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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 quick recap of the week’s top tech stories. Here we dive into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.
Leaks are raining this week, while Samsung’s Unpacked event may take place in a few weeks. We look at the launch of the Galaxy Watch FE, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Unpacked data breaches, Android adding a defense against charging station hacks, Pixel devices getting feature updates, and Google renewing its warranty policy.
The very first Fan Edition watch from Samsung is here
read more here.
On Thursday (June 10), Samsung announced its first-ever budget Galaxy Watch FE, which the company says is both “stylish and durable” but comes with health monitoring features that consumers need.
The watch is available in one size, 40mm, and has a 1.2-inch Super AMOLED display. The wearable is almost identical to the Galaxy Watch 4, except that it has sapphire crystal glass. It also has a BioActive sensor that allows users to track their health and fitness data.
The company says the sensor will provide “actionable” tips to stay active throughout the day. Other features include Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification (IHRN), which alerts users to possible signs of Afib, and an option to quickly perform an ECG. The Galaxy Watch FE (Bluetooth) will be available on June 24 for $199.99, and the LTE variant will be available later this year for $249.99.
Spoiler alert: Samsung leaks ahead
Read more about the Galaxy Z Fold 6 leak here and the Unpacked event here.
Samsung has intentionally or unintentionally dropped hints about the upcoming Unpacked event; Friday came with its own set of leaks for the company. For starters, the full specs of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 have been leaked, and Smartprix blew the lid off with screenshots showing that the device will retain the 6.3-inch cover display as its predecessor, but in terms of the aspect ratio (22 :9). ) and resolution (2,376 x 968) on a potentially wider external screen.
The device will reportedly feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC and retain 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The Z Fold 6’s camera system also mirrors the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s setup. The leak suggests it will have the same triple rear camera setup: a 50MP main sensor (f/1.8), a 12MP ultrawide (f/2.2 ) and a 10 MP telephoto (f/2.4) with 3x optical zoom. The front cameras also appear unchanged, with a 10 MP sensor (f/2.2) on the cover display and a 4 MP sensor (f/1.8) under the internal display.
That’s not all. We also got a glimpse of the Unpacked event countdown. Leaker Evan Blass shared a GIF of what appears to be an official Samsung countdown on his X account. This shows that the event is scheduled for July 10 at 10:00 PM Korean Standard Time (KST). Since Samsung is a major sponsor of the Paris Olympics, the launch of the Galaxy Foldables will likely take place at the same time.
No more charging station hacks for Android 15 users
read more here.
Google is adding a new feature to Android 15 that blocks data transfers at public charging stations.
Mishaal Rahman has found a new security feature for Lockdown Mode in the latest beta version of Android 15. This feature protects your device against a hacker tactic called ‘juice jacking’ that uses USB charging cables to sneak in malware, run unauthorized commands, install unwanted apps, or mess up your data.
Juice jacking is a risk that any Android user can face due to the widespread availability of USB charging ports. This cyber attack uses the phone’s single port for power and data transfer. By using a compromised public drive, hackers can install malware, steal personal data, or take full control of your phone.
To enable this protection, beta users will need to press and hold the power button and select ‘Lockdown’ from the power menu (if your settings allow it). With one tap you activate a digital shield around your data.
Pixel devices are getting new updates
Read more about the Pixel phone update here and look here.
This week, Pixel devices received a slew of updates. Google is bringing some useful user-facing features to its Pixels, like Display Port support. With a USB-C cable, Pixel users can now watch movies and shows on a larger, secondary screen, as if they were mirroring your screen.
Pixel users are now taking advantage of ‘power-off finding’ through the Find My Device network which allows users to locate their Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro devices even when they are turned off, for several hours and away from the user. Then, in the Recents tab in the Phone app, users can find the unknown caller, tap the number, then tap Lookup. The search starts from there and provides all the relevant information users need about that unknown phone number.
Some camera improvements are also coming your way as Pixel users. The company says this new feature will allow Pixel owners to “find the best moment of your photo in HDR Plus with just one shutter.” This is for users to choose the best recording.
Users will also receive an update that brings more detailed summaries to the Pixel Recorder app, along with the Gemini Nano AI model appearing as a developer option for the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a.
Pixel Watches were not left behind; they also received some updates. The popular car accident detection feature that was only on Pixel phones is now available for Pixel Watch 2, with the latest feature gone. Pixel Watch 2 users can now call emergency services if they are in a serious car accident. Secondly, both Pixel Watch models can link their Paypal account to the wallet app. Google is also bringing the home app to Wear OS 3 and higher capacity smartwatches. This allows users to access their smart home devices more quickly and easily from their wrist.
Google is renewing its warranty policy for screens
read more here.
Google has announced a new extended warranty for Pixel 8 devices to address the vertical lines and flickering issues that emerged in November. The tech giant announced on a Pixel Phone Help page that some Pixel 8 phones are having display issues, prompting them to increase their warranty. If users have an issue with their Pixel 8 screens, you’ll have three years of coverage from the date you purchased the device.
However, it is important to note that not everyone qualifies for the extended warranty. Google or an authorized repair partner will run a diagnostic check against your device’s serial number to see if it qualifies. Pixel 8 owners whose devices are not eligible for the extended warranty may still be covered by Google’s standard limited warranty if they experience similar display issues.
Those were some of the top stories this week. In the meantime, here are some other stories worth catching up on: