Category: Google

Google Stored Passwords In An Unsecured Manner For 14 Years On G Suite

A Google Blog post disclosed a bug in the company’s G Suite platform that had caused a small portion of the user base to have their secure passwords being saved in a plain text format. The American tech giant reports that the bug has been in the system for the past fourteen years unchecked, although it claims that the bug has not been abused till now and that their investigation into the matter yielded no evidence that pointed towards unwarranted access. Google has reset any of the passwords that may have been affected by the bug. G Suite is the business/corporate version of Google’s Gmail and other Google related applications. Reportedly the bug was born out of a feature that was made specifically for companies, namely the Administrators to reset any user passwords or accounts for newly recruited employees. This process had the Admin console store the passwords in plain text instead of being encrypted. Google has since removed this function for Administrators.

Google thereon reassures how the unencrypted passwords were stored safely in the company’s own servers rather on the internet which is objectively easier to mediate. Google painstakingly explained the subtlety of cryptographic hashing to clear out all doubts surrounding the bug. Furthermore, all unchanged passwords will be reset automatically.

Google has a relatively good track record of detecting bugs and glitches in their system, but this bug points a finger towards a myriad of tech giants and social media companies as well such as Facebook which had also previously saved several hundreds of millions of passwords in plain text. It was accessible to its employees. Similarly, Twitter had also asked its entire user base to reset their passwords due to concerns regarding private data account access.

Also Read: Valve Releases Steam Chat Application For iOS And Android Platforms

Along with the report of the bug and other technical jargon to it, Google also issued an official apology for this oversight and assured their users of their “industry leading” practices and control over the situation. Google concluded by explicitly stating the fact that the aforementioned bug went unchecked for 14 years was rather disconcerting to the company and equally disturbing for its users.

May 22, 2019
Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2 Announced

American technology giant Google has announced the Glass Enterprise Edition 2 in a blog post. The smart wearable was announced on the 20th of May and is the successor to the original Glass Enterprise Edition launched in the year 2017. The product focusses towards workers in certain industries that assemble intricate products and boasts of improving efficiency and precision in areas where it is required the most. It is touted as a considerable upgrade over its predecessor with improvements in performance, camera and usability.

Google Glass 2 Enterprise Edition

The Glass Enterprise Edition 2 doesn’t stray away from its predecessor’s design. It features a spectacle-like frame, hence the name and a heads up display with a camera on the front. The wearable runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR1 platform. It is claimed to feature a significantly powerful CPU over the original Glass. The chipset also has a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine, which enables power savings, better performance and support for advanced machine learning. The Glass Enterprise Edition 2 also boasts of improved camera performance and quality, which will reportedly help in shooting first-person video streaming. A USB Type-C port is present on the frame for charging, which also supports fast top-ups.

Also read: Honor 20 Pro Leaks Online In White Colour Variant, Showcases Quad Rear Cameras

When the first Google Glass was released, it was marketed as a commercial Augmented Reality (AR) headset. But due to complaints regarding the privacy of the users, it was later reinvented for surgeons, factory workers and people working in enterprises. The company has claimed in its blog post that many enterprises have had a profitable outcome since they started using the Glass Enterprise Edition. And the second generation will only see the number going upwards. The Glass Enterprise Edition 2 has been launched at a price of US$ 999 (Rs. 69,700) and will not be available commercially.

May 21, 2019
Latest Pixel 4 Renders Based On Leaks Reveal A Punch Hole Display, Dual Rear Cameras

Google launched the original Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones back in the year 2016. They were the first mobile devices to feature the made by Google branding and were highly appreciated for their software and cameras. Since then, two more generations of the handsets have been announced called the Pixel 2 and Pixel 3 series respectively. It is expected that the company will launch the newest Pixel smartphones, presumably called the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL in the month of October later this year. While the announcement is still a few months away, fresh renders of the devices based on previous leaks have already been posted by a concept maker on Twitter. These renders provide an idea of what the handsets may look like at the time of launch.

Pixel 4 Renders

It is expected that just like every year since 2016, Google will release two devices in the Pixel lineup. As mentioned above, they are assumed to be the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. The renders reveal the upcoming handsets will have a drastically different design than its predecessors. The smartphones are reported to be constructed out of metal and glass like the Pixel 3 series with the same dual tone finish at the back. On the front, however, a large display dominates the exterior with a hole punch style cutout on the top left corner of the display. The right side of the smartphone houses the coloured power button and the volume rockers while the left side remains empty.

The top of the Pixel 4 features just the secondary noise cancellation microphone; while the bottom will have the USB Type-C port and the speakers. Like the Pixel 2 and 3 series, the smartphones are expected to retain a stereo speaker setup and will not feature the 3.5mm headphone jack. The rear is where the Google Pixel 4 might differ from its predecessors the most. There is no physical fingerprint scanner in sight, which insinuates it will be present inside the display; and might be an ultrasonic sensor similar to the Galaxy S10 lineup. All the devices in the Pixel series have had a single rear camera, but the upcoming handsets are expected to feature two cameras on the back. These are reported to be a primary camera combined with an ultra-wide angle lens.

Also read: Redmi Note 7 Vs Note 7s Vs Note 7 Pro: Which One Should You Buy?

The Pixel 4 series seems to be a major design upgrade over its predecessor; and will compete against the upcoming Galaxy Note, newest iPhones at the time of launch. While the renders of the upcoming Google smartphone seem plausible, it is recommended you take them with a pinch of salt, as there is still time in the official announcement.

May 21, 2019
Google Releases Data Showing The Importance Of Recovery Phone Numbers

Most users know how frustrating remembering multiple passwords can be. An increasing number of services these days require users to sign up with their phone numbers and email addresses. Two-factor authentication is a another security feature which is gaining popularity these days. In two-factor authentication, users first need to login with their credentials and then enter the OTP received on their device to securely access their accounts. The latest data released by Google depicts how effective can some of the aforementioned security techniques be.

The year long study on security attacks was presented by the company at a gathering of experts and policy-makers, called the Web conference. Google’s research stated that adding a recovery phone number can block up to 100% of all automated bots, 99% of all bulk phishing attacks and 66% of targeted security attacks. This study was carried out with researchers from New York University and the University of California, San Diego primarily to highlight how basic “account hygiene” can keep accounts safe.

Also Read: The iGyaan Beast PC Build: Components Used, Step By Step Guide

The American technology giant also highlighted the difference between SMS-based login and on-device prompt-based login techniques. As per Google, an SMS verification code sent to the recovery phone number blocked 100% of all automated bots, 96% of bulk phishing attacks and 76% of targeted attacks. On the other hand, on-device prompts helped in averting 100% of all automated bots, 99% of bulk phishing attacks and 90% of targeted attacks. As deduced, using on-device prompts for logging into accounts is almost 14% more secure than using OTPs for login.

May 20, 2019
A New Google Tool Discovered Which Tracks All Of The User’s Purchases

American technology giant Google has been accused of breaching the internet privacy of users; and collecting their data to serve them advertisements online multiple times in the past. The company has released statements denying the claims but latest reports from a reputed media source reignite the accusations. It alleges the search engine behemoth also tracks the entire purchase history of its users ever since they signed up for Gmail, its email service.

Gmail Purchase History

The report affirms Google has been tracking the purchase history of Gmail users via the confirmation or order receipts when they make a purchase. Notably, this only works if the outlet or place the person has made a purchase from has their email address. The company has clarified in a statement that it has built this tool to help its users easily view and keep track of their purchases, bookings and subscriptions in one place. It claims the information can only be seen by the user and no one else. The information about user’s orders can also be saved in other Google’s services. The aforementioned revelation is expected to be a huge privacy controversy, as the information is not stored locally but instead on the company’s cloud services.

Deleting The Data

Also read: PUBG Mobile Season 7 Released, New Weapon, Skin Among Other Features Added

While Google storing your purchase data on its servers might sound like a grim situation, luckily, there is a way to delete the information. Users can go to this page and check their purchase histories. To delete the data, users need to click on the order details and select the option on the bottom of the page. Unfortunately, deleting the details is only possible if the original email containing the receipt or order detail is deleted, which might be inconvenient for some users.

May 18, 2019
Android’s Digital Wellbeing Slowing Down Pixel Smartphones, Here’s How To Turn It Off
Google launched its flagship smartphones, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL last year in the month of October. The devices were praised for their camera and software experience but were also criticised heavily due to random lags and slowdowns. It is speculated that due to the company installing a meagre 4GB of RAM in the handsets, the issue was all but overdue. In a fresh report, users on social media website Reddit have claimed they have fixed the memory problems with the Pixel 3 smartphones; and its predecessors by disabling a feature known as Digital Wellbeing.

Slowdowns on Pixel Smartphones

The thread on Reddit dedicated to the Google Pixel smartphones unanimously arrived at the conclusion; that the Digital Wellbeing feature is the culprit behind the slowdowns and lags that is plaguing Pixel smartphone since last year. While not confirmed by the company, users claim they have turned off the feature and saw a drastic change in the performance of their devices. It is not known what handsets are affected due to the issue, but users have reported improvements in performance up to the original Pixel smartphone when Digital Wellbeing is turned off. The cause of the slowdowns is reported to be the constant usage of the device’s RAM by the feature due to it running in the background at all times.

What Is Digital Wellbeing?

With the introduction of its latest Android 9 Pie Operating System in the year 2018; Google also announced a feature similar to the screen time on the iOS platform. Dubbed Digital Wellbeing, it helped the users track their smartphone and app usage and can restrict it remotely. It has been regarded as a useful feature and made available to all devices in the Pixel and Android One lineup since its launch. Notably, the feature is all set to be updated with new functionalities with Android Q. With the release of the next Android iteration, smartphones supporting Digital Wellbeing will gain access to the Focus Mode. It is claimed to work better at restricting the users at spending more time with smartphones.

Also read: Asus ZenFone 6Z With Dual Slider Leaks In Video

But, with the problems of slowdowns and unexpected lags in Pixel 3 smartphones due to the Digital Wellbeing feature; it is considered the best move to turn it off. To turn off the feature from your device, follow the instructions below.
- Open settings on your smartphone
- Navigate to the Digital Wellbeing option
- Touch the three-dot icon at the top right and pick the “Turn off usage access” button
- Confirm the decision on the next “Usage access” screen by choosing Digital Wellbeing and toggling the “permit usage access” option to off.
May 13, 2019
Google Pixel 3a, 3a XL To Get The Android Q Beta In June

Google launched its latest smartphones, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL on the 7th of May at the Google I/O 2019 developer conference. The devices are the watered down variants of the company’s flagship offerings, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The newest smartphones boast of similar software and camera experience as their elder siblings albeit with a few compromises in the hardware department. It was also believed earlier that Google, who announced the latest Android Q Beta at the same event; will make it available for the Pixel 3a series as soon as its elder siblings. However, the company has announced that will not be the case; and the smartphones will get the update by the month of June.

Pixel 3a Android Q Beta

The Android Q Beta update can be installed on any Pixel smartphone or one from 21 different OEMs by signing in to the Android Beta Program. It was expected that the Pixel 3a series; soon after its launch will support the said software update, but as mentioned above that is not the case. Notably, the latest devices feature the March security patch; which may be surprising considering Google released the May security update a week ago. The company claims the handset will be directly updated to the June security patch via an Over The Air (OTA) update next month.

Also read: NASA To Crash A Spacecraft Into An Asteroid In 2022

Despite being mentioned on the website that the Pixel 3a series will be supported for Android Q Beta in June; some reports of the smartphone owners already installing the update has surfaced. This is seen as an oversight on Google’s part and expected to be fixed shortly. The news of the new devices not supporting the latest software update; nor being on the latest security patch is a big deal as Pixel handsets are known for the software experience and always staying up to date. It may create a decrease of trust amongst buyers of the company’s hardware in the future.

May 11, 2019
Google Not Forcing New Android Q Navigation Gestures On Manufacturers

Amongst a ton of other updates announced at the Google I/O, Google unveiled a variety of features that are bundled with its upcoming iteration of Android. Google’s new “fully gestural navigation” removes the back button from the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. As per previous reports, Google made it mandatory that the OEMs ship their Android Q enabled devices with the new navigation gestures. However, latest developments state that Google will not force OEMs to adopt the new gesture navigation.

The Product Manager for Android clarified the underlying situation by saying that Google is solely encouraging OEMs to use the new navigation gestures. Since Gesture Navigation can be troublesome to incorporate with previously existing gestures, the company does not want this to be a bigger challenge for developers. He further added that Android has always been about choice, hence the company plans to keep it that way. Android Q will still include the original 3-button navigation bar, which was previously removed from Pixel 3 smartphones running Android P.

Also Read: Google Reveals The Key Details Of Its Upcoming Fuchsia OS

The new gestures introduced in Android Q resemble the gestural navigation of iPhones. Since the bottom section is now comparatively smaller and no longer includes any button. Users can swipe vertically up from the bottom to go to the home screen and swipe horizontally from the left or right to go back to the previous screen. Swiping diagonally from the bottom left or right corner to the middle of the screen will launch the Google Assistant. Whereas swiping left or right on the gesture bar will enable users to quickly switch between applications. Lastly, recent apps can be viewed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

Those on Android Q Beta can see these updates on their phones already.

May 10, 2019
Google Reveals The Key Details Of Its Upcoming Fuchsia OS

Google is looking to replace the Android and ChromeOS platforms with a unified Operating System (OS). This OS, dubbed Fuchsia has been in development for the past few years. No information on how it will work or its functionalities have been shared by the company. However, on the last day of the Google I/O 2019 a senior Google executive revealed a few key details about the Fuchsia OS.

Fuchsia OS

The Fuchsia OS from Google has been reportedly in development since 2016 and is looking to unite all of Google’s software in one place. At Google I/O, the company’s executive said that it is looking at a new take on what operating systems can be like. He further added that Fuchsia is not about replacing Android or Chrome OS. It is about pushing the state of the art in terms of Operating Systems; and implementing it into other products. The team at Google working on the OS is also experimenting with different form factors, which insinuates Fuchsia may be designed for wearables, VR/AR headsets and smart home devices.

Google Pixel 3a XL

Also read: Moto E6 Passes Through FCC, To Have A 3000 mAh Battery

As mentioned above, Fuchsia OS has been in development by Google since the last few years. The OS has even been booted to smartphones like the Honor Play in the past. Known details about it unveil it will be an open source project, which is similar to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). But unlike the latter, it will have the capability to run on a range of devices like smartwatches, laptop and smartphones. Unlike Android and Chrome OS, who are built on the Linux kernel; the Fuchsia OS will have its foundations in the new Google made kernel called ‘zircon’. A same Operating System for a range of devices can give way to a more unified experience, which is what the company intends to do with Fuchsia.

May 10, 2019
Google Assistant Updated With Ton Of Revolutionary Features

On the 7th of May 2019, Google held the I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California. As expected, it unveiled the long-anticipated Pixel 3a smartphone duo. The other notable product launched at the event was the Nest Hub Max which is the companies second-generation smart display. Other than the aforementioned hardware and software announcement, the company showcased new features for Google Assistant which are nothing short of groundbreaking.

Offline Centric Update

With the latest update, Google has primarily focussed on providing the existing features of the Assistant application without the need for an active internet connection. The company states that the new update completely changes how the data processing on the assistant is achieved. Previously, the inputs provided to the assistant was computed on the company’s data centres. But, following the update, all the data will be processed locally on the device itself. Noteworthy, Google has managed to shrink 100 GB of speech recognition and language understanding data to a bite-size 0.5 GB. Therefore, it can be locally stored on a smartphone or tablet, resulting in a reduction of latency to a greater extent.

The company claims that the updated Assistant can process requests up to 10 times faster. Furthermore, users can even multitask across different applications with the help of the voice assistant. The requirement for saying ‘Hey Google’ prefix before every command has also been eliminated. Consequently, users can have a human-like conversation with a virtual assistant. However, the next generation Assistant which rolls out later this year will only be limited to Pixel phones for an uncertain period.

Duplex Makes Its Way To The Web

Last year Google introduced Duplex technology, which is intended towards simplifying tasks that are usually performed manually. Originally, it could make phone calls on behalf of the user which in itself is a praiseworthy feature. After the update, it will also be able to handle certain processes which are a common affair like buying movie tickets online or booking a taxi. Duplex is able to achieve the said tasks by auto-filling the details of the users which greatly reduce the effort and time that it normally requires. The updated abilities will make their way to the app later this year in the US and UK for Android devices.

Assistant Becomes More Up Close

As the title suggests, Google assistant, after the update will be able to provide answers or execute tasks based on the personal references of an individual. For example, if the assistant has been informed about a particular contact, the assistant can answer questions about events like birthday or other relevant events based on the provided information. Another reference could be asking whether details of a friend’s place. Given, the assistant is aware of their location.

Furthermore, the assistant can also recommend suggestions based on past choices and decisions. The newly launched ‘Nest Smart Hub’ with the help of updated assistant will provide personalized suggestions starting with recipes, events and podcasts. For example, If a user asks for dinner recommendations, the assistant would answer based on past choices. Therefore, would suggest food dishes from a particular cuisine if the user had previously ordered a particular dish.

Driving Mode Built Into The Assistant

Even though driving mode has been available on Android devices for quite some time, its adaption has been rather limited. With the updated Google assistant, the company intends to change that. The driving mode built into the assistant can be easily toggled with the help of voice command “Hey Google, let’s drive”. The mode when turned on displays the on-screen content in a particular manner which custom tailored to the user.

Impressively, if a contact calls while driving, the assistant will speak aloud their details based on which the user can accept or decline the incoming call with a voice command. In addition, other tasks like messaging or asking for navigation can all be achieved with voice command, hands-free.

Also Read: Google Announces New Features That Will Accompany Android Q

Furthermore, the updated Google assistant can turn on the air conditioner in the user’s car before they reach, implied the vehicle supports the functionality. Last but not least, an ongoing alarm can be turned off via the ‘stop’ voice command.

May 8, 2019
Google Announces New Features That Will Accompany Android Q

May 7 was the first day of the much-awaited Google I/O event, and Google introduced a variety of new features and devices, such as the Google Pixel 3a series , the Nest Hub Max Smart Display and the Live Caption feature, which is a part of Android Q. Talking about the aforementioned OS, Google plans to release the full version of Android Q by this fall (somewhere between September and November). However, the latest beta version of the 10th iteration of Android is available on multiple Google devices as of now. The American technology company introduced a host of new features that will accompany Android Q.

Dark Theme

The dark theme is being adopted by an increasing number of operating systems and applications across various devices. As announced at the event, the dark mode will be activated by simply pulling down the notification bar and choosing the “Dark Theme” option from the Quick Settings menu. The mode can also be activated by turning the battery saver on.

Google stated that the dark theme will especially help in conserving battery on those devices which feature OLED displays, since only selected pixels on the screen are lit up during the operation of such panels. Further Google adds that all its first party apps will be dark theme compatible. This implies that Google Clock, Google Calendar and Google Photos will be able to take advantage of system-wide dark theme to preserve battery.

Support For Foldable Devices

As Google states, multiple OEMs will release foldable smartphones this year, and all of them will run on the latest Android OS. In a demo showcased by the company, the user was seamlessly able to switch from the game running on one screen to the foldable screen by simply unfolding the device. Supporting application continuity over the UI can help app developers work with APIs in a different way, Google says.

Gesture Navigation

Google is finally shifting away from the navigation bar and adopting a single white bar at the bottom of the screen. Users can swipe up to go to the home screen. To go into multitasking mode, users can swipe up and drag across the screen. If you swipe across the bar quickly, users can directly switch between adjacently running applications. Directly swiping up from the home screen can direct users towards the application drawer. Google further stated that animations across Android Q will be drastically improved in future updates.

Security Upgrades

Google plans to integrate new security features into Android Q. The company will add a new “Privacy Section” under Settings, where users can adjust multiple security settings regarding their smartphones. The company states that users can now choose to share their location data with specific applications as per their requirements. Google will also add a feature to use the Android Q enabled device as a security key for logging into third party applications. The update system overhaul will ensure that users receive all the security patches and updates in the background, which will be installed without having to reboot the smartphone.

Live Captions

https://youtu.be/YL-8Xfx6S5o

Also Read: Samsung Still Cannot Provide A Release Date For The Galaxy Fold

Live Caption is another interesting feature that was brought to light. When the said feature is enabled, users will be able to see transcribed captions for the respective audio/video on the screen in real time. The feature is not just limited to Google application, instead, multiple media apps like YouTube and Instagram can make use of this feature. Furthermore, the feature also works with live video calling apps like Google Duo and Skype. Noteworthy, an internet connection is not required for Live Captions to function.

As mentioned before, Android Q will make its way to supported devices somewhere between the months of September and November. Note that the beta version 3 of the same is already rolling out to 21 devices from 13 smartphone brands, including the Realme 3 Pro and Nokia 8.1.

May 8, 2019
Google Launches The Nest Hub Max Smart Display

At the Google I/O 2019 developers conference, the company showcased a variety of new services(1) and the long-anticipated Pixel 3a smartphone duo. Additionally, it launched the Nest Hub Max smart display which succeeds the Home Hub launched last year. The company has announced the products under the home category that will be branded in the Nest lineup starting with the new Nest Hub Max.

Nest Hub Max

The new Google Nest Hub Max is a smart display with a built-in speaker and Google Assistant. Unlike the previously launch Home Hub, the device features a front facing camera which can be used to make video calls via the company owned Duo video calling service. The camera uses a wide-angle Sony IMX277 sensor which combined with software algorithms can track and keep faces in the centre of the frame during video calls. Notably, this is the same sensor present on the GoPro Hero 7 Black action camera. The key highlight of the product is the 10 inch LCD display with an HD resolution; which is significantly larger than the 7-inch one found in its predecessor.

The Nest Hub Max also supports gesture recognition which can be used to play/pause the music or video without the need of speaking out a command. It also has a switch on the back which can be toggled to disable both the camera and the dual microphones on the device. The company has implemented the feature to address the ever-increasing security concerns of installing a microphone and a camera in a household gadget. Additionally, the Nest Hub can play videos via YouTube and is capable of recognizing individuals in a family. The device can then give out individually specific briefing relevant to the person interacting with it.

Pricing and Availability

Also read: Google Launches The Pixel 3a & Pixel 3a XL Smartphones

The Nest Hub Max will be available for purchase in the US, UK and Australia later this summer. It has been priced at US$ 229 (Rs. 15,900) and can be purchased from the official Google Store. Furthermore, the company is also launching the last generation Home Hub in 12 new countries including India. The device has been discounted to US$ 129 (Rs. 9,000), down from its original price of US$ 149 (Rs. 10,400).

May 8, 2019
Google Introduces Live Caption Feature To Audios And Videos On Android Q

Google’s I/O 2019 isn’t all about the new Pixel devices. The American Multinational Company added a new feature to Android Q, which is called Live Caption. When the said feature is enabled, users will be able to see transcribed captions for the respective audio/video on the screen in real time. The feature is not just limited to Google application, instead, multiple media apps like YouTube and Instagram can make use of this feature. Furthermore, the feature also works with live video calling apps like Google Duo and Skype. As per Google, around 500 million people around the world are either deaf or have some forms of hearing problems. Such a feature may help in making content more accessible and easily available to hearing impaired people. Google CEO Sundar Pichai further stated that the company is constantly working on products that enable a multitude of people to access Google services along with others.

An interesting feature of the same is the ability to work offline. As per the demo showcased at the event, Live Captions are powered via on-device machine learning. As per Google, no data is sent regarding the user’s activity while he/she is using the feature. The text transcription appears in a box that can be moved around the screen, just like any pop-up video player.

Also Read: Google Launches The Pixel 3a & Pixel 3a XL Smartphones

The demo also exhibited the ability of the feature to analyze the video/audio source even when the audio was muted. The feature can be used in a multitude of scenarios, for instance, in meetings. Users can access the Live Captions by pressing any volume rocker on the device. The feature has to be switched on via the accessibility settings in order to show up though. The Live Captions feature can prove to be useful to hearing-impaired people in the long run.

May 8, 2019
Google Launches The Pixel 3a & Pixel 3a XL Smartphones

After much leaks and speculations, American technology giant Google has launched the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones. Both devices are the watered down variants of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL flagship smartphones respectively which were launched last year. The handsets feature a modern design with competitive specifications at a lucrative price.

Specifications:

The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are the first mid range smartphones from Google. In terms of design, both smartphones are reminiscent of their elder siblings but instead feature a polycarbonate construction instead of metal and glass found in the more premium Pixel 3/3XL. While the Pixel 3a has a 5.6 inch OLED display with a resolution of 2220 x 1080 px, the larger variant has a bigger 6.0 inch OLED display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. The smartphones have a considerable bezel on the top and bottom of the display. For biometric security and swiftly unlocking the smartphones, there is a rear mounted fingerprint scanner on both handsets.

Under the hood, the Google Pixel 3a series is kitted with the 10nm Snapdragon 670 SoC which is comprised of an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 615 GPU. In terms of optics, the devices feature a single rear camera which is an f/1.8 aperture equipped 12 MP sensor and is the same one found in their elder siblings. For selfies, an f/2.0 aperture equipped 8 MP front camera is present on top of the display. Like the Pixel 3/3XL, both the smartphones have innovative software features on the camera including Night Sight, Super Res Zoom and Optical Image Stablisation (OIS). For memory and storage, both devices will be available with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage.

In terms of battery capacity, the Google Pixel 3a is powered by a 3000 mAh cell while the larger variant is fueled by a 3700 mAh battery. Both devices support 18W fast wired charging with the bottom mounted USB Type-C port. Surprisingly, the handsets mark the comeback of the 3.5mm headphone jack, which was removed starting the Pixel 2 lineup back in the year 2017. The handsets will be available in three colours, Just Black, Clearly White and Purple-ish.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Nokia 4.2 Review: The Best Budget Smartphone?

The Google Pixel 3a series has been launched in a total of fifteen countries globally where it will be available starting May 8th (IST). The smartphone will be available in India starting the 15th of May exclusively on Flipkart. The price of the Pixel 3a is US$ 399 (Rs. 27,700) while the Pixel 3a XL will cost US$ 479 (Rs. 33,300).

May 8, 2019
Google I/O 2019: What To Expect From The Event?

Google will host the Google I/O 2019 event from May 7-9 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View in California, USA. It is the company’s annual developers event where it showcases its software prowess to the world. While the schedule for the three-day event has been released, it is anyone’s guess what Google has in store for us. Here is what to expect from Google I/O 2019.

Android Q

One of the highlights of the Google I/O 2019 is expected to be the next generation of Android, the Android Q. As two beta versions of the mobile operating systems have already been released, Google may announce the third beta on the first day of the event. Like it did last year, smartphones from more companies than before may be added to the list. While what devices will be added is not known yet, it is reported that handsets from Samsung, LG, Motorola and Huawei may be the lucky ones to get Android Q Beta 3.

Android Q is alleged to be a major change over its predecessor, Android Pie. The first two beta builds of the software insinuate it will bring over many highly anticipated features like dark mode, new navigation gestures and a new update delivery system. However, no major design overhaul is expected from the upcoming version of Android. It is also reported that Google will launch the final, stable build of the software for compatible smartphones starting the month of August later this year. Maybe then we will finally know which desert starts from the letter Q; Android Quiche maybe?

Pixel 3a, 3a XL

While Google is not known to launch any hardware at the Google I/O event, it is almost confirmed the company is all set to change the unwritten rule. Two new mid-range Google smartphones, allegedly called the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are expected to be announced on the first day of the event. These devices will be the watered down variants of the flagship Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL handsets respectively. The upcoming smartphones will be significantly affordable than their siblings which may make them more desirable.

Leaked details about the Pixel 3a, 3a XL direct towards a polycarbonate body instead of a glass and metal construction as seen in their siblings. Like the Pixel 3 XL, none of the smartphones will feature a notch in their displays. Surprisingly, the devices may also bring back the 3.5mm headphone jack, which was removed starting the Pixel 2 lineup. Other leaked specifications of the handsets include the Snapdragon 670 SoC, 4 GB RAM, 64GB Internal Storage and clean, a stock build of Android with guaranteed software updates for three years.

Google Nest Hub

Google Home, Home Mini

Google acquired the smart home company Nest in the year 2014. And since last year, it has started branding itself in the company’s products lineup. It is expected that with the Pixel 3a series, a new smart speaker with a display may also be announced. This device is allegedly called the Google Nest Hub and it will an upgrade to the Home Hub smart speaker announced last year. It may have an 8 inch or bigger display which will support touch input and will feature the Google Assistant. Unlike the Home Hub, the Nest Hub is expected to have a front facing camera which will help in video calls and facial recognition features.

Google Stadia

Google bowled everyone over when it showcased Stadia, a cloud gaming service for every smart device available on the market. While the concept of the service was innovative and never seen before, no details were provided at the previous event. It is thus expected that the technology giant will finally elaborate on its take on the future of gaming. Google Stadia was announced to be ready by the end of this year, so the company might finally have some answers to the plethora of questions that the sceptical audiences have about the service.

Google Assistant & AI

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Each year, senior Google executives get on stage and discuss the things the company has improved with the Google Assistant. The digital voice assistant from the company saw the addition of the Duplex feature last year. It let the smartphone make dinner reservations or book an appointment for the user with an eerie, human-like voice. The concept worked great in the demos and was later rolled out to selected users in the US and Canada. It is thus expected that the company will either announce the expansion of the service to more countries around the globe; or blow everyone’s mind once again with a similarly innovative offering.

May 6, 2019