AC Weekly News
Weekly News is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the top stories of the week so you can catch up on the latest tech news.
This is Android Central’s News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise summary of the week’s biggest tech stories. This is where we dig into the top headlines providing the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.
This week, Google launched its latest Pixel devices, AT&T apparently doesn’t have one of the new Pixels, Google is in jeopardy as the US mulls a possible breakup, app duplication just got better on Samsung/Windows devices, and we just got a leak of the Galaxy S24 FE.
The Pixel 9 and its friends
Read more here: Pixel 9 Series, Pixel 3 watch, Pixel Buds Pro 2
This was a big week for Google. The company introduced its new Pixel 9 series during its Event created by Googlewhich includes a total of four phones, a new smart watch with different sizes and a pair of headphones.
He Pixel 9 Series includes the standard Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, which are the same size and can even fit in the same cases. Then there’s the Pixel 9 Pro XLwhich is only for those who want a larger device. Lastly, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is the successor to the original Pixel foldwith a larger 8-inch foldable display and a new, slimmer design.
All devices are powered by the new Tensor G4 chipset, which is a modest upgrade over the Tensor G3. There are plenty of new AI features to take advantage of, including Gemini livethat allows you to have natural conversations with the AI chatbot. There are also some cool camera features, such as Add mewhich allows users to take a photo of someone and then add themselves to the image using an AR overlay.
Magic Editor It’s also getting some updates, with new capabilities like Reimagine and Auto Frame, which allow users to change aspects of the photo using text-to-image generation and reframe an image to make it more appealing.
The new phones are Now available for pre-orderstarting at $799 for the base Pixel 9.
Meanwhile, Google also launched the Pixel 3 watchwhich now comes in two sizes and brings new running features, and the Galaxy Buds Pro 2 with Tensor technology, which are also Available for pre-order.
AT&T said ‘no’ to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Read more here.
I bet you were just about to reach for the pre-order button, weren’t you? Well, before you do, those of you who want the Pixel 9 Pro Fold are out of luck if you were looking to purchase the device through AT&T. While the carrier has highlighted the Pixel 9 series’ imminent availability, the company curiously left out the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
So what’s going on? We’re not sure, but Android Central reached out to us for comment. Maybe the original Pixel Fold didn’t sell well enough for AT&T to justify selling the sequel? These aren’t cheap phones, after all. Still, AT&T does sell the Pixel Fold. Galaxy Z Fold 6so your guess is as good as ours until we get an official statement from AT&T on the matter. Otherwise, you may want to Pre-order the Pixel 9 Pro Fold unlocked from other retail channels.
Breaking up Google?
Read more here.
Things are not looking good for Google. The company has just received a major blow after a judge ruled that it is not legal. maintain an illegal monopoly on searches. However, as a result of the ruling, it appears that the United States is considering breaking up the company.
The units that Google is considering selling are Android and Chrome, two major Google products. According to Statista, Android is used on about 70% of devices worldwide, while Chrome holds more than 50% of the market share. Browser market in the United States.
It may not go that far, though. The Justice Department is also considering far less drastic measures, such as forcing Google to share its search data with others, which could certainly level the playing field. The government may also ban exclusive contracts like those Google made with companies like Apple to secure its position as the default search engine, which could have interesting consequences for the company.
These proposals would need to be approved by Judge Amit Mehta, and it appears that no decision has been made, so we will keep an eye on the situation as it develops.
Samsung just improved app mirroring for your PC
Read more here.
One of the advantages of the Link to Windows app is that it allows users to stream their apps or mirror their screens on their PCs. However, there is one limitation that can cloud the experience: you need to give permission to start the streaming process every time you want to open an app.
With A 6.1.1 user interfaceBut that no longer seems to be the case. As noted by Android AuthorityMicrosoft has made some changes to how the Link to Windows app works and how it prompts for permissions, allowing users to choose to “Always allow” mirroring.
The move definitely speeds up the process of streaming apps to your computer. Of course, you can always use Samsung DeX to achieve more or less the same thing in a desktop-style user interface.
The problem is that One UI 6.1.1 is only available on the new Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6with no word on when it will be coming to other Samsung devices. Hopefully, it will be soon, as users are hoping to receive Android 15 sooner rather than later after it rolls out to Pixel phones.
The Galaxy S24 FE could be imminent
Read more here.
Samsung’s Fan Edition devices have become a staple of Samsung’s fall launch calendar in recent years, and Galaxy S24 The series is expected to get a release. There have been a few leaks of the Galaxy S24 FE, but the latest ones suggest we could be getting the phone fairly soon.
The phone appears in what appear to be press images, which reveal the specs and likely colors the phone will launch in. It looks like the phone will have a 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1900 nits of brightness. Around the back, we see a triple camera system with a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP 3x telephoto. The display will be protected by Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, and the phone will feature an aluminum frame.
The Android Headlines report also mentions an Exynos 2400e powering the phone, likely a slightly downgraded version of the current flagship chipset. Galaxy S24 SeriesAs for when we will get the phone, no one knows. However, it can’t be too far away.
Here are some of the top stories from this week. In the meantime, here are some other stories worth knowing: