Android Faithful

It's the annual CES 2024 mega-super-duper-crazy-awesome Android extravaganza, featuring Sandeep Chivukula from Google!

Featured in this episode:

NEWS

• Deep dive with Sandeep Chivukula, Director of Product Management for Multi-Device Experiences at Google
• QuickShare, Fast Pair on big screens, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Tablet content hand-off, Matter on Google TVs for Home control.
• A slew of Android announcements for the car
• RCS getting dual SIM support on Google Messages
• Android 15 could support replacing the Assistant summons with apps like ChatGPT
• Patron News Story Pick: Google Password Manager gets a new shortcut

CES HARDWARE

• Mishaal goes hands-on with the ASUS ROG Phone 8
• TCL goes big with new NXTPAPER devices
• TCL goes bigger with the largest TV set in North America (with Google TV)
• Lenovo announces a ThinkBook that runs Windows when docked and Android when detached
• Samsung teases AI features with its Galaxy Book 4 news
• Hisense also shows off a very large Google TV
• Xgimi is bringing Google TV heat to its projectors

NON-CES HARDWARE

• Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 will power the next generation of XR experiences
• Oppo Find X7 has not one but two Periscope cameras

COMMUNITY

• You talk about Pocket Casts, but what about Podcast Addict?
• Why so much about sharing files? Isn't that what the cloud is for?

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JR Raphael of The Intelligence returns to the show to join Jason, MIshaal and Ron to discuss the latest in Google and Android updates plus some hands-on Gamer gear and some rumors of the Pixel 9 line.

Sign up for The Intelligence today and get $25 off your membership with the code: iloveronrichards - https://theintelligence.com/insider/

NEWS

• Google has a bunch of updates to Shopping, Maps and Circle to Search
• Latest in the upcoming Android 15 is protection from stingray devices
• Google may be bringing Gemini to phones but it's going to be a RAM hog
• RCS is coming to iPhones this Fall, according to Google
• Patron Pick: Android 15 could revamp the volume panel and make it collapsible and plus, Android 15 prepares revamped status bar and Mishaal isn't having it!

HARDWARE

• Pixel 9 rumors and leaks are heating up and it looks like there might be three phones in the line
• The Vivo X Fold3 is the lightest book-style foldable yet - it's so thin!
• Mishaal is hands on with the GameSir X2s Type C mobile gaming controller
• If you like photography then you'll want to check out the Xiaomi 14 Ultra photography kit

APPS

• Google Podcasts is going away, make sure you find a new podcast app!
• Gemini now automatically starts Google Maps navigation
• Got too many Chrome tabs? They've got a fix for that

COMMUNITY

• Dan M. is having a hard time with audio on the OnePlus Watch 2
• Jon and Eric write in with Maps while on the phone solutions
• Mike S. has a tip for battery drain on the Pixel 7A

Thanks to JR Raphael of The Intelligence for joining us, check out all his great work over at The Intelligence - https://theintelligence.com/

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Ron, Huyen, Jason, and Mishaal have a hard time sifting through the sheer volume of big Android news this week, but have no fear: There's an exclusive piece of news that Mishaal breaks on the show complete with a shiny new breaking news bumper and the gang celebrates a little too hard.

NEWS

• @MishaalRahman: Here is what's new in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2
• Android 15 might let you send text messages via satellite
• Google finally enables display output on the Pixel 8, here's what it could mean for a DeX-like mode
• Patron News Story Pick: SpaceX says its satellite service aced tests on Android and iPhone
• Apple is working to make it easier to switch from iPhone to Android because of the EU
• @MishaalRahman: Google also announced yesterday that they will begin showing "additional choice screens" for users setting up an Android device in the EEA.
• @MishaalRahman: Google has shared details on its new external offers program, the program they created to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act.
• To comply with DMA, WhatsApp and Messenger will become interoperable via Signal protocol

HARDWARE

• Pixel 8a will be more expensive: colors, prices, memory of the new Google phone
• Google confirms Pixel 8a is coming with Android’s new battery stats
• @mishaal_rahman: Gemini Nano won't be coming to the Pixel 8 because of ""some hardware limitations"" but will be coming to more high-end devices in the near future according to Terence Zhang, a Developer Relations engineer at Google, during #TheAndroidShow.
• Samsung's Galaxy A55 and A35 are official with 6.6" OLED screens, focus on security
• No April Fools' joke: OnePlus will launch a new Nord on April 1
• Exclusive Leak: Motorola Edge 50 Pro
• Jason's Boox Palma hands on

APPS

• [Exclusive] Google says the IETF's ongoing work on the unwanted tracker detection spec doesn't impact its launch timeline for the Find My Device network
• @MishaalRahman: Google has announced that movie tickets and boarding passes will automatically be added to Google Wallet when you get a confirmation email in Gmail!"

COMMUNITY

• Timothy, Hilton, and Robert have PLENTY to say about Assistant routines
• Michael says we've seen Circle to Search before
• Chuck is having Samsung RCS issues

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Mobile World Congress is over and Jason and Mishaal are back on the show to join Huyen and Ron to go through a TON of Android News. Plus we're delighted to welcome Nirave Gondhia of House of Technology to the show to help us break it all down

Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor.

00:06:50 - NEWS

• Google announces an experimental AI Mode for Search
• Samsung expands One UI 7 beta access to more devices, revealing new features
• Lock screen widgets are coming (back) to Android along with one step closer to desktop access
• More details on the Pixel 4A debacle emerge
• The March Feature Drop has caused many problems for Google Pixels
• The DOJ vs Google saga continues targeting Chrome
• PATRON PICK: GBoard goes rounded keys and people freaked out

00:59:11 - HARDWARE

• Mobile World Congress Recap with tons of phones! Like the RealMe Photo Concept phone, the Techno Spark Slim phone and much more!
• Leaky Peeky at the Pixel 10 and "Pixie" makes a comeback!
• We get updated leaked images of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
• REVIEW: Jason took the OnePlus Watch 3 Snowboarding!
• Goodbye slider button! OnePlus confirms it's dead

01:38:16 - APPS

• Google Gemini on Android Auto? Yes it's for real
• Google Photos rolls back feature change due to user demand

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This episode is sponsored by The Great Code Chase from Square Developers! Compete now on the Square Developer YouTube Channel, and you can win a limited-edition Square Developer LEGO Minifigure!

Another week in the tapestry of Android news rolls on as Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards deliver the highs and lows and the wonder of bizarre camera add-ons for phones and more.

Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor

00:06:20 - NEWS

• Android 16 rolled out the 4th beta and Mishaal breaks it down
• Samsung and Motorola may go the AI Assistant route of Perplexity
• There's early leaks of Samsung One UI 8 and they're nothing to get excited about
• Could we see a new version of Material Design at Google I/O?
• PATRON PICK: Apparently Android's Health Connect is a bit of a mess

00:42:42 - HARDWARE

• A new rugged phone and tablet on the way from Samsung!
• The Vivo X200 Ultra and it's camera kit is shocking to see
• Could this be the patent for the Samsung rollable phone?

01:02:18 - APPS

• Some major updates from Gemini with Live Camera and free access for College students
• Google Discover continues to make weird design choices
• Now you can upgrade old photos to Ultra HDR in Google Photos

01:16:38 - COMMUNITY

• Jim discovered voice reporting does work in Waze!
• Michel Dumont is curious about anti-virus software in Android, is it needed?
• Sam from Cleveland has some ideas about car based smart glasses

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