Technology - Google News |
- Microsoft to launch smaller version of its upcoming next-gen console for $299 - CNBC
- Apple's next online-only launch will be Sept. 15 with Apple Watch, iPad on tap - CNET
- Android 11 is now available in stable for Google Pixel phones and in beta for some OnePlus, Xiaomi, Realme, and OPPO phones - XDA Developers
| Microsoft to launch smaller version of its upcoming next-gen console for $299 - CNBC Posted: 08 Sep 2020 05:06 AM PDT  Microsoft confirmed Tuesday that it is set to launch a smaller, cheaper version of its upcoming next-generation console. The company is currently gearing up for the release of its Xbox Series X device later this year, promising powerful specs and improved graphics quality in a bid to convince gamers to part with their cash for new gaming hardware. It will go head-to-head with Sony's PlayStation 5, or PS5, with both consoles expected to hit shelves ahead of the holidays. You can check out a breakdown of the main differences between the Series X and PS5 here. Microsoft teased the new device, called the Xbox Series S, in a tweet Tuesday. It said the Xbox Series S would be the "smallest Xbox ever" and cost $299. The firm stopped short of providing a release date or any specs. For context, Microsoft has said the Xbox Series X will be four times more powerful than its predecessor, the Xbox One X. The company has been plagued by leaks about the more affordable next-gen machine. On Monday, Windows Central — a publication that closely follows Microsoft news — reported that the main Xbox Series X console would cost $499, while the Xbox Series S would come with a $299 price tag. Citing sources, Windows Central said that both consoles would have monthly financing options. Consumers would be able to buy an Xbox Series X for $35 per month or the Xbox Series S with a $25 a month plan, Windows Central reported. Microsoft said it had nothing further to share beyond its tweets Tuesday. It's the first time either of the major console manufacturers have disclosed any pricing details for their next-gen devices. Sony unveiled the PS5 for the first time in June, but didn't reveal any pricing or release date information. According to Windows Central, both of Microsoft's new consoles are set to launch on Nov. 10. |
| Apple's next online-only launch will be Sept. 15 with Apple Watch, iPad on tap - CNET Posted: 08 Sep 2020 10:55 AM PDT  Apple's event invite, which was sent to reporters, suggests the launch could be about the Apple Watch. Screenshot by Shara Tibken/CNETApple has set the date for its next event. The company's latest devices -- which will likely include the sixth-generation Apple Watch and a new iPad -- will be unveiled on Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. PT. Like Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, the event will be held entirely online amid continued concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Apple's event will be streamed via its website. Apple's invite, posted on its website, included a variation on its logo, done in swirling blue lines that turns out to be a bit of AR trickery. When viewed on an iPhone, the Apple invite logo morphs into the event's date: 9.15. The invite sent to reporters included another clue -- the phrase "Time Flies." That hints at the event focusing on the Apple Watch, the tech giant's popular wearable, instead of the first 5G iPhone. Apple typically holds a flashy product launch in September to show off its newest iPhones. The Apple Watch, iPad and other devices typically take a back seat to Apple's key smartphone, and the company at times holds another event in October for its iPads and Macs. This time around, though, Apple likely will focus on its wearable and tablet for its Sept. 15 event. Apple has said its newest iPhones, which will sport super-fast 5G connectivity, will be delayed "by a few weeks" this year because of production issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. It's likely the new iPhones will arrive in October, and Apple will hold a new event at that time to focus on its phones. While the bulk of Apple's revenue still comes from the iPhone, the company has been diversifying its operations. The Apple Watch was its first major new category under CEO Tim Cook, and since that time, it's taken over the watch market. Instead of positioning the Apple Watch as a luxury item, Apple has shifted focus to emphasize health and fitness features built into the watch, elements that are particularly important to users as the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the Apple Watch outsold the entire Swiss watch industry by a huge margin, according to Strategy Analytics. Apple shipped an estimated 31 million units in 2019, while all Swiss watch brands combined accounted for 21 million shipments, the research firm said. At the same time, Apple's iPads and Macs have been in high demand as consumers work and attend school at home during the pandemic. Thirteen out of the country's 15 biggest school districts are holding virtual classes this fall, and devices for students have been facing steep shipping delays. Apple's new iPad, likely a midrange iPad Air, could come with a larger display and Touch ID. It wouldn't be as expensive as Apple's high-end Pro lineup but would have a lot of the feel and performance of the pricier devices.  Watch this: Apple silicon-powered Macs: What to expect 8:23 This fall's Apple product lineup is expected to touch off a wave of upgrade purchases, analysts say, with fans eyeing the iPhone's rumored new 5G capabilities and its new boxier look, similar to that of the iPad Pro. Flashier rivals -- such as Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 2 5G, with its foldable display, or Microsoft's Surface Duo, with two screens sandwiched together -- offer new spins on the standard metal-and-glass smartphone construction. But perhaps the biggest standout of Apple's product lineup in late 2020 may be its newest computer, which will be the first device powered by what the company calls Apple Silicon, or its own microprocessing chip. The company hasn't shared many details about its newest computers, which will replace the Intel processors Apple's relied on for 14 years with chips similar to the ones powering its iPhones, iPads and Apple TVs. Apple said it'll continue to sell Intel-powered computers for now, but it's clear where the company is headed. "Hardware and software is fundamental to everything we do," Apple's CEO Tim Cook said when announcing the effort this summer. "It will take Mac to the next level." It also appears there's an augmented reality component to Apple's event on Sept. 15, based on the interactive invitation. AR could provide Apple with a way to show people its new devices without having to be there in person. Tech companies have been trying to figure out the best way to hold virtual demo rooms, a key part of any product launch. Last week, Samsung released a gamified tour of a digital home with its new devices. Apple has been pushing AR over the past several years. The most notable example is the popularity of the Pokemon Go game on its iPhones. The company also has been working on AR and VR goggles, but it's unlikely to launch the device in September. Apple's augmented reality aspirations have always been driven by apps and services, and education has been an AR goal on the iPad for years. An upgraded processor on an iPad Air could help enable Apple's latest ARKit features, and a larger screen could take advantage of some of the bigger-canvas ideas that exist now on the iPad Pro. It's unlikely that a new Air would have the Pro's depth-sensing Lidar sensor, however. CNET's Scott Stein contributed to this report. |
| Posted: 08 Sep 2020 10:00 AM PDT It's finally here!Android 11 is the latest update to the world's most popular smartphone operating system, and the first set of stable builds are finally rolling out to support Google Pixel smartphones. We've gone through four developer previews (DP 1, DP 2, DP 3, and DP4) and three betas (Beta 1, Beta 2, Beta 3) to get to this point, and we've tracked every little detail along the way as best as we could. And now with the stable release of Android 11, we can finally look forward to Google's vision arriving in the hands of consumers across the world!  Android 11 comes with a fair few changes, but Google is highlighting some of the major ones. Communication on Android 11Conversations section in the notification shadeConversations across messaging apps are now moved to a dedicated space in the notifications section. This will make it easier to manage ongoing conversations with people, and not have these notifications drown out in the flood of miscellaneous app notifications. Google mentions that you can also prioritize conversations from key individuals if you so want. This conversation section was first present in Developer Preview 1.  BubblesLast year, we had pointed out how the Bubbles API introduced in Android 10 will replace the overlay API in a future Android version. With Android 11, Google is pushing developers of messaging and chat apps to make the transition to Bubbles to keep conversations in view and accessible when a user is multitasking on their phone.  As users, you can now respond to important conversations without having to switch back and forth between a messaging app and other apps on your phone. Built-in screen recordingWhile you could take screenshots from the very early days of Android, you couldn't really record the contents of your screen on Google Pixel phone without needing a third-party app. Android 11 for the Google Pixel finally adds a built-in screen recorder, so you can easily capture and share what is happening on your Pixel. You can record with sound from the microphone, from the device (internal audio), or both; and you can do this without needing any third-party apps.  The screen recorder within Android was first spotted in Android 10 Developer Previews, but the feature was not user-accessible in the stable release. It was spotted again in Android 11 Developer Preview 1, and the feature received more polish in Developer Preview 2. Device Controls in Android 11Power Menu Device ControlAndroid 11 gets a new power menu that allows you to quickly access your connected smart devices. Simply long-press the power button to reach the new menu and control connected devices like thermostats and smart locks with a tap, without needing to open multiple apps.  With this new addition, it finally feels that Google has brought the smartphone to the smart home! Redesigned Media ControlsMedia controls on Android 11 have been redesigned, now gaining a consistent spot in the Quick Settings menu. You can also quickly switch media playback to another device using a shortcut. The new media player in the Quick Settings panel caused quite a stir when it was first spotted in Developer Preview 1. Over the course of development, the UI has been refined, and the feature itself has been upgraded with the ability to store up to five previous media sessions. Wireless Android AutoAndroid 11 now allows all devices to work wirelessly with Android Auto, as long as you have a compatible head unit or aftermarket receiver. We're already heard about this change, and Google is confirming that wireless Android Auto will require support for 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. Consequently, some areas in the EU, Japan, and Russia will not have this function available because of specific requirements for 5GHz Wi-Fi being used in cars. Privacy and Data on Android 11One-Time PermissionsAs the name implies, Android 11 allows users to grant single-use, one-time permission access to apps that request access to the device's microphone, camera, or location. The next time that an app needs to access these device features, it needs to request those permissions once again.  The feature was first spotted in Developer Preview 1, and it allows the user to temporarily grant an app access to a permission so long as that app is in the foreground. Once the user navigates away from the app, the app loses access to that permission and must request it again. This is different from the behavior introduced in Android 10 in which users could grant the location permission to apps "while the app is in use." One-Time Permission gives users even more control over sensitive permissions. Permissions Auto ResetThe average user might not remember to revoke access to sensitive permissions after their use, so Android 11 will auto-reset all the runtime permissions of an app and notify the user if the app has not been used for "an extended period of time". The app can request the permissions once again the next time the app is used. This feature addition was first spotted in Developer Preview 3, and we're glad to see it make its way to the stable release. Google Play System Update — Project Mainline modulesOne of the biggest changes in Android 10 for newly launched devices is the introduction of Project Mainline. The purpose of Project Mainline is for Google to take control away from OEMs of framework components and system applications that are critical to security and maintaining development consistency. Each Mainline module is encapsulated in either an APK or an APEX file and is updateable by Google through the Play Store. The user sees updates as a "Google Play System Update" (GPSU) on their device, and updates are released on a regular cadence as a train (ie. they're downloaded and installed at the same time). Google mandates the inclusion of specific Mainline modules, which at the time of Google I/O 2019, included 13. With Android 11 Developer Preview 1, Google mandated a total of 20 Mainline modules. Now, with Android 11 (starting from the Beta 1), Google has mandated a total of 12 Mainline Modules in addition to the ones present on Android 10. The total is now at 25 modules.
Android Enterprise ChangesAndroid 11 brings some changes for Android Enterprise users, with the work profile now giving the organization's IT department the tools to manage a device without monitoring their personal profile data or activity. The announcement from Google leaves out most of the details, but you can view the changes here. Exclusive features for Pixel usersThere are some new features reserved for Google Pixel devices, likely being made available through the closed-source Pixel Launcher, Device Personalization Services, and other Pixel-exclusive applications. Google mentions that supported Pixel devices will get additional tools to organize and manage the phone, like app suggestions based on daily routines, new actions for selecting text and images, and for screenshots. Android 11: Download and RolloutAndroid 11 will begin rolling out today in stable for all Pixel devices going back to the Pixel 2, but beta releases are also now available for select OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO, and Realme smartphones. The OnePlus 8, OnePlus 8 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 10, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, OPPO Find X2, OPPO Find X2 Pro, OPPO Ace2, OPPO Reno3 4G, OPPO Reno3 Pro 4G, and the Realme X50 Pro are the devices getting new Android 11 beta builds today. Download Android 11 for Google Pixel devicesThe Android 11 update should be arriving through an OTA update to your supported Google Pixel device. But in case it hasn't, you can download Android 11 for supported Google Pixel devices from the following links, and sideload it very easily: Google Pixels GSI Downloads You can track the other phones getting the update by visiting our Android 11 update tracker article. And if you'd like to take a peek under the hood, Google has also started uploading the Android 11 source code to AOSP. We'll of course be digging into AOSP ourselves, so stay tuned for more news on Android 11! What are your thoughts on Android 11? Have you tried it out on your device? Let us know in the comments below! |
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