Tag: Google

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Mobile Syrup

Report finds Chromebook e-waste to be a serious problem

Chromebooks have become ubiquitous in the education sector. Ease of use, accessible pricing, and simple deployment make them a compelling option for school.

However, a new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) titled Chromebook Churn is raising concerns over the unnecessary electronic waste they are producing.

The main issue at hand is what the PIRG refers to as a “built-in death rate.” Google offers software and security support for Chromebooks at a standard rate of eight years from the release date of each laptop.

The PIRG points out that schools often buy Chromebooks that have already been on the market for months or even years. This means that realistically, many of these laptops are out of support sooner than that eight year window would imply.

“When technology like Chromebooks reach their expiration date, only one-third of this electronic waste is properly recycled. If it isn’t designed to last, our environment pays the price,” says Lucas Gutterman of the PIRG.

The PIRG makes several suggestions in the report, calling on Google to take action. These suggestions include extending software support to ten years, as well as allowing for the installation of non-Google operating systems like Linux.

The report is also critical on the hardware front, suggesting Google strive for better standardization of Chromebook replacement parts, and to make these components more readily available.

Whether Google will see eye-to-eye with the PIRG and reduce “Chromebook Churn” is something we will have to keep an eye on.

Source: U.S. Public Interest Research Group Via Engadget 

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Mobile Syrup

Chrome redesign for large-screen Android devices in the works

Android tablet and foldable users are in for a visual refresh if they use Google Chrome. Experimental flags in the latest stable build include interface tweaks that can be enabled with some fiddling, as uncovered by Android Police.

It looks like Google is working on incorporating elements of its Material You design language into its mobile browser. When enabled, the strip of tabs at the top becomes visually separated from the address bar. The “new tab” button, represented by a plus sign, is now filled in with rounded padding as well.

To top it off, the updated interface now appears to follow Google’s custom accent colour system. First introduced in Android 12, the system pulls from a colour palette that dynamically adjusts based on the wallpaper in use.

These changes aren’t groundbreaking by any means, but they do a good job of freshening up the look of the browser. With the flags enabled, everything looks an extra bit polished compared to before.

It is unknown when Google plans on pushing out these changes to the stable build of Chrome for Android. The company is currently also working on a visual refresh of the desktop version of its web browser.

Source: Android Police Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google Authenticator to begin syncing one-time codes in the cloud

A new update to Authenticator for Android and iOS allows for backups of codes in your Google account to be stored, meaning users won’t be locked out indefinitely if they lose a device with stored codes. Users will no longer have to reauthorize their linked apps if they get a new phone.

The latest version of Authenticator will let users follow prompts to sign into Google and enable syncing. The company says, “If you set up 2-Step Verification, you can use the Google Authenticator app to generate codes. You can still generate codes without internet connection or mobile service.”

The update also features a new logo for the app.

Despite adding passkey support in Android and Chrome, Google still understands that one-time codes are sometimes necessary for people looking to get back into their accounts. Thankfully, the new update to the app may encourage users to opt for two-factor authentication for increased protection of their devices.

Google joins companies like Microsoft, which has its own cloud backup in Microsoft Authenticator.

For more Google news, read about how the company may soon offer new AI tools in its ad program.

Header image credit: Google

Source: Google Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

Alleged Pixel Fold shown off in short clip

Much like the years, the leaks start comin’ and they don’t stop comin’ — a video of an alleged Pixel Fold has now emerged, capping off a week’s worth of wild leaks.

Reliable leaker Kuba Wojciechowski shared a short clip on what is supposedly the Pixel Fold. The clip shows the phone’s internal, foldable display, but the content is blurred out. Then the person holding the phone closes it, briefly showing the external front display, before opening the phone again.

Unfortunately, that’s the extent of what we see in the clip and there’s not much to visually identify the device as the Pixel Fold. The clip could just as easily show some prototype foldable from Samsung. But Wojciechowski says it’s the Fold and he told The Verge that the only information he can say on the record is that the clip he posted is over a month old.

That said, the device in Wojciechowski’s clip closely resembles many of the Pixel Fold renders we’ve seen over the last few days and weeks. Plus, after watching the clip more times than I’d like to admit, I think I can see the edge of the rear camera bump.

Is that a camera bar I see?

We’ve recently learned a ton about the Pixel Fold ahead of its rumoured reveal at Google’s I/O conference next month. Rumour has it Google plans to launch the Pixel Fold at I/O on May 10th and open pre-orders that day, with availability in late June. The Pixel Fold’s potential specs leaked and a report based on internal Google communications revealed the company thinks the Pixel Fold has the “most durable hinge on a foldable.”

Header image credit: Kuba Wojciechowski (screenshots)

Source: Kuba Wojciechowski Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Google Nest speakers to cut down on chatter in a future update

Google’s Nest family of smart speakers are in line for a small yet significant update. As per a Google Nest Community blog post, the company plans on toning down certain verbal responses.

When asking the speaker to do things like adjust the temperature or the speaker volume, you’re currently greeted by a voice that confirms the action. This update promises to replace many of these unnecessary responses with a subtle chime to signify the same thing.

According to Google, the update will begin rolling out in the next few weeks. The functionality is already live for adjusting room lights, but will be expanding to include blinds, fans, and more.

There’s one downer, though — the chimes will only sound if you’re physically inside the room you’re controlling with your voice. In other words, if you plan on turning off your kitchen lights from your bedroom, you can expect the chatter to continue.

Google is also hosting a virtual discussion panel to get feedback from Nest users.

Source: Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s midrange Pixel 7a might come with face unlock

All eyes are on Google and its upcoming Pixel 7a. Courtesy of a new leak by Twitter user SnoopyTech, it appears the company is planning to port its Face Unlock feature to the highly anticipated device.

Face Unlock first debuted on the Pixel 4/4 XL. The feature was absent from future Pixel releases, until it reappeared on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Similar to Apple’s Face ID, Face Unlock is a form of biometric authentication that scans users’ faces to unlock their phones. Unfortunately, as implemented on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, the feature is not as secure as its competition.

Google’s solution uses the front selfie camera and some software magic to recognize faces. While it’s fast and convenient, it doesn’t include any extra dedicated hardware. This makes competitors such as Apple’s Face ID a more secure solution overall.

Even with this drawback, hopefully, this leak ends up being accurate. The added flexibility would be an appreciated addition to Google’s midrange offering.

The Pixel 7a is rumoured to launch at Google I/O this June.

Source: SnoopyTech Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Upcoming Pixel Tablet shown off at Milan Design Week 2023

Google Design is taking part in Milan Design Week this year with its own exhibit, “Shaped by Water,” and included on display is the company’s upcoming Pixel Tablet.

The highly anticipated tablet was shown off in three distinct colour variants: pale green, pale white, and pale pink. Official naming for each colour option has yet to be revealed.

This is our first real look at the new pink version, and it seems to match the other options with its muted colour palette. A fourth colour variant is also expected to be revealed.

Interestingly, the rumoured privacy switch is nowhere to be seen on the body of the tablets. It’s possible Google is waiting for the official launch of the product to showcase the unique hardware addition.

The Pixel Tablet is flanked by various other Pixel products and accessories on the display table. Together, they make up a portion of Google Design’s overall exhibit at the event.

The Pixel Tablet is rumoured to launch around the time of Google I/O in May.

Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Report indicates Google will soon offer new AI tools in its ad program

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – September 30, 2019: Google sign in the Google Canada Kitchener-Waterloo office.

The latest Google service to get the AI treatment, according to a report from The Financial Times, is its mammoth-sized advertisement business.

Allegedly, Google’s AI will soon be able to “remix” customer images, video, and text that it is given to work with. The Financial Times says the AI will then generate ads based on specified goals such as target audience.

The new toolset is expected to be rolled into Google’s existing Performance Max program, adding an element of artificial creativity to the campaign service.

The news comes amid a growing AI arms race between major tech companies. Google has been scrambling to modernize its search engine in the wake of a revitalized Bing, powered by ChatGPT.

With the pressure on, some are sounding the alarm on the speed of developments on the AI front, including Elon Musk.

Google’s new AI tools will reportedly be making their way to the public later this year.

Source: The Verge Via: The Financial Times

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s Bard AI exposed as a “pathological liar” by the company’s own employees

Google employees recently fired shots at the company’s AI chatbot through internal messages, calling Bard “a pathological liar” and pleading with the company not to launch it.

A report from Bloomberg has uncovered discussions from 18 current and former Google workers as well as screenshots from internal messages. Among them include an employee stating that Bard would regularly give users dangerous advice. Another worker said Bard is “worse than useless: please do not launch.”

If employee complaints weren’t enough to warrant genuine concern, an internal safety team submitted a risk evaluation for the project, stating that the system was not ready for general use.

Google overruled the request for a risk evaluation, opening up early access to the experimental chatbot in March instead.

The report from Bloomberg sheds light on the company’s decision to override moral sense in favour of competing with rival AI projects such as OpenAI. 

The decision looks especially bad for Google if you go back to early 2021, when the company fired two researchers after they authored a research paper that showed flaws in the same AI language systems that support chatbots like Bard.

Although some would argue that public testing is necessary for projects of this nature, there’s no denying that with multiple cases of the tech giant cutting corners on its AI chatbox, a public launch was a risky choice.

Brian Gabriel, a spokesperson for Google, told Bloomberg that AI ethics are still a top priority for the company. Google Bard received received an update page that details new changes and additions to the chat service.

Source: Bloomberg Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

New Pixel Fold leak uncovers the foldable phone’s potential specs

A new leak from Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech about the upcoming Pixel Fold offers a detailed look at the foldable’s potential specs.

According to Prosser, the Pixel Fold will cost $1,799 USD (approximately $2436.45 CAD) for the 256GB model and $1,919 USD (approximately $2598.97 CAD) for the 512GB model. The fold is said to come in two colours, chalk and obsidian, with the 512GB model available in obsidian only.

Google is also reportedly offering a free Pixel Watch for everyone who pre-orders the Pixel Fold, making the steep price point more justified.

According to the leak, both foldable models will feature 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and run the Tensor G2 chip with the Titan M2 security chip. As for dimensions, the phone allegedly measures 5.5 by 3.1 by 0.5-inches when folded.

The outer display of the Pixel Fold is set to feature a 17.4:9 aspect ratio at 5.8-inches and will sport an FHD+ OLED display with a resolution of 2092 × 1080 pixel resolution OLED screen. The inner display sits at 7.6-inches, with the foldable display featuring ultra-thin glass protected by plastic.

Like the Pixel 7 series, the upcoming Pixel Fold will come with Google One VPN, according to this report.

The recent leak also touches on the specs of the phone’s cameras. Prosser reports a 48-megapixel main sensor with /1.7 aperture and a sensor size of half an inch. The front outer selfie camera is reported to have a 9.5-megapixel sensor with 1.22 pm pixel width, f/2.2 aperture, and fixed focus.

Pre-orders for the Pixel Fold open on May 10th, with the foldable phone expected to get a full introduction at the Google I/O 2023. The foldable is expected to release in June 2023.

Image credit: Jon Prosser 

Source: Jon Prosser Via: 9to5Google