Information Weekly
Information Weekly is our column the place we spotlight and summarize a few of the week’s prime tales so you may compensate 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, Google gave us our first style of Android 16 with the developer preview for Pixel telephones, the DOJ is proposing that Google sells Chrome to interrupt up its monopoly, OPPO launched the Discover X8 sequence working the newest MediaTek chip, Google could also be trying to develop a Pixel Laptop computer with a twist, and a brand new Garmin smartwatch simply leaked.
Android 16 is right here… sorta
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In preparation for an earlier rollout schedule, Google dropped the primary Android 16 developer preview, which is out there now for eligible Pixel smartphones. The replace, which is anticipated to hit steady in Q2 2025, does not brings a handful of notable adjustments and options, together with notification cooldown, audio sharing (which first appeared within the Android 15 beta), an improved desktop mode, and extra.
Newer Pixel telephones are eligible for the replace, which surprisingly consists of the Pixel 6 sequence, which ended help for OS upgrades in October. It is a good signal that recommend there is a risk that they’ll get the official Android 16 replace, however Google may at all times change its thoughts. That additionally goes for any potential options discovered within the replace.
Because it’s the primary developer preview, issues are sure to be very glitchy, so we do not advocate putting in it until you are a developer and/or know what you are doing.
Google is on the defensive with Chrome
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After a decide dominated earlier this yr that Google holds a monopoly on search, the Justice Division has filed a proposal to interrupt up the corporate, which incorporates promoting off Chrome. As a major a part of Google’s suite of apps and providers, Google has understandably taken challenge with this proposal, publishing a weblog submit about how the “staggering” proposal would “hurt customers.”
“DOJ’s proposal would actually require us to put in not one however two separate alternative screens earlier than you possibly can entry Google Search on a Pixel telephone you acquire,” says Kent Walker, Google’s president of International Affairs and Chief Authorized Officer, explaining {that a} proposed Technical Committee would maintain maintain “monumental energy” over the net expertise.
The weblog submit outlines numerous methods the proposal would “break” a spread of Google’s merchandise, stating that it will create a worse expertise for customers. Android Central senior editor Jerry Hildenbrand additionally explains how promoting Chrome might not work in addition to the DOJ hopes. In response, Walker says Google will provide its personal proposals subsequent month.
OPPO will get a head begin with the Discover X8 sequence
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It is nonetheless 2024, however the 2025 flagships are already right here, and OPPO is getting forward of the sport with the Discover X8 sequence. The OPPO Discover X8 and Discover X8 Professional are practically an identical, though the usual mannequin has a smaller 6.6-inch OLED show and a 5630mAh battery. The Professional mannequin sports activities a 6.78-inch OLED show and a 5910mAh battery.
Moreover, the Discover X8 has three 50MP cameras whereas the Discover X8 Professional has 4, with a further periscope telephoto lens for 6x optical zoom.
Each telephones are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400, which competes immediately with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and gives a brand new NPU with 80% quicker LLM prompts and 100% extra performant diffusion era. You get a alternative of 12 or 16GB of RAM with the X8, whereas the X8 Professional is just provided with 16GB. There’s additionally help for magnetic charging, however you will want a separate case for that.
For our impressions on OPPO’s newest flagship, try our OPPO Discover X8 Professional overview.
The Pixel Pill 2 won’t come, however a Pixel Laptop computer…
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There are just a few rumors going round about Google’s plans within the close to future, which can not embrace the Pixel Pill 2. Nonetheless, one rumor factors to what may very well be a Pixel Laptop computer, and it could not run ChromeOS as we might anticipate. In response to Mishaal Rahman, Google is engaged on a “multi-year challenge to totally flip Chrome OS into Android.”
Google already appears to be laying down the groundwork to make this occur, because it not too long ago began merging “parts of the Android stack, just like the Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks, as a part of the inspiration of ChromeOS.” That is apparently being executed to speed up improvement, significantly with AI options. Nonetheless, that will not be prepared for “fairly a while.”
As for the Pixel Laptop computer, it appears it could be a high-end Android gadget that’s meant to compete extra with the likes of the iPad. Solely time will inform if the rumors of a laptop computer are true and whether or not it would certainly be capable to adequately compete.
A brand new Intuition may very well be on the way in which
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It has been a minute since Garmin launched the final Intuition mannequin, however we is probably not ready lengthy for a brand new one. A Reddit submit appears to indicate what’s allegedly the Garmin Intuition 3, with what seems like an MIP two-window show. There’s additionally an indicator underneath the show noting that it is a photo voltaic watch, which can assist lengthen the battery life due to the built-in photo voltaic panel overlay.
The design resembles a considerably sleeker Intuition Crossover, however the picture clearly reveals “Garmin Intuition 3” on the underside. For now, it is unclear if the picture is de facto the Garmin Intuition 3, nevertheless it would not be the primary time the watch has been noticed, so we’ll see. It could not attraction to many athletes like different Garmin watches do, however the rugged design and photo voltaic functionality might attraction to the extra outdoorsy sorts.
Extra tales this week
These are a few of the greatest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed below are another tales which can be price catching up on:
