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  • Google’s New Pixel 4: Should You Upgrade?

    Google’s New Pixel 4: Should You Upgrade?

    With the Pixel 4 bringing so much newness to the table, why in the world should you keep your Pixel 3? It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the Pixel 4 is loaded with upgrades compared to the Pixel 3. For some, the changes Google’s made might be enough to encourage them to upgrade, here’s why:

    While the Pixel 3 isn’t nearly as flashy as its newer sibling, it’s still plenty capable these days and should get you through another year of use just fine. There’s no denying that Google created a killer smartphone with the Pixel 4.

    With a camera that captures detail that the competition can’t, a futuristic way to use your phone without even touching it, your own personal Google Assistant, and a fast and responsive display, Pixel 4 packs new technology into a must-have new design.

    Get the perfect photo

    Pixel 4 brings Google’s biggest camera upgrade yet. The Pixel 4 comes two cameras on the back of the phone and includes a new telephoto lens. When you combine this new hardware feature with Google’s Super Res Zoom software, it gives you exceptional image quality, even planets away.

    Night Sight already takes beautiful photos in full darkness, and now you can use Night Sight for shots of the night sky, the stars, and even the Milky Way (when you find a clear night). Pixel 3 and 3a will also get a version of this capability with the latest camera app update!

    Your new Google Assistant

    Thanks to a deeper integration into Pixel 4, the Google Assistant is now a faster way to get more things done, think of it like your own personal assistant. Google redesigned the Assistant so it doesn’t take up too much room on your screen, letting you better multitask across other apps. It can quickly open apps, search your phone, share what’s on your screen, and more.

    It also considers the context of your query to do a better job answering. For example, you can ask the Assistant to “show my photos from Miami” and then say, “the ones in South Beach.” Then, you can share a picture by saying “send it to Brad.”

    A phone that senses what you want it to do

    Pixel 4’s Motion Sense feature uses a miniature radar sensor to detect movement around your phone. It can sense when you’re reaching for the phone and will initiate face unlock, or turn off your screen when you’re not around. New Quick Gestures let you skip songs when you don’t want to pick up your phone. Just wave your hand to snooze alarms, dismiss timers, or silence your phone.

    Built for performance and security

    With 6GB RAM, a 90hz display, and Pixel Neural Core, Pixel 4 is fast and powerful. Pixel Neural Core is the engine for on-device processing, always-on computing, and machine learning, meaning more tasks are done on the device for performance and privacy.

    Pixel 4 also includes Google’s custom-built Titan M security chip to protect your most sensitive data and ensure the integrity of the operating system. Combined with the latest version of Android 10, monthly security updates for 3 years, and access to Google’s advanced security services, Pixel 4 is designed to keep your data secure.

    Pricing

    Beginning today, October 15, you can pre-order a Pixel 4 for $799 and Pixel 4 XL for $899, and phones will ship on October 24, globally. Pixel 4 comes in three colors, including white, black and a limited-edition orange!


  • Smartphone Rumors: Budget Google Pixel 3a

    Smartphone Rumors: Budget Google Pixel 3a

    A potential slip on the part of the Google Store has hinted that Google’s rumored Pixel 3a could be coming soon. The Pixel 3a will be a midrange, budget-friendly version of Google’s stellar Pixel 3 phone. This comes amid growing concerns that smartphones are pricing normal users out of using them.

    Google Pixel 3a Rumors

    Google Pixel

    The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL are two of the best phones money can buy. These two phones sport great cameras, killer processors that allow for fast multitasking and gorgeous design. The finish is high-quality and impressive, and the build quality leaves little wanting. However, they’re rather pricey.

    For a Google Pixel 3, you’ll have to pony up $800, and if you want the larger Pixel 3 XL, you’ll need $900. There’s a lot to love about these phones, but those are some pretty hefty prices. Stepping back from that, the Pixel 3a is likely to be a rather affordable phone that still sports the main selling points of the Pixel 3.

    Pixel 3a

    A slip-up on Google’s website listed the Pixel 3a as a new item briefly before it was pulled down. This is likely confirming rumors that have been swirling of a more affordable Pixel phone. The 3a will likely be released sometime in August of this year, and will likely retail for $700 or $600.

    There has also been speculation that there will be two versions of the 3a. One will be a standard sized, more affordable options, while the other will be a 3a XL. Both will likely sport comparable cameras and screens to the full-version of the Pixel 3, albeit with some cost-saving measures.

    Rising Smartphone Prices

    Smartphones are in an awkward place in the market. Most people find their handsets to be extremely powerful and hard to replace. Smartphones have largely plateaued: each new generation has introduced less and less revolution and more evolution.

    This goes hand-in-hand with the rising prices of smartphones. The iPhone XS is $1000, as is the Samsung Galaxy S10. These phones, while incredible, are nigh-on unaffordable for the average consumer. As such, moves to produce more affordable versions of top-of-the-line smartphones will likely become commonplace.

    If smartphone companies are to keep up with the shifting market, it seems likely that these in-between, compromise-style phones will become the norm. Expect to see the Pixel 3a before the end of the year.

  • Google Hardware News for 2019: Expect More Pixel Devices

    Google Hardware News for 2019: Expect More Pixel Devices

    Early reports of the “Made by Google” lineup for 2019 are here, thanks to Japanese newspaper Nikkei. The biggest news is mostly unsurprising, though it’s nice to have solid locks on the pieces of tech we’ve been speculating about. Namely, a budget Google Pixel, a Google Pixel 4, a Google watch, a new Nest cam and a new Google Home.

    Google Hardware News

    Google Pixel Lite

    The Google Pixel isn’t exactly known for its affordable price, but Google wants to change that. In their quest to go toe-to-toe with Apple’s iPhone, Google is launching a Google Pixel 3 Lite later this year. Reports hold that the new phone will actually undercut the iPhone XR in price, allowing Google to come out as the more affordable of the two luxury smartphone makers.

    Google Pixel 4

    The next step for the Pixel line of phones, of course, is the Pixel 4. Not much is known about the successor to last year’s Pixel 3 at the time of writing, aside from the fact that it’s slated for a late 2019 release. The Pixel 4 will likely be the first Pixel phone with 5G capabilities, and we’re likely to see even more emphasis on biometric security like face scanning technology or in-screen fingerprint readers.

    Google Pixel Watch

    The ongoing quest to be like Apple also means that Google’s expected to launch their own wearable tech, much like the Apple Watch. The expected Pixel Watch will likely feature fitness tracking, vital monitoring and music playback capabilities, much like the Apple Watch. We can expect to see the Pixel Watch by the end of 2019, according to reports.

    Next Generation Google Home?

    A new Google Home, as well as Nest Cam, are also slated to be unveiled soon. It’s unclear whether the new Google Home devices coming in 2019 will be a second generation of the existing smarthome speakers or a completely new line of technology.

    However, the good news is that we can expect to see all of this from Google before the end of the year. It’s going to be a big year for the tech giant!

  • Android Pie Available Now on Pixel Phones

    Android Pie Available Now on Pixel Phones

    Android P, now officially named Android Pie, is available now on Google’s own Pixel phones. It will be rolled out to other phones near the end of the year, or maybe early in 2019. In any event, the Android OS powers around 90% of all smartphones on Earth, so any updates to it will affect a huge portion of the population. Today, we’re looking at the new features and characteristics you’ll find in the newest Android OS.

    Notch Support

    This one’s a big more of an under-the-surface upgrade, but you’ll notice it if your phone has a notch at the top. The top notch, popularized by Apple’s phenomenal iPhone X, is a divisive design feature, but it’s here to stay. The support for notches is baked into the new Android OS, allowing apps to be made with a few different notch styles in mind. These easy designs will make the apps cleaner, clearer and have less information lost by the notch placement. Win-win!

    Gesture Control

    In another iPhone X-inspired upgrade, Android Pie allows for gesture controls. This is likely to preempt the removal of a home button from various upcoming Android phones. Home buttons are likely to go the way of the headphone jack: eliminated for space. Home buttons take up valuable front-space, taking away from full-screen displays that run edge-to-edge.

    Android Pie: The AI Operating System

    AI is the future of smartphones. Android Pie is leaning into this future with several functions that will help make your phone more efficient and save your battery. The first of these is “slices” of apps appearing when you need information. For instance, if you’re looking for movie showtimes, Android will show you slices of the Fandango app for ticket prices and showtimes without opening the app itself. This saves you time and saves your phone’s battery.

    Another functionality that is AI-powered coming to the Android OS is app suggestions. These suggestions follow your trends for when and where you open different apps. By intelligently spinning up apps you often use before you need them, the OS will be more efficient, battery-saving and modern. What’s not to love?

    Availability

    Android Pie is available on Google Pixel smartphones now. It will be rolled out to other smartphones that use Android over the next few months. Stay posted for updates, we’ll bring them to you as more information is made available!

  • Google’s Pixel 3 to Follow in Apple’s Footsteps: Another Notch Smartphone

    Google’s Pixel 3 to Follow in Apple’s Footsteps: Another Notch Smartphone

    Google is still set on taking over the world, one piece of technology at a time. It’s only natural that they’ll continue to push the envelope with their flagship phone line, the Pixel. It was Google that created the Android OS, after all. A premium smartphone OS deserves a premium smartphone! The newest reports on the next Pixel model are coming from Bloomberg. According to the report, the XL model of the Pixel 3 is set to have a screen notch. 

    Much has been written over the divisive smartphone notch popularized by Apple’s iPhone X. While it has some detractors and others who love it, the notch is certainly here to stay. This is evidenced by many top brands embracing it with this year’s flagships. Chinese smartphone makers OnePlus and Xiaomi have both designed their flagships with the notch, and now even Google is getting in on the trend. Last year’s Pixel 2 was one of the best phones released, so Google’s next release is hotly anticipated. 

    The Rumor Mill 

    According to the Bloomberg report, the Pixel 3 will come in both normal and XL models. The phone is also set to be manufactured by Foxconn, the same company that manufactures the iPhone. Additionally, this follows a deal between Google and HTC, meaning this phone will likely sport a design similar to other phones made by HTC.  

    The Bloomberg Report described the Pixel 3 XL, the one with the notch, as such: “nearly edge-to-edge screen, except for a thicker bezel known as a chin at the bottom of the phone. The display also will have a notch—or a cutout—at the top.” The normal-size Pixel 3 will have standard bezels, more like the iPhone 8, giving it a more traditional look. 

    Pixel 3: Other Details 

    That same Bloomberg report put forth October as a release window for the phone. Verizon is slated to be the only carrier, though the phones will surely also work with Google’s Fi wireless service. Oddly, the projections for the phone show it with two front facing cameras but only one camera on the back. Perhaps it will only support Bokeh portraits in selfie mode? This one is a big of an enigma.  

    Still unknown are details like the types of biometric scanners the phone will support. Will it have a face scanner like the iPhone X? Those two front-facing cameras make it likely. What about a fingerprint reader? Will it be on the back, like the Pixel 2? Will it be in-screen? Or will it even have one? Hopefully these questions will be answered in the coming months.  

    Feature Image Credit: Phone Designer