AC Weekly News
News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week’s top stories so you can stay up to date with the latest tech news.
This is Android Central’s weekly news roundup, your go-to source for a concise summary of the week’s most important tech news. This is where we delve into the top headlines that showcase the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.
In this week’s edition, a slew of devices leak ahead of Samsung’s Summer Unpacked, the Pixel 9 leaks in a new color, Netflix loses its ad-free offering, Pixel devices get the July patch, and why Google wants to use music to train its AI models.
It’s raining leaks for Samsung
Learn more here And here
Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6:
A series of marketing images leaked on Thursday (July 4), giving us a glimpse of the Galaxy Z Fold 6. They suggest that the device is lighter (239 grams) and will have sharper corners, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The company could use an “enhanced aluminum frame” and will have a larger 6.3-inch cover display and the same 7.6-inch foldable display. For the first time, the phone is said to feature IP48 dust and water resistance. The leak shows that the device will have a triple rear camera setup. Its main lens will be 50MP, the ultra-wide-angle camera will be 12MP, and the telephoto camera will be 10MP with optical zoom. The cover display will reportedly have a 10MP selfie camera, and the foldable display will have a 4MP under-display camera.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 marketing images have also been leaked online in a blue colorway alongside its important specifications. In terms of design, it looks very similar to its predecessor. According to recently leaked images, the phone’s design features a 3.4-inch cover display and a 6.7-inch foldable display. It could be powered by a larger capacity 4,000mAh battery.
We expect the phone to feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 camera, a 50MP primary lens, a 12MP secondary camera, and a 10MP selfie lens. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 is also rumored to have an IP48 rating, and for the first time, a vapor chamber is expected to debut on this clamshell model.
Galaxy Buds Pro 3:
If you thought it was just the foldable earbuds, another Reddit user who claimed to have purchased the new Buds 3 Pro posted images of them on the platform. They sport the new stem design and feature a gunmetal gray finish and a charging case with a similar finish and a translucent design on top. They also sport blue and orange indicators for the left and right earbuds. As for performance, the Reddit user who purchased the Buds 3 Pro, “The noise cancellation is comparable to my 1st gen AirPods Pro. The sound is great, but a little more high on the bass, but I personally love the base. My Z Flip4 and iPhone pick them up too. It’s crazy how much I was able to buy these.”
Galaxy Buds3 Pro from r/galaxybuds
A pink Pixel 9? For or against?
The Pixel 9 is already out in Algeria. Storage: 256 GB Color: Pink I will keep you updated tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/0mE1QlCbEgJuly 1, 2024
Read more here.
Earlier this week, a new colorway of the alleged Pixel 9 series surfaced online. Hani Mohamed Bioud took to X to claim that Google has already launched the device in the Algerian market, sharing an image of the phone in a pink phone.
Posting several photos and videos, Bioud revealed that the device has 256GB of onboard storage and resembles several renders we have come across previously. It appears that the device features rounded corners but an overall square design. The new camera visor has dual cameras in place with a matte finish, while the rest of the back has a glossy finish. The user only showed the design of the phone without turning on the display.
Several people in the comments section had mixed reactions about the color, while most of them asked about the other colorways spotted by the user and whether the Pixel has an optical or ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Bioud said he would release additional details about the device in the coming days.
Netflix removes its cheapest ad-free plan for some users
Learn more here.
Netflix appears to be ditching its cheapest ad-free plan and pushing users to pay more than usual to access the ad-free platform. According to multiple posts on Reddit, Netflix’s $11.99 ad-free plan will be discontinued for customers on July 13. They must choose between a $6.99 plan that shows ads, a $15.49 ad-free plan, or the $22.99 ad-free 4K plan.
The user’s streaming is interrupted by a page stating that their “basic plan has been discontinued” and that “you can change your plan at any time.” Based on complaints on Reddit, it appears that the streaming giant may first be testing the updated offerings in the UK or Canada before expanding to other regions (including the US).
The move isn’t unexpected, though. Earlier this year, during its fourth-quarter earnings call, Netflix publicly announced that it had begun to incentivize customers to upgrade to more expensive or ad-supported plans. “Expanding our advertising business represents an opportunity to tap into significant new revenue and profit streams over the medium to long term,” Netflix said in a statement.
July brings new updates for Pixel devices
Learn more here And here.
Google announced on Monday (July 1) that a new update is rolling out to the Pixel Watch starting now and is expected to reach the models sometime next week. According to Google’s blog post, the update doesn’t bring any new features but strengthens the July security patch that helps keep your Pixel Watch secure. The update is available for the Pixel Watch 1 and Pixel Watch 2, and it comes with the software version TWD9.240705.001.A1.
Just a day after rolling out the above for its watches, Google has released its monthly software update for Pixel phones running Android 14. The company notes in the blog post that Pixel phones ranging from the Pixel 5a (5G) to the Pixel 8a, as well as the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, will receive bug fixes and carrier improvements. Additionally, some devices may see general improvements to camera stability “under certain conditions.” The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are said to be getting system stability and performance improvements as well as an interface bug fix that addresses the issue where back gesture navigation wasn’t working in certain scenarios.
Google wants to use music to train its AI models
Learn more here.
The tech giant is waving its Gemini magic wand over all of its products and is now looking to get record labels to pay for access to music for “other experiences” using AI. To make this work, YouTube wants to partner with record labels to help move things forward.
YouTube is offering a Dream Track feature based on the work of nine artists. However, the Financial Times reports that YouTube is in talks with other record labels, such as Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Records, about a possible deal that would involve YouTube paying “lump sums in cash” for the right to use the labels’ songs for AI music training. YouTube told the Financial Times in a statement that it is “in discussions with record labels about other experiments.”
And here’s why that’s a bad idea. According to our reporter Brady Snyder, record labels should back off because “you can’t put a price on creativity.”
Synder adds: “Music creation tools can do some tricks and are a great way for people who aren’t musically inclined to get started with songwriting. However, today’s tools aren’t the ones that professional musicians need.”
“Most of the ones available today either rely on the image of popular singers or create something that is nothing compared to what could be done by a human.”
Here are some of the biggest stories this week. In the meantime, here are some more stories worth reading: