Pixelated

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the first product release from Google fo 2021 and the new developer preview of Android 12.

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

Google announces 2nd-gen Nest Hub with Soli-powered ‘Sleep Sensing’ for $99Google discontinues the original Nest Hub following successor’s debut Google Home 2.34 adds real-time Nest Wifi usage and network history graphsHere’s everything new in Android 12 Developer Preview 2 [Gallery]Android 12 DP2: Dark theme on Pixel gets even lighterAndroid 12 DP2: ‘Game dashboard’ to add quick access to recording, YouTube streaming, moreAndroid 12 DP2: People Space widget takes shape, reminds you to talk to your friends and familyAndroid 12 DP2: Google Pay surprisingly already works

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 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the possibilities of what will be on the Pixel 6 as rumors drop, the features that were added to Chrome OS 89, and the future of Chromebooks.

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

Google Pixel 6 likely to adopt centered hole punch camera, 4K selfie videoGoogle Camera 8.2 improves long-press video recording, rolling out to Pixel 5 and moreChrome OS 89 is a big update that adds Phone Hub, Tote, screen recording, and moreGoogle wants to make Chromebooks of the future more intelligent and connected

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 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss new Pixel features, rumors for Pixel 5a, the new Nest Hub, and more.

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

March Pixel Feature Drop: Underwater photos, Gboard Smart Compose, and moreHere’s what underwater Pixel 5 photos look like [Gallery]Purported ‘Pixel 5a’ renders suggest Google’s next phone is basically the Pixel 4a 5GSources: Google launching a new Nest Hub in 2021 that uses Soli for sleep trackingSources: New Nest Hub looks like the original, Soli sleep tracking tied to Google FitNest Hub and Smart Display ‘Photo Frame’ loses ‘experimental’ Facebook, Flickr sourcesGoogle releases three new Nest Hub and Hub Max clocks

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 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the changes seen in the developer preview of Android 12. Changes to notifications, what new settings there are, new gestures that are in, and those that are coming.

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

Google launches Android 12 Developer Preview for Pixel phonesNotifications redesigned w/ bigger icons, dedicated snooze buttonNotifications to gain ‘Automatic’ option for whether or not to alertPrivacy toggles can block camera and microphone with a tapMarkup tool now lets you add emoji and text to screenshotsYou can now edit any image with the Markup tool meant for screenshots‘Reduce Bright Colors’ button tones down screen brightnessNavigation gestures work instantly in fullscreen appsDark theme on Pixel is no longer AMOLED blackWallpaper-based theming tool showcased ahead of release [Gallery]Settings app gets revamp with new search barHere’s a look at One-handed mode in action [Video]Lockscreen readies redesign with larger clockScrolling screenshots are here, but disabled for nowLockscreen and notification shade media player gets UI redesignPixel 5 readies ‘Double tap’ gesture, doesn’t work yetAndroid TV 12 preview is now available, months ahead of previous releases

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.

Transcription

Abner Li: And welcome to alphabet scoop episode one theme. This week, we are discussing everything. The thing about Android 12, which launched last as they unexpected which is a day or eight compared to the past five years or so. But we had a week to live with Android 12 and. We've we we've dived a lot into it.

Android 12 Developer Preview launches

[00:00:31] So just to get, to get out of the way, this is starting with a developer preview, there will be three of them followed by full betas and then the before final release, but Android 12 live now, as it is every year is just for developers. And this year Google with. And like 12, what for developers? They want to give them new tools for building great experiences for users.

[00:01:03] That's the official quote. And we're definitely seeing that in notifications, for example, that may have been completely redesigned with bigger icons, the, a bit more friendly. Google has the, we arranged everything again. And. I think for the most part it's well, in the case of the media player, I like how they went back to enlarging the cover art after shrinking at this with Android, you Evan.

[00:01:35] So there's some nice peaks, all lounge. We won't get to appreciate any of the changes until active app has stopped updating the apps, but so far so good. 

[00:01:47] Kyle Bradshaw: I don't know though. It seems interesting with the, that this that they're talking about tools to give to developers for, for great experiences.

[00:01:54] And it just doesn't feel like that's the, that's not what I would describe as what we've seen with Android 12 so far, that seems to be the promise of Android 12, but it doesn't feel like what we've seen so far. None of the, the headline changes to Android 12 feel. Like their developer empowering or, or experience driving, 

[00:02:17] Abner Li: you know, I can see that, but I, I think in some ways…

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the leaked Android 12 mockups, what new features are possibly coming, App Pairs, return of "Columbus", and more.

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

Android 12 design mockup leak reveals radical visual overhaul, first features [Gallery]Android 12 working on in-depth theming system that can even recolor appsAndroid 12 set to revamp split screen with ‘App Pairs’Android 12 should mark return of ‘Columbus’ double tap gesture for PixelsGoogle updates Android Beta Feedback app ahead of Android 12 Developer Preview

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.

Transcription

Kyle [00:00:02] Hello everybody, and welcome to Alphabet Scoop Episode one hundred and twelve the 12th, they're being surprisingly appropriate as you'll learn more in a minute. And I'm joined here with Avner this week. Then Ben will not be joining us as he is a bit under the weather, but feeling better? I haven't watched you jump on into what we can't count on with Android 12.

Leaked Android 12 mockups

Abner [00:00:27] So, yes, on Tuesday, we had a rather unprecedented week of what looks to be Android 12. So before the start of any developer preview, Google shares, of course, they share this stuff with their partners. And apparently one of the documents that highlights the high level changes in Android 12 was Thelo a screenshot and made public. And this gave us what by all by all accounts, is what Android is going to look like. So starting on this, the. Bold screenshot of a new home screen that for the most part, it looks like the pixel launcher on Android, you happened today, but there it is a stark difference in that it is themed. The wallpaper is theming the rest of the system. And one of the reasons we think this week is very much authentic is because just last month we had a our own reporting about such a feature, which Kyle is going to dove into. 

Kyle [00:01:56] Right. 

Android 12 in-depth theming system

Kyle [00:01:56] So we found that Android 12 is going to expand the work that's got started with Android 10, where Android introduced the idea of light theme and dark theme. Android 12 seems to be adding this much deeper, far more colorful theming system where you can choose one of a few preset colors. So don't go thinking you can choose one of a million different colors. It's you got presets, but if you can choose one of a few preset colors or have it be chosen for you based on your wallpaper, and the majority of Android is going to recolor itself to that theme, to the point that even even third party apps, if they so choose, can use that theme. Which is really bold and interesting and it. 

Kyle [00:02:58] It's the. 

Kyle [00:03:00] The cornerstone, really, of all of these screenshots is these leaked mockups is this this color system, it's unavoidable even in the camera app. 

Abner [00:03:11] So one of the examples of that extending into third party applications is in this mock up. Anyway, we see the dock with full apps, the phone app, the clock app and the camera, everything but the Web browser. It matches the wallpaper. And that the background is is the same color that matches these mountains and hills that's in the…

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.