Android Central Podcast

Daniel and Jerry explore the promise and reality of 5G with expert Sacha Segan. They also get on the line with David Jagneux to discuss the state of Google Stadia.

• Benchmarking the global 5G experience | Opensignal
• Why Every US Carrier Is 'Winning' Fastest 5G Awards | PCMag
• Verizon Expands High-Speed 5G Mobile and Home Service | PCMag

• Indeed: Indeed gives you the smart tools to make hiring decisions quickly, and to be confident that you’re making the right hire for your team. Try Indeed out with a free $75 credit at indeed.com/acp. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Offer valid through March 31.

Hayato, Daniel, Joe, and Ara tackle the regular Galaxy S21 and 100% do not offer GameStop, GameSpot, or any other stock purchase advice.

They also look at financial results from big tech companies, Sony’s new $2500 Xperia flagship, and Carl Pei’s venture into Nothing.

• Samsung Galaxy S21 review: Less is less | Android Central
• The Motorola Edge S is the first phone with a Snapdragon 870 | Android Central
• Sony launches $2500 Xperia Pro creative professionals can't afford to ignore | Android Central
• Samsung's Q4 profit jumps 26.4% YoY, despite weaker smartphone sales | Android Central
• Facebook's better-than-expected quarter is just the calm before the storm | Android Central
• Apple target share price raised to $164 by Morgan Stanley | iMore
• Microsoft Surface FY21 Q2 revenue hits over $2 billion for the first time | Windows Central
• OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei wants to connect everything with 'Nothing' | Android Central
• Android 12 could get a lot more colorful with an upgraded theming system | Android Central
• Netflix and YouTube are going to make you finally care about AV1 | Android Central

The FCC has a new Acting Chairperson, Jessica Rosenworcel, and reviews are in for Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra. As well, Hayato, Jerry, Ara, and Daniel share some Chromebook news and discuss the disparate landscape of messaging apps.

• Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review: Fixed focus | Android Central
• Samsung confirms it will 'gradually' remove the charger from future Galaxy phones | Android Central
• Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel on Designation to Lead FCC | Federal Communications Commission
• Google threatens to withdraw search engine from Australia - BBC News
• Google Play is unsportsmanlike, U.S. states likely to argue in potential lawsuit | Reuters
• HP's new Chromebooks for schools are built to get disinfected daily | Android Central
• New Acer Chromebooks for students bring 4G LTE and 20-hour battery life | Android Central
• WeChat is spying on users in California according to a new lawsuit | Android Central
• This app brings iMessage to Android, and you can sign up to use it right now | Android Central
• Google Messages could soon stop working for certain Android phones | Android Central
• The Galaxy S21 has a Google Messages app you won't find anywhere else | Android Central
• MediaTek unveils flagship Dimensity 1100 and 1200 5G chips to challenge Snapdragon 888 | Android Central

• Indeed: Indeed gives you the smart tools to make hiring decisions quickly, and to be confident that you’re making the right hire for your team. Try Indeed out with a free $75 credit at indeed.com/acp. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Offer valid through March 31.

Alex Dobie, Hayato Huseman, Jerry Hildenbrand, and Daniel Bader dig deep into the Galaxy S21 series of phones. Daniel reviews the excellent Galaxy Buds Pro, and the crew are keeping tabs on the Galaxy SmartTag trackers.

• Samsung Galaxy S21: Your complete buyer's guide to the new S21 series | Android Central
• Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro review: The new best | Android Central
• Receive a free Galaxy SmartTag when you pre-order the Galaxy S21 | Android Central

• Indeed: Indeed gives you the smart tools to make hiring decisions quickly, and to be confident that you’re making the right hire for your team. Try Indeed out with a free $75 credit at indeed.com/acp. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Offer valid through March 31.

Joe, Jerry, Daniel, and Ara discuss WhatsApp requiring its users to share data with Facebook. They also touch on Facebook's ban of President Trump before moving on to a massive preview of phones, Chromebooks, and other devices being announced at CES 2021.

• WhatsApp now requires you to share data with Facebook — here's what you need to know | Android Central
• Facebook suspends President Trump 'indefinitely' | Android Central
• Google and Alphabet workers are forming an 'innovative' union in the U.S. | Android Central
• Google is far from perfect, but with a union, things can get better | Android Central
• Lenovo's new Tab P11 tablet is the Galaxy Tab S7 you can actually afford | Android Central
• Alexa Show Mode turns your Lenovo PC into an Echo Show display | Android Central
• Samsung supports Google Duo and screen sharing in its new QLED TVs | Android Central
• Samsung's new QLED TVs show its commitment to sustainability | Android Central
• The $700 Galaxy Chromebook 2 could be the most interesting Chromebook of 2021 | Android Central
• The new Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is ready to rule 2021 with Ryzen | Android Central
• Motorola's new $400 5G phone overshadows three baffling Moto Gs launching January 14 | Android Central
• Samsung Galaxy S21: News, Leaks, Release, Specs, and Rumors! | Android Central
• Amazon.com: Furbo Dog Camera: Treat Tossing, Full HD Wifi Pet Camera and 2-Way Audio, Designed for Dogs, Compatible with Alexa (As Seen On Ellen), white (001-01WHTOA-1): Amazon Devices

Captain Daniel Bader is joined by Joe Maring, Ara Wagoner, and Hayato Huseman for our final episode of 2020. The crew talk about the partnership between Google and Qualcomm to offer four years of Android updates, wear OS and the Fitbit acquisition, and continued antitrust woes.

But the biggest topic this week is YOUR questions. So grab your favorite Holiday beverage and settle in for a toasty warm show!

• Qualcomm and Google pledge to clean up the Android update situation with four years of updates | Android Central
• The EU has finally approved Google's Fitbit acquisition | Android Central
• Google’s Legal Peril Grows in Face of Third Antitrust Suit - The New York Times
• Case against Google grows as company gets hit with third antitrust lawsuit | Android Central
• Google antitrust FAQ: What the U.S. government's lawsuit means for you | Android Central

Hayato, Ara, Daniel, and Jerry embark on a journey into the FTC lawsuit against Facebook, Google's AI ethics controversy and ridiculous handling of a personnel situation.

In phone news, they check out Google's latest Pixel feature drop, Galaxy S21 leaks, and the Samsung One UI 3.0 update. The crew also consider AirPods Max—and why anyone other than someone heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem might buy them.

They wrap up with Google's efforts to counter election and anti-vaccine misinformation, and OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei's enigmatic new audio company.

• Facebook could be forced to give up Instagram and WhatsApp in new lawsuit | Android Central
• Google's latest AI ethics controversy is a product of its own hubris — even if it enforced the rules | Android Central
• Forget the Pixel 5, Google just brought its best features to older Pixels
• Pixel 5's Adaptive Charging should (and likely will) be part of Android 12 | Android Central
• Galaxy S21 all but confirmed in flashy new promo videos | Android Central
• Samsung One UI 3.0 (Android 11): Release date, eligible phones, new features, and more! | Android Central
• Google and Samsung could make better AirPods Max for half the price — and they should | Android Central
• Google search panels launch to counter vaccine misinformation - The Verge
• Supporting the 2020 U.S. election
• Carl Pei is building an audio company, insists OnePlus split was 'amicable' | Android Central
• Raspberry Pi 400 Computer Kit and Accessories

• Namecheap: Have an amazing idea for a website, online business or blog? Then, you should know that every great website starts with an awesome domain name. To get a domain name with a 30% discount (including .com and hundreds more). Go to Namecheap.com and use the code ACP at checkout.
• Indeed: Indeed gives you the smart tools to make hiring decisions quickly, and to be confident that you’re making the right hire for your team. Try Indeed out with a free $75 credit at indeed.com/acp. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Offer valid through December 31.

On this week’s show, Daniel and Jerry sit down with Ziad Asghar, who manages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Roadmap and Application Processor division, to discuss the new Snapdragon 888. They start the conversation going through the various improvements the Snapdragon 888 makes over last year’s Snapdragon 865, and then jump into the broader industry and how Qualcomm plans to compete with companies like Apple in the increasingly competitive ARM processor space.

• Snapdragon 888: Everything you need to know about Qualcomm's 2021 flagship SoC | Android Central
• The Snapdragon 888 promises a huge leap for Android cameras: Here's how | Android Central

Ara Wagoner and Jerry Hildenbrand commandeer the Android Central virtual podcast studio for a chat about Android updates, emoji, Chromebooks, and pretty much anything else they feel like!

• Nokia's failure is the final nail in the coffin for Android One | Android Central
• An ARM-powered Chromebook with a Surface-style kickstand seems set for a 2021 debut | Android Central
• New emoji could reach your Android phone faster than ever with this change from Google | Android Central

If rumors are to be believed, the Galaxy Note series may have run its course. Hayato, Ara, Joe, and Daniel talk about the possibility of life after Note for the S Pen, Google Stadia, and a limited edition Pixel 4a.

There's also a new incarnation of Google Pay, a faster version of Chrome, and the crew try to understand the appeal of the new Twitter feature: Fleets.

• The end of the Galaxy Note could be a blessing in disguise for the S Pen | Android Central
• Samsung will not launch a Galaxy Note 20 successor next year, says new rumor
• Google Stadia is coming to iOS as web app, giving free Premiere kits for buying Cyberpunk 2077 | Android Central
• Google Pixel 4a 5G vs. Pixel 4a: Which should you buy? | Android Central
• The Pixel 4a now looks better than ever in the new limited edition Barely Blue color | Android Central
• Google Chrome takes on Safari and Edge with speed-boosting update
• Google's answer to the Apple Card is here, but is it any good?
• Google Pay: Banks supported, how it works, and everything you need to know | Android Central
• How to embed a Tweet in a Fleet | Android Central
• Twitter's Snapchat-inspired Fleets are now launching worldwide | Android Central

• Indeed: Indeed gives you the smart tools to make hiring decisions quickly, and to be confident that you’re making the right hire for your team. Try Indeed out with a free $75 credit at indeed.com/acp. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Offer valid through December 31.