Android Faithful

Bjorn Kilburn, VP of Wear OS at Google joins Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman, Ron Richards, and Huyen Tue Dao to talk about the new Hybrid Architecture features of Wear OS 4 and the new OnePlus Watch 2. Plus, it's a super-sized episode with all the biggest gadget news from Mobile World Congress 2024!

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• 9 new Android features to help you stay productive
• Wear OS 4 interview with Bjorn Kilburn

HARDWARE

• Introducing OnePlus Watch 2: A Dual-Engine Flagship Smartwatch Powered with Wear OS by Google
• Google Pixel Fold 2 360-Degree Video And 5K Renders Reveal; No More Horizontal Camera Visor
• Xiaomi Debuts Xiaomi 14 Series Internationally with Next-Generation Leica Optics, Powered by Xiaomi HyperOS
• Xiaomi Adds an Exciting Array of Smart Living Products to its International AIoT Lineup
• Qualcomm Redefines Connected Experiences with FastConnect 7900, the First AI-optimized Wi-Fi 7 System
• Qualcomm Unveils the World’s Most Advanced 5G Modem-RF System, Harnessing Integrated AI to Enable the Next Generation of 5G
• ZTE Devices at MWC
• Honor Magic 6 Pro
• HMD - Barbie Flip phone and Modular Phones
• Motorola’s Rollable Concept phone laughs at your silly foldable

MORE NEWS

• Patron News Story Pick: Androidify strikes back: Google now lets you create a custom Android ‘Bot’
• New One UI 6.1 Update Brings Galaxy AI to More Galaxy Devices
• Simplifying our payment apps in the U.S.

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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
• Details emerge on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra
• Go watch Jason's review of the OnePlus Open!

APPS

• Google Messages could soon let you edit texts
• Google explains Android Auto AI Message Summaries
• "Talk to a Live Rep" coming to Android, not just Pixels
• Google Play Store gets AI with App Highlights and FAQs

COMMUNITY

• Email 1: Tom from Ireland and Scotland shares an app to enable Nearby Share with MacOS called Near Drop
• Email 2: Adam in San Diego shares a YouTube video that helped him figure out how to change notification sounds on his Samsung Galaxy S24

Thanks to Zarah Dominguez for joining us on the show! Check her work out at https://zarah.dev/

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Ron, Jason, Huyen, and Mishaal are unimpressed by the rollout of Gemini as an Assistant replacement, MIshaal shows a reputable leak of the Pixel Fold 2, and Android 15 is likely days away from release!

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Bard AI chatbot replaces Google Assistant, available in new Gemini app and Google Assistant headphones
• Gemini can save conversations for up to 3 years
• Android 15 to make phones easier for baseline users to use
• Pixel Fold might get a fancy trick from the OnePlus Open
• Pixel phones may get auto touch sensitivity based on the environment
• First look at Android 15's chat bubbles on Pixel Tablet
• Google tackling Android phishing problems
• Android 15 preview coming this week
• FCC may investigate Apple over Beeper Mini shutdown
• WhatsApp planning interoperability with other messaging apps
• Patron News Story Pick: YouTube Music testing Cast redesign on Android

HARDWARE

• OnePlus 12 and 12R unboxing, 12R available now
• Exclusive first look at rumored Google Pixel Fold 2
• Nothing Phone 2A launches March 5th in US with limited release
• Nothing announced Glyph developer kit
• Xiaomi Watch 2 with Wear OS for half the Pixel Watch 2 price

APPS

• Google Maps redesigning directions search, dropping fullscreen
• Google Maps Android now shows weather
• Cloud photos available in Android photo picker

COMMUNITY

• Email 1: Blake switched from Galaxy to Pixel 8 Pro, misses Samsung Routines to change settings like Bluetooth volume.
• Email 2: Dave impressed with Pixel 7's Photosphere features, providing an example of a seamless Photosphere they took.
• Email 3: Another Dave asking what the word is before "Android" in the AF theme song.

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Ron Richards, Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman, and Jason Howell are joined by Chih-Hao Kung from ASUS to talk all about the ROG Phone 8 and the state of Android gaming phones in 2024.

NEWS

• Android 15 to bring audio sharing, more immersion, and enhanced app archiving.
• Amazon job listing spells impending doom for Android on Fire OS.
• Circle to Search comes to Pixel 8 family.
• Find My Device network still MIA.
• Patron News Story Pick: Full screen food ads on the Chromecast with Google TV.

INTERVIEW

• Chih-Hao Kung, ASUS global PR, talks all about the ROG Phone 8.

HARDWARE

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 might be less expensive.
• Also possibly a mid-range foldable by Samsung too!
• Nokia branding by HMD coming to an end.
• PIxel Fold 2 might have a Tensor 4 instead of the G3!

APPS

• Quick Share is here!
• Generative AI coming to Google Maps.
• Google says Assistant Driving Mode isn't DEAD dead.

COMMUNITY

• The end of the microphone in the search bar isn't that bad.
• The Pixel 8 Pro thermometer ALSO isn't that bad.
• Firefox Focus is highly recommended!

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Ron, Jason, Huyen, and Mishaal are joined by Florence Ion to discuss what Samsung is doing right, what Google is doing wrong, and what Onn has that Logitech doesn't.

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Google Pixel devices lose Assistant microphone shortcut
• Google accidentally reveals Assistant with Bard demo video
• Google may rename Assistant with Bard to Gemini
• Flo LOVES Circle to Search
• Pixel Feature Drop for January 2024
• Samsung, Google preparing Wear OS 5 based on Android 14
• Wear OS preps for Material You, hints at grid app launcher
• Android allows eSIM transfer between phones
• Patron News Story Pick: Critical storage permission bug in Pixel phones
• Google halts January 2024 GPSU rollout due to device issues

HARDWARE

• Fossil exits smartwatches
• Galaxy S24 may detect car crashes
• Honor’s Magic V2 foldable launches in Europe and UK
• Ron looks at the Logitech K480 Keyboard paired with Pixel Tablet

APPS

• Chromecast with Google TV to receive incoming call notifications
• Google Assistant revamped on Android Auto with AI
• Upgrade to Passkeys on Pixel phones with Google Password Manager

COMMUNITY

• Chad suggests gestures for AR computing instead of virtual keyboards
• Mike shares how alcohol saved his water-damaged phone

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Mishaal returns from Galaxy Unpacked 2024 with the S24 in hand, plus plenty of rumory goodness from Google and OnePlus.

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Samsung Unpacked 2024 was full of AI... by Google.
• Samsung Galaxy Ring is a smaller fitness wearable.
• Samsung looks to bring non-invasive glucose monitoring to its wearables.
• Patron News Story Pick: WhatsApp has its own nearby file sharing solution too.

HARDWARE

• Mishaal goes hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S24.
• OnePlus announces the global OnePlus 12 and the 12 R.
• OnePlus also shows off the OnePlus Buds 3.
• OnePlus Watch 3 could come at MWC and run Wear OS.
• Pixel Watch 3 might come in two size variants.
• Pixel 9 gets some crisp new renders that show striking design changes.

APPS

• Gboard for Pixel Tablet getting new voice typing toolbar and seamless voice typing mode.
• Google Messages will let you talk to Bard soon.
• Assistant with Bard might become, simply, Bard.
• Google Photos stacks will clean up your photo roll.

COMMUNITY

• How aggressive is Google's hardware plan compared to Samsung and Apple?
• One fan's AR-driven futuristic dream.
• Kia software update fixed Pixel 6 connectivity issues.

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Post-CES hangover is in effect with guest Adam Doud fresh from Vegas with some hot hardware in hand to show off. Plus, a bonus chat with Mishaal from the road!

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Samsung's reign as top smartphone maker comes to an end
• Google layoffs lead to the end of many Assistant features
• Widgets returning to the lockscreen? Thank you, Android 15
• That green Android guy has a name!
• Patron News Story Pick: Animated GIFs coming to Google Messages

HARDWARE

• Mishaal talks about his hands-on with the ASUS ROG Phone 8 and other CES discoveries
• Adam gives a hands-on glimpse of the OnePlus 12
• AAWireless 2 brings hardware improvements

APPS

• Bluetooth beacons save Google Maps' day in tunnels
• WowMouse turns your smartwatch'd hand into gesture-nav goodness

COMMUNITY

• One tale of eSIM glory in the UK
• Chad likes Podcast Addict too (and he's tried them all)
• You know what's better than Android Faithful? 140" of Android Faithful!

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It's the annual CES 2024 mega-super-duper-crazy-awesome Android extravaganza, featuring Sandeep Chivukula from Google!

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Deep dive with Sandeep Chivukula, Director of Product Management for Multi-Device Experiences at Google
• QuickShare, Fast Pair on big screens, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Tablet content hand-off, Matter on Google TVs for Home control.
• A slew of Android announcements for the car
• RCS getting dual SIM support on Google Messages
• Android 15 could support replacing the Assistant summons with apps like ChatGPT
• Patron News Story Pick: Google Password Manager gets a new shortcut

CES HARDWARE

• Mishaal goes hands-on with the ASUS ROG Phone 8
• TCL goes big with new NXTPAPER devices
• TCL goes bigger with the largest TV set in North America (with Google TV)
• Lenovo announces a ThinkBook that runs Windows when docked and Android when detached
• Samsung teases AI features with its Galaxy Book 4 news
• Hisense also shows off a very large Google TV
• Xgimi is bringing Google TV heat to its projectors

NON-CES HARDWARE

• Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 will power the next generation of XR experiences
• Oppo Find X7 has not one but two Periscope cameras

COMMUNITY

• You talk about Pocket Casts, but what about Podcast Addict?
• Why so much about sharing files? Isn't that what the cloud is for?

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It's the first episode of the new year and if you thought Android news was light due to the holiday break, think again!

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Google and Samsung might merge Quick Share and Nearby Share
• Beeper says it’s done dealing with Apple over iMessage for Android app issues
• Global premium smartphone market sees record sales in 2023
• Android may soon estimate phone battery life expectancy
• Patron News Story Pick: Google Maps Driving Mode on Android might disappear in 2024

HARDWARE

• Samsung hosting Galaxy S24 Unpacked event in San Jose
• More Galaxy S24 series renders leaked
• Galaxy S24 series AI and camera features leaked
• Nothing Phone (2a) specs and pricing leaks
• Carl Pei tweets teasing a “New Year, New Phone"
• OnePlus 12R specs aplenty

APPS

• Android Auto now syncs phone wallpaper to display
• Google Clock gets Pixel-inspired weather forecast redesign
• Microsoft brings Copilot AI assistant to Android

COMMUNITY

• contacts sync issues from Google Contacts to Mac
• Google's Find My Device tracker launch is still in progress
• Green bubble complaints signify the need for new friends

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The last official episode of the year is a biggy! Jason Howell, Ron Richards, Huyen Tue Dao, and Mishaal Rahman welcome not one but two amazing guests: Gizmodo's Florence Ion and The Verge's Sean Hollister!

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Sean was in the courtroom for the entire Epic v Google case!
• Google lost another antitrust ruling that threatens sideloading norms.
• Beeper's iMessage saga leads to US lawmaker attention.
• Patron News Story Pick: Google Messages giving RCS its background wallpaper.

HARDWARE

• Pixie could outshine Assistant on the Pixel 9.
• More photos and specs of the Asus ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro.
• OnePlus addresses quality control concerns by Xiaomi.

APPS

• Gboard is getting stylus handwriting support.
• Google Keep is getting lockscreen note capabilities.
• Google Photos cloud content will be available to the Photo picker.
• Chrome for premium tablets will default to desktop mode.
• Google Maps is moving location tracking data on-device.

COMMUNITY

• Bob from Pennsylvania talks about the real reason most Android users want messaging compatibility across platforms.
• Scott doesn't like YouTube Music's podcast strategy.
• (Another) Bob is happy that the band is back together again.

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