With a seven-day look back at news and headlines across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit includes the sleek Galaxy Z Fold 4 camera, news about OnePlus 10, Google’s iOS for Android tools, Pixel Smartwatch design revealed, the importance of Pixel 6a, which reviews Android in Windows and Microsoft’s latest Android update.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find the weekly Apple news summary here).
Fold the Ultra comparison
Samsung is expected to debut its premium camera in the latest foldable smartphone. Galaxy Z Fold 4, due out this summer, will sit alongside the flagship S22 Ultra, according to
“According to tipper Dohyun Kim, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will bring a brand new primary camera sensor. The upcoming foldable phone, which will be launched in the second half of this year, is rumored to have a 108 MP primary camera. It could be the same 1 / 1.33- inch camera sensor used in the Galaxy S22 Ultra. If this information is correct, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 can offer a meaningful improvement in image quality. “
(SamMobile).
Belgrade, Serbia – December 24, 2021: New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G mobile phones appear as … [+]
getty
The ten finally arrive
Especially due to its absence, when the OnePlus 10 Pro was first launched, specifications and details about a potential OnePlus 10 handset have been picked up. While Qualcomm and MediaTek system on chips are both present, the other specifications look solid:
“OnePlus is currently in the early stages of testing and it’s likely we’ll see the OnePlus 10 launch in the second half of 2022. OnePlus 10 has a 6.7” Full HD + AMOLED display that offers support for a 120Hz refresh rate. Most likely, the vanilla OnePlus 10 will also have LTPO 2.0 backplane technology, which can adjust the refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the kind of content being played on the screen.
(OnLeaks via digit).
From iOS to Android
Previously unlisted but available in the Apple App Store, Google has now made the app “official” and it can be both listed and found in the App Store
“As reported, the app supports all the same data types as Google Drive. Previously, Google’s proposed process of moving to Android from the iPhone required users to back up their contacts, calendar, photos and videos via the Google Drive iOS app before switching devices. The new Switch to Android app does the same, but offers a “faster, more streamlined” experience, Google says. “
(TechCrunch).
Google’s definition of a smartwatch
With Google’s I / O event on the horizon, many are expecting the launch of the Pixel smartwatch at the event. Presumably powered by wearOS, this would be the first ‘own brand’ laptop from Google, which it will hopefully define the market in much the same way as Pixel smartphones:
“As a device that has literally been around for many years – and long awaited for even longer – Google’s first own brand wearOS device, also called the Pixel Watch, is definitely the unicorn in the laptop space. Codenamed Rohan … the round-faced device, the digital-crown-equipped watch is finally starting to break the cover, with a disclosure (if not full release) expected in the near future.
(91mobiles).
The Importance of Pixel 6a
How important is a mid-range, mid-range Pixel 6a? If you’ve used to playing Specifications Top Trumps, then not very much. But with the success of handsets like Samsung’s Galaxy A12 and the slow sales of Google’s premium handsets, is the market so ready for a mid-range handset that brings Google’s new technology at an affordable price? And can it disturb the space?
“One area where Google has seen some sort of meaningful commercial success is mid-range – with its Pixel” a “line of devices. But the latest Pixel” a “phone, the Pixel 5a, is selling for $ 450. With the high-end Pixel 6 flagship currently costing only 600 smackers, $ 450 suddenly does not look like such a bargain anymore. “
(Computer world).
Review of Android on Windows
Windows 11’s long-awaited ability to run Android applications has arrived. Not surprisingly, it does not use the Google Play Store, instead Microsoft has approached the Amazon Android App Store, which reduces the number of available apps (it’s likely that your favorite is missing). As for the core offering … it requires work:
“Unfortunately, Android apps are notorious for poorly supported large screens – after all, that’s why Android 12L exists. So when I open the Washington Post app on my PC (it’s one of the few mainstream services on the Appstore , presumably thanks to its owner), I was not surprised to see a small window occupying less than a quarter of the screen, nor was I shocked that it asked me to “iron to continue” on a device without a touch screen. “
(Android Police).
And finally…
Microsoft continues to expand its Android app suite with an update to its Authenticator app. Oddly enough, the added feature feels like it should already be there. Nevertheless, expectations are now being met:
Microsoft’s Authenticator app is now one step closer to rival services like Bitwarden with a new feature (via OnMsft) that helps you generate passwords automatically. We’ve seen similar features from other password managers before, but this is the first time Microsoft has included a password generator in its Authenticator app. “
(Android Police).
Android Circuit collects the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Do not forget to follow me so you do not miss any coverage in the future, and of course read the sister column in the Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have news and links you would like to see featured in Android Circuit, please contact us!