Information Weekly
Information Weekly is our column the place we spotlight and summarize a number of the week’s prime tales so you possibly can make amends for the newest 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 newest developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama.
This week, we dive into a large Pixel 10 leak that confirmed off all three fashions, Pixel customers are scrambling after the newest March replace, OnePlus has determined to ditch the alert slider, Android 16 Beta 3 arrives, and Google Assistant makes approach for Gemini later this yr. Able to dive in?
Large Pixel 10 trio leak
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You’d assume it is too early for Pixel 10 leaks, but it surely seems to be prefer it is not. CAD renders of the alleged Pixel 10 trio surfaced on-line with a lot readability that we thought it was the actual deal. The renders had been shared by tipster OnLeaks, revealing all of the design and {hardware} of the machine.
In accordance with the tipster, not a lot might change within the next-gen Pixel. That mentioned, it looks like the bottom mannequin renders add an additional lens, giving it a triple digicam array. In the meantime, the opposite two fashions will persist with the identical design with no important {hardware} modifications. Nonetheless, the units might clearly see some inside and software program upgrades, together with the brand new and highly effective Tensor G5 chip.
We hope to catch a glimpse of the following flagship on the Google I/O occasion. Whereas we wait, this is a take a look at what we might want to see with the Pixel 10 collection.
Pixel March replace chaos
A number of bugs after March function replace from r/GooglePixel
Google Pixel customers had been left scrambling to seek out options after their units began appearing up following the newest replace. A number of folks, fuming, took to Reddit to see in the event that they weren’t the one ones coping with this.
They are saying points like a “random brightness drop” after watching a video on their Pixel 8 Professional. In accordance with the submit, their Pixel 8 Professional‘s show would flicker, they usually’d undergo an “abrupt brightness drop” roughly “each 10 seconds.” This occurred each time they streamed one thing on Netflix or Prime Video. This included anybody who had a Pixel 7 collection to the newest Pixel 9. Whereas the corporate continues to be engaged on a repair, this is a attainable workaround you possibly can check out in case you are somebody with a defective Pixel.
“The Pixel group is actively wanting into reviews from some Pixel customers about modifications to haptic depth. To regulate your vibration settings, you possibly can go to Settings > Sound & vibration > Vibration & haptics.”
OnePlus to eliminate the Alert Slider
OnePlus’s CEO introduced this week that the corporate plans to exchange the long-standing alert slider with a brand new customizable button.
In accordance with Pete Lau, the brand new button is designed to be extra personalised, which can also be not simply good but additionally “extremely intuitive” and “future-ready.” He additionally reassures customers that they may nonetheless have the ability to use it similar to an Alert Slider in the event that they wish to swap sound profiles on their OnePlus handsets.
The corporate notes that it’s going to take into account consumer’s suggestions/concepts whereas rethinking what this button might do. Nonetheless, Android Central’s Nick Sutrich is not so comfortable about this, stating, “The simplicity of the alert slider is what makes it so excellent, and changing the alert slider is just the flawed factor to do.”
For those who’re somebody who resonates with what Nick feels, head to the submit on the OnePlus Group and put your two cents in.
Android 16 Beta 3 is right here
Google formally dropped a brand new beta model of the upcoming Android 16 replace as we speak (Mar. 13), which is ready to debut in June. In a press launch, the corporate mentioned that Android 16 Beta 3 has reached the “Platform Stability” stage and that this shall be out there to all enrolled customers, together with these with Pixels.
This beta model is bringing a brand new accessibility instrument for these with low imaginative and prescient. To assist these customers, the OS will define textual content and alter the background colour of the textual content field, making the textual content pop and rising legibility. Subsequent is “Native Community Safety,” which is able to basically act as a gatekeeper for house units. It is going to search permission when an app tries to entry/connect with units like printers, good TVs, or another gadget that shares your Wi-Fi or Knowledge — giving extra management to the consumer.
Together with the above options, Google is lastly bringing “Auracast” assist to Pixels, which permits audio to be broadcast from one supply to a number of others. This additionally presents extra accessibility because it’s appropriate with listening to aids and earbuds.
It is time to say “Bye, Google Assistant”
Google Assistant has been round since 2016, and we have all gotten used to saying “Hey, Google” for a greater a part of a decade now. Nonetheless, as we speak, the corporate introduced that it will likely be upgrading the Assistant with Gemini.
This swap is one thing that has been on the playing cards for some time now. Current rumors even indicated a brand new wake phrase within the works, so it appears like we did see this coming.
In a Key phrase submit, the corporate said that it will likely be upgrading Google Assistant with Gemini, “providing a brand new sort of assist solely attainable with the ability of AI.” The improve is alleged to take personalization to an entire new stage since Gemini will have the ability to work together with different apps on the cellphone to grasp the consumer’s selections higher.
Google added that this swap to Gemini will occur “within the coming months.” By the top of this yr, folks will be unable to obtain Google Assistant from app shops as it will likely be discontinued.
Extra tales this week
These are a number of the greatest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed here are another tales which are value catching up on:
