Google released its second Android Q developer preview today for all Pixel phones. They’re mostly under-the-hood tweaks, but the update also helps get apps and games ready for the first wave of foldable phones, and it brings along Bubbles, Google’s new take on multitasking that looks similar to Facebook Messenger’s Chat Heads, which could change how Android looks and works depending on how it’s implemented.
See the animated GIF immediately above? That’s Android Q’s new foldable screen emulator for developers (and us) to see what today’s apps and games might look like on actual foldable phones. Speaking of actual foldables, the emulator appears to target two rather familiar hardware configurations in particular: a 7.3-inch screen that folds down to 4.6 inches, and an 8-inch screen that folds to 6.6 inches. Those screen dimensions just so happen to match up with the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei’s Mate X.
Meanwhile, Bubbles might end up being a pretty divisive change to Android Q, depending on how it plays out — it’s a twist on multitasking that lets individual apps leave some floating bubbles on top of whatever else you’re doing on the screen. The idea is that when you get a notification in, say, Messages, you’ll be alerted by a Bubble and a keyboard will pop up so you can type a reply, but it won’t totally obstruct the app you’re using beneath it.
If that sounds familiar, it’s probably because a bunch of individual Android apps already do the same thing, most prominently Facebook Messenger with its Chat Heads — but Bubbles isn’t limited to messages. Google says that Bubbles can give users “a convenient view over ongoing tasks and updates, like phone calls or arrival times. They can provide quick access to portable UI like notes or translations, and can be visual reminders of tasks too.” This could end up being a better solution for some than running apps in split-screen mode, but for others, it might be annoying. Google’s actually already been experimenting with Bubbles in its Phone app, but this could make the idea go broader.
The Android Q beta has already made sharing things on social media and with your contacts faster and more intuitive, and now the share sheet interface can show a quick preview of what you’re sending before you share it, potentially preventing you from sharing an embarrassing photo with your family. Sure, it’s a relatively small quality-of-life improvement, but it’s a boon for those who share a lot of stuff.
We expect Google to release at least one more Android Q beta before Google I/O kicks off on May 7th. But don’t expect much in the way of buzzworthy features just yet; Google tends to save the more impressive announcements for the stage. If you want to download the beta, here’s how to do it.
Beats just unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, which are truly wireless headphones just like Apple's AirPods.
The debut comes after Apple released a new pair of AirPods in March that offer the option for wireless charging and "Hey Siri" support.
Here's a look at how the two new headphones compare.
Coming on the heels of Apple's second-generation AirPods announcement, Beats has announced a new pair of wireless earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro. They're launching in May and will cost $250.
Like the latest AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro run on Apple's H1 chip which enables faster pairing with devices. And while the two headphones bear some similarities, the pricier Powerbeats are a more premium choice that have more to offer when it comes to custom fitting options and audio quality.
Here's how the AirPods and the Powerbeats Pro wireless headphones compare:
Reports may have tipped Apple's hand last week, but it was really only a matter of time before the company made a true wireless option that carried the Beats name. And thanks to a hint in iOS code, we knew they'd look very similar to their corded, but still wireless, predecessor. There was little left to announce, and today, Beats officially revealed the Powerbeats Pro: the previously rumored pair of $250 true wireless earbuds.
Indeed, the Powerbeats Pro has the same over-the-ear hook design as the Powerbeats 3 Apple and Beats debuted in 2016. Since these are designed for workouts and other activities, that hook helps keep the buds in place while you're moving around. Beats says this true wireless model is 23 percent smaller and 17 percent lighter than the Powerbeats 3, which hopefully makes them more comfortable. You can also expect sweat- and water-resistant earbuds here, so you shouldn't have any trouble with moisture while you're at the gym or on a run.
There are onboard controls on both earbuds for the Powerbeats Pro, so no matter if you're left of right handed (or prefer one side to the other), you'll have access to the same volume and track controls on both sides. Thanks to optical sensors, these true wireless earbuds will automatically pause when you remove them from your ears, or resume playing when you put them back in place. Beats also says it improved audio quality for calls on this new model, with a combination of a speech-detecting accelerometer and two beam-forming microphones on each side. The company promises that tech helps focus on your voice and reduce background noise -- like a noisy gym -- but we'll have to wait and see how well this actually works.
Sound is always key when it comes to Beats audio gear. Despite opting for overpowering bass in its early days, the company's more recent options have had more even-handed tuning. With the Powerbeats Pro, Beats says it has once again improved the overall audio quality, thanks in part to an upgraded driver that allows "efficient, pressurized airflow" to create better acoustic response in the tiny earbuds. Beats also promises "low distortion and great dynamic range across the entire frequency curve." Again, something we look forward to testing during our upcoming review.
Apple's new AirPods pack its H1 chip, a piece of tech that allows Siri to always be listening -- on top of things like improved battery life, faster connections and more. The Powerbeats Pro also employs the H1 chip, which means all you'll need to do is say "Hey Siri" to summon the virtual assistant, no button pressing required. Powerbeats Pro will last up to 9 hours on a charge, with the included charging case adding 15 hours more (24 hours total combined between the earbuds and the case). Beats' Fast Fuel feature is back, and you can tap it to get 4.5 hours of listening time with a 15-minute charge or 1.5-hours worth of music in a quick five minutes.
Powerbeats Pro will be available in May at Apple's online and retail shops. Color options include black, ivory, moss and navy.
Apple’s first real competitor to AirPods has finally arrived: Beats Powerbeats Pro. Apple has owned Beats since 2014, of course, which explains much of the magic behind the latest truly wireless earphones.
So what are Powerbeats Pro? A serious evolution of the wireless-but-with-a-cord version of Powerbeats earphones. Beats describes Powerbeats Pro as ‘totally wireless’, replacing the microUSB-charged corded hardware with a totally cordless version that has its own Lightning-powered charging case.
Powerbeats Pro also retains the connectivity and intelligence of Apple’s new AirPods thanks to the Apple-designed H1 chip inside, driving reliable wireless connectivity and even voice-activated “Hey Siri” control. There’s more to Powerbeats Pro too:
Color options: black, ivory, navy, and moss
Designed for different ear shapes and high intensity activity thanks to “four sizes of ear tips and a redesigned, adjustable earhook”
Up to 4 hours longer battery life than AirPods without recharging with “up to 9 hours of listening time and more than 24 hours of combined playback with the magnetic closure case”
Color choices including black (!!!), higher noise isolation with in-ear tips, and even longer battery life. In short, as I suggested in my AirPods 2 review yesterday:
Like AirPods and Powerbeats3, the new Powerbeats Pro pair instantly with iPhones and pairing syncs to iCloud-connected devices including iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch without pairing on each device (you can still pair manually with Android).
In terms of portability, AirPods are still king, but Beats says the new Powerbeats Pro are “23 percent smaller than its predecessor and 17 percent lighter.” Beats promises an upgraded experience sonically too:
Completely re-engineered from the inside out, the earphones boast an upgraded linear piston driver that leverages an efficient, pressurized airflow to create a powerful acoustic response in a small package. Enhanced sound quality means incredibly low distortion and great dynamic range across the entire frequency curve.
Powerbeats Pro are also the first Beats earphones to use enhanced technology for improving phone call quality:
Powerbeats Pro delivers incredible voice performance for phone calls. A first for Beats, a speech-detecting accelerometer in each earbud and two beam-forming microphones per side target your voice and filter out external sounds such as wind and ambient noise. This means you can answer a quick mid-workout call at the gym with clarity and confidence.
These are also the first Beats to ditch the power button in favor of AirPods-style power management:
No power button means no worries. Powerbeats Pro earphones power on when taken out of the case and power off (and charge) when placed inside. Motion accelerometers detect when the earphones are idle and not in use, automatically entering them into sleep mode.
And even with Apple’s H1 chip and “Hey Siri” voice control, Powerbeats Pro retain physical buttons for controlling volume and track playback, mirrored on each earphone so easy access.
All that power will come with a slight price premium over Powerbeats3 ($199) and AirPods ($159-$199) when Powerbeats Pro launch in May on Apple.com and in Apple Stores for $249.95. Beats says Powerbeats Pro will debut in the US and across 20 other countries to start, followed by more countries and regions later this summer and fall. Stay tuned for a full review closer to launch!
CULVER CITY—April 3, 2019—Beats by Dr. Dre (Beats) today introduces Powerbeats Pro, completely wireless earphones that deliver powerful sound for the world’s most passionate music lovers and motivated athletes. The result of a deep integration between Beats and Apple engineering, Powerbeats Pro features industry-leading battery life, advanced functionality, reliable connectivity, exceptional fit via the signature earhook design and beautiful fidelity.
“Powerbeats Pro is a harmonious blend of premium sound, fit and functionality. Powerbeats are already the #1 fitness headphones in the world and they are now untethered, with all the benefits of the Apple H1 chip,” said Luke Wood, president of Beats. “No longer do you have to choose between performance and practicality—it delivers the best on both fronts.”
SOUND
Sound was the highest priority in the development of Powerbeats Pro. Completely re-engineered from the inside out, the earphones boast an upgraded linear piston driver that leverages an efficient, pressurized airflow to create a powerful acoustic response in a small package. Enhanced sound quality means incredibly low distortion and great dynamic range across the entire frequency curve.
Fit
A great solution for comfort, fit and stability was paramount to Powerbeats Pro because of its direct impact on sound delivery. To achieve the best possible fit on the widest array of ears, over 20 configurations were electronically modeled and physically tested. The result is a completely new, ergonomically angled acoustic housing that nests comfortably in the concha bowl of the ear with an off- axis nozzle. It comes with four sizes of ear tips and a redesigned, adjustable earhook—an iconic part of the Powerbeats line since its launch in 2010.
Powerbeats Pro is 23 percent smaller than its predecessor and 17 percent lighter. The lightweight design is also sweat- and water-resistant—built and reinforced for optimal performance.
FUNCTIONALITY
Powerbeats Pro features a fully functional, ambidextrous design with identical, physical volume and track controls on each earbud. This means full control over your music and phone calls, regardless of whether you use the left, right or both earbuds.
Long- and short-range optical sensors drive automatic play/pause and call handling when the earphones are placed in or removed from your ears.
Telephony
Powerbeats Pro delivers incredible voice performance for phone calls. A first for Beats, a speech- detecting accelerometer in each earbud and two beam-forming microphones per side target your voice and filter out external sounds such as wind and ambient noise. This means you can answer a quick mid-workout call at the gym with clarity and confidence.
Battery Life
Each earbud has up to 9 hours of listening time and more than 24 hours of combined playback with the magnetic closure case.2 With Fast Fuel, you get 1.5 hours of playback after just 5 minutes of charging and up to 4.5 hours after 15 minutes of charging.
No power button means no worries. Powerbeats Pro earphones power on when taken out of the case and power off (and charge) when placed inside. Motion accelerometers detect when the earphones are idle and not in use, automatically entering them into sleep mode.
CONNECTIVITY
Class 1 Bluetooth® technology offers extended range and exceptional cross-body performance, meaning fewer dropouts. Each earbud independently connects to your device, so you can choose to use one or both. For example, you might wear both earbuds while you’re running on the treadmill at the gym but prefer one earbud at the office for phone calls throughout the day. There’s a Powerbeats Pro configuration for every scenario.
Compatibility
Setup made easy. Pairing is done via the Powerbeats Pro case—simply opening the lid for the first time prompts pairing mode. Powerbeats Pro is automatically paired with any of your supported devices that are signed in to your iCloud account.
Powerbeats Pro is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Apple H1 Chip
Simply say “Hey Siri” for voice-activated assistance without having to reach for your iPhone.4 Powered by the new Apple H1 chip, Powerbeats Pro delivers a faster and more stable wireless connection to your devices.
Pricing and Availability
• Powerbeats Pro will come in Black, Ivory, Moss and Navy for $249.95 (US).
• Availability will begin in May from apple.com and Apple Stores in the US and more than 20 additional
countries and regions, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
• Additional countries and regions coming later this summer/fall.
About Beats
Beats by Dr. Dre (Beats) is a leading audio brand founded in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Through its family of premium consumer headphones, earphones and speakers, Beats has introduced an entirely new generation to the possibilities of premium sound entertainment. The brand’s continued success helps bring the energy, emotion and excitement of playback in the recording studio back to the listening experience for music lovers worldwide. Beats was acquired by Apple Inc. in July 2014.
After 9to5Mac exclusively revealed the look and design of Apple’s upcoming Powerbeats Pro fully wireless earphones last week, the new AirPods-like product has been spotted in a huge ad in Hollywood ahead of the official announcement.
As spotted by 9to5Mac reader, Jonathan Ducrest, Apple has put up a large vertical ad for the Powerbeats Pro fully wireless earphones in LA at the intersection of Sunset and Vine.
The ad shows a picture of the earbuds with the text “Totally Wireless” beneath the Powerbeats Pro name. In the full photo below, you can also see a second landscape ad for the product.
Pricing is still unknown at this point for the updated fully-wireless Powerbeats, but it could land near or above the $199 original retail price that Powerbeats 3 sold for (although they now go for just $99).
With the two ads now live for Powerbeats Pro in Hollywood, it may not be too long before we see an official announcement for the exciting new earphones.
Do you plan on picking up the Powerbeats Pro when then become available? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The listing for Borderlands 3 on Microsoft’s store page claims that the game will support cross-platform co-op.
So far in the game’s short-but-loud marketing campaign, developer Gearbox has yet to say anything about cross-platform play. And yet here it is, in black and white, under the ‘Capabilities’ section of the Microsoft store listing.
Exit Theatre Mode
We reached out to publisher 2K for comment, who say: “Cross play is something we’re looking at closely, but don’t have anything to confirm or announce at this time.”
Hopefully Borderlands 3 will support full cross-platform compatibility, but chances are it more likely refers to co-op play between PC and Xbox One. A recent example of this kind of co-op is Sea of Thieves, although it should be noted that Rare’s pirate sandbox is a Microsoft exclusive, and thus would naturally be limited to Microsoft platforms. Still, there’s significantly less corporate mess to untangle with PC to Xbox cross-platform play than there is when Sony is involved.
Matt Purslow is IGN UK's News and Entertainment Writer, and would very much like to play Borderlands 3 (or indeed any game) on PC alongside his console pals. You can follow him on Twitter.
It took the better part of a year to show up, but John Legend's Google Assistant cameo is finally available in the US. Ask the AI helper to "talk like a Legend" and the singer's dulcet tones will greet you when issuing certain commands, such as asking about the weather. Naturally, he'll have answers for questions about his own life, such as his wife Chrissy Teigen or his favorite type of music (take a wild guess). Some of those answers will be canned, but others will take advantage of WaveNet speech synthesis to deliver a customized response.
Legend will only be available for a "limited time," and you'll have to be ready to hear the regular Google Assistant voice for those many queries where the crooner isn't available. It still beats hearing the same old dialogue for everything, though, and hints at a future where there's considerably more variety in voice assistants.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16005981/androidq.jpg)
