This week on Alphabet Scoop, Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Damien Wilde answer questions about the new Pixel 6 during a live stream on the 9to5Google's YouTube channel.

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New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Damien Wilde

Read More

• Pixel 6 Pro Review: The flagship Google needs right now is the one buyers deserve
• What do you want to know most about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro?
• Hands-on with 100+ new changes and features in Android 12 [Video]
• Android 12: 20 of the best new features [Video]
• Where to pre-order the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro other than the Google Store

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss all things Pixel as Google prepares for an event next week called the "Pixel Fall Event." They give their predictions of what we will see and what we won't.

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New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

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• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

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• Google announces October 19 event to fully launch the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
• Latest leaked Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro renders show just how much the camera bump sticks out
• Google says Pixel 6 camera captures ‘150% more light,’ shows ‘Magic Eraser’ on leaked marketing site
• Pixel 6 marketing site confirms 30W charging, ‘80% faster performance’ from Tensor
• Leaked internal factory videos show Pixel 6 Pro teardown & assembly process
• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro press renders leak to reveal new At a Glance, face unlock, more
• Pixel 6 series will allegedly get 4 major Android updates alongside extended security patches
• Pixel 6 release date and pricing confirmed in German retail ad
• ‘Pixel Pass’ allegedly bundles Pixel 6, Google Fi, YouTube Premium, and more under one bill
• 2nd-gen Pixel Stand with new UI, charger, and non-fabric cases for the Pixel 6 leak

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss Samsung's beta of Android 12, more material UI redesigns, possible specs for the Pixel 6, and what Google's plans might be with their marketing campaign.

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New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Samsung officially launches Android 12 beta in the US on Galaxy S21 w/ One UI 4.0, theming tools
• Hands-on: Samsung’s take on Android 12 shows how Pixel will benefit more than most [Gallery]
• Here’s the new Google Weather widget with Android 12-inspired design [Gallery]
• Here’s an early look at YouTube Music’s upcoming Material You widget [Gallery]
• Google Drive’s Material You redesign adds that quirky, bulbous X-shaped widget
• Google Keep is next in line for a Material You update, coming later this month
• Google Tasks is getting a new icon that better matches other Workspace logos
• Leaked Pixel 6 Pro details reveal more camera specs, ‘baby mode,’ and 120Hz 1440p display
• Google Tensor details hint that the custom Pixel 6 chip could be one of the fastest on Android [Updated]
• Pixel 6 Pro benchmarks hint at Tensor’s raw power; here’s how it compares to Galaxy S21 & Pixel 5
• Google advertising Pixel 6 & Pro camera in the UK with high-profile TV show sponsorship
• Google brings Nexus back from the dead… to tease Pixel 6 moments after iPhone 13 event
• Google hypes the Pixel 6 in Japan with bag of ‘Google Original [Potato] Chips’

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss updates on Android 12, a new Pixel 6 ad, and thoughts after living with the new Nest Cam and Doorbell.

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New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Here’s everything new in Android 12 Beta 5 [Gallery]
• Google rolling out Material You for Calendar, Drive, Docs, and other Workspace apps [Gallery]
• Google may release Android 12.1 as its first mid-cycle launch in years
• Google’s first Pixel 6 ad actually shows the phone in people’s hands [Video]
• Google teases Pixel 6 again in new image showcasing Android 12’s Material You
• Google unveils new Nest Cam line: $179 ‘battery’ flagship w/ ‘floodlight’ variant, $99 wired model
• Google will stop selling its older Nest Cam models, but software support continues
• New ‘Nest Doorbell (battery)’ costs $179 with free package & object alerts, local backup storage
• Nest Hello rebranded to ‘Nest Doorbell (wired)’ and remain on sale as 24/7 recording model
• Nest Cam (Battery) Initial Review: Practical hardware held back by the messy Google Home app
• New Nest Cams, Doorbell require and are fully controlled by the Google Home app

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss their thoughts on the new Pixel 5a and its non-fabric case, a look at the long-awaited Galaxy Watch 4 and its new OS, and Ben's first week with the Z Flip 3.

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New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Pixel 5a with 5G Review: Uncompromised $449 value counters a wave of pricey flagships
• Google ditches fabric cases on the Pixel 5a for new design [Gallery]
• Wear OS doesn’t fix the frustrating pairing process for Galaxy Watch 4 on non-Samsung phones
• Galaxy Watch 4 will get Assistant eventually, but only has Bixby now; Google Pay delayed [U]
• Galaxy Watch 4 works w/ Pixel 5’s reverse wireless charging and some Qi pads
• Google Pay for Wear OS gets a facelift, works on Galaxy Watch 4; Messages app rolling out

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Kyle Bradshaw, and special guest Stephen Hall discuss what Google is planning to do with their brand new Tensor chip and possible future Google silicon.

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New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Kyle Bradshaw
• Stephen Hall

Read More

• Google confirms ‘Pixel 6’ and ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ name with ‘Tensor’ chip, coming this fall
• Comment: Google’s early Pixel 6 reveal is a show of confidence and a commitment to its future
• ‘Google Tensor’ is the official name of the Made by Google ‘Whitechapel’ processor
• Nikkei: Google Tensor is a 5nm chip and Samsung is handling production
• Qualcomm stock dips following Pixel 6 ‘Tensor’ reveal, teases future collaboration w/ Google
• Google Pixel 6 specs: ‘Tensor’ chip, 120Hz display, 4x zoom, under-display fingerprint
• Yes, you heard right — the Pixel 6 series looks to restore a ‘real’ earpiece speaker
• Google Pixel 6 applies HDR to each frame of video, apparently gives an edge over the iPhone
• Google confirms camera revamp on Pixel 6 series, including 4x telephoto on ‘Pro’
• Google will spend more on marketing the Pixel 6 series than any Made by Google phone to date
• The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro confirmed to launch in these 8 countries
• Comment: Samsung take Note, Pixel 6 is here to rock the boat
• Google says Pixel 6 will be pricey, but how much would you pay for it? [poll]
• Which color of Pixel 6 do you like the most? [Poll]
• Here are the official wallpapers for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro [Gallery]

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss everything you need to know about the new Wear OS devices and a wide range of leaks from Samsung.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

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• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Google reveals ‘opt-in’ Wear OS 3 update path for current watches, starting in mid-2022
• These smartwatches are confirmed to be compatible with Wear OS 3
• Fossil’s ‘best possible’ Wear OS smartwatch won’t see the platform revamp until 2022
• Fossil says it will release the ‘best possible Wear OS smartwatch’ later this year
• Qualcomm says new Snapdragon Wear chips are coming, hints at not-so-impressive Wear OS sales
• Google rolling out Material You redesign of Wear OS Play Store, watch app installs from phones
• Samsung confirms fully virtual Unpacked event for Galaxy Z Fold 3 on August 11
• Latest Galaxy Watch 4 leak teases watchfaces, Wear OS apps, and more [Video]
• Galaxy Watch 4 will reportedly top the Wear OS charts w/ 16GB storage, 1.5GB RAM
• Samsung ‘Exynos W920’ to be the first chip for Google’s new Wear OS w/ big performance gains
• Samsung confirms special S Pen for Galaxy Z Fold 3
• Galaxy Z Fold 3 official case leaks w/ S Pen storage as Z Flip 3 renders surface
• The Galaxy Note 21 is officially not coming this year, Samsung confirms
• As Samsung sets lofty goals for foldables, interest in ‘Galaxy Fold 3’ outpaces ‘Galaxy Note 21’
• Samsung reportedly manages IPX8 water resistance for Galaxy Z Fold 3, Z Flip 3

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the additions and changes to Android 12 now that Beta 3 is released. Also, new information on the upcoming Pixel 6 is here with the possibility of an Ultra?

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Google releases Android 12 Beta 3 for Pixel phones
• Here’s everything new in Android 12 Beta 3 [Gallery]
• Android 12 Beta 3: ‘Material You’ color options, themed icons arrive on Pixel Launcher
• Android 12 Beta 3: Pixel Launcher adopts more colors, ‘At A Glance’ is now ‘Live Space’
• Android 12 Beta 3: Pixel Scrolling Screenshot doesn’t work like Samsung’s, can’t do websites
• Android 12 Beta 3: You can now disable Google Assistant corner swipe activation
• Android 12 Beta 3: Internet pop-up menu adds ‘turn off Wi-Fi’ button, higher Settings menu prominence
• Android 12 Beta 3: Chrome gets a slick new link-sharing option from multi-tasking page
• Android 12 seemingly returns to stability in third beta release, but w/ some minor issues [Updated]
• Google tones down Android 12 ripple effect in Beta 3; what do you think of the sparkle now? [Poll]
• Android 12 Beta 3: Google gives Pixel phones a revamped setup experience [Gallery]
• Google updating the default Pixel ringtone, notification, and alarm sounds with Android 12
• Android TV 12 finally supports 4K UI rendering, adds new privacy features
• Pixel 6 and 6 Pro differences, resolution, selfie flash, and more hinted by Google Camera app
• Google mentions, then quickly removes ‘Pixel 6’ and ‘Pixel 6 XL’ from official form

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the release of Stadia for Android TV, the first look at WearOS by Samsung, and leaks of what the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will look like.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• ‘Stadia for Android TV’ app is now available and fully playable [Updated]
• Hands-on: Stadia for Android TV is a quirky but suitable replacement for Chromecast Ultra [Updated]
• Stadia for Android TV: Are all devices the same, and how do Bluetooth controllers work?
• Here’s a first look at Samsung’s version of Wear OS, ‘One UI Watch’ [Video]
• Samsung teases Unpacked event later this summer for ‘new Galaxy Watch’ w/ Wear OS
• Google makes big push for new Wear OS, TV, Auto, & tablet media apps by reducing its commission
• Google rolling out on-watch Play Store redesign with Wear OS 3.0 UI changes for some
• Galaxy Watch 4 ‘Classic’ w/ rotating bezel appears in official-looking renders
• Another batch of Galaxy Watch 4 leaks show off some official-looking renders
• Official-looking renders of Galaxy Z Fold 3 leak, revealing three colorways
• Galaxy Z Flip 3 leak shows off more useful outer display as possible US exclusivity is hinted

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the opening of Google's first permanent store, Google Stadia's presence at E3, and the yet to be announced new Pixel Stand.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday/Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Made by Google’s first retail store opens on Thursday, June 17
• Here’s a tour of the first Google Store in New York City [Gallery]
• Stadia at E3 2021: Ubisoft keeps Google’s ship afloat as exclusives dominate the show
• Google preparing new Pixel Stand wireless charger w/ fans, likely for Pixel 6
• Here’s Fuchsia running on Google’s Nest Hub; comparing it is a game of splitting hairs [Video]
• How to know if your Nest Hub has been updated to Fuchsia OS

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the new features and changes that came to Android 12 Beta 2 and the 3 major announcements that came to Google's Stadia platform.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Google rolling out Android 12 Beta 2 for Pixel phones
• Here’s everything new in Android 12 Beta 2 [Gallery]
• Android 12’s second beta breaks the streak of stability [Updated]
• June Pixel Feature Drop: Astrophotography video, Photos Locked Folder, and more
• Stadia is coming to Chromecast w/ Google TV and select Android TV devices on June 23
• Chromecast with Google TV update adds ‘Stadia support,’ improves Bluetooth latency, more
• Rainbow Six: Siege and more coming to Stadia as Ubisoft+ expands internationally
• AT&T ‘exploring ways’ to enhance their network for Stadia, offer 6-month Stadia Pro deal
• Stadia’s latest streaming tier cuts web app data usage by roughly 40%

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the new Google Pixel Buds and Huawei's new HarmonyOS.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Friday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Google unveils $99 Pixel Buds A-Series with upgraded connectivity, no volume swipe gesture
• Pixel Buds A-Series Review: ‘Hey Google’ and the best features without deal-breaking flaws
• Google fixed the frustrating audio cutouts on Pixel Buds A-Series — Here’s how
• Huawei’s HarmonyOS arrives w/ iPad-inspired tablet UI, apparent Android base
• Huawei Watch 3 review: harmonious hand hardware? [Video]

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the past, present, and future of Google's Fuchsia and their hope for Google's return to retail stores.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Google is officially releasing its Fuchsia OS, starting w/ first-gen Nest Hub
• What’s next for Google’s Fuchsia OS?
• First physical Google Store opening in New York City this summer
• A look at Google’s old hardware pop-ups and previous retail plans [Gallery]

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss their thoughts on the items that came out of the Google I/O keynote and what didn't get mentioned.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Here’s everything new in Android 12 Beta 1 [Gallery]
• Android 12 Beta 1: Google’s design overhaul is here, but most of the features are missing
• Material You is Google’s new personalized design language
• Android 12 introduces ‘Privacy Dashboard,’ camera/mic indicators and blocks
• Android 12’s first beta has no glaring issues, and Google Pay works! [Updated]
• Google announces new Wear OS w/ Samsung partnership, revamped apps, and Fitbit
• Samsung is working to port Google’s Flutter SDK to Galaxy Watch and other Tizen devices
• Fitbit will make ‘premium’ smartwatches based on Wear OS
• Samsung teases plans to release a Wear OS smartwatch w/ support ‘long into the future’
• Wear OS emulator gives a tantalizing glimpse at the Android 11-based redesign [Video]
• Here’s a quick look at YouTube Music & other revamped Google apps for Wear OS [Gallery]
• Current Wear OS owners have to wait until ‘later this year’ to find out if they’ll get the new version
• Next Wear OS update enabling 3rd-party Tiles will be available in ‘coming weeks’
• Android TV and Google TV surpass 80 million active devices w/ strong US growth
• New Android 12 digital car keys use NFC or UWB, coming to Pixel and Samsung this year
• Google will finally replace the Android TV remote app later this year
• Android Auto now available on 100M cars, instrument cluster integration coming

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss more details in the Google and Roku YouTube TV disagreements and what they all expect from Google I/O next week.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Google brings YouTube TV to main YouTube app on Roku in clever workaround
• Roku vs. Google: Who’s to blame in a battle that only stands to hurt YouTube TV customers?
• What to expect from Google I/O 2021: Assistant, Android 12, and ‘Material NEXT’
• Report: Galaxy Watch 4 runs Wear OS in Google ‘expansion,’ drops blood glucose sensor
• Stadia doesn’t seem nearly ready for Google TV launch w/ just weeks left on Chromecast promise

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss Google and Roku's negotiations on YouTube TV deteriorate, new Pixel Buds A-Series, and Stadia loses more top employees.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are published every Thursday. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Read More

• Roku may lose YouTube TV as negotiations with Google break down [Update: Google statement]
• Roku says it will remove the YouTube TV app today amid dispute with Google
• Google: Roku ‘chose to renegotiate’ YouTube TV deal, calls accusations ‘baseless and false’
• Amid YouTube TV battle w/ Google, Roku’s share of the global streaming market continues to fall
• Roku vs. Google: Who’s really to blame in this battle that only stands to hurt customers?
• Google announces ‘Pixel Buds A-Series’ in accidental unveil
• Google Pixel Buds A may ditch swiping volume gesture [APK Insight]
• Google remembers Android tablets exist, debuts ‘Entertainment Space’ that looks like Google TV
• Stadia product head John Justice has left Google
• Several Google Stadia staff members join Jade Raymond’s Sony-backed ‘Haven’ studio
• Epic Games apparently offered Fortnite for Stadia in exchange for free access to Play Store
• Google Nest Hub shows up at Bluetooth SIG running ‘Fuchsia 1.0’

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss additions and changes to the Google Assistant that is only on the Pixel and what they are excited to see at Google I/O 2021.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Assistant gets better at understanding context as Google touts ‘nearly’ perfect alarm/timer responses
• Google Home Essentials: Sonos Roam falls just short of the perfect portable Assistant
• Google Assistant ‘Guacamole’ will let you ‘snooze’ alarms & ‘answer’ calls without ‘Hey Google’
• Google Assistant ‘Memory’ supercharges saving and reminders on Android, in development [Gallery]
• Google I/O 2021 will be virtual and free to attend from May 18-20
• Pichai teases ‘significant’ announcements at Google I/O 2021 as product cycles return to normal
• Google posts I/O 2021 schedule, starting with Sundar Pichai keynote on May 18 at 10 a.m.

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This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the newest changes in the recent Android 12 preview, the new Fitbit Luxe, and the review of the OnePlus Watch.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Google rolling out Android 12 Developer Preview 3 for Pixel phones
• Here’s everything new in Android 12 Developer Preview 3 [Gallery]
• Android 12 Developer Preview 3 hands-on: Top new features [Video]
• Google Pixel 5a 5G set to run on same Snapdragon 765 as Pixel 5
• Fitbit Luxe announced as premium $150 fitness tracker with color display
• Review: OnePlus Watch doesn’t just settle, it demands you do too

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw talk about the Pixel 5a and what else they've learned about GS101 Whitechapel, while closing on what new Nest Cams could look like.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW:Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Google officially confirms the Pixel 5a 5G exists, will launch later this year
• Pixel 5a 5G explained: What’s happening? [Video]
• Here’s everything we know about the Whitechapel GS101 chip used in the Pixel 6
• Google discontinues ‘Oh So Orange’ Pixel Buds, sold out at all retailers
• Google Home 2.35 reveals new doorbell-shaped device, possible Nest Hello successor
• Nest Cam IQ Indoor officially sold out on the Google Store
• Google’s ADT partnership starts w/ expanded Assistant controls, Nest Mini & Hub installed by ADT

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss hands-on with the new Nest Hub 2nd Gen, the announcement of the Pixel Buds A, and Google partnering with Samsung for their own chip.

Sponsored by NVIDIA GeForce NOW: Real-time gameplay straight from the cloud to any device you own. Check back every GFN Thursday for the latest games, added every week. Try it now

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Review: Nest Hub (2nd gen) sleep tracking ushers in a radically more pervasive Google Assistant
• Sources: Google’s next wireless earbuds are the ‘Pixel Buds A’
• Google inadvertently leaks green ‘Pixel Buds A’ in email push
• Exclusive: Pixel 6 will be powered by new Google-made ‘Whitechapel’ chip
• Weighing the potential pros and cons of Pixel 6 ditching Qualcomm for ‘Whitechapel’

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the first product release from Google fo 2021 and the new developer preview of Android 12.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Google announces 2nd-gen Nest Hub with Soli-powered ‘Sleep Sensing’ for $99
• Google discontinues the original Nest Hub following successor’s debut 
• Google Home 2.34 adds real-time Nest Wifi usage and network history graphs
• Here’s everything new in Android 12 Developer Preview 2 [Gallery]
• Android 12 DP2: Dark theme on Pixel gets even lighter
• Android 12 DP2: ‘Game dashboard’ to add quick access to recording, YouTube streaming, more
• Android 12 DP2: People Space widget takes shape, reminds you to talk to your friends and family
• Android 12 DP2: Google Pay surprisingly already works

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the possibilities of what will be on the Pixel 6 as rumors drop, the features that were added to Chrome OS 89, and the future of Chromebooks.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Google Pixel 6 likely to adopt centered hole punch camera, 4K selfie video
• Google Camera 8.2 improves long-press video recording, rolling out to Pixel 5 and more
• Chrome OS 89 is a big update that adds Phone Hub, Tote, screen recording, and more
• Google wants to make Chromebooks of the future more intelligent and connected

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss new Pixel features, rumors for Pixel 5a, the new Nest Hub, and more.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• March Pixel Feature Drop: Underwater photos, Gboard Smart Compose, and more
• Here’s what underwater Pixel 5 photos look like [Gallery]
• Purported ‘Pixel 5a’ renders suggest Google’s next phone is basically the Pixel 4a 5G
• Sources: Google launching a new Nest Hub in 2021 that uses Soli for sleep tracking
• Sources: New Nest Hub looks like the original, Soli sleep tracking tied to Google Fit
• Nest Hub and Smart Display ‘Photo Frame’ loses ‘experimental’ Facebook, Flickr sources
• Google releases three new Nest Hub and Hub Max clocks

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li, Ben Schoon, and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the changes seen in the developer preview of Android 12. Changes to notifications, what new settings there are, new gestures that are in, and those that are coming.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Google launches Android 12 Developer Preview for Pixel phones
• Notifications redesigned w/ bigger icons, dedicated snooze button
• Notifications to gain ‘Automatic’ option for whether or not to alert
• Privacy toggles can block camera and microphone with a tap
• Markup tool now lets you add emoji and text to screenshots
• You can now edit any image with the Markup tool meant for screenshots
• ‘Reduce Bright Colors’ button tones down screen brightness
• Navigation gestures work instantly in fullscreen apps
• Dark theme on Pixel is no longer AMOLED black
• Wallpaper-based theming tool showcased ahead of release [Gallery]
• Settings app gets revamp with new search bar
• Here’s a look at One-handed mode in action [Video]
• Lockscreen readies redesign with larger clock
• Scrolling screenshots are here, but disabled for now
• Lockscreen and notification shade media player gets UI redesign
• Pixel 5 readies ‘Double tap’ gesture, doesn’t work yet
• Android TV 12 preview is now available, months ahead of previous releases

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

Transcription

Abner Li: And welcome to alphabet scoop episode one theme. This week, we are discussing everything. The thing about Android 12, which launched last as they unexpected which is a day or eight compared to the past five years or so. But we had a week to live with Android 12 and. We've we we've dived a lot into it.

Android 12 Developer Preview launches

[00:00:31] So just to get, to get out of the way, this is starting with a developer preview, there will be three of them followed by full betas and then the before final release, but Android 12 live now, as it is every year is just for developers. And this year Google with. And like 12, what for developers? They want to give them new tools for building great experiences for users.

[00:01:03] That's the official quote. And we're definitely seeing that in notifications, for example, that may have been completely redesigned with bigger icons, the, a bit more friendly. Google has the, we arranged everything again. And. I think for the most part it's well, in the case of the media player, I like how they went back to enlarging the cover art after shrinking at this with Android, you Evan.

[00:01:35] So there's some nice peaks, all lounge. We won't get to appreciate any of the changes until active app has stopped updating the apps, but so far so good. 

[00:01:47] Kyle Bradshaw: I don't know though. It seems interesting with the, that this that they're talking about tools to give to developers for, for great experiences.

[00:01:54] And it just doesn't feel like that's the, that's not what I would describe as what we've seen with Android 12 so far, that seems to be the promise of Android 12, but it doesn't feel like what we've seen so far. None of the, the headline changes to Android 12 feel. Like their developer empowering or, or experience driving, 

[00:02:17] Abner Li: you know, I can see that, but I, I think in some ways what they mean about when they get in the case of notifications, it's I think putting the app, I caught, like there, it's kind of a big deal.

[00:02:33] And in terms of that, the conveying that you're doing with an individual. Either, the notifications always felt a part of the system, but there's a level of theming here that that's, I don't know, empowers the developer to make it more of their own experience. 

[00:02:53] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah. I can see that, especially with, by comparison to Android 11, which kind of lumped social apps together into that conversation's view.

[00:03:02] I feel blank Android 12. With the way that it, you know, as you're saying, put the, the app icon on the side, it brings back that level of the division between apps. Like sometimes I'd, I'd get confused. What apps different notifications are, even from when I'm looking at the conversations view on Android 11, 

[00:03:25] Abner Li: but at the same time, It's I hope, well, it being able to put your own spin on something within limits is better than a wild West approach that pot, but it'd be fine the early days of the platform, but I hope it keeps it.

Notification redesign

[00:03:44] I hope this free, this free expression that Google's allowing apps and Android 12 notifications is still within limits. Yeah. So notifications, how, how either of you like this year is innovation on a lock on media notifications? 

[00:04:05] Ben Schoon: It looks visually a little bit nicer. It's minor, but it's nice. 

[00:04:10] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah.

[00:04:12] Iteration is all it needed. It, it, it was already kind of a revolution as it were last time. This was, it was nice to just have a new iteration this year. 

[00:04:21] Abner Li: Hmm. I don't know. They always change it from . That's like They always change it. Yeah. 

[00:04:29] Ben Schoon: It's not an Android release without a tweak to media and a tweak to notification.

Camera and mic privacy toggles

[00:04:36] Abner Li: That's fair. That's, that's pretty true. So, yeah. That's notifications and I think another big tentpole that we're starting to see is privacy with privacy toggles to block the kava and microphone. In practice. I, okay. So there's the urban myth, I guess, of people thinking that Facebook is listening to them, but Instagram is listening to them to serve.

[00:05:06] And to be 

[00:05:07] Ben Schoon: fair, seems like it's happening even though it's not. 

[00:05:12] Abner Li: It's perfect. It's those moments. There has to be some. Psychological explanation to why those moments feel so, so visible, but yeah, and, and I doubt that Google is going to be that explicit that he's privacy toggles. Meant to mitigate that, but I like the idea of these toggles, especially with the microphone also that also than the Metabo.

[00:05:40] Ben Schoon: Yeah. It just, it feels like a kill switch, which, you know, we've seen on a lot of laptops have like a physical switch to cut off the camera either with a privacy cover or with a it just cuts off the software. I mean, like one of the things I liked about it was there's been a lot of times where I've been tied into like a video conference from my phone and it's a time I really don't want to be seen this.

[00:06:02] I'm always worried. Like I'm always checking, make sure I'm muted, make sure I'm that the camera's off, but it'd be nice to just hit a toggle and make sure that that definitely can't happen. So. I think it's, it's nice. It's a good, 

[00:06:15] Abner Li: yeah. So yeah, privacy. I'm sure we'll see more of that. Going forward and that's, I think there, there are quite a handful of user facing changes that are all of the UI and develop a pre-vis one.

Emojis and text on screenshots

[00:06:29]Mockup got a nice with a boost. You can now add emoji and tax a screenshots while it's also available. Not just a screenshot. So I think this is, it would be more comprehensive editor. What does Samsung do? Could they keep the mock up tool or do they have their own custom thing that they have their 

[00:06:48] Ben Schoon: own?

[00:06:50] Yeah. They have their own, which is optimized for the S pen and stuff. Frankly, it's a lot better, but it's, it's one of those things where it's, it's a negative, like negligible difference. It doesn't really matter. They both, they both get the job done. I think I just like, Samsung's a little bit more.

New 'Reduce Bring Colors" feature

[00:07:10] Abner Li: Hmm. Gotcha. What does reduce blight colors do in terms of how's it actuary? Is it make a big impact? 

[00:07:18] Ben Schoon: Feels like it does nothing. Like I was messing around with it. Basically the idea is to cut down on the screen. Brightness really quickly is basically the best way I can describe it. It's an accessibility shortcut, which means that you can have it triggered by either pressing the two volume buttons or swiping up from the bottom with two fingers.

[00:07:38]So really it'd just be, it'd be a good way to cut down on a bright image if you're sensitive to bright images without without having to constantly have your screen brightness low. So like, let's say, you know, you're on your phone in dark mode, you use dark apps. So it doesn't bother you, but you might open up a video or an article and it's bright white.

[00:08:00] This just would let you quickly tap a button. And the brightness goes down by a preset percentage. That's the utility I see in it so far, but I'm sure there's more to it than that. Yeah, it's, it's an accessibility feature. It's not going to be for everybody, but it will be useful for those who do, who do need it.

[00:08:18] Abner Li: Gotcha. So navigation gestures working instantly in full screen apps. I've tried test this on YouTube, but since YouTube has that polls, that you can hide the full screen player by swiping down. It's not as noticeable, so it's just useful. 

Fullscreen navigation gestures

[00:08:36] Ben Schoon: So it seems like this one is basically opt-in. It's not. From what I gather, this is like, if developers implemented navigation gestures the right way, what this does is if something is in full screen, you swipe once and the gesture kicks in.

[00:08:55] If they did not, or if they changed it, however they needed to change it then it will. It'll act like it normally does. You have to swipe once to reenable gestures and then again, to perform that gesture, but in Google photos, which is the best example if you're viewing a photo in complete, full screen, you swipe once to go back and it does it, you swipe wants to go home and it does it I'm kind of glad.

[00:09:19] It seems like it's opt-in because this could suck in video games. 

[00:09:25] Kyle Bradshaw: Hmm. Yeah. There's, there's a lot of scenarios where it would be very bad. Like you'd have to even photos. It's very tricky to way the implemented, because you may be just trying to swipe from one photo to another, and then you just back out and you're in the gallery view again.

[00:09:39] Yeah. 

[00:09:40] Abner Li: Not the biggest deal in the world, of 

[00:09:42] Kyle Bradshaw: course, but it still could be frustrating. 

[00:09:46] Ben Schoon: It'll be good. In some, some places it'll be really bad in others, which is. Like I said, it's good that this is, it looks like it's optic. Yeah.

New dark theme on Pixels

[00:09:57] Abner Li: So, so yeah, those like what I would call the user facing changes that add a lot of nice. Well, usability, fat for end-users, but some of the biggest stuff is not quite here yet, but we're starting to get peaks of the, what Android 12, the final design will be. And I would say that we start to see that in the pixels, doc theme is no longer an AML that black it's.

[00:10:31] It's almost a kind of bluish gray bluish 

[00:10:36] Ben Schoon: it's that GRI that they use in most of their apps, 

[00:10:40] Abner Li: it really comes off as booth to me. I'm not sure why I think that, but yeah, 

[00:10:45] Ben Schoon: it doesn't to me, but I like it. I don't like Emma lit black. 

[00:10:50] Abner Li: No, I feel ammo at black. It makes sense to me. Why is the system of color and.

[00:10:57] Aye. That's in regular doc theme apps. I prefer the light gray that Google ops were everywhere, but like in the one place, I think ammo and drag is acceptable. Is the system any part of the system touches? 

[00:11:14] Ben Schoon: I can agree with that. I didn't like, I didn't mind it in the system settings, but if I have the choice, I'm going to pick the light gray.

[00:11:22] Abner Li: Hmm. Yeah. That opens us up to a big redesign, which again, since e-vapor previews adjust developers getting the app. So I'm giving feedback to Google though. The whole big consumer changes that you would expect sometime in may. They're not here yet, but we have been. Able to get some books at it.

[00:11:50] And first there's the regular settings app, which has been tweaked with this new search oval search bar and separated avatar icon top left corner. But the, the big change here is something with Kyle you're able to activate. 

Wallpaper-based theming

[00:12:08]Kyle Bradshaw: So yeah, well, we were able or what's, what's been able to happen. The community found a way to to create a theme that is applied across the system.

[00:12:19]Something that we had detailed ahead of time, ahead of the release, but wasn't by default in the Android 12 release, but they. And you're able to just add a, a color, basically just a, a single color, like an orange or orange purple and green are some of the examples that were shown off by a community member.

[00:12:38] K dragon. 

[00:12:39]Abner Li: But what 

[00:12:40] Kyle Bradshaw: it does, is it Bri colors? Quite literally everything, like, as you were saying, the, you know, how the MLS black looks kind of blue that's that's that seems to be because the default color of Android 12, or at least of the pixel variant of Android 12 is. This blue color. So when you put on an orange or you put on a purple theme, suddenly that is now a, a dark purple instead of a dark blue, a dark orange.

[00:13:09] So it's a, it's an interesting shift that I'm intrigued to see how Google. Or what colors Google themselves decides to choose. We all we've seen are guesses that people have created. We don't know what color Google's going to use necessarily.

[00:13:29] Abner Li: And again, there's no UI for it, so to speak, but. What do we think that, okay, so light now, if you long press on the on the pixel Anja, you got the styles and wallpaper section, do we think that's what Google is going to the customization of these themes? Again? 

[00:13:49] Kyle Bradshaw: I'm not so sure to be honest, just if only because that particular UI, as part of the pixel launcher, as it were, where this seems to be something more broader for, for Android 12, rather than something, just for the pixel line.

[00:14:03] So it might just live somewhere in the settings app. 

Settings app revamp

[00:14:08] Abner Li: Hmm. Okay. And that's, that's the, the wallpaper based theming that again, like you said, we spot that the head of the race, but there's something way more substantial in the settings app. A peek at the new design language. Isn't that? 

[00:14:28] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah. So the, with some enabling, we were able to.

[00:14:36] Turn on something called a silky home is basically what's what has been kind of referred to it. It seems to be this, this complete material redesign of the settings app, bringing it to like the, the search bar at the top has been redesigned and, and The all of the items are thicker and more spaced out.

[00:15:01] And they, they kinda edit this one UI like touch where you have a heading that is taking up the top. Third of the screens that you have, the rest of the screen is reachable by your thumb. It's a. It's an interesting, it's an interesting shift and seems to be like we might be moving forward from the material theme redesigns of a couple of years ago.

[00:15:30] Abner Li: Hmm. That's so the theorial theming was born out of the appeal design, which was Google's foundation of their modern design language out of material design, not allowing enough customization. And the idea that Mateo theming is that the theme allowed people to. About third party developers to put more of their style and such into the apps are doing so it's I think what the, this so usability, if, from what we can see with the Samsung one UI style pop thirds, Heather It's usability.

[00:16:16]Reachability which ties directly to a one-handed mode. But I I'm curious what else defines T-Mobile next as it's being called by some people, I mean, document in early documentation. 

[00:16:32] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah. It's, it's, it's hard to say. I mean, I would think that the theming and the the. The the reachability is, are the, are the two, the two core aspects that they've talked about so far, but to tie it back to what we were saying earlier, these seem like major points in Android 12, and they aren't included for for developers to, or they weren't publicly mentioned for developers to start thinking about it ahead of time.

[00:17:02] It's weird to me. 

One-handed mode

[00:17:03] Abner Li: Hmm. Maybe you could see that thing. The. The next two, develop previews rather than waiting for the beta. So that could be something that like, cause we mentioned one hand at mode a bit earlier, but we've been able to use it. Have how you liking it, honestly it, 

[00:17:21]Kyle Bradshaw: It's it's it's it's not really for me.

[00:17:23] I haven't, I don't. It's mostly because I got the pixel five because it can reach everything with my thumb. It's not really for me, but there, I know that there are people who will make good use of this and it's for those people that this was designed. But I think also that it might just be like a, a stop gap as it were for those apps that don't implement the reach of the implement their own version of reachability.

[00:17:53] Abner Li: Hmm. Interesting. Yeah. One habit. Yeah. It's, it's something else. It's something that Apple did the visionary reachability but this one handed mode seems, I know it seems to wait for Google to add this feature, to make this a stock feature of Android. It just seems like in terms of catching up trends, if anything, I would think people have gotten used to these super watch phones.

[00:18:23] And that there's no longer a demand for it. So to speak. 

[00:18:29] Kyle Bradshaw: I mean, I will say I like the implementation that they did rather than some of the ones that I've used in the past, like the LG V 20, which was definitely a massive phone for its time. They would bring, it would just shrink the whole screen down into into a movable pop-up window, which 

[00:18:48] Ben Schoon: is still super common.

[00:18:51] I don't like it. I have, I think most Android manufacturers still do. I think Samsung still does that. Ooh, I like it. Yeah, no, I agree. 

[00:18:59] Kyle Bradshaw: I hate that. I, I would much rather take Google's version, which is basically stealing Apple's version to I'll take that any day. That's just shrink, just shrink it down vertically.

[00:19:13] Bring it closer to my thumb. 

[00:19:14] Ben Schoon: I agree. But I've also never used it on an iPhone cause I hated it the way, like I never found the utility in it. 

[00:19:24] Abner Li: Do you have a pro max? 

[00:19:27] Ben Schoon: No, I'm just saying I've never, okay. I've never found it more convenient to perform the gesture, to do a reachability thing than to just move the phone in my hand.

[00:19:36] Like, I've just, I've never found that more useful. I'm sure some people do. I just, I've never found it more useful and yes, I had an iPhone six plus at the time. 

[00:19:46]Abner Li: That, that, that definitely needed it. Yeah. It's I agree with that. There's it's a more elegant solution rather than like blocking it. And then not being able to access that, putting shrinking your screen and putting massive black borders everywhere.

[00:20:04] That's just seems like you're not that, that bags like you should've just gotten a small phone rather than adapt that time to adapt this big phone too. To smile and make it work with a smart display virtual display. 

[00:20:21] Ben Schoon: I mean, I know a lot of people don't like it, but I really do like how a Samsung handled in one UI and which, you know, Google's kind of adopting where it's just, you know, in certain menus, the, you can scroll down.

[00:20:36] From the bottom and then everything comes down and the title just gets bigger. It's kind of a waste of space, but it's also really useful. 

Lockscreen prepares for redesign

[00:20:45] Abner Li: Yeah. And again, that's useful. Usefulness theme is without a doubt, echoing 12 Amarillo 12. This is well besides one handed mode in terms of block, screen lock screen with XY at recent pixel devices.

[00:21:02] And. Basically AOD customization, or have we have, I don't think we've have seen what this rearranged a lock screen looks like on the AOD. Right? We have seen it on, on the AOD. Yeah. So it translates over. Nice. 

[00:21:19] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah. It's it's really It's gorgeous. Actually, I really like it. I just hope that we get to see some more of those clocks that we missed from.

[00:21:28]What was that Android 10 that into 

[00:21:31] Ben Schoon: this 10 or nine? It feels like forever ago. 

[00:21:34] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah. Well, one of the past Android betas had the, all these clocks and I, I still like the one where it's like, It spells out in words it's 10, 15. 

[00:21:45] Ben Schoon: Oh, that was the best one. I loved that. 

[00:21:48] Abner Li: Yeah. That's basically a desktop call.

[00:21:52] Quite nice that 

[00:21:55] Ben Schoon: I don't 

[00:21:55] Kyle Bradshaw: remember. I think I 

[00:21:57] Abner Li: just wanted to text on. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. So Samsung has always allowed a great, the level of customization of the AOD. 

[00:22:07] Ben Schoon: You can put a GIF on your LD. 

[00:22:10] Abner Li: Yes, you can. I believe you can put a full calendar like before the one day calendar. Yeah. The balance between like the full feature set and being able to customize it and simpleness, which I think I'm AOL and always on the space should be first and foremost, that's going to be an interesting balance, but it reminds me of.

[00:22:36]Nexus seven days when you had a walk screen widgets, even though 

[00:22:41] Ben Schoon: I do 

[00:22:43] Abner Li: love them. Yeah. That, that, and the concept of widgets have went away, but you kind of be nice to those clocks to just widgets. And the VAP was could pill, small pioneers topics, experiences. 

[00:23:00] Kyle Bradshaw: That was part of the joy of Android. And way back then that was, those were like one of the selling features, at least in my, in my book.

[00:23:07] I, I love 

Scrolling screenshots are coming

[00:23:08] Abner Li: that. Yeah. That was delightful. So, yeah. Let's see what other use of things all day? Squalling screenshots, which, okay. I know everybody wants that, but sell, sell it to me. Why do I want this feature? Because you don't, you end up like cutting it in half anyways to like. 

[00:23:33] Ben Schoon: The, where I've always found it useful is in, you know, sometimes you just want to send one screenshot, but it's like, it just cuts off a little bit of information.

[00:23:41]Like I don't think it's useful to just take this infinitely long screenshot cause you can't share it like usefully, especially if you're trying to share it with someone like who's looking to view it on their computer, it's impossible to read, but it's nice to just be able to, if you need to get a little more information, you have that ability.

[00:24:01] I think it's definitely been, over-hyped but it is useful. I use it all the time on my full two and my S 21. I use it all the time on Samsung phones. And on that note, Samsung does this way better than Google. It's probably just because it's early, but in its current state scrolling screenshots natively work.

[00:24:24] So they're not nearly as good there. The animations are super choppy and like in Twitter, for example, if you do a scrolling screenshot, you have floating action button, just like five times. 

[00:24:34]

[00:24:34] I hope it gets cleaned up in time, but just because of how rough it is right now, I'm not fully confident in that.

[00:24:44] Or at least in the, the other problem is it's not consistent yet. Like I could take a scrolling screenshot in the settings menu and in Twitter, but I couldn't do it in like Google discover and that's just kind of weird. So yeah, I hope they clean it up and just honestly, if they just took Samsungs and threw it into native Android, it would work out great.

[00:25:06] I don't know why Google has this opinion that just. For some fundamental reason, it can't work as Samsung has said. I mean, it's basically what they've said is that the way that third parties have done it isn't right. Whatever the case, I'm glad it's coming. It's really rough right now though.

[00:25:25] Abner Li: Speaking of laugh, the new screenshot notification, which is the most minor thing in the world. But the fact that they removed the X-Box and you have to swipe away is the, was it's the, I agree was 

[00:25:41] Kyle Bradshaw: sporadic though. Some people will still have the ax. I 

[00:25:44] Ben Schoon: do. I still have it. 

[00:25:46] Kyle Bradshaw: And then it'll, it'll show up and then they'll disappear.

[00:25:48] I find like different times where it takes screenshots it's there. And then other times it's not. 

[00:25:53] Abner Li: And then, okay, so basically, so when the screenshot notification makes sense, tiny owl, where you have the screenshot on the left and on the bottom edge, you have the song strip to either share or edit. Now you have to swipe to the left, to get with a bit previously you had a tiny X button, which again was small as a tiny touch target, but compared to the left.

[00:26:17]The swiping to the left and you can't swipe to the light for that reason you 

[00:26:22] Kyle Bradshaw: can swipe to the right. It just doesn't do anything. It moves, it moves under your touch and then it just goes right back. 

[00:26:31] Ben Schoon: Yeah. Yeah. I, I hope they keep the X because that is one of my problems with I'm going to go back to Samsung team, the screenshot on a Samsung You just get the bar, come across your screen and there's no obvious way to get rid of it, which is really frustrating if you don't plan on doing anything with the screenshot.

Pixel 5 readies for 'Double tap' gesture

[00:26:49] Abner Li: Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, that's a minor tech and I guess another. Upcoming feature is Columbus Kyle the Columbus, the double tap, just the quick pop pop. 

[00:27:06] Kyle Bradshaw: So as we've talked many a time before 

[00:27:09] Abner Li: indeed 

[00:27:11] Kyle Bradshaw: pixels are going to get this double tap where you just, just like the iPhones have, but you can say Google came up with the first.

[00:27:18] Or you, maybe you can't, I don't know, you can tap the back of the phone twice and it does something, at least it's supposed to the default action is going to be the assistant, which is a good replacement on the the pixel five and four, a and four eight 5g. And w. 48 5g XL, wood and knuckles. Yeah, 

[00:27:40] Abner Li: you just, 

[00:27:42] Kyle Bradshaw: you give a quick double tap to fill up the assistant because if you don't have the squeeze gesture anymore, the, the active edge.

[00:27:47] So you just double tap open up the assistant rather than doing that swipe gesture from the corner. But it's, it's the codes there, but, and the UI is there, but giving the double-tap does not work no matter what we trying. 

[00:28:05] Abner Li: So yeah, this is without a doubt, the pixel one it's hardware exclusive, and there'll be undoubtedly limited to the pixel experience.

[00:28:15] Google does. Yeah. It's about them, adding them next to the button, allow it Sony loves to do and Samsung creasing and has Nokia. Yeah. Yeah. That's like Berry, 

[00:28:33] Ben Schoon: but Hey, they had a dedicated 

[00:28:34] Abner Li: button. All the Mt. Dedicated buttons. And, but yeah, this is more elegant tuition, but I know speaking from the iOS side, I don't think it's taken people like craze.

[00:28:48] It's not, I thought it would be a more of a bigger thing like now, or like a more like a hit, hidden feature to add more functionality, AFL, I guess not Audrey. 

[00:29:01] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah. Google made a mistake by getting rid of the active edge. I'll say it to the day I 

[00:29:05] Abner Li: die. I agree. Why do you know 

[00:29:08] Ben Schoon: both of you? It was great. It was great if you like, if you didn't like it, just turn it off and shush.

[00:29:16] I know, honestly, I just, I just wish. More than anything more than squeezes and back taps and all this stuff. Just give me Motorola's classic gestures on every phone and be done with it. Absolutely familiar, 

[00:29:31] Abner Li: but 

[00:29:33] Ben Schoon: they were perfection and no one can tell me otherwise, and I want them on everything. 

[00:29:39] Abner Li: Before I explain what the Motorola does.

[00:29:43] I'm not going to throw at you. Sidetrack me to defending myself on my active edge is a very awkward idea. For one thing. So the sensors for active edge, that pressure that's the pressure, right? They detect based on the, based on the size of the phone, they Is that how much pressure you're applying and inherently as you squeeze something it breaks.

[00:30:07] Why do you want to use your phone? Why does using your phone feel like you're breaking it? Because on an infinite timescale, squeezing something reads the breaking it. And I don't know. I, you want that to be a feature? It feels awkward. If it's a, 

[00:30:25] Kyle Bradshaw: if it's a metal or glass phone it's not going to break. It's fine.

[00:30:31] And if anything, what you're feeling the haptics kick in, it's not like the phone's breaking. 

[00:30:37] Ben Schoon: Yeah. I mean, I get where you're I get where you're coming from, but I don't know. It also to me, if I like haptics, not haptics tactile experiences and a squeeze is not the same as like a button, but it does have a tactile component to it, especially because of the haptics.

[00:30:58]

[00:30:58] Kyle Bradshaw: Yeah, that was the haptics I've ever enjoyed. 

[00:31:01] Ben Schoon: Yeah. I, I, I like it. It's but it's fine. Like I said, if you like it you'll like it. If you don't just turn off that it could have stuck around. No problem. 

[00:31:12] Abner Li: Fundamentally it's this tasteful, but anyways, what I hope to Lola has gestures. 

[00:31:20] Ben Schoon: Yeah. And then we'll talk about them for awhile.

[00:31:23] Basically.

[00:31:27] Abner Li: You will be treated to an extended treat us after this podcast on the multiple boy. Yeah, we'll see. Anyways. So Motorola what are they called? Moto actions. I think they're called the underlying name is motto actions. Anyways, you could double post your phone to watch the cat to watch the camera. How do you, 

[00:31:48] Kyle Bradshaw: how do you twist 

[00:31:51] Abner Li: twist your do you need is 

[00:31:53] Ben Schoon: definitely an action that you had to get used to, but it was like if you twisted it kind of like if the two corners of the foam two diagonal corners were the axis, you would twist it that way.

[00:32:06]And it would. Kicking the camera. 

[00:32:09] Abner Li: So actually this is available in Google camera right now.  selfie and the front facing 

[00:32:16] Ben Schoon: camera. Oh, you got me really excited for a second. Yep. 

[00:32:20] Kyle Bradshaw: I've never gotten that gesture to work with once never. 

[00:32:24] Ben Schoon: Okay. So hold your phone on an axis and it'll do it. 

[00:32:29] Kyle Bradshaw: I will try. It's fun.

[00:32:31] You keep describing, but I, I will, I will sit here. Okay. Okay. I got it to work. 

[00:32:35] Abner Li: That's good. 

[00:32:37] Ben Schoon: Eats it. You say, Oh, but if you, if, if it was the, to wash to the camera, you would use it all the time. It's so good. Fair. 

[00:32:46] Kyle Bradshaw: If it works 

[00:32:47] Ben Schoon: consistently fine, but it does. I don't get how, what a role I had them. Perfect. They always worked.

[00:32:56] Abner Li: It always worked. There's no doubt about that, but chopping yes, you 

[00:33:04] Ben Schoon: could chop twice to get to the flashlight and that was fantastic. 

[00:33:08] Abner Li: What is it? Just those two. 

[00:33:11] Ben Schoon: Those were the two most useful, there were more like you could like the waves to get to your always on display. 

[00:33:17] Abner Li: Oh, that, Oh, I missed that so 

[00:33:20] Ben Schoon: much.

[00:33:21] Which, I mean, they, I liked that, but it was weird just because they had like little IRS sensors, which looked really weird in the time of white bezels, which I still can't. Yeah. I'll never forgive them for doing that. And 

[00:33:32] Abner Li: all these things here. So, yeah, there's no point in 

[00:33:36] Ben Schoon: that. Yeah, they had, they had a few more, but those were the two like really, really useful ones.

[00:33:41] And I just, I wish they were on every phone and that's a complete just side ramp, but I, I, I love those. I miss 

[00:33:49] Abner Li: those. Yeah. And it's ironic that it's white now, that only thing is that Google owned Motorola for a few years. They could have honestly swiped the idea and kept to themselves into Android, but they didn't do that for that reason.

[00:34:07] And it's a, it was a very, just a clever way of doing more of unique, uniquely launching things. But. That's history. I 

[00:34:19] Ben Schoon: mean, really think about it. They were, they got that right in 2013. 

[00:34:24] Abner Li: It's incredible. It's been 

[00:34:26] Ben Schoon: eight years and they, and no one has copied them. 

[00:34:30] Abner Li: Do you think it's patented? I 

[00:34:31] Ben Schoon: doubt it, 

[00:34:33] Kyle Bradshaw: but if it was then Google could have kept it in the, when selling Motorola.

[00:34:38] I think that's what Ben's getting now. 

[00:34:41] Ben Schoon: I don't know it's I wish they, those were still around. That was way off topic. Why often 

[00:34:49] Abner Li: a bit off topic, but yeah. So that's Columbus. Yeah, it was Columbus and we'll see, 

[00:34:56] Ben Schoon: that was Columbus and the better version of Columbus.

Android TV 12 preview

[00:35:03] Abner Li: Oh man. But, yeah. So let's see other things that have happened very briefly. Android TV, 12 I'll 

[00:35:12] Ben Schoon: S I'll spoil my own posts. That's going up tomorrow. It's nothing. There's nothing changed. There's a, but we did realize that because, because we sideloaded enter a TV 12 which was briefly broken, but is now fixed.

[00:35:24]That Google TV has a basic mode, which just turns off all the smart features and has meant for like panels that ship with Google TV. It's really cool. It's not exclusive to Android 12 though, which is good. But yeah, user-facing features there's nothing because. Android updates don't really matter for TVs because everything's all the important stuff is like play services and app updates.

[00:35:48] Abner Li: Yeah, I think our stack, because lot other day he had, he had the brilliant, he made, he, he made. Okay. Basically his point was Google. Should divorce, Android versions from Android TV and definitely well less 

[00:36:04] Ben Schoon: 100% 

[00:36:05] Abner Li: agree. However many years old, I now. Oh 

[00:36:08] Kyle Bradshaw: yeah. We've we've that that's already happened with wireless.

[00:36:11] It's been on Android now this whole time. 

[00:36:13] Ben Schoon: Yeah, that's true. Yeah. Cause they, it doesn't even show it in the settings, but Android TV and Google TV, they do show it on the settings and yeah, it, it's not important. Like I w w I was putting together something today on, you know, why it doesn't matter. And like Android eight was obviously a big deal because it introduced the whole new UI and way of working.

[00:36:33] You go to Android nine, like the biggest change was the redesign settings menu. And then Android 10 and Android 11, everything was in the background. There were no user facing changes that were like actually important 

[00:36:47] Kyle Bradshaw: and Andrews changes. Google TV. Yeah. 

[00:36:50] Ben Schoon: But that's that it works on Android 10. That's what the Chrome cast ships with.

[00:36:54] There's just, there's nothing. Nothing in Android TV is actually like tied to the version except for platform specific things. And most of the time, those don't matter for Android TVs. 

[00:37:10] Abner Li: This isn't a diversion, but if you think about it well as an Android TV, in terms of how you can update. Components the lector and the price store to make a big impact and the features and stuff that really was the precursor to mainline.

[00:37:26] If you think about it, it's that doesn't well, S was definitely first to that model and the wearable platform doesn't get enough credit for that. Of course they didn't do anything. That's true. Nothing to see here. Not think Dawn date. Yeah. 

[00:37:48] Ben Schoon: The one thing I will say that Android TV 12 though, which is like the actual important thing is okay.

[00:37:53] It got it's preview the same day as phones and that's never happened before. So it's a really good sign that Google is finally going to actually take updates, not necessarily major platform updates, but just updates in general, more seriously on Android DV. And another good sign of that is that the for the preview builds for the ADT three are.

[00:38:16] They include this month security patch, which again, never happened before last. I think the Android 11 public build for ADT three that came out last year. It came out in September and I'm pretty sure it had like a July watch on it. They've never been and up to date. Like I think even the Chromecast I think is like a month out of date right now.

[00:38:40] Two months. It's yeah. It's. I think it's just, it's a good sign that they're finally gonna take this stuff seriously. Which is great. 

[00:38:48] Abner Li: Yeah. So yeah, that's Android TV. I'm sure. Over the coming months or have we'll learn more, what the focus of Android 12 for Android TV is, but to wrap up today is so we all have outgo 12 installed.

[00:39:06]It's surprisingly stable speaking from all my experiences. Well, Ben, you definitely 

[00:39:13] Ben Schoon: the biggest issue I had as well. Yeah. So we've, we have an article that kind of goes over everything that we've noticed so far, it is pretty stable. The biggest thing I had issues with was biometrics my fingerprint sensors, not reliable.

[00:39:27]Two part, I think part of that is due to some of the stuff we enabled, but Damien was having the same issues where. The fingerprint sensor, just wasn't listening when you tried to use it on the lock screen. And I've seen reports of like apps crashing and stuff, but it's, you know, for a first preview it's pretty stable.

[00:39:42]But I think it was the same. It was the same thing last year. And the second one broke everything. 

[00:39:47] Abner Li: So. And to qualify that Damian you then, and I we're on pixel fois and pixel fives on the pixel three XL, Kyle. 

[00:39:58] Ben Schoon: It's, it's interesting. It doesn't 

[00:40:01] Kyle Bradshaw: inconsistent. I would say the stable, stable, but just, it just doesn't feel the pixel three Axl with its with its center notch just doesn't or the pixel, the pixel three XL just doesn't.

[00:40:14] The center notch just doesn't feel right here like it did before. I don't know, like a, the power menu is behind the notch. There's there's just little, little details. It just tells you or feels to me like this phone wasn't really considered. Is for stability though. It's been fine. It hasn't really crashed.

[00:40:35] It's been okay. 

[00:40:37] Abner Li: Yeah. And of course, a major takeaway is if you use Google pay, do not install this because Google pay or not work and you won't be having a good time, but yeah, Android 12. The madness has begun. We're in it for a few months, definitely into the summer. Yeah. Thank you everyone for joining us about on this episode of alphabet scoop, we record every Thursdays.

[00:41:09] And publish Friday mornings. You can find us on all your favorite podcasting platforms, such as Google podcasts, pocket, CAS, iTunes, Apple podcasts, and you can even Western on our site@ninefivegoogle.com. If you wish, thank you for tuning in and thank you to Kyle and Ben for joining me. Hopefully we'll see you all next week.

[00:41:31] Bye.

Transcribed using Descript

This week 9to5Google's Abner Li and Kyle Bradshaw discuss the leaked Android 12 mockups, what new features are possibly coming, App Pairs, return of "Columbus", and more.

Alphabet Scoop is available on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Castro, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and through our dedicated RSS feed.

New episodes of Alphabet Scoop are recorded every Thursday afternoon at 4-5 PM ET and published on Friday mornings. Subscribe to our podcast in Google Play or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they're available.

Hosts

• Abner Li
• Ben Schoon
• Kyle Bradshaw

Links

• Android 12 design mockup leak reveals radical visual overhaul, first features [Gallery]
• Android 12 working on in-depth theming system that can even recolor apps
• Android 12 set to revamp split screen with ‘App Pairs’
• Android 12 should mark return of ‘Columbus’ double tap gesture for Pixels
• Google updates Android Beta Feedback app ahead of Android 12 Developer Preview

Feedback?

Drop us a line at gtips@9to5g.com. You can also rate us in Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or recommend us in Pocket Casts to help more people discover the show.

Transcription

Kyle [00:00:02] Hello everybody, and welcome to Alphabet Scoop Episode one hundred and twelve the 12th, they're being surprisingly appropriate as you'll learn more in a minute. And I'm joined here with Avner this week. Then Ben will not be joining us as he is a bit under the weather, but feeling better? I haven't watched you jump on into what we can't count on with Android 12.

Leaked Android 12 mockups

Abner [00:00:27] So, yes, on Tuesday, we had a rather unprecedented week of what looks to be Android 12. So before the start of any developer preview, Google shares, of course, they share this stuff with their partners. And apparently one of the documents that highlights the high level changes in Android 12 was Thelo a screenshot and made public. And this gave us what by all by all accounts, is what Android is going to look like. So starting on this, the. Bold screenshot of a new home screen that for the most part, it looks like the pixel launcher on Android, you happened today, but there it is a stark difference in that it is themed. The wallpaper is theming the rest of the system. And one of the reasons we think this week is very much authentic is because just last month we had a our own reporting about such a feature, which Kyle is going to dove into. 

Kyle [00:01:56] Right. 

Android 12 in-depth theming system

Kyle [00:01:56] So we found that Android 12 is going to expand the work that's got started with Android 10, where Android introduced the idea of light theme and dark theme. Android 12 seems to be adding this much deeper, far more colorful theming system where you can choose one of a few preset colors. So don't go thinking you can choose one of a million different colors. It's you got presets, but if you can choose one of a few preset colors or have it be chosen for you based on your wallpaper, and the majority of Android is going to recolor itself to that theme, to the point that even even third party apps, if they so choose, can use that theme. Which is really bold and interesting and it. 

Kyle [00:02:58] It's the. 

Kyle [00:03:00] The cornerstone, really, of all of these screenshots is these leaked mockups is this this color system, it's unavoidable even in the camera app. 

Abner [00:03:11] So one of the examples of that extending into third party applications is in this mock up. Anyway, we see the dock with full apps, the phone app, the clock app and the camera, everything but the Web browser. It matches the wallpaper. And that the background is is the same color that matches these mountains and hills that's in the wallpaper. And everything is just themed around that in a way that you wouldn't associate with Google's usual app icon design. So it's it's it really personalized your phone ad in the way that is really, really in the past a quiet a you install a third party launcher and then get act and then downvote icon packs. But Google is giving its own clock, its own interpretation at. Pretty intensive customization from a rather minimal for a rather minimal amount of work, which in this case appears to just be choosing the wallpaper. I wonder if Google is going to let people how how much theming, what is they basically going to be a giant switch that lets you turn off this theming and use the experience, the like the default theme on and what you have. And I wonder. 

Kyle [00:04:53] Or if that default theme is just going to be white or black, as it were, or essentially the light or the dark is the default. More after these themes are even going to have their own, like, is there a dark sand variant? 

Abner [00:05:11] Yeah, that it really does conflict with the idea. Well, if Google puts in the work, I'm sure they could do a light and dark theme. I think that would be necessary because as much customization as there is in there appears to be, I think some people always want to adopt them. So that might be a prerequisite to all of these themes. So, yeah, these these this screenshot, I think it's somewhat notable that we also there's a I we see a black dot and all these screen shots in the middle of the screen suggests suggesting where the front facing camera is at the top. So I don't know if that's the direction that the pixel phones taking to see it because there is always some close alignment. I wouldn't read too much into it, but maybe it's a hint at where Hadaway is going, but just a thought. So yeah, this design, would you use it. Would you go all out and customize? 

Kyle [00:06:24] And pick the perfect wallpaper to get the perfect theme, if they if if there's a nice dark blue or something along those lines. Yeah, I would probably would probably do it. Something that's not just black. Yeah. Yeah. I think it would look pretty good. Now to sand. Send Miss me with that. What color would you pick. 

Abner [00:06:48] Oh I'll just stick with the thought that you of the usual doc dark palette and black accent color which was why I was asking. Oh yeah. It's, it's familiar but I don't know maybe I'll try a crack at it. It's, I don't know. It all depends on. 

Abner [00:07:06] I guess the preset wallpapers are going to be really important if this works out, because presumably they'll be perfectly themed to what to do the default color packs you were mentioning at the top. But, yeah, it's I think people are going to love this, that there's no doubt that people would enjoy this deeper level of customization, how it works, how it conflicts with third party OEMs, particularly Samsung. 

Abner [00:07:41] That's the question that deserves. That's going to be interesting to see what latitude Google gives the OEM partners. 

Kyle [00:07:51] I mean, it could just be a matter of, OK, they ship a light and they ship a dark and those probably come by default in Android and it just ships and it just works with light and dark and nothing else happens. It seems like a very optional feature, but as long as there is a light and a dark, then the third party apps don't break because they're still matching something. 

Notification shade gets design changes

Abner [00:08:17] So, yeah, so that's the homescreen we get a look at. The second thing is the notification shape. As you swipe down the screen, we see Google blowing the background so that you can't really see the home screen what you can today. 

Abner [00:08:38] But what's more, viatical. 

Abner [00:08:42] Yeah, or a stark departure from and what you have is discovered this, Kyle. It's it's everything is a very curvy. 

Kyle [00:08:52] It's Samsung like almost. It's passed with just rounded corners. It's it's very circular. I, I'm surprised to see it the way that it is it. It's nice, it kind of reminds me of a Google assistant snapshot, but even that isn't that curved. It's still that's modest by comparison to the curves that are on this these Android 12 mockups. 

Abner [00:09:22] So I can. The curves are talking about the for the notifications, and I can live with those maybe over time, but what I'm really is raising my eyebrows is what's happening with the quick something toggles today. You have the option of choosing six tiny circles, whatever you want as quick things. 

Abner [00:09:47] But what if the screenshot turns out to be the final version of a 12? This design mockup, we only have four. 

Abner [00:10:00] For Kos and. 

Abner [00:10:03] That useability is it looks nice, I dare say the simplicity looks much cleaner, less intimidating and all that compared to the car design, but that's those two shortcuts are going to be key for me. Even losing two is ouf. 

Kyle [00:10:25] I see I'm I could I can take it or leave it as far as the the number of them, but what's so interesting to me is the way that they're showing whether something is on or off. Like what what we see here is that something that's on which in the screenshot is Wi-Fi is a circle which is then shaded in it has a light symbol in there, but something that's disabled like airplane mode just next to it is in a rounded square. With a with a lighter tone, it it's interesting to me the not just using color, but also using shape to to indicate whether something is enabled or disabled. I'm part of me wonders if that's an accessibility thing. So that know, a particular theme doesn't necessarily. Obscure to to a particular person, whether or not something is on or off, but that's that's my only guess. 

Abner [00:11:27] If from a design perspective, I don't get why something being on is a circle or why something off is a rounded square. I just get that. But maybe they'll change down the road. 

New conversation widgets

Abner [00:11:46] But yeah, moving on from the design is back on the home screen. We see some widgets, we see some conversation widgets, as they're called, that show messages, missed calls or activity statuses. In this case, we see A, B, C, one for a missed call from friends. We see that at some of these birthday, we see the last message. 

Abner [00:12:17] A person said, and we see this box, this Sujit telling you the last time you chatted with somebody was two weeks ago. In this case, it's that all again, these are really all mock ups because they're all using Facebook Messenger for the reason that you call it would be unexpected if Google prominently advertises those that app Facebook. But we see just the basic idea is that you will be able to put recent interactions with people, as I just remind those, as widgets. And this is a quick extension of that. And what you have in tentpole, where Google wants to make a more people centric OS with Android 11. And the way it's manifest today is as chat heads and as a dedicated conversation section and notifications shade. But this time Google wants to put it on the home screen in a unavoidable way that you'll see your last interaction with people. And I think this is a really drastic elevation of people. I don't know if I would necessarily use this. Just working from the conceptual screenshots. 

Kyle [00:13:41] Yeah, I'm not sure either, because I'm wondering what the what the priority is on on this particular widget or what the customization or what, because it's like if it was just individual friends, that doesn't quite line up because you have somebody's birthday and that same person, you have a message from them from like an hour ago. 

Kyle [00:14:06] So that doesn't line up and. 

Kyle [00:14:11] The Rachel at the top left, the first one shows two weeks ago, yeah, it's not the syndicate that's wild, but it's not something that you've done recently. 

Kyle [00:14:23] It's not a conversation you're going to jump back into. It's something that happened two weeks ago. So I'm not I I'm wondering if they're going to try and use some smarts, like if they're going to use A.I. to try and I don't know. I don't want to speculate too far on that because that gets creepy. But I don't know how this works. 

Kyle [00:14:42] I don't have enough to it seems useful, but it also seems like it could be very useless. 

Abner [00:14:50] Yeah. So this is, again, this this, more than anything, reveals the conceptual ness of what Google is of this mock up as well. So again, they're all using these screenshots of these widgets are being populated theoretically by Facebook Messenger. And Google simply does not have a buy in from Facebook. They don't have a guaranteed buy in to know that Facebook or support that. They must have had intensive negotiations. That's for one thing, for the to the point you are raising about. 

Abner [00:15:28] Google. 

Abner [00:15:30] The point you were amazing about how the how it's oinking, everything. Yeah, it it requires a level of integration between the operating system, knowing who your friends are. So you would tell you have to have a way telephone who is important and then that would have to be synched up with a third party messaging service. It's very complicated. 

Abner [00:15:59] Once if you try to logic it out in the distant final state, the intent is clear. It's getting you to talk with people again, people making a people centric OS. 

Abner [00:16:16] But the application would require all the buy in from third party developers because Google doesn't have their own messaging service while they have all six and the Google phone app. I guess that's something, but I think most people's conversations are happening somewhere else. And third party apps. And if this like right off the bat, I think if this only worked with SMS socks and last phone calls, I don't think most people will use it. 

Kyle [00:16:47] No, absolutely not. There's there would be no reason to. But one thing that comes to mind, how did that this style of integration work on Windows Phone? Because I know that was one of the only good features of Windows Phone. And from what I remember of it, but I don't know how all the connections work the tiles. 

Abner [00:17:09] Yes. So if memory serves Windows Phone, that pretty good integration with Facebook, that it was it was something between being able to sign to Facebook and having your contacts, your contact apps to be populated by a Facebook contacts and some merging going on. If again, if memory serves, that's how they were able to do that. But I know this requires this because Android 12, knowing who your contacts are, and I think given the way we all use multiple apps, I think that requires a deeper synergy that I don't know if Google is able to close to partner on that or Facebook without the pretty high privacy implications or if not that of giving Facebook even more data into Google users, which I don't think Google would necessarily want. 

Kyle [00:18:09] Right, and you can see that they would the goal of this at least, or the the ambition when they were making the mark up is for not only Google messages, which but and Facebook Messenger, but there's also WhatsApp, which I get that that's still Facebook. But the it shows the ambition of it, at least, that it's not just that they want multiple third party app by INS. 

Abner [00:18:36] Mm hmm. They absolutely have to. 

Abner [00:18:39] Yeah. These people widgets. 

Abner [00:18:42] And I see maybe you you put one for your spouse or significant other, but and maybe like your family or one or two friends. But any, any more I think it gets. 

Abner [00:18:55] The accuracy suffers, the overload becomes a bit too much. 

Kyle [00:19:02] OK, but you're that's on the assumption that you get to place people individually. 

Kyle [00:19:12] Well, I'm not sure that that's the case, so this could be like a version of the discover feed, you know, or a concept along those lines, but social oriented or here's a recommendation. We recommend that you chat with Rachel because the last time you chatted with her was two weeks ago. We recommend that you message back. Monica, who messaged you in an hour ago. 

Abner [00:19:37] Yeah, that OK. 

Abner [00:19:40] Again, these are designed mock ups at the piers, the way that Google wants to implement this is with widgets, which makes sense because it's an interesting and an existing convention that exists in Android because otherwise, as it. 

Abner [00:19:59] I think the idea is that they want to achieve fear of making a people Santiago s would require a whole rethink of how Android interacts and works. And I don't. And I don't think they have the. They have the they don't know yet what this is going to be a successful idea so that using widgets that can be easily removed and added as the paradigm to achieve this. But I think anything deeper, if they want to make that a at like the Windows Tight Windows phone tiles, I think that requires a deeper level redesign of the OS and. 

Abner [00:20:44] I don't I don't think that's it from a design perspective, I don't think there's a the user experience is going to change to you from the screenshots that you've seen now, not that fundamental of a level. 

Kyle [00:20:56] Nothing that we've heard or seen points to that fundamental of a redesign. 

Abner [00:21:01] Yeah, it's the design for most people. Yet the world will go a long way because I think when you were discussing this earlier in the week, you mentioned that that and what you have in today is identical to what Android Newgate, the Android nine say. Hi. Hi. Hi. 

Kyle [00:21:24] There. Syntheses there's a decent enough change between Orio and pie. 

Abner [00:21:28] Oh yes. That makes sense to I can see that as well. So yeah it's. 

Abner [00:21:35] It's. 

Abner [00:21:37] It's I would say, and I think most people who it's due for a visual refresh and I think the theming and the colors will go a long way to do that. But I think it's only a temporary solution in terms of what if you really want to rethink how a phone works, you need to redesign the whole OS. And I don't think we're necessarily there yet with Android 12. 

Kyle [00:22:02] I don't necessarily think that Android is ever going to quite get to that point. I don't think they're going to do such a, again, fundamental change. It seems like something that wouldn't jive with Android as a whole. 

New privacy indicators

Abner [00:22:17] Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, that's the focus on people that we're definitely seeing that. So the other thing that Google looks to be very big on this release is privacy, which makes sense since people say they care very much about the privacy implications of modern technology. And the the biggest way Google is addressing this looks to be by having a camera and microphone indicators. So in the top corner, in the top right corner, that it looks like there's going to be a pill that a green pill that shows whenever your camera microphone is active over time, just shrink to a tiny green dot next to your battery icon in this case. And it looks like if you go to quick settings, you'll be able to tap it or somehow access it to get a full message. It says that camera is using the camera camera app, using the camera, rather chat, use the microphone recently. Again, these are just examples with links to open them in settings. And this is something that people have definitely been asking for since Apple introduced an iOS. 

Kyle [00:23:51] It's absolutely necessary. It's just a continued step that they've taken the android's been working on bringing better permissions and better privacy that way for years now. So this is just a it's just another progression. I it it stings a little to see that it's just copying what I did. But at the same time, I did it right. So there shouldn't be anything wrong in copying it. 

Abner [00:24:17] Indeed. Indeed. So, yeah, that should be a very welcome change to people. The other thing we see is a consolidated privacy menu, which takes us to a settings page, which, if this is correct, would bring would be very reminiscent of Samsung's one UI that and before that, of course, iOS in which settings, pages or apps, frankly, they have gigantic Habas announcing the current page on. In this case it says privacy and we have some toggles to disable camera, mute microphone and location again. And you can just just switch on and off. We only have occasion today, but I think something like the ability to disable the camera access in all apps or disable the microphone and all apps, that's, I think, welcome future for people. 

Kyle [00:25:23] Yeah, definitely. Just just to know have some some comfort to know that, OK, no matter it doesn't matter what app it is, doesn't matter if it's a system app, you just you turn off that microphone switch and nothing on your phone is listening for, for the for the paranoid rightfully or wrongfully that's there for you. There was a point in time where I would have loved to have had that. So that's this is this is comforting in a way. 

Abner [00:25:48] Yeah. So that privacy is again, it's something that people say they increasingly care about. So that looks like to be one thing that Google is continually building on from an 11 to 12 and further. So those are the screenshots. So the design mockups we've we've had this week and. Yeah, it's again, it's just visually. 

Abner [00:26:19] Not most people expecting, I guess, let's put it that way. 

Kyle [00:26:23] Yeah, I mean, especially that that pivot to one guy like you like were pointing in the. In the privacy screenshot where you have the header above, which is blank right now, but maybe there will be one, or maybe there won't for simplicity's sake, but the header to. Space it downward, bring it down for. For those who prefer to use their phone with one hand. 

Abner [00:26:49] Yeah, it's I am. 

Abner [00:26:53] That would be us, and if apps if all apps and code should help that, that's like a big indication of Samsung's one UI. 

Abner [00:27:06] So we'll see how far Google takes in mandating that the costs apps. But for now, that's just to design mockups we've seen. 

Revamped split screen with 'App Pairs'

Abner [00:27:17] So another big focus. This is from Kyle reporting again last month. I think the functionality standpoint app pairs is something that you've discovered is in Development Fund or twelve. 

Kyle [00:27:37] Yeah. So we learned that with Android 12, there's this concept being introduced of app pairs, which is supposed to be something of a. An improvement over the existing splitscreen system in Android today, which, while useful, isn't quite up to par four for the new classes of devices like foldable bowls and even the Microsoft Surface duo where you have multiple. Multiple screens are just a large screen, and you just want to be able to quickly open to apps and then maybe switch over to using one app anyway. So what the concept of app pairs, you can open one app and then choose to open another app with it, or even potentially like we've seen on some implementations on Samsung and Microsoft phones open or tap one shortcut to open two apps at the same time. Side by side. But you these once you've pared to APS, they're treated as one kind of activity in the like in your recent APS view. So you could be using, let's say, Chrome and Slack or Chrome and Google Docs side by side and then switch over to another app. 

Kyle [00:29:08] Let's just say a game usually stopped for a man to play a game and then you swap back and your two apps are still right there, how you had them before. 

Kyle [00:29:16] Whereas today with like Android 11. 

Kyle [00:29:20] You can enter splitscreen mode and it just sort of pins one app to the top and then you're using the bottom half of your screen to or the other side of your screen to just. 

Kyle [00:29:33] To to work through a multitude of apps, it's a it's just a different way of thinking about it, that should be interesting to see how it goes. And it's nice to see Google putting effort toward foldable and dual screen devices. 

Abner [00:29:48] Mm hmm. 

Abner [00:29:49] And how often do you how do you multitask? They would splitscreen. 

Kyle [00:29:57] On my own, on my single phone, Everth, on when those few times that I pull out the the log 60 all the time. 

Abner [00:30:08] All the time. OK, OK. Yeah, it's. I honestly, the pip all people want to multitask is the video when they're watching video and being another app and I think the pip, the picture and picture really. 

Abner [00:30:30] Caused everybody to use multiple splitscreen multitasking and or in the days of old. 

Abner [00:30:37] So I'm glad they're doing another take on that. 

Abner [00:30:41] But I assume that the that this is mostly for dual dual screen devices or foldable like flip phone style form factors rather than single screens. And maybe Samsa Sonis excuse me, will appreciate this, given how their phones are so tall. 

Abner [00:31:07] But I guess in the meantime it's, it's, I don't think single average size phone, so let's say of average height will get too much of this. 

Abner [00:31:20] But as you say, you know, the investment for the bulls is much appreciated as this form factor and the spy technology, which is in tablets as well, thinking on it tablets would probably be able to use it quite well. 

Abner [00:31:34] Yes. Tablets, which people definitely have. 

Kyle [00:31:38] Yes, I one everyone owns and uses on a daily basis in Android tablet. Absolutely. Absolutely right. 

Return of 'Columbus' double tap gesture

Abner [00:31:46] So, yeah, another thing that you reported on was that we were on the ballot was hopefully fingers crossed. Android 12 brings back Columbus', which has Columbus. 

Kyle [00:32:00] Columbus is the double tap gesture, a cheeky reference to Zombieland, where one of the rules is to always give a zombie the double tap, basically with the Android 11 developer preview. We uncovered this feature where you could tap twice on the back of your phone just to give a nice little and you activate the assistant or pull down the notification chain or just little pause your music, little things like that. And it was OK. We were excited about what it could be, but at the time it was just kind of OK. And before they did any real iteration on it and improvement's, it just disappeared. And we just figured that was the end of it, but with Android 12, it seems to or we've we've learned that it's going to be making a comeback. And that's exciting indeed. 

Abner [00:33:03] Yeah, it's. So Apple implemented this before Google had the chance to lie to me and I was 14, I believe all the people want an extra button is what do people want the functionality of an extra button on their phones? 

Abner [00:33:24] I. 

Kyle [00:33:27] I've yes, yes, OK. But maybe only on pixels, maybe on pixels, I came from the pixel three and I loved having the active Edge Squeeze gesture and now that I'm on the Pixel five, I can't squeeze my phone anymore to get the assistant. And while I won't get that nice haptic feedback of the squeeze anymore, it giving a double tap to the back of the phone is way easier than reaching my thumb to the bottom left corner and swiping up. So yeah, I could see myself using Klemet. 

Abner [00:34:04] I ask because like the Samsung phones, they have that Bigsby button. Well which is a math degree, not meant to be useful, but I believe so many phones have an excellent system. But the Nokia phones have that assistant button. I mean, maybe people will appreciate it more if they can launch one app. I'm not sure what that one app most people would select, but I'm sure a faction of people would have something they want quick access to all the time. But yeah, I'm somewhat curious. 

Abner [00:34:39] What's what that looks like. What a. What customization assistant is the biggest bet and to what might be the preset of Google sets to launch assistant? But my my some of the my concern is the accuracy of avoiding and popping to the back of your phone, because if assistant launches all the time, that would get annoying some people. 

Kyle [00:35:09] Yeah. So for sure on that front it will be optional. So it's not like, oh, you installed Android 12, now you have double taps. But they also that was also one of the things that we that we were unhappy with in the Android 11 version was that it was all too easy to accident or to like you just set your phone down and it comes up as a double tap and you're like, no, I didn't want the assistant wear now. Or we've learned that the. That there's going to be an adjustability to it, that you can choose to ignore softer taps and have it only have it only registered with a firm double tap. 

Abner [00:35:54] Hmm, yeah, yeah, so, yeah, that's I think that would be a delightful feature when Android 12 comes, if all goes according to plan. 

Android Beta Feedback app gets update

Abner [00:36:08] When speaking of plans, it's February last year. Google, where we stand with you, Evan, the developer preview this month that fast approaching the halfway point of this month. So I guess the smart money is that it's coming soon. We are doing on that team. He saw that the Android based the feedback app was updated last Friday after a few months of no updates. So that's a pretty good indication that Google is setting getting the roadmap out, getting the planning that needed to launch Android 12. So sooner than later seems like a pretty safe bet. 

Kyle [00:36:57] Could be next week. Could be not. 

Abner [00:36:59] Could be next week. Could be March. Who knows? The timing is always fluid on these things. 

Kyle [00:37:06] Yeah, because last year Nina was so early before covid hit. So there's potential that with things could be delayed a little bit this year by comparison to last year. 

Abner [00:37:20] Yeah. And again, it's still a very long time till the September, October. 

Abner [00:37:27] Well, it's usually August or September. The time frame for Google launches these things, but I don't think anybody would be surprised if covid related things delayed. Something as big as the next version of Android. 

Kyle [00:37:46] Tragic, tragic. 

Abner [00:37:48] Indeed, so thank you, everyone, for joining us this week. We record this podcast every Thursday and publish on Friday mornings. You can find this in all your favorite podcasting platforms such as iTunes and Apple podcast, Google podcasts, and Pocket Casse. You can also listen on our site nine to five Google dot com if you wish. Thank you for tuning in, as always, and thank you for joining me. 

Abner [00:38:17] We'll all see you next week. 

Transcribed using Trint