Microsoft intern claims Google tried to sabotage Edge browser, Google issues denial

• A former Microsoft intern claims that Google introduced minor code into YouTube in an effort to sabotage the Microsoft Edge browser.
• Google just issued a statement denying the validity of the claim.
• This isn’t the first time someone has alleged that Google purposely gives other browsers disadvantages.

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Earlier this week, Joshua Bakita, a former software engineering intern at Microsoft, posted a comment to Hacker News which lays out a stunning allegation: that Google allegedly tweaked YouTube code in order to hinder other browsers’ use of YouTube content, specifically Microsoft Edge.

According to Bakita, Google introduced “a hidden empty div” over YouTube videos, which caused no effect in Chrome browsers but caused the Edge browser’s hardware acceleration fast-path to malfunction. The result of this hidden code made YouTube videos display faster and more efficiently in Google Chrome than in Microsoft Edge.

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Google working on Chrome fix for sites that hinder your ability to go back

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Bakita points to this alleged coding trick as an example of Google’s playing dirty to keep Chrome on top and other browsers struggling. He also says it is one example of why Microsoft is overhauling the Edge browser and re-building it with Chromium as its base, which will make it work more like Google Chrome.

Today, via The Verge, a YouTube spokesperson issued a formal statement on the matter, categorically denying Bakita’s allegations. The statement is here:

“YouTube does not add code designed to defeat optimizations in other browsers, and works quickly to fix bugs when they’re discovered. We regularly engage with other browser vendors through standards bodies, the Web Platform Tests project, the open-source Chromium project and more to improve browser interoperability.”

According to the YouTube spokesperson, the “hidden empty div” code Bakita suggests was sabotage was actually simply a bug, which has now been fixed.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time someone has claimed that Google stacks the deck in favor of Chrome. Earlier this year, a Mozilla program manager claimed YouTube code created a page load bottleneck for Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge, resulting in five-fold speed deprecation in non-Chrome browsers. The Mozilla employee pointed to a Firefox extension which circumvented the problem.

What do you think? Is Google playing dirty in the browser wars, or are these isolated incidents of bugs blown out of proportion? Let us know your opinions in the comments.

NEXT: Chrome for Android’s ‘Sneak Peek’ loads a link without leaving current tab

Source: Android Zone

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Google Pixel 3 eSIM will work on Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T (eventually)

• The eSIM on the Google Pixel 3 isn’t locked to Google’s Project Fi.
• Although U.S. carriers don’t yet have eSIM systems set up, when they do the Pixel 3 will work with its eSIM on major carriers.
• The Google Pixel 2, however, is likely to stay eSIM-locked exclusively to Project Fi.

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The Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL include eSIM technology, which allows you to connect your device to a wireless carrier without using a physical SIM card. The Google Pixel 2 has the same technology.

However, unlike the Pixel 2, the Pixel 3’s eSIM will work with any wireless carrier which has a system in place to utilize the technology, via XDA Developers. The Pixel 2’s eSIM is unfortunately locked to only work with Google’s own Project Fi.

Since the Pixel 3’s eSIM isn’t locked to Project Fi, it will be possible to jump from carrier to carrier using an unlocked device — and not need to swap SIM cards each time (or pay for a SIM card in the first place). All you’ll need to do is scan a QR or number code provided by your carrier and BOOM: your eSIM will connect your Pixel 3 to the network.

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Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL review: The Android iPhone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkBIx-PNiCw

Historically, Android sat in diametric opposition to iOS. Where Google’s Nexus phones offered cheaper price points and endless customization, the iPhone was expensive and locked down. Apple had a great camera, Android did not. One …

However, the three major U.S. carriers which have stated they will support eSIM tech — Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — do not currently have systems in place to support eSIM, at least not yet.

For the time being then, the Pixel 3 eSIM will only work with Project Fi and other select global carriers which support the tech. But at least you can rest assured that at some point in the future it will work here at home on at least three of the Big Four carriers.

NEXT: eSIM: What it is, who’s got it, and why should you care?

Source: Android Zone

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Nokia 5.1 Plus review: The new budget superstar

With the Nokia 6.1 Plus, HMD Global finally offered a well-rounded mid-range smartphone where, unlike the company’s 2017 portfolio, the specifications sheet didn’t look dated and the pricing didn’t evoke, to put it mildly, a mixed reaction.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus is the step in the same direction and shares a similar design language as well as the overall ethos. At first glance, one can easily mistake it for a lower spec’d sibling of the Nokia 6.1 Plus, but looks only tell half the story.

With the Nokia 5.1 Plus, HMD Global aims for a balance of design and performance, at probably the most competitive price in markets like India. Let’s take a deep dive in this Nokia 5.1 Plus review and see if it delivers.

Nokia 5.1 Plus review notes: For the purpose of this review, I used the Indian variant of the Nokia 5.1 Plus that was provided to AndroidAuthority a few days before the official launch. During the period of testing, there was an update for improved system stability and some UI enhancements which also delivered the Google Security Patch for September.

Show More

Design

See also

Nokia 6.1 Plus review: The one that just works

Less than two years after it resuscitated Nokia, HMD Global finally looks like it’s at home. The 2017 portfolio’s middle-of-the-road devices didn’t fare well against the competition, but they were hardly shoddy.

This year’s seen a fantastic mid-ranger, …

The Nokia 5.1 Plus almost looks like a Nokia 6.1 Plus. There’s no getting around it, but it’s not a bad thing. The 6.1 Plus, and by extension the 5.1 Plus, upped the ante for the design of budget smartphones. The finesse in design and the reassuring build quality makes the 5.1 Plus seem like it should be more expensive.

There’s glass on the rear, and the black one I used looked great, though a glass back of course attracts fingerprints and smudges, so bear that in mind. It’s also quite slippery as expected, and I think a lot of people would prefer to snap a protective case on it.

Along with the Nokia 6.1 Plus, the Nokia 5.1 Plus is among the most compact smartphones in the market right now. There’s only the moderately large 5.8-inch display on the front (with a notch and minimum bezels, that is). It’s not exactly bezel-less since the phone’s frame peeks from around the edges of the display along with a proper chin at the bottom.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus sports nicely rounded corners, which make the phone nice to hold and use with one hand.

Nokia 5.1 Plus impresses with its striking chassis and build quality and overall ergonomics.

At the back, the dual cameras and the fingerprint sensor along with the Nokia branding are stacked right in the center giving the device symmetrical aesthetics. The cameras protrude a little, so the phone doesn’t rest flat on surfaces. There’re no silver accents around the camera module, the fingerprint sensor, and the buttons like on the 6.1 Plus which added a nice premium touch.

Overall, the Nokia 5.1 Plus impresses with its striking chassis and build quality and overall ergonomics — all in a sub-$200 smartphone.

Display

On the front side, there’s a 5.8-inch HD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. The tall display is almost the perfect size for most people. There’s a considerably wider notch that leaves little space for status indicator icons.

It’s a pretty good display for a budget smartphone. The color reproduction is just right with enough punch, and the viewing angles are great.

While the screen brightness is decent for usage in bright sunlight outdoors, at some angle, the display can get very reflective. The adaptive brightness is iffy though.

Performance

Powered by the MediaTek Helio P60 chipset with Mali-G72 MP3 GPU, the Nokia 5.1 Plus packs in 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus chugs along nicely in everyday usage and didn’t fail at anything I threw at it. Much of it is because vanilla Android requires few resources and the memory management on the phone is terrific.

I did not face any stutters while multitasking with about half a dozen apps in the background or switching between games. Web browsing with a bunch of tabs open was a breeze and it manages to hold up nice while playing graphic-intensive games like the Asphalt 9: Legends. There’s of course some slight lag here and there, like when items in an app take a second to populate the screen, or a noticeable delay before the keyboard appears when you tap in a text input area, or just launching an odd app. These are expected in a budget smartphone, and not really a showstopper.

The Helio P60 chipset offers a good mix of performance and power efficiency. In real world usage, the phone easily lasts for an entire day with its 3,060mAh battery. Fast charging allows the phone to go from zero to 100 percent with the bundled charger in just over two hours, which is pretty good. Using a third-party Quick Charge 3.0-compatible charger, this only takes 90 minutes.

Hardware

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HMD Global deserves big props for offering a USB Type-C port on the Nokia 5.1 Plus, instead of a MicroUSB port. Most budget and mid-range smartphones still go with the MicroUSB port and the Type-C port has hitherto been the preserve of more expensive phones.

The smartphone includes a hybrid dual-SIM tray, so you can use two nano SIMs or one SIM and a microSD card up to 400GB if memory expansion is important for you.

Camera

The Nokia 5.1 Plus sports a dual camera setup at the back with a 13MP primary sensor with an f/2.0 aperture combined with a 5MP secondary depth sensor. For a budget smartphone, the Nokia 5.1 Plus manages to capture quite agreeable shots outdoors. The color reproduction is accurate, and the sharpness is on track with a good amount of detail.

In low-light conditions, a little noise creeps in and the lack of detail is noticeable. Some of the shots are quite grainy too.

The 8MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture takes serviceable selfies in good lighting conditions but struggles a bit at night. It’s wide enough for those group selfies, but there’s no depth of field.

While the camera app is good enough, there’s a definite lag in capturing a photo after pressing the shutter button. It’s noticeable if you’re coming from a better spec’d smartphone, but otherwise no big deal. The app is fast enough to lock the focus, but it’s hit or miss.

The Live Bokeh mode allows you to alter the depth of field, adjusting the level of bokeh effect. Most of the photos I captured in the mode came out quite well, with decent edge detection and a nice background blur.

All things considered, the camera setup on the Nokia 5.1 Plus is pretty good. Go in with modest expectations, and it will serve you quite well — except the lazy reaction time while clicking photos. Here are all the photos in high resolution if you want to do some pixel peeping.

Software

Like other phones in HMD Global’s portfolio, the Nokia 5.1 Plus is an Android One smartphone. Out of the box, it ships with Android 8.1 Oreo and offers a clean, stock Android experience.

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Android One certification means the smartphone will receive two years of guaranteed Android “letter” upgrades and three years of monthly security updates. It’s likely to receive Android Pie soon and will also get Android Q, whenever that happens.

There’s no bloatware or duplicate apps, but the Nokia 5.1 Plus comes with the Google Pay app pre-installed which you can uninstall if you don’t need.

The implementation of the notch could be better. In landscape mode while playing games or watching videos, the area on either side of it is wasted.

Specifications

	Nokia 5.1 Plus
Display	5.9-inch HD+ (720 x 1520) 19:9 aspect ratio 2.5D Cover Glass
SoC	MediaTek HelioP60 MT6771 Octa Core; up to 1.8Ghz
RAM	3GB LPDDR3
Storage	32GB Expandable with MicroSD card up to 400GB
Cameras	Rear: 13MP PDAF f/2 + 5MP depth sense LED flash Front: 8MP FF f/2.2 aperture 80.4 FoV
Audio	Single speaker AMP+ 2 mics
Battery	3060mAh 5V/2A charging
IP rating	None
Sensors	Gyroscope, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Fingerprint
Network	GSM Quad band WCDMA 1, 5, 8 LTE 1, 3, 5, 8, 40, 41 (120MHz)
Connectivity	USB type-C 3.5mm audio jack Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, BT 4.2, GPS/AGPS/GLONASS/BDS/Galileo FM radio
SIM	Dual SIM
Software	Android 8.1 Oreo (Android One)
Dimensions and weight	149.51 x 71.98 x 8.096mm
Colors	Gloss Black / Gloss White / Gloss Midnight Blue

Gallery

Pricing and final thoughts

The Nokia 5.1 Plus is a pretty well-rounded budget smartphone, with a good balance of performance, camera, and battery life all packed in an upmarket chic-looking chassis with progressive choices like a USB Type-C port.

The Nokia 5.1 Plus offers an uncompromised smartphone experience for those who don’t pick up smartphones based on specifications sheet.

Android One is the icing on the cake, delivering a seamless stock Android experience. HMD Global has done well this year delivering regular updates for existing Nokia phones. So far the company’s kept up with its pitch of pure and up-to-date Android.

At 10,999 rupees (~$149) in India, the Nokia 5.1 Plus is definitely worth the money. It’s now my automatic recommendation for someone looking for a sub-$150 smartphone.

There’s something reassuring about a Nokia phone, and HMD Global has done quite well to offer an uncompromised experience for those who don’t pick up smartphones based on specifications sheets.

Source: Android Zone

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Google Maps will now make your work commute faster and more enjoyable

Today, on the Google blog, Google announced that it’s bringing four new features to Google Maps, all centered on the idea of making your work commute more efficient, easier, and best of all — more fun!

The four new features are listed below and will start rolling out to both Android and iOS devices starting sometime this week.

• Commute tab: Google Maps will get a new “Commute” tab that will merge together the “Driving” and “Transit” tabs. Using the Commute tab, you can tell Maps how you get to work each day, and then Maps will give you the most up-to-date traffic info to give you notice if you need to leave a bit earlier than usual. Check out the GIF of the new interface below

• Mixed-mode commutes: Do you walk from your apartment to a subway stop? Or do you drive your car to a bus depot? If so, Google Maps will now help you commute using multiple modes of transport and give you helpful information about each leg of your trip.
• Public transit info: If you rely a lot on public transport, Maps can now tell you if your train or bus is running late. In certain areas of the world — like Sydney, Australia — Maps can even tell you how full the bus or train is. This feature will be available this week for 80 regions around the world, with more to come soon.
• Fast access to music: Most everyone listens to music or podcasts during their commute, and now it will be much easier to operate your music player during your trip. Maps will now integrate with Spotify, Apple Music, and Google Play Music, and show you a mini-player right within the Maps app itself. No more toggling between apps just to pause your tunes or skip to the next track!

While Google Maps can’t take away your daily commute, these new features will hopefully at least make your commute easier and more enjoyable.

Be on the lookout for the next update to Google Maps dropping sometime in the next few days!

Install Google Maps for Android

Previous updates

New “For You” tab introduced to Google Maps

June 26, 2018: Google is updating Maps with a couple of new features that it hopes will encourage users to get out of the house and try new things. The first is an entirely new tab within the Google Maps app called “For You.” Here, users will be shown recommendations of places and businesses in their area, especially those that are brand new or are trending based on Google’s data. While the new tab in itself is a nice new feature if you’re out of ideas for what to do one evening, Google has gone a step further and applied its machine learning smarts with a complimentary feature called “Your Match.” Your Match gives users a percentage rating against For You recommendations based on their own personal data and what Google knows about the locations in your area.

Search for reviews right in the Google Maps app

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May 29, 2018: For a lot of people, Yelp is the go-to site when searching for reviews of restaurants, local attractions, and service providers. But Google has its own robust reviews archive that is easily searchable within Google Search or even Google Assistant. However, searching for reviews within Google Maps for Android hasn’t been possible; you would be notified about leaving a review after visiting an establishment, but finding existing reviews was difficult. That’s why it’s exciting that Google is now rolling out a Maps update that lets you search for reviews right in the app.

Google Maps’ new Visual Positioning System fixes navigation

May 8, 2018: We’ve all had been delayed figuring out Google Maps Navigation before — “am I going the right direction?” Google Maps can now use your camera to identify your surroundings and visually communicate your route right in front of your eyes! Tap a button to activate visual view and then just point your camera where you need to go to see relevant info. You will see your surroundings with an overlay of Maps information for nearby business, arrows pointing you in the direction you need to go, with a small map at the bottom to remind you where you are headed.

Sadly, Google did not mention when these new Maps features would become available. We will be sure to update when we learn more.

Google Maps adds 39 new languages to text displays

March 28, 2018: Google will now attempt to broaden the reach of one of its most successful properties with 39 new languages just added to the Google Maps app. However, if you were looking forward to hearing turn-by-turn directions in Icelandic, it doesn’t appear that the audible languages have expanded. Google doesn’t explicitly say as such, but from the GIF it supplied in its press release on the matter, it appears the new languages are only for on-screen text, not voice.

Google Maps adding wheelchair-accessible routes for bus and train journeys

March 16, 2018:  Google Maps has added a navigation filter for buses and trains that identifies the best route for users with mobility needs. “Wheelchair accessible” routes are now rolling out to five metropolitan cities with major transit links from around the world: Boston, London, Tokyo, Sydney, and Mexico City. As the name suggests, the feature is intended to help people who use wheelchairs, but Google is also aware that anyone with mobility issues – as well as families with baby strollers – could benefit from the wheelchair-friendly routes. 

To activate the feature, all you have to do is head to Google Maps (on mobile or desktop) and input directions for public transport like you normally would. Then, before selecting a route hit the “Options” menu and change the tick to “Wheelchair accessible” under the preferred route column.

NEXT: Navigation Wars: Google Maps vs Waze vs Apple Maps

Source: Android Zone

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Google Pixel 3: All the rumors and leaks in one place (Updated September 25)

In this post, which will be updated regularly, we’ll be looking at the latest rumors surrounding the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

Update, September 25, 2018 (10:56AM EST): We’ve got some new renders of the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL (although we don’t see anything new), official live wallpapers, and news about real-time Google Lens capabilities. Read below for more!

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Phone Designer

Last year’s Google Pixel 2 received plenty of acclaim, even if Google chose to drop the headphone jack. Despite the audio port disappointment, you were getting a powerful phone, stock Android, and a great camera experience.

Read Next: Made By Google Phones – what are your options?

What will the Mountain View company bring this year? Here’s what we know about the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL so far.

Google Pixel 3: Release date

BGR

The nitty-gritty

• The Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL will launch on October 9, 2018.
• The launch location this year was moved from San Francisco to New York City.
• There will be smaller satellite events in various cities at the same time.

Google traditionally launches its Pixel devices at its fall hardware event in the second half of the year. In fact, the last two Pixel generations were unveiled on the same date — October 4 — in San Francisco. Despite early rumors that we were destined for another October 4 launch, an anonymous source speaking with Bloomberg said otherwise.

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Google Pixel 3: All the rumors and leaks in one place (Updated September 25)

In this post, which will be updated regularly, we’ll be looking at the latest rumors surrounding the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
Update, September 25, 2018 (10:56AM EST): We’ve got some new renders of the …

Turns out that source was right, as Google later officially confirmed an October 9 event in New York City where the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL — as well as a whole bunch of other Made by Google products — are certain to be revealed.

Concurrently with its event in New York, Google will also hold smaller satellite events in at least two other cities: Paris and London.

Google Pixel 3: Design

The nitty-gritty

• For the first time, Google is creating a smartphone with its own design team and outsourcing the manufacturing.
• For the past few weeks, we’ve seen multiple huge leaks of information, including dozens of Pixel 3 XL’s sold on the black market.
• We also have renders and prototype leaks, which leaves little to be surprised about at the October 9 launch.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were manufactured by HTC and LG, but that was before Google acquired HTC’s hardware team. So what should we expect now?

According to WinFuture.de, Google is partnering with Foxconn subsidiary FIH Mobile to manufacture the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. FIH Mobile isn’t a new entrant either, producing HMD’s Nokia-branded smartphones.

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We’re now just a few weeks from the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL’s launch and if you’ve been paying any attention to Android news you’ve no doubt seen the frankly ridiculous number of in-the-wild leaks for the third-generation Pixel phones.

Multiple leaks of images have hit the internet, including renders, prototypes, and even a full-on unboxing video of an alleged pre-release model. Let’s start off with the earliest prototype:

XDA-Developers

The images above were posted to XDA Developers by a regular forum member. If the images are legit, the smartphone will have an all-glass back. At first glance, the Pixel 3 XL seems to feature the same metal-back-and-glass-window design as the current generation. But on closer examination, you can see that the back is actually one slab of glass with a matte finish on the lower part.

This could mean the handset will support wireless charging. Although nothing has been confirmed yet, we did come across a video on Twitter allegedly showing the wireless charging capabilities of the Google Pixel 3 XL in action:

pic.twitter.com/XtAtAeWreH

— Максим Хорошев (@khoroshev) August 22, 2018

The images above also reveal that the larger Pixel phone could feature a notch, which not everyone is a fan of. They also tell the same story as previous rumors, which is that the flagship will sport a single camera on the back, two on the front, and dual front-facing speakers. And no, the headphone jack won’t make a return.

Keep in mind while this leaked Pixel 3 XL unit seems legitimate, it’s still likely just a prototype or engineering sample. The design of the commercial model could be different.

Reliable leaker @OnLeaks posted 360-degree video renders that allegedly depict the Google Pixel 3 XL in black and the Google Pixel 3 in white. Check them out below:

From the renders, we can tell that the new Pixel series will look a lot like the current Pixel series, albeit with some notches here and there.

We also saw some unboxing videos and photos that allegedly depict a retail version of the Google Pixel 3 XL. The images are here:

And here’s the unboxing video, which leaves very little left to the imagination when it comes to the Pixel 3 XL:

You’ll notice that there’s a set of USB Type-C headphones included in the retail box. This appears to be a concession for removing the headphone jack from the device, as using the included headphones will prevent you from having to use a dongle if you don’t own a set of Bluetooth headphones.

Additionally, we recently came across loads of additional images allegedly showing the Pixel 3 XL from all angles. The first three were taken on a train in Toronto, while the rest were posted online by a Russian site called Rozetked and Twitter user @Wylsacom — check them out below.

Mobile Syrup

Finally, on the Pixel 3 XL front, we had the amazing case of someone leaving a pre-production unit in a Lyft, which the driver proceeded to share snaps of on social media.

Android Police

Now we’ve throughly covered the Pixel 3 XL, let’s take a look at the vanilla Pixel 3. In general, the smaller of the two phones has received less attention and hasn’t been leaked in quite such a spectacular fashion as its larger sibling.

However, hands-on images have surfaced via Reddit which show a phone that looks a lot like a smaller Pixel 2 XL. For starters, there’s no notch to be found on the smaller variant judging from the photos. The camera and flash modules are also in the same position as the Pixel 3 XL/2 XL, as opposed to the flipped position on the Pixel 2.

The Pixel 3 has also been shown in renders obtained by NieuweMobiel.nl which show the phone next to the Pixel 3 XL in what appears to be an official fabric case.

NieuweMobiel.nl

We also have an idea of what colorways to expect from the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL series thanks to a teaser from Google Japan. The interactive page shows the husk of a Pixel phone from a rear angle and clicking the Google icon on the rear causes it to cycle through three different shades, beginning with a white/grey shade, then a black finish (both below), and finally a turquoise colorway.

That wasn’t the end of the teaser’s secrets, however, as a Twitter user uncovered a fourth pink colorway hidden in the site’s source code.

Google Japan / @CasvanDinter

Finally, WinFuture posted some leaked press renders that give us a full look at what are likely the official retail versions of both the Pixel and Pixel 3 XL. They look exactly as we expected:

WinFuture

WinFuture

Google Pixel 3: Specs

The nitty-gritty

• The unboxing video above and various leaks give us pretty much all the alleged specs of the Pixel 3 line.
• However, since the specs are all sourced from leaks, there could be major differences with the official versions.
• Despite rumors to the contrary, it is extremely unlikely that there will be a Pixel 3 Ultra or Pixel Watch at the October event.

In the leaked unboxing images and video above, we get a good look at the specs of the Pixel 3 XL.

The first thing the images all but confirm is that the phone will run the latest version of Android, the newly monikered and released Android 9.0 Pie. However, this was expected and is pretty much a given as launching with the newest version of Android is half the point of the Pixel line.

The images also show that the phone will likely be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm processor (4 x 1.77GHz and 4 x 2.8GHz), which is almost certainly the Snapdragon 845 SoC, backed by 4GB of RAM and an Adreno 630 GPU. The display is also listed as having a 1,440 x 2,960 resolution with a 494ppi rating.

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Although not much was given away as far as display resolution, we did get a look at the official live wallpapers that will ship with the Pixel 3 line. You can download those here.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL managed to deliver portrait mode without the need for a dual camera setup. In fact, Google’s HDR+ feature and portrait mode make a strong case for computational photography paired with a single camera setup.

From the images above, we can assume that all versions of the Google Pixel 3 will come with a single camera lens on the rear, just like the previous line. We also can assume that both phones are apparently packing two selfie cameras, ostensibly for improved bokeh trickery, authentication and/or wide-angle shots.

Over at XDA Developers, a new rumor started that suggests the Google Pixel 3 running Google Camera will be able to utilize Google Lens features in real-time. This is another bit of evidence to suggest that Google is banking big on the camera capabilities of the Pixel 3 line.

A more recent video (below) allegedly showing the Pixel 3 XL tells us the same story but shares a few additional specs the phone may offer. These include a 6.7-inch display, a 3,430mAh battery, 64GB of storage and a 12.2MP primary camera.

If these details are true, the Pixel 3 XL will not be as much of an upgrade over its predecessor as we’d like. A 3,430mAh battery is rather small for a device with such a large display. In fact, it’s smaller than the one its predecessor is packing (3,520mAh). The combination of 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage also isn’t impressive for a 2018 flagship, but there could be more memory variants available.

What about the Pixel Ultra?

Despite all the leaks showing just two phones, many Pixel fans are holding out hope that we may see a third Pixel phone model in 2018. Way back in October 2017, an unconfirmed report claimed that the code names for the next Pixel phones would be “albacore,” “blueline,” and “crosshatch.” Since then ASOP commits from Google have referenced both “crosshatch” and then “blueline”. At the moment, we have yet to see a reference to “albacore” in ASOP.

The speculation surrounding this mysterious third phone — dubbed the Pixel Ultra — has been inescapable. The Pixel 3 XL’s incremental spec upgrades (and the notch) have served to pour more gasoline on the fire, with some consumers holding out hope for a ‘true next-gen Pixel phone’.

Chrome Unboxed No, that is not the Pixel Ultra on the left.

While Google could obviously turn around and release a Pixel Ultra at the October event, at this point it seems highly unlikely. We’ve seen nothing to show that Pixel Ultra is actually on the way and every supposed leak or insider source has been debunked (check out this 9to5Google post for all of the bogus ‘leaks’).

There’s also another unconfirmed report, from WinFuture.de, that claimed Google is working on a new phone that could launch in the first half of 2019. The same site claims the code name for the phone is “bonita” and that it will use the newly announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor that’s designed for mid-range ($400-$500) devices. This may be the second generation of such a device from the company.

What about the Pixel Watch?

Again, sorry to crush your dreams, but the long-rumored Pixel Watch isn’t happening either. Yet.

It had been rumored that Google would also launch its first branded smartwatch at the launch event for the Pixel 3. No leaks of images or specs emerged, but rumors keep popping up that as many as three Pixel-branded smartwatches were imminent.

Unfortunately, Miles Barr, Google’s director of engineering for Wear OS, put paid to those hopes in a recent interview at IFA 2018, noting that “[Google’s] focus is on our partners for now.”

There are plenty of other Google products that could launch at the Pixel 3 event, however! Read our breakdown here for all the things we might see in New York.

Google Pixel 3: Price

The nitty-gritty

• We do not have any solid info yet on pricing.
• Judging from previous price points for the Pixel line, it’s probable that the Pixel 3 will start around $700 and the Pixel 3 XL will start around $900.
• Remarkably, pricing is the one thing about these phones that Google has been able to prevent leaking thus far.

The first-generation 32GB Pixel XL came in at $769, while the 64GB Pixel 2 XL has a price tag of $849. At the top end, the 128GB Pixel XL came in at $869, while the 128GB Pixel 2 XL has a $949 price tag. Could we see the top-end Pixel 3 XL breach the $1000 barrier?

With the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 launching in August at $999 for the cheapest variant, it is absolutely possible that Google could follow suit and price its most expensive phone in that arena.

Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any solid leaks just yet in regard to pricing. At least Google has managed to keep one thing under wraps!

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Will the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL fare better than their predecessors? What do you want to see from the two smartphones? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Store

Latest Pixel 3 news and rumors:

• [September 25] Download the glorious Google Pixel 3 live wallpapers in full resolution
• [September 24] Here’s a sneak peek at the Google Pixel 3’s live wallpapers
• [September 17] Would a pink Google Pixel 3 be enough to distract you from the XL’s giant notch?
• [September 14] Google teases Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL color options, but only one hasn’t leaked already
• [September 6] Google’s Pixel 3 event officially taking place on October 9
• [September 2] Here’s another look at the Pixel 3 XL after it was left in the back of a Lyft
• [August 31] Two phones – likely the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL – hit the FCC
• [August 30] First alleged pics of Google Pixel 3 (not XL) are here, along with specs
• [August 27] Google might push Pixel 3 launch to October 9 in NYC
• [August 24] The Google Pixel 3 XL already has an unboxing video. Seriously.
• [August 23] The Google Pixel 3 XL might be a selfie-taking champion
• [August 23] The Pixel 3 XL leaks aren’t stopping: More info on USB Type-C Pixel Buds, Google Camera update
• [August 22] Ukrainian black market seller probably responsible for rash of Pixel 3 XL leaks
• [August 22] Here’s everything you could want to see of the Google Pixel 3 XL. Why is this happening?
• [August 20] This person just can’t stop getting caught using an alleged Google Pixel 3 XL
• [August 17] Alleged Google Pixel 3 XL spotted in the wild, huge notch in tow
• [August 10] Alleged specs of Google Pixel 3 XL will have you laughing out loud

Source: Android Zone

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