Almost exactly a year after Google announced the first developer preview of Android 11, the company today released the first developer preview of Android 12. From a report: Google delayed the roll-out of Android 11 a bit as the teams and the company’s partners adjusted to working during a pandemic, but it looks like that didn’t stop it from keeping Android…
Tag: pixel 4
Google Launching a New Nest Hub In 2021 That Uses Soli For Sleep Tracking
Google is planning to release a new Nest Hub in 2021 that will feature sleeping tracking powered by the company’s Soli radar technology. 9to5Google reports: Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects group first unveiled Soli in 2015, but it did not launch on a consumer device until 2019. The sensor lets you perform air gestures over the Pixel 4 to play/pause and…
Here’s Exactly How Inefficient Wireless Charging Is
News outlet OneZero crunched the numbers on just how inefficient wireless charging is — and the results are pretty revealing. From the report: On paper, wireless charging sounds appealing. Just drop a phone down on a charger and it will start charging. There’s no wear and tear on charging ports, and chargers can even be built into furniture. Not all of…
Android’s AirDrop Competitor Is Coming Soon
Android’s long-awaited “Nearby Sharing” feature, which allows you to share files between Android devices wirelessly, is rolling out to beta testers. Android Police reports: Nearby Sharing may appear slightly differently depending on the type of content you try to share. In all cases, it shows up as an app in the apps list on the share sheet, but you may also…
Despite Disappointing Pixel 4, 2019 Was Google’s Best Year for Phone Sales Yet
A few weeks ago, news broke that Google was allegedly disappointed with the Google Pixel 4, even prior to that device’s launch. However disappointing it may have been, it doesn’t appear to have stopped Google Pixel sales from hitting a record high in 2019. From a report: According to third-party analyst firm International Data Corporation (IDC), Google Pixel sales hit 7.2…
Lawmaker Kills Repair Bill Because ‘Cellphones Are Throwaways’
The New Hampshire State House rejected the Digital Fair Repair Act earlier this week in part thanks to a representative who seems to think that cell phones are literally garbage that no one should bother repairing. From a report: The bill would have forced manufacturers such as Apple to share repair manuals and parts with independent repair stores. House members didn’t…
Google Chief: I’d Disclose Smart Speakers Before Guests Enter My Home
After being challenged as to whether homeowners should tell guests smart devices — such as a Google Nest speaker or Amazon Echo display — are in use before they enter the building, Google senior vice president of devices and services, Rick Osterloh, concludes that the answer is indeed yes. The BBC reports: “Gosh, I haven’t thought about this before in quite…
Google Announces New Google Assistant With Huge Boost To Speed
Google has announced the second-generation version of its Google Assistant software, which promises new capabilities, a design overhaul, and a noticeable boost to speed. From a report: That last upgrade means the new Assistant can launch and return answers to queries much faster than before. The service is coming first to Pixel phones, and Google made the announcement onstage at its…
Google Discontinues Daydream VR
Google’s Daydream, Android’s built-in virtual reality platform, is as good as dead. From a report: Following the company’s annual hardware event today, Google confirmed to VentureBeat that the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL do not support the VR platform. Furthermore, Google stopped selling the Daydream View headset today. There are also no plans to support Daydream in future Android devices,…