AC News Weekly
News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week’s biggest stories so you can stay up to date on the latest tech news.
This is Android Central’s News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise look at the week’s biggest tech stories. Here, we dive into the most important headlines that offer the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.
This week we got a closer look at the new Moto Razr series, Google announced that the Made by Google model will be released a month earlier, Samsung finally debunked all the rumors and officially announced the Unpacked date, the Galaxy Watch has appeared on Amazon and Google has released new AI tools specifically for teachers.
Flipping the script and how
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Earlier this week, Motorola launched its foldable phones, the Razr 2024 and Razr Plus 2024, featuring massive displays and the addition of AI.
As expected and according to the most recent leaks, the Razr Plus 2024 will come with a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 50MP main camera, and a 50MP telephoto shooter with 2x optical zoom. The biggest gain, however, is the 4-inch pOLED all-cover display, which Motorola says is the largest all-cover display on a flip phone to date.
The inner pOLED screen unfolds into a 6.9-inch 1080p panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and 3000 nits peak brightness. Users can find all apps that are compatible with the device’s cover screen, including Google’s Gemini app. The Razr Plus 2024 comes in four colorways: Midnight Blue, Spring Green, Peach Fuzz, and Hot Pink.
There’s also the standard Razr 2024, which is roughly the same size as the premium model but with a smaller cover display. The outer screen is a 3.6-inch 90Hz OLED. At first glance, it looks like a re-imagined version of last year’s Motorola Razr Plus 2023, but with some spec changes, including a MediaTek Dimensity 7300X chipset, a larger 4,200mAh battery, and a 50MP main camera with OIS. The inner screen is a similar 6.9-inch one, but with a lower 120Hz refresh rate. The Razr comes in Beach Sand, Koala Grey, and Spritz Orange vegan leather color options.
The Razr Plus 2024 and Razr 2024 can be pre-ordered from July 10 and will go on sale from July 24. Retail prices are $999 and $699 respectively.
Pixel 9 series could arrive earlier this year
Discover what you learn about Latin.XIII.VIII.MMXXIV. photo.twitter.com/WJqL6g9ahOJune 25, 2024
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Several people from Android Central and other tech enthusiasts within the industry got a surprise this week. Google sent out personalized invites to its upcoming “Made by Google” event, which this time takes place well before fall.
The event will take place on August 13 (Tuesday) at Google headquarters in Mountain View, with the Keynote starting at 10 a.m. PT, followed by a hands-on product experience.
While we have a good idea of what to expect at the event, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL, we’re expecting the Pixel Watch 3, a new-generation Pixel Buds, Pixel Fold, and a new Pixel Tablet to also debut in August. On the software front, Android 15, which is currently in beta, may also make an early rollout, as it’s said to arrive out of the box on the Pixel 9 series.
The invite sent out by the search giant also indicates that Made by Google will showcase “the best of Google AI”, which could mean that Gemini developments are coming our way. While it may seem strange that Google chose to launch its flagship products earlier this year, we think Google could be looking to streamline its product announcements and beat competitors with the early event.
Registrations for the event open on July 31.
Samsung relented and officially announced the next Unpacked event
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“The next frontier of Galaxy AI is coming,” Samsung said in a press release to Android Central. The company will host its next Galaxy Unpacked event on July 10 in Paris, France. The company says it is preparing to introduce cutting-edge innovations.
We’re expecting an event packed with new devices this summer as Samsung prepares to launch the Galaxy Ring. The company showed off the device at MWC 2024 and confirmed some key specifications. Dr. Hon Pak, head of the Samsung Digital Health Team, informed the press that the Galaxy Ring’s battery is estimated to last “five to nine days.”
In addition to the ring, the company’s next foldable models could also hit the market. Several recent leaks showed renders of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6. We could also likely see several other wearables released, such as the Galaxy Watch 7 and 7 Ultra. at the event.
EVP and Head of R&D Mobile Experience, Won-Joon Choi, indicated in June that an “optimized” Galaxy AI experience would arrive on its clamshell and book-style devices. Samsung sees both devices as “versatile” and “flexible”.
While not much was said about what to expect, we had to wait and tune in for the event on July 10th at 9am EDT, 6am PDT, and 3pm CEST (Central Europe).
Oops, the Galaxy Watch 7 showed up on Amazon
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On Tuesday (June 25), the Canadian Amazon listing finally revealed the rumored and upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and its specs.
The ad, spotted by PassionateGeekz, shows the regular Galaxy Watch 7 Bluetooth variant with a 40mm size and a price tag of CAD 358 (~$268). It further confirms that the smartwatch will have a circular display and will have at least 128GB of storage space. It will be powered by a 3nm SoC that promises to increase power efficiency and perform smoother all-round operations.
The leak reveals that the watch will have a BioActiveSensor that tracks health functions such as heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen levels (during workouts), sleep with sleep quality analysis and more.
The Galaxy Watch 7 will likely include Galaxy AI, and as the description states, “Personalized Daily AI Companion for AI-Powered Sleep, Exercises, and communication.” This isn’t too surprising since the current One UI 6 Watch beta brings these features to the Galaxy Watch 6 and other compatible watches. Another thing to note about this list is that the Galaxy Watch 7 could come in a Cream colorway, along with multiple color options.
The Amazon listing also shows that the watch could be delivered to users as early as July 16.
Gemini safe for use in classrooms?
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There is a debate going on about the use of AI by students: “Is it safe to give them access and help them learn, or is AI actually making them lazy?” This week, Google wanted to add another leaf to that existing debate.
The company announced that it is preparing to make Gemini available to teenage students using school accounts in “more than 100 countries.” According to a post on Keyword, the company has indicated that “in the coming months” teens who have reached the minimum age (13) will be able to chat with Gemini through their school account.
Google notes that Gemini’s capabilities are turned off by default, but that school administrators can enable them through the Admin Console. A later message says that students using Gemini through a school account will have controls to block inappropriate content.
Gemini filters out “illegal or age-restricted substances” from the results. Additionally, the AI fact-checks an answer the first time it’s asked. It seems that Google is trying to accommodate teachers and students by “empowering teenage students to learn responsibly and confidently in an AI-driven future.” It remains to be seen how these schools will incorporate the power of artificial intelligence into their curriculum.
These are some of the biggest stories from this week. In the meantime, here are some other stories worth catching up on: