Why is Google launching the Pixel 9 so early?
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?
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2024’s ‘Foldable Summer’ has some missing faces – what to expect
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.
Expand Expanding CloseAll smartphone cameras are good now, but these four things can make one great
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?
Expand Expanding CloseThe Find My Device Network is holding back the true arrival of an ‘AirTag for Android’
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.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Assistant continues to crumble in the ‘Gemini era’
As Google pivots to a heavier and heavier focus on Gemini, the experience of using Google Assistant just continues to degrade.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle already knows how to make AI in Search helpful, but it’s not with AI Overviews
AI Overviews have barely been out for a week and things are already going off the rails. And, the painful part of it all is that Google has already shown that it knows how to make AI in Search truly helpful, it’s just not doing that with AI Overviews.
Expand Expanding CloseWill Google I/O provide any hope for websites dying in Search?
Google Search is effectively a bridge between users and content on the web nowadays, but volatility in Search has led to many smaller websites seeing steep dropoffs. As Google I/O approaches, will anything at the event provide a ray of hope?
Expand Expanding CloseEven the worst smartphone seems better than these new AI gadgets
AI hardware is finally shipping and with big promises, but given how the experience seems to be with the first high-profile launches, it really seems like even the worst smartphone would probably be better.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle probably won’t make that high-end Chromecast you want, and that’s okay
A new Chromecast is coming. If you look around at what folks want from it, it’s all about performance and speed. Basically, a lot of folks want a high-end Chromecast, but it doesn’t seem like Google is planning for that, and it seems unlikely they ever will.
Expand Expanding CloseWhat Google Pixel’s 7 years of updates actually means
7 years of updates. It’s something that’s still borderline unbelievable, but Google set as the new standard for software updates with its latest Pixel releases. But months later, some still seem to not understand what this update promise means…
Expand Expanding CloseWill AI hardware prove to be anything more than novelty?
The past year has seen an explosion of AI tools and software, but over the next couple of months, we’re also going to be seeing a lot more AI hardware. Personally, though, I’m just wondering if any of it will become anything more than novelty.
Expand Expanding CloseSmall Android phones are dead, but Google’s Pixel 9 series will be good enough for most
I feel like a broken record at this point, but amid new leaks of the Pixel 9 this week, there are many still asking Google for a “Mini” device, forgetting that small phones are dead.
Expand Expanding CloseEven if Apple doesn’t have a monopoly over Android, it clearly wants one
This week the United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the company has built and maintains an illegal monopoly. Whether or not Apple actually has a monopoly over Android in the smartphone market is up for the courts to decide, but what’s clear is that Apple really wants one.
Expand Expanding CloseI want Gorilla Armor on every smartphone
Smartphone glass has gotten much better over the years, but Corning’s new Gorilla Armor feels like the first truly big upgrade we’ve seen in a while. I want it on everything.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle’s Pixel is the only phone to do fingerprint and face unlock the right way
Biometrics have made it way more conveinent to unlock our smartphones, but there’s a debate on if face, or fingerprint unlock is the better solution. Many Android brands have taken the approach of “why not both,” adding both face and fingerprint unlock to their devices, but Google’s Pixel is the only one that’s done it correctly.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Maps speed trap and accident reporting is increasingly useless
Using a navigation app when out on the road is what just about everyone does nowadays, but these apps are useful for more than just getting directions from point A to point B. Google Maps has supported incident reporting for quite some time, but as we keep moving forward, the feature is becoming essentially useless due to neglect.
Expand Expanding CloseI wish Android Auto’s dashboard better supported multiple split-screen apps
The latest redesign of Android Auto brings a useful new “dashboard” view that can show multiple pieces of information at once, but I wish it was better at supporting multiple apps at once.
Expand Expanding CloseIt’s impressive just how truly terrible Samsung Keyboard is
Over the years, Samsung has made huge improvements to its Android skin, but there’s one thing that’s still pretty awful. Samsung Keyboard is very bad, and it’s honestly a bit impressive just how bad it is in the year 2024.
Expand Expanding CloseNot everything should be called ‘AI’
The era of AI continues, as the technology continues to form the basis of a ton of new features across virtually every piece of new tech. But, as impressive as it all is, the term “AI” already feels wildly overused.
Expand Expanding CloseI think I’d really love Galaxy S24’s AI features if I actually liked Samsung’s apps
It’s only been a couple of weeks, but AI is absolutely the big buzzword of 2024, and Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series is betting big on the tech. And, somewhat shockingly, the Galaxy AI suite is really quite good, but the problem I’m facing so far is that the Samsung apps they’re tied to are not ones I want to use.
Expand Expanding ClosePixel Fold and OnePlus Open are opposites – that’s why they’re the best foldables
Foldable smartphones aren’t “new” at this point, but 2023 was easily the most impactful year yet for the form factor. Two devices in particular stand out amongst the new releases – the OnePlus Open and the Google Pixel Fold.
Expand Expanding CloseQi2 is ready, but what will be the first Android phone to support it?
As CES 2024 kicks off this week, we’re reminded of one of last year’s biggest announcements. The new Qi2 standard was announced last January with support for MagSafe as a universal standard, but we haven’t heard much about support for Qi2 in new Android phones. What will be the first one?
Expand Expanding CloseThe Pixel Tablet is the product Google needs to improve most in 2024
2023 saw Google’s first push into bigger screens in its Pixel lineup and with that, some growing pains. As 2024 beings, it’s the Pixel Tablet that Google has the most room for improvement on out of its current lineup, and arguably the one that needs it the most.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Pixel 2023 Year in Review: Fixing old mistakes & dealing with growing pains
Seven years into the Google Pixel series, 2023 marked Google’s biggest year yet with six new devices released. It was a year where Google fixed a lot of mistakes, but also introduced some growing pains to the lineup. Let’s take a look back.
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