Google’s Pixel 9 series won’t launch with Android 15

• 
• August 13, 2024

Google users may have been waiting for an announcement about Android 15, but it seems like we’ll be waiting longer to have the new operating system on smartphones. The spec sheet for the upcoming line of Google Pixel 9 devices confirms that the phones will launch with Android 14. This applies to all four of the new devices: the Google Pixel 9, Google Pixel 9 Pro, Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Google

This is an unusual approach for Google, but that may be because the new Pixel models are coming out on an earlier timeline than the usual annual OS updates. Android 14 came out in October last year, so we can expect to hear more about Android 15 later in the fall. The operating system is in its second public beta, so we’ve already seen some of what it can do. And despite the new phones running Android 14, there are a host of new AI-powered features that’ll be available when the phones go on sale next week.

Catch up on all the news from Google’s Pixel 9 launch event right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/googles-pixel-9-series-wont-launch-with-android-15-175323603.html?src=rss

Musk’s Trump Talk on X: After Glitchy Start, a Two-Hour Ramble

• 
• August 13, 2024

Problems in the livestream renewed questions about X’s ability to handle big events, but it also showed how the platform can still grab attention.

Here are all the AI features coming to the Pixel 9 phones

• 
• August 13, 2024

Google’s Pixel 9 lineup is powered by cutting-edge hardware like the Tensor G4 processor and tons of RAM that should help keep your phone feeling fast and fresh for years to come. But all that hardware is also designed to power brand new AI experiences.

“Android is reimagining your phone with Gemini,” wrote Sameer Samat, Google’s president of the Android Ecosystem, in a blog post published on Tuesday. “With Gemini deeply integrated into Android, we’re rebuilding the operating system with AI at the core. And redefining what phones can do.”

Here are the big new AI features coming with the new Pixel devices.

Gemini overlays and Gemini Live

Gemini, Google’s AI-powered chatbot, will be the default assistant on the new Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold phones. To access it, simply hold down your phone’s power button and start talking or typing in your question.

A big new change is that you can now bring up Gemini on top of any app you’re using to ask questions about what’s on your screen, like finding specific information about a YouTube video you’re watching, for instance. You’ll also be able to generate images directly from this overlay and drag and drop them into the underlying app, as well as upload a photo into the overlay and ask Gemini questions about it.

Google

If you buy the pricier Pixel 9 Pro (starting at $999), Google’s bundling in one free year of the Google One AI Premium Plan that typically runs $19.99 a month for access to 2 TB cloud storage and access to Gemini Advanced, which lets you try Gemini directly in Google products like Gmail and Docs to help you summarize text and conversations.

Crucially, Gemini Advanced also includes access to Gemini Live, which Google describes as a new “conversational experience” to make speaking with Gemini more intuitive (I’m not the only one having a hard time keeping track of all the things Google brands “Gemini,” don’t worry). You can use Gemini Live to have natural conversations with Gemini about anything that’s on your mind, including, Google says, using it for help with complex questions and job interviews, choosing between a variety of voices that sound stunningly lifelike, according to demos that Google showed Engadget earlier this month.

Google

Recently, OpenAI released Advanced Voice Mode, a similar feature, to paying ChatGPT customers with a voice assistant that can talk, sing, laugh and allegedly understand emotion. When asked if getting Gemini Live to sound as human-like as possible was one of Google’s goals, Sissie Hsiao, the company’s vice president and general manager of Gemini Experiences told Engadget that Google was “not here to flex the technology. We’re here to build a super helpful assistant.”

Photos and Camera features

Google is using AI to make both taking and editing pictures dramatically better with the Pixel 9 phones, something they’ve focused on for years now. A new feature called Add Me, which will be released in preview with the new devices, for instance, will let you take a group photo and then take a picture of the photographer separately and add it to the main picture seamlessly — handy if you don’t have anyone around to take a picture of your entire group.

Meanwhile, Magic Editor, the built-in, AI-powered editing tool on Android, can now suggest the best crops and even expand existing images by filling in details with generative AI to get more of the scene. Finally, a new “reimagine” feature will let you add elements like fall leaves or make grass greener — punching up your images, yes, but blurring the line between which of your memories are real and which are not.

Circle to Search now lets you share

You can already search anything that you see on your phone by simply circling it, but now, AI will intelligently clip whatever you’ve circled and let you instantly share it in a text message or an email. Handy.

Google

Pixel Screenshots

Google

If you can’t figure out how to sort through the tons of pictures of receipts, tickets and screenshots from social media littering your phone’s photo gallery, use AI to help. A brand new app called Pixel Screenshots available on the new Pixel devices at launch will go through your photo library (once you give it permission), pick out screenshots, and then identify what’s within each picture. You can also click pictures of real-world signs (such as a music festival you want to attend, for example), and directly ask the app relevant questions like when do the tickets for the festival go on sale. 

Call Notes

A new feature called Call Notes will automatically save a private summary of each phone call. so you can refer back to a transcript to quickly look up important information from the call like an appointment time, address, or phone number later. Google notes that the feature runs fully on-device, which means that nothing is sent to Google’s servers for processing. And everyone on the call will be notified if you’ve activated Call Notes. 

Pixel Studio

Google

We’ve been able to use AI to generate images for a long time now, but Google is finally building in the feature right into Android thanks to Pixel Studio, a dedicated new image-generation app for Pixel 9 devices. The app runs on both, an on-device model powered by the new Tensor G4 processor and Google’s Imagen 3 model in the cloud. You can share any images you create in the app through messaging or email directly. 

A similar feature called Apple Image Playground is coming to newer iPhones with iOS 18 in September.

Custom weather reports

Google will use AI to create custom weather reports for your specific location right at the top of a new Weather app so you “don’t have to scroll through a bunch of numbers to get a sense of the day’s weather,” according to the company’s blog post. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/here-are-all-the-ai-features-coming-to-the-pixel-9-phones-173551511.html?src=rss

Listen: The view from Russia

• 
• August 13, 2024

how-has-the-shock-cross-border-offensive-gone-down-in-russia-

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6: How the best foldables stack up

• 
• August 13, 2024

Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold is here, evolving the company’s foldable phone formula from the lineup’s debut a year ago. The company’s second-generation model has a bigger screen than the 2023 model and (shock!) is full of Gemini AI features. Let’s look at how its specs and features compare to its most direct rival, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

Dimensions and display

Google / Samsung / Will Shanklin for Engadget

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is a slightly bigger phone than Samsung’s. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is 13 percent wider and a smidge taller when unfolded. Both phones are roughly the same thickness when open, although the Pixel measures a bit thinner when folded.

Both phones have OLED (or OLED-adjacent) displays with the goodies you’d expect from the tech: rich colors, deep blacks and more efficient power in darker scenes. Google’s model has an 8-inch OLED Super Actua Flex main display, while Samsung uses a 7.6-inch AMOLED. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s internal screen is 12 percent bigger by area. They’re similarly sharp: 373 ppi on the Pixel vs. 375 ppi on the Z Fold 6.

Google / Samsung / Will Shanklin for Engadget

The phones’ outer displays are the same size diagonally (6.3 inches). However, the Pixel’s is 6.5 percent bigger when measured by area, which factors in aspect ratios.

The Pixel 9 Fold Pro is 7.5 percent heavier: 9.1 oz (257 g) compared to the Z Fold’s 8.4 oz (239 g).

Processor, RAM and storage

Google / Samsung / Will Shanklin for Engadget

The Pixel 9 Fold Pro is powered by the Tensor G4 chip, while the Z Fold 6 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. We’ll need more hands-on time with the Pixel to say what that means in benchmarks and everyday experience. However, we found the Z Fold 6 speedy and responsive without noticeable lag.

The Pixel does have more RAM: 16GB to 12GB on the Pixel. Both phones start with 256GB storage. Each offers a 512GB variant, but only the Z Fold 6 has a 1TB option. (For those who don’t mind paying nearly $2,300 for a phone!)

Price

Google / Samsung / Will Shanklin for Engadget

Foldable phones are still luxury items, with the Pixel outpacing Apple’s most expensive iPhone by $600. The Pixel is a bit less expensive than the Z Fold, setting you back “only” $1,799 and up compared to the Z Fold 6’s $1,900. (Although you may find trade-in deals that leave you paying significantly less.) Even the “budget” rival to these two, the OnePlus Open, still costs a hefty $1,700 without trade-ins.

As much as foldable phones have improved since they first arrived five years ago, they’re still pricing out all but the most deep-pocketed consumers. Until they’re competing more with other high-end phones than top-of-the-line laptops, they’ll remain niche products for the privileged.

Full specs comparison

Here’s a table showing the full specs breakdown between the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-vs-samsung-galaxy-z-fold-6-how-the-best-foldables-stack-up-173027127.html?src=rss

Google Pixel 9 vs. Samsung Galaxy S24: how the flagship Android phones compare

• 
• August 13, 2024

The latest Made by Google showcase is in the books and, as expected, we got the formal unveiling of the Pixel 9 lineup. Google has redesigned its smartphone lineup with an eye-catching (and perhaps pocket-catching) camera bar. The camera array in the Pixel 9 includes a new 48MP ultrawide sensor for Macro Focus closeups. 

The company has given the entry-level device a welcome memory increase to 12GB and included the latest Tensor G4 chipset. The 6.3 Actua display, meanwhile, is 35 percent brighter than the one on the Pixel 8. The Pixel 9 has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and rear along with a 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure.

In terms of features, there is, of course, a heap of AI-powered tools. One called Add Me seems pretty interesting as it allows you to both take a photo and be in it. After you take a photo of a group, take one of the photographer. The phone will then “magically” merge the two photos, Google says. The Magic Editor has a new generative AI feature called reimagine, which allows you to make changes using natural language prompts.

Google is also infusing its Gemini AI assistant into the Pixel 9. You’ll just need to hold the power button to activate it and get help with things like drafting an email or text message. Gemini can pull data from Google apps such as invitation details from Gmail so you can RSVP.

We’ve already had some hands-on time with the Pixel 9 and you can read our first impressions in our report. 

As things stand, the Pixel 9’s closest flagship Android rival is the Samsung Galaxy S24 given that they’re effectively the same price and share a lot of similarities. The S24 has a triple rear camera array compared with the Pixel’s dual-lens setup. However, the Pixel 9 has a marginally larger screen and it will be the first of the pair to get Android 15 — Galaxy S24 users will have to wait a little longer to gain access to the new operating system’s features. 

To illustrate other similarities and differences, here’s a spec comparison of the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S24:

Catch up on all the news from Google’s Pixel 9 launch event right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-9-vs-samsung-galaxy-s24-how-the-flagship-android-phones-compare-171550491.html?src=rss

Google’s Pixel Watch 3 has a bigger screen, and Pixel Buds Pro 2 are smaller

• 
• August 13, 2024

Pixel Recorder on the Watch 3 is the weird little feature we might just love.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold hands-on: A clever new shape and even bigger displays

• 
• August 13, 2024

Last year, Google released the Pixel Fold — the company’s first-ever phone with a flexible screen. But today at its latest Made By event, Google showed off a sequel. But don’t call it the Pixel Fold 2, because in addition to a revamped design featuring what’s being called the largest display of any phone on the market, it’s also getting a reworked name: the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Now I must say, that moniker is a real mouthful. But the idea behind it was to ensure that people know the new Fold is part of the larger Pixel 9 family. That means this latest Fold has the same Tensor G4 chip, a similar design and all the AI features as the rest of the line. Plus a few bespoke additions made just for this device.

But before we get into that, let’s start with its design, which has made a pretty big shift from its passport-shaped predecessor. This time, Google opted for more traditional dimensions with the Pro Fold sporting a 6.3-inch outside display that’s almost identical in size to what you get on the standard Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. And with a peak brightness of up to 2,700 nits for both inside and outside displays, it’s basically just as colorful and vibrant.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Then on the inside, you get a flexible screen that measures a whopping 8 inches across, beating out rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (7.6 inches), OnePlus Open (7.82 inches) and Honor Magic V3 (7.92 inches). Its technical name is the Super Actua Flex display, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. For the Pro Fold’s chassis, Google has switched to a boxier design with a new steel hinge covered by an aluminum alloy and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 in front and back.

Now I will admit I was a bit bummed out by the change in shape as I’ve really come to appreciate the original Pixel Fold’s wide front screen. However, after playing around with it, the Pro Fold’s dimensions are definitely growing on me. Plus, if you remember from my interview with Google’s design team, the purpose of the first Fold’s shorter and squattier design was to make the outside screen more usable than the long and skinny displays Samsung uses on the Z Fold line. And by using a screen that is the same size as the regular Pixel 9 on the Pro Fold, it’s clear that they’re still sticking to that mantra.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Google has also slimmed down the phone and is claiming that it’s the thinnest foldable you can buy today. That said, measuring 5.1mm thick when open or 10.5mm thick when closed, I believe it’s a touch fatter than both the Honor Magic V3 (4.4mm/9.3mm) and the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 (4.6mm/9.5mm). That said, if we’re only talking about models available in the US, I think Google’s claim holds true.

Around back, there’s a big new camera module that holds a 48-MP main camera and a 10.8-MP telephoto cam with a 5x optical zoom, which look to be the same as what we got in last year’s phone instead of using the new sensors available on the main Pixel 9 models. But I haven’t been able to confirm that just yet. And finally, there’s a 10.5-MP ultra-wide camera.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

I’ve dinged Samsung in the past for saddling the Z Fold line with cameras that aren’t quite as good as what you get on the main Galaxy S family, and it looks like Google is doing something similar to the Pro Fold, which I don’t love. But seeing as how last year’s phone offers better image quality than what you get on the new Z Fold 6, it’s not quite as big of a deal.

Naturally, there are a ton of new features and photo modes too. There’s stuff like Add Me, which uses AR guides to help you take group shots so you don’t need to ask a passerby for help. There is also a new and improved Video Boost tool that works in the dark and supports high-resolution zooms. But my favorite addition is Made You Look, which puts a fun animation on the outside screen so you can get a nice shot of your kids or anyone else who might otherwise be slightly distracted. It even uses an algorithm to detect when someone is smiling, to make the animation move, which is just a really simple but effective way to get a true candid reaction during a posed photo. Google has also finally implemented the Zoom Enhance feature it teased back during the launch of Pixel 8.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

And of course, it wouldn’t be Google without a bunch of new AI features. For photos, there are a few new Magic Editor tricks like Autoframe that can recompose your shots, or Reimagine, which can replace things (typically the foreground and background of a shot) with anything you can put in the prompt box.

For more general use, there’s the Pixel Screenshots app which allows you to save screenshots and then later use AI to find specific images or more detailed stuff like concert dates. Alternatively, if you want to generate your own images from scratch, the new Pixel Studio app looks surprisingly powerful. Not only can you create subjects and backgrounds, you can also generate stickers of your friends, remove distracting objects, or put together things like party invitations using your custom artwork. There’s even a new Pixel Weather app that uses AI to write a quick summary of what’s going on that day.

But the ML-powered tools don’t stop there, because Gemini Live allows you to have more natural conversations with AIs, so you can get answers on a huge range of topics without needing to say “Hey” every time you think of a question. There are also several features I didn’t get to try such as the Pixel 9’s improved Clear Calling, Call Notes, which uses AI to create transcripts of a call, and Google’s new satellite SOS system, which lets you call for help even when you don’t have cell service. Lastly, Google has bumped up the amount of RAM in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold from 12GB to 16GB of RAM with either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

So while I’ve only had a short time with it thus far, I really like what Google is doing with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold — you know, aside from its clunky new name. In a lot of ways, Google is delivering what I wanted Samsung to do for the Z line. The Pro Fold is thinner than Z Fold 6 while also having a bigger main screen. And its cameras should be better too. Plus, thanks to Google’s lead in AI, we’re getting even more fun and useful tools for tweaking photos or remembering that cool pair of shoes you screenshotted weeks ago. Sure, Google still doesn’t have a real alternative to Dex mode or built-in stylus support. But for people who want a convertible phone with great screens, excellent cameras and powerful software, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is looking like a great follow-up to the original. Oh, and priced at $1,800, it costs $100 less than the Z Fold 6 too.

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is available for pre-order today with official sales beginning on September 4. It will be available in two colors: porcelain and obsidian.

Catch up on all the news from Google’s Pixel 9 launch event right here!

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-9-pro-fold-hands-on-a-clever-new-shape-and-even-bigger-displays-170058834.html?src=rss

The Pixel Watch 3 comes in a bigger size and tells you when you should rest

• 
• August 13, 2024

It’s time — pun not intended — for some new Google Pixel products. The company’s launch event, Made By Google, is showcasing the new Google Pixel Watch 3 and the next generation of Pixel phones and earbuds. This third-generation smartwatch is all about performance and adds a range of new capabilities to help you track your progress, plan and take care of yourself. 

Before we get into each of those features, it’s worth pointing out one of the most obvious changes Google has introduced: adding a 45mm model. The first two generations of the Google Pixel Watch only offered a 41mm option, and this addition puts the Pixel Watch 3 in line with the Apple Watch’s options. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 also has two options: the 40mm and 44mm. 

Compared to the second-gen model, Google also shrank the smartwatch’s bezel by 16 percent, giving the 41mm an extra 10 percent of active screen area. The display is also two times brighter, offering up to 2000 nits of brightness. Plus, the watch lasts for 24 hours with the always-on display or 36 hours in battery-saver mode (it automatically switches to this when you’re down to 15 percent). Google also claims the 41mm Pixel Watch 3 charges 20 percent faster than its predecessor. 

Now for the fun bits. The Google Pixel Watch 3 will have a new readiness and cardio load tracking guide. It should let you know how hard your heart is working, indicating if you should slow down on a workout. Google also says it will let you know when to recover and when to dive into a challenging workout. The readiness score is more personalized, making a recommendation based on factors like your sleep and resting heart rate. If you get Fitbit Premium, the watch will provide AI-powered recommendations on achieving your fitness goals. 

It also brings a new “loss of pulse detection” feature that Google says is the first of its kind.Despite being slightly awkwardly worded, “loss of pulse detection” does basically what it describes. Using the Pixel Watch 3’s heart rate and other sensors, it’ll notice if the wearer has a pulse. Since the device is sampling your pulse at the rate of once every second, which is one of the most frequent in the mainstream smartwatch space, it’ll notice quite quickly if your heart’s stopped. Then, it’ll look for other signs like whether you’re still moving, and whether it’s still on your wrist. 

With all this data, the Pixel Watch will determine whether you’re having a “loss of pulse event” like cardiac arrest, respiratory or circulatory failure, overdose or poisoning. When it identifies loss of pulse, it will check in with you and call emergency services if you don’t respond. At launch, Google said this will be available in various countries in Europe and that it’s “working with regulatory bodies to make the feature available in more countries.”

The Google Pixel Watch 3 also has some home-based features, providing Nest Cam and Doorbell notifications, access to live view, and two-way talk. The watch can also act as a remote, letting you pause, change the volume or flip to a new channel on Google TV. If you have a Pixel phone, then your watch can control its camera, record a memo and access Google Maps.  

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/the-pixel-watch-3-comes-in-a-bigger-size-and-tells-you-when-you-should-rest-170058534.html?src=rss

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: A battle of Android’s biggest phones

• 
• August 13, 2024

Google just unveiled the Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone during its Made by Google event and, boy oh boy, is it a doozy. This is a larger version of the Pixel 9 Pro. It ships with the brand-new Tensor G4 processor and 16GB of RAM. As with most modern handsets, it’s designed for AI tasks and ships with a one-year subscription to Google’s One AI Premium Plan. This allows for unfettered access to Google Gemini.

The camera system has been improved, and Pixel phones were already pretty dang good at snapping photos and shooting video. There’s a triple rear camera, and an upgraded 42 MP front camera. Footage can be algorithmically enhanced to 8K and the company is finally bringing Super Res Zoom to videos.

It’s important to note that the XL is really just a larger version of the Pixel 9 Pro. Beyond slightly faster charging and a bigger display, there aren’t really any features to set it apart from its smaller cousin. That display, however, is pretty nice. It’s a 6.8-inch Super Actua OLED screen that really pops, with Google promising it shows “true-to-life colors, even in direct sunlight.” This is because the brightness level has ticked up a bit to 3,000 nits. The Pixel 9 Pro XL starts at $1,100, and will be available in four colors. These include obsidian, rose quartz and hazel.

Google / Samsung / Will Shanklin for Engadget

Despite not being released yet, the Pixel 9 Pro XL already faces some stiff competition. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra released back in January and has proven itself to be a bona-fide hit. We gave it high marks in our official review, praising the useful AI tools, sturdy titanium frame, excellent battery life and bright display. But how does it stack up against the just-revealed Pixel 9 Pro XL? Let’s compare specs.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/google-pixel-9-pro-xl-vs-samsung-galaxy-s24-ultra-a-battle-of-androids-biggest-phones-170055756.html?src=rss