Deals: here are the Google Pixel 9 series pre-order deals

By far the biggest launch this week was the arrival of the Google Pixel 9 series. The search giant unveiled two new flagships, a new near-flagship phone and a new foldable, all of which are currently on pre-order.

Starting with the Google Pixel 9, this takes over from the Pixel 8 – an FHD+ non-LTPO display and no telephoto camera keep it from earning a “pro” moniker. However, this phone does feature the powerful new Tensor G4 chipset and a 48MP ultra wide camera. Both the wide and ultra wide cameras are the same as on the 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL.

Google has trade-in deals. Note that from...


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WhatsApp testing Like reactions for Status updates on Android, unknown account message blocking in the works

WhatsApp has been working on a quick reaction feature for Status updates for the past few months, and it seems the feature's public rollout is closer since the Meta-owned platform has started testing it on Android with beta version 2.24.17.21 of the app.

Users will see a heart-shaped "Like" button next to the "Reply" text box when viewing a Status, allowing them to Like that Status update. And when someone reacts to your Status with a Like, you will see that in the Status viewers' list, similar to Instagram Stories. WhatsApp will also let users decide whether or not to get notifications...


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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold doesn't get these camera features that cheaper Pixel 9 Pro models do

Google unveiled four new Pixel 9 smartphones earlier this week - Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The non-folding Pro models come with an improved version of Video Boost introduced with the Pixel 8 series last year, and if you thought the Pixel 9 Pro Fold - which is the most expensive in the lineup - had it too, then you are in for a disappointment because it doesn't get all the Video Boost goodies.

The non-folding Pixel 9 Pros come with Video Boost having AI-powered 8K upscaling for 4K videos and Super Res Zoom Video for 20x lossless video recording. While the...


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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra might be called S26 Note, S26+ could be S26 Pro

People on the internet don't seem to like Google's new smartphone naming scheme, even though it makes sense - there's a vanilla Pixel 9 which is the lowest-specced, two slab Pros in two sizes, and a Pro Fold because with that price tag not attaching the "Pro" moniker to it would be insane.

Anyway, the same people are probably going to not like the direction Samsung is now rumored to be considering going in the future. According to a tipster over on X, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may not be called that. Instead, Samsung could go with Galaxy S26 Note, to emphasize its built-in S Pen.

Samsung...


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Google Pixel 9 in for review

This is the Pixel 9 - the most affordable ticket to Google's latest AI goodies. It's also a very competent yet reasonably compact Android phone, which is not too common these days.

This year's Pixels ship in a recycled paper box with a sleeve. There's a USB-C cable in the box and that's that.

We also have the €40 official Pixel 9 case, which is available in six colors. It fits perfectly snug on the phone, especially around the camera bar. Upfront it isn't too intrusive. It's a soft silicone but it doesn't turn out your pocket when you take the phone off like some cheap ones...


http://dlvr.it/TC1LGj

Epic Games Store launches on mobile

Just over four years ago, Fortnite was removed from the App Store and Google Play for trying to bypass Apple and Google’s payment systems for in-game purchases of its in-game currency V-Bucks. The game studio embarked on a long legal journey against Apple and Google which led us to today’s official launch of the Epic Games Store for iOS and Android.

Fortnite is officially back on mobile for Android users worldwide and iOS users in the EU. It is also joined by Rocket League Sideswipe and Fall Guys with the latter making its official debut on mobile. You’ll need an iPhone running iOS...


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Samsung Galaxy A06 launches with Helio G85 SoC, 5,000 mAh battery

Samsung has today made the Galaxy A06 official in Vietnam. Undoubtedly, the phone will arrive in more markets in the coming days and weeks.

The Galaxy A06 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, paired with either 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage or 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. In both cases you get a microSD card slot too.

The phone has a 50 MP main rear camera and a 6.7-inch HD+ touchscreen with a 90 Hz refresh rate. The battery capacity is 5,000 mAh, and it supports 25W fast wired charging.

Samsung has emphasized the phone's flat back with vertical stripes. This combo...


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Poco Pad 5G's launch date confirmed

The Poco Pad launched in May doesn't have cellular connectivity, but Poco today announced it will unveil the 5G version in India on August 23 at noon local time.

Shoot, Dribble, Scribble, Goal! The #POCOPad5G is your official entertainment partner. #EntertainAllDamnDay Launching on 23rd August, 12:00 PM on #FlipkartKnow More👉
https://t.co/X2uVYHG1lc#POCOIndia #POCO #MadeOfMad pic.twitter.com/Bv4l33teG4— POCO India (@IndiaPOCO) August 16, 2024

The image shared by Poco on X confirmed that the Poco Pad 5G will have stylus and keyboard support, which will likely be sold separately....


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AI Overviews in Google Search now available in six new countries

Google launched AI Overviews in Search in the US back in May, and the results haven't been amazing - the feature notoriously recommended eating rocks and putting glue on pizza. Google still hasn't explained why it thought it a good idea to replace the old, non-AI-branded overviews for search queries with this new, AI-branded but inferior feature, but it doesn't take a genius to figure it out: everything has to be AI these days, regardless of actual usability.

So, with that in mind, today Google has announced the triumphant expansion of AI Overviews to six more countries, following the...


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Beats Studio Pro get three limited edition colors thanks to Kim Kardashian

Beats is launching a limited edition run of three new colors for the Beats Studio Pro headphones. These are developed in collaboration with Kim Kardashian. The three hues are "inspired by Kardashian's signature palette", and are called Moon, Dune, and Earth.

These "rich hues" coupled with the Beats Studio Pro design "create an elevated listening experience with style in mind", Beats says.

They are available for $349 today in the US at Apple, Amazon, and select Apple Stores in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Thailand. You can also get them...


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Google Pixel 9 Pro XL in for review

This is the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, the successor to the Google Pixel 8 Pro, which was the largest member of the 8 series. There's also a smaller Pro this year, but that's coming to the market in September. So let's unbox this one.

This year's Pixels ship in a recycled paper box with a sleeve. There's a USB-C cable in the box and that's that.

We also have the €40 official Pixel 9 case, which is available in six colors. It fits perfectly snug on the phone, especially around the camera bar. Upfront it isn't too intrusive. It's a soft silicone but it doesn't turn out your pocket when...


http://dlvr.it/TBybfy

Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL phones sold in India, Malaysia and Singapore lack LTPO displays, Wi-Fi 7

The Google Pixel 9 Pro has several key upgrades over the old Pixel 8 that earn it its “pro” moniker and also justify the price premium over the Pixel 9. Among them is an upgraded LTPO display panel – or it should have been, anyway. It turns out that you have to read the fine print.

The Pixel 9 Pro and even the Pixel 9 Pro XL may not have LTPO displays in India, Malaysia and Singapore. In those regions they have Actua Displays instead of the Super Actua Displays that are used on units sold in the rest of the world. Note that Actua and Super Actua tech is about display brightness rather than...


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Google has partnered with Garmin and Skylo for the emergency SOS feature on the Pixel 9 series

Satellite SOS is becoming a more and more common feature on new smartphones and it threatens to render devices like Garmin’s inReach messengers obsolete. But Garmin can coexist with the new phones – Google has partnered the Garmin Response emergency response coordination services for the satellite SOS feature of the new Pixel 9 series.

Currently, this service is only available in the US and only for users of the new Pixel 9 series: the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold. Older models are not supported.

Garmin Response handles over 17,000 SOS activations a year in more than 150...


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Apple opens up iPhone NFC in iOS 18.1 even to developers outside the EU

Apple has recently been forced by the European Commission to open up the iPhones' NFC functionality to third parties, paving the way for mobile payments that don't involve Apple's own wallet.

Now, the company has uncharacteristically taken things one step forward, by announcing that it will open up NFC for third party developers located outside of the EU. This will happen "in an upcoming developer seed for iOS 18.1".

There are, however, as is almost always the case with Apple, caveats. First, only developers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, and the US will...


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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold shows Samsung is losing the foldable development race

Google wrapped up its Pixel 9 series event and arguably the most impressive member of that is the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold - didn't expect that, did you?

This is only Google's second attempt at a Pixel foldable, but it's already overtaking Samsung's seasoned Fold, which is now in its sixth generation, in a number of key characteristics.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold vs the Galaxy Z Fold6

In fact we can make a strong case that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has overall superior hardware than the Galaxy Z Fold6, showing that the Korean company is perhaps getting a bit complacent due to the...


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