This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the shut down of first-party games for Stadia and the impact this might have on the future of the platform.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Kyle Bradshaw

Links:

Google shuts down efforts to publish first-party Stadia games as Jade Raymond departs

Is Stadia dead? Not quite

How to export & download your game saves from Google Stadia

What is the future of Stadia without first-party games?

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week we recap everything announced by Samsung today at the Galaxy S21 event from the trio of phones to new earbuds and a tracker. We then highlight the top things announced at an otherwise quiet CES 2021.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Kyle Bradshaw

Links:

Galaxy S21 unboxing and first impressions: No charger, but a whole lot of phone [Video]

Samsung Galaxy S21 series goes official w/ Snapdragon 888, S Pen, $200 price drop

Galaxy Buds Pro can cancel out or amplify ambient noise, switch between devices for $199

Samsung ditches microSD card support on all Galaxy S21 models

Samsung is bringing SmartThings to Android Auto

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag works like a Tile tracker, available from $29

Google Messages is ‘native’ on Samsung Galaxy S21 as Discover is default feed

Asus Chromebook Flip CM5 goes Ryzen with gaming-centric keyboard

Acer Chromebook Spin 514 launches next month with AMD Ryzen, starts at $479

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 cuts costs w/ $549 starting price, mid-range specs

TCL adopts Google TV in 2021 models starting in the United States

Sony embraces the new Google TV interface on 2021 ‘Bravia XR’ lineup

TCL and Alcatel launching trio of Android tablets, including one w/ color E Ink competitor

Google completes acquisition of Fitbit, reiterates privacy promises

Fitbit says Google deal won’t affect third-party services

Google Store marks Fitbit acquisition closing with prominent banner message

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week we talk about our report of a new Nest Hub that will feature Soli-powered sleep tracking, as well as the upcoming line of Nest security cameras. We then preview and make predictions about what we want to see in the Made by Google 2021 roadmap.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Kyle Bradshaw

Links:

Sources: Google launching a new Nest Hub in 2021 that uses Soli for sleep tracking

New Google device passes through FCC, possibly a Nest Hub with Soli

The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is officially out of stock

Google Nest will release a new line of security cameras in 2021

Leaked Android document points to Google Pixel 5a, foldable Pixel, and more in the pipeline

Google ‘Pixel 5a’ makes first appearance in AOSP days before Pixel 4a launch

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also soon rate us in Google Play, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week we talk about Stadia’s trio of big launches from Cyberpunk 2077 to Ubisoft+ and iOS support. We then say goodbye to the Google Home Max, but end on a happier note with some major developments for Android, Fuchsia, and CloudReady OS.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner LiBen SchoonKyle Bradshaw

Links:

Ubisoft+ arrives on Google Stadia starting todayCyberpunk 2077 is now available on StadiaHow well does Cyberpunk 2077 run on Google Stadia? [Video]After bumpy start, Stadia handles demand for Cyberpunk 2077, while PC players wait on patchCyberpunk 2077 finally lets Stadia prove itself as last-gen hardware strugglesGoogle closes Stadia’s Cyberpunk 2077 hardware giveaway early due to ‘overwhelming’ demandGoogle Home Max officially discontinued after going out of stockGoogle thoroughly redesigns Assistant Routines with easier set-up/editing & sunrise/sunset triggersGoogle acquires CloudReady OS that turns old PCs into Chromebooks w/ plans to make official offeringGoogle is opening Fuchsia OS development to the publicGoogle, Qualcomm lay the technical groundwork for 4 years of Android updates

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also soon rate us in Google Play, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

https://youtu.be/ivgChxjoTFs

This week we talk all about the December Pixel Feature Drop and the slew of features that it brought to the Pixel 5. We then touch on the intersection of Android and Google Assistant, as well as some messaging issues that users are facing.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Links:

December Pixel Feature Drop: Adaptive Sound, Connectivity, Charging, and better GPS for Pixel 5

December Pixel Feature Drop: Hands-on with all the new additions [Video]

Pixel 5 and 4a 5G first to get Android’s ‘spectacularly’ improved GPS accuracy in cities

Pixel 5 gets ‘Conveyor Belt’ background with Pixel Live Wallpaper update

Google bringing Barely Blue Pixel 4a to one more country this month

Google Pixel phones now take screenshots instantly, just like Samsung and iPhone

[Update: OTA in progress] Google rolling out the final Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL update

[Update: Rolling back] Carrier Services update seemingly breaks SMS on some Android devices

[Update: More widely available] Google Messages rolling out end-to-end encryption to beta users

Google Assistant routines can now be added to your homescreen, rolling out now [U]

[Update: Rolling out] Apple Music is now available on Google Assistant speakers

Gboard rolls out updated default theme for beta users w/ new font [U]

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also soon rate us in Google Play, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week we talk about Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 chip that will power next year’s flagship devices. We then check in on the Pixel 4a 5G and why it’s the surprise of this year’s lineup before closing on what’s new with Stadia. 

Alphabet Scoop is available Google Podcasts, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, and through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Kyle Bradshaw

Links:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 is 2021’s flagship Android processor, 25% better performance [U]

Pixel 4a 5G review: The price-perfect Pixel [Video]

2020 Pixel buyer’s guide: Which is the right Pixel for me? [Video]

Pixel 4a vs. Pixel 4a 5G: Which is the right affordable Pixel for you? [Video]

Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 5: Which is the right choice for you? [Video]

Hands-on: Outcasters is a quick, fun, and surprisingly addictive Stadia exclusive

Journey to the Savage Planet is coming soon to Stadia w/ exclusive content

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also soon rate us in Google Play, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQuiCzwYFGw

This week saw Google announce an absolute flood of news from Assistant Driving Mode and end-to-end encryption for RCS in Messages finally happening to a brand new Google Pay. We then talk about everything the Stadia team announced for the streaming service’s one-year anniversary.

Alphabet Scoop is available Google Podcasts, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, and through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Kyle Bradshaw

Links:

Assistant Driving Mode in Google Maps arrives, but only as ‘early preview’

Google releases limited edition ‘Barely Blue’ Pixel 4a

New Google Pay app is now available in early access w/ redesign, rewards, more [Gallery]

Google Pay launching ‘Plex’ bank accounts with Citi, other partners next year

Google completes global RCS rollout as Messages starts testing default end-to-end encryption

Review: One year later, Google Stadia is still a diamond in the rough

Stadia will be playable on iOS via Safari in the coming ‘weeks’

Stadia set to expand to ‘more EMEA regions’ later this year

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also soon rate us in Google Play, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkD5I7pfy7Y

This week, we talk about Google giving away free Stadia Premiere Edition kits to YouTube Premium subscribers. We then swing to the other end of the spectrum and dive into Google Photos no longer offering unlimited High quality backups.

Alphabet Scoop is available Google Podcasts, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, and through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Kyle Bradshaw

Links:

YouTube Premium subscribers in US, UK can claim a free Stadia Premiere Edition bundle [Updated]

Stadia adds player profile pages w/ share button, game and friend lists

You can now easily share Stadia screenshots and clips

Stadia adding support for capturing voice chat during video clips

Destiny 2 is leaving Stadia Pro after a year of being free to claim

Destiny 2: Beyond Light is available now on Google Stadia

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is now available on Google Stadia

Google Photos ending unlimited free backup next year, cites ‘growing demand for storage’

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides will count toward storage caps, new auto-delete policies announced

Pixel 5 and older phones will retain unlimited ‘High quality’ Google Photos backup

Is Google Photos still worth it without unlimited free storage? [Poll]

How to export your pictures and videos from Google Photos

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also soon rate us in Google Play, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

https://youtu.be/G2dVxUDCsPE

This week, we have extended Pixel 5 thoughts from the team and take a crack at the screen-body gap that Google says is normal. We then have impressions on the new Nest Thermostat, and then wrap up on other hardware happenings.

Alphabet Scoop is available Google Podcasts, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, and through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Kyle Bradshaw

Links:

Pixel 5 Review: An exercise in compromise [Video]

Some early Pixel 5 buyers are seeing a small gap between the display and frame

Pixel 5 teardown reveals wireless charging cutout, use of clips to attach screen

Google says Pixel 5 screen and body gap is ‘normal part of the design’

Google Store running ‘Pixel 5 $5G’ sweepstakes with $5,000 Google Pay prizes

Google Pixel 4 vs Pixel 5: Worth the upgrade? [Video]

Google brings HVAC monitoring, early warnings to all Nest Thermostats

Unused marketing hints at using Nest Audio as ‘home theater sound system’ for Chromecast with Google TV

Sundar Pichai teases Google’s ‘deeper investments in hardware’ and roadmap next year

Feedback?

Drop us a line at [email protected]. You can also soon rate us in Google Play, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

https://youtu.be/PBdXnWDjzms

This week, we talk about everything Google announced at Launch Night In. It was a tight 31-minute show that saw the Chromecast with Google TV, Nest Audio, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. We've also had time to go hands-on with the new Chromecast, so send us your questions!

Alphabet Scoop is available Google Podcasts, iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, and through our dedicated RSS feed for Pocket Casts and other podcast players.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts:

Abner Li

Stephen Hall

Links:

[Update: Netflix too] Google Store sells out of ‘Sky’ and ‘Sunrise’ Chromecast with Google TV

Google will sell an Ethernet adapter for its new Android TV-powered Chromecast

The $30 Chromecast won’t be discontinued, but Chromecast Ultra will only be sold w/ Stadia

You can use a USB-C hub with the new Chromecast for Ethernet and more, but it’s not easy

The new Chromecast’s remote can remap its YouTube button to YouTube TV, Music, and Kids

Chromecast with Google TV comes with color-matching AAA batteries

Google’s new Chromecast is built using recycled plastic, with no black model as a result

Stadia won’t be on Google Chromecast at launch, but it’s coming in the first half of 2021

Chromecast with Google TV is available today for $49 with a remote, Android TV OS

Google launches Nest Audio speaker, successor to Google Home, available Oct. 5 for $99

Google Pixel 4a 5G officially launches w/ 5G connectivity, $499 price

Another Pixel 5 hands-on reveals ‘audio zoom’ for video, revamped camera UI [Video]

Pixel 5 turns off face retouching by default as part of Digital Wellbeing in Google Camera

Google confirms that Pixel 5 drops the Pixel Neural Core chip

Pixel 5 and 4a 5G come with free Stadia Pro, YouTube Premium, storage, and Play Points

Pixel 5 & 4a 5G camera samples show off Night Sight improvements, ultrawide, more [Gallery]

Here are the official Pixel 5 wallpapers [Download]

Someone in the UK unboxed a Google Pixel 5 retail demo unit [Video]

Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G will be able to watch Netflix in HDR

Google Pixel 5 uses a hole in the aluminum and a ‘bio-resin’ to enable wireless charging

Pixel 5’s new ‘Hold for Me’ uses Google Duplex to distinguish between recorded and live humans

Google Pixel 5 won’t ship in the US until October 29

Google announces Pixel 5 with wide-angle lens, 8GB RAM for $699 on October 15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjROz4B13CE