AC News Weekly
News Weekly is our section where we highlight and summarize some of the biggest stories of the week, keeping you up to date with the latest technology 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.
In this week’s edition, a number of devices leaked ahead of Samsung’s summer Unpacked, the Pixel 9 leaks in a new color, Netflix is losing its ad-free version, Pixel devices are getting the July patch, and why Google wants to use music to train its AI models.
It’s raining leaks for Samsung
read more here And here
Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6:
A series of marketing images leaked on Thursday (July 4), giving us a glimpse of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. They hinted that the device will be lighter (239 grams) and will have sharper corners, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The company could use an “improved aluminium frame” and have a larger 6.3-inch cover display and the same 7.6-inch foldable display. For the first time, the phone is said to be IP48 dust and water resistant. The leak reveals that the device will have a triple camera setup on the back. The primary lens will be a 50MP one, the ultra-wide camera will be 12MP and the telephoto camera will be 10MP with optical zoom. The cover display is said to have a 10MP selfie camera and the foldable display will have a 4MP under-display camera.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 marketing images have also surfaced online in a blue color scheme alongside its eye-catching specifications. In terms of design, it looks pretty similar to its predecessor. According to the newly leaked images, the phone’s design includes a 3.4-inch cover display and a 6.7-inch foldable display. It could be powered by a larger 4,000mAh battery.
We’re expecting the phone to feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 camera setup, a 50MP primary lens, a 12MP secondary camera, and a 10MP selfie lens. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is also rumored to have an IP48 rating and a vapor chamber is expected to debut on this clamshell for the first time.
Galaxy Buds Pro 3:
If you thought it was just the foldables, another Reddit user who claims to have purchased the new Buds 3 Pro has posted images of them on the platform. They have the new stem design and a Metallic Gray finish, and a charging case with a similar finish and a translucent design on top. They also have blue and orange indicators for the left and right earbuds. As for performance, the Reddit user who purchased the Buds 3 Pro wrote, “Noise cancellation is on par with my AirPods Pro 1st gen. Sound is great but a little higher on the bass, but I personally love the base. My Z Flip4 and iPhone pick them up too. Crazy how I was able to buy them.”
Galaxy Buds3 Pro from r/galaxybuds
A pink Pixel 9? Yes or no?
Pixel 9 is already out in Algeria. Storage: 256 GB Color: Pink I’ll keep you posted tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/0mE1QlCbEgJuly 1, 2024
Read more here.
Earlier this week, a new colorway of the alleged Pixel 9 series surfaced online. Hani Mohamed Bioud took to X to claim that Google has already launched the device in the Algerian market, sharing an image of the phone dressed in a pink phone case.
Bioud posted multiple photos and videos, revealing that the device has 256GB of internal storage and it looks similar to multiple renders we’ve come across before. It appears that the device has rounded corners, but an overall square design. The new camera flap has dual cameras with a matte finish, while the rest of the back has a glossy finish. The user only showed off the phone’s design without turning on the display.
Several people in the comments section had mixed reactions to the color, with most asking about other colorways spotted by the user and whether the Pixel has an optical or ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Bioud said he would post more details about the device in the coming days.
Netflix is eliminating its cheapest ad-free plan for some users
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It appears that Netflix is dropping its cheapest ad-free plan and pushing users to pay more than usual to access the platform without ads. According to multiple Reddit posts, Netflix’s $11.99 ad-free plan will be discontinued for customers on July 13. They will have to choose between a $6.99 plan that streams ads versus the $15.49 ad-free plan or the $22.99 ad-free 4K.
The user’s streaming is interrupted by a page stating that the “basic subscription has been discontinued” and that “you can change your plan at any time.” Based on complaints on Reddit, it appears that the streaming giant is testing the updated offerings in the UK or Canada first before expanding to other regions (including the US).
The move doesn’t come out of the blue, however. Earlier this year, during its Q4 earnings call, Netflix publicly announced that it had begun an effort to push customers toward higher-priced or ad-supported subscriptions. “Scaling our advertising business presents an opportunity to unlock significant new revenue and profit streams over the medium to long term,” Netflix said in a statement.
July brings new updates for Pixel devices
read more here And here.
Google announced on Monday (July 1) that a new update is rolling out to Pixel Watches starting today, with models expected to arrive over the next week. According to Google’s blog post, the update doesn’t bring any new features, but it does bolster the July security patch that helps keep your Pixel Watch secure. The update is available for both the Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2, and comes with software version TWD9.240705.001.A1.
Just a day after the above rolled out for its watches, Google dropped its monthly software update for Pixel phones running Android 14. The company notes in the blog post that Pixel phones ranging from the Pixel 5a (5G) to the Pixel 8a, along with the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, will receive bug fixes and carrier improvements. Additionally, some devices may see general camera stability improvements “under certain circumstances.” The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are said to be getting system stability and performance improvements, along with a UI bug fix that addresses an issue with back gesture navigation not working in certain scenarios.
Google wants to use music to train its AI models
read more here.
The tech giant has wielded its Gemini staff over all of its products, and now it’s trying to get record labels to pay for access to music for “other experiments” using AI. To make this work, YouTube wants to work with record labels to help move things forward.
YouTube has a Dream Tracks feature based on the work of nine artists. However, the Financial Times reports that YouTube is in talks with other record labels, including Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Records, about a potential deal that would see YouTube pay “one-off sums of money” for the right to use the labels’ songs for AI music training. YouTube told the Financial Times in a statement that it was “in discussions with labels about other experiments.”
And here’s why it’s a bad idea. According to our staff writer Brady Snyder, the labels should back off because “it’s impossible to put a price tag on creativity.”
Synder adds: “Music generation tools can perform a few tricks, and they’re a great way for people who aren’t musically inclined to experiment with song creation. However, the current crop of tools have nothing to do with professional musicians.”
“Most of the current techniques are based on the likeness of popular singers or create something that pales in comparison to what a human could create.”
These are some of the biggest stories from this week. In the meantime, here are some other stories worth catching up on: