That is Android Central’s Information Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most vital tech tales. That is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the most recent developments contributing to the digital panorama.
This week, we acquired a glimpse of the OnePlus Watch 2, Galaxy AI has reached extra gadgets, Huawei launched its newest clamshell cellphone, the Google Pay app is shutting down, and Gmail will get caught in a social media hoax.
Sneak a peek on the new OnePlus Watch 2
Earlier this week, OnePlus revealed the primary full look at its subsequent smartwatch. Dubbed “your accomplice in time,” OnePlus says the Watch 2 is greater than only a wearable gadget that enhances the consumer’s every day life. This comes after the corporate’s three-year hiatus, which it known as a “reflective pause.”
The watch is alleged to have as much as 100 hours of battery life in Good mode. It is available in two colorways: Black Metal and Radiant Metal.
Whereas the corporate did not affirm any particulars concerning the working software program for this yr’s smartwatch, a number of leaks counsel that the watch will seemingly be the corporate’s first WearOS-powered smartwatch.
The revealing comes simply forward of its official launch, which is about to happen on the Cell World Congress on February 26 in Barcelona, Spain.
AI magic coming to older Galaxy telephones
On Wednesday (Feb. 21), Samsung introduced that it’s set to roll out the Galaxy AI options that debuted on the most recent flagship sequence throughout extra of its gadgets, such because the Galaxy S23 sequence.
The options will even be accessible to the opposite 2023 flagship Galaxy telephones and tablets, and the rollout will happen by means of the brand new One UI 6.1 replace accessible beginning in late March.
In response to the press launch, extra Galaxy customers will be capable of customers will now be capable of entry Galaxy AI options, similar to Circle to Search, which permits customers to seek for something inside numerous apps, Chat Help for stay translation of textual content messages, Reside Translate for calls, and extra.
Moreover, Samsung customers will be capable of get artistic with their photographs and movies by means of Generative Edit, an AI picture enhancing device, and Prompt Sluggish-Mo, which may generate further frames for slow-motion movies to seize moments inside movies.
“That is solely the start of Galaxy AI, as we plan to convey the expertise to over 10 million Galaxy customers inside 2024 and proceed to innovate methods to harness the limitless prospects of cell AI,” stated TM Roh, president and head of the Cell Expertise enterprise at Samsung.
Oops, Gmail acquired caught in a hoax
A manipulated picture was making the rounds on X (previously Twitter) stating that Gmail might be sunsetting beginning in August this yr. As bizarre because it sounds, this tweet went viral, a lot in order that Gmail was trending on X.
“After years of connecting tens of millions worldwide, enabling seamless communication, and fostering numerous connections, the journey of Gmail is coming to an in depth,” the picture reads. “As of August 1, 2024, Gmail will formally be sunsetted, marking the top of its service. This implies Gmail will not assist sending, receiving, or storing emails.”
Quickly sufficient, Gmail jumped in and put all these speculations to relaxation with only one easy tweet stating, “Gmail is right here to remain.”
Nevertheless, you will need to be aware that Google is letting go of the Fundamental HTML view on Gmail this yr, as per an e-mail from 2023. A assist web page offers customers a information to transition to the newer model.
Huawei launched a flip cellphone with 5 cameras
Huawei dropped its Pocket 2 foldable cellphone this week, and it is the model’s new clamshell cellphone launch after nearly three years.
The system has a 7-inch display screen with a complete of 5 cameras: a 50MP fundamental sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, an 8MP 3x telephoto lens, a 2MP spectral digital camera, and a ten.7 MP ultrawide selfie digital camera.
The primary display screen has an LTPO OLED panel measuring 6.94 inches, comes with 12GB RAM, and the storage choices vary from 256GB to 1TB. The Pocket 2 is available in 4 colours, and it prices roughly about $1000.
The dampener is that folks within the U.S. cannot get their fingers on this one since Huawei remains to be caught in the course of a commerce struggle between China and the U.S. As of now, the smartphone is simply accessible in China, and it stays unclear when will probably be launched worldwide.
Say bye to G-Pay
Yup, this one’s for actual.
Google is all set to close down its Google Pay app starting June 4. The corporate states that the app will not be accessible to all U.S.-based customers in an try to push customers to start out utilizing the Pockets app.
That stated, customers will nonetheless be capable of use different G-Pay options like tapping to pay and different administration instruments straight by means of Google Pockets.
From now till June 4, customers can proceed to make use of Google Pay to “view and switch” their steadiness from the app to their checking account. After that, the steadiness can solely be transferred by means of the web site.
Google Pay’s finish will convey its P2P (peer-to-peer) cost choice to an in depth, as nicely. The publish states customers will not be capable of ship, request, or obtain cash from others within the U.S. Google Pay app model.
These are among the greatest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed below are another tales from this week which are value catching up on: