With a set of updates for Google Pixel devices overnight, including to the Pixel 3a XL I’m running at the moment, there’s new things. And some of those new things you’re going to want no matter which Android device you’re using, and that Apple might take a look at, too.
Bedtime:
Personal safety features
Adaptive Battery:
Recorder and Assistant working together:
Why it matters:
🐛 Oops: Google slipped out an Android 11 beta before it was announced or released, and some people with lucky Pixel phones started installing, too (Android Authority).
🔋 We asked, you told us: Anxiety over smartphone battery life is a real thing (Android Authority).
🧱 Wallpaper crash explained: Here’s how a simple image can soft-brick phones (Android Authority).
📸 Vivo's new X50 Pro and Pro Plus smartphones with gimbal-style camera will drop in the second half of 2020. Expect great hardware, but Vivo really needs to improve its camera processing (Android Authority).
📻 Apps that let people listen to police scanners have skyrocketed to the top of the App Store (Vice).
🍎 Report: iOS 14 will support all iPhones that run iOS 13, back to the iPhone 6S (9to5Mac).
🖤 Facebook employees took the rare step to call out Mark Zuckerberg for inaction: resignations, walkouts, and in response, Zuckerberg reported moved end-of-the-week employee Q and A to today so he can respond (Wired).
🔧 A @ProductHunt twitter thread celebrating black makers (Twitter)
💍 Researchers say Oura rings can predict COVID-19 symptoms three days early (Engadget).
🧬 Meet ACE2, the enzyme at the center of the COVID-19 mystery, with more than 700 studies trying to figure out the link to risk (Wired).
🕵️♀️ Italy's 'Immuni' COVID-19 contact tracing app uses Google, Apple tech (Engadget).
💍 One Zoom to rule them all: Lord of the Rings cast reunites to share memories (Ars Technica).
🚀 America has more new spaceships on the way: Starliner (SpaceX, 1-2 years), Orion (Boeing, 3-4 years), Starship (SpaceX, 4-8 years), Dream Chaser (Sierra Nevada Corporation, 5-10 years) (Ars Technica).
🔥 Also, SpaceX’s Starship explosion explained by Elon Musk (Teslarati).
🚗 Tesla Model 3 drives into overturned truck, in reported Autopilot failure in Taiwan (Jalopnik).
🤔 “Yuo're prboably albe to raed tihs setencne. Deos tihs wrok in non-alhabpet lanugaegs lkie Chneise?” (r/askscience)
In terms of display sizes, here’s how smartphone screens have been growing over the years, compiled by @statistics_data_facts on Instagram, via GSMArena data:
Have a good one,
Tristan Rayner, Senior Editor
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