Android Police

We're in a gap week between the Android 13 beta drop and Google I/O and we're talking about what we would do if we dropped a highlighter-yellow Pixel Bud in snow that someone peed on. It's the Android Police podcast.

1:12 | Daniel draws on new leaks (and last week's chat about spatial audio in Android 13) for some major ANC audio gear from Google and Sony.

• Rumored Pixel Buds Pro could take advantage of Android 13's new audio tech
• Google Pixel Buds A-Series review: Drop beats, not bucks
• Android 13 Beta 1 hints at the Pixel 6 picking up this audio feature from iPhones
• Sony XM5 headphones may not offer better battery life than their predecessor, after all

16:35 | On the Chromebook beat, Ara brings up her experiences with Acer's Chromebook 514 and we wonder exactly who it fits.

• Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (3H) first look: Return of the Ryzen
• The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook comes with a haptic trackpad and optional 5G connectivity
• Asus reveals three new Chromebooks, including one for gamers
• Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (2021) review: The best Chromebook of 2021

29:24 | In other news, Google finally begins abandoning passwords for account logins and the Galaxy Watch5 may get a Pro tier.

• Google is bringing passwordless authentication support to Android and Chrome
• Leaked Samsung Galaxy Watch5 codenames cement the existence of a pro model

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

Reach out to us - [email protected]

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

Google finally dropped the beta this week and we're thrilled to be joined by none other than Mishaal Rahman, senior technical editor at Esper and co-host of the Android Bytes podcast.

02:39 | We start with the view thus far for Android 13. Rahman's continuous changelog is unmatched as a resource for this.

• Android 13 Deep Dive: Beta 1 Changelog (esper.io)

15:51 | So, where does Beta 1 take us? We have our initial impressions.

• Android 13 Beta 1 hands-on: A smooth, squiggly, and subtle upgrade
• Feature focuses: system photo picker, notification permissions, per-app languages, and spatial audio.

32:39 | A quick detour to the Pixel Watch leak everyone's talking about.

• Here's what it looks like to actually wear the Google Pixel Watch

Find the team on Twitter - @journeydan @AraWagco @RyneHager (in for @TaylorKerns this week) @PointJules

Reach out to us - [email protected]

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

Daniel's worn down by COVID, we're worn down by the wait for Wear OS and Android 13 beta updates, and everyone's getting worn down by Netflix. Let us commiserate.

02:55 | A quick gripe session on how Google is dragging its feet in releasing the first Android 13 beta.

• Android 13: Everything we know about Google’s next-gen operating system

05:00 | We're getting all excited about Wear OS 3.1 — including when Google Assistant will make the jump — and the Pixel Watch even though we still have plenty of waiting to go, it turns out.

• The Google Store has been redesigned, and it looks like it’s preparing for the Pixel Watch
• The latest Pixel Watch leak offers our best look yet at the upcoming Google smartwatch
• Google Assistant still isn't quite ready for the Samsung Galaxy Watch4

17:06 | Netflix knows it is bleeding subscribers and will continue to do so as it begins cracking down on password sharers. Add to that the spectacular implosion that is the end of CNN+ and we're wondering what the heck streaming has in store for us...

• Netflix's latest shareholder letter should be anxiety inducing for anyone using a shared password
• Scoop: CNN+ looks doomed (axios.com)

27:39 | Let's calm down a bit and talk about Google Seed Lab's latest arts-and-crafts project called Little Signals: tiny robots befitting your coffee table or high shelf that help take the place of your phone for notifications.

• Google's Little Signals experiment uses air to send distraction-less notifications
• Google's Little Signals experiment finally has me excited about Digital Wellbeing

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

Reach out to us - [email protected]

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

That's specifications speculation to you. Welcome back to another week here at Android Police. Here's what's been tickling our heads this time:

02:31 | Daniel has a "mish-mosh" of topics surrounding the Pixel 6a as well as a gut check on the Pixel 6. Plus, the iFixit-Google partnership and a step ahead for right-to-repair supporters.

• Google Pixel 6a hits FCC, and at least one version will have mmWave 5G
• Google releases Android 12 QPR3 beta 2 for Pixel phones
• Google's new DIY repair program will let you fix nearly any Pixel phone in your collection
• Google Pixel 6 bugs & how to fix them: Delayed updates, biometric failures, signal issues, and more

13:43 | Ara brings us on a dipsy-doodle through the Pixel experiences that have her coming back time and again.

• Google has disabled Hold for Me and Call Screen on the Pixel 6 after the December update
• New Google Pixel bug is changing ringtones and alarms for some
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra vs. Google Pixel 6 Pro

22:11 | Taylor wishes macro photography on Android phones were as great as how Apple was able to show it off on iPhones...

• These stunning iPhone macro photos make me wish Samsung took macro photography more seriously
• The Pixel 5's camera is so good that I've ditched my mirrorless cam while traveling

28:05 | Free storage on Google Photos is coming back... to T-Mobile customers.

• T-Mobile will soon offer unlimited Google Photos storage — for a price

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

Reach out to us - [email protected]

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

Welcome back to the Android Police Podcast: the podcast that insists it's not the Android Central Podcast, but that's because two of our hosts came from there. Don't be too harsh on them, there's always a first time.

Whether you're an old friend or new to us, this is as good a place to start as any. Here's what we're talking about:

02:54 | Daniel gets everyone to talk about their experiences with the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra.

• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra review: A mostly portable powerhouse
• The top 5 things we'd change about the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
• Move over, Fold3! The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 takes the crown as most popular foldable phone
• Why your brand-new smartphone will scratch just as easily as your old one (The Verge)

13:52 | Ara has gripes about Android launcher customization and Material You's color picking

• Our favorite Android app launchers for 2022
• How to use Samsung's Smart Widgets on your One UI 4.1 phone
• Material You upgrades its dynamic colors in Android 13 DP2
• The 8 best apps updated for Material You

23:02 | Taylor turns heads with the latest of his perennial iPad reviews.

• iPad Air (2022) review: Making $1,000 Android tablets look silly
• The 2021 iPad Mini is my favorite tablet you shouldn't buy
• Review: The Google Pixel Slate is a beautiful mess - but mostly just a mess

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

Reach out to us - [email protected]

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