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Nokia's five-camera phone will include an in-screen fingerprint reader
Thanks to some leaks, Nokia's five-camera smartphone is no longer a mystery -- and it might just be one of the more intriguing handsets of 2019. Well-known leaker Evan Blass and MySmartPrice have posted stills and videos of the Android One phone, now called the Nokia 9 PureView (yes, the PureView revival is real), and it's evident that the spider-like rear cameras aren't the only trick up the device's sleeve. It'll have an under-the-display fingerprint reader, for one thing. It'll still use the 2018-era Snapdragon 845 for a processor instead of the 855, but you can expect 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, wireless charging and a 6-inch "2K" display with both HDR10 and a tall aspect ratio.
A proper explanation of Google’s Android One program
I must admit I didn't know much about Android One before coming to IFA 2018. I had assumed it was some form of software or set of specifications for midrange phones, although a lot of people around me were also confusing it with Android Go. Android One is neither of those things. If you're here expecting an Android Go explainer, sorry. Best go live your life now. This is not the (An)droid you're looking for.
Motorola launches two notched Android One phones
Motorola has officially launched the One and the One Power, two new phones created for Google's Android One program. While that doesn't mean they're created specifically for emerging markets -- Android One initially focused on entry-level devices but evolved into a series of phones that gets updates from Google quickly and consistently -- they're not quite flagship material either. Inside One Power, you'll find last year's Snapdragon 636 1.8GHz octa-core processor and 64GB of built-in storage, which is thankfully expandable and double that of LG's recently unveiled G7 One. The device also has a 6.2-inch full HD display and, like previous leaks showed, an iPhone X-like notch and a vertical dual rear camera to go with battery life that can last up to two days.
LG's first Android One phone is a stripped-back G7
LG is embracing Google's Android One program ... just not in the way you might have expected. It's launching the G7 One, a device that melds the G7 ThinQ's core design with Android One's streamlined app loadout and focus on timely security updates. Don't think of this as a G7 with less bloat, however. While it has the 6.1-inch QHD+ screen, glass body and quad DAC, it's using last year's Snapdragon 835 processor, reverts to a single 16-megapixel rear camera and carries just half the built-in storage at 32GB (still expandable, thankfully). Really, it's an upper-mid-range phone in a flagship's clothing.
Xiaomi targets Europe with two cheap Android One phones
Remember Android One? Google launched the program in 2014 as a way to improve cheap, low-end Android phones. These days, though, that responsibility has passed to Android Go -- a new version of the operating system optimized for lower-performing hardware. Android One, meanwhile, has morphed into a 'pure Android' stamp of approval (similar to the old Google Play Edition branding) with timely software and security updates. Today, Xiaomi is announcing two new smartphones -- the Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite -- which run this near-stock version of Android. More importantly, both devices are coming to 40 markets, including Spain. Update: The Mi A2 will be available in the following European markets: Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine. It's also coming to Colombia and Mexico (no word on North America) and a variety of markets in the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, including Egypt, India, Hong Kong, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, and the UAE.
Leaked Motorola One Power may borrow heavily from the iPhone X
Remember how an earlier leak suggested Motorola would join the hordes of companies making phones with notches? That dream is still alive, apparently. Android Headlines and 91mobiles claim to have details of the One Power, an Android One-based device that would borrow more than a few pages from the iPhone X book. It would not only have a notched display with curved corners, but an iPhone-style vertical dual rear camera arrangement with the flash in between the two sensors. About the only major differences are the construction (no mix of steel and glass here) and a small chin with a prominent "Motorola" logo.
Google's phone app will boot spam calls to voicemail automatically
Google is taking spam calls seriously. An upcoming update to the default Android Phone app devices will send potential spam calls directly to voicemail, as spotted by 9to5 Google. The feature works like this: A potential spam call comes in, and automatically goes to voicemail. You won't receive a notification for the missed call, and your phone won't ring. However, calls will still show up in your call history and voicemail. Presumably, Google is using AI to filter these calls, much in the way it does spam messages in Gmail.
Google's Duo voice chat app is about to become Android's FaceTime
When Google's standalone video calling app Duo came out last year, we wondered if it would become another niche app, a flash in the pan. Why do we need another communication app in a crowded market? Today's news shows us that we can't always be right, as Google takes the first steps to integrating Duo into its Android operating system, much like Apple's FaceTime is an integral part of iOS.
Project Fi Moto X4 won't ship until late October
If you were looking forward to getting a Project Fi Moto X4, you may want to steel yourself before checking your inbox. Google has sent out emails notifying people who pre-ordered the device on Fi that a production delay has affected its estimated shipping date. The device will now ship between October 18th and October 25th -- and a lot of people aren't happy about it.
Google taps Xiaomi for its most powerful Android One phone
You'd be forgiven for thinking Android One was dead and gone. Google's initiative to bring stock Android to emerging nations through cheap, local handsets roared to life in 2014. By 2015, however, it was already being rebooted, with the tech giant promising to further lower prices. That same year it came to Africa, and is currently available in Japan, Turkey, and the Netherlands, among other regions. Now, Android One is getting fitted with upgraded hardware courtesy of Xiaomi. The Chinese manufacturer's new Mi A1 handset was just announced in India, and will cost $234. That's significantly more than the $50 Android One phones we're used to. The switch to a higher price point indicates a shift in Google's strategy -- as it looks to capture a bigger slice of the world's mobile-first market.
Android's phone app automatically shows GPS info during 911 calls
A lot can happen during a car accident. Between the initial shock from the impact, airbags going off and general disorientation, when you reach for your phone to call 911 you might not know where you are. Couple all that with cell phones' notoriously flaky ability at transmitting your exact location information to emergency service operators, and getting an ambulance to the scene of your accident can be incredibly difficult. To help sidestep that, Google has updated its Phone app to automatically display your location when making a 911 call.
A cheap Android One phone could come to the US this year
The Android One program that aimed to standardize expectations for low-cost phones launched in 2014 and hasn't revolutionized the mobile arena so far. Still, Google is expected to make another run at the initiative, and a report by The Information claims that we can expect to see at least one approved device launch in the first half of 2017. The outlet isn't sure who will make the phone, but LG is said to be a potential partner. A major point of the One program is enabling Google to provide updates directly, and this device should guarantee two years of "timely" updates including security patches.
Samsung launches first Exynos chip with all radios built in
Samsung has revealed a new chip that could have a ripple effect on its high-end smartphones, and will make IoT devices and smartphones for developing markets faster, slimmer and cheaper. The quad-core 7570 is the first Exynos chip to have all wireless tech, including Cat.4 LTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, FM and GNSS (GPS), built in to a single chip. It has 70 percent more performance and uses 30 percent less battery power than its predecessor, with everything squeezed into a 20 percent smaller package.
Google is killing off the Device Assist app on Nexus handsets
Google is killing off its homegrown Device Assist app that helps navigate the ins and outs of certain phones. That means tools like speed tests, settings for battery saving and live tech support are going away in favor of a website with tips and tricks. Affected folks with Android One, Google Play Edition or Nexus handsets will notice a "detected issue" card within the app, according to Android Police, with a link for Google Support when they try to use the application. It has already been removed from the Play Store, and 9to5Google writes that the app is still semi-functional and that no new tool tips will be added.
Google updates Nexus phones with spam call protection
The FCC gets more complaints over spam calls than anything else, and recently told telecom companies to block them for free. Until that happens, Google has made it easier for Nexus or AndroidOne device owners to see if a call is spam and block it, thanks to an update to its phone app. If you have caller ID enabled on those devices, spam or robo-calls will pop up with a red screen and warning that says "suspected spam caller." After taking or rejecting the call, you can either block the number or report that it's legit if Google flagged it in error.
Google hopes to reboot its low-cost Android phone program
Google's Android One program was supposed to help the developing world go mobile and promote 'pure' devices full of Google services, but that's not how it panned out -- the phones flopped as both customers and vendors preferred heavily customized Android devices. However, the search giant may not be giving up just yet. Wall Street Journal sources claim that Google is planning to relaunch Android One in the "coming months" with a more relaxed policy that reflects some lessons learned. It's reportedly loosening the strict hardware requirements, which made it difficult to compete on price and launch phones quickly -- companies now have their pick of multiple parts. That's important in India, where even a small discount can lead to a competitive edge.
Google brings Android One devices to Africa
Google's program to bring cheap Android devices to developing lands has arrived in Africa with the launch of Infinix's HOT 2. The device is available today in six different countries, including Ghana, Ivory Coast and Kenya, setting locals back just just under $90. You certainly get some bang for your buck, with the HOT 2 coming with a quad-core MediaTek CPU, 1GB RAM and 16GB storage. In addition, you'll find a microSD and dualSIM card slots running down one side of the phone. Photography-wise, there's an 8-megapixel primary camera paired with a 2-megapixel forward facer, and the whole thing is topped off with a 5-inch HD screen and a 2,200mAh battery.
The realities of a $50 smartphone
As mobile networks kill off phone subsidies, users might now begin to appreciate just how much their new smartphone really costs. It's an even bigger problem in the developing world, where relatively few have the cash to buy even a mid-range phone like the Moto G. Google attempted to remedy the problem with Android One, but the first generation of "affordable" devices were far too expensive. That's why the company is pledging to get the cost of a smartphone down to just $50 -- a price that, right now, seems impossible to achieve. If Google can do it, however, it'll be able to connect countless people in countries like India, the Philippines and Turkey. Fifty dollars isn't a lot of money to put together a device, so what sort of phone can you get for the money?
Xiaomi thinks its next big opportunity lies in India
China's smartphone market isn't the hotbed of new customers that it once was, which means that companies now need to look elsewhere for fresh profits. Plenty believe that India is the next big thing and Xiaomi is putting money where its mouth is by setting up a manufacturing facility in the country. The firm has teamed up with Foxconn to produce devices from a base in Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, India's hotbed of science, engineering and technology talent. The first piece of hardware to roll off the production line is the Redmi 2 Prime, a localized version of the company's Redmi 2, which is available today for 6,999 Rupees ($110).
Google's Android-for-all program comes to Europe
Google's bid to democratize Android just reached Europe. The internet giant has announced that Turkey will get its first Android One smartphone, the General Mobile 4G, on May 15th. The device is strictly middling given its 5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 410 processor, 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front cam, but it will be the first Android One device to offer LTE. It's fairly affordable, too, at about $263 contract-free. There's no mention of where Google's initiative will go next, but the company hints that Turkey might not be the last European nation to get an Android One phone -- you may eventually find one sitting in a shop near you.
