Month: September 2023

Image: Google

Google is gearing up to launch a new lineup of Pixel products during its upcoming Made by Google event. Even though Google has already said that it will reveal the Pixel 8 alongside the updated Pixel Watch 2, it may have some other surprises in store.
If you’re interested in watching the event, here’s when and where you can tune in as well as what exactly you can expect.
How to watch the Made by Google event
The Google Pixel event will take place on October 4th, 2023, starting at 10AM ET / 7AM PT. Google will host an in-person audience at the event’s New York City venue, but you can follow along by watching the livestream on Google’s website, YouTube channel, or via the video embedded at the top of this article.
All-around upgrades for the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro
The new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will headline this year’s Made by Google event, with both devices featuring some notable upgrades over their predecessors. After a series of leaks, Google released an official teaser showing off the lineup, confirming some of the rumors we’ve been hearing over the past several months.

So far, leaks suggest that the Pixel 8 Pro will come with the same 6.7-inch display as the Pixel 7 Pro. Meanwhile, the base Pixel 8 is expected to have a smaller display than its predecessor, measuring 6.17 inches as opposed to 6.3 inches. A spec sheet spotted by leaker Kamila Wojciechowska shows that the Pixel 8 Pro could come with an upgraded rear camera array, featuring a 50MP wide lens, a 48MP ultrawide lens with Macro Focus, and a 48MP camera with a 5x telephoto lens. The Pixel 8 Pro may even have a body temperature reading feature as an added plus.
Meanwhile, the standard Pixel 8 is rumored to come with a 50MP wide camera on its rear, along with a 12MP ultrawide lens with Macro Focus. The leaked spec sheet says that both devices will have a 10.5MP front-facing camera, which is slightly lower than the 10.8MP selfie camera that came on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro could also support staggered HDR, a technique that could result in clearer images, as well as support AI-enhanced features like Magic Editor and DSLR-style controls.

Screenshot: 91mobiles (YouTube)
The Pixel 8 Pro might even feature a temperature sensor.

The spec sheet also suggests that the two smartphones will be powered by Google’s new Tensor G3 chip, offering 8GB of RAM on the Pixel 8 and 12GB on the Pixel 8 Pro. Their displays could also offer a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, an upgrade over the 90Hz screen on the Pixel 7. Other leaks indicate that Google will offer seven years of software support for its latest Pixel lineup and may even include a free Pixel Watch 2 with the purchase of a Pixel 8 Pro.
Google still hasn’t confirmed the pricing on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro just yet, but rumors indicate that both models could be getting a price hike. 9to5Google reports that the Pixel 8 will cost $699 (up from the $599 Pixel 7), with the Pixel 8 Pro coming with a $999 price tag (up from the $899 Pixel 7 Pro). Renders obtained by MySmartPrice give us a potential look at the different color options for both devices, which include gray, black, and pink for the Pixel 8 and sky blue, porcelain, and black for the Pixel 8 Pro.
The Pixel Watch 2 gets a new crown and revamped sensor array

Not only did Google show off a sneak peek of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro but it also released a preview of the new Pixel Watch 2. In the teaser, you can see glimpses of the Pixel Watch 2’s new crown that sits flatter against the watch’s side. The bottom of the device, however, shows a new sensor array that could hint at the addition of more health tracking features.
Leaked specs shared with 91mobiles suggest that the Pixel Watch 2 could adopt some of the same features offered by Google’s Fitbit fitness trackers. That includes a new heart rate tracker that uses Fitbit’s multi-path heart rate sensor that checks your heart rate in more ways and places. It may even incorporate Fitbit’s stress management system that uses a cEDA (continuous electrodermal activity) sensor to help detect when you’re feeling stressed.
Other features listed by 91mobiles include a way for the watch to automatically detect new exercises, including running and outdoor cycling, as well as a new Safety Check option that lets you set a timer if you feel that you’re in an unsafe situation. When the timer runs out, the watch will ask you to confirm whether you’re safe or if you would like it to share your location with emergency services, according to 91mobiles. If you don’t respond, it will automatically share your location with your emergency contacts.

Image: Google

According to Android Authority, the Pixel Watch 2 may feature an upgraded Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor and an ultra wideband chip. Outside of all this, not much else is changing. The Pixel Watch 2 is rumored to have the same up to 24 hours of battery life as its predecessor and will also retain a similar design, aside from the rumored swap to an all-aluminum chassis.
We don’t know how much the Pixel Watch 2 will cost just yet or whether it’ll be more expensive than the original $350 Pixel Watch. The Pixel Watch 2 is rumored to come in gold, black, or silver color options.
Pixel Buds Pro in new colors
In addition to a new Pixel phone and smartwatch, Google is also rumored to reveal some new colors for the Pixel Buds Pro. During another teaser for its Made by Google event, the company briefly shows a case for the Pixel Buds Pro in a porcelain case to match its new Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Image: Google

This might not be the only new color the Pixel Buds Pro are getting, as a report from 9to5Google suggests that they may also come in a sky blue color, too. However, it’s still not clear whether Google will make any changes to the design of the buds themselves or the hardware powering them.
The release of Android 14 — and maybe some new Pixel-only features?
Android 14 is expected to drop on October 4th — the same day as Google’s event. The latest version of the operating system is set to introduce a ton of new features, including passkeys, AI-generated wallpapers, larger text options, stylus enhancements, and maybe even the ability to use your phone as a webcam.
But that may not be all. It’s been over three months since Google last released a Pixel Feature drop, which means we’re overdue for an update. While the company was initially expected to release its next round of features in early September, it’s likely saving them up for its Made by Google event. Make sure to stay tuned to The Verge for all the latest on Google’s announcements.

Image: Google

Google is gearing up to launch a new lineup of Pixel products during its upcoming Made by Google event. Even though Google has already said that it will reveal the Pixel 8 alongside the updated Pixel Watch 2, it may have some other surprises in store.

If you’re interested in watching the event, here’s when and where you can tune in as well as what exactly you can expect.

How to watch the Made by Google event

The Google Pixel event will take place on October 4th, 2023, starting at 10AM ET / 7AM PT. Google will host an in-person audience at the event’s New York City venue, but you can follow along by watching the livestream on Google’s website, YouTube channel, or via the video embedded at the top of this article.

All-around upgrades for the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

The new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will headline this year’s Made by Google event, with both devices featuring some notable upgrades over their predecessors. After a series of leaks, Google released an official teaser showing off the lineup, confirming some of the rumors we’ve been hearing over the past several months.

So far, leaks suggest that the Pixel 8 Pro will come with the same 6.7-inch display as the Pixel 7 Pro. Meanwhile, the base Pixel 8 is expected to have a smaller display than its predecessor, measuring 6.17 inches as opposed to 6.3 inches. A spec sheet spotted by leaker Kamila Wojciechowska shows that the Pixel 8 Pro could come with an upgraded rear camera array, featuring a 50MP wide lens, a 48MP ultrawide lens with Macro Focus, and a 48MP camera with a 5x telephoto lens. The Pixel 8 Pro may even have a body temperature reading feature as an added plus.

Meanwhile, the standard Pixel 8 is rumored to come with a 50MP wide camera on its rear, along with a 12MP ultrawide lens with Macro Focus. The leaked spec sheet says that both devices will have a 10.5MP front-facing camera, which is slightly lower than the 10.8MP selfie camera that came on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro could also support staggered HDR, a technique that could result in clearer images, as well as support AI-enhanced features like Magic Editor and DSLR-style controls.

Screenshot: 91mobiles (YouTube)
The Pixel 8 Pro might even feature a temperature sensor.

The spec sheet also suggests that the two smartphones will be powered by Google’s new Tensor G3 chip, offering 8GB of RAM on the Pixel 8 and 12GB on the Pixel 8 Pro. Their displays could also offer a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, an upgrade over the 90Hz screen on the Pixel 7. Other leaks indicate that Google will offer seven years of software support for its latest Pixel lineup and may even include a free Pixel Watch 2 with the purchase of a Pixel 8 Pro.

Google still hasn’t confirmed the pricing on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro just yet, but rumors indicate that both models could be getting a price hike. 9to5Google reports that the Pixel 8 will cost $699 (up from the $599 Pixel 7), with the Pixel 8 Pro coming with a $999 price tag (up from the $899 Pixel 7 Pro). Renders obtained by MySmartPrice give us a potential look at the different color options for both devices, which include gray, black, and pink for the Pixel 8 and sky blue, porcelain, and black for the Pixel 8 Pro.

The Pixel Watch 2 gets a new crown and revamped sensor array

Not only did Google show off a sneak peek of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro but it also released a preview of the new Pixel Watch 2. In the teaser, you can see glimpses of the Pixel Watch 2’s new crown that sits flatter against the watch’s side. The bottom of the device, however, shows a new sensor array that could hint at the addition of more health tracking features.

Leaked specs shared with 91mobiles suggest that the Pixel Watch 2 could adopt some of the same features offered by Google’s Fitbit fitness trackers. That includes a new heart rate tracker that uses Fitbit’s multi-path heart rate sensor that checks your heart rate in more ways and places. It may even incorporate Fitbit’s stress management system that uses a cEDA (continuous electrodermal activity) sensor to help detect when you’re feeling stressed.

Other features listed by 91mobiles include a way for the watch to automatically detect new exercises, including running and outdoor cycling, as well as a new Safety Check option that lets you set a timer if you feel that you’re in an unsafe situation. When the timer runs out, the watch will ask you to confirm whether you’re safe or if you would like it to share your location with emergency services, according to 91mobiles. If you don’t respond, it will automatically share your location with your emergency contacts.

Image: Google

According to Android Authority, the Pixel Watch 2 may feature an upgraded Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor and an ultra wideband chip. Outside of all this, not much else is changing. The Pixel Watch 2 is rumored to have the same up to 24 hours of battery life as its predecessor and will also retain a similar design, aside from the rumored swap to an all-aluminum chassis.

We don’t know how much the Pixel Watch 2 will cost just yet or whether it’ll be more expensive than the original $350 Pixel Watch. The Pixel Watch 2 is rumored to come in gold, black, or silver color options.

Pixel Buds Pro in new colors

In addition to a new Pixel phone and smartwatch, Google is also rumored to reveal some new colors for the Pixel Buds Pro. During another teaser for its Made by Google event, the company briefly shows a case for the Pixel Buds Pro in a porcelain case to match its new Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Image: Google

This might not be the only new color the Pixel Buds Pro are getting, as a report from 9to5Google suggests that they may also come in a sky blue color, too. However, it’s still not clear whether Google will make any changes to the design of the buds themselves or the hardware powering them.

The release of Android 14 — and maybe some new Pixel-only features?

Android 14 is expected to drop on October 4th — the same day as Google’s event. The latest version of the operating system is set to introduce a ton of new features, including passkeys, AI-generated wallpapers, larger text options, stylus enhancements, and maybe even the ability to use your phone as a webcam.

But that may not be all. It’s been over three months since Google last released a Pixel Feature drop, which means we’re overdue for an update. While the company was initially expected to release its next round of features in early September, it’s likely saving them up for its Made by Google event. Make sure to stay tuned to The Verge for all the latest on Google’s announcements.

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Apple may be forced to remove apps that haven’t registered with the Chinese government from its App Store in the region. | Photo by Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Apple is looking for ways to circumvent incoming legislation in China that would prevent the company from listing foreign apps on the iPhone App Store in the region unless they’ve been given government approval. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, Apple has met with Chinese officials over the last few months to express concerns about how the new rules will be implemented and how the changes could affect its Chinese customers.
In August earlier this year, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that all mobile app providers in the country would be required to file business details with the government. The change would effectively close a prominent loophole in China’s Great Firewall that allowed developers to publish their apps through Apple’s App Store without disclosing their business details to the Chinese government. This would likely also require them to comply with the country’s strict data transfer and censorship requirements.
Apple’s App Store allows Chinese iPhone users to install foreign apps like Instagram and Facebook that are banned in the region
iPhone users in China can currently use the App Store to download popular Western apps that are blocked in the country — like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter) — and access them by logging in to the platforms through a virtual private network, or VPN. Unauthorized VPN usage is also banned in China, though that hasn’t stopped folks from using the apps.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Chinese officials told Apple that it must strictly implement rules that ban unregistered foreign apps from the App Store. Android-based app stores operated by Tencent, Huawei, Xiaomi, and more have already started to demand that apps listed on their platforms comply with the new rules, but Apple was noticeably missing from a recent list of 26 app stores that have completed filing business details.
App providers that refuse to submit filings could face legal consequences after the grace period for adopting the rules ends in March 2024. Apple could also face similar punishment for hosting unregistered apps on its Chinese App Store, effectively forcing the company to remove noncompliant apps from the platform.
It’s little wonder that Apple is trying to fight the decision given the Chinese market currently accounts for around a fifth of the company’s sales. Apple has faced similar operational restrictions in the region over the last few years, including time limitations on AirDrop following its use in protests and removing thousands of games from the Chinese App Store to comply with licensing requirements for in-app purchases.

Apple may be forced to remove apps that haven’t registered with the Chinese government from its App Store in the region. | Photo by Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Apple is looking for ways to circumvent incoming legislation in China that would prevent the company from listing foreign apps on the iPhone App Store in the region unless they’ve been given government approval. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Friday, Apple has met with Chinese officials over the last few months to express concerns about how the new rules will be implemented and how the changes could affect its Chinese customers.

In August earlier this year, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that all mobile app providers in the country would be required to file business details with the government. The change would effectively close a prominent loophole in China’s Great Firewall that allowed developers to publish their apps through Apple’s App Store without disclosing their business details to the Chinese government. This would likely also require them to comply with the country’s strict data transfer and censorship requirements.

iPhone users in China can currently use the App Store to download popular Western apps that are blocked in the country — like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter) — and access them by logging in to the platforms through a virtual private network, or VPN. Unauthorized VPN usage is also banned in China, though that hasn’t stopped folks from using the apps.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Chinese officials told Apple that it must strictly implement rules that ban unregistered foreign apps from the App Store. Android-based app stores operated by Tencent, Huawei, Xiaomi, and more have already started to demand that apps listed on their platforms comply with the new rules, but Apple was noticeably missing from a recent list of 26 app stores that have completed filing business details.

App providers that refuse to submit filings could face legal consequences after the grace period for adopting the rules ends in March 2024. Apple could also face similar punishment for hosting unregistered apps on its Chinese App Store, effectively forcing the company to remove noncompliant apps from the platform.

It’s little wonder that Apple is trying to fight the decision given the Chinese market currently accounts for around a fifth of the company’s sales. Apple has faced similar operational restrictions in the region over the last few years, including time limitations on AirDrop following its use in protests and removing thousands of games from the Chinese App Store to comply with licensing requirements for in-app purchases.

Read More