Pixelated

This week we talk about Google's first-party announcements from MWC, some Android Q tidbits that are trickling out, and more talk about foldable phones.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Wednesday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Thursday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Links:

Google Assistant coming to Messages for Android and more languages in Google Maps

Google Assistant button coming to more LG, Nokia, & Xiaomi Android phones in 2019

Google Assistant expanding multilingual support & bringing Voice Typing, Actions to KaiOS phones

Android One activations growing 250% YoY as Go on over half of entry-level Android phones

Android One quietly gets a new logo alongside MWC product launches

New Made by Google smartphones pass through FCC, likely ‘Pixel 3 Lite’ and Pixel 3 XL Lite’

Google helps make the password obsolete w/ FIDO2 support on Android, rolling out now

Google’s Oscars ad inserts Pixel 3, Assistant, and Home Hub into famous movies [Video]

Google testing Android Q navigation gestures that replace ‘back’ button and speed up multitasking

Google seemingly delays Android Q APIs that would open RCS messaging to third-party apps

Digital Wellbeing integration coming to Chrome on Android Q devices

Huawei Mate X goes official w/ foldable 8-inch notchless display, 5G, costs €2299

Getting up close with the OnePlus 5G prototype [Video]

OnePlus working on faster wireless charging tech, OnePlus 7 likely won’t offer the feature (again)

Samsung Galaxy S10 5G hands-on: Feels like a slightly bigger S10+, because it kind of is [Video]

Sony debuts Xperia 1 flagship with 21:9 4K HDR OLED, tri-camera system

Sony Xperia 10 line brings 21:9 displays to the mid-range, starting at $349

Nokia 9 PureView goes official w/ five cameras, Android One, $699 price tag

Nokia 1 Plus goes official w/ Android 9 Pie Go Edition, removable cover, costs just $99

Nokia 3.2, Nokia 4.2 go official w/ Android One, Google Assistant button, notification LED in button

LG V50 ThinQ hands-on: This is technically another folding smartphone [Video]

LG G8 ThinQ hands-on: The smartphone that doesn’t want you to touch it [Video]

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=WFWJSsU_mIw

This week we talk about a surprise GDC hardware event for Project Stream and Yeti, Samsung's slew of hardware announcements, and Mobile World Congress expectations.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Links:

Google hosting ‘Gather around’ press event at the Game Developers Conference next month

Source: Google plans to announce long-rumored ‘Yeti’ hardware at GDC event

Google I/O 2019 applications now open w/ drawing on Feb 28th, tickets cost $1,150

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is the first Android Foldable, available this April for $1,980

Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+ go official w/ ‘Infinity-O’ display, triple cameras, Snapdragon 855, $900

Samsung announces the Galaxy S10e, the first ‘budget’ Galaxy S device

Samsung’s first 5G smartphone is a super-charged Galaxy S10 w/ 6.7-inch display, 4,500 mAh battery

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active goes official w/ no rotating bezel, blood pressure monitoring, $200

Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e hands-on: A solid Android tablet with almost zero real competitors [Video]

Samsung Galaxy S10 listed online, spotted by users w/ 6GB of RAM despite being confirmed with 8GB

Google testing Android Q navigation gestures that replace ‘back’ button and speed up multitasking

Google seemingly delays Android Q APIs that would open RCS messaging to third-party apps

Digital Wellbeing integration coming to Chrome on Android Q devices

‘Huawei Mate X’ is the company’s first foldable phone, leaked banner provides a sneak peek

LG’s latest budget Android phones have Google Assistant buttons and small notches

Xiaomi Mi 9 goes official w/ Snapdragon 855, triple-camera, 20W wireless charging, $445

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=KEERmt1rtGk

This week we talk about some early rumors for Google's 2019 Made by Google event, Google Fi is now selling SIM cards at Best Buy, and Google Maps AR gets a detailed look.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Links:

Report: Made by Google 2019 lineup includes budget Pixel, Google Home, watch, new Nest Cam

Report: Google ramping up in-house ‘gChips’ development with India expansion

Google looking to hire a Vice President of Hardware Engineering for Wearables

Report: Google Pixel is the fastest-growing US smartphone brand w/ 43% year-over-year growth

Google airs Pixel 3 Playmoji ad featuring Childish Gambino during Grammys [Video]

Fuchsia Friday: Is Google testing Fuchsia on a larger Google Home Hub ‘Max’?

Latest Google Pixel AR ‘Playmoji’ brings Childish Gambino’s dance moves to your scene

Google Pixel Watch wishlist: A few must-haves for Google’s first home-grown smartwatch

It’s already time to start ignoring blatantly fake Google Pixel 4 leaks

Googler suggests that Pixel 4 could pack better dual-SIM support in AOSP commit

Google Fi SIM cards are now available at more than 500 Best Buy stores

Google Fi phones: Which phones can you use with Google’s MVNO?

Google Fi stops selling Pixel 2 XL, but will soon add Moto G7

Google Maps AR navigation coming first to Local Guides as UI detailed in first look

Google details VPS, ML tech behind Maps AR navigation and making cameras another sensor

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=uT7dT6yZhM0

This week we talk about Super Bowl ads, some more Pixel 3 Lite rumors, and new accessibility apps for Android.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Links:

Google posts ‘100 Billion Words’ Super Bowl commercial featuring Translate, Assistant [Video]

Google’s second Super Bowl 2019 commercial highlights ‘Job Search for Veterans’

[Update: New GIF] Google goes after ‘Phone X’ with Night Sight on Pixel 3 in latest ad

Google expands Home Alone Again cinematic universe with Joe Pesci reaction video

Google Search has a ‘Superb Owl’ Easter Egg for the Big Game

Google’s latest Pixel 3 Night Sight ad shows off behind the scenes of ‘Phone X’ comparison [Video]

Reported model numbers for Google ‘Pixel 3 Lite’ and ‘Pixel 3 XL Lite’ leak

Pixel’s February security patch elevates ‘About’ menu as update restart can now be scheduled

February security patch rolling out to Google Pixel, factory images and OTAs live

Google brings Live Transcribe and Sound Amplifier to Android phones for deaf or hard of hearing

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=t7tly5DhFCQ

This week we talk about the newly-revealed dates for Google I/O 2019, Gmail for mobile's redesign with the Google Material Theme, and controversy over Google's Screenwise research app.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Links:

Google plans to launch web client for its Duo video calling service soon

Google Voice for G Suite will be available outside the US, no consumer expansion plans

Google Voice VoIP calling is rolling out now, available to everyone by next week

Gmail for Android and iOS revamped with Google Material Theme, rolling out now

Hands on: Gmail for Android’s Google Material Theme isn’t radical, save for one new feature

Google I/O 2019 will be held May 7-9 at its usual Shoreline venue in Mountain View

[Update: ‘Solved’ already] Google I/O 2019 festivities kick off with its annual cryptic puzzle

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=P9GVyJmxGTQ

This week we talk about the beginning of the end for Google's longtime beloved chat app, Wear OS news, and some very interesting developments relating to Google's fledgling Fuchsia OS.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Links:

Google to transition consumer Hangouts ‘classic’ users to Chat & Meet after G Suite upgrade later this year

Google details Hangouts Chat & Meet upgrade timeline for G Suite ahead of October ‘classic’ retirement

Google acquires ‘select’ Wear OS-related IP, some R&D staff from Fossil in $40M deal

Fossil Sport Review: The best Wear OS watch for most people [Video]

Google poaches 14-year Mac veteran from Apple to bring Fuchsia to market

Google Pixel 3 XL is gaining Fuchsia support thanks to an indie developer

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=sBpTmyyoT-w

This week we talk about the arrival of RCS on Google Fi, the death of the Chromecast Audio, some CES leftover stories, and more.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Links:

Samsung to announce Galaxy S10 at February 20 Galaxy Unpacked event

Samsung blog post may have accidentally confirmed the Samsung Galaxy S10 design

Samsung’s foldable Galaxy phone may be on display at February 20 Unpacked event

Snapdragon 855 benchmarks tease a promising platform for this year’s Android flagships

Google’s CES 2019 booth had a coaster ride, self-aware advertising, and free Home Hubs [Video]

Hands-on: Brydge’s new keyboard and touchpad are rare Chrome OS-first accessories

Tech21 adds NFC-connected keyboard to a Pixel 3 XL folio case w/ ‘Made for Google’ Evo Type

Hands-on: Focals by North are AR glasses having their Pebble moment

Google Fi begins rolling out RCS Chat, upgrading international data speeds

Comment: Google Assistant’s ‘Pretty Please’ should not sacrifice utility in its quest to be kind

Google says it is discontinuing the Chromecast Audio

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides rolling out Google Material Theme redesigns on the web

You can now easily reset Adaptive Brightness in Android 9 Pie to factory defaults

YouTube’s new swipe gestures to navigate through video history, rolling out to iOS this week

[Update: Broken AOD, Pixel Launcher weather] Google app 9.0 preps Podcasts transcription, rounded Assistant, 9to5G shout-out [APK Insight]

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=l7zHaGMEBF0

This week we talk about the Google Assistant convention — otherwise known as CES. Lots of news surrounding Google Assistant-powered [everything!], Android, Wear OS, and more.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Ben Schoon

Links:

Google Assistant will soon be available on 1 billion devices as Google Home had ‘record’ 2018

Google sets up at CES 2019 w/ ‘Assistant Playground,’ monorail ads, giant LVCC banner [Gallery]

House of Marley announces portable, eco-friendly Google Assistant smart speaker

Klipsch debuts new smart soundbars, wireless speakers w/ Google Assistant built-in at CES 2019

JBL launching three new Google Assistant-equipped headphones this spring

Google Assistant finally arriving on Sonos One and Sonos Beam

Hum by Verizon will bring a Google Assistant speaker to your car, handy voice actions

Anker Roav Bolt adds an always listening Google Assistant mic to your car for $50

JBL Link Drive is a $60 always-on Google Assistant mic that integrates with any car, iOS, and Android

KitchenAid’s Smart Display is geared towards cooking w/ 10-inch screen, IPX5 water resistance

Hands-on: Lenovo Smart Clock is a perfect way to bring Google Assistant to the bedroom, new interface in tow [Video]

Lenovo Smart Clock brings Google Assistant to an adorable 4-inch smart display for the bedroom

Assistant for Google Maps adds voice commands, replies w/ auto-punctuation, more on Android, iOS

Google Assistant’s new Interpreter Mode turns Google Home, Smart Displays into a translation tool

Google Assistant adding flight check-ins & hotel bookings by voice, expanded lockscreen access

Google Assistant Connect is a new platform to make it easier to add Assistant to connected devices

Google Assistant and Android TV-powered JBL Link Bar officially shipping this spring

Dish building Google Assistant directly into Hopper DVRs for voice commands, control

Hands-on: Vizio SmartCast 3.0 enables Google Assistant to launch apps, switch inputs, and more

Samsung is adding support for Google Assistant in newest TV lineup

LG’s 2019 TV lineup brings Google Assistant, new chipsets, HDR, OLED, and up to 8K resolution

Philips brings Android TV models to US w/ microphones built in for Google Assistant, starting at $34

Asus announces Chromebook Flip C434 w/ premium metal body, edge-to-edge 14-inch screen

HP Chromebook x360 14 G1 is a premium Chrome OS 2-in-1 w/ 14-inch touchscreen

Asus unveils latest education Chrome OS devices at CES: two Chromebooks, new Flip, & first Tablet

Why AMD is making Chromebook chips, and how it’s beating Intel at the entry-level

Acer’s Chromebook 315 is one of the first Chrome OS devices powered by AMD

HP Chromebook 14 to be the first Chrome OS device with an AMD processor

Hands-on: Skagen Falster 2 gets new magnetic and reflective bands, ‘glitz’ design, now available

Kate Spade New York refreshes Scallop 2 Wear OS watch w/ NFC, heart rate sensor, still Snapdragon Wear 2100

Mobvoi Ticwatch E2 and Ticwatch S2 go official w/ Snapdragon Wear 2100, bigger battery

Hands-on: Matrix PowerWatch 2 is a fitness-tracking smartwatch that uses body heat for power, integrates Google Fit

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=dYn3e9ej5Rg

This week we talk about our thoughts on this past year in Google, our expectations for CES 2019, and a supposed Pixel 3 Lite that's coming to the United States?

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Top Stories:

TiVo may debut an Android TV device soon, potentially arriving at CES 2019 next month

[Update: Likely not] LG reportedly bringing a foldable smartphone to CES 2019

LG unveils new high-end soundbars with Google Assistant baked in, showcased at CES 2019

Samsung may deliver Google Assistant on its 2019 Smart TVs

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL ‘Lite’ reportedly launching this spring in the U.S.

Made by Google profit estimated at $3B for 2018 as Pixel, Home hardware gains ‘traction’

Google Pixel 3 gets score of 101 on DxOMark, ties with iPhone XR as highest rated single lens phone

Google to move its Messages web app from Android.com to Google.com

Best Android smartphone of 2018: What would you pick? [Poll]

Official Android Pie update now rolling out to Galaxy S9 family in some regions

FCC approves Project Soli, allowing Google to continue with radar-based input method

AT&T replacing LTE indicator on Android phones in early 2019 to ‘5G E’

Everything we knew about Fuchsia’s UI, Armadillo, is gone

Google Duo hits 1 billion downloads on the Play Store

Chrome for Android to get a healthy dose of Google Sans

Google reportedly halts Dragonfly development on censored search after privacy team complaints

Fuchsia Friday: A first look at the Fuchsia SDK, which you can download here

Comment: At $360, today’s Google Pixel 2 deal makes it the best Android phone to buy

Some Google Pixel 3 shipments from recent promos have apparently been delayed w/ no ETA

Google Cloud won’t sell facial recognition tech yet, ‘working through’ policy questions

Google will invest $1 billion in a massive Hudson Square New York City campus

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=z5nHY4aXD24

This week we talk about Google's messaging mess with the shutdowns of Hangouts and Allo, some followup on the Pixel Slate, Google Chrome, and much more.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Play, 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 Friday and published on Saturday 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:

Stephen Hall

Abner Li

Top Stories:

Google addresses Pixel 3 RAM management, camera performance, and more w/ December security patch'

More carriers to support Pixel 3 eSIM as Google helping build more eSIM Android phones

Google Call Screen transcripts now rolling out to Pixel users, here’s how it works

[Update: Google statement] 2019 is your last year to use Google Hangouts ‘classic’ if you haven’t moved on already

After months-long ‘pause,’ shortlived Google Allo messaging app will soon be sunset for good

Google officially confirms Allo shutdown for 2019, move away from ‘classic Hangouts’

Say goodbye? I say Allo: A brief look at the past, present, and future of Google messaging

Google Allo 27 preps for shutdown w/ new chat and photo/video export [APK Insight]

Hands-on: Hangouts Chat is still far from ready to replace ‘classic Hangouts’ for consumers

[Update: Rolling out] Verizon launching Universal Profile RCS ‘Chat’ for Pixel 3 on December 6th

Google Duo for Android rolling out faster video messaging

[Update: Now back, Duo, Android Messages for Webtoo] With one foot in the grave, Google’s Allo is currently down for most users

Microsoft confirms Edge rewrite based on Google’s Chromium for ‘improved compatibility’

Microsoft ‘intends’ for its Chromium-based Edge browser to support existing Google Chrome extensions

Chrome 71 for Mac, Windows, Linux rolling out w/ ad removal on abusive sites, billing protection

Chrome 71 for Android rolling out w/ settings tweaks, billing warning, more

December security patch rolling out to Pixel & Nexus, factory images and OTAs live

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=qZ6o13IDnNg