoon@protonmail.com
‘Satellite SOS’ starts appearing on Google Pixel phones – here’s what it will do
Satellite connectivity for smartphones has proven valuable on Apple’s iPhone, but it’s a feature that’s struggling to get out the door on Android devices. This week, though, a new “Satellite SOS” feature has started appearing on Google Pixel phones, and we’ve got a sneak preview of what it will be able to do.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid Auto AI message summaries are now available – here’s how it works
With the launch of Android Auto 11.4, Google is making its AI message summaries available to all users. Here’s how the feature works.
Expand Expanding CloseBeeper for Android preparing major redesign with tablet mode, message search, more
Following the whole Beeper Mini debacle, the regular Beeper app is getting a major redesign that brings long-awaited features.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle app gives its Search and Lens shortcuts a fresh new look [Gallery]
The Google app on Android is starting to roll out a new design for context-aware buttons that extends out of the search bar.
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Google Pixel now makes up 3% of phones shipped in North America
Google’s Pixel series has been slowly growing over the past few years, with 2023 being its best year to date with 10 million devices sold. According to more new data, Google Pixel made up around 3% of smartphones sold in North America during the last few months of 2023.
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YouTube seems to be expanding picture-in-picture to more free users
Picture-in-picture support is super handy for keeping a video in view while you’re getting stuff done on your phone or tablet but, on YouTube, it requires a Premium subscription for some users. Lately, though, YouTube seems to have been expanding picture-in-picture support to more free users.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung ‘working to’ support Galaxy Ring on all Android phones, but not iPhone
While showing off the Galaxy Ring earlier this week, Samsung confirmed some details about the upcoming health tracker, including what devices it will support, battery sizes, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 will be thicker for bigger battery, new renders reveal [Gallery]
After the Galaxy Z Fold 6 leaked yesterday, more renders are now showing off the Galaxy Z Flip 6 which looks the same, but with a thicker form factor.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung reportedly planning ‘early July’ event for Galaxy Z Fold 6, Ring, more
Following the Galaxy Ring’s first appearance this week and news about the Galaxy Z Fold 6, a new report claims that Samsung will yet again be moving up its launch this year, with Unpacked set for “early July.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel 8 series named 2023’s ‘Best Smartphone’ with award at MWC
The Pixel 8 series brings some big improvements to Google’s flagship series, and it’s also now bringing in awards, as the duo has now won the 2023 Phone of the Year award at MWC.
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on: The era of cheap foldables is upon us [Gallery]
Foldable smartphones are still pretty expensive, but prices have been coming down. MWC 2024, though, was the place where it became abundantly clear that cheap foldables are coming, as several made an appearance.
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on: The Xiaomi 14 Ultra delivers my favorite ‘slab’ phone hardware in ages
Traditional smartphones are pretty much all the same nowadays, but every once in a while there’s something that stands out. This week at MWC 2024, I got to try out the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which delivers the best hardware on a “slab” phone I’ve felt in years.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle TV redesigns homescreen row, but you might have to wait ‘months’ to get it
A few months after first teasing it, Google TV is now rolling out a homescreen redesign that adds circular icon shapes for apps and a handful of other tweaks.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle paying some news publishers to publish AI-generated articles
Generative AI is an incredible tool when it’s used properly, but one big fear is that AI will be used to flood the internet with articles. Despite this, though, Google is reportedly paying some independent publishers fairly large sums of money to publish AI-generated articles on their websites using an AI model that’s not yet been released.
Expand Expanding CloseI flew to Europe and forgot the OnePlus Watch 2’s charger – here’s how long it lasted
I took my first trip to Europe this week and, while packing, neglected to grab the charger for the OnePlus Watch 2 I planned to wear. Luckily, the OnePlus Watch 2 is supposed to have amazing battery life, but how long can you really stretch that out?
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Oppo confirms it will return to Europe, but only with newer phones
Oppo has confirmed out of MWC 2024 that the company will bring its phones back to Europe.
Expand Expanding CloseNvidia GeForce Now will start showing ads to free users
Free users of Nvidia’s GeForce Now service will start noticing ads when they start up a cloud gaming session, the company has confirmed.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung Galaxy Ring to have up to nine days of battery, launching second half of 2024
The Samsung Galaxy Ring is quickly on its way and new information keeps coming, including an official estimate on battery life.
Expand Expanding CloseThe OnePlus Watch 2 has a rotating button, but it doesn’t do anything in Wear OS
Launching for $299, the OnePlus Watch 2 has killer battery life and the long-awaited arrival of Wear OS for the brand, but the smartwatch will ditch a beloved feature by not supporting the ability to interact with Wear OS through a rotating button.
Expand Expanding CloseOnePlus Watch 2 goes official for $299 with Wear OS 4 and 100-hour battery
The OnePlus Watch 2 has just officially launched as the brand’s first Wear OS smartwatch, and it’s got an interesting twist in the form of a secondary operating system that boosts battery life.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s the Samsung Galaxy Ring [Gallery]
After a teaser earlier this year, Samsung is showing off the Galaxy Ring for the first time at MWC 2024. We were able to get a quick look at the upcoming health-focused wearable and pick up a few tidbits on the device.
Expand Expanding CloseXiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra launch globally starting at €999
A few months after debuting in China, Xiaomi has officially launched the Xiaomi 14 globally with prices starting at €999.
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Tecno Pova 6 Pro has a 6,000 mAh battery and some fun lights on the back
At MWC 2024, Tecno has launched the Pova 6 Pro, launching later this month in select markets with a gigantic battery and lighting on the back of the device.
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