Information Weekly
Information Weekly is our column the place we spotlight and summarize among the week’s prime tales so you’ll be able to atone for the most recent tech information.
That is Android Central’s Information Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most important tech tales. That is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the most recent developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama.
This week, Google had fairly just a few huge bulletins with the launch of Android XR, Gemini 2.0, and a value hike for YouTube TV. Plus, Sundar Pichai had some selection phrases about Microsoft and a brand new rumor claims the Galaxy S25 collection may truly get Qi2 help, however with a catch.
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It has been lengthy teased that Google was engaged on an XR platform primarily based on Android, with {hardware} coming from Samsung in partnership with Qualcomm. Now the cat’s out of the bag with the announcement of Android XR, a brand new platform that is set to energy sensible glasses and XR headsets not not like the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional or Meta Quest 3S.
In accordance with Google, the platform will launch first on headsets, with Samsung’s Challenge Moohan set to launch in 2025. This may allow customers to “swap between being absolutely immersed in a digital surroundings and staying current in the true world,” not not like how among the finest VR headsets work. Smartphone and pill apps will even work, and Google is optimizing its personal apps for the platform.
Google can be testing sensible glasses, as we noticed with Challenge Astra. This may use Gemini to offer details about what you are , and it is urged that visible cues might also be accessible.
There appears to be a number of potential with Android XR, which makes it probably the most thrilling issues to stay up for in 2025.
Gemini will get the improve we have been ready for
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Gemini has been far and wide in 2024, however 2025 appears to be an thrilling 12 months for Google’s AI efforts after it revealed a serious replace for its mannequin. Gemini 2.0 is taking issues to the subsequent degree by making it extra succesful than earlier than, permitting it to higher perceive the world round you and full duties on behalf of the person.
What does this imply, precisely? Which means Gemini 2.0 is provided to energy experiences like Challenge Astra, which was proven on Google I/O earlier this 12 months. It may well visualize the world round you and even keep in mind what it noticed so you’ll be able to recall one thing later. And with Challenge Mariner, Gemini 2.0 can full complicated, multi-step duties for you by understanding what’s in your display, simply as a digital assistant ought to. We have seen corporations like Motorola showcase ideas much like this, so it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see how this evolves in 2025.
Qi2 may lastly be a factor in 2025
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Qi2 has been out for a short time, but it surely’s been principally absent on Android, save for some HMD telephones. Nevertheless, with the Galaxy S25, this might change, as the most recent rumors counsel the corporate may lastly undertake the wi-fi charging spec in its upcoming gadgets.
If true, then the Galaxy S25 collection will help the Qi2 and MagSafe equipment accessible for iPhones, permitting them to cost wirelessly on the full 15W as a substitute of being subjected to slower speeds.
That mentioned, a separate rumor means that the telephones might not have Qi2 built-in into the telephones themselves. As a substitute, the newer normal might solely be accessible by way of suitable instances. This could be much like what we have seen with current OPPO telephones and the OnePlus 13.
If true, it is unclear why corporations are choosing this methodology, however provided that many customers will possible buy instances for his or her telephones, it might not be an enormous deal. Nonetheless, it might be good to have it built-in for individuals who might not need a case, however we’ll have to attend and see what we get when the Galaxy S25 launches in early 2025.
YouTube TV continues to rise, within the worst approach potential
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Value hikes for streaming companies are nothing new, so the brand new base value for YouTube TV should not shock anybody, however it should sting. The corporate introduced this week that new customers will instantly see the bottom value of $82.99, a $10 improve from the earlier $72.99 that was launched in early 2023.
The corporate defined that the up to date value is because of the rising prices of content material however that customers can anticipate to retain their present options and advantages.
For brand spanking new customers, the value will not replace till January 13, 2025, so there’s some buffer time in case you need to think about your choices or pause your membership. In any other case, put together to pay extra within the coming month as streaming companies proceed to succeed in cable costs.
Google vs. Microsoft: The AI wars
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai threw a little bit of shade at Microsoft throughout The New York Instances’ DealBook Summit. Journalist and writer Andrew Ross Sorkin requested Pichai about his ideas on the place Google is in comparison with its opponents within the AI race, prefacing it with a quote from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who mentioned that Google ought to have been the default winner.
Pichai shortly responded by saying he would love to match Microsoft’s personal fashions with Google’s, noting that Microsoft is utilizing another person’s.
It is no secret that Microsoft bought a little bit of a headstart within the AI house after partnering with OpenAI to combine its fashions into the corporate’s companies like Bing. In the meantime, Google was seen by many as having to play catch-up after dropping some mindshare to the likes of ChatGPT.
That mentioned, Google noticed loads of progress in 2024 with Gemini throughout varied gadgets and companies. Nevertheless, Pichai famous throughout his discuss that whereas he expects to see extra developments in 2025, we should not anticipate it on the similar tempo we have seen.
Extra tales this week
These are among the largest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed here are another tales which can be price catching up on:
