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Google Pixel 8a UK prices leak alongside 7-year Android update support

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Google Pixel 8a

Google Pixel 8a prices for the UK revealed by trusted tipster ahead of launch. Roland Quandt claims the prices of Google Pixel 8a in the UK could start from 499 GBP (Great British Pound). Another report claims the device will bring 7-year Android update support.

According to the info, Google Pixel 8a will cost 499 GBP for 128GB and 559 GBP for 256GB in the UK. It translates to roughly $625 and $700, respectively, for the US market. However, the real market pricing wouldn’t be much higher due to regional tax variation.

AndroidHeadlines report says the the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro-like 7-year OS support will be available in the Pixel 8a too. As the pricing isn’t increasing, longer software support will be a huge boost to this year’s affordable Pixel “a” smartphone.

Samsung’s recently launched Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 offer four OS and five years of software support. The latter isn’t launching in the United States, whereas, Google’s significant upgrades to Pixel 8a will surely give an edge over rivals internationally.

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Google

ChromeOS 130 brings enhanced recorder, studio-style mic, reading aid, PiP docking, and Google Discover redesign

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Google

ChromeOS 130 is now available, delivering a range of new features and enhancements, especially for Chromebook Plus devices. This release introduces several improvements across productivity, audio, display settings, and privacy, making the user experience smoother and more intuitive. Here’s a closer look at what’s new in ChromeOS 130:

Enhanced Recorder App with Real-Time Transcription

All Chromebooks now include a Recorder app that offers on-device transcription. This real-time transcription activates after downloading a 100MB model. The app is designed with a dual-column Material You interface, allowing users to capture audio from their devices seamlessly. For Chromebook Plus users, a more advanced 2GB model provides additional features, such as a three-point summary and title suggestions for recordings, making organization and review easier.

Studio-Style Mic with Enhanced AI Noise Control

ChromeOS 130 adds a new “Studio-style mic” feature for Chromebook Plus devices, bringing professional-level audio quality to online calls. Using advanced AI, this microphone setting simulates the quality of high-end microphones by enhancing noise cancellation and de-reverberation effects. Users who have already enabled noise cancellation will automatically receive these new features by default, but they can choose to switch back to standard noise cancellation in Settings > Device > Audio if desired.

The Studio-style mic feature is available through video call controls in the Shelf. Additionally, new “Appearance effects” adjust lighting and brightness, enhancing overall video call quality.

Help Me Read: Summarization and Question Tool

ChromeOS 130 introduces “Help me read,” an accessibility feature allowing users to right-click on websites and PDFs for quick summaries or to ask questions about the content. This tool can help simplify complex material, providing a brief overview or more details on the topics within.

Docked Picture-in-Picture (PiP) for Flexible Viewing

The Picture-in-Picture (PiP) feature has received an upgrade, enabling users to dock PiP windows on the side of the screen, which only shows a slim portion when not in use. A double-tap allows for easy expansion and minimization, making PiP more versatile than before.

Multi-Calendar Support in Google Calendar

ChromeOS 130 also introduces multi-calendar support, allowing users to view events from several calendars in Google Calendar. This integration helps users keep all their commitments in view without switching between accounts or tabs.

New Keyboard and Display Controls

In Settings > Device > Keyboard, users now have a slider to adjust the backlight brightness and an option to enable or disable the ambient light sensor, offering more control over display preferences. Likewise, similar settings are available under Display to control screen brightness, enhancing accessibility and personalization.

Improved File Suggestions and Access in Tote

ChromeOS 130 updates Tote with enhanced suggestions, making it easier to access files stored locally and on Google Drive. This new feature recommends important files and allows users to pin them for offline access. Additionally, starred Drive files can now be accessed directly from the Shelf, streamlining file management.

Enhanced Privacy Controls for Microphone and Camera Access

ChromeOS 130 includes improved privacy settings, making it easier for users to control OS-level privacy options for camera and microphone access. This update helps users understand and manage permissions across ChromeOS and the Chrome browser, ensuring privacy remains front and center.

Google Discover Tests Material 3 Redesign for a Fresh Look

Google is currently testing a Material 3 redesign of the Google Discover feed, visible on the latest Google app beta (version 15.43). This new design introduces cards that contain individual content items and make images taller, giving the feed a less cluttered appearance. With a single overflow menu per card, users can access “Save” and “Share” options more conveniently. Additionally, certain cards show the topic at the top with a “+” button for easy following, refining the experience to feel more organized.

With this update, ChromeOS 130 reinforces Chromebook’s utility, accessibility, and user control across work and leisure settings, making it a valuable release for all ChromeOS users.

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Android

ChatGPT Search: OpenAI’s new AI-powered search engine to rival Google

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ChatGPT user login

OpenAI has officially launched ChatGPT Search, an AI-driven search engine that aims to change how we find information online. Originally teased as “SearchGPT,” this new feature is now live and offers a fresh way to search, blending conversational AI with the latest web data.

A Smarter, More Interactive Search

With ChatGPT Search, users get answers in natural language, making the search experience more intuitive. When you enter a query, ChatGPT responds with detailed answers, including relevant links, images, and references, allowing users to explore further if needed. This approach combines the familiarity of a search engine with the conversational ease of ChatGPT.

What ChatGPT Search Offers

ChatGPT Search provides several capabilities:

  1. Real-Time Information: It offers timely updates on news, sports scores, stock prices, and weather, directly sourced from reliable platforms like AccuWeather.
  2. Cited Sources: The search results show a list of citations on the interface’s right side, helping users track information back to credible sources. This transparency is key to making search results more trustworthy.
  3. Comprehensive Answers with Links: ChatGPT Search doesn’t just give brief answers but provides links to articles and pages where the information originates. This improves credibility and gives users a way to dig deeper if they want.

Availability and Access

Starting today, ChatGPT Search is available to users who previously signed up for the “SearchGPT” waitlist. Additionally, those with Plus and Team subscriptions can access it immediately. In the coming weeks, OpenAI will roll out this feature to Enterprise and Educational users, with plans to make it available to all users over the next few months. The search feature will be integrated across web, mobile, and desktop ChatGPT apps, making it accessible wherever you use ChatGPT.

Special Features for Dynamic Content

Besides general search capabilities, ChatGPT Search provides access to weather forecasts, live sports scores, financial updates, maps, and the latest news. OpenAI has worked closely with news organizations to ensure its AI is informed and accurate, responding to industry feedback. This collaborative approach enhances the tool’s relevance and reliability as a source of current events.

Coming Updates and OpenAI’s Vision

The release of ChatGPT Search follows reports of a major update to OpenAI’s language model expected this December. With this upgrade, OpenAI aims to further enhance ChatGPT’s abilities, keeping it competitive with major search engines like Google.

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Android

Google speeds up Android updates, Android 16 arriving earlier

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Android 16

Google is making significant changes to its Android release schedule. The biggest news is the earlier arrival of Android 16, which is now slated for a Q2 2025 release. This means developers will have more time to test and optimize their apps for the latest features.

Key Changes:

  • Earlier Major Releases: Android 16 will be released in Q2 2025, instead of the usual Q3 timeframe. This aligns better with device launch schedules, allowing more devices to receive the latest Android version sooner.
  • More Frequent SDK Releases: Google will introduce minor SDK releases in Q4 2025, providing additional features, optimizations, and bug fixes without major app-breaking changes.
  • Incremental Updates: Q1 and Q3 of 2025 will continue to see incremental updates (QPRs) that improve stability and add new user-facing features.

What This Means for Developers:

  • Faster Innovation: Developers can take advantage of new features and APIs more quickly.
  • Improved App Quality: More frequent updates allow for faster bug fixes and performance improvements.
  • Earlier Testing: Developers will need to start testing their apps against Android 16 earlier to ensure compatibility.
  • New Manifest Attribute: A new manifest attribute will allow developers to specify a minor API level as the minimum required SDK release for their app.

Google’s goal is to streamline the Android release process, making it more efficient for both developers and users. By accelerating the release cycle and providing more frequent updates, Google aims to deliver a more polished and feature-rich Android experience.

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