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Welcome to episode 102 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google . This week, Abner, Damien, and Will catch up on some of their opinions and impressions surrounding Google I/O, before pivoting to discuss Will's review of the Fitbit Air. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited : Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company's suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link . Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Cast...
Welcome to episode 101 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google . This week, Abner and Damien are joined by Seang Chau and Dieter Bohn of Google to discuss the biggest announcements of I/O 2026. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited : Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company's suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link . Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Amazon Music Apple Podcasts Ove...
Welcome to episode 100 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google . This week, Abner, Damien, and Will celebrate the milestone by diving into Google's latest Android Show announcements, including Android Intelligence, user-generated widgets, and, of course, Googlebook. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited : Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual subscription to the company's suite of privacy-friendly services by signing up using our link . Thanks to Proton Unlimited for sponsoring the podcast. Subscr...
Welcome to episode 99 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will tackle the latest rumors surrounding Google's Pixel 11, which could arrive later this summer with new camera sensors, whatever Pixel Glow is, and a whole lot of downgrades. Then they turn to the long-awaited Fitbit Air and try to predict how the fitness tracker audience will react to a significantly cheaper Whoop competitor. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited : Pixelated listeners can save 30% on an annual...
Welcome to episode 98 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will dig into all sorts of recent exclusive reporting. From Google's upcoming app icon redesigns for Workspace — and, if Pixel is any indication, far beyond — to the upcoming Fitbit Air fitness band and its Google-ified partner app, there's plenty to talk about. Plus, we look at Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Glasses and wonder just whether they're the right pair for us. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited : Pixelate...
Welcome to episode 97 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien and Will are joined by Andrew Romero to talk through a couple of Pixel hardware leaks coming out of Android 17 Beta 4. First, they discuss the growing possibility of a Pixel Laptop, and wonder what Google needs to do to succeed in an ever-competitive space. Then they turn to "Pixel Glow," a mysterious new notification light system seemingly on the way for Pixel 11. Sponsored by Proton Unlimited : Pixelated listeners c...
Welcome to episode 96 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will talk through Google's new native Gemini app for Mac and wonder why now, and why we don't see more standalone applications from the company. They also dive into new reports surrounding Google's portion of the foldable market — and the risk Apple holds against it — before finishing up with YouTube's new workaround for disabling Shorts. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Apple Podcasts Overc...
Welcome to episode 95 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will take a deep dive into the world of Gemini, breaking down Google's frequent UI changes, the different ways all three hosts use the service, and how it needs to evolve moving forward. Damien also walks Abner and Will through his experience using Gemini with Android Auto, and how it's more of a mixed bag than you might think. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Apple Podcasts Overcast Sponsor...
Welcome to episode 94 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will talk all about this week's Pixel 11 leaks, granting everyone an early look at what appears to be a strikingly familiar smartphone launch on deck for later this year. After a brief dip into some Android 17 Beta 3 thoughts, the crew discusses Google's upcoming display-less Fitbit band, clearly designed to take Whoop head-on with the help of Steph Curry. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Ap...
Welcome to episode 93 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will discuss Google's new "advanced flow" for enabling sideloading on Android, set to launch on all Play-supported devices later this year. It's a change built with security and safety in mind, and your hosts are pretty impressed with how the company has designed this shift. Then they dig into the potential news that OnePlus could be preparing to exit the global market, leaving an enthusiast-shaped hole in...
Welcome to episode 92 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien and Will break down all of the changes coming to Google Maps, including a fresh 3D look and a Gemini-powered Ask Maps tool. They also break down recent reports that Motorola dominates 50% of the North American foldables market, asking what the brand can do to stay on top, before wrapping up with some kernel changes coming to Android that should make your current phone just a little more efficient. Subscribe YouTube Po...
Welcome to episode 91 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, with Abner and Damien out at MWC, Will invites Andrew Romero to join him on a whirlwind tour of two new OS upgrades from Google: Android 16 QPR3, and Android 17 Beta 2. The two discuss AI-generated wallpapers, that new Now Playing app, and Android's new bubbles — not to be confused with its own bubbles — while Andrew introduces his SPI: Sandwich Price Index. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Apple Podcasts Over...
Welcome to episode 90 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will talk through the launch of the Galaxy S26 series, all of its various Pixel-inspired AI tools, and ask whether it's too boring of an upgrade for Samsung. They also discuss Google's newly-announced agentic features for Android, with support for ordering groceries, deliveries, and more, ahead of next month's release. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Apple Podcasts Overcast Sponsored by Pro...
Welcome to episode 89 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Will, and Ben talk all about the Pixel 10a, a device where the 'a' seems to stand for 'again.' Without much in the way of new features, the trio dive into all of the nuances that make the Pixel 10a stand out from its predecessor, before asking the obvious: is it time for smartphone makers to take longer generational breaks? Plus: We know when Google I/O is happening, and we talk all through how we'll be controlling ou...
Welcome to episode 88 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Ben Schoon joins Damien and Will to talk through the announcement — and subsequent un announcement — of Android 17. The group talks through how and why this launch fell apart before discussing exactly what expectations we all should have for Android updates in 2026. Then they turn to Samsung, which just confirmed an Unpacked announcement for late February for a series of phones that has us scratching our heads when it comes ...
Welcome to episode 87 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Damien, Abner, and Will talk through Google's surprise Pixel 10a announcement, what we might expect from that phone, and whether it's worth picking up a Pixel 9a in its place. Their attention briefly turns to Google's February patch for Android — a patch without any much in the way of actual fixes, it seems — before finally debated Google's oddly-sad Gemini ad ahead of this weekend's Super Bowl. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Po...
Welcome to episode 86 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will dig into an early Android 17 build that includes one big visual change: blurred backdrops. Is this a sign of things to come for Google's vision of its OS, or a more minor system-level tweak? The crew also checks out a leaked look at Android's new — albeit really familiar — desktop mode, Google's more affordable AI Plus plan for Gemini, and Chrome's agentic AI tools. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket C...
Welcome to episode 85 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will talk through the end of Asus as a smartphone brand, as the company takes an indefinite hiatus from Android to focus on AI. After trying to figure out what's next after the smartphone, we're diving into some thoughts on the Clicks Communicator, Google's Digital Wellbeing tools, and the whole thinking behind minimalist devices. Plus, we send Stadia off with one final goodbye. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts ...
Welcome to episode 84 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will talk through Google's big changes to Gmail, including a new AI Inbox and improved search. They also turn their attention to Gemini's Personal Intelligence feature that aims to make it the best virtual assistant we've seen yet, but not before digging into the latest Pixel 10a leaks that have us scratching our collective heads at just how familiar this phone feels. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Cast...
Welcome to episode 83 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will welcome their fellow 9to5 staff members Andrew Romero, Ben Schoon, and Jordan Floyd to the show to assemble a full tier list for 2025's Android-adjacent launches. From phones and wearables to software upgrades and Gemini's improvements, we manage to rank more than 20 launches from throughout the year from the best to the rest. Check out the complete tier list at the bottom of these show notes (spoiler...
Welcome to episode 82 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will break down their reactions to Google's surprise release of Gemini 3 Flash. After talking through their preferred models and Gemini launchers, the crew discusses Android 16 QPR3's arrival and the long-awaited option to remove the At a Glance widget on Pixel. Finally, all three offer their visions for where Google is headed in 2026. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Apple Podcasts Overcast...
Welcome to episode 81 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner shares his experience with trying out some early samples of glasses running on Google's Android XR platform with Will and Damien. After a surprisingly impressive demo, is it time to start getting excited for the return of Google Glass-esque technology? The trio also dips into some new changes coming to Wear OS and take a quick look at the first One UI 8.5 beta, if only to ask: what's up with the iOS-ification of Androi...
Welcome to episode 80 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will talk through all of the new changes in Android 16 QPR2 and beyond. After digging through everything Google's been working on these past few months, their attention turns to the newly-confirmed Galaxy Z TriFold. Can they make sense of what's bound to be yet another ultra-premium device from Samsung, or does this feel like an experiment without a clear path to success? Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket ...
Welcome to episode 79 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner and Will talk through the launch of Gemini 3, breaking down all of the changes Google has made behind the scenes to its LLM. The duo also talks through the (breaking) arrival of AirDrop support on the Pixel 10, a change Google seemingly made all by itself. Finally, with Black Friday around the corner, we take a look at what deals you can score on your next piece of Google hardware. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Cas...
Welcome to episode 78 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will tackle Google's surprise Pixel Drop, a jam-packed update filled with new features like low-power maps, notification summaries, and a Wicked -inspired theme pack. Then Will walks through his thoughts on the OnePlus 15, a device that crushes in the battery life department but falls a bit short when it comes to, well, everything else. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Pocket Casts Spotify Apple Podcasts Overcas...
Welcome to episode 77 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, Abner, Damien, and Will discuss the latest AI improvements making their way to Google Maps in the coming months, including improved conversational guidance along routes and landmark navigation. From there, we cover Google's ongoing feud with Disney following the expiration of their shared YouTube TV contract, before finishing up with a dive into some extremely impressive Pixel 10 sales numbers. Subscribe YouTube Podcasts Poc...
Welcome to episode 76 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. It's another round of Galaxy XR talk — this time, with a full week's worth of use under Abner's belt (or face, rather). From tablet comparisons to finding the true use case for this sort of headset, all three of your trusted hosts have found themselves pleasantly surprised and intrigued by the device Samsung and Google has managed to build, even if it's tough to see this as anything more than an expensive stepping stone towards the lig...
This episode dives into Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset, the first Android XR device, evaluating its $1,800 price point and its position against the Apple Vision Pro and more successful Meta Quest line. The hosts debate if it's a fully-fledged consumer product or a developer-focused stepping stone for a grander vision of computing, particularly highlighting Google's Gemini AI as its potential killer feature for future AR glasses. They express both skepticism regarding its current market viability and optimism for the long-term potential of Android XR.
This episode delves into the rumored cancellation of the Galaxy S26 Edge and the lackluster sales of the S25 Edge, exploring what this means for Samsung's strategy against Apple. The hosts discuss the challenges of ultra-thin smartphones, including battery life concerns and market reception, contrasting Samsung's missteps with Apple's successful launch of the iPhone Air. The conversation also touches on the future of foldable phones, Android's approach to thin designs, and the user experience of the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Pixel devices.
The hosts delve into Google's latest product wave, starting with the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, an iterative update focusing on durability and a refined hinge rather than major design changes. The Pixel Watch 4 emerges as the standout, praised for its unique domed display, improved haptics, and a much better charging dock that transforms it into a bedside clock. While the 45mm model excels in battery, the 41mm struggles. Finally, the Pixel Buds 2a are reviewed as comfortable mid-range earbuds with decent ANC but unreliable controls and a less-than-stellar case battery, making them a better value at a discounted price.
