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Gemini Nano with multimodality enhances Pixel Recorder and could soon power Android Auto

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Android Automotive

Top 3 Key Points:

  1. Enhanced Pixel Recorder: The Pixel Recorder now uses Gemini Nano with Multimodality, doubling its capacity and improving audio, text, and image integration.
  2. Improved User Experience: The upgraded model boosts app engagement by providing better summaries and extended transcript capabilities.
  3. Potential in Android Auto: Signs point to Gemini Nano’s integration into Android Auto, promising an AI-driven, enhanced user experience.

Google’s Pixel Recorder app has recently undergone significant upgrades, particularly on the Pixel 9 series, thanks to the integration of Gemini Nano with Multimodality. This advanced model not only handles text but also seamlessly processes audio and image inputs. According to Google, this version is nearly twice as large as its predecessor, making it more capable, accurate, and scalable. As a result, developers can achieve high-quality outputs without extensive fine-tuning, enabling more innovative applications.

The introduction of Gemini Nano’s AI-driven summaries last year led to a noticeable increase in app engagement and user retention. Users have embraced the new summarization feature, using it multiple times a day, which in turn has boosted the number of saved recordings by 24%.

Although Google hasn’t fully detailed the capabilities of the new multimodal version, they did hint that it’s three times more sophisticated than the original version on the Pixel 8 Pro. This advancement allows the Recorder app to summarize longer transcripts and assess grammar quality more effectively.

Developers behind the Recorder app have built upon their existing work with Gemini Nano to incorporate multimodality, streamlining the integration process. While this required additional fine-tuning, the transition was smoother thanks to the existing dataset.

In addition to these improvements, Google is also exploring new ways to integrate Gemini AI across its apps and services. For instance, there’s evidence that Gemini Nano could soon be part of Android Auto. In the latest version of Android Auto, several clues point toward this integration, including a new sparkle icon associated with AI features and references to a “GeminiLiveAssistantAction” function within the app’s code.

If Gemini Live becomes part of Android Auto, it could offer a significant upgrade to the in-car experience. Currently, Gemini Live is available only to subscribers of Google One’s AI Premium plan, but it doesn’t require special hardware, suggesting that it could be accessible to all Android Auto users on the correct plan. While it’s still early in development, this integration has the potential to bring AI-driven enhancements to Android Auto, offering users a more intelligent and interactive driving experience.

Overall, the expansion of Gemini Nano into new areas like Android Auto signifies Google’s commitment to integrating advanced AI across its ecosystem, potentially reshaping how users interact with their devices shortly.

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Android

Google Pixel 10 series codenames leak: here’s what to expect

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Google

Top 3 Key Points:

  1. Pixel 10 Codenames Revealed: Codenames for the Pixel 10 series include ‘Frankel’, ‘Blazer’, and ‘Mustang’.
  2. Pixel 9a and Pixel 10 Release Timeline: Pixel 9a is expected in May 2025, and Pixel 10 series is set for Fall 2025.
  3. Commitment to Compact Pro Models: Google plans to continue with smaller Pro models, following Pixel 9 Pro’s success.

The next generation of Google Pixel phones is already making waves, even before the current lineup fully hits the market. We now have insider details on the codenames for Google’s upcoming Pixel 10 series, which are expected to launch in Fall 2025.

Pixel 9a and Pixel 10 Codenames

The upcoming Pixel 9a, expected around Google I/O in May 2025, will carry the codename ‘Tegu’. Meanwhile, the Pixel 10 series will introduce a variety of devices, each with its codename. The Pixel 10 itself is codenamed ‘Frankel’, while the larger Pixel 10 Pro is dubbed ‘Blazer’. For those who prefer an even bigger screen, the Pixel 10 Pro XL will go by the codename ‘Mustang’.

Not to be left out, foldable fans can look forward to the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, codenamed ‘Rango’. Just like previous foldable models, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold will launch alongside the rest of the Pixel 10 series in the fall.

Compact Pro Phones Remain in the Lineup

Google’s decision to release a smaller flagship phone, the Pixel 9 Pro, in 2024 was well-received. Unlike Apple’s iPhone Mini models or Sony’s Xperia 5 series, Google’s compact Pro phone doesn’t cut corners—it offers the same premium features as its larger counterpart, with only minor differences in screen size and battery capacity. The success of the Pixel 9 Pro has encouraged Google to continue offering this option in the Pixel 10 series.

While other brands like Samsung offer smaller flagship phones, they often lack the full specs of their larger counterparts. Google’s smaller Pixel Pro stands out by maintaining flagship-level performance in a compact form, ensuring it meets the needs of users who want power without the bulk.

What’s Next for Google Pixel?

As we look ahead to 2025, the Pixel 10 series seems poised to continue Google’s trend of offering powerful, innovative smartphones. While the Pixel 9a will arrive in early 2025, the fall launch of the Pixel 10 lineup promises to deliver something for every type of smartphone user, from compact models to foldable devices.

Google’s commitment to providing high-performance phones across a range of sizes shows a clear focus on meeting diverse user preferences, ensuring the Pixel series stays competitive in the ever-evolving smartphone market.

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Android 15 brings new features to Android Automotive: dock, bluetooth upgrades, and cross-device notifications

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Android Automotive

Top 3 Key Points:

  1. Android 15 introduces a new home screen dock and enhanced Bluetooth capabilities for Android Automotive.
  2. Notifications may soon sync across multiple Android devices, according to code found in the latest beta.
  3. Improved audio controls and better support for multi-camera and radio systems are part of this update.

Android 15 for Android Automotive Adds New Features

With the release of Android 15, Google has also updated its Android Automotive platform, bringing several useful new features to vehicles. While Google hasn’t officially provided all the details, some key improvements have already been spotted.

New Features in Android Automotive
Android Automotive is different from Android Auto. Instead of connecting to your phone, it’s a version of Android that runs directly on a vehicle’s dashboard, powering the whole in-car experience. In Android 15, one of the biggest updates is the addition of a home screen dock, much like the one seen on Android Auto and tablets. This dock lets you “pin” your favorite apps for quick access, which will be helpful for drivers who want fast access to certain controls or apps.

Another feature coming to Android Automotive is an improved lock screen and a new “Ambient View” option that displays a screensaver when the system is idle.

Bluetooth and Audio Upgrades
Android 15 also brings enhancements for audio, including a new option to route sound to external Bluetooth devices like earbuds or headphones. This will give users more control over how they listen to media or calls in the car. Additionally, the update offers full support for HD and DAB radio, giving manufacturers more options to improve in-car audio quality.

Syncing Notifications Across Devices
In addition to improvements for cars, Android 15 may soon solve a common issue for people with multiple Android devices: unsynced notifications. A new “sync across devices” feature was spotted in the latest beta, suggesting that Google is working on a way to keep notifications synchronized between phones and tablets. If this feature rolls out, dismissing a notification on your phone would automatically clear it from your tablet, eliminating the need to manage duplicate notifications.

Although it’s unclear if this feature will be available on all Android devices or just Google Pixel phones, it’s promising to see Google working on features that help Android users manage their devices more smoothly.

What This Means for Android Users
This update continues Google’s long-term goal of creating a connected Android ecosystem. By improving how Android devices and services work together, Google is aiming to make life easier for users, no matter what type of device they use. Android 15’s improvements for Android Automotive, Bluetooth, and cross-device functionality are a step in that direction, and more features are expected to follow.

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Android Launcher developers unite to urge Google for improvements and Chrome’s address bar switch set for final return

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Google

Top 3 Key Points:

  1. Android launcher developers collaborate to push Google for better user experience due to ongoing issues.
  2. A survey was launched to gather data, aimed at fixing bugs and improving third-party launcher compatibility.
  3. Chrome for Android is likely to reintroduce the bottom address bar switch, ending user frustrations.

Third-party Android launchers like Nova, Lawnchair, and Niagara have long been popular for customizing home screens, but recently, their quality has suffered. Due to Android updates, users are facing issues such as lagging animations, gesture failures, and missing features like screenshots or RAM data. This degradation in performance has frustrated both users and developers.

In response, leading launcher developers are teaming up to address the situation. They’ve launched a survey to gather data on the various issues affecting launchers across different Android devices. The goal is to compile this information and present it to Google’s Android team at an event in October. Developers hope this feedback will prompt Google to take action and improve the overall launcher experience.

Smart Launcher shared the survey link on X (formerly Twitter), encouraging users to participate. The more feedback collected, the stronger the case for Google to address these issues. The survey covers basic information like Android version, device, and launcher type, aiming to give a clear picture of the problem.

At the same time, Google Chrome for Android is working on a feature that has been requested for years: moving the address bar to the bottom of the screen. Although this feature existed in the past, Google removed it several times, frustrating many users, especially those with larger phones. Recent code leaks in the Canary version of Chrome suggest that the bottom address bar may soon return, possibly for good.

This feature is already available on iOS, and its reintroduction could satisfy Android users who have been asking for it. While Google hasn’t confirmed an official release date, the change would improve one-handed usability, making the mobile browsing experience more user-friendly.

For now, both launcher developers and Chrome users are eagerly awaiting updates from Google. If the company listens, these changes could enhance both the customization and browsing experience on Android devices.

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