Android Faithful

Oh boy, the week before Mobile World Congress and there is SO MUCH hardware to discuss. Luckily Jason Howell, Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards are to ponder what a global launch really means.

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00:05:00 - NEWS

• Goodbye Amazon Appstore on Android Devices!
• Mishaal's got even more details on Android 16
• Rabbit is back with a look at their Android Agent
• PATRON PICK: The Pixel Tablet gets a new, expensive life from Murena

00:40:00 - HARDWARE

• First video leak of the Google Pixel 9A shows off the lack of a camera bump
• The Oppo Find N5 is launching "Globally" but not in the US or Europe. Okay Oppo, sure, "Global"
• Just how slim is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge? Very slim.
• Nothing reveals the secrets behind the design of the Phone 3(A)
• The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 looks to finally get the form factor right
• Goodbye Chromecast with Google TV - we loved you.
• The Xiaomi 15 is coming on March 2
• Finally, the Clicks keyboard arrives for Android!

01:21:50 - APPS

• Cars with Android Auto are getting dozens of apps!
• The newest Photoshop app from Adobe is coming to Android...eventually.

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The team is almost back as Huyen Tue Dao and Mishaal Rahman return to the show to join Ron Richards as we dive into the latest in Android, most notably one of the best smartwatches we've ever reviewed!

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00:01:42 - Huyen is back!

• While in Japan she picked up an Oukitel WP35 Rugged Phone 5G and the Motorola Edge 50 Pro

00:11:57 - NEWS

• Android 16 Beta 2 was released and Mishaal breaks it down
• Google finally updates Family Link and adds new features
• Android XR is confirmed to give access to all cameras on the headset
• PATRON PICK: Why can't Android get magnetic Qi2 charging right?

00:41:26 - HARDWARE

• REVIEW: OnePlus Watch 3
• We're heartbroken that we won't be getting a OnePlus Open 2
• But maybe we can get a Huawei Mate XT Ultimate?
• Nothing's teaser game for the Nothing Phone 3(A) is strong
• In dual tone greatness, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra looks fantastic

01:10:30 - APPS

• No, hell hasn't frozen over but yes Apple released the AppleTV+ app for Android
• Gemini Live gets some new features around captions and summaries

01:20:46 - COMMUNITY

• Robert from New Jersey has a happy Pixel 4A ending
• Raven reports that the Bahamas has solved the messaging problem!

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It's just two dudes talking Android this week as Jason Howell and Ron Richards dish on Google's mistakes, get excited for I/O and parse all the new phones that all seem to be running the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

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00:03:00 - NEWS

• It's coming! The date has been announced for Google I/O 2025!
• Google's Search AI mode is coming too!
• The sad Pixel 4A Battery update saga just keeps going, now with more details on perhaps why this is happening.
• Android 16 will alert you when you change time zones. It's about time!
• PATRON PICK: The patrons couldn't resist Google's Super Bowl Ad fiasco

0:26:10 - HARDWARE

• The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra has launched!
• The OnePlus Watch 3 is going to launch on February 12!
• The much anticipated tri-fold Huawei Mate XT might be launching on February 12 also!
• The Oppo Find F5 is not only thin, it barely has a crease and it's launching on February 20!

00:40:48 - APPS

• Google Messages looks to support WhatsApp video calling. I know, we're surprised too.
• AI generated images in Google Photos are getting an invisible watermark.
• Want to track Samsung tracker tags with Android? There's an app for that!

00:48:34 - COMMUNITY

• Scott Wyant from Arkansas loves his Pixel 4A.
• Ben hates his Pixel Buds Pro 2.
• Dave in Virginia Beach loves the AF theme music and wants an extended remix.

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It's a calm before the storm as we've got a quiet week in Android making Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards thankful for the reprieve, because the wave of phone releases is on the horizon!

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00:03:05 - NEWS

• Layoffs looming, Google offers packages for Pixel and Android employees to exit
• 2024 was a very good year for Smartphones with sales up 7%!
• PATRON PICK: Android 16's Linux Terminal is real and it runs DOOM

0:19:24 - HARDWARE

• We've got a release date for the Pixel 9A and it's soon!
• The Nothing 3(A) is coming on March 4!
• HANDS ON: Jason reviews the Moto G 2025, a $200 phone
• The leak of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra launch date reveals a February 26 date?

00:42:46 - APPS

• New Play Protect features roll out on Android to protect against dangerous apps
• Openvibe is a new app attempting to unify the open social web
• Apple Invites work on Android! Kinda...
• File sharing and linking for Android and Windows gets easier.

00:56:59 - COMMUNITY

• MattBatt has the Moto G and loves it
• Jason from Chicago cannot get the Google Discover page to fully work
• Rory needs Earbuds with Find My Device support

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Jason and Mishaal chat with Pebble founder Eric Migikovsky about the return of the smartwatch brand, comprehensive coverage of Samsung's Galaxy S25 launch, and Android 16's first beta in detail."

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00:01:23 - INTERVIEW WITH ERIC MIGIKOVSKY, PEBBLE

- Eric Migikovsky, Pebble founder, discusses Pebble's return and Google's open-sourcing of Pebble OS

- Discussion of Pebble's unique features and why users loved them

- Google's process of open-sourcing Pebble OS and community involvement

0:30:52 - NEWS

Android 16's first beta is here with major tablet improvements and iOS-like Live Updates

The future is adaptive: Changes to orientation and resizability APIs in Android 16

Here's how Google's changing notifications in Android 16 with Live Updates

Android 16 could borrow one of the best OxygenOS multitasking features for tablets

Google rolls out new accessibility features for Android, starting with Samsung's Galaxy S25

Circle to Search is adding new one-tap actions and AI overviews for visual searches

Meet Samsung's kid-friendly smartwatch experience

PATRON PICK: This major brand has a tool to run PC games, Steam on your Android tablet

1:01:13 - HARDWARE

Samsung's Galaxy S25 is tougher, faster, and packed full of AI features

4 reasons to wait for the Galaxy S26 Ultra

Here's a look at Samsung's upcoming Project Moohan XR headset, powered by Android XR

Samsung showed off the Galaxy S25 Edge at Unpacked

Oppo Find N5 confirmed to come with an IPX9 rating and 50W wireless charging

1:27:09 - APPS

Gemini is getting smarter with apps, YouTube videos, and your camera

Epic will expand its mobile game store by helping cover developer iOS fees

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'Twas the night before Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 and Patrick Norton makes his first appearance on Android Faithful to join Ron Richards and Jason Howell pre-game Samsung's announcement, laugh at Microsoft, navigate the TikTok ban and so many new phones all in one jam-packed episode!

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00:03:06 - NEWS

• Rich Miner, the Android co-founder throws some shade at Microsoft and Bill Gates
• Nothing reporting over 1 Billion dollars in sales
• PATRON PICK: Google Home is adding on AI insights and a new UI for creating routines

00:23:43 - HARDWARE

• Getting excited for Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 plus rumors of a thin Galaxy phone
• And you thought the Oppo Find N5 couldn't get thinner, spoiler IT'S REALLY THIN
• Honor launches the HONOR Magic7 Pro and another partnership with Porsche for the Magic7 RSR
• Motorola is back with the new Moto G and Moto G Power
• You can now control your Chromebook with your face

00:54:30 - APPS

• There's a new assistant in town, with the preview of Perplexity's Android assistant
• Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram scramble to fill the void (not quite yet) caused by the TikTok ban
• Get excited as Android Automotive is getting new apps soon!
• There's a problem with RCS/SMS on Google Messages and it's Apple's fault

01:09:01 - COMMUNITY

• John from Cincinnati writes in with a reason why last week's e-mailer couldn't install apps
• Derek wants to know if he should buy the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8A
• Marge is skeptical of the offer Google sent Pixel 4A owners

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For the first time in 2025, Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman, Huyen Tue Dao and Ron Richards gather to wrap up CES, dive into the OnePlus 13 and navigate all the Samsung and Nothing leaks. We're Android Faithful and we're back at it, all together baby!

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00:03:05 - NEWS

• Jason and Mishaal share their CES Experiences
• Google pushes home technology further with Matter
• The global smartphone sales numbers for 2024 are in and Xiaomi is doing very well, plus we have a new buzzword
• PATRON PICK: Google is experimenting with an audio summary of your daily news

00:40:57 - HARDWARE

• Jason and MIshaal weigh in on the OnePlus 13 and 13R
• Leaks abound as the Samsung Galaxy S25 specs across the line are out ahead of Unpacked next week
• The ZenFone 12 Ultra, the new flagship from Asus has a release date
• Nothing prepares for its first flagship phone
• The thinnest flagship is coming thanks to the Oppo Find N5

01:08:36 - APPS

• Google Messages brings back the ability to customize your contacts
• GBoard introduces an ‘Undo’ button
• Gemini is getting a facelift on Android devices

1:14:52 - COMMUNITY

• Charles from San Antonio can't get Android Auto on his Galaxy S10
• Mike from Ohio gets a weird ding when he puts his phone on his watch

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Kicking off 2025 with Matteo Doni of Tech Travel Geeks to go through all the news from CES!

SPECIAL: Join us on Patreon for 25% Off - use code AF2025 - expires 1/10/25

CES NEWS

• Samsung unveils Vision AI and new TVs
• A sneaky announcement about Wireless Qi2 charging on Android
• Samsung and Google's alternative to Dolby Atmos
• Google brings more AI to Google TV
• TCL shows the Playcube, a Google TV-powered projector
• TCL unveils display tech for better eye comfort: NXTPAPER 4.0
• Lenovo unveils new premium Android tablets

HARDWARE

• The OnePlus 13 and 13R
• OnePlus 13 will work with Find My Device
• First look at the OnePlus Open 2
• Details around the OnePlus Watch 3 Pro

NEWS

• Google's 1st Android patch of 2025 released
• EU targets Apple
• Google makes a counterproposal to the DOJ
• PATRON PICK: connect a hearing aid to your phone

APPS

• Android Auto rolling out redesigned music player
• Gemini to replace Google Assistant on Wear OS
• Google Wallet getting a new shortcut
• Circle to Search comes to Nothing

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We wrap up 2024 for Android Faithful with a great interview with Shahram Izadi - VP & GM, AR/XR at Google about the new Android XR platform. That plus Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman, Jason Howell and Ron Richards share their best and worst of Android for 2024. It's been a hell of year for Android, and we wouldn't want it any other way!

PROGRAMMING NOTE: This is our last episode of 2024. We'll be back on January 7, 2025. We thank you for enjoying our show this past year and hope you have a peaceful and delightful holidays and a happy new year! We'll see you in 2025, just in time for CES!

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INTERVIEW

• 00:00:45 - We sit down with Shahram Izadi - VP & GM, AR/XR at Google for an indepth discussion about Android XR and what we expect from the platform along with the news of Find My Device on Android XR

NEWS

• 00:41:42 - Google rolls out Gemini 2.0 as they enter the "Agentic Era"
• 00:47:29 - Project Astra opens up the waitlist for users to get access to the new platform
• 00:48:57 - Want Gemini on your Nest Home device?
• 00:52:12 - Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is coming in 2025 and the date has been leaked
• 00:54:30 - PATRON PICK: Google rolls out a redesign to Discover

HARDWARE

• 01:06:19 - Huge news as Google chooses a MediaTek modem for the Pixel 10

APPS

• 01:08:45 - The Epic Games store is coming pre-installed on millions of Android devices in Europe and Latin America
• 01:11:26 - YouTubeTV gets another price increase

BEST AND WORST OF 2024

• 01:18:08 - The Android Faithful share their best things from Android in 2024:

Ron: Google's insane pace of updates across Android and related platforms

Mishaal: Google's commitment to the future of the Android platform

Huyen: The Pixel 9 Series

Jason: Project Astra

• 01:26:54 - The Android Faithful share their worst things from Android in 2024:

Ron: The cancellation of the Pixel Tablet 2

Huyen: Continued overemphasis on jamming in AI-features

Mishaal: Uncertainty about the future of certain Google and Qualcomm products given litigation

Jason: The DOJ/Google Antitrust rulings might bring big changes to Play Services and more.

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Jason and Mishaal are joined by Florence Ion to discussSamsung's OneUI 7 Beta, a massive slew of new Android and Pixel features, OnePlus' Watch 3 rumors, and an interview with Angana Ghosh, Director of Product Management for Android about Expressive Captions!

Get the newest merch design LEAKY PEEKY at Threadless!

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NEWS

0:05:30 - Here's every new feature in the Pixel Drop update for December 2024

0:07:25 - Google’s December Pixel Drop Introduces AI Enhancements for Screenshots

0:12:41 - Android is getting new features to help you consume and share content

0:17:16 - Here's everything Google didn't tell you about in Android 15's first Feature Drop

0:22:00 - Samsung One UI 7 Beta Starts To Roll Out

0:32:20 - @MishaalRahman: Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, and Pixel Fold will get an additional 2 years of OS updates!

0:35:05 - PATRON PICK: How Chrome doubled its Speedometer scores on Android

INTERVIEW

0:40:25 - Google is making captions on Android even better.

HARDWARE

1:02:26 - Motorola Razr+ is dripping in Pantone's 2025 color of the year

1:04:55 - Upcoming OnePlus Pad's key specs tipped

1:06:40 - Possible OnePlus Watch 3 bags FCC certification

1:13:33 - Flo's Pixel Watch 3 Review

1:02:46 - Ice Universe: the Samsung Galaxy S25 trio will support Qi2 wireless charging

APPS

1:22:28 - Your Wear OS watch can now double as a hotel key, campus ID, and more

1:25:17 - Google Photos is getting its own version of Spotify Wrapped

COMMUNITY

1:29:10 - Clayton really wants Desktop Mode NOW.

1:31:34 - Lukas knows how to roll your own YouTube Music Recap!

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