Tag: teardown

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Mobile Syrup

Teardown reveals how Pixel Watch fall detection will work

Back when the Pixel Watch launched, Google promised it would add fall detection to the smartwatch “this winter.” Now, it seems the feature could be right around the corner as a teardown of the Pixel Watch app revealed details of how fall detection will work.

9to5Google performed the teardown of the Pixel Watch app version 1.1. As with any teardown, it’s important to remember that code snippets and other discoveries can be misinterpreted, especially when features are still in development. Moreover, things can change before launch.

With that said, let’s take a look at what 9to5 found in the teardown. First, the publication outlined the set-up process for fall detection, sharing text that explains the feature “works by using motion sensors on your Pixel Watch.” It also warns that “high-impact activities may trigger fall detection, and your watch can’t detect all falls.”

There are three steps to activate fall detection. This includes that when the Pixel Watch detects a hard fall, it will wait 30 seconds, then vibrate, sound an alarm and check if the wearer needs help. If the wearer doesn’t respond, the Pixel Watch attempts to contact emergency services. Finally, the smartwatch will play an automated message during the call that provides the wearer’s location and requests for help. If the wearer is able, they can also speak to the emergency operator. 9to5 also uncovered what the automated message will say:

“You are being contacted by an automated emergency voice service on behalf of a caller. The caller’s watch detected a possible fall, and they were unresponsive. Please send help. Their location is 12.039578 degrees latitude, -121.947872 degrees longitude. This message will repeat 3 times.”

Finally, 9to5 also found that the fall detection feature should be available in Canada and other countries, including Australia, France, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and the U.S.

It’s worth noting that fall detection started showing up for some Pixel Watch owners earlier this year. Since then, users have been eagerly watching for the feature to arrive, though it hasn’t yet. Hopefully, this means fall detection will arrive soon.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel 6a teardown shows off flexible, plastic back panel

Ahead of the Pixel 6a shipping to customers next week, and after the initial round of reviews arrived, teardowns of Google’s latest smartphone have emerged.

A video from PBKreviews details the process of taking apart the Pixel 6a, which is very similar to the process of taking apart the Pixel 6. However, some parts of the process are a little simpler — for example, removing the battery was “much easier” compared to the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, according to PBKreviews.

Perhaps the most interesting part, at least to me, was the removal of the plastic back plate. Google says on the Pixel 6a spec sheet that the phone uses a “3D thermoformed composite back with [a] tactile alloy frame.” In my review, I noted it feels a lot like glass and frankly, I’m surprised how well the 6a’s backplate mimics the feeling of glass. I can’t tell the difference when holding it alongside the glass-back Pixel 6.

Other highlights from the teardown include needing to use heat to soften the adhesive and remove the screen. The video shows off the location of the cutout for the proximity and ambient light sensors, which sits just below and a little left of the selfie camera cutout.

Frustratingly, the charging port is soldered to the main board, which means it’ll be difficult to replace if it fails.

PBK awards the Pixel 6a a 7/10 repairability score, although frankly, it looks like a really difficult process to me. That said, if you’re adept at doing your own phone repairs, then this might seem straightforward.

Source: PBKreviews Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Mac Studio teardown shows it might be possible to upgrade SSD storage

With some of the first Mac Studios arriving in the wild, teardowns are hitting the web. One teardown video spotted by 9to5Mac reveals that Apple’s latest Mac computer may allow for storage upgrades.

According to a teardown from Max Tech on YouTube, the Mac Studio includes what appears to be accessible SSD slots for adding extra storage. Of course, ‘accessible’ is doing a lot of work there.

To get to the slots, you need to remove a rubber ring from the bottom of the Mac Studio, unscrew the bottom plate and remove it, as well as take out the power supply and some other components. Moreover, Max Tech notes in the video that the SSD slot and available space don’t seem compatible with the SSD from his Mac Pro.

In other words, it seems likely the Mac Studio won’t offer user-upgradeable storage. Instead, Apple may offer authorized SSD storage upgrades, or maybe even upgrade kits similar to what it did with the Mac Pro, sometime in the future.

It’s worth noting that Apple officially says the Mac Studio’s storage is “not user accessible” and the company recommends that customers get a higher-capacity storage configuration when they order the Mac Studio if they think they’ll need more storage in the future.

Of course, people who need extra storage may be able to get by with an external SSD connected to one of the Mac Studio’s multiple Thunderbolt ports. It likely won’t be as fast as the built-in SSD, but it’d work in a pinch (especially for anyone wary of opening up their Mac).

As for the Mac Studio RAM, well, it’s built into the M1 Max or Ultra chip options. Although that does mean you can’t upgrade the memory, there are benefits too — higher speed, for example, and the memory will benefit from the cooling the chip gets.

Source: Max Tech Via: 9to5Mac

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Mobile Syrup

Pixel 6 weather widget shows up in Google app beta teardown

Those paying close attention to Google’s Pixel 6 ads may have noticed a fancy new weather widget. However, that widget so far hasn’t been available to older Pixel phones — it seems that may change.

9to5Google uncovered two new weather widgets in a teardown of the Google app beta version 12.37 APK file. There are two versions of the widget: a pill shape on an angle and a boring old square with rounded corners.

Although more interesting, the weird angled pill widget doesn’t show nearly as much information. It offers up the temperature and an icon indicating the current weather condition. The square version, on the other hand, offers temperature, current weather, the day’s high and low and your location.

Both widgets look nice and adapt their colours to your wallpaper in Android 12. At the moment, it’s not clear if these widgets will be available on older versions of Android.

Also, for anyone desperately wanting to get their hands on the new weather widgets, they’re not officially available yet. You’ll have to wait for them to launch, presumably alongside Android 12 and the Pixel 6 later this year.

Screenshots credit: 9to5Google

Source: 9to5Google