Android Faithful

As if Google I/O excitement wasn't enough, we shared some big news on the podcast this week! Listen as Jason Howell, Huyen Tue Dao, Ron Richards and Mishaal Rahman reveal the brand new Android Faithful website featuring newsletters, articles, reviews and more! Check it out at AndroidFaithful.com and then listen as we discuss all the major Android news of the week!NEWSGoogle I/O is next week and we share what we're excited to see along with programming updates about our coverageOne UI 6.1 with AI rolls out to to the Samsung S21 series and older foldablesMediaTek is getting in on the premium Android action in the US this yearMultitasking on Android 14 is finally better on tabletsThe Patron Pick speculated whether or not HTC might launch a phone with a faster Snapdragon chip soon?HARDWAREAhead of I/O, Google rolls out the Pixel 8A Also, the Pixel Tablet shed the dock and sells for $399Hands-On with the Rabbit R1 and continued debunking of it's relationship with AndroidGet ready for style with the Porsche Design Honor Magic6 RSR with clean lines and design Walmart levels up your living room with the Onn 4K Pro streaming set top box with Google TVAPPSExciting news for new phone set ups as Google's working on a way to speed-up data transfersGoogle Photos adds a new feature to enhance videos with a buttonThere's a new android app for Comic Books called Omnibus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This edition of Android Faithful sure did erupt into something spectacular as Jason Howell, Huyen Tue Dao, Ron Richards and Mishaal Rahman dig deep into the Rabbit R1 and it's tenuous Android connection along with tracking the latest rumors, leaks and news about Samsung, Google and more!NEWSMark your calendars, the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is coming in July!It's Android 15 time with Mishaal as we go even deeper into the new OSWear OS is gaining on the Apple WatchThe Patron Pick celebrates Google Play enabling downloading two apps at once, finally!HARDWARESome curious Pixel Tablet release rumorsDetails of the Google Pixel 8A are leaking left and right including the costAnd Google has a refresh of the Chromecast with Google TV getting teed upAPPSGoogle explains why YouTube Music should be the destination for podcasts and we have opinions!Want Android 15's volume panel now? Here you go!Mishaal unravels the Rabbit R1's connection to Android with BREAKING NEWS of Rabbit's responseBONUS HARDWAREUnboxing the Nothing Ear 3COMMUNITYJames from SoCal write in about Google Messages compressing images and video even over RCSMike in Dubai has thoughts about Google One and the end of the Google One VPNStealth Dave provides some recommendations for multi-device travel chargers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're into the quiet period before Google I/O, but that doesn't stop Google from doing a massive re-org that affects Android dramatically. Huyen, Jason, Mishaal and Ron break it all down and get a little emotional about saying goodbye to Hiroshi Lockheimer.NEWSGoogle shares the future as they build it with AI and reorganize their divisonsMishaal shares even more Android 15 previewsMeta rolls out the Horizon OS, based on Android, for more third party partnersThe Patron Pick highlights the new AI tool in YouTube is pretty helpful!HARDWAREHands on with the Nothing Ear (a) in bright yellowImproved performance looms for the OnePlus Pad 2Introducing the Pura 70 line from HuaweiGlobal manufacturer Tecno goes in on camera functionality with the Camon 30 PremiereAPPSTikTok Notes is the upstart rival to InstagramGoogle Messages is rolling out Selfie GIF functionality and even more features coming for Google PhotosEV drivers get some cool functionality in Google MapsCOMMUNITYTimothy writes in to defend the Google One VPNMike from Ohio was able to change the ringtone on his Pixel Watch 2!Andrew from Ontario celebrates the new Google Home Controls screensaver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gang is back together as Ron returns to join Huyen, Jason and Mishaal and just in time too since the Android 15 beta dropped and Mishaal's got the breakdown. That plus...a phone made of wood?!?NEWSAndroid 15 Beta has arrived!Samsung overcomes Apple in market share according to IDCGoogle Gemini and OnePlus are working together in a confusing fashionSamsung brings Galaxy AI to more Galaxy devicesThe Patron Pick shows that Google listens as Google Messages brings back the single-line text field after getting complaintsHARDWAREPixel 9 line developments as a new modem brings emergency satellite connections and perhaps the Pixel Fold gets renamed?Leaked looks at the Sony Xperia 1 VIMotorola rolls out the Edge 50 series, featuring a wood backing plate (again!)APPSAll Google Photos users are getting AI editing tools Sadly, Google One VPN is dyingCOMMUNITYStephen from Ontario has solved the taking calls while driving with Maps problemMike from Ohio has discovered a huge drawback to the Google Pixel Watch 2John from Cincinnati, also in Ohio, shares some tech observations while traveling abroad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome Ben Schoon of 9to5Google to the show as we've got a lot going on with Android 15 developments and Google's rollout of the Find My Device network, finally!NEWSWe got some amazing photos of the solar eclipse yesterday!Mishaal's got the latest rundown of what's coming to Android 15Google is finally rolling out the Find My Device Network - whoo hoo!The Patron Pick is a hoot with a new device that lets you run Samsung Dex on your car screen!!HARDWAREThe rumored Motorola Edge 50 has been announced!The Samsung Galaxy S25 will stick Exynos and Snapdragon APPSBeeper was acquired by Automattic!! In more messaging news, Sunbird is coming back, rising like a phoenixOnePlus is rolling out AI Eraser and some rumors about Google's Magic EraserCOMMUNITYOwen from Ottawa, Canada checks in on Chrome tabsChaim from Crown Heights in Brooklyn) wants to know if Android's Earthquake Detection actually works?Jakob shows off how he watches Android FaithfulThanks to Ben Schoon for joining us - check out all his great work at 9to5Google! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

JR Raphael of The Intelligence returns to the show to join Jason, MIshaal and Ron to discuss the latest in Google and Android updates plus some hands-on Gamer gear and some rumors of the Pixel 9 line.Sign up for The Intelligence today and get $25 off your membership with the code: iloveronrichards - https://theintelligence.com/insider/NEWSGoogle has a bunch of updates to Shopping, Maps and Circle to SearchLatest in the upcoming Android 15 is protection from stingray devicesGoogle may be bringing Gemini to phones but it's going to be a RAM hogRCS is coming to iPhones this Fall, according to GooglePatron Pick: Android 15 could revamp the volume panel and make it collapsible and plus, Android 15 prepares revamped status bar and Mishaal isn't having it!HARDWAREPixel 9 rumors and leaks are heating up and it looks like there might be three phones in the lineThe Vivo X Fold3 is the lightest book-style foldable yet - it's so thin!Mishaal is hands on with the GameSir X2s Type C mobile gaming controllerIf you like photography then you'll want to check out the Xiaomi 14 Ultra photography kitAPPSGoogle Podcasts is going away, make sure you find a new podcast app!Gemini now automatically starts Google Maps navigationGot too many Chrome tabs? They've got a fix for thatCOMMUNITYDan M. is having a hard time with audio on the OnePlus Watch 2Jon and Eric write in with Maps while on the phone solutionsMike S. has a tip for battery drain on the Pixel 7AThanks to JR Raphael of The Intelligence for joining us, check out all his great work over at The Intelligence - https://theintelligence.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Juan Bagnell of SomeGadgetGuy returns to the show for a spicy week of Android discussions as Jason, MIshaal and Ron preview Android 15 and get hands-on with some new hardware!Want your own Android Faithful T-Shirt? You can get yours at Threadless - https://androidfaithful.threadless.comWould you want to come to a LIVE recording of Android Faithful during Google I/O? Let us know at bit.ly/afgoogleioNEWSAndroid 15 Developer Preview 2 is out and Mishaal breaks down what's new in this latest releaseThe Department of Justice is suing Apple for monopolistic behavior. What does it mean for Android?Samsung Galaxy A55 5G gets Seamless UpdatesThe Samsung OneUI 6.1 Update starts rolling out this week!Patron Pick: Google Contacts is making it easier to set custom ringtones for individual contactsHARDWARERon is hands on with the Nokia T21 Table from HMDJason reviews the OnePlus Watch 2 - Go watch his full review on YouTube!Details on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, featuring (surprise, surprise), AI!APPSThe Epic Games Store is coming to Android!Google Wallet requiring device unlock for paymentsGoogle Photos library can now appear in OnePlus and Xiaomi's gallery appsCOMMUNITYAlpan23 on Patreon wonders if Android/Google Play is really as insecure as Apple makes it out to be?Daniel C. shares why he's Team Pixel all the wayDavid, akak Panzer_Z has another tip for locking your screen on Google Maps Thanks to Juan Bagnell for joining us, check out all his great work over at SomeGadgetGuy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ron, Mishaal, Huyen, and Jason are so excited to share some big news for the show (a long time coming!) Plus, its that time of the year when Google blesses us all with the date for an event that always gets us giddy!Get your Android Faithful Merch!Would attend an Android Faithful meetup during Google IO!Featured in this episode:NEWSGoogle I/O 2024 takes place on May 14Android 15 will let you find your Pixel 8 even when it's offHere's a first look at Android 15's built-in app archiving featureThe golden age of Nintendo emulators on Android is overPatron News Story Pick: Android phones with Gemini Nano could gain another handy on-device featureHARDWAREMishaal's Zenfone 11 Ultra reviewASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra Photo SamplesASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra Video SamplesMotorola’s new Moto G'sSnapdragon 8s Gen 3 arrivesSamsung going back to square wearables?Google Pixel 8a boasts 120Hz displayAPPSYouTube Music rolling out song searchYouTube Music trims the silenceSpotify comes for YouTube Music with music videos in select countriesGoogle Wallet may get .pkpass support!COMMUNITYLinda loves pinch to zoom in Android MessagesRichard has a problem with Google Maps for Android.Chris wonders what he'd miss if he switched away from Pixel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ron, Huyen, Jason, and Mishaal have a hard time sifting through the sheer volume of big Android news this week, but have no fear: There's an exclusive piece of news that Mishaal breaks on the show complete with a shiny new breaking news bumper and the gang celebrates a little too hard.NEWS@MishaalRahman: Here is what's new in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2Android 15 might let you send text messages via satelliteGoogle finally enables display output on the Pixel 8, here's what it could mean for a DeX-like modePatron News Story Pick: SpaceX says its satellite service aced tests on Android and iPhoneApple is working to make it easier to switch from iPhone to Android because of the EU@MishaalRahman: Google also announced yesterday that they will begin showing "additional choice screens" for users setting up an Android device in the EEA.@MishaalRahman: Google has shared details on its new external offers program, the program they created to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act.To comply with DMA, WhatsApp and Messenger will become interoperable via Signal protocolHARDWAREPixel 8a will be more expensive: colors, prices, memory of the new Google phoneGoogle confirms Pixel 8a is coming with Android’s new battery stats@mishaal_rahman: Gemini Nano won't be coming to the Pixel 8 because of ""some hardware limitations"" but will be coming to more high-end devices in the near future according to Terence Zhang, a Developer Relations engineer at Google, during #TheAndroidShow.Samsung's Galaxy A55 and A35 are official with 6.6" OLED screens, focus on securityNo April Fools' joke: OnePlus will launch a new Nord on April 1Exclusive Leak: Motorola Edge 50 ProJason's Boox Palma hands onAPPS[Exclusive] Google says the IETF's ongoing work on the unwanted tracker detection spec doesn't impact its launch timeline for the Find My Device network@MishaalRahman: Google has announced that movie tickets and boarding passes will automatically be added to Google Wallet when you get a confirmation email in Gmail!"COMMUNITYTimothy, Hilton, and Robert have PLENTY to say about Assistant routinesMichael says we've seen Circle to Search beforeChuck is having Samsung RCS issues Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ron, Jason, Huyen, and guest Will Sattelberg dive into Will's experience in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, plus Jason has the Nothing Phone (2a) and rooted phones lose RCS.NEWSGoogle is blocking RCS on rooted Android devicesPixel feature drop: New productivity tools and advanced health featuresGoogle prepares to add 'Satellite SOS' feature on Pixel devicesGoogle prepares 'Satellite SOS' emergency feature for Pixel devices.Patron News Story Pick: Google Phone is going to make talking more fun with sound reactions and effectsHARDWAREI miss when the world's biggest phone show wasn't all about prototypesMWC 2024 was weird, and I couldn’t be happier about itThese Companies Have a Plan to Kill AppsDeutsche Telekom/T-Mobile: AI Could Replace the Apps on Your Phone. I've Seen It With My Own EyesHumane AI Pin: The most jaw-dropping demo at MWC was from a brand I wasn't expecting to seeA Phone, A FriendJason's Nothing Phone (2a) hands-onAPPSMicrosoft is killing support for running Android apps on Windows 11YouTube's free picture-in-picture mode could go global really soonA new look for “Your apps” rowCOMMUNITYSetting volume based on Bluetooth deviceRoutines in the Clock app Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bjorn Kilburn, VP of Wear OS at Google joins Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman, Ron Richards, and Huyen Tue Dao to talk about the new Hybrid Architecture features of Wear OS 4 and the new OnePlus Watch 2. Plus, it's a super-sized episode with all the biggest gadget news from Mobile World Congress 2024!Featured in this episode:NEWS9 new Android features to help you stay productiveWear OS 4 interview with Bjorn KilburnHARDWAREIntroducing OnePlus Watch 2: A Dual-Engine Flagship Smartwatch Powered with Wear OS by GoogleGoogle Pixel Fold 2 360-Degree Video And 5K Renders Reveal; No More Horizontal Camera VisorXiaomi Debuts Xiaomi 14 Series Internationally with Next-Generation Leica Optics, Powered by Xiaomi HyperOSXiaomi Adds an Exciting Array of Smart Living Products to its International AIoT LineupQualcomm Redefines Connected Experiences with FastConnect 7900, the First AI-optimized Wi-Fi 7 SystemQualcomm Unveils the World’s Most Advanced 5G Modem-RF System, Harnessing Integrated AI to Enable the Next Generation of 5GZTE Devices at MWCHonor Magic 6 ProHMD - Barbie Flip phone and Modular PhonesMotorola’s Rollable Concept phone laughs at your silly foldableMORE NEWSPatron News Story Pick: Androidify strikes back: Google now lets you create a custom Android ‘Bot’New One UI 6.1 Update Brings Galaxy AI to More Galaxy DevicesSimplifying our payment apps in the U.S. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a big week as Android 15 has landed and Huyen, Mishaal and Ron are excited to talk about it with our special guest, Android Developer Zarah Dominguez joining us direct from Australia!Featured in this episode:NEWSThe first Developer Preview of Android 15 is hereMishaal breaks down why it wasn't hard to break down Android 15Android 15 could have new features to protect your sensitive notifications AND speed up web pagesAs if Android 15 wasn't enough, Google rolled out Gemini 1.5, upping the game for AIFewer Android users jumped to iPhones in 2023Patron News Story Pick: 8 new Emoji are coming to our keyboard soon!HARDWAREPixel Fold and Pixel Watch Prototypes leaks in unlikely placesOnePlus teases the One Plus Watch 2 to be unveiled at Mobile World CongressAsus Zenfone 11 will be unveiled on March 14Honor Magic V2 gets a Porsche makeoverZTE Libero Flip hits Japanese markets at a low priceDetails emerge on the Xiaomi 14 UltraGo watch Jason's review of the OnePlus Open!APPSGoogle Messages could soon let you edit textsGoogle explains Android Auto AI Message Summaries"Talk to a Live Rep" coming to Android, not just PixelsGoogle Play Store gets AI with App Highlights and FAQsCOMMUNITYEmail 1: Tom from Ireland and Scotland shares an app to enable Nearby Share with MacOS called Near DropEmail 2: Adam in San Diego shares a YouTube video that helped him figure out how to change notification sounds on his Samsung Galaxy S24Thanks to Zarah Dominguez for joining us on the show! Check her work out at https://zarah.dev/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ron, Jason, Huyen, and Mishaal are unimpressed by the rollout of Gemini as an Assistant replacement, MIshaal shows a reputable leak of the Pixel Fold 2, and Android 15 is likely days away from release!Featured in this episode:NEWSBard AI chatbot replaces Google Assistant, available in new Gemini app and Google Assistant headphonesGemini can save conversations for up to 3 yearsAndroid 15 to make phones easier for baseline users to usePixel Fold might get a fancy trick from the OnePlus OpenPixel phones may get auto touch sensitivity based on the environmentFirst look at Android 15's chat bubbles on Pixel TabletGoogle tackling Android phishing problemsAndroid 15 preview coming this weekFCC may investigate Apple over Beeper Mini shutdownWhatsApp planning interoperability with other messaging appsPatron News Story Pick: YouTube Music testing Cast redesign on AndroidHARDWAREOnePlus 12 and 12R unboxing, 12R available nowExclusive first look at rumored Google Pixel Fold 2Nothing Phone 2A launches March 5th in US with limited releaseNothing announced Glyph developer kitXiaomi Watch 2 with Wear OS for half the Pixel Watch 2 priceAPPSGoogle Maps redesigning directions search, dropping fullscreenGoogle Maps Android now shows weatherCloud photos available in Android photo pickerCOMMUNITYEmail 1: Blake switched from Galaxy to Pixel 8 Pro, misses Samsung Routines to change settings like Bluetooth volume.Email 2: Dave impressed with Pixel 7's Photosphere features, providing an example of a seamless Photosphere they took.Email 3: Another Dave asking what the word is before "Android" in the AF theme song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ron Richards, Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman, and Jason Howell are joined by Chih-Hao Kung from ASUS to talk all about the ROG Phone 8 and the state of Android gaming phones in 2024.NEWSAndroid 15 to bring audio sharing, more immersion, and enhanced app archiving.Amazon job listing spells impending doom for Android on Fire OS.Circle to Search comes to Pixel 8 family.Find My Device network still MIA.Patron News Story Pick: Full screen food ads on the Chromecast with Google TV.INTERVIEWChih-Hao Kung, ASUS global PR, talks all about the ROG Phone 8.HARDWARESamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 might be less expensive.Also possibly a mid-range foldable by Samsung too!Nokia branding by HMD coming to an end.PIxel Fold 2 might have a Tensor 4 instead of the G3!APPSQuick Share is here!Generative AI coming to Google Maps.Google says Assistant Driving Mode isn't DEAD dead.COMMUNITYThe end of the microphone in the search bar isn't that bad.The Pixel 8 Pro thermometer ALSO isn't that bad.Firefox Focus is highly recommended! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ron, Jason, Huyen, and Mishaal are joined by Florence Ion to discuss what Samsung is doing right, what Google is doing wrong, and what Onn has that Logitech doesn't.Featured in this episode:NEWSGoogle Pixel devices lose Assistant microphone shortcutGoogle accidentally reveals Assistant with Bard demo videoGoogle may rename Assistant with Bard to GeminiFlo LOVES Circle to SearchPixel Feature Drop for January 2024Samsung, Google preparing Wear OS 5 based on Android 14Wear OS preps for Material You, hints at grid app launcherAndroid allows eSIM transfer between phonesPatron News Story Pick: Critical storage permission bug in Pixel phonesGoogle halts January 2024 GPSU rollout due to device issuesHARDWAREFossil exits smartwatchesGalaxy S24 may detect car crashesHonor’s Magic V2 foldable launches in Europe and UKRon looks at the Logitech K480 Keyboard paired with Pixel TabletAPPSChromecast with Google TV to receive incoming call notificationsGoogle Assistant revamped on Android Auto with AIUpgrade to Passkeys on Pixel phones with Google Password ManagerCOMMUNITYChad suggests gestures for AR computing instead of virtual keyboardsMike shares how alcohol saved his water-damaged phone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mishaal returns from Galaxy Unpacked 2024 with the S24 in hand, plus plenty of rumory goodness from Google and OnePlus.Featured in this episode:NEWSSamsung Unpacked 2024 was full of AI... by Google.Samsung Galaxy Ring is a smaller fitness wearable.Samsung looks to bring non-invasive glucose monitoring to its wearables.Patron News Story Pick: WhatsApp has its own nearby file sharing solution too.HARDWAREMishaal goes hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S24.OnePlus announces the global OnePlus 12 and the 12 R.OnePlus also shows off the OnePlus Buds 3.OnePlus Watch 3 could come at MWC and run Wear OS.Pixel Watch 3 might come in two size variants.Pixel 9 gets some crisp new renders that show striking design changes.APPSGboard for Pixel Tablet getting new voice typing toolbar and seamless voice typing mode.Google Messages will let you talk to Bard soon.Assistant with Bard might become, simply, Bard.Google Photos stacks will clean up your photo roll.COMMUNITYHow aggressive is Google's hardware plan compared to Samsung and Apple?One fan's AR-driven futuristic dream.Kia software update fixed Pixel 6 connectivity issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Post-CES hangover is in effect with guest Adam Doud fresh from Vegas with some hot hardware in hand to show off. Plus, a bonus chat with Mishaal from the road!Featured in this episode:NEWSSamsung's reign as top smartphone maker comes to an endGoogle layoffs lead to the end of many Assistant featuresWidgets returning to the lockscreen? Thank you, Android 15That green Android guy has a name!Patron News Story Pick: Animated GIFs coming to Google MessagesHARDWAREMishaal talks about his hands-on with the ASUS ROG Phone 8 and other CES discoveriesAdam gives a hands-on glimpse of the OnePlus 12AAWireless 2 brings hardware improvementsAPPSBluetooth beacons save Google Maps' day in tunnelsWowMouse turns your smartwatch'd hand into gesture-nav goodnessCOMMUNITYOne tale of eSIM glory in the UKChad likes Podcast Addict too (and he's tried them all)You know what's better than Android Faithful? 140" of Android Faithful! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the annual CES 2024 mega-super-duper-crazy-awesome Android extravaganza, featuring Sandeep Chivukula from Google!Featured in this episode:NEWSDeep dive with Sandeep Chivukula, Director of Product Management for Multi-Device Experiences at GoogleQuickShare, Fast Pair on big screens, Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel Tablet content hand-off, Matter on Google TVs for Home control.A slew of Android announcements for the carRCS getting dual SIM support on Google MessagesAndroid 15 could support replacing the Assistant summons with apps like ChatGPTPatron News Story Pick: Google Password Manager gets a new shortcutCES HARDWAREMishaal goes hands-on with the ASUS ROG Phone 8TCL goes big with new NXTPAPER devicesTCL goes bigger with the largest TV set in North America (with Google TV)Lenovo announces a ThinkBook that runs Windows when docked and Android when detachedSamsung teases AI features with its Galaxy Book 4 newsHisense also shows off a very large Google TVXgimi is bringing Google TV heat to its projectorsNON-CES HARDWARESnapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 will power the next generation of XR experiencesOppo Find X7 has not one but two Periscope camerasCOMMUNITYYou talk about Pocket Casts, but what about Podcast Addict?Why so much about sharing files? Isn't that what the cloud is for? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the first episode of the new year and if you thought Android news was light due to the holiday break, think again!Featured in this episode:NEWSGoogle and Samsung might merge Quick Share and Nearby ShareBeeper says it’s done dealing with Apple over iMessage for Android app issuesGlobal premium smartphone market sees record sales in 2023Android may soon estimate phone battery life expectancyPatron News Story Pick: Google Maps Driving Mode on Android might disappear in 2024HARDWARESamsung hosting Galaxy S24 Unpacked event in San JoseMore Galaxy S24 series renders leakedGalaxy S24 series AI and camera features leakedNothing Phone (2a) specs and pricing leaksCarl Pei tweets teasing a “New Year, New Phone"OnePlus 12R specs aplentyAPPSAndroid Auto now syncs phone wallpaper to displayGoogle Clock gets Pixel-inspired weather forecast redesignMicrosoft brings Copilot AI assistant to AndroidCOMMUNITYcontacts sync issues from Google Contacts to MacGoogle's Find My Device tracker launch is still in progressGreen bubble complaints signify the need for new friends Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last official episode of the year is a biggy! Jason Howell, Ron Richards, Huyen Tue Dao, and Mishaal Rahman welcome not one but two amazing guests: Gizmodo's Florence Ion and The Verge's Sean Hollister!Featured in this episode:NEWSSean was in the courtroom for the entire Epic v Google case!Google lost another antitrust ruling that threatens sideloading norms.Beeper's iMessage saga leads to US lawmaker attention.Patron News Story Pick: Google Messages giving RCS its background wallpaper.HARDWAREPixie could outshine Assistant on the Pixel 9. More photos and specs of the Asus ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro. OnePlus addresses quality control concerns by Xiaomi. APPSGboard is getting stylus handwriting support. Google Keep is getting lockscreen note capabilities. Google Photos cloud content will be available to the Photo picker. Chrome for premium tablets will default to desktop mode. Google Maps is moving location tracking data on-device. COMMUNITYBob from Pennsylvania talks about the real reason most Android users want messaging compatibility across platforms.Scott doesn't like YouTube Music's podcast strategy. (Another) Bob is happy that the band is back together again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.