Android Faithful

We're still recovering from last week's After Hours Ulefone insanity, luckily Huyen Tue Dao returns to the show to ground Jason Howell and Ron Richards as things get real about AI and Development.

PATREON SPECIAL: We're celebrating our 3rd Anniversary all month and you can get 20% off a membership at Patreon with code AF3 at https://www.patreon.com/c/AndroidFaithful

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00:08:43 - NEWS

• Check your Spam folder! You might have money from the Google Assistant settlement waiting for you to claim!
• Looks like Google has quietly been buying code from developers to train AI. Is that a bad thing? Why does it feel icky?
• And here we thought we were getting along with Apple? Apple's newest commercial really tries hard to make Android look bad.
• PATRON PICK: The old Google Nest Mini and Audio and heading off the shelves ahead of the new devices finally coming out

00:42:12 - HARDWARE

• Looks like there's going to be a lot of Googlebooks to choose from
• Tablets are in again! ASUS is back in the game with the new ASUS Pad!
• Unboxing the Motorola Edge 2026

00:56:48 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• There's a ton of new cool stuff in the Android June Canary Release! Like how Screen Reactions work!
• Check out how Magic Cue works in third party apps!
• Google is creating the stuff of nightmares thanks to Gemini Personal Intelligence with Dreambeans
• Goodbye Pixel Studio, we had fun with you while it lasted
• NewPipe and other open source apps are preparing for the Sideloading apocalypse

01:17:13 - COMMUNITY

• George writes in to share that he uses ProtonMail by emailing us with ProtonMail for Android

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We're thrilled to welcome Robb Dunewood from Daily Tech News Show and The Tech Jawn to the show and it's weird and wild week! Jason Howell and Ron Richards weren't quite prepared for how weird it would get.

PATREON SPECIAL: We're celebrating our 3rd Anniversary all month and you can get 20% off a membership at Patreon with code AF3 at https://www.patreon.com/c/AndroidFaithful

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00:08:30 - NEWS

• Microsoft is getting in on the Agentic AI game on Android as well with Project Solara
• The next Google Store is opening in Tokyo!
• We've got market data! The US Smartphone market declined by 3% in Q1 and the Foldable market was down as well.
• PATRON PICK: Proton Mail is making it easy for you to switch from GMail to Proton Mail

00:36:20 - HARDWARE

• A big leaked view of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is shocking! And perhaps the crease will be better?
• Looking for the perfect high-end foldable? Look no further than the the Vertu Alphafold priced at $6,800
• We're not kidding with this one: a scuba diver found the Pixel Watch 5 in the ocean. You can't make this up. Or maybe you can?
• The Google Home Speaker with Gemini may be finally going on sale...in Canada.

01:00:29 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• The Android Feature Drop for June is here and it's packed with safety and fashion!
• Google Gemini Spark is now available and Jason has been hands-on with it
• The next generation of document scanning is here with Google Drive and it's pretty darn impressive

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Hey hey the gang's all here for the Google I/O Post Mortem. Huyen Tue Dao returns from KotlinConf to join Florence Ion, Jason Howell and Ron Richards to put a bow on Google I/O and wrap things up and make sense of all the AI plus the news of the week in Android.

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00:06:51 - NEWS

• In case you missed it, there was A LOT of things announced at Google I/O. 100 things in fact...
• Google managed to sneak in some Android news at Google I/O, including a sneak peek at the upcoming "Continue On" feature
• Over in Apple land, iOS27 may support Google Cast natively, but with a catch
• PATRON PICK: Details on the phones that will work with Gemini Intelligence may be disappointing for people with older phones

00:41:05 - HARDWARE

• Was there a Pixel 11/Pixel Glow tease at Google I/O? Calm down, no there wasn't.
• Rollable phones are the next big thing and it looks like Samsung will be leading the way again
• Flo is hands-on with the Fitbit Air and has opinions about the new Google Health app

01:07:08 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• Another bit of Android at Google I/O was Android Halo and we found out what it is!
• Jumping on the trend...Android icons go Disco!
• Google Play will soon start letting you know when you have a "dead" app on your phone

01:15:50 - COMMUNITY

• Howard from San Diego was at the opening of the new Google Store and shared photos
• CCOMario found a Samsung gesture for screenshots that they never knew existed!

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The day has finally arrived! With the world of developers and Google enthusiasts descending on Mountain View, CA for the annual Google I/O conference! Jason Howell and Ron Richards braved the sun and brutal heat to bring you all the I/O experience from the keynote to hands-on demos and more!

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00:01:58 - GEMINI

• In case you haven't noticed, Gemini is kind of a big deal at Google and was the backbone for the announcements and updates from the Google Keynote address. From the latest and greatest Gemini 3.5 Flash to updates to the Gemini App and everything in-between.

00:19:21 - SEARCH

• This year's I/O Keynote brought about some pretty dramatic updates and changes to the search engine experience, mainly drive by the past year's success of AI Overviews and more advances in, you guessed it...Gemini

00:33:50 - ANDROID

• While the Keynote was light on Android, there was an entire section dedicated to Android XR and we got to check out some of the new glasses
• We also got to experience the new Android Auto and yes, the new updates are impactful!
• While all this happened, Google announced WearOS 7 and some developer updates for Google TV

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Google I/O season officially kicks off as The Android Show: I/O Edition unveils what Google has been up to when it comes to Android, with a shift from "Operating System" to "Intelligence System." We're excited to welcome Sameer Samat, President, Android Ecosystem at Google back to the show to break down what it all means and discuss the details of today's announcements along with a broad range of topics from Gemini and AI to the new Googlebooks to the controversial sideloading apps topic and what it means to steward an operating system used by billions of people globally.

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00:00:40 - NEWS

• Google unveiled The Android Show: I/O Edition and rolled out a ton of new features aimed at evolving Android into an "Intelligence System" along with introducing the new line of laptops called Googlebooks, updates to Android Auto and much more!

00:09:27 - INTERVIEW

• An in-depth discussion with Sameer Samat, President, Android Ecosystem at Google about the news coming out of The Android Show: I/O Edition

00:57:15 - HARDWARE

• Google also launched the new line of fitness trackers, the Fitbit Air
• And in doing so, killed the Fitbit Premium app and rebranded it to Google Health and a lot of people are unhappy about that

01:05:21 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• Ahead of Google I/O, Android 17 QPR 1 Beta 2 rolled out with bug fixes and a little bit of new stuff
• Photography fans rejoiced as Google finally released Snapseed 4.0!

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An exciting time for Android is on the horizon and Huyen Tue Dao, Jason Howell and Ron Richards are very much here for it!

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00:04:04 - NEWS

• Well, it happened - The Android Show - Google I/O Edition was announced for next week on May 12! Also Google is looking for vibe coded contributions to the Countdown to Google I/O.
• The OnePlus downward spiral continues as reports emerge that OnePlus is being merged with RealMe
• After years of leaks, Evan Blass aka EvLeaks is calling it quits, again.
• PATRON PICK: More leaks and sneak peeks at what Pixel Glow might be, this time on a laptop!

00:38:28 - HARDWARE

• The new line of Motorola Razr Foldables for 2026 are here!
• A leak of the Pixel 11 reveals more about the camera, the Tensor G6 and the specs
• A timeline emerges for the Clicks Communicator

00:55:36 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• Google is making Cars smarter with Gemini
• A new AI Assistant app was released by Google...and then disappeared
• Now you can make custom Multi-view screens on YouTube TV!

01:09:32 - COMMUNITY

• Mike from GA shares his take on people's reaction to smart glasses

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Huyen, Ron, and Jason look at the passage of time on Android and all that it brings. From an Easter egg that's a little long in the tooth, to the possible beginning of the end of the Fitbit brand. It's all here!

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00:02:21 - NEWS

• With Google I/O around the corner, it looks like the pre-show will be The Android Show a week before again...or will it?
• Reports indicate that OpenAI is developing a smartphone for 2028
• Need some "Proactive Assistance"? Gemini might be able to help you out soon
• PATRON PICK:The repairability revolution gets a bolt of support thanks to Fairphone who posted positive numbers in 2025

00:33:11 - HARDWARE

• It seems like something is happening to the Fitbit brand with Google Health waiting in the wings. Especially with the Fitbit Air on the horizon.
• Now Samsung has Smart Glasses, here's what they look like. They look like glasses.
• Want the OnePlus Watch 4? Well you can get it? Kinda? On AliExpress?
• And if you need a big tablet, the One Plus Tab 4 is coming out and it's pretty cool! If only anyone outside of India could get it.

00:54:47 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• Android 17 cannot be stopped! Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 is here, already!
• In a once in a decade move, Google is redesigning all their app icons and now with more gradients!
• Hey Samsung people, your OneUI 8.5 update is landing and you get AirDrop too!

01:09:59 - COMMUNITY

• Ken from Batavia, NY spins a tale of his switching from Android to iPhones and back again
• Tharanga from Melbourne, Australia is not pleased at all with Gemini on Google Home

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The gang is all back together as Florence Ion has an announcement for Jason Howell, Ron Richards and Huyen Tue Dao and the Android Faithful family!

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00:05:54 - NEWS

• Who is more loyal? iOS users or Android users? The results may surprise you!
• A huge update for Android Developers as the Android CLI and Skills introduce ways to build even faster
• PATRON PICK: Google Gemini is rolling out to Android Auto and the response is not great

00:39:00 - HARDWARE

• No really, the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold is really sold out this time. Samsung means it. But the Trifold 2 is coming and it will be thinner!
• What exactly is Pixel Glow and how will it light up future Google laptops and phones?
• The OnePlus Watch 4 preps for a global launch, but...really?
• Meanwhile in China, they unveiled the OnePlus Ace 6 Ultra which could be the gaming device we laughed at in last weeks' After Hours
• And yet, it looks like OnePlus is shutting down operations in Europe?

01:01:45 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• The 4th Beta of Android 17 is here and it may be light but it has an Easter Egg!
• Google Gemini amps up Nano Banana with Personal Intelligence to let you make even more, possibly creepy, personalized images
• Nothing made an app to help transfer files too between Macs and Android! It's called Warp and it went away but now it's back.

01:13:01 - COMMUNITY

• Mark Zip remembers we had apps to transfer files over a decade ago!
• Brad writes in with tales of repairing Pixel A devices successfully
• Raven reminisces about the Google Pixel 5 phone but in white.

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Proving that technology can make anything can happen in 2026, especially if you're rocking an Android phone, Ron Richards puts his Pixel 10 Pro to the test by doing the show via his phone's mobile hotspot from a hotel in the Midwest so he can join Huyen Tue Dao and Jason Howell for the latest in the world of Android!

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00:05:03 - NEWS

• Good news, kinda? Smartphone sales were up, slightly, in Q1 2026!
• And yet Samsung is quietly raising prices on their devices.
• Do you get a lot of scam phone calls? Google is working to protect you even more from them.
• PATRON PICK: The Google Pixel triumphs over Apple and Samsung in repairability but Motorola outpaces them all

00:34:55 - HARDWARE

• Check out this wild, wide foldable phone from Huawei
• Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is coming in July and looks to unveil the new, wider Samsung Galaxy Z Fold with an S-Pen?
• Missed out on the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold? Now's your chance to get one again at stores in malls across America.
• The Find X9 Ultra from Oppo leaks days before it's announced and it's full of photography goodness

00:54:52 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFF

• Apple may have Tap to Share, but now Google is bringing it to Android
• If you ever thought that the one thing Android Auto was missing was Google Meet, well the wait is over.
• Sometimes good things do happen to apps, in this case, Spotify now lets you turn off video completely in their app!

01:05:37 - COMMUNITY

• Michael writes in to share his loyalty to the stylus!
• David emails to remind Jason it was his tip back in the AAA days about isopropyl alcohol to remove sticky goo from tacky rubber devices

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Jason is joined by Huyen who just got back from Japan last night and somehow never crossed paths with guest Matteo Doni from TechTravelGeeks⁩  who was in Japan at the same time! The synergies in tonights show don't stop there either. Also, prepare yourself for Santa Howell and his grab bag of goodies from the archives of Android!

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00:03:24 - NEWS

• Samsung Messages Will be Discontinued in July
• 5 new features for Android XR
• PATRON PICK: Google Cast support rolling out to Samsung TVs, and not just the newest ones

00:28:23 - HARDWARE

• Motorola heard my plea, and the new Moto G Stylus 2026 might be the affordable Galaxy S26 Ultra we've been waiting for
• Great to see Lenovo announce this multi-year global partnership with David Beckham!
• Motorola and T-Mobile are bringing a new 5G tablet to the US, and it looks like it'll be easy on my wallet
• Device Startup Nothing Technology Plans to Release AI Glasses Next Year

00:54:59 - MORE HARDWARE

• Google just launched a special edition Pixel with exclusive wallpapers and icons
• Someone got a hold of the LG Rollable to show us all how it works, and it makes me wish LG were still around. But would you buy it?
• I held the OnePlus Nord 6, and it feels nothing like a 9,000mAh phone

01:15:51 - APPS

• @shimritby: Sweet news for our Google AI Pro subscribers!
• You can't filter Play Store reviews by your device model anymore

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