Tag: Google

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Unofficial Pixel 4a renders show a fingerprint sensor and a headphone jack

There’s no doubt that the Pixel 3a (pictured above) and the Pixel 3a XL were big hits for Google in 2019 – combining decent specs, an excellent camera, and an affordable price – and now we have our first real look at what the Pixel 4a might offer.

Unofficial renderings put together by seasoned tipster @OnLeaks show Google’s next budget phone from all angles, and it looks as though this could be another mid-range phone worthy of some serious consideration.

As usual with @OnLeaks renders, these aren’t snaps of the actual handset – these are computer-generated graphics based on information leaked from the mobile phone supply chain, so the final design may vary.

We can see a punch-hole camera up in the top left corner of the display, plus a fingerprint sensor around the back (a feature ditched in the Pixel 4 phones), and a traditional 3.5mm audio jack for your wired headphones.

According to @OnLeaks and 91mobiles, the Pixel 4a will be sporting a 5.7-inch or 5.8-inch display, a slight increase over the Pixel 3a. The bezels on the new phone will be slightly smaller than its predecessor too.

What’s not clear is what camera technology the Pixel 4a is going to be packing – remember the Pixel 3a had the same rear camera as the Pixel 3 – and we’re also waiting to hear if the handset will keep the Motion Sense gesture detection of the Pixel 4.

If Google follows the same schedule as last year, then you can expect the Pixel 4a to get its official unveiling at the Google IO 2020 expo in May. We should get some news about what’s coming with Android 11 at the same time.

Until then we’ve only got unofficial leaks and rumors to go on – but given the track record of @OnLeaks, there’s a good chance that the Pixel 4a (and the Pixel 4a XL) are going to end up looking something like this.
Source: Techradar

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New Chrome feature will change the way you switch between desktop and mobile

A new feature for Google Chrome has arrived that makes it easier to switch between browsing on desktop and mobile devices. The shared clipboard is a new tool that allows you to copy content from a computer and then paste it on an Android phone or tablet.

This means there’s no need to send yourself an emails, or load a note-taking app like Evernote for sharing short snippets of text like addresses between devices.

As Techdows notes, the feature is enabled by default in the Android version of Chrome, so it’s just the desktop version you have to tinker with.

Enable clipboard sharing

The shared clipboard is currently only available in beta versions of Chrome for desktop, so start by installing Chrome Canary on your computer (it’s available for Windows, Linux, macOS and Chrome OS).

Next, make sure you have Chrome installed on your Android phone, and ensure that you’re logged into both browsers using the same Google account. Then follow these steps:

  1. Pay a visit to chrome://flags.
  2. Search for clipboard.
  3. Set ‘Enable receiver device to handle shared clipboard feature’ to ‘Enabled’.
  4. Set ‘Enable shared clipboard feature signals to be handled’  to ‘Enabled’.
  5. Set ‘Sync clipboard services’ to ‘Enabled’.
  6. Restart Chrome.

Now, highlight some text in the desktop version of Chrome, right click and select the ‘Copy to [Android device]’ option. The copied text will be sent to your phone – confirmed by a notification that pops up on your handset – ready for you to paste into Chrome there.

Source: Techradar

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Twitch’s top streamer exodus continues as CouRage announces YouTube Live deal

Twitch is losing another major streamer: Jack “CouRage” Dunlop — one of the most popular Fortnite streamers on the site with over 2 million followers — has announced he’ll now exclusively stream on YouTube Live. Dunlop’s first YouTube stream will start tomorrow on November 5th.

As has become the tradition with big streaming platform changes, Dunlop announced the move in an elaborate video featuring fellow 100 Thieves members Matt “Nadeshot” Haag and Rachel “Valkyrae” Hofstetter that also makes it clear that Dunlop will still be saying with the e-sports organization.

“I’m very excited to continue expanding my relationship with my YouTube audience, as well as leverage the platform for new collabs and experiences,” commented Dunlop in a press release. “This deal with YouTube allows me to create more content and engage with my fans in real time. I am very fortunate to do what I do on a daily basis and welcome my fans to join me on the next phase of my journey.”

Dunlop’s switch to YouTube marks the latest high-profile departure of top talent on the popular streaming site. In the past few weeks, Twitch has also seen Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek, and Cory “King Gothalion” Michael all move over to Microsoft’s Mixer platform.

YouTube isn’t as big of a force when it comes to live-streaming as other sites like Mixer are (to say nothing of Twitch), but it has recently been building up a base of exclusive streaming. Along with Dunlop, YouTube Gaming also recently announced that Fortnite streamer Lachlan Power would be exclusively live-streaming on the platform.

YouTube has benefitted greatly from hosting replay content from other streaming sites like Twitch, meaning that it hasn’t had to focus as much in the past on attracting content creators exclusively to the platform. That strategy appears to be changing with the recruitment of names like Dunlop and Lachlan, though, indicating that YouTube is looking to try to make its way as a live-streaming site again.

Souce: The Verge, Engadget

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Baidu overtakes Google in global smart speaker market

Chinese search giant Baidu is now the world’s second biggest vendor of smart speakers, according to a new report from Canalys. The research firm says Baidu overtook Google to capture 17.3 percent of the global market with 4.5 million shipments in the second quarter of 2019, representing staggering year-on-year growth of 3,700 percent. Amazon remains the overall leader with more than 25 percent share of the market and 6.6 million shipments.

Baidu’s AI speakers run on an AI platform called DuerOS. The company initially targeted the high end of the market with the Teenage Engineering-designed Raven H speaker (above), but that product apparently sold poorly. More recently, Baidu has pushed sales of much less expensive models, with the basic Xiaodu speaker selling for as low as 89 yuan (~$12). Baidu overtook previous domestic leader Alibaba in the first quarter of this year in China, according to Canalys.GOOGLE’S NEST HUB COMES TO INDIA TODAY

It’s worth noting, of course, that Baidu and Google aren’t direct competitors — Baidu sells its products exclusively in its home market, while Google sells its products almost everywhere but China. But Baidu’s explosive growth over the past year demonstrates the size and the dynamics of the Chinese AI ecosystem. Last year CEO Robin Li said in no uncertain terms that Baidu wouldn’t be worried by the prospect of Google re-entering China.

Google has the advantage of being able to address other countries, however, and an example of that is today’s launch of the Nest Hub (previously Google Home Hub) in India, another potentially huge market. The smart display is selling for 9,999 rupees, or about $139. Gadgets360 reports that Google is bundling Xiaomi’s Mi Security Camera with the Nest Hub as a launch promotion.

Source: The Verge

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Google Maps Live View feature now available to more Android and iOS phones

Back when the Pixel 3 launched, Google introduced an AR feature to Google Maps called Live View. It’s an augmented reality walking direction functionality guiding you through the streets. Well, today, Live View directions will work on more than just Pixel phones.

Google Maps Live View feature now available to more Android and iOS phones

All Android handsets supporting ARCore and iPhones with ARKit can take advantage of the functionality. Once you select a waypoint in Google Maps, you can select walking directions and then tap on the Live View option at the bottom of the screen.

You can then look at the streets using the camera of the phone and you will get visual directions in real-time, hence the name of the feature. It’s pretty neat so if you have the chance, try it out.

Via