AC Information Weekly
Information Weekly is our column the place we spotlight and summarize a number of the week’s high tales so you possibly can atone for the most recent tech information.
That is Android Central’s Information Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most vital tech tales. That is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the most recent developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama.
This week, Samsung Unpacked a number of of its units in Paris, beginning off with the Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Filp 6, the Buds 3 and three Professional, and the Galaxy Watch 7 sequence. Whereas this launch might have taken the highlight when it comes to information, listed below are another issues that went down within the tech world.
Beginning off, the XR headset that will probably be launched this 12 months, the brand new Galaxy watch sequence may very well be lacking a characteristic, Google suspends assist for Lollipop, OnePlus units leak forward of its summer time occasion, and a brand new characteristic might allow you to search the darkish net. Let’s dive in.
Samsung to lastly launch it is XR headset
Samsung all the time ends its occasions by leaving us wanting extra. January’s Unpacked gave us the Galaxy Ring, whereas the mid-year occasion ended with a swift point out of the Samsung XR headset.
Samsung stunned us on stage by stating that “a brand new XR platform is coming later this 12 months.” Whereas we did not get to see any picture of the system, we have been speculating concerning the XR headset. The corporate was allegedly planning its debut in the summertime of 2025, but it surely seems to be like we’ll get to see it in motion someday within the subsequent 5 months.
All we all know for now’s that Samsung headsets are nonetheless within the early improvement levels. Samsung’s headset is perhaps extra than simply for gaming, just like the Meta Quest 3, however we anticipate full Google Play Retailer entry with all of the apps included in it. Samsung additionally desires to make its XR system extra reasonably priced— to be one-third the value of the Imaginative and prescient Professional may cost a little round $1,000.
New Galaxy Watch Extremely is lacking an necessary characteristic
The brand new Galaxy Watch sequence has let go of one thing referred to as the PowerShare, a wi-fi charging characteristic that is appropriate with smartphones. In a current assist web page replace, Samsung mentioned that the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 7 Extremely don’t assist wi-fi charging from a paired Galaxy telephone. X consumer Jordy Verboven was the primary to identify this variation.
This useful characteristic principally lets the telephone’s battery wirelessly cost appropriate smartwatches by inserting them shut collectively— an effective way to get some cost into your watch when it is virtually dying. Whereas this characteristic will not be out there on the brand new watches, it continues to be current within the older era units.
Samsung needed to take away this characteristic as a consequence of a design change with the brand new sensor array, which required reshaping the rear glass on each Watch fashions, which elevated the space between the interior wi-fi charging coil and the exterior charging floor, making the earlier wi-fi power-sharing functionality unimaginable.
Android Lollipop no extra
Google first launched the Android Lollipop software program again in 2014 with its Nexus 6 system. Now, a decade later, the corporate is shutting down official updates.
Google will discontinue the Google Play Providers updates for Android Lollipop units beginning this month. A Google spokesperson mentioned that the rationale for placing a nail within the coffin is the share of lively Android Lollipop units, which is claimed to account for lower than one % in the mean time.
Whereas updates might now not be out there for this software program model, Google Play Providers assist will proceed to work. Nevertheless, customers will not obtain “any new options, necessary safety updates, and will not be appropriate with some apps.”
Android KitKat’s updates additionally stalled in July final 12 months. With Lollipop gone, Marshmallow handsets may very well be subsequent in line.
Spoiler alert: OnePlus units present up forward of launch
A mid-week leak spilled some severe beans concerning the subsequent OnePlus occasion launch; it gave us a full listing of units that might launch on July 16 in Milan. The lineup contains the OnePlus Nord 4, Pad 2, Watch 2R, and Nord Buds 3 Professional.
The leak got here from Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka OnLeaks). In accordance with him, the OnePlus Nord 4 could have an all-metal physique, a toned end, and three colorways: black, mint, and silver. The Nord 4 is claimed to have a 6.74-inch 1.5K AMOLED show and a 120Hz refresh price. The system will probably be powered by Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 and a 5500mAh battery capability. The twin cameras on the again comprise a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP secondary digicam, and a 16MP selfie digicam within the entrance.
Now, coming to the OnePlus Watch 2R— renders shared by the publication point out that the smartwatch will are available in inexperienced and an everyday black colorway. This may very well be an reasonably priced revamped model of the OnePlus Watch 2 variant within the Chinese language area with eSIM assist.
Subsequent up, the OnePlus Pad 2 might look quite a bit like its predecessor, that includes an aluminum unibody design with rounded corners. The tipster notes that it’ll embody a 12.1-inch LCD panel with a 144Hz refresh price and a peak brightness of 900 nits.
Lastly, the corporate’s subsequent earbuds additionally appeared to leak. They appear to be they’ll characteristic a stem design much like the older Nord Buds 2 however with an oval aesthetic. The renders additional point out that the ear tip could have a shiny end whereas the stem could have a matte end.
Google might inform you in the event you’re on the darkish net
It was introduced in April that two Google One options are being shut down: the Google One VPN service and free transport for Google Pictures prints. Nevertheless, one key a part of the Google One VPN is a characteristic referred to as darkish net report, which supplies subscribers with insights on their knowledge — particularly account login particulars and private data — and whether or not it has been leaked on the darkish net will probably be made free to all.
As noticed by 9to5Google, a banner within the Google One app explains that beginning in late July, the darkish net studies will work as a separate service and can now not require a subscription.
” Darkish net studies will develop into out there to all customers with a client Google Account,” the corporate explains, as reported by 9to5Google. “Darkish net report is built-in with outcomes about you as a mixed answer to assist customers shield their on-line presence.”
Why might this be a very good transfer, you ask? Our employees author, Brady Snyder, feels that issues like this should not be a paid characteristic. “This performance that helps individuals keep protected and shield their privateness needs to be free.”
“Even in the event you persist with the fundamentals, like identify, tackle, and e mail, it’s going to be useful to know what sort of knowledge is on the internet. For instance, in the event you see that your e mail is showing on the darkish net, you would possibly wish to be extra cautious when receiving unsolicited messages and improve spam filters.”
These are a number of the largest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed below are another tales which might be value catching up on:
