After weeks of rumors and leaked photos, Google finally confirmed that the Pixel Watch is real. Today’s announcement is more of a tease than a full reveal, however, with the watch arriving later this fall alongside the Pixel 7.

Given that the Pixel Watch is the worst-kept wearable secret of 2022, there wasn’t anything too surprising in terms of design. As suspected, the Pixel Watch has a circular, domed design and features a “tactile” crown and side button. It’s made of recycled stainless steel and has swappable proprietary bands. It’ll also run on an “improved” Wear OS 3 that features a “refreshed UI” with better navigation and smart notifications. You’ll also have the option to pick a cellular version of the device for standalone connectivity.

The Pixel Watch is Google’s first smartwatch. Image: Google

Software-wise, Google says the Pixel Watch will have the native Google apps you’d expect, as well as a shiny new Fitbit integration. That includes staples like Google Maps and Assistant but also new-to-Wear-OS apps like Google Wallet and Google Home. Another feature coming to Wear OS is Emergency SOS. We’ve seen this feature on other smartwatches and the gist is you can use your watch to contact a trusted friend or family member, as well as call emergency services. As for the Fitbit integration, you’ll be able to view insights for heart rate, sleep tracking, and Active Zone Minutes.

The Fitbit integration is the most significant collaboration between the two companies we’ve seen since Google bought Fitbit for $2.1 billion. (Technically, adding Google Assistant onto the Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense was the first.) According to Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services, this Fitbit integration will go beyond customizing watch faces and be “imbued throughout” the Pixel Watch experience. Users will be able to sync their data with a Fitbit account, meaning they’ll be able to view it within the Fitbit app and on the web. The watch will use all of Fitbit’s latest algorithms for health and fitness.

As for data privacy, Osterloh said in a briefing that Fitbit and Google data will stay private and separate due to promises it made to regulators during the Fitbit acquisition, meaning that any health data collected on the Pixel Watch will remain under Fitbit’s purview, separate from Google. Osterloh also added that while the Fitbit team was deeply involved with the Pixel Watch, Fitbit still has plans for its own Wear OS watch and will continue making its own products.

Rick Osterloh showing off the Pixel Watch on stage Screenshot: The Verge

And that’s about it in terms of concrete details that we have right now. In terms of how much it’ll cost, Google says that it’ll be a “premium-priced product.” Another potential snag is that the Pixel Watch will require a phone running Android 8.0 or later, and you’ll need a Google Account. So, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, the Pixel Watch will not be compatible with iPhones as previous Wear OS watches were. Otherwise, the company was tight-lipped about the watch’s specs, including what chip it’ll run on, if it will come in different sizes or colors, and so on. Those details, the company says, will be shared in the coming months.

So while there’s a lot that we still don’t know, the most notable takeaway is Google’s trying to push its Pixel ecosystem — much in the same way that Apple uses the Apple Watch. Adding apps like Google Home and the Fitbit integration makes the Pixel Watch an attractive option to longtime Fitbit users and anyone who’s invested in Google’s smart home offerings. Of course, a lot of this will depend on how the Pixel Watch performs in real life, its specs, and whether it delivers on all the hype. We’ll have to wait for the watch to launch later this fall to make any sort of judgment. But, at least on paper, Google seems to have a game plan in place — which is more than we can say for its last attempt at making a smartwatch.

Google finally announces the Pixel Watch

After some changes we have seen in the YouTube Music app recently (such as the color splash background theme, “Add to playlist” UI, smart downloads icon, and “Mixed for you” cover art), it seems we are getting another update in its look. In an Android screenshot leaked by a French Reddit user with a Galaxy Tab A7, the new design being tested shows updates focusing on the app’s playlist UI, which consists of the new arrangement of buttons and layout of music playlist information.

The current layout and design of the app are practical and neat. Still, in these times where aesthetics is also an important element contributing to an excellent user experience, this update is a pleasant change for the YouTube app. After all, it is probably just the perfect time for YouTube to present such new design changes since the current app’s look is a bit on the outdated side now, compared to others. The older design of the YouTube playlist comes with a plain black background with big buttons for shuffle and play. However, in the new design shared, big improvements are seen.

The cover art is placed in the middle, albeit it is still at the upper portion of the screen. It is composed of the artist’s image on the left portion of the cover art with the playlist name positioned vertically on the right. Above the cover art are the art creator’s name and the date the playlist was last updated. However, it is noticeable that the font size of the text for the said information is rather small. The playlist name is reiterated under the cover art, but it comes in bigger font size, with a matching description under it. Meanwhile, the background sports an upper part with a blurred image of the cover art, while the lower part comes in a neat black color. The transition between the black portion and the blurred image is smooth, giving the background a stylish look. 

On the other hand, the buttons are lined up equally in a horizontal placement under the cover art and its information. All are contained in circles to make them more prominent and noticeable. The controls included in this set are the Download, Add to Library, Play, Overflow Menu, and Share buttons. The Cast and Search buttons remain on the top-right section of the screen. Surprisingly, the new playlist design doesn’t show any option or control for shuffling the playlist.

As for the list of songs, they are still located at the lower portion of the screen with the same layout and information. They still have their respective album arts, title, song length, artist names, and menu buttons for each song (three vertical dots).

Lastly, some believe that the new UI design will apply to the playlist generated by communities and algorithm-generated individual playlists. However, reports say that the new UI design only applies to the playlist and not to albums, but we’re still hopeful there will still be significant changes before the final rollout comes.

YouTube is exploring new Music playlist UI

Last month, Motorola launched the Edge 30 in Europe and confirmed that it would also become available in Asia, Australia, India, Latin America, and the Middle East. Coming at just 6.79mm, the Edge 30 is the world's thinnest 5G smartphone, according to the company. Motorola is only a couple of days away from launching it in India, and while the specifications are now known to everyone, leaker Abhishek Yadav has the details regarding the device's India pricing.

As per the leaker, the Motorola Edge 30 will come with a price tag of INR 27,999 (~$361). On top of that, you get an additional INR 2,000 (~$26) discount by cashing in on several bank offers. Although the details of the offers are not out, it brings the effective price down to INR 25,999 (~$336).

Judging by its India pricing, it is fair to say that Motorola Edge 30 will compete directly with the upcoming OnePlus Nord 3, which is expected to be priced under INR 30,000 (~$387). Realme 9 Pro Plus is another mid-range device that will give some tough competition to the Edge 30 in India, as the former is priced lower.

Motorola Edge 30 features a 144Hz 6.5” FHD+ OLED display and is based on the Snapdragon 778G+ 5G Mobile Platform. It comes with up to 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and has a 50MP camera system. Its 4,020 mAh battery is enough to serve you all day, but if that's not enough for you, the 33W TurboPower 30 fast-charging technology gives you hours of power in just minutes of charging.

Motorola Edge 30 is set to go official in India on May 12. The company will hold an online event from 12 PM IST onwards.

If you're based in India and looking to buy a new mid-range smartphone, will the Edge 30 be your next daily driver? Let us know in the comments.

Motorola's world's thinnest 5G smartphone Indian pricing leaks

In one of its previous tweets, Sharma said a new Google Pixel smartphone was undergoing private testing in India. Per the tipster, this is the much-awaited Pixel 6a, though he was not fully sure of it. If true, Pixel 6a will mark the return of Google to the Indian smartphone market after almost two long years.

Sharma also claimed that series production had begun in several Asian countries, hinting at an imminent launch. However, the leaker shared nothing on the official launch of Pixel 6a in India.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were two of the best flagship phones last year but aren’t available in Indian markets. If the 6a comes to India, it will be a relief for every Pixel fan in the country. If rumors are to be believed, the 6a will come with all the best features of the Pixel 6 series, and yet it will cost less than the latter.

GOOGLE PIXEL 6A RUMORED SPECIFICATIONS

Google Pixel 6a will reportedly feature a 6.2-inch flat OLED display with a single centered punch-hole camera. The 6a is also expected to have dual rear cameras and a single LED flash. Rumor has it that the Google Pixel 6a will use the same 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor as the original Pixel 6.

The tipster hasn’t given us the complete information about the smartphone’s specs. For example, details related to cameras and processors are not known. But it’s being said that the company might use the Tensor GS101 chipset in the phone. It’s expected to be available in 6GB or 8GB of RAM with up to 128GB of storage.

Other features include a USB Type-C and an in-display fingerprint sensor.

According to rumors, the Google I/O event will start on May 11 and continue until the next day, May 12. However, Pixel 6a is said to be available from July 28 in most markets.

Pixel 6a could go official in India soon

The triple camera system includes a 16MP camera tuned for low-light performance, a Macro Vision camera, and an 8MP depth sensor. You obviously get a front-camera too, and that is specced at 8MP.

Users can also answer calls in the rain and not worry about their phones coming in contact with accidental splashes and spills as it comes with a water-repellent design that has been built to protect the hardware against "moderate" exposure to water. However, you should keep in mind that this device is not waterproof and should not be submerged in water or put under pressurized water.

The moto e32 incorporates face unlock and a side-mounted fingerprint reader for instant access to what you need on your device. It also features a 5,000 mAh battery and comes in three different colors, depending upon your region.

The new moto e32 is available across select markets in Europe and has a price tag of €159.99. It will also be available in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific soon.

Motorola's moto e32 has a water-repellent design and a price tag of €160

With the OnePlus Pad trademark now registered in India, it’s safe to assume that it will be the official name for the tablet when it launches. Renowned leaker Mukul Sharma has said that the internal testing of OnePlus has begun, which is a clear indication that the company’s first tablet will debut in India sooner than you think.

Mukul Sharma’s prediction is perfectly in line with what the previous rumors suggested. Rumor has it that the OnePlus Pad would go official in the first half of 2022. So, all these rumors suggest that the OnePlus tablet will launch within the next couple of months.

The OnePlus Pad isn’t a mysterious device, though. Thanks to previous leaks, we’ve learned about its specifications and pricing. However, we might get additional details on specs from the company on the launch day. Meanwhile, you can read the leaked specifications below.

ONEPLUS PAD RUMORED SPECIFICATIONS

According to previous rumors, the OnePlus Pad features a 12.4-inch FHD+ OLED screen and is powered by Snapdragon 865 coupled with 6GB of RAM. It has 128GB of storage. Rumor has it that the Oppo Pad packs a 10090mAh battery with fast charging support of 45W.

As for the camera, the tablet has a dual-camera setup on the backside and has a single selfie camera on the front. The dual camera consists of 13MP and 5MP lenses, while the front camera is 8MP.

Other features may include a side fingerprint Sensor, 3.5mm Jack, and Bluetooth 5.1. The tablet will reportedly be based on Android 12.

ONEPLUS PAD PRICE(RUMORED)

As per the leaker, OnePlus’ upcoming tablet will cost CN¥2999(~$471) for the 6GB/128GB variant. However, this could be the launch price in China, and you cannot tell the price in other countries just by doing the currency conversion.

OnePlus Pad may officially launch in India soon

Announced by Instagram head Adam Mosseri in a new Twitter video, the new feature puts more of a focus on “immersive” photos and videos that use the full 9 by 16 aspect ratio that has become commonplace on phones since the launch of the first iPhone. 

Boasting a similar look to the social media giant TikTok, the new 9 by 16 scale for photos and video should, Mosseri hopes, make it easier to seamlessly scroll through your feed, increasing the time you spend on the Meta-owned social media app.

For better or worse, this new look to Instagram’s home feed is currently in very early testing, with Mosseri pleading to users within the Twitter video to give the company feedback, regardless of whether they love it or hate it. 

This likely means that Instagram isn’t dead set on the direction they want to take into the future just yet, so don’t be surprised if we see even more radical changes to the app being tested in the near future. 

Currently, this new feature is being tested in a limited capacity by a random assortment of users on iOS and Android, so unfortunately there’s no way to guarantee you’ll see this swanky new feed until it gets released if it does at all.

Instagram is getting a TikTok styled video home feed

WhatsApp currently has a separate section in the app to let users view status updates, but with the arrival of status in the chat list, users will never have to worry about missing updates as they will be right in front of their eyes in the chat window. If you’re using Instagram, you are already familiar with the feature.

WABetainfo has also shared a screenshot of the UI, showing how the feature will work on the instant chat messenger iOS client. The website also confirms that status updates in the chat list will also be available on WhatsApp Android in the future. Hopefully, the website will soon post images showing how the same thing will work on Android. However, it shared nothing on the availability of the feature.

Image: WABetainfo

Status updates in the chat list are still in the development phase, so don’t expect them to appear on your WhatsApp iOS app. Since the feature has been spotted on the app, the company shouldn’t take much longer to make it available to the public. We will, of course, let you know when that happens.

In other WhatsApp-related news, the Meta-owned company recently announced several new features, including Message reactions, Communities, the ability for admins to delete inappropriate messages in a group, File sharing improvements, 32-person audio calls, and more. These features are coming to WhatsApp in the coming weeks. You can read about them in more detail here.

WhatsApp iOS app will get status updates on the chat list too

We need to travel back in time, to understand the importance of the app. In 2014, Google surprised users by partnering with OEMs around the world, when it announced Android One. It offered a stock Android experience without custom skins, and in a world where ads and bloatware on devices was a common thing, this was a boon. The lighter version of Android was perfect for the mid-range market, and was quite popular until Google abandoned the effort in 2020.

In 2017, Google introduced an even lighter version of its mobile operating system called, Android Go. This was designed with ultra-affordable devices in mind, especially for countries where access to high-speed internet was considered a luxury. However, the hardware restrictions, such as low RAM and weak processors on low-end phones, meant that apps couldn't run properly on Android Go. This is when Google introduced more optimized versions of its apps including YouTube Go, Google Maps Go, Assistant Go, and Gallery Go. These highly optimized apps could run efficiently on low-end hardware. Among other things, the YouTube Go app allowed users to download videos and watch them offline. The app also had a data saver mode to control the amount of data that was used for streaming videos.

Now that YouTube Go is being shuttered, will it spell the end of Android Go too?

Why is YouTube Go being shuttered?

The Mountain View company says that it has optimized the performance of the main YouTube app to support low-end phones, and slow network connections. It also highlights options to comment, post videos, create content, and the dark theme as key features of the app, some things which were not available in its lighter counterpart. These are the reasons why YouTube Go is being discontinued, in favor of the regular app. The announcement, spotted by 9to5Google, reveals that Google is working on bringing some improvements for the YouTube app, that will further decrease its mobile data usage.

YouTube Go is no longer available on the Google Play Store. If you had downloaded it previously, you can still access it from the Store app. The media streaming app was last updated in October 2021.

Google ending support one of its products is nothing new, you can find a whole list of them on the Killed By Google website. As a matter of fact, the digital graveyard already lists YouTube Go as a product headed to its doom. Google Talk, Inbox by Gmail, and Picasa are perhaps the ones I miss the most. Google Chrome Apps are the next in line for removal, the company will end support for these in June 2022.

I can recommend the NewPipe app if downloading videos for offline playback is a priority for you. New entrants like LibreTube and SkyTube are fairly impressive as well. All three of these are open source, and have built-in ad blockers in addition to various features that you may find useful.

Do you use YouTube Go?

Google will discontinue its YouTube Go app in August

Google Pixel is rolling out its May 2022 update that will fix three issues in Pixel devices running Android 12. The update covers three main points, according to Google: the user interface, display/graphics, and sensors.

The first two items mentioned above will apply to all Pixel devices, from Pixel 3a to Pixel 6 Pro. It includes the fix for issues that occasionally causes the display to wake without user interaction and the launcher to crash after restarting the device under certain conditions. On the other hand, the third fix included in the update and dedicated to the sensors of the Pixel devices is only for Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices. It provides improvements in the haptic feedback, which makes the feel of the vibration on them more prominent.

The change in the haptic feedback of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro follows the concerns posted by some Redditors who claim that the vibration of the said devices became weaker after the March update. According to one Redditor, the decrease in the intensity only happened in the notifications, making them “almost imperceivable.” In terms of the other vibrations like typing, the Redditor added, the strength of the vibration remained the same.

Another post in the Google Community echoed the same concern. “The vibration settings are maxed out, and the notifications feel terrible now,” reads the post. “The vibration is barely present at all. The haptics works exactly the same and feel great, but I can’t even tell when I get a notification anymore. Confirmed this is happening on my wife’s phone as well.”

With the new update, Pixel device owners can feel more robust vibrations, especially when their respective setting is set to the maximum. Nonetheless, for those who feel comfortable having weaker vibrations, adjusting it is possible in the device’s settings menu.

The rollout started on May 2 and will continue over the next week. Google said that the distribution will come in phases, depending on the users’ carriers and devices. Once the availability of the OTA in the device is ready, the Pixel owners will receive a notification.

Google rolls out May 2022 update for Pixel 3 to 6 Pro devices

In a new report from 9to5Google, we’re given our first peek at some of the impressive hardware that Google has reportedly stuffed into the Pixel Watch’s surprisingly sleek, almost Apple-eqsue, frame, indicating it’s shaping up to be the new flagship Android smartwatch. 

Reportedly coming packed with an impressive 300mAh battery, the Pixel Watch surpasses both the Apple Watch Series 7 and the Galaxy Watch 4 for battery size, as those flagship smartwatches only come equipped with a 284mAh battery and 247mAh battery respectively. 

Additionally, it’s claimed that Google’s Pixel Watch will also feature cellular connectivity on some of the models, however, it is currently unclear just how many of the models will have this feature. So far, three models of the upcoming smartwatch have been spotted applying for Bluetooth certification.

Here’s what Google’s Pixel Watch looks like on someone’s arm. | Via 9to5Google / u/tagtech414

Previously, 9to5Google also unveiled the look of the Pixel Watch thanks to a source discovering the device after it had been left at a restaurant by an employee. Thanks to that careless former Pixel Watch tester, we now know that the device is 40mm wide and 14mm thick. The smartwatch also features “at least one button” protruding from its side alongside its rotating crown. 

With Google still yet to officially announce the Pixel Watch, despite all the leaks we’ve seen, there’s still no word on an official release date, however, it’s expected that we’ll learn more during Google’s upcoming I/O presentation which is set to broadcast later this month on the 11th and 12th of May.

Google’s Pixel Watch reportedly touts some impressive specs

In the “App Store Improvement” notices that developers were being sent, it was claimed by Apple that their apps had “not been updated in a significant amount of time,” and subsequently they were at risk of being removed from sale within the App Store, leaving it only accessible to those who’re already purchased or downloaded the app.

Unsurprisingly, after being posted to Twitter, these “App Store Improvement” notices caused a fair amount of backlash against Apple as developers claimed that constantly updating their apps was an unfair challenge that not every indie developer or hobbyist had time to do. Many developers also chose to point out that apps such as Pocket God hadn’t been updated in years yet were seemingly unaffected by this new policy. 

Thanks to a new news post from Apple, we now know why long updated apps such as Pocket God haven’t been cleansed off the App Store, it’s because they’re popular.

Throughout the news post, Apple states that their “App Store Improvements process” isn’t just all about making sure apps have been updated sometime in the past three years, as there is also a “minimal download threshold” that apps must exceed as to not be labeled at risk for removal. 

Sadly for the disgruntled developers who’ve received and complained about the “App Store Improvement” notices, this means that, according to Apple, their “app has not been downloaded at all or extremely few times during a rolling 12 month period.” 

Thankfully, this smackdown of a news post isn’t all bad news for developers, as in the post Apple notes that developers can appeal app removals if they wish to and, thanks to kicking up a fuss, developers now have up to 90 days to improve their apps, rather than just 30.

Apple calls out developers upset by App Store removals

What button you will see is "based on your usage" with Google providing a "Current recommendations" option. The new tab and share buttons are features that are used quite often. Moving them to the toolbar based on usage will make it a bit easier.

Google also allows users to manually select the shortcut they want. Users even have the option to turn the toolbar completely off as well. The toolbar shortcut has been rolling out to users after Chrome version 101 was launched, although Google has yet to make an official announcement about it.

Users can go to Settings and then scroll down a bit to find "Toolbar shortcut" to use this feature. For those who do not have the update, there's also a flag from which you can manually set the options:

chrome://flags/#adaptive-button-in-top-toolbar-customization

Google is not known to include huge UI tweaks or change the interface on Chrome because of its extremely large user base. According to research, there are around 3.2 billion users worldwide that use Chrome as their main browser. The second most used browser is Safari with a little over 576 million users that tells us the market share Google has when it comes to Chrome.

Source: 9to5Google

Google is rolling out a new toolbar shortcut in Chrome for Android

Even if a developer considers their app to be feature complete, Apple and Google are continually updating their operating systems which means third-party developers have to then adjust their app, so messing with the code is something that needs to be done at least a few times a year to keep the app current. Under Apple’s rules, if a developer can’t give that much time to a project then they’ll have a three year period where they don’t need to update their app plus the 90 day notice period before the app is removed.

Before and after the news of the extension, Apple’s policy on removing apps is that they will only be removed from the App Store. Users who have downloaded apps to their devices will still be able to continue using the app. Apple didn’t say whether those users could re-install the app later, but presumably not.

If you create apps for the App Store, you should check the Apple Developer website which contains information about the new change including an FAQ.

Apple extends deadline for developers to update their apps before App Store removal

According to the images, not all “iPhone 14” displays will feature a pill-shaped camera cutout to house the front camera. Only the “iPhone 14 Pro” and “iPhone 14 Pro Max” models will have that design. Other iPhone models in the rumored series will include “iPhone 14” and “iPhone 14 Max,” all of which are expected to retain the notch design. Interestingly enough, we don’t see an “iPhone 14 Mini” in the “14” series.

A leaker on Twitter has also confirmed that the alleged “iPhone 14 Pro” will have thinner bezels. The aspect ratio will be slightly different in the “Pro” model.

According to previous rumors, the “iPhone 14 Pro” will also have a more rounded design. However, all these rumors are not what we should believe entirely. These may or may not be the final design. Nevertheless, the leaked design comes from multiple reliable sources, so there is no reason not to believe it.

Rumor also has it that The ‘Pro’ and the ‘Pro Max’ iPhone 14 would be the only two models to get Apple’s A16 processor, while the other two models, “iPhone 14” and 14 “Max,” will rock last year’s A15.

Meanwhile, Apple is rumored to release the iPhone 14 series at an event likely to happen in the month of September. But before that, Apple will hold its annual developer conference in June to announce a lot of new stuff. Of course, we will write everything that Apple announces at their future events.

Alleged iPhone 14 front panel leaks

At the Huawei Global Analyst Summit (HAS) 2022, Gan Bin, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Wireless Solution delivered a keynote speech titled "Endless Exploration, to Start a New Journey with 5G". He prophesied:

“5.5G will deepen the digital and intelligent transformation with ubiquitous 10 Gbps experience and 100 billion connectivity. Together with industry partners, Huawei will explore ultra-high bandwidth, uplink spectrum reconstruction, ELAA-MM, green air interfaces, and native intelligence to help operators build '1+1+N' 5.5G networks and upgrade network capabilities.”

While the world is racing towards 5G, Huawei is fine-tuning the next incremental upgrade. While 5G promises to exponentially increase speeds and reduce latency, it could also help millions of IoT (Internet of Things) devices. The proposed 5.5G networks could help boost digitalization and intelligence. For that to happen, mobile networks will need access to, as well as assure, a ubiquitous 10 Gbps experience, while keeping the latency within milliseconds.

The current experimental 5G network infrastructure could theoretically offer about 5 Gbps. Hence, the telecom industry will need to deploy a 10 Gbps experience layer on top of the existent 5G Gbps foundation network, Huawei said. This would not only ensure a reliable network with low latencies, but it could also reliably accept the next wave of internet-connected devices.

The 5.5G networks will need a "1+1+N" approach. Such networks will need at least a 1 GHz spectrum to guarantee a ubiquitous 10 Gbps experience. Huawei has also suggested deploying Extremely Large Antenna Array-Massive MIMO (ELAA-MM) to ensure the co-coverage between the C-band and higher bands based on extremely large antenna arrays.

Huawei has merely proposed the parameters needed to reliably scale the high-speed mobile internet ecosystem. Although there could be billions of active wireless internet connections in the future, it would be up to telecom companies to decide the most optimum and economically viable approach.

Next-Gen 5.5G networks can offer 10 Gbps for 100 bn connections with '1+1+N', Huawei claims

An iPhone undergoes repairs.

This is Apple's rental repair kit.

Apple launches self-service repair program for iPhone users in the US

Google calls the Pixel 6 “the fastest-selling Pixel ever”

It also features some great specs including a 50MP camera system, a 144Hz 6.5” FHD+ OLED display and a Snapdragon 778G+ 5G Mobile Platform.

In addition to the specs outlined above, the Motorola Edge 30 includes Wi-Fi 6E support and comes with up to 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage ensuring you can run all the apps you need even if they use up a lot of storage space.

Regarding battery life, the Motorola Edge 30 should get you through a whole day with its 4020 mAh battery, but, if you need to charge up, the TurboPower 30 will give you hours of battery life in minutes.

Commenting on the device’s size and internal hardware, Motorola said:

“Coming in at 6.79mm, the Edge 30 is the thinnest 5G smartphone available so it takes up less room in your pocket, fits comfortably in your hand, and is still packed with amazing technology inside. We also gave it an eye-catching look, with subtle, jewel-like patterns that shift and change as you tilt the phone from side to side for complexity and depth. An in-display fingerprint reader lets you instantly wake up and unlock your phone with a touch of the screen.”

The devices will begin arriving in the aforementioned markets in the coming weeks for around €449.99 but the actual price in your country could change depending on the tax regime.

With the Edge 30, Motorola hopes to bolster its available premium devices in Europe.

Motorola claims its new Edge 30 is the thinnest 5G smartphone on the market at just 6.79mm

The first public beta of Android 13 is now available for anyone with a compatible Pixel device to download and try out, the search giant announced today. Its release comes ahead of Google’s annual developer conference next month when the company is expected to fully detail its plans for the update — due for release later this year.

For end users, the most interesting features are those that have already appeared in Android 13’s initial two developer previews. There’s support for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio, a new photo picker that lets you restrict which of your photos an app is able to access, new app icon theming options, and a new permission that could cut down on notification spam.

Apps will need to ask for permission to access specific filetypes. Image: Google

In contrast, the new features for this public beta are much more developer-focused, like changes to the app permission for accessing shared media files in local storage. In a blog post, Google VP of engineering Dave Burke says the permission will now be specific to the type of media an app needs to access — images, video, or audio — rather than simply asking for permission to access all files.

Keystore and KeyMint, the parts of Android that can handle cryptographic keys, have been updated to provide more informative error codes. There are also new APIs for audio playback.

For more information on how to sign up for and download the beta, check out Google’s Android 13 developer site. Anyone already running the developer preview should automatically receive the new beta.

Android 13’s beta is no longer just for developers

We are all still waiting for the full spec list of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and as the days go by, we’re getting more and more insights into what to expect. Here’s what we know so far: it could be cheaper than its predecessors, it might be smaller and thinner than Z Fold 3, and it might not feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. Now, let’s talk about battery and screen size. According to reports, a wider screen will be gracing the Galaxy Z Fold 4, but here’s the downside: no better battery size to await.

The discovery was uncovered by GalaxyClub through a South Korean inspection body. The safety listing presents two images of batteries, which don’t provide explicit information that they are for the Fold 4. However, the certification is the giveaway. The photos have the model numbers EB-BF936ABY and EB-BF937ABY, while the Z Fold 4 has the numbers SM-F936.

Now, here’s the reason why the new batteries don’t impress initially – the first battery has a rated capacity of 2002 mAh while the second has 2268 mAh. The numbers sum up to a rated capacity of 4270 mAh. This means the Galaxy Z Fold 4 won’t significantly differ from the two batteries of the Z Fold 3, which have a total rated capacity of 4275 mAh. Apparently, Fold 4’s typical capacity advertisement will likely be higher, but it will certainly not be that different from the 4400 mAh of Galaxy Z Fold 3.

On a positive note, we can expect an improved performance in the battery usage of Galaxy Z Fold 4, thanks to the anticipated Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus. The new chip is also expected to deliver better heat management in Fold 4. Apart from that, it is rumored that Fold 4 will come with a smaller and slimmer body. With this, staying at almost the same battery capacity is essentially a good thing. That means you will have a smaller phone with the same battery and (hopefully) better performance.

Z Fold 4 to have the same battery as Fold 3, but a better chip and smaller, thinner body

As spotted by reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi, the micro-blogging site is also working on a new feature that will allow users to attach photos, GIFs, and videos to a tweet at the same time. Paluzzi has also shared the screenshot of the UI, which explains how the feature works.

Twitter seems to have started working on this feature a long time ago. The reverse engineer first found the reference for this in the Twitter Android app back in 2020. But for some reason, the company has taken two years to materialize the idea. It shouldn’t take much longer from now to launch the feature for the general public since the company seems to be giving it the final touch.

Paluzzi has also found references for this feature in the iOS app today, a big enough hint that it could also become available for iOS users when it is ready. To sum it up for you, the feature will likely be available for both Android and iOS users. However, the reverse engineer said nothing about whether it will be available for the Twitter web client.

It is worth pointing out, though, that the ability to attach photos, videos, and GIFs to a tweet at the same time is still in the development phase. We are hoping that the micro-blogging site will release it to the public in the coming few months. We will, of course, notify you once it becomes available for everyone.

What do you think about this new feature? Is it something that you find useful on Twitter? Let us know what you think in the comments section.

Twitter may allow users to attach photos, videos and GIFs to a tweet at the same time

Rolling out to iOS users for testing now, and Android users whenever “soon” might be, the new CC button to turn on or off closed captions appears in the top right corner of videos on Twitter, as the company displayed in their own tweet announcing the feature. 

In Twitter’s own tweet about the new feature, the social media giant didn’t explain exactly why they are adding this much-requested feature, but in their defence, they didn’t really need to either, as closed captions are an obvious and major win for accessibility, regardless of if you use them or not. 

Alongside this feature to better suit your closed captioning preferences, Twitter also recently implemented alternative text badges (ATL), allowing users to add detailed descriptions of any photos they upload in order to aid screen readers and further improve accessibility.

Additionally, under the impending threat of Elon Musk taking over the company, Twitter is also finally working on an edit button for tweets. Reportedly rolling out to paid Twitter Blue subscribers first, the edit button is said to also have an “immutable” quality to it, meaning the original unedited tweet won’t be deleted after changes are made.

Twitter is getting a new closed captions button for videos

Our first look at what seems to be the Google Pixel Watch comes under strange circumstances: someone supposedly found its prototype lying around at a restaurant and sent pictures of it to Android Central on the condition of anonymity. The images of the purported device match up with what we’ve seen from previously leaked renders, down to the circular watch face and rotating crown.

The watch appears to have a physical crown sitting between two buttons. Image: Android Central

As shown in the photos, a physical crown sits between two buttons on the side of the watch. If it’s anything like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, the two buttons could be used to turn the watch on or off, return to the home screen, or even as a shortcut to pull up recently used apps. Meanwhile, the small hole next to the crown could be a microphone or perhaps an altimeter sensor used to track stair climbing. As Android Central notes, the four pins on the side of the watch may be used for testing purposes, and may not appear on the final model.

The underside of the watch features a black frame with what looks like an oval-shaped health-tracking sensor in the center. Android Central’s source also says the bottom of the watch has a smooth feel, noting it “looks metallic but feels like it’s coated with glass,” akin to the glass backing on the Apple Watch.

What appears to be a sensor is found on the underside of the watch. Image: Android Central

Unfortunately, Android Central’s source wasn’t able to fully boot up the watch to see how the user interface might look. When they tried turning it on, a white Google logo appeared and nothing happened after that.

A charger wasn’t left with the watch either, but as Android Central notes, the watch may be charged within its case, just like the Apple Watch and Google-owned Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense smartwatches. While there aren’t any pictures of the strap actually attached to the watch, it looks like it comes with a propriety method for snapping in the straps, while the straps themselves resemble the ones that come with Fitbit’s smartwatch line. You can view the entirety of the leaked images on Android Central’s site.

What’s almost more interesting than the watch itself is the story behind it. Thanks to an Ask Me Anything (AMA) post on Reddit by u/tagtech414, the person who claims to be in ownership of the watch, we can start piecing things together. (And yes, the person posting seems legit — he shows an image of the watch on his laptop screen with his Reddit post in the background.)

u/tagtech414 says his bartending friend found the watch at the restaurant where he works, and held onto it for “a few weeks,” waiting for the owners to come looking for it. Since no one ever came, the bartending friend decided to give the watch to u/tagtech414 because he’s a self-labeled “tech nerd.”

As for why the strap isn’t attached to the watch itself, he claims his friend forgot to give it to him, citing “they were packaged separately and he forgot to bring them over, so he sent me pictures of them for the article.” u/tagtech414 also answered some additional questions about the watch’s specs, noting that the bezel is actually quite large, and that the watch face is about 1.5 inches in diameter and half an inch thick. It looks like u/tagtech414 is still updating the post, so there may be even more information soon.

Even still, the situation is similar to the way the iPhone 4 was leaked way back in 2010 — someone found an iPhone prototype in a restaurant, which was then purchased and torn down by Gizmodo (the photos of which all mysteriously disappeared from Gizmodo’s website, by the way). It turns out a software engineer left the prototype there, so it’s clear that such a situation has and can occur.

But what’s weird about this case of lost and found is that it doesn't seem like Google is even looking for the device (unlike Apple which put out a call to get its iPhone prototype back at the time). u/tagtech414 also says he hasn’t been contacted by Google yet. Of course, there’s always the possibility that this could all be some elaborate ruse by Google to get more publicity for its upcoming watch, as this is all very reminiscent of the time a Pixel 3 XL was found in the back of a Lyft (did you think we’d forget already, Google?).

There are so many questions left unanswered here, and while the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the watch may never be cleared up entirely, at least the features of the actual watch will. So far, we know that Google will call the device the Pixel Watch (huge surprise there), and we’ll likely find out even more details at next month’s Google I/O.

Update April 24th 7:22PM ET: Updated to add that the person claiming to be in ownership of the Pixel Watch prototype started an AMA post on Reddit, and added some additional information provided by the Reddit post.

Nine ‘Pixel Watch’ photos leak — and one wacky story

Apple may be cracking down on apps that no longer receive updates. In a screenshotted email sent to affected developers, titled “App Improvement Notice,” Apple warns it will remove apps from the App Store that haven’t been “updated in a significant amount of time” and gives developers just 30 days to update them.

“You can keep this app available for new users to discover and download from the App Store by submitting an update for review in 30 days,” Apple writes in the email. “If no update is submitted in 30 days, the app will be removed from sale.” While Apple will remove the outdated apps from the App Store, any previously downloaded apps will remain on users’ devices.

A number of app makers, like Protopop Games developer Robert Kabwe, have expressed their concerns about the change. Kabwe says on Twitter that Apple is threatening to remove his fully-functional game, Motivoto, because it hasn’t been updated since March 2019.

Meanwhile, Kosta Eleftheriou, the developer of the FlickType Apple Watch keyboard, says Apple took down a version of his app made specifically for the visually impaired because it hasn't been updated in two years. As Eleftheriou points out in his tweet, the once-super-popular Pocket God app still remains on the App Store even though it received its last update in 2015. Developer Emilia Lazer-Walker also reported that Apple is removing “a few” of her older games from the App Store. Several other developers share the same experience, noting that they just haven’t had the time to update their apps.

On Apple’s App Store Improvements page, the company says: “We are implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated.” There isn’t a time stamp on the page, so it’s not immediately clear when Apple published or last updated the post. Apple didn't immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

In 2016, Apple said it would start removing abandoned apps from the App Store. At the time, it also warned developers that they would have 30 days to update their app before it got taken down. That said, it’s unclear whether Apple has continuously been enforcing this rule over the years, or if it recently started conducting a wider sweep. Apple also doesn’t clearly outline what it considers to be “outdated” — whether it's based on the time that has elapsed since an app was last updated, or if it concerns compatibility with the most recent version of iOS.

Critics of this policy argue that mobile apps should remain available no matter their age, much like old video games remain playable on consoles. Others say the policy is unnecessarily tough on developers, and claim Apple doesn’t fully respect the work that goes into indie games.

Earlier this month, the Google Play Store similarly announced it would begin limiting the visibility of apps that “don’t target an API level within two years of the latest major Android release version.” Android developers have until November 1st, 2022 to update their apps, but also have the option of applying for a six-month extension if they can’t make the deadline. With both major app stores cracking down on older apps, this could leave some developers, especially indie studios, struggling to keep up.

Apple App Store appears to be widely removing outdated apps