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News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week’s top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.
This is Android Central’s News Weekly, your go-to source for the week’s top tech stories at a glance. This is where we delve into the leading titles that deliver the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.
This week, the Pixel 8a steals the show, YouTube gets a cool new AI feature, the Moto G 5g stylus launches, Pixel devices get another round of updates, and Prime Video users expect more ads.
The Pixel 8a is here with more than a few upgrades
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Google’s budget Pixel 8a has just arrived, and if you’re looking for a device with all the new AI features packed into it at a reasonable price, this could be the device for you.
The Pixel 8a has a 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It runs on the same Tensor G3 chip as the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, including features like improved Magic Eraser, Zoom Enhance, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, and more. The device also features a Titan M2 security chip and a built-in VPN for added security.
For the first time, the Pixel 8a offers a 256GB storage option along with 8GB of RAM. It also comes in two new colors, Aloe (which is a limited edition) and Bay, alongside the usual Obsidian and Porcelain variants.
With an aluminum camera band, the Pixel 8a has a 64MP main camera, a new 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 13MP front-facing selfie camera. This helps users shoot 4K videos, with 60 frames per second for the rear cameras and 30 frames per second for selfies.
The Pixel 8a starts at $499. In Canada and India, its retail price starts at $679 CAD and ₹52,999 respectively. Also, there are already some good Pixel 8a pre-order offers that you can take advantage of.
Youtube is testing an AI feature that really helps
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Like the intro-skipping option on most streaming platforms, YouTube is also testing “jump ahead,” an AI-assisted feature that will automatically skip to the best or most important parts of YouTube videos for YouTube Premium subscribers.
It analyzes viewing data from real users using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to find the most viewed sections. It’s basically like going through the video instead of manually skipping slower parts.
YouTube’s algorithm will pick these key moments in a video and you can skip them. Or, if you’re in the middle of watching a video, you can “jump forward” to the nearest key point in a YouTube video.
This option probably won’t work for every YouTube video as it’s currently being tested. It can be based on how many views a video gets – because YouTube needs a large enough sample size of viewers to identify these key points. While these are some things we are speculating on, it remains to be seen how YouTube will roll out this feature in the future.
Hello again Moto
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Earlier this week, Motorola launched its mid-range Moto G Stylus 5G 2024, which at first glance has an improved design, improvised stylus and multitasking capabilities. The catch – Motorola claims the device can get enough power “for the day” in just thirty minutes.
The Moto G Stylus expands its capabilities with a 6.7-inch pOLED display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. Motorola adds that the Full HD+ resolution makes the display brighter, sharper and clearer. The company also touted the phone’s multitasking capabilities, saying users can take notes while watching a show.
The stylus comes with a larger contact area and improved software that improves pen mobility for a smoother experience. Motorola has implemented a new user interface when using stylus-specific features. In addition, users can add a set of “favorite apps” for the pen that will appear when it is taken out.
The phone comes with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chip and Android 14 out of the box. Like last year’s edition, the 2024 G Stylus 5G boasts a vertical dual-camera array. It packs a 50MP primary lens, a 13MP ultra-wide camera, and a 32MP centered selfie camera.
The device has a 5000mAh battery with 30W TurboPower wired charging and 15W wireless charging. It hits shelves on May 30 for $399 in Scarlet Wave and Caramel Latte. On the same date as US users, Canadians can pick up the phone for $499 CAD.
Pixel devices are receiving May Update fixes
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The Pixel 8a has been all the rage this week, but other Pixel devices haven’t felt left out since Google rolled out a new Android 14 update for all devices.
Google has announced the rollout of the update for Pixel devices running Android 14, including the Pixel 5a and later. The update brings bug fixes and improvements for Pixel users with it. Improvements may be seen in Bluetooth LE audio stability or performance for eligible Pixel devices, including the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users are rumored to be getting a new bug fix that will hopefully resolve their video recording promises.
On the same day, all Pixel Watch models running Wear OS 4 began receiving the May security patch, which will be released during the week. Unlike last month’s patch, which had interesting features like clock vibration, the May 2024 patch really only includes security fixes. Details of the update were not revealed due to security reasons and we had to wait until the update was rolled out to get into it.
To install the May 2024 security update on your Pixel Watch, open the Settings app on your device and navigate to System > System updates
Prime Video users are in for ad breaks
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Prime Video streaming is about to get a little tedious as Amazon has announced that it will add three new shoppable interactive ad formats to its living room streaming platform.
The company said Prime Video will now get an expanded range of interactive ad formats, including remote activation capabilities for living room devices that are a step up from the usual QR code that appears in an ad.
Brands will now be able to show shopping carousel ads during ad breaks in Prime Video shows and movies. The ad will also run when the video is paused — interactive pause and brand trivia ads on Prime Video TV shows, movies and live sports.
Many people find ads on streaming platforms frustrating, and paying an extra $2.99 ​​on top of their Prime Video or Amazon Prime subscription isn’t something everyone does voluntarily to get rid of ads. Instead, viewers agonizingly wait for 15-30 second commercials to end. Imagine another layer of interactive ads to distract you.
These are some of the biggest stories from this week. In the meantime, here are some other stories worth catching up on:
