Android Faithful

We've got an exciting pair of new phones to look at as Jason Howell and Mishaal Rahman are showing them off to Huyen Tue Dao and Ron Richards along with the latest in the ongoing sagas from the world of Android

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00:04:40 - HARDWARE

• First looks at the OnePlus 15
• Comparing the Nubia Z80 Ultra camera to the Pixel 10 Pro
• Rumors and renders of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
• The Samsung Galaxy XR might be available in more countries in 2026

00:35:20 - NEWS

• The Google Vs. Epic legal drama took a surprise turn towards a settlement?!? And what does this mean for sideloading?
• The November PIxel Drop is here and it's filled with some cool new features
• Patron Pick: A YouTuber put phone batteries to the test and the results are fascinating!

01:07:55 - APPS

• Launcher news! Niagra launcher has themes! Another Nova Launcher update! There's a new minimalist launcher aimed at older adults and beginners!
• OpenAI's SORA app is now available on Android
• Big Gemini updates to Google Maps and Android Auto

01:22:44 - FEEDBACK

• MattBatt writes in with memories of his LG G4

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It's Election Night in the US and Jason Howell, Huyen Tue Dao and Ron Richards are abuzz with the world of Android ranging from Android Developer updates to AI powered Robots and phones with physical keyboard.

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00:09:07 - NEWS

• Well, it's happened - Google has opened up the Play Store's gates in the US after the Epic Games court ruling
• Android Developers take note as Google announces new tools and programs for Google Play plus new AI experiences on The Android Show
• A leaker reveals exactly how Cellebrite can hack into Pixel phones
• Patron Pick: Why don't the best Android phones ever make it to the US?

00:44:58 - HARDWARE

• Experience the LOOI Robot which turns your phone into an AI Powered, desktop robot!
• Hands on with the Unihertz Titan 2 and it's elegant physical keyboard
• The Samsung Galaxy S26 will be unveiled in San Francisco next February along with so much more AI stuff
• A new gaming phone is teased by Ayaneo
• 10 years later, we get more looks at Project Ara's modular smartphone

01:09:13 - APPS

• Android 17 could bring full-screen apps to your phone’s always-on display
• Lineage0S now supports the Pixel 9A and the OnePlus 13
• Home screen widgets are coming to Android Auto!

01:18:13 - FEEDBACK

• Chuck in Thousand Oaks follows up with what he did with that free phone number from Verizon
• Will from Oregon points out that Nova Launcher just released an update, what's up with that?

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The pre-Halloween vibes are setting in as Florence Ion shares her scary experience with Google Home and Gemini seeing ghosts with Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards along with the other shocking Android news of the week.

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00:09:19 - NEWS

• It gets creepy as Google Home starts hallucinating people in houses
• Nothing appears to be going the bloatware route in favor of revenue, can you blame them?
• Fitbit's AI-Powered personal health coach enters public preview
• Patron Pick: Wanna be a meme? Google Photos has you covered

00:44:08 - HARDWARE

• Get your first glimpse of the blue Google Pixel 10A
• The OnePlus 15 gets confirmed specs, especially the massive battery. It's real!
• Ever think you wanted a denim backed phone with a 2.1 stereo speaker system powered by Bose? Dreams do come true thanks to RedMi
• Samsung reshuffles the Galaxy S26 lineup...again and it's very familiar!

01:05:21 - APPS

• The YouTube video player redesign rolls out across Android
• Google might be fixing the flaw in Calling Cards
• Google Wallet gets in on the Live Updates action

01:12:32 - FEEDBACK

• Larry from Kennewick, WA checks in with an update to his upgrade to the Google Pixel 10 Pro

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The time has finally come as Samsung announces and rolls out the Android XR headset formerly known as Moohan, now known as the Samsung Galaxy XR and Jason Howell was hands on with the new headset and is here to share the experience with Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards.

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00:01:58 - NEWS

• OnePlus rolls out OxygenOS 16 to rave reviews
• Google's deadline for changes from the Epic lawsuit gets closer
• RIP Privacy Sandbox, but no this doesn't mean privacy is dead on Android
• Patron Pick: Android phones are skipping Qi2, and Nothing thinks it knows why

00:28:50 - HARDWARE

• The OnePlus 15 is launching this month...in China! Next month for the Global rollout. And it has an enormous battery
• And OnePlus' sister phones, the Oppo Find X9 and X9 Pro get released
• We're blown away that the Galaxy S26 Edge is getting canceled so quickly after release
• Xiaomi is all about those rear displays after insane sales of the 17 series
• Hey Pixel Superfans, Google wants you to test the next line of phones!

00:57:44 - GALAXY XR

• Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy XR and Android XR

01:23:12 - FEEDBACK

• Seamus from Mexico leads the charge of the many people who wrote in about using LineageOS
• George is using GrapheneOS to avoid Google
• Joey has made a lifelong commitment to Pebble Watches

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Huyen Tue Dao makes her triumphant return to the show just in time to join Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards to talk more AI in Android, the latest leaks with Android XR and weigh in on watches!

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00:02:00 - NEWS

• In the court room, Google thinks they should be allowed to bundle Gemini with their apps
• Wear OS 6 comes to older versions of the Pixel Watch
• Ahead of it's return, Pebble relaunches it's appstore!
• Patron Pick: Not to be pushed around, LineageOS releases Android 16 despite lack of support from Google

00:32:00 - HARDWARE

• Florence Ion weighs in with her review of the Pixel Watch 4 and the Pixel Buds 2A
• Google reveals how they built the hinge on the Pixel 10 Pro Fold without gears
• We get the most comprehensive collection of leaks ahead of Project Moohan's release from Samsung, maybe happening soon?
• Motorola gets in on the thin phone game with the latest version of their Edge 70 device

00:58:45 - APPS

• Whew! Google Messages will now protect you from NSFW videos containing nudity
• Details on the potential Theme Manager coming to Android
• Nano Banana continues it's meteoric rise within Google as it expands to more apps

01:09:42 - FEEDBACK

• Larry from Kennewick, Washington wants to know if he should get the Pixel 10 Pro?
• Andrew is considering jumping from the Pixel to Samsung, what should he lookout for?
• Craig shares his own personal unlimited storage workaround scheme

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Well, Google Home welcomed Gemini into it's doors and many of you had lots of passionate reactions. Mishaal Rahman, Jason Howell and Ron Richards are here to process those emotions plus all the other Android related news and happenings from the week that was.

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00:03:40 - NEWS

• Finally, Gemini gets added to Google Home along with new hardware and lots of changes.
• Listen to our exclusive interview with Anish Katukaran, Chief Product Officer of Google Home
• Nothing takes a step forward with AI and vibe coding, kind of, with Nothing OS 4.0 Beta
• The Supreme Court won't save Google (yet) from their battle with Epic Games
• Patron Pick: Details on how Google's App Verification system will work

00:39:38 - HARDWARE

• Rumors and renders aplenty about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus
• More rumors that the Samsung Android XR headset will be shipping to Korea on October 22!
• No rumors here, just facts that the Samsung Galaxy Z series is a hit!
• Who needs a USB Cable with their phone? Manufacturers might be thinking you don't!

00:55:26 - APPS

• Computer Control may be coming from Google to let LLMs automate and use your apps
• Google removes the ICE Reporting app Red Dot from the Play Store
• Pour one out for the last subscription option for unlimited photos storage in Google Photos

01:08:46 - FEEDBACK

• David reacts to our Google Home interview with his displeasure and lack of trust in Google
• Adam writes in with his frustration over disabling the Google Home Brief
• Matt wants to know where Spoken Notifications are on his Pixel Buds!??!

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We're back with another special edition of Android Faithful as Florence Ion and Mishaal Rahman talk with Anish Katukaran, Chief Product Officer of Google Home and Nest, about the launch of Gemini for Home, replacing Google Assistant, and updating smart home intelligence. They touch on rollout challenges, multi-user experience, a redesigned Google Home app , and smarter automation features.

00:00 - Podcast begins

01:58 - The journey of bringing Gemini AI to Google Home

04:41 - Addressing consumer skepticism and trust in Google’s smart home products

04:41 - Challenges faced upgrading old Nest and Google Home devices

08:41 - The decision to build future-focused AI rather than patch existing tech

09:43 - Testing and rollout strategy for Gemini’s AI in real homes

14:03 - New features like Gemini Live and natural language automation creation

17:39 - Pricing and subscription changes with Home Premium tiers explained

22:48 - Accuracy and source attribution differences across devices with Gemini

24:59 - Managing family and different user profiles with Gemini for Home

26:49 - Favorite new features and improvements in the Google Home app

32:00 - The future rollout plans and ongoing improvements for Google Home

32:42 - Big thanks to Anish Katukaran!

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It's whirlwind of stops around the Android universe as Mishaal Rahman, Florence Ion and Ron Richards track the comings and goings from Google, Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, F-Droid and more!

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00:02:30 - NEWS

• Android for PCs is a real thing and it's coming in 2026
• Amazon makes good on their departure with the new Fire Stick NOT Running Android
• A Samsung Galaxy Ring got stuck on someone's finger after battery exploded.
• Patron Pick: Linux apps will soon run on Android even better, with graphics and that means good things for the platform

00:36:35 - HARDWARE

• We're getting many glimpses of the new OnePlus 15, including a close up of the new camera system and color
• Hands on with he new Xiaomi 15T Pro and the Xiaomi Pad Mini
• New processors have landed with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 & MediaTek Dimensity 9500

01:07:35 - APPS

• Details on how Android's version of Apple's Handoff will work
• A storm is brewing with F-Droid as they react to Google's new app store requirements and limits to sideloading
• Proton Mail launches a brand new app with a new design
• Google updates for the Phone app on Pixels and AI powered conversational based edits roll out on Google Photos for everyone

01:25:06 - FEEDBACK

• Jeff in Knoxville, TN shares an example of a Samsung FE customer
• Chuck from Thousand Oaks, CA shares his experience with eSim and the Pixel 10

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Huyen Tue Dao and Jason Howell decide that two is the right number for episode 115. Plenty of talk about where Gemini is headed (turns out, everywhere at this point), Jason has a brief review of the TCL Nxtpaper 60 Ultra, and Huyen details the walkie talkie feature of Nothing's new earbuds.

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• Nothing OS 4.0 announced with refined design, updated dark mode and quick settings
• Motorola Android 16 Update Begins Rolling Out to Edge 60 Pro and Edge 50 Fusion
• Sony Xperia 1 VII gets huge Android 16 software update
• Exclusive: Your First Look at Samsung One UI 8.5
• Here's every new feature for Pixels in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2
• Android 16 QPR2 may let you flip your Pixel's navigation bar like on Samsung phones
• PATRON PICK: I regret to inform you Meta’s new smart glasses are the best I’ve ever tried

• Nothing’s Ear 3 buds have a walkie-talkie style ‘super mic’
• Nxtpaper 60 Ultra brief review
• Samsung’s Android XR headset has a new October 21 launch date, report claims
• Samsung’s biggest new phone in years may launch in the US this year

• New ways Google Play is built entirely around you
• Introducing the Google Play Games Level Up program
• Google is finally changing its tune about call recording on Pixel phones
• Google is bringing the fun of custom Androidify bots to your Wear OS watch face

• @dmgerbino on X got an Android Faithful mug!
• Ron Johnson thinks Google fixed a camera issue with the Pixel 10 Pro XL

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Mishaal, Florence, and Jason finally close the loop on one of the longest running gags from the All About Android days, and it involves fences. Plus, are Android's open roots eroding before out eyes? The Galaxy S26 leaks hard, and Jason unboxes the Infinix GT 30!

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00:00 - Podcast begins

07:06:09 - NEWS

• Android 16 QPR1’s source code is nowhere to be found, but Google swears it’s coming
• Samsung Begins Official Rollout of One UI 8 to Galaxy Devices
• Google wants to make Android phones safer by switching to ‘risk-based’ security updates
• Patron pick: We now know how Quick Share for iPhone will work, and there's bad news

00:40:15 - HARDWARE

• Infinix Announces Global Launch of GT 30, Further Expanding Its Gaming Device Lineup
• Official Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro CAD Renders
• Galaxy S26 Pro's Cameras May Be Less "Pro" Than You Expect
• Galaxy S26 Ultra: Samsung May use an Old Periscope Camera Sensor
• Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro, S26 Edge to offer same charging speed as predecessors
• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: The name, the power, the why
• Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max teaser reminds you that one screen might not be enough
• MediaTek Dimensity 9500 Launch Date Announced; Company Designs Its First Chip Using TSMC’s 2nm Process

01:09:33 - APPS

• You can finally remove fences in Google Photos, and the results are crazy
• Android will soon be able to theme every app icon, and Google Play won't let developers opt out

01:20:25 - FEEDBACK

• Jeff thinks Android vulnerability reporting is overblown!

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