That is Android Central’s Information Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most important tech tales. That is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the newest developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama.Â
This week, we speak about Google rebranding Bard to Gemini, Gemini making its option to Canada, a pilot program to detect monetary fraud apps, a function that confirmed up surprisingly with the brand new Android Beta replace, and a sneak-peek at an alleged Pixel Fold 2.
Google ditches ‘Bard’
Google has determined to take advantage of the Gemini Period idea by letting go of Bard and rebranding its AI chatbot as Gemini this week. Once you entry Google’s chatbot from the online or by the brand new cell app, you may see new Gemini branding with the identical UI under it. Google needs its AI options to be all-encompassing underneath one umbrella  — Gemini.
The brand new cell app will enable customers to do a lot of what they’ll already do with Google Assistant, probably signaling a shift away from Google Assistant.
“For the previous 12 months, Bard has been the greatest approach for folks to immediately expertise and collaborate with our AI fashions,” stated Sissie Hsiao, Google’s vp of Gemini Experiences and Assistant. “Gemini represents our most succesful household of fashions. So, to replicate the superior expertise at its core, Bard will now merely be referred to as Gemini.”
Together with Gemini, the corporate can also be launching Gemini Superior, out there with Extremely 1.0, beginning at this time as a part of a brand new Google One AI Premium subscription costing $20 a month.Â
Google’s placing the ‘Eh’ in AIÂ
Pun meant! After what felt like a century however was a 12 months, Google is lastly increasing its AI chatbot Gemini to Canada. Beginning February 8, Gemini will probably be out there in English and Quebecois French, together with 40 different languages worldwide, through the Gemini web site. “So we all know that Canadians have been ready for this second with anticipation, and I can let you know that we have been working actually exhausting as a staff to make it occur on a private degree,” stated Jules Walker, product supervisor for Gemini Experiences.Â
Whereas we’re not positive why Google took so lengthy to carry Gemini (previously Bard) to Canada, a number of speculations recommend that this might be as a result of soured relationship between the corporate and the Canadian Authorities as a consequence of the On-line Information Act (Invoice C-18).
Walker stated that addressing the problems relating to the C-18 invoice has paved the best way for Google to launch Gemini in Canada, along with consulting specialists, policymakers, and regulators throughout the completely different sectors.
Whereas of us within the U.S. get to check out the Gemini app, Canadians have to attend a bit extra.Â
New program to protect Android customers from Phishing
We see loads of phishing scams doing the rounds these days, be it an electronic mail hyperlink or an SMS asking you to make a fee to a sure web site or apps that sneakily take your knowledge and infrequently exploit the customers.Â
Earlier this week, Google launched a pilot program to fight monetary fraud by stopping the sideloading of apps to sort out monetary fraud points affecting Android customers. The safety function will probably be progressively launched to Android customers in Singapore within the coming weeks, and if all goes properly, we will anticipate a wider rollout afterward.
Google, together with Singapore’s Cyber Safety Company, is making an attempt to create an added layer of safety from Android apps that ask for permissions, typically exploited in phishing assaults. It would function a real-time test on 4 key permissions, equivalent to studying and receiving SMS messages, accessibility service, and notification listening service. This safety improve comes as part of Google Play Shield.
Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 with a shock AI trick
The brand new Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 (construct AP21.240119.009) rolled out to eligible units on Wednesday, February 7. With this replace, beta testers can now take a look at the Circle to Search function, lately launched for Google Pixel 8 customers with the brand new function replace.Â
This circle-to-search function stays unique to the Pixel 8 collection. Nevertheless, with the newest QPR launch, all eligible units within the beta program will get to try it out. Customers with a Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Professional, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Professional, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Professional, Pixel Fold, or Pixel Pill are in for a shock.Â
This replace will roll out within the subsequent few days; nonetheless, if you wish to try it out proper now, you possibly can be part of the Android Beta Program, and in your Pixel’s Settings, head over to System, then faucet System replace to put in it.
Pixel Fold 2 leak spilled the beans on the system’s seems
This week additionally noticed what often is the first main Pixel Fold 2 leak. Android Authority has allegedly obtained a photograph of the Pixel Fold 2, which exhibits modifications to the telephone’s rear panel. Within the picture, we seen that the system’s digicam shelf exhibits a sq. as a substitute of a horizontal bar. The Fold 2’s cameras are stacked in two small pill-shaped rows, with its LED flash nestled on the prime proper. Allegedly, the island could host 4 sensors: a main wide-angle lens, an ultrawide lens, a periscope telephoto lens, and an “unknown” fourth sensor. The hypothesis is that this fourth sensor might be the temperature sensor the Pixel 8 Professional options.
An unnamed supply instructed Android Authority that the system’s “cowl display screen is narrower” and the inner show’s facet ratio “is nearer to a sq..”
Persevering with internally, the supply states the Pixel Fold 2’s prototype unit encompasses a “show cutout” within the prime proper nook of its show for the digicam. The way it could look wasn’t detailed.
There have additionally been speculations about Google giving up the Tensor G3Â for the Fold 2 in favor of a more recent shipset. Nevertheless, solely time will inform if any of those rumors maintain true.Â
These are among the greatest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed here are another tales from which are value catching up on:
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