Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Pixel 8a specs leak, Google’s AI reorganisation, decluttering Photos, Huawei’s Pura 70 mystery, OnePlus Pad Go and more, Nothing’s new Ear Buds, and a boring phone from HMD.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Android in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Apple news here on Forbes.
Pixel 8a Specs Leak
Google has used its I/O Developer Conference to launch a mid-range version of its popular Pixel devices. This year’s event takes place in May, and many are expecting the Pixel 8a to debut. The broad specs suggest the performance approach of previous handsets will be followed this year:
"As for the Pixel 8a's specs, don't expect anything out of the ordinary. Google's Tensor G3 SoC seems like a lock — the company has yet to differentiate the A-series with an older processor — as does 8GB of RAM. In most respects, the Pixel 7a was built to bring Google's midrange lineup closer in power to the mainline series, adding a faster 90Hz refresh rate and 5W wireless charging. Recent rumors ahead of I/O suggest we're moving to a 120Hz panel this year, alongside a peak HDR brightness level of 1,400 nits"
Google Pixel 7a
Google’s AI Shuffle
This week, Google re-organised many of its customer-facing teams, putting them under a single name in the organisational chart. It hopes that the grouping will improve the integration of AI into the various product lines:
“Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced substantial internal reorganizations on Thursday, including the creation of a new team called “Platforms and Devices” that will oversee all of Google’s Pixel products, all of Android, Chrome, ChromeOS, Photos, and more. The team will be run by Rick Osterloh."
(The Verge).
Taking The Images Out Of The Photos
Google continues to update its Photos app to help navigate so-called clutter. Think about the screenshots, emails, and reaction gifs you carry around that are images but aren’t photos. Taking these out of your photo timeline improves your experience and makes everything a little bit easier, and an upcoming release of Google Photos is expected to do just that:
“According to a new report from software sleuth AssembleDebug, the latest version of the Google Photos Android app contains hidden text referring to an unreleased “Hide clutter” function. This much-needed function appears to allow you to automatically filter out saved items such as screenshots, GIFs and memes from your photo grid. These types of images can accumulate quickly, and while you may still want to keep them, you may not want them to appear alongside your family photos and holiday snaps."
(Forbes).
Huawei’s Mystery At The Heart Of The Pura 70
Following Huawei’s inclusion on the US Entities List, the Chinese company has been working hard to find a solution to the core system-on-chip the modern smartphone needs. With Qualcomm hardware and IP no longer available, the company has been on the back foot. With this week’s launch of the Pura 70 family, it looks to have found a solution, although questions remain over the chipset:
"Huawei has not revealed the central processing chip inside the device, after eyebrows were raised at its semiconductor breakthrough last year. Several bloggers on Chinese social media suggest the phone is using a Huawei-designed Kirin 9010 processor, which CNBC could not independently verify.
(CNBC).
Two New OnePlus Releases
Alongside an ‘exclusive style’ of the OnePlus Watch 2 with the OnePlus Watch 2 Lifestyle Edition, OnePlus has announced that the OnePlus Pad Go is getting a European release following its launch in the South Asian market late last year. Pre-orders are now open with a full release on April 23rd:
"The OnePlus Pad Go is an affordable tablet that was released in some markets back in October of last year. And now, it's coming to Europe. Specifically, it will arrive on April 23. The price isn't known, but you can place a very small deposit to get a slightly bigger discount on the OnePlus website."
(GSMArena).
Nothing’s New Ear Buds
Following one of its earliest product launches, the Ear (1), Nothing Tech released the Ear and Ear (a) this week. The clear and angular design ethos works well on the buds themselves, but the case is a bit of an issue for Ben Schoon:
"Firstly, I love Nothing’s signature design. It’s excellent. And the earbuds themselves sit well in my ears. I go back and forth on earbuds with stems, but it’s done quite well here. But as for the case… I’m not the biggest fan. It’s too big and bulky, and the boxy shape doesn’t sit well in a pocket with other things like the Pixel Buds Pro’s pebble case does. I can put up with that for the sake of the various other benefits, but I do wish Nothing would adopt something more like Pixel Buds or AirPods."
(9to5Google).
And Finally...
There’s a new phone out this week, and it’s boring… by design. HMD has released The Boring Phone ahead of Milan Fashion Week in partnership with Heineken and Bodega. It’s a feature phone with a clear case and a very limited run of just 5000 devices:
"The latest to hop on the trend is The Boring Phone, announced today ahead of Milan Design Week. The company manufacturing it is Human Mobile Devices (HMD), better known as the company making Nokia-branded phones since 2017 thanks to a licensing partnership. The Boring Phone is cute, transparent, and retrolicious."
(Wired).
Android Circuit rounds up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course, read the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have any news and links you’d like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch!
