Months ahead of its expected release date, the Google “Pixel 8” has been officially certified for Qi wireless charging, confirming no speed improvement over last year.
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Kyle Bradshaw joined 9to5Google in 2018 with a special interest in Google’s Fuchsia OS, rooted in his experience of being the first to offer a visual preview of the revolutionary design of the in-development operating system. Since then, his attention has broadened to include the secrets hidden within other areas of Google’s public codebases.
By reading the public Fuchsia code, Kyle was able to prove the existence of the Nest Mini and the Nest Hub Max months ahead of their respective announcements. With evidence from Chromium, he reported on Google’s since-canceled efforts to create an offshoot of Android designed for “touchless” feature phones.
In 2018, Kyle reported on three distinct Made by Google Chromebooks in development, the Pixel Slate, the Pixelbook Go — a full year before its release — and “Meowth,” the original version of the Pixel Slate that was canceled due to Intel’s delays that year. For ChromeOS itself, Kyle was the first to demonstrate the upcoming light theme redesign in action.
Looking at the early evidence of the Pixel 5’s specs, Kyle accurately predicted in February 2020 that the Pixel 5 might not be a traditional “flagship” phone. In 2021, he reported that Google’s next headset would be the “Pixel Buds A.”
Kyle was the first to report that the Pixel 6 would mark the debut of Google’s in-house processors, later revealed to be the Tensor chips.
Kyle contributes to the APK Insight column at 9to5Google, discovering the hidden changes in Google’s apps. These efforts have revealed hotly anticipated features, details about upcoming devices, and unexpected connections between companies.
He can be reached for tips or just friendly chat by Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky, or email. If you’re looking for his other works or side projects, head over to Kyle’s personal portfolio.
Hands-on: Pixel’s upcoming Dashcam feature is solid but demands accessories
Over Memorial Day weekend, I tried out Google’s upcoming Dashcam feature on my Pixel 7 Pro and found it to be a surprisingly OK experience, but it needs the right set of accessories.
Expand Expanding CloseNest Wifi Pro update fixes speed test issue, improves performance
Google has released a May 2023 update for the Nest Wifi Pro that should fix incorrect speed test results and improve overall performance.
Expand Expanding CloseChrome Remote Desktop on Android swaps to web app, for better or worse
Google has updated the Chrome Remote Desktop app for Android, ditching the previous native app for a (buggy) new web-based version.
Expand Expanding CloseBackbone One PlayStation Edition is now available for Android
The new Backbone One PlayStation Edition controller for Android is here to make it easy to stream your favorite PS4/PS5 games while on the go.
Expand Expanding CloseNvidia RTX GPUs are coming to two upcoming Chromebooks
Google is continuing its push for gaming Chromebooks, with the next generation set to bring dedicated Nvidia RTX graphics cards.
Expand Expanding CloseMaterial You on Wear OS 4 will make your watch more colorful [Gallery]
Google is preparing to launch Wear OS 4 this fall, and one of the most significant additions is Material You, which makes your smartwatch more colorful to match your current watch face.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung May 2023 update rolling out for these Galaxy devices
Samsung has been rolling out its latest security update, the May 2023 patch, to its many phones and tablets at quite a rapid pace – here’s the full list of Galaxy devices with the update.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle will soon let Pixel phones double as dashcams
Rather than needing to buy a (sometimes pricey) dedicated gadget, you should soon be able to use your Pixel (and select other Android devices) as a dashcam for your car following an upcoming Personal Safety update.
Expand Expanding CloseHere are the official Pixel 7a ‘Feathers’ wallpapers [Download]
Continuing the collection started by last year’s flagship phones, Google included a new set of “Feathers” wallpapers with the Pixel 7a, and you can download them here.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel phones to gain new ringtone inspired by Kenny G
Coinciding with the launch of the Pixel 7a, Google is preparing to release a new ringtone for its phones, filling your ears with a saxophone serenade in the style of Kenny G.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle launches first Pixel 7a ‘lynx’ factory images
As the Pixel 7a was simultaneously announced and released today, the company has also published the first Android 13-based factory images for the new mid-range phone.
Expand Expanding CloseEverything new for developers at Google I/O: Android Studio, Flutter, AI, and more
While Google I/O has served as a venue for some of the company’s biggest debuts over the years, the conference has always had its roots in developer news.
This post will be steadily updated over the duration of the Google I/O 2023 developer keynote with the latest news from all of the company’s various avenues of development, as well as news from the “What’s New” sessions afterward. We’re expecting news from Android, Flutter, Jetpack, and Firebase, as well as many AI-related announcements.
Expand Expanding CloseReview: Pixel 7a affordably delivers on every promise of the Pixel series
Over the years, Google’s Pixel phones have gained a reputation for having an exceptional camera, a clean Android experience, and smarts you won’t find on any other phone. With the Pixel 7a, Google delivers on every one of those promises at a far more inclusive price.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages gaining AI-based ‘Magic Compose’
During Google I/O 2023, it was announced that the Google Messages app is gaining a generative AI tool called “Magic Compose.”
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid launching ‘Find My Device network’ for tracker tags, headphones, more
Google has just publicly unveiled its plans for a “Find My Device network” on Android that can seamlessly locate tracker tags (including Tile products), headphones, and phones.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle unveils ‘Codey,’ programming-focused generative AI model
Staying true to Google I/O’s origins as a developer conference, the company has unveiled a new generative AI model that’s focused on writing and understanding code, fittingly named “Codey.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Labs returns with AI-based features, sign up now
“Google Labs” is returning as a way for people to try new features coming soon to Google apps, including new AI-based features coming soon to Workspace.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Messages ‘Magic Compose’ AI can reply to friends – or write them a song
Here’s a first look at the upcoming generative AI-powered “Magic Compose” feature coming to Google Messages, which can write a meaningful reply to a message or wax poetic with a song.
Expand Expanding CloseApril Google System Updates: Play Store gets easier cell data downloads, more [U]
The Google System Updates for April 2023 bring improvements to the Play Store, including making it easier to download apps over cellular data.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle working to bring Bard AI to Pixel phones as a homescreen widget
Google is preparing to make its Bard AI easier to access on Pixel phones and tablets, starting with an upcoming homescreen widget exclusive to the company’s devices.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid’s ‘Finder Network’ should support some existing Bluetooth trackers
With the debut of Google’s Finder Network seemingly growing closer and closer, 9to5Google has learned that Android phones should gain support for a few existing Bluetooth trackers.
Expand Expanding CloseNest Hub 2nd Gen updates to Google’s Fuchsia operating system
Google is now rolling out a Fuchsia-based update for the second-generation Nest Hub, marking the third device to officially run on the homegrown operating system.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Chrome’s Material You redesign is taking shape [Gallery]
For the past few months, Google has been working on a “refresh” of Chrome on Windows, Mac, and Chromebooks. The efforts seem to be paying off, as Chrome’s Material You-based redesign for 2023 seems to be nearing completion – see for yourself.
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