AC Information Weekly
Information Weekly is our column the place we spotlight and summarize among the week’s prime tales so you possibly can compensate for the newest tech information.
That is Android Central’s Information Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most important tech tales. That is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the newest developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama.
This week, Samsung Unpacked a number of of its units in Paris, beginning off with the Galaxy Ring, the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Filp 6, the Buds 3 and three Professional, and the Galaxy Watch 7 collection. Whereas this launch might have taken the highlight by way of information, listed below are another issues that went down within the tech world.
Beginning off, the XR headset that will probably be launched this 12 months, the brand new Galaxy watch collection may very well be lacking a function, Google suspends help for Lollipop, OnePlus units leak forward of its summer time occasion, and a brand new function may allow you to search the darkish net. Let’s dive in.
Samsung to lastly launch it is XR headset
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Samsung all the time ends its occasions by leaving us wanting extra. January’s Unpacked gave us the Galaxy Ring, whereas the mid-year occasion ended with a swift point out of the Samsung XR headset.
Samsung stunned us on stage by stating that “a brand new XR platform is coming later this 12 months.” Whereas we did not get to see any picture of the machine, we have been speculating in regards to the XR headset. The corporate was allegedly planning its debut in the summertime of 2025, however it appears like we’ll get to see it in motion someday within the subsequent 5 months.
All we all know for now could be that Samsung headsets are nonetheless within the early growth levels. Samsung’s headset may be extra than simply for gaming, just like the Meta Quest 3, however we count on full Google Play Retailer entry with all of the apps included in it. Samsung additionally needs to make its XR machine extra reasonably priced— to be one-third the worth of the Imaginative and prescient Professional may cost a little round $1,000.
New Galaxy Watch Extremely is lacking an necessary function
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The brand new Galaxy Watch collection has let go of one thing known as the PowerShare, a wi-fi charging function that is suitable with smartphones. In a latest help web page replace, Samsung stated that the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch 7 Extremely don’t help wi-fi charging from a paired Galaxy cellphone. X consumer Jordy Verboven was the primary to identify this variation.
This helpful function mainly lets the cellphone’s battery wirelessly cost suitable smartwatches by inserting them shut collectively— an effective way to get some cost into your watch when it is nearly dying. Whereas this function will not be accessible on the brand new watches, it continues to be current within the older technology units.
Samsung needed to take away this function on account of a design change with the brand new sensor array, which required reshaping the rear glass on each Watch fashions, which elevated the gap between the inner wi-fi charging coil and the exterior charging floor, making the earlier wi-fi power-sharing functionality not possible.
Android Lollipop no extra
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Google first launched the Android Lollipop software program again in 2014 with its Nexus 6 machine. Now, a decade later, the corporate is shutting down official updates.
Google will discontinue the Google Play Companies updates for Android Lollipop units beginning this month. A Google spokesperson stated that the explanation for placing a nail within the coffin is the share of energetic Android Lollipop units, which is alleged to account for lower than one % in the meanwhile.
Whereas updates might now not be accessible for this software program model, Google Play Companies help will proceed to work. Nevertheless, customers will not obtain “any new options, necessary safety updates, and might not be suitable with some apps.”
Android KitKat’s updates additionally stalled in July final 12 months. With Lollipop gone, Marshmallow handsets may very well be subsequent in line.
Spoiler alert: OnePlus units present up forward of launch
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A mid-week leak spilled some severe beans in regards to the subsequent OnePlus occasion launch; it gave us a full listing of units that would launch on July 16 in Milan. The lineup contains the OnePlus Nord 4, Pad 2, Watch 2R, and Nord Buds 3 Professional.
The leak got here from Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka OnLeaks). Based on him, the OnePlus Nord 4 can have an all-metal physique, a toned end, and three colorways: black, mint, and silver. The Nord 4 is alleged to have a 6.74-inch 1.5K AMOLED show and a 120Hz refresh charge. The machine will probably be powered by Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 and a 5500mAh battery capability. The twin cameras on the again comprise a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP secondary digicam, and a 16MP selfie digicam within the entrance.
Now, coming to the OnePlus Watch 2R— renders shared by the publication point out that the smartwatch will are available inexperienced and an everyday black colorway. This may very well be an reasonably priced revamped model of the OnePlus Watch 2 variant within the Chinese language area with eSIM help.
Subsequent up, the OnePlus Pad 2 might look quite a bit like its predecessor, that includes an aluminum unibody design with rounded corners. The tipster notes that it’s going to embrace a 12.1-inch LCD panel with a 144Hz refresh charge and a peak brightness of 900 nits.
Lastly, the corporate’s subsequent earbuds additionally appeared to leak. They seem like they are going to function a stem design just like the older Nord Buds 2 however with an oval aesthetic. The renders additional point out that the ear tip can have a shiny end whereas the stem can have a matte end.
Google may inform you in case you’re on the darkish net
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It was introduced in April that two Google One options are being shut down: the Google One VPN service and free transport for Google Images prints. Nevertheless, one key a part of the Google One VPN is a function known as darkish net report, which offers subscribers with insights on their knowledge — particularly account login particulars and private info — and whether or not it has been leaked on the darkish net will probably be made free to all.
As noticed by 9to5Google, a banner within the Google One app explains that beginning in late July, the darkish net reviews will work as a separate service and can now not require a subscription.
” Darkish net reviews will turn into accessible to all customers with a shopper Google Account,” the corporate explains, as reported by 9to5Google. “Darkish net report is built-in with outcomes about you as a mixed answer to assist customers defend their on-line presence.”
Why may this be a great transfer, you ask? Our workers author, Brady Snyder, feels that issues like this should not be a paid function. “This performance that helps individuals keep secure and defend their privateness must be free.”
“Even in case you stick with the fundamentals, like title, deal with, and electronic mail, it will be useful to know what sort of knowledge is on the internet. For instance, in case you see that your electronic mail is showing on the darkish net, you may need to be extra cautious when receiving unsolicited messages and improve spam filters.”
These are among the greatest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed below are another tales which are value catching up on: