Android Police

And to think that we recorded this episode on Tuesday! Crack onto Thursday and Stadia goes kaput. But alas, we're here with a great show this week as people deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian and as we look ahead to more severe weather for as long as we live. We talk about how to prepare and what's coming to help on the tech side. That and a lot more on the Android Police podcast.

04:40 | Check out our Pixel Bracket!

• Android Police on Twitter

15:46 | Weather troubles

• How your phone can help you prepare for emergency weather
• The best weather apps for Android

23:47 | Walled garden of games

• Apple Arcade Adding 4 New Originals Including Tom Hanks Trivia (gamerant.com)
• Netflix wants another games studio and it'll build it by itself
• Oxenfree delisted on Android in favour of new Netflix version (droidgamers.com)
• Logitech's G Cloud gaming handheld arrives today with an obscene price tag

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Daniel walks on the edge of buying an Apple Watch Ultra, Will calls out Apple for doing a bad job of copying Android's always-on display, and Ara just wishes cases for foldable phones were better. It's a quintessential episode of the Android Police podcast and it starts with Pixel news...

02:14 | Tensor tension and Watch strapping

• The Pixel 7's Tensor G2 has a lot of surprises for a boring upgrade
• Pixel Watch retail leak suggests Google thinks it can get away with Apple Watch pricing
• The Pixel Watch could come in four colorways

19:23 | My Fold or Flip for a good case!

• Google's Pixel 7 cases could actually be worth buying this year
• Shout out to Smartish

32:27 | Never-sleep displays and other odd ends

• Apple's hubris is standing between the iPhone and a fully baked always-on display
• Check out the ambitious, unreleased LG Rollable phone in this hands-on video
• The Apple Watch Ultra is the rugged fitness watch Samsung should have made

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Sometimes our work gets in the way of other work and that's what happened last week with the Android Police podcast. But we promise this week will be a heckuva one with Apple bashing, Android smashing, and some ass kicking. Get out of our way. Or get in it. In your ears.

02:38 | Apple cores

• The Apple Watch Ultra is the rugged fitness watch Samsung should have made
• As Android wants to get rid of hole-punch cameras, Apple doubles down with Dynamic Island
• Google apps want in on iOS 16's lock screen widgets and we're not at all jealous or anything

17:54 | Google up

• Google could make the 256GB Pixel 7 more widely available than Pixel 6
• Google's next budget Chromecast shouldn't be prohibitively priced, after all
• These wild new Emoji Kitchen thumbs-up combos are pure nightmare fuel

31:25 | Google down

• Google cuts funding to Area 120, kills half of its projects prematurely
• Google is reportedly finished making Pixelbooks
• Google’s record Android EU fine won't be overturned, confirms court

41:39 | Why can't you two just get along?

• Tim Cook would rather sell you an iPhone than bring RCS to iMessage
• The sooner Android accepts RCS is dead, the sooner we can choose the next messaging platform that matters
• The iPhone 14 still can't perform a very simple task

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Berlin isn't known for potpourri, but we're making our own here with the Android Police podcast. Join the usual suspects plus our Europe Editor Manuel Vonau from outside IFA 2022 as we pick out some of the cool stuff from the trade show.

6:11 | Your starter course...

• Lenovo's first 120Hz Chromebook debuts at IFA — but it's not for gaming
• Oppo Reno 8 Pro’s third launch brings its low-light specialist camera to more markets
• Lenovo Glasses T1 (lenovo.com)

20:21 | Phones in action

• Sony's Xperia 5 IV is a pared-down flagship that still costs four figures
• Samsung is bringing the affordable Galaxy A23 5G and its 120Hz display to the US
• Nokia’s new Circular phone subscription is built with sustainability in mind

34:27 | Lightning round

• Samsung starts dunking on the iPhone 14 a week early
• USB4 is upgrading to 80Gbps, because apparently 40Gbps was just too darn slow
• Google and Qualcomm tease satellite connectivity for Android phones

Honorable mention (Manuel was headed here next):

• Honor 70 first look: A significant step forward

Find the team on Twitter - @ManuelVonau @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Daniel is off again this week, but we have our own Stephen Schenck in with Ara and Will to discuss our virgin experiences with foldable phones of the Galaxy variety (we're talking about the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fold 4). And if that wasn't enough Samsung coverage for you, we've also got Galaxy Watch 5 chat on the way, too.

It's been a good, long week of testing and writing, so this show is just our labor of love to you, dear listener.

01:25 | Flip and Fold fo(u)rth!

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review: How I learned to stop worrying and love foldables
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review: Futurephone

21:35 | Lumps of metal on your wrist

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 review: Suffering for slimness
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review: All-star battery, minor league fitness tracker

Find the team on Twitter - @stephenschenck @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Google gave us an Android 13 surprise earlier this week and we have a special surprise guest because sometimes we like to show off — it's Jerry Hildenbrand from Android Central! And with a show that's pretty much hardcore Google, you're in for a treat. Tiramisu, to be specific.

01:49 | Commissioner Gordon says...

• Android 13 review: The update we need, not the one we want
• Android 13 breaks automatic clipboard syncing, and Google won't fix it
• Google won’t let you downgrade your Pixel 6 or 6a from Android 13 — here’s why
• Google’s official Android 13 statue sure looks a bit like a butt

32:38 | In other Pixel-related news...

• Pixel 6 Pro mod promises extended battery life by making one little tweak you might not even notice
• Ongoing Pixel 6a 90Hz display testing shows better success
• Google Pixel tablet going 64-bit-only? That's a big deal

Find the crew on Twitter - @gbhil @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

The Android Police podcast has been preparing for today and you get this lovely episode for our efforts. So, what's so great about the stuff Samsung Unpacked today? We have hands-on coverage and many more opinions from the usual suspects as well as our point man for Samsung stuff, Zachary Kew-Denniss!

01:52 | Zac holds up his Galaxy Z Fold 3 against the Fold 4.

14:43 | Will flips for the Flip 4

27:31 | Watch 5 has Ara feeling feelings

41:06 | Executive Daniel executive sums up the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

• Samsung just Unpacked the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Fold 4, the two coolest phones of the summer
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 & Flip 4 hands-on: A little progress, lots of polish
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro hands-on: A real gem of an upgrade

43:52 | Oh, boy, is Google really going on about RCS again?

• Google calls on Apple to 'fix texting' and adopt RCS messaging

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @shutupzac96 @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

This week on the Android Police podcast, we celebrate some more ChromeOS catch-ups, seek ad and tracker salvation from Google, and pick over the Pixel Buds Pro and more of the Pixel 6a.

2:13 | Daniel has some words about the Pixel Buds Pro and 6a.

• Google Pixel Buds Pro review: Catching up, tuning out, and rocking on
• The Pixel Buds Pro aren't even out yet, and the best colorway is already selling out everywhere
• Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Google Pixel 6a: Which deserves your $450?

21:36 | Will strolls by some new Play Store policy and some lagging cookie replacement policies. Also, the inevitability of big smartwatches in the next few years.

• Play Store lays out new rules to curb intrusive full screen ads
• Google's scheme to kill cookies needs a little more time in the oven
• It's time for the era of big smartwatches

45:00 | Ara takes us into overtime with some of ChromeOS's sprucing up.

• Chromebooks are getting a new video editor from Google Photos with some pro-level features
• Chromebooks are finally getting the automatic light and dark themes you've been waiting for
• Google Photos integration keeps your Chromebook desktop looking fresh with minimal effort

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

The embargo's been lifted and we can finally talk about how we feel Google's new Pixel 6a has changed us for the better. That, or, we can just talk about it. Plus, other new phone launches in the next few weeks and a patch of tumult in Android launchers. All this week on the Android Police podcast!

2:21 | The hot topic.

• Google Pixel 6a review: Regression is the better part of value
• Check out how Google's new Magic Eraser camouflage feature works before the Pixel 6a arrives next week
• Qualcomm's new chips might be what Wear OS needs to turn around — if they actually deliver

19:16 | Will takes us through what Samsung and OnePlus wanna do.

• Galaxy Unpacked is official for August 10, and Samsung's already offering big reservation bonuses
• OnePlus 10T is making its formal debut on August 3 in New York

31:54 | Ara's got dirt on Nova Launcher and Lawnchair

• One of Lawnchair's core developers has ceased his involvement with the launcher
• Nova Launcher has been acquired by analytics company Branch

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0

Well, whaddya know? It's our regular episode of the Android Police podcast and we have our Europe Editor Manuel Vonau on to talk about his Nothing Phone (1) review. And you know it's super-fresh because we recorded it this morning!

2:07 | Nothing.

• Nothing Phone 1 review: Premium design meets midrange everything else

20:14 | We're in Ara's hands (or on her wrists, I guess?) now...

• Samsung teases One UI 4.5 for Galaxy Watch4's new keyboard experience, watch face options, and more
• Qualcomm teases its next-gen Snapdragon Wear chip, and we couldn't be more excited

31:19 | Will cleans it up with Android 13 and Sonos's sledge to Google

• Android 13 Beta 4 is here to convince you it's ready to be your daily driver
• Google would rather ruin its products than pay Sonos

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @ManuelVonau @AraWagco @Will_Sattelberg @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

Music - "18" and "34" by HOME licensed under CC BY 3.0