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Android Faithful
From Thicc to Thinn
We're back for the second episode of Android Faithful! Huyen Tue Dao, Ron Richards and Mishaal Rahman return to discuss the world of Android news, hardware, apps and everything in between.
Featured in this episode:
NEWS: New Google Play policy updates around privacy and the blockchain, The EU requires replaceable batteries in smartphones in 2027, Android 14 brings a change to work profile changing as well as warnings for sideloaded updates
HARDWARE: Review: Pixel Tablet, Honor Magic V2 is the thinnest foldable yet, OnePlus's foldable is coming in late August AND OnePlus released a mechanical keyboard!
APPS: Oh hey, PocketCasts is now available for WearOS
This episode of Android Faithful is brought to you by OSOM. The OSOM privacy cable gives you much-needed control over when and how your data is shared. Get more info at http://osomprivacy.com/privacy-cable
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91. VIVO Says Hold My Camera
01:30:03||Ep. 91This episode is sponsored by The Great Code Chase from Square Developers! Compete now on the Square Developer YouTube Channel, and you can win a limited-edition Square Developer LEGO Minifigure!Another week in the tapestry of Android news rolls on as Jason Howell, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards deliver the highs and lows and the wonder of bizarre camera add-ons for phones and more.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:06:20 - NEWSAndroid 16 rolled out the 4th beta and Mishaal breaks it downSamsung and Motorola may go the AI Assistant route of Perplexity There's early leaks of Samsung One UI 8 and they're nothing to get excited aboutCould we see a new version of Material Design at Google I/O?PATRON PICK: Apparently Android's Health Connect is a bit of a mess00:42:42 - HARDWAREA new rugged phone and tablet on the way from Samsung!The Vivo X200 Ultra and it's camera kit is shocking to seeCould this be the patent for the Samsung rollable phone?01:02:18 - APPSSome major updates from Gemini with Live Camera and free access for College studentsGoogle Discover continues to make weird design choicesNow you can upgrade old photos to Ultra HDR in Google Photos 01:16:38 - COMMUNITYJim discovered voice reporting does work in Waze!Michel Dumont is curious about anti-virus software in Android, is it needed?Sam from Cleveland has some ideas about car based smart glasses90. Pixel Watch 4... More Like Thick-sel Watch 4
01:27:14||Ep. 90This episode is sponsored by Square's Mobile Payments SDK - Developers, now it’s easier than ever to integrate the market leader for payments into your mobile apps. Get more info here!It was a week of wearable news as Jason, Huyen, and Mishaal talk about XR glasses at TED, in the news, and in Android Auto, and wonder what are the nubs on the Pixel Watch 4 in a leaky peaky.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:02:02 - NEWSGoogle lays off hundreds of employees in the Platform and Devices division.Mishaal talks about a couple of features that will make Android devices more secure, including one borrowed from iOS.Google gives a first look at their XR glasses being made in collaboration with SamsungPATRON PICK: Gboard is working on a meme studio and it’s “mediocre at best”00:42:46 - HARDWAREThe newly announced Honor “Power” lives up to its nameThe OnePlus Watch now has a higher price for unsurprising reasonsA leaky peaky of the Pixel Watch 4 shows that it might be a little bit thicker than the Pixel Watch 3The Pixel 10 Pro Fold price leaksJason and Shannon Morse reviewed the Pixel 9a01:05:02 - APPSMishaal shares his experiences with Google’s advanced video generation model, Veo2Google may be adding Circle-to-Search-like functionality to Gemini liveGemini is coming to Wear OS and a Google Photos extension is coming to Gemini01:17:25 - COMMUNITYMichael O. writes in to ask about Android trackers that do not require Samsung device lock-in.89. My Next Phone is Centa-Fold
01:39:36||Ep. 89This episode is sponsored by Square's Mobile Payments SDK - Developers, now it’s easier than ever to integrate the market leader for payments into your mobile apps. Get more info here!This week Huyen, Jason and Ron ponder the world of of AR glasses, infinite folding smartphones, song parodies and more!Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:04:53 - NEWSHigher prices for Samsung phones seem inevitableMishaal explains how Android 16 may borrowing from iOS and more from the upcoming OS releaseGoogle adds Lens and Photos support to AI Search and it's pretty impressiveLooks like the Samsung Galaxy S25 was a hit after allPATRON PICK: Meta is going to one-up Google Glass with the next Ray-Bans Smart Glasses00:58:24 - HARDWARECould Samsung be developing a Quad Fold device? We hope so!The new Wal-Mart Onn TV Device is coming and it's the harbinger of the "Free TV" button on Google TV remotesRumors swirling around the OnePlus 13T are too amazing to be true. Small phone with a huge battery that weighs less?The camera specs for the Google Pixel 10 line are confirmed and confounding.01:20:33 - APPSAndroid Automotive has a DashCam App, but you can't download itMore AI on Android, this time from Microsoft with Copilot Vision, now available on mobileDid you know Intel Unison enabled Android to connect to Windows? We didn't either but it doesn't matter since they're shutting it down01:25:22 - COMMUNITYTJ writes in about something fishy going on with games on Google PlayLarry from Metamora, Michigan writes in asking if his bluetooth earbuds can connect to two phones at once?88. No Joke, Android Goes Private
01:26:31||Ep. 88We're not foolin' around this week as some earth shaking news in the development world of Android along gets weighed by our hosts, Jason Howell, Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:02:35 - NEWSIt's April Fool's Day and the jokes are really losing steam...BIG NEWS in the world of open source as Google takes Android private and Mishaal is here to explainMore information on what could have been with "Pixie"Looks like the Samsung Galaxy S25 was a hit after allPATRON PICK: Why are phone makers ditching Gorilla Glass?00:47:31 - HARDWARENothing OS get an update for (3a) Series and Jason's review of the phone is positive along with an appreciation of the Essential Space buttonGoogle re-sets the Pixel 9A launch date for April 10We get some leaked renders of the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and they're more of the same01:02:10 - APPSGoogle's got a bunch of new features and tips on how to plan your summer travel with Search, Maps, Gemini and LensLooks like Chrome for Android supporting extensions may becoming realHey! Circle to Search is coming to...Perplexity on Android?Now you can play video games in your car on Android Auto01:17:16 - COMMUNITYJordan in Montana wants us to normalize plastic phones againJavier from Louisville, KY shares his Samsung DEX Setup87. Gemini Hallucinates Stock Android
01:14:19||Ep. 87It's an episode of some deep analysis and discussion of Google's AI progress with Gemini along with a lively Stock Android hot-take talk along with the latest phones, apps and your emails with Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:03:17 - NEWSThe EU has got Apple backed into a corner over iOS only featuresA fascinating look at Google playing catch-up to OpenAI with the development of GeminiPATRON PICK: A hot-take on the fact that Stock Android really is a thing of the past00:36:06 - HARDWAREThe Pixel 9A is here! Even though it's delayed and missing some featuresHuawei changes the game on foldables WITHOUT Android!The new lineup of Moto Razr foldables have leakedNow you can have Atari 2600 games on your new Atari smartwatch00:54:21 - APPSG-Mail upgrades your inbox with AI (of course) and now parents can add credit cards to kids' Google WalletGoogle Messages might be bringing YouTube backGet your free stuff. Free video games on the Epic Games store and free MLB.TV on T-Mobile01:01:56 - COMMUNITYClayton from Valencia, CA followed up with photos of his DEX SetupJordan also sent in photos of his former DEX SetupAndy in Melbourne, Australia has a huge gripe about smartwatches and their lack of actual watch like functions86. Google, Give Us a Break
01:51:19||Ep. 86March is a huge month for Android with Google's barrage of announcements. Adam Doud joins the team to parse through as much as we can in this extra long episode.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:10:40 - NEWSRCS is back as Apple adds encryption with Android usersGoogle Play announced interoperability between PCs and Mobile games along with Vulkan as the official graphics APIPokemon Go! got sold to ScopelyAndroid 16 Beta 3 is here and we've got platform stability!We finally get a date for Samsung's OneUI 7 rollout and more device infoPATRON PICK: This crazy new handheld device is powered by the new Snapdragon chip for gaming00:44:50 - HARDWARELeaks of the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion and a NEW kind of foldable from HuaweiGet minimalist as the Light Phone III is shipping this monthPebble is back with the Core 2 Duo and Core Time 2 watches01:22:32 - APPSGemini is getting personalization along with a ton of tools for developers and collaborationGemini begins the takeover of AssistantMicrosoft integrated Android into Copilot AI app for WindowsJoining groups on Google Messages is getting easier01:38:11 - COMMUNITYClayton from Valencia, CA is a proud Samsung Dex user!85. Mobile World Congress: Because We Can
01:49:46||Ep. 85Mobile World Congress is over and Jason and Mishaal are back on the show to join Huyen and Ron to go through a TON of Android News. Plus we're delighted to welcome Nirave Gondhia of House of Technology to the show to help us break it all downNote: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor.00:06:50 - NEWSGoogle announces an experimental AI Mode for SearchSamsung expands One UI 7 beta access to more devices, revealing new featuresLock screen widgets are coming (back) to Android along with one step closer to desktop accessMore details on the Pixel 4A debacle emergeThe March Feature Drop has caused many problems for Google PixelsThe DOJ vs Google saga continues targeting ChromePATRON PICK: GBoard goes rounded keys and people freaked out00:59:11 - HARDWAREMobile World Congress Recap with tons of phones! Like the RealMe Photo Concept phone, the Techno Spark Slim phone and much more!Leaky Peeky at the Pixel 10 and "Pixie" makes a comeback!We get updated leaked images of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7REVIEW: Jason took the OnePlus Watch 3 Snowboarding!Goodbye slider button! OnePlus confirms it's dead01:38:16 - APPSGoogle Gemini on Android Auto? Yes it's for realGoogle Photos rolls back feature change due to user demand84. Ja-Mobile World Congress
01:30:42||Ep. 84While Jason Howell and Mishaal Rahman are enjoying Jamon in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, Huyen Tue Dao and Ron Richards are at AFHQ to bring you the latest in Android news and the continuing parade of new phones!Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor.00:02:50 - NEWSGoogle times the March 2025 Android Feature and Google Pixel Drops with MWCIf you've got a Samsung device, here's when you'll get One UI 7Google Pixels in the wild as NYC uses them to help monitor the subway for defectsPATRON PICK: Google Translate gets an unbelievably helpful AI boost00:31:20 - HARDWAREJason is hands on with the brand new Nothing Phone 3(A) and ProMishaal provides a n in-depth review of the Xiaomi 15 UltraSamsung busts into the mid-range with some great specs for the Galaxy A26 5G, A36 5G & A56 5GFrom Barcelona at MWX, Jason is hands on with the TCL 60 XE NextPaper 5G Foldable leaky peakys! First the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and then the crazy cool Infinix tri-folding concept phoneMore concepts with the TECNO Spark Slim boasting the thinnest smartphone ever!01:19:50 - APPSSome cars will get a very cool heads-up display integration with the Waze 5.4 update01:23:54 - COMMUNITYDerek from Illinois sheds some light on the OnePus Watch 3 typo debacleMichael from Tulsa, OK is so very disappointed in Samsung83. What Does "Global" Even Mean, Anyway?
01:32:19||Ep. 83Oh boy, the week before Mobile World Congress and there is SO MUCH hardware to discuss. Luckily Jason Howell, Huyen Tue Dao, Mishaal Rahman and Ron Richards are to ponder what a global launch really means.Note: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor.00:05:00 - NEWSGoodbye Amazon Appstore on Android Devices!Mishaal's got even more details on Android 16Rabbit is back with a look at their Android AgentPATRON PICK: The Pixel Tablet gets a new, expensive life from Murena00:40:00 - HARDWAREFirst video leak of the Google Pixel 9A shows off the lack of a camera bumpThe Oppo Find N5 is launching "Globally" but not in the US or Europe. Okay Oppo, sure, "Global"Just how slim is the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge? Very slim.Nothing reveals the secrets behind the design of the Phone 3(A)The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 looks to finally get the form factor rightGoodbye Chromecast with Google TV - we loved you.The Xiaomi 15 is coming on March 2Finally, the Clicks keyboard arrives for Android!01:21:50 - APPSCars with Android Auto are getting dozens of apps!The newest Photoshop app from Adobe is coming to Android...eventually.