I was going to spend this post dunking on the Microsoft Surface Duo (again), a flawed product that will soon be replaced by the Surface Duo 2, but I’m tired of dunking on it. You all know how bad it is. So let’s instead make this quick and talk about the software update it should have seen a year ago that may now arrive before the calendar flips to 2022.

Microsoft has told The Verge that they are “working to bring Android 11 to existing customers before the end of this year.” Yes, that says “Android 11” even as Google is counting down the final hours until they release stable Android 12. Microsoft’s original Surface Duo is still running Android 10, an operating system that is two years old.

Who knows what has taken Microsoft this long. All I know is that you shouldn’t care anymore about the software on the Surface Duo, unless you are considering a Surface Duo 2. And if you are considering the new, mostly great looking Duo 2, prepare mentally beforehand for the chance that while it runs Android 11 out of the box, Android 12 will have already been released weeks prior to Google’s Pixel phones and may not hit your $1,500 Duo 2 for a year or more.

OK, that’s all. The Microsoft Surface Duo was and is still bad.

Read the original post: Surface Duo Should Get Android 11 This Year

Heads up for anyone looking to get the best Wear OS experience currently on the market. For a limited time, you can snag a Galaxy Watch 4 or Galaxy Watch 4 Classic + wireless charger bundle at $80 off the usual price. The bundle includes the watch itself, as well as a wireless charger that charges both the watch and a smartphone.

• Reviews: Galaxy Watch 4 | Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

At $80 off, regardless of the model or size you choose, the price starts at just $229 for a 40mm Watch 4. If you were merely buying a Galaxy Watch 4 all by itself, the price is $249. That means this deal is stellar and you’d be silly to buy any other Android-powered watch currently on the market. If you want the big dog, the Watch 4 Classic at 46mm, the price is down to $359. Still, completely reasonable.

If you’ve been on the fence, get off of the fence and take advantage of this.

Amazon Links: Galaxy Watch 4 Bundle | Galaxy Watch 4 Classic Bundle

Read the original post: This is a Really Good Galaxy Watch 4 + Wireless Charger Bundle Deal ($229+!)

Google announced a ton of Android Auto-related news this morning, including improvements for Google Assistant’s driving mode, Android Auto itself, as well as shared that Honda is entering the 21st century with the inclusion of Android Automotive in upcoming vehicles.

For Google Assistant’s driving mode, users will discover an entirely updated dashboard UI, offering easy to view cards for navigation, music, messages, and more. To enter said dashboard, you’ll simply say, “Ok Google, let’s drive.” Check out the new dashboard GIF below. It looks pretty slick.

Google details that Driving Mode will be the “primary experience” for Android phones going forward and will fully roll out in the next few weeks for Android phones in English (US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, India, Singapore and U.K.), German, Spanish (Spain, Mexico), French and Italian.

Android Auto Improvements

For Android Auto in general, Google says that users will now see music, news, and podcast recommendations from Google Assistant, as well as be able to set which app launches whenever Android Auto starts. Furthermore, users can now access games from GameSnacks right from a the car’s display while they’re parked. That’ll make killing time in the car a bit easier, I suppose.

Additionally, dual-SIM Android phone users will now be able to choose which SIM card to use when making calls through Android Auto, and on top of that, Android Auto will support a “Work profile,” which lets you see upcoming work meetings and messages on your car’s display.

Google also notes a pretty sweet feature for gas stations.

When it’s time to fill up at the gas station, you can now put away your credit card or cash and say, “Hey Google, pay for gas” on Android Auto or from your Android phone. Select your pump number and  complete contactless payment with Google Pay. This will be available at over 32,500 gas stations across the U.S. starting with Exxon and Mobil, Conoco, Phillips 66 and 76 stations.

Waze Improvements, Too

Waze, the only good option for navigation on Android besides Google Maps, will also see big improvements on the Android Auto platform. According to the press release, Waze on Android Auto is getting a refresh to, “create a more streamlined navigation experience.”

The new design includes touchpad support, a night mode, lane guidance support, and puts the map and directions at the forefront of the UI so other elements aren’t in the way.

Honda Gets Android Automotive

Announced this morning, Honda is joining the Android Automotive family. You’ll find Android Automotive on select 2022 Honda vehicles and beyond.

// Google

Read the original post: Google Announces a Ton of Android Auto Changes, Honda Joins Android Automotive Family

Just because you own an Android phone that may not be on the same version of Android as your friend, the Pixel owner, doesn’t mean you both can’t enjoy new platform features together. Today, Google announced 13 new goodies that’ll come to Android starting as early as today that most of you can take advantage of.

It’s a long list, so let’s dive in to what’s new to Android.

Google TV remote!

Back at Google I/O in May, Google announced that a new remote would come to all Android phones as a part of the new Google TV app. The remote would allow you to power on your TV, navigate through your favorite shows, and use your phone’s keyboard to type in TV apps, you know, to login more efficiently. Look for a new Quick Settings tile that will allow you to use the new remote (probably after an app update).

Additionally, Google says they are bringing the Google TV app to 14 more countries.

Google Assistant new Reminders hub

Google is pushing out a new Reminders hub as a place for you to manage all of your reminders in a single place. A simple, “Hey Google, open my reminders” command in Google Assistant will open the new hub, where you’ll find not only your recurring reminders, but suggestions for others you may not have already thought of.

Some of the suggestions I’m seeing are reminders to call my family every Friday evening, do the dishes (lol), and workout, in case you were wondering.

Gboard power copying

Google is adding several new features to Gboard that big copy-pasters are going to love. For one, if you copy text that includes multiple bits of info, like phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs, Gboard can automatically extract and separate them into multiple pasting options (!). That should make it incredibly easy to copy big blocks of text and then only paste the stuff you want.

Gboard is also getting 1,500 new Emoji Kitchen stickers (later this fall) and suggestions to send a screenshot you may have just taken when in a messaging app. Finally, another Pixel-Exclusive feature, Smart Compose, is now available for Android 11+ phones. Smart Compose lets you complete sentences with just a swipe on suggested text. It’s ridiculously handy.

Google Photos locked folder

Previously a Pixel-exclusive feature, everyone with an Android 6+ phone can now store photos in the Locked Folder in Google Photos. This is a password-protected area to hide photos and videos away that won’t show up in your regular photo feed.

Nearby Share visibility

Google’s Nearby Share feature that lets you quickly send files between nearby devices, is getting improved visibility settings, where you can choose to be visible to everyone, your contacts, or no one.

Heads-up to more phones

In April of this year, Google’s Pixel phones got a new Digital Wellbeing feature called “Heads Up” that tried to prevent you from walking into traffic while using your phone. It would gently remind you, as you walked down the street while using your phone, that using your phone while walking down the street could be dangerous.

Going forward, this Heads Up feature will be available to everyone running Android 9+ devices.

So much Android Auto!

Android Auto is getting several new features, and we’ve got a separate post about it here. But for those who want the quick version, here’s what you are getting:

• Waze on Android Auto is getting a big refresh with navigation “even more to the forefront”
• Google Assistant driving mode has a new dashboard to love (told you about this here)
• Personalized recommendations of music, news, and podcast from Google Assistant
• When parked, you can play freakin’ games now, through GameSnacks
• Your Google work profiles are now supported (!)
• Dual-SIM phone users, you’ll soon be able to tell Android Auto which SIM to make calls from
• Google Pay and Android Auto will soon let you pay for gas at 32,500 gas stations in the US just by using your voice

The coolest Accessibility features

Remember a few weeks ago when we told you about Android 12’s new feature that would let you control your phone using facial gestures? Those “Camera Switches” are now official and really do let you navigate and control your phone by looking right/left/up, smiling, raising eyebrows, and opening your mouth.

Google is also launching Project Activate, a new app that uses facial gestures to “quickly activate customized actions.” That could mean a gesture that tells your phone to speak a preset phrase, send a text, or make a phone call. To download Project Activate and get started, download it from Google Play.

And finally, Lookout, the app from 2019 that helps identify objects for blind or visually impaired users, can now read handwritten and printed text for Latin-based language. Google is also adding Euro and Indian Rupee recognition within Currency mode.

To dive deeper into these new Accessibility features, checkout Google’s blog post.

Google didn’t put many dates or release info for any of this new stuff, soooooo be the lookout for it all. I’m sorry, I wish I had more specific timeline for you.

// Google

Read the original post: 13 New Features are Coming to Your Android Phone

One of the coolest new Android features to arrive in recent years is without a doubt the wallpaper theming that was first teased at Google I/O and then arrived in Android 12 Beta 2. It brings a level of personalization to your phone that is forever changing, since it changes system highlights and select apps using colors in the wallpaper you have chosen.

Our understanding of this wallpaper theming (Material You Dynamic Color) is that Google’s Pixel phones had an exclusive on it at first, with the possibility of others having access down the road. According to information discovered by developer kdrag0n and XDA, Google could is apparently opening it up for others with the release of Android 12-sv2 or what may end up being Android 12.1.

We haven’t talked about this yet, but Android 12 sv2 (or Android 12.1) is thought to be the next version of Android before we get to Android 13. It may launch with the Pixel 6, a few months after that, or a year from now for all we know, but this would be the first time in years that they’ve pushed out a point update to an Android version. It’s worth talking about, especially now that we believe it’ll bring with it noteworthy features.

Google has supposedly added “monet,” which is the codename for Android 12’s wallpaper theming, to AOSP for Android 12.1, giving other OEMs the chance to use it on their own phones. That means it’ll be open-sourced for others to use if they want to dive into the evolution of Android theming. That could mean Samsung adding wallpaper-based system colors to a future version of One UI or OnePlus’ new unified Android skin getting Android 12’s most fun feature.

The timing of all of this is still very much up in the air. Not only is Android 12 not stable yet, Google hasn’t publicly acknowledged that there is an Android 12.1 or what to expect from it. At this point, they would need to release that and then give OEMs time to build “monet” into their own skins using it.

Still, this is pretty exciting news for non-Pixel phone fans.

Read the original post: Android 12’s Wallpaper Theming Could Come to Non-Pixel Phones in Next Release

T-Mobile’s Home Internet service expanded into 51 additional markets this week, bringing the total up to something silly like 600+. If you want your home web browsing and streaming powered by T-Mobile’s 5G network, then this service is for you.

As an ISP, Home Internet from T-Mo makes plenty of sense. There’s a flat $50/month fee (which includes $10 off with AutoPay) for access, no cost for the equipment, and there’s no install service required as it’s purely a 5G modem that plugs into your home’s power outlet and then distributes WiFi into your home. For speeds, T-Mobile details averages of anywhere in excess of 100Mbps for downloads and 25Mbps for uploads.

Below you can view all of the new markets, all of which are in either Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

Florida

• Arcadia
• Cape Coral-Fort Myers
• Clewiston
• Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach
• Gainesville
• Jacksonville
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
• North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton
• Ocala
• Okeechobee
• Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
• Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
• Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent
• Punta Gorda
• Sebastian-Vero Beach
• Sebring-Avon Park
• Tallahassee
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
• The Villages

Georgia

• Albany
• Athens-Clarke County
• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta
• Columbus
• Cordele
• Cornelia
• Dalton
• Dublin
• Gainesville
• Jefferson
• Moultrie
• St. Marys
• Summerville
• Warner Robins

North Carolina

• Albemarle
• Asheville
• Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
• Durham-Chapel Hill
• Fayetteville
• Greensboro-High Point
• Kill Devil Hills
• Mount Airy
• North Wilkesboro
• Raleigh-Cary
• Sanford

South Carolina

• Columbia
• Greenville-Anderson
• Hilton Head Island-Bluffton
• Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach
• Newberry
• Spartanburg
• Sumter

// T-Mobile

Read the original post: T-Mobile’s 5G-Powered Home Internet Expands to 51 More Markets

Microsoft announced their new Surface Duo 2 today, and dammit, it looks pretty good. I think they fixed just about everything I had complaints about, plus they improved the device in a number of areas and tossed in some clever new tricks. That said, if they don’t commit to real updates, then it’s all for nothing.

The new Microsoft Surface Duo 2 comes in Glacier (white) or Obsidian (Black) colors now and costs $1,499.99. It’s still a very expensive, two-screened device, but like I just said, Microsoft truly did try to address almost all of the problems from the original, bad Surface Duo.

Surface Duo 2 specs

For specs, you are looking at two 5.8″ AMOLED displays (1344×1892) that stretch to 8.3″ (2688×1892) when combined. Those displays now offer a 90Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass Victus protection. You also get a much larger 4449mAh battery with 23W fast charging, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 128/256/512GB storage options, fingerprint reader (in power button again), 8GB RAM, stereo speakers, a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a Snapdragon 888 powering it all with 5G.

For cameras, we now have a 12MP selfie shooter, along with a real rear camera setup that’s made up of wide (12MP, f/1.7, OIS), telephoto (12MP, f/2.4, OIS), and ultra-wide (16MP, f/2.2) lenses. You can shoot at 4K/60, use auto-HDR, find a dedicated night photography mode, and tweak lots of controls in places like Portrait mode. We don’t know how good any of this will be, but the specs alone should lead to an improvement over last year’s camera, which we dubbed the worst we’ve ever used.

Oh yeah, they added f*cking NFC this time. So that’s cool.

See, they really did add in all the stuff we wanted last year, although we would have loved to see more RAM on a device meant for productivity and multi-tasking between two displays.

The cool new Surface Duo 2 stuff!

Alright, obviously we don’t get excited for stuff simply based on specs, and Microsoft needed to do a lot more than just improve specs to make the Surface Duo 2 interesting. I think they’ve mostly done that.

The easiest things to point out are the real camera setup, the NFC, 5G, better displays, stereo speakers, etc. However, the addition of the Surface Pen being able to attach to the device, subtle curves to the inside edges of the two displays to make them look closer together, and this magic new exposed hinge system, are quite cool.

One of those most annoying things about the original Surface Duo was the fact that you had no idea what was going on with your phone at any time because there was no cover display. You had to actively open it to see notifications, missed calls, that sort of thing. With Surface Duo 2, Microsoft used the curved inner edge of the displays to be able to show a sliver of display when the phone is closed up. This presents a display bar that can not only show you the time, it’ll show you notifications, charging meter, light up with calls, and show you current volume. While not a cover display, it’s similar to what you get with Samsung’s Z Flip 3, and we’ll take it.

Overall, Microsoft appears to have heard the complaints and not only fixed those, they added some useful new features as well that we weren’t necessarily expecting.

Software…

Hardware coolness aside, Microsoft really didn’t talk much about software on the Surface Duo 2 and that should worry you. The original Surface Duo certainly received regular monthly security patches and Microsoft tried its best to fix software bugs and tweak the experience here and there, but the fact that the $1,400 device still sits on Android 10 today is pathetic. Android 12 is about to launch and the original Duo hasn’t even hit Android 11.

With the Surface Duo 2, Microsoft is at least starting out at Android 11, but we have no idea what the story is for Android 12. My guess is that they’ll confirm the device will receive it, we just don’t know when. You shouldn’t go into this device expecting it any time soon either. If anything, be pleasantly surprised if it shows up before this phone reaches the year-old mark, since that’s the schedule we have going at the moment.

On a related note, we also still haven’t seen any word from Microsoft if other app makers will build apps out to take advantage of two screens. The Surface Duo 2 sales page shows off two apps working at the same time and mentions all of their own apps, but nothing about say, Google apps like Gmail. That may be fine for those fully invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem, but not so much for those of us who aren’t.

When can you buy Surface Duo 2?

The new Surface Duo 2 is up for pre-order now at Microsoft’s store for $1,499.99. It should arrive by October 20.

• Pre-order Microsoft Surface Duo 2

Read the original post: Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2 Looks Great, Hopefully It Gets Software Updates

Starting tomorrow and through the weekend, YouTube TV subscribers are getting complimentary access to three of the best things around. That’s right, we’re talking free HBO Max, NFL RedZone, and Cinemax.

YouTube TV is introducing this preview weekend, assumingly in hopes that you might love the services enough to add them permanently to your channel lineup. And why wouldn’t they? These services, especially HBO Max, account for a large portion of the best content currently available anywhere. For example, HBO Max has Mare of Easttown, Chernobyl, Barry, The Night Of, plus much more. For Cinemax, plenty of sweet movies are on there, so a free weekend isn’t something anyone should complain about it.

I feel dumb for trying to convince anyone to like these things. HBO Max and RedZone kick ass. If you think differently, I’m throwing these hands.

Go enjoy yourselves, YouTube TV subscribers. After going through price hike after price hike, dammit, we’ve earned this free weekend of joy.

// @YouTubeTV

Read the original post: YouTube TV Offers Free Access to NFL RedZone, HBO Max, and Cinemax This Weekend

Google is pushing hard to  get the majority of its apps ready for Android 12’s upcoming release, and that means most are seeing Material You updates with UI changes to reflect the new design language. If you own a Google Pixel phone, this means a lot of fun colors are popping up in places you might find surprising.

Today, we have updates hitting both Google Messages and Google Podcasts. The Google Podcasts update is a full Material You makeover, while Google Messages is only part-way there.

Above, I’ve showcased Podcasts, with it presenting a lot of green colors in the navigation area, as well as throughout button and icon items in different pages. The app will look familiar, it’s just more colorful on Pixel phones. To get this update, I believe you’ll need the latest Google app and a server-side switch from Google. The Podcasts app, as far as I know, is just a shell that is powered by the Google app.

As for Google Messages, in the latest beta (v9.7.032), we’re seeing some changes roll through. Below, our screenshots show the “Start chat” button has most definitely changed to Material You, as have some of the main screen colors. Within individual messages, well, those still look like the old blue UI. We’re getting there!

Go grab updates and let us know if your Google Photos and Google Maps apps see changes over the next couple of days. They seem to be picking up updates as well.

Google Play Links: Messages | Podcasts

Read the original post: Material You UI Elements Hit Google Messages, Podcasts

In any normal year, we would have seen a full review of Google’s upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro by now. Google is the worst at keeping any of their products a secret, so the fact that we haven’t, suggests maybe they are tightening up the shop a bit with the launch of their most important phones to date.

They haven’t been perfect, though. There have been various reports on this spec or that, the typical stuff we see prior to a launch. However, today, we got what may be the first hands-on video of a prototype Pixel 6 Pro.

The video is only 8 seconds long, but it shows off a device that looks identical to the Pixel 6 Pro in black that Google has already previewed to us. You can see the various shades of grey and black, the triple rear camera bar, button placements, and the “Welcome to your Pixel” message on the front screen.

I think this may be the first hands on video leak of a Google Pixel 6 Pro.

FYI: The logo would indicate that this is likely an early production test unit, so that means there may be some differences between what you see here and the actual production device. #teampixel pic.twitter.com/4QSvdktqA7

— M. Brandon Lee | THIS IS TECH TODAY (@thisistechtoday) September 21, 2021

You may be wondering what that logo is in the middle of its backside, and I get that. We assume that’s a random Google marking to acknowledge that it is a prototype. We’ve seen them use weird logos like this in the past on unreleased devices they are still working on.

As for the device itself, the clip is so short to give us much info. You can see the very curved nature of the device from front to back, including the curved display. Should this glossy finish end up in a retail unit, that could also mean a shiny, fingerprint-heavy phone at all times too. I will say that the phone doesn’t look as big as I expected it to, or maybe this cameraman has large hands.

Thoughts?

Read the original post: Pixel 6 Pro Finds Way Into Someone’s Hand

I’ll be upgrading to the Pixel 6 Pro from a Pixel 5. There’s no question that that’s the plan. However, I can already tell you that there’s one thing I’m not excited about or looking forward to. Is it a dealbreaker issue? For me, no it’s not, but it will be a little annoying for the first few weeks until I’m used to it. I’m speaking, of course, about the in-display fingerprint reader.

I’ve had the privilege of using many, many phones with all sorts of fingerprint readers. I’ve used in-display optical and ultrasonic readers, rear-facing, and even side-key scanners that double as power buttons. For me, rear-facing scanners are by far the best, not just in performance, but in terms of how a person interacts with them.

On the Pixel 5, there’s a rear-facing scanner, a very quick one at that. When I pick up my Pixel 5, my index finger is already on the back of the device. To unlock the phone, it’s a quick slide of my finger onto the scanner, and boom, I’m in.

With in-display readers, both ultrasonic and optical, there’s more a hand shimmy I need to do in order to get my thumb in the correct position. Then, I have to hope the reader wants to behave properly and let me into the phone. I can’t count how many times a Samsung or OnePlus device hasn’t unlocked because the in-display fingerprint reader wants to act janky. When they work, they work fine, but it’s never been 100% flawless for me. With rear-facing readers, I hardly ever have that issue, especially on Google Pixel devices.

If it sounds like I’m being overly critical of a silly feature, that’s good, as I suppose it’s my job to be a little anal about these things. I’d then argue that the way you unlock your phone is actually very important, as you do it likely hundreds of a times in a single day. I want all users to have the best smartphone experience, regardless of which phone they own, and when it comes down to it, I believe that the rear-facing scanner is the best you can do in terms of performance and placement.

Am I bummed that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will feature in-display readers? Absolutely. Will this be the last time I complain about it? Doubtful. Am I going to let it get in the way of appreciating the devices and/or declaring them POTY before they’ve even been released? Hell no. Come on, Google, hurry up and release these phones.

Read the original post: For Me, There’s Only One Downside to the New Pixel 6 Lineup

Reese’s Book Club, a book club hosted by the one and only Reese Witherspoon, is now available on Google Assistant-powered devices.

To get started, you’ll say, “Hey Google, read with Reese’s Book Club” on your smart display, smart speaker, or mobile device. From here, you’ll take a fun little quiz to get personalized book recommendations and can then get “exclusive commentary” about each book pick from Reese herself.

As detailed, you can link an existing account or sign up for an account with your Google credentials. Even if you aren’t a member, you’ll still be able to access content. If Reese recommends a book you’d like to read, Google will take you to Play Books to make a purchase.

Have fun reading with Reese.

// Google

Read the original post: Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club is Now on Your Assistant-Powered Device

The search function on Gmail has never been overly great. All you can really do is search for keywords, which most of the time, works just fine. However, Google is changing that, bringing search filters to Gmail for Android.

With these new filters, which are rolling out over the next few weeks, you can search for mail with a specific date in mind, attachments, recipients, and more. According to Google, the first people to see it will be Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers.

If you happen to be one of the folks scheduled to receive this update and do in fact get it, let us know. It looks very handy.

// Google

Read the original post: Gmail on Android Gets Search Filters

We might set a record today, for posts about Google’s upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones. Whether we do or not, here’s another to add to the growing list that we couldn’t help but share.

Google hired photographer David Urbanke to shoot the marketing images for the Pixel 6 line, which are currently on display in billboards in a city near you. Urbanke first showed off some of his work last week, but has since posted several other images, including really clean press shots you’ll likely see on the web and in other digital promo materials.

Because these shots are so good of both the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro in a couple of colors, we wanted to show them to you.

Up top, we have the regular Pixel 6 in its greenish tone combination, followed below by the same phone in an orange colorway. After that, you’ll see a familiar Pixel 6 Pro shot in silver that is featured on the Google Store, along with one in gold.

I know that Google has fully announced either phone, with specs and pricing, but this has been a wild ride of a reveal. We know each phone’s front and back, color options, how the displays differ (flat vs. curved), and which we’re likely to buy.

Read the original post: The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro Lookin’ Better Than Ever

Telegram received an update today to v8.0.1 and the new build brought at least four new features with it, because that’s the story with Telegram – regular updates that always improve the experience.

In this new update, which you should have already received, Telegram is getting individual chat themes, interactive emoji, read receipts for your group chats, and an option to record live streams and video chats.

Once you have the update, you’ll be able to change themes per conversation by tapping the 3-dot menu, then “Change Colors.” You should find 8 new themes with colorful gradients, as well as dark and light modes. Telegram says to expect a whole bunch more of these individual themes in the future.

For interactive emoji, you’ll find a handful of emoji that animate should you tap on them. Currently, using 🎆 🎉 🎈 👍 💩 or ❤️ will bring on animations, and the people in your conversations will see them animate as you tap on them, assuming they are on the latest version of Telegram. Like individual themes, more emoji will be added shortly.

In the read receipts department, Telegram will now show you specifically which members of a group chat have read your messages. Once a message is sent and you see the ✓✓, you can tap on that message and then a “Seen” dialog where each person that’s read it is listed.

Finally, for those into live streams and chats, admins will be able to record streams and then publish them. To record, tap the 3-dot menu in the stream or chat, then “Start recording.

Google Play Link: Telegram

Read the original post: Telegram Adds Better Read Receipts, Individual Themes, More

Thanks to an ad that was served to a Facebook user, it’s looking like a mid-October release for the upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Surprising? Not at all, as that timeframe aligns with pretty much all non-Pixel A series device launches since the beginning.

The ad that was served is about registering your interest for the device ahead of its launch, but a user would have to do so before October 19. Meaning, in order to learn about the device before launch, assumed to be October 19, you’d have to be signed up before that date. Make sense?

The Facebook ad leads to this Telstra page, an Australia-based carrier.

October 19 is only a few weeks away. Think you can make it that long?

// reddit

Read the original post: Pixel 6 Launch Date May be October 19

We’ve heard rumblings, but thanks to a source of XDA who is reported to have a Pixel 6 Pro in-hand, as well as international regulatory information, at least one of Google’s upcoming devices will indeed feature faster wired charging.

The Pixel 6 Pro is now essentially confirmed to offer 33W wired charging, which is a major increase over the Pixel 5’s 18W charging. This information comes directly from a Taiwanese regulatory label that’s now being circulated on the web. As for the smaller Pixel 6, it’s unknown if it’ll get the same 33W treatment, but what is known is Google will be delivering what should be a new Pixel Stand that each device can take advantage of. It’s reported to be rated at speeds of 23W.

Yeah, the Pixel 6 lineup charging game is going to be sweet.

Pixel 6 buyers, the only thing to know here is that you won’t be getting a charging brick in the box. Dealbreaker? Get over yourselves, it shouldn’t be. Or, maybe it is a big deal? We’ll be here for the rest of 2021 debating whether phones should come with chargers or not. By next year, we’ll be onto something new to argue about.

// XDA

Read the original post: Yup, 33W Wired Charging for the Pixel 6 Pro

Google’s new phones stopped through the FCC this week in preparation for launch, a move that we keep close watch on as new devices find their way into our orbit. The filings reveal select details for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but mostly are just a sign that we’re almost there.

The two devices at the FCC arrive under model numbers G9S9B (link) and GB7N6 (link) and feature all of the connectivity you would expect from a top tier phone, like the Pixel 6 line is supposed to be. Remember, Google said these would be expensive.

As you’ll notice from the screenshot below, we have LTE and 5G support all of the big bands that US carriers use, including 5G mmW. Additionally, this listing confirms NFC, wireless power transfer (wireless charging), and WiFi 6E.

Still digging in…

Read the original post: Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro Just Hit the FCC!

We have had solid intel concerning the development of an in-house foldable Android device from Google for over a year now, and still, we’re waiting to see just what Google has been working on. The device is believed to exist with the codename Passport, though, we have yet to see the device or learn any real specifics. Regardless, we have seen further confirmation from industry folk that Passport is indeed still inbound for a release before the year’s end.

According to a source of @evleaks, who tends to deliver accurate information, Google has been working on Passport for two years. Additionally, it appears unclear what retail branding Passport will carry, which I suppose could mean it may not be a Pixel-branded device? Whether it’s a “Pixel” or not, it’s a foldable Android device from Google.

If you have been one of the people clamoring for this foldable Pixel, this must be reassuring news, as I’ve been seriously debating if we’d ever get to see this thing. Speaking of, where’s the Pixel Watch?

A Second Foldable?

This post is a two-parter. According to a source of 9to5Google, there’s a second foldable, hinted at within Android 12.1 code. This foldable is reported to feature the delicious codename of Jumbojack.

Jumbojack is detailed to be similar to a Galaxy Z Fold from Samsung in terms of design, with a main display and some sort of exterior display. Naturally, we have no photos or documentation to share, but this is what’s being reported. It’s speculated that Jumbojack is being used solely to test upcoming Android 12 features for other publicly available foldables, but 9to5 reports that Google directly refers to it as a Pixel device.

Reports such as this leave me with more questions than answers, but honestly, I must say Google appears to be very busy in the hardware department. As a Google fanboy, this pleases me. I can’t think of a better time for Google to get serious about making good phones, with options becoming more limited for consumers.

Passport and Jumbojack. What a time to be alive.

// 9to5Google

Read the original post: Report: There’s a Second Foldable Pixel Device, ‘Passport’ Still Inbound

To kickstart this early fall morning, OnePlus has dropped a handful of big announcements on us related to the company’s future, its focus, new devices, and what we should expect going forward from its operating system. Since announcing two separate times that OnePlus has basically merged with OPPO, a lot of this is sort of what we expected to see happen, but it’s still going to take a while to digest it all.

Over on the OnePlus forums, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has called the next evolution of his company, “OnePlus 2.0.” This next version of OnePlus will mean locally focused releases of mid-range phones with global reach for flagships, a continued commitment to camera improvements, and a new unified operating system that he hasn’t yet named, but will arrive next year for the first time.

Future OnePlus Devices

In the device department, there isn’t a lot to talk about, just know that OnePlus still plans to release mid-range Nord phones as well as high-end devices. Going forward, you’ll see more of that situation where new phones are announced and not released in this country. The flagships should still mostly be a global release type of thing, but the success of Nord in select markets has been noted and OnePlus will take advantage.

Camera commitments remain

As for the camera stuff, a lot of this morning’s talk wasn’t new, but more of a reminder of the promised commitment to making cameras that can keep up with the rest of the industry with the help of Hasselblad. OnePlus is making 3 commitments that are:

• Creating a great and burdenless user experience at the very fundamental level.
• Continuing to focus on improving color performance together with Hasselblad, the industry-leader in color, as well as with customized sensor and lenses.
• Investing in the research and development of a range of new and improved technologies that will take the camera experience to new heights for our users.

See?

The big OxygenOS news!

Alright, this is what you came here for, so here’s what you need to know. OnePlus and OPPO are fully combining their Android skins to create a new unified OS for both phones. This new OS will first launch with OnePlus’ 2022 flagship, likely called the OnePlus 10. After that, the plan is to roll it out to all still-supported OnePlus later next year.

OnePlus didn’t name this new operating system and they were somewhat soft on fully committing to calling it a new OS, but it sure sounds like going forward, OxygenOS is dead. Lau said specifically that this new OS would pull from parts of OxygenOS and OPPO’s ColorOS to deliver the best of both. If this isn’t a totally new OS with a new name, then we need clarity immediately.

For example:

…I believe that the unified operating system will keep the DNA of OxygenOS that many of you love so much, while also giving you an upgraded experience overall. And of course, OnePlus has a unique group of users, therefore we will customize the unified OS specifically for OnePlus devices to make sure it meets your expectations, for example by keeping it as clean and lightweight as before, and continuing to support unlock bootloaders.

To me there’s only one way to read that – OxygenOS is no longer a thing and this new and unnamed OS is coming to replace it. It’ll be a combination of OxygenOS and ColorOS, with parts from both, hopefully put together in a way that you’ll love. They’ll also try to customize some of it depending on the device to try to keep it unique to OnePlus phones.

Basically this is the plan:

By combining our software resources to focus on one unified and upgraded operating system for both OnePlus and OPPO devices globally, we will combine the strengths from both into one even more powerful OS: the fast and smooth, burdenless experience of OxygenOS, and the stability and rich features of ColorOS.

As far as rollout goes, that image above shows you the timeline. The OnePlus 10 will first launch with the “newly integrated OS” in (early) 2022. After that, with 2022’s “Major Android Update” – which will be Android 13 – the rest of OnePlus’ phones that still have remaining support left, will be updated to it as well.

I’d like to react to this news, but look, there’s no point until we see what it looks like, the feature set, the update schedule, etc. I’m worried like you are that OnePlus is going to screw this up. However, they sort of already did that when they ditched their lean and clean skin for the One UI copy a year ago.

No OnePlus 9T

Oh, Pete Lau also told The Verge that there is no OnePlus 9T this year. The next big flagship phone from OnePlus will come out next year, so if you wanted a OnePlus phone this year, the OnePlus 9 or OnePlus 9 Pro are the choices.

Read the original post: OnePlus Plans New Unified OS for OnePlus Phones, Next Flagship in 2022