Pixelated

This week we talk about Google Pixel Slate and our review, thoughts, answer some questions, and much more. We also talk about the Brydge G-Type keyboard, Google Fi's rebranding, 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

Top Stories:

Review: Google Pixel Slate serves as an excellent ‘B’ to the Pixelbook’s predictable A/B test

The Google Pixel Slate is at the same time its own worthwhile — and as I’ll argue, great — device with its own attractive qualities, but also a very familiar user experience that seems grasping for a purpose…

Review: Brydge G-Type keyboard for Pixel Slate solves the problems with Google’s version

Google Pixel Slate definitely isn’t perfect, but it has at least one big thing going for it: its detachable tablet form-factor means you actually get some choice when it comes to keyboards (unlike with a laptop like the Pixelbook). This also means you’re going to have to buy a keyboard if you want one — whether that be a Google-made one or a Made for Google one. At launch there are a couple options to pick from, and the Brydge G-Type might be the best one you can buy right now.

Google Fi drops ‘Project’ and adds MVNO support for most Android devices, iPhones

Back in 2015, Project Fi launched as Google’s take on cellular service and has over the years added new features, as well as support for more phones. As suggested earlier this month, the MVNO is now simply called Google Fi and vastly expanding its Android device compatibility and supporting iPhones.

More Links:

Alleged photos of Pixel 3 Lite aka ‘Sargo’ leak w/ headphone jack, Snapdragon 670 [Gallery]

Alleged Google Pixel 3 Lite ‘Sargo’ camera samples leak [Gallery]

Latest Pixel 3 Lite ‘Sargo’ leaks show off the budget device alongside other Pixels, iPhone XR [Gallery]

Cam Compare: Pixel 3 XL Night Sight vs OnePlus 6T Nightscape [Video]

Google launches Pixel 3 ‘Unswitchables’ ad campaign to target iPhone users [Video]

Google Duplex now available for Pixel owners in ‘select cities,’ here’s what it looks and sounds like [Video]

Google Pixel 3 XL buzzing issue will be patched ‘in the coming weeks’

[Update: Google responds, fix coming] ‘Fatal error’ camera bug plagues some Pixel 3 units, Google refusing replacement devices for some

Digital Wellbeing for Android 9 Pie exits beta, available on Google Pixel and Android One

Google ‘Call Screen’ will enable saving transcripts starting later this year for Pixel users

Comment: With Black Friday deals, now is the time to go all-in on a Google-powered smart home

Google Home Hub testing new brightness, volume, & alarm controls in latest firmware

Lenovo Smart Display update delivers new cooking features, additional Home Hub functionality, more

Comment: Lenovo Smart Display (8-inch) may be a better Black Friday buy than Google Home Hub

LG’s Google Assistant smart display launches for $300, holiday savings cut it to $200

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=xvt-Cdv6hso

This week we talk about Android dark themes are becoming more popular, Night Sight is rolling out for everyone, and a new Google Glass has passed through the FCC.

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 encouraging Android dark themes to conserve battery life

Users have long requested Android dark themes for their apps. With demand only rising due to the inherent brightness of the Google Material Theme, Google’s apps have begun to adopt night modes. Now, the company’s own research can quantify the battery savings involved with darker interfaces.

Night Sight now rolling out to all Google Pixel devices for spectacular low-light performance [Gallery]

If you read a hundred reviews of any Google Pixel smartphone, you’ll come away with the consensus that these phones are worth it for the camera alone, and that’s very true. Lately, Google has been working some magic behind the scenes to make these cameras even better. Starting today, Google Pixel Night Sight is rolling out to all users.

2nd gen. Google Glass Enterprise Edition gets FCC certification, brings minor spec bumps

Google introduced Google Glass Enterprise Edition last summer, more than two years after we first broke the news on the device’s existence. Since then, the company has been working on a followup to that enterprise-focused mixed reality headset with some minor tweaks in tow. Today, that device passed through the FCC and we’re getting our first peek at a rough sketch.

More Links:

Google Store Black Friday starts this week: Pixel 3 BOGO 50% off, $99 Home Hub, $300 off Pixelbook, much more

Google adds messaging to Google Maps for iOS & Android to communicate with businesses

Android apps in split-screen soon won’t pause thanks to ‘Multi-resume’

Google Play Store has denied Tasker access to Android call and SMS capabilities

Android’s sharing menu will be redesigned to be much ‘faster,’ fixing is a priority

Manual Google Drive device backup support rolling out to Android now

PSA: Broken Google Pixel 3? Google and uBreakiFix are essentially helpless for now [Updated]

Night Sight now rolling out to all Google Pixel devices for spectacular low-light performance [Gallery]

Google Store Black Friday starts this week: Pixel 3 BOGO 50% off, $99 Home Hub, $300 off Pixelbook, much more

Google Home and Smart Displays will soon support replying to Broadcasts, add recipe cards, more

Google Clock integrating w/ Assistant Routines as Google Home can soon enable phone DND

DeepMind team working on AI medical assistant joins newly-formed Google Health

Google planning health initiative, appoints leader to organize AI, Nest, & Google Fit interests

Fossil Sport brings Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset for $255 w/ NFC, 41mm case, available today

2nd gen. Google Glass Enterprise Edition gets FCC certification, brings minor spec bumps

Waymo self-driving car service launching within two months, directly competing w/ Lyft & Uber

Project Fi’s ‘enhanced network’ adds free cellular VPN, enables mobile data on poor Wi-Fi

Google adds messaging to Google Maps for iOS & Android to communicate with businesses

Gboard using on-device AI to suggest relevant GIFs, stickers, & emoji as you type

Google developing new capabilities to make web apps as feature-rich as native counterparts

Google Weather and Search no longer displaying air quality data on Android or web

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=F58KL8Te-_0

This week we talk about new support in Android for Android Foldables, Pixel Slate pre-orders go up, and is Google considering a Nest rebrand of its smart home products?

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 announces support for Android Foldables device category

With Samsung expected to preview its highly rumored foldable smartphone today, Google announced Android support for this new device category. Named “Android Foldables,” Google is laying out the basic groundwork by taking advantage of existing Android features.

Google Pixel Slate pre-orders now up at Best Buy, Amazon, and Google Store

The Pixel Slate is the only Made by Google 2018 product that has yet to be released, with the company only noting availability for later this year. Meanwhile, since the 10/9 event, a Best Buy listing has featured a November 22nd launch date, with the retailer today putting up Pixel Slate pre-orders.

Source: Google working on a ‘Nest’ rebrand

Google is working on a Nest rebrand, according to a source. The discussions are still early, our source warned, and it’s still unclear when such a change would actually see the light of day.

More Links:

Samsung reveals foldable ‘Infinity Flex’ display on prototype hardware ahead of launch next year

Samsung reveals ‘One UI,’ its new design language, launching w/ Android Pie this January

Google to start testing Android Slices in Google Search w/ popular apps this month

Samsung’s Android Pie open beta hits Galaxy S9 and Note 9 this month, public release January 2019

Google Pixel Slate has finally hit the FCC, is now one step closer to release

Google is returning to CES 2019 with the biggest outdoor booth at the show

‘Bonito’ codename emerges in ARCore alongside new possible Google ‘Sargo’ device

Google will roll out an update to Pixel 3 to fix memory management issues ‘in the coming weeks’

November security patch rolling out to Pixel/Nexus devices, factory images and OTAs live

Google Pixel 3 ‘Sights of Sound’ pop-up experience coming to 5 U.S. cities this fall

Hands-on: Apple’s new USB-C headphone adapter is your cheapest option for analog audio on Pixel

Death of the Nexus: Final guaranteed OTA updates hit Nexus 6P and 5X

Now Playing History from Pixel 3 rolling out to Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Google Pixel 3 update no longer shows ‘Charging Rapidly’ when on 5W wireless chargers

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=tIcdgWCU9dg

This week we talk about some fun Halloween Googley stuff, some interesting tidbits surrounding Pixel and other Made by Google products, and other random Android news.

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:

Made by Google talks design, Cast over Android Things on Home Hub, and Netflix

Google Pixel 3 XL bug adds a bizarre second notch to the side of the phone, fix coming

Sundar Pichai talks Google Pixel challenges, but ‘everything is progressing well’

Google Home Hub vs. JBL and Lenovo Smart Displays: What’s the difference? [Video]

2018 Material Design Award winners announced, all featuring unique Material Themes

Pie still absent in October distribution numbers, Oreo now 2nd most used version of Android

OnePlus 6T goes official w/ 6.41-inch display, smaller notch, in-display fingerprint, T-Mobile, $549

Huawei Mate 20 Pro review: Insane camera, battery and everything but the kitchen sink [Video]

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 goes official w/ no notch, sliding camera module, 10GB RAM, Snapdragon 845

RED Hydrogen One Review: Unique, but almost no one should buy it

Samsung Galaxy S10 reportedly launching w/ 5G, slimmer bezels, camera under display, possibly no headphone jack

LG reportedly bringing a foldable smartphone to CES 201

Samsung working with Google on ‘special version of Android’ for foldable phone ‘Winner’

Hands-on: OnePlus 6 gets Nightscape and other OnePlus 6T features in OxygenOS Beta 6, how to install [Video]

Feedback?

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_tQYGtz-iE

This week we talk about issues that people are having with the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, our thoughts post-review on the Google Home Hub, and Google prepares for EU ruling...

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:

[Update: Proprietary standard] Google Pixel 3 handicaps fast wireless charging on 3rd-party chargers, full speed only on Pixel Stand

Google Pixel 3 seems to have a memory management issue which kills background apps, affects camera

All Google Pixel devices will be updated ‘soon’ to fix camera bug that doesn’t save photos

Google Pixel 3 has poor audio recording, but its flawed ‘tuning’ is fixable via software update

Verizon Google Pixel 3 is SIM-locked, will need to be unlocked to use on other carriers [Update]

Google Pixel 3 can’t be unlocked with ‘Voice Match,’ replaced w/ ‘personal’ Assistant results

PSA: The best way to tell Google what’s wrong with the Pixel 3 is right from your phone

Google’s ‘Night Sight’ feature on Pixel 3 is simply impressive, here are some samples [Gallery + Video]

Google Home Hub Review: At the intersection of useful and just plain cute [Video]

You can now watch YouTube Kids on Smart Displays, Google Home and Cast TVs

Google Home Hub supports Duo video calls after all, recipients only see profile picture

Digital Wellbeing apparently starting to roll out to Google Home users

Lenovo already rolling out ‘Home View’ and other Google Home Hub features to its Smart Displays

Google charges as much as $40 per Android phone for its app suite under EU ruling

Google seemingly preparing Assistant for Europe Android app unbundling w/ Voice Action Services

Android phones in Europe without Google Search will have a basic voice ‘assistant’

Feedback?

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYIvv6rHhC8

This week we talk about our review and impressions with the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL after about a week.

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 Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL Review: Third time’s a charm [Video]

In-depth Pixel 3 XL display test puts Google in the same ballpark as Samsung and Apple

Google AI details the Pixel 3’s Super Res Zoom and notes best practices [Video]

Google offering $50 store credit with Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL pre-orders

Some Google Pixel 3 pre-orders have already started shipping to customers

Google Pixel 3 XL teardown confirms Samsung AMOLED display, gives peek at Titan M chip

Google Pixel 3 dual front-facing speaker test — compared w/ Pixel 2 XL, Home Mini, more [Video]

Feedback?

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph_Pb6bxVEM

This week we talk about yesterday's Made by Google 2018 event. The Mountain View company announced the Google Pixel 3, Google Home Hub, Google Pixel Slate, Google Pixel Stand, and more. We share our initial impressions.

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 Pixel 3:

Google Pixel 3 hits Verizon website ahead of launch, confirms basically everything

Google promo leaks Pixel 3, Home Hub, and Pixel Slate in its entirety [Video]

Google announces Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL w/ new design, wireless charging, Snapdragon 845, more

Google Pixel 3 & Pixel 3 XL first impressions: Initially delightful in the way Pixel 2 wasn’t

Google Pixel 3 XL has an option to hide the notch for a ‘traditional look’

Hands-on: At first glance, Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are just what we expected [Video]

As expected, Google Pixel 3 supports Android Pie’s gesture navigation exclusively

Google Pixel 3 XL appears to have an ‘A+’ OLED display with ‘Best Smartphone Display’ award

Google Pixel 3 tidbits: Vastly improved displays, ‘Night Sight’ samples, ‘Now Playing’ history, more

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL now available for pre-order on Google Store from $799

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL in Japan to get nine exclusive designer cases w/ AR support [Gallery]

Hands-on: Every ‘Made by Google’ fabric case for Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL [Gallery]

Google Pixel Stand

Google Pixel Stand brings wireless charging and Assistant features to Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL for $79

Hands-on: Google Pixel Stand turns your Google Pixel 3 into a Google Home [Video]

Google Pixel Slate:

Google announces Google Pixel Slate, its first Chrome OS tablet w/ powerful specs, optional keyboard

The Google Pixel Slate Keyboard is a premium, multipurpose accessory

Hands-on: Google Pixel Slate brings the true Chrome OS tablet debut [Video]

Google Home Hub:

Google announces Google Home Hub, its 7-inch Assistant Smart Display

Google ‘Home View’ is a dashboard with easy home controls for Home Hub, Home app

Other stuff:

Google Duplex launching next month as Pixel 3 gets smart ‘Call Screen’

Google quietly refreshes Chromecast w/ improved Wi-Fi, still 1080p, new ‘Chalk’ color

Google’s new $30 USB-C earbuds bring Pixel Buds features, Assistant, real-time translation

Hands-on: Google Pixel 3 & 3 XL, Google Home Hub, Google Pixel Slate, more [Video]

Feedback?

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkXpmJ2ZW0E

This week we talk about next week's Made by Google 2018 event, the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL, Google Home Hub, Google Pixel Slate, Google Pixelbook 2, Google Pixel Stand, Chromecast, 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:

Google Pixel 3 & 3 XL

Google confirms Pixel 3 pre-orders opening October 9th, again teases its arrival and colors

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL leak out in rumored pink ‘Sand’ color ahead of launch

Google teases ‘Active Edge’ for Pixel 3 in quirky teaser video for Japan [Video]

Google pokes fun at ‘Pixel Ultra’ with ‘mini Pixel’ that some would actually buy

Google Pixel 3: What the 9to5Google team is looking forward to most [Video]

Google Home Hub

Google Home Mini is now available in a minty blue ‘Aqua’ color

Google Home Hub: Everything we know about Google’s new Smart Display so far

Hands-on: Google Home Mini’s new ‘Aqua’ colorway is more like… ‘Kinda Cyan’ [Gallery]

Google Pixel Slate & Pixelbook 2

[Update: More models] Google Pixel Slate benchmark reveals Core i7, 16GB RAM, and other specs

Google Pixel Slate, aka ‘Nocturne’, may support dual-booting Windows 10

Google Pixel Slate: Everything we know about Google’s new flagship convertible tablet so far

Chromecast, Pixel Buds, and more

[Update: More photos] Third-generation Chromecast hardware leaks, shows refreshed design w/ Google logo

3rd-generation Chromecast leaks again as part of Google ‘Smart TV kit’

More stories this week:

Google’s Project Stream will let you play ‘Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’ in Chrome

LG Watch W7 is the first hybrid Wear OS watch w/ mechanical hands, 100-day battery, $450

LG V40 ThinQ goes official w/ 6.4-inch notched display, thinner bezels, five cameras

Review: Thoughts on the iPhone XS Max from a longtime Android user [Video]

Google hid an elaborate text adventure Easter Egg in Google Search

Feedback?

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaYP1NDLnNQ

This week we talk about even more Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL leaks, the Google Pixel Stand, the Google Pixel Slate tablet aka 'Nocturne', and Google turns 20!

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:

Here’s a look at the Pixel 3 XL’s ‘Come Alive’ and ‘Living Universe’ live wallpapers

Official-looking Google Pixel 3 & Pixel 3 XL marketing images leak in black and white

Google Pixel Stand leaks in new press render, may support fast charging w/ Pixel 3

Leaked ‘Pixel Tips’ video for Google Pixel 3 teaches Android 9 Pie, shows new camera UI, more

Google announces ‘I

This week we talk about the big Google Home Hub leak, the Nocturne Pixel tablet leak (probably Google's?), and the first look at the long-rumored Pixel Stand for the Pixel 3.

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 Home Hub’ is Google’s first-party Smart Display, leaks in new renders

Google Home Hub may be priced aggressively at $149, a reported retail listing says

Comment: A few places Google Home Hub can one up the Smart Display competition

Brydge accidentally reveals its new Chrome OS keyboards, possible Pixelbook hardware

Google Pixel 3 ‘pink’ variant hinted at in Japanese teaser site source code

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL leak again in first purported official press renders

Google Pixel 3 teaser page for Japan gets a new URL, minor updates

Latest Pixel 3 XL leak focusses on dual front-facing cameras, new Google Assistant UI

Possible first look at Google’s ‘Pixel Stand’ charging accessory for Pixel 3/XL [Update]

More stories this week:

Google Daydream testing AR, 6DoF controllers w/ ML, and mobile Android apps in VR

Here’s every new Android phone being announced in October — it’s going to be a busy month

Hands-on: Fuchsia OS, meet Chrome — or at least a rudimentary Chromium build [Video]

Google, carriers begin enabling ELS on Android for more accurate location when calling 911

Google Play Points rewards program goes official, only works in Japan for now

Google Photos 4.1 preps new ‘live albums’ that auto-add people, pets [APK Insight]

Gboard 7.6 briefly enables floating keyboard, preps Smart Reply, more [APK Insight]

Gmail’s Smart Reply prototype thought ‘Sent from my iPhone’ was a good response

Gmail will soon let you disable Smart Reply on the desktop

Feedback?

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-TKCHseVUA