Exciting topics include Android 15 updates, Gemini 1.5 features, Pixel Fold and Pixel Watch leaks, OnePlus Watch 2 teaser, new Emojis, Google Messages editing, AI in Android Auto, and community highlights like Nearby Share on MacOS and changing notification sounds on Samsung Galaxy S24.
OnePlus will unveil the OnePlus Watch 2 at Mobile World Congress, aiming for the best flagship smartwatch title.
Deep dives
Xiaomi to Release High-End Xiaomi 14 Ultra with Impressive Specs and Camera
Xiaomi is set to launch the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, a high-end smartphone with a 6.73-inch OLED screen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to a terabyte of storage. The phone will feature a dual telephoto lens co-branded with Leica, and it has been praised as a contender for the best camera phone of 2024. However, with a rumored price of 1499 euros, it will be quite expensive.
Prototype of Pixel Fold Spotted on eBay, Ran Stock Android 12L
A prototype of the Pixel Fold, codenamed Jumbo Jack, was listed on eBay. It was revealed to be a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 that Google had flashed with stock Android 12L. This suggests that Google used retail hardware from a competitor to prototype their eventual Pixel Fold. The leak is unusual, but it highlights the iterative nature of device development and the measures taken to test software experiences.
Prototype Units of Underpowered Pixel Watch 1 Leaked
Reddit users were scammed into buying prototypes of the Pixel Watch 1 with underpowered specs, including 8GB of storage and 1GB of RAM. The retail version of the watch has 32GB of storage with 2GB of RAM. This leak reveals a significant difference in performance between the prototype and retail units. It is unclear how these prototypes ended up in the hands of unsuspecting buyers.
OnePlus Teases Unveiling of OnePlus Watch 2 on March 14th
OnePlus has announced that it will unveil the OnePlus Watch 2 on March 14th at an event during Mobile World Congress. The company aims to win the title of best flagship smartwatch of the year. The watch is expected to feature extended battery life and an elegant and durable design. More details about the OnePlus Watch 2 will be revealed at the event.
Honor Announces Special Edition Magic V2 in Collaboration with Porsche
Honor has unveiled a special edition of the Honor Magic V2 in collaboration with Porsche. The Honor Magic V2 RSR features Porsche's styling and lines, with a titanium frame and special accessories such as an active stylus. While the price is not officially announced, the regular Magic V2 is priced at $420 USD in China, indicating that the RSR version will likely have a higher price tag.
Near Drop: A Convenient File Sharing Utility for Android and Mac OS
Tom shares a helpful utility called Near Drop, which implements Google's nearby share protocol and allows easy sharing of files from Android devices to Mac OS. It provides a more convenient method than emailing or slacking files to oneself.
Fixing Notification Sound Customization Issue on Samsung Galaxy S24 Series
Adam shares a video by YouTuber Jeff Springer that addresses the issue of being unable to change notification sounds for individual apps on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series. There is a hidden setting in One UI 3.1 that needs to be toggled to enable this customization.
AI-Generated App Highlights and Frequently Asked Questions on Google Play
Sarah discusses AI-generated app highlights and frequently asked questions sections on Google Play. These sections provide summarized information and common queries related to specific apps, enhancing user experience and reducing support requests.
It's a big week as Android 15 has landed and Huyen, Mishaal and Ron are excited to talk about it with our special guest, Android Developer Zarah Dominguez joining us direct from Australia!
Featured in this episode:
NEWS
The first Developer Preview of Android 15 is here
Mishaal breaks down why it wasn't hard to break down Android 15
Android 15 could have new features to protect your sensitive notifications AND speed up web pages
As if Android 15 wasn't enough, Google rolled out Gemini 1.5, upping the game for AI
Fewer Android users jumped to iPhones in 2023
Patron News Story Pick: 8 new Emoji are coming to our keyboard soon!
HARDWARE
Pixel Fold and Pixel Watch Prototypes leaks in unlikely places
OnePlus teases the One Plus Watch 2 to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress
Asus Zenfone 11 will be unveiled on March 14
Honor Magic V2 gets a Porsche makeover
ZTE Libero Flip hits Japanese markets at a low price
