9to5Google Weekender

Animations are a part of basically any modern software, but there are only certain times when you actually notice them. On Android, one of the times it’s unfortunately common to notice animations is when they aren’t as smooth as they should be, and while I’m glad that’s getting better, it’s getting way too much emphasis on one specific area.

This week’s release of Android 15 has been a weird one, but it’s also raised a question – are Android updates getting pretty confusing?

Ads are a huge part of, well, everything online in 2024. That includes Google TV, but the company’s living room experience also splits hairs on what could be considered an “ad.” So, what makes something an ad?

Password managers are time-saving, security-enhancing tool that everyone should be using, but every time Android refuses to play nicely with a password manager, I’m reminded why so many people don’t bother.

There are a lot of Android features that go unused because they’re difficult to access, but there are often handy shortcuts that you simply don’t know about. One of those on Google Pixel devices is a shortcut for notification history that’s quickly become my favorite trick.

After two generations focused on a smaller size, the Pixel Watch 3 finally introduces a larger 45mm size into the picture, and I can’t quite decide how I feel about it.

Foldables are no longer a “new” technology, but as they mature, one thing is still very clear. No foldable does it “right” yet as the market continues to only serve niche users, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a really good encapsulation of that.

The Nest app has a long history, but it’s slowly on its way out. As the next major product moves fully to the Google Home app, the Nest app is nearly done for good.

I’ve still not found myself using generative AI regularly, even as Gemini takes over any and every Google product as of late. With the Pixel 9 series, AI is more important than ever, but I find myself frustrated by the same fundamental flaw in generative AI that even the Pixel 9 can’t escape.

This week’s debut of the Pixel 9 series brought some big upgrades to the lineup, but have also taken another step into making Google’s Pixel lineup incredibly confusing when looking at what’s available and the different prices.

With the launch of the Google TV Streamer earlier this week, the wildly successful Chromecast was put to rest, with the company confirming the device won’t be made anymore. Google’s reason for doing so makes sense, but does it really align with reality?

Thanks to a treasure trove’s worth of leaks, we know pretty much everything there is to know about the Pixel 9 series, including that it will see some price hikes, making the main three phones more expensive. Why is that?

We’re still about two weeks out from Google’s next Pixel launch event, but a ton of big leaks this week told us basically every detail about the Pixel 9 series.

Google is quickly approaching the launch of its new Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and continued leaks just cement that this upcoming device looks almost exactly like last year’s OnePlus Open.

The Find My Device network had huge promise, but it’s quickly become an absolute mess. Google, though, is defending the Find My Device network for its approach to privacy, the same approach that appears to be completely ruining its functionality.

Samsung will launch its new foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6, alongside a plethora of other new devices at an event next week. Here’s everything you need to know.

Earlier this week Google made a big, unexpected announcement. The Pixel 9 series is launching in August, almost two months ahead of the usual schedule. Why?

Android foldables continue to grow and, for the second year in a row, we’re entering a Summer full of new releases. Here’s what’s around the corner for 2024’s ‘Foldable Summer’ and beyond.

Not all that long ago, cameras on a phone were still a crazy idea and the ones that did exist were bad. But, nowadays, nearly every phone has a camera, and nearly every single one is at least pretty decent. So what does it take to make one that’s great?

Item trackers for your smartphone are not a new concept, but Apple changed the game with its AirTag by making all of its devices work as a network for finding the tracker. Android finally has that same functionality and the hardware to use with it, but I can’t help but feel that the Find My Device network is being held back.

As Google pivots to a heavier and heavier focus on Gemini, the experience of using Google Assistant just continues to degrade.