Due to a recent DOJ decision, Google’s lucrative relationship with Apple’s iPhone is in jeopardy, and that means the Pixel is even more important than ever to the company’s success. In 2024, it seems like the company will be leaning into AI. It’s got the Pixel 9 Pro with plenty of Gemini AI features, plus the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The company’s also launching a new Pixel Watch 3 as well as the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
We’re watching the new image generating feature as it creates a a picture of a beach bonfire with a sky full of fireworks from prompts. It runs on a combination of on-device and AI in the cloud. What is a photo, etc., etc.
Keke Palmer just interrupted the event to hype an after-event event and her book. All I could think about was how the guy from “Hot Ones” said she’s the most charming person he ever interviewed on the show.
We’re getting a look at Call Notes on Pixel 9. There’s a transcript of a recorded conversation in the phone app — and it all stays on-device. The demo went fine, but the loud thud behind the stage was slightly concerning?
The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is getting its time in the spotlight, and Google is emphasizing its thinness and the eight-inch inner screen, which the company calls the biggest screen you can buy on a phone. Which, yeah, that seems about right.
Yup, it’s 2024 and we’re talking about the importance of phone RAM. I’d roll my eyes that this is still a conversation, but after trying a lot of different Android E Ink tablets with different amounts of RAM, I can confirm — RAM is very important!
Both the XL and regular Pixel Pro will have the same features. Thank you for not gatekeeping cool features to big phones. Some of us have tiny hands and pockets.
The Pixel 9 series is finally onscreen — all four of them. But we’ve been talking about Gemini features coming to the whole Android ecosystem right up til now. That’s a lot of time before the phones!
But for a very visual-sounding demo, Gemini Live is surprisingly sparse on visuals. As it comes up with ideas for keeping kids entertained, there are no pictures or references — it’s really like she’s just chatting with an acquaintance on the phone.
We’re getting a look at Gemini Live for the first time, with a couple of voice options called things like “Dipper” and “Ursa.” Notably, none of them sound like... her.
Gemini pulls out a list of foods mentioned in a video and adds them to a grocery list. It really does feel like Google is going out of its way to highlight partner devices in this new era of Android and Pixel on one team...
And Google definitely was doing a dig at Apple by making it clear this was a live demo and not prerecorded. Unfortunately, the demo then struggled, and there was a deeply awkward silence in the room before things got back on track.
We’re watching as Gemini tries to pull some information from a picture of a concert poster. It’s, uh, not going well. It failed twice on a Galaxy S24 Ultra, and now we’re onto a second demo unit.
Yet the elephant in the room is accuracy. Gemini Assistant sounds like it could be super useful! But if it isn’t accurate, is it really better?
He’s recently taken the lead on Android’s ecosystem and tells us that Gemini is supported on “billions of devices” globally, making it the most widely used AI assistant to date. Also, a shout out to Gemini on the Motorola Razr Plus’ cover screen. I appreciate it, Sameer.
Rick Osterloh, the leader of Google’s newly joined hardware and Android teams, tells us the company’s going to show us AI features that are, you know, actually starting to ship. This is the “Gemini era.”
The former CEO of YouTube passed away this weekend.
The coffee is hot, the sun is only warm, and the journalists with gadgets are plentiful.
Using the Fold can feel special, but Google needs to make some obvious upgrades for the follow-up.
We’ve already seen several leaks for Google’s upcoming Pixel 9 lineup, but established leaker Evan Blass has now shared new images of all three handsets.
Some show the screen and size difference between the standard and XL Pixel Pro 9, while others display the colors that may be available for each model — including the bubblegum pink Pixel 9 that leaked last month.
Per Android Headlines, the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL will launch on August 22nd, while the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be available on September 4th. Also, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will apparently follow later, on September 26th.
[Android Headlines]
The rumored 45mm model will start at $50 more than the $349 price for the 41mm model, according to Android Headlines. With Google’s next big hardware event coming up on August 13th, we probably won’t have to wait long to see if that pricing is accurate.
[Android Headlines]
Android Authority details Google’s G4 Tensor chip with seemingly minor changes from the previous generation, along with the addition of Samsung’s Exynos 5400 modem that could enable satellite connectivity for Pixel 9 phones.
It looks like the upcoming lineup may start with 128GB of storage as well, with options for up to 1TB on the pricier Pixel 9 Pro, according to Android Headlines.
