Daily Archives: June 29, 2024

Google has added12 languages of ethnic minority groups living in Russia as part of a major new update to its translation service announced on Thursday.

Among the total 110 new languages, Google Translate will now include Bashkir, Chechen, Udmurt and Yakut, among others.

In addition to Tatar, which was added in 2020, the U.S. tech giants latest update now features Crimean Tatar, which is distinct from the Tatar spoken in Russias republic of Tatarstan.

Googles demonstration of Thursdays update showed a Chechen-language translation of the phrase Our mission: to enable everyone, everywhere to understand the world and express themselves across languages.

The company said it used its own advanced AI language tool to roll out what it called its largest expansion ever.

As technology advances, and as we continue to partner with expert linguists and native speakers, well support even more language varieties and spelling conventions over time, Google said in its announcement.

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Google Translate Adds 12 Minority Languages of Russia - The Moscow Times

This week, we hosted our very own Smart Home Week to celebrate the latest and greatest tech in the smart home sector and give you tips on how to use your gadgets more effectively.

We also saw the arrival of some brilliant new Bluetooth speakers, a Surface Pro that finally gives the iPad Pro a run for its money and several event date announcements from Prime Day to the Pixel 9 launch event.

So, in case you missed it, here are the seven biggest tech news stories from the past seven days.

We launched our new Smart Home Week for 2024, where we've given you all the hottest tips and tricks for setting up and making the most of your smart home. This includes guides onhow to set up and use Alexa sound detection and our thoughts on new products like this Bird Buddy smart bird feeder.

We've also asked experts for insights into how safe smart home security cameras really are and challenged both Google and Apple to step up to the plate with new hardware before Amazon pulls even further ahead in the race to dominate the smart home market.

Thanks to its "snappy performance, excellent battery life, improved compatibility, and new AI-powered apps that will only get better with time," we've already dubbed the new Microsoft Surface Pro 11 the best surface ever.

Starting at $999.99 /1,049.99 / AU$1,899.99 this tablet isn't a mere tablet; it's a bonafide Windows 11 OS-powered machine with a 10-core Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus chip, 2.8K LCD display, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD though you can upgrade to a model with a 12-core Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD starting at $1,499.99 / 1,549 / AU$2,699.

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This is the first proper competition the iPad Pro has ever had, and as we say in our review, "Apple should absolutely be worried."

After accidentally leaking the dates for Prime Day 2024, Amazon officially confirmed that Amazon Prime Day will take place on July 16 - 17 in the US and UK.

As part of the sale, Prime members can expect to see literally thousands of deals across a wide range of popular tech brands, includingSony,Samsung, Ninja, GHD,Fitbit, Oral-B, Bose, andShark,to name just a few.

If you're not a Prime member already (and haven't subscribed to Prime previously), you can sign up for a 30-day free trial below to take advantage of a handful of early deals that have appeared and be ready for the full sale when it goes live in a few weeks.

Both Google and Samsung announced the dates of their next tech events, with Galaxy Unpacked landing sooner on July 10, 2024, with an event starting at 9 am ET / 6 am PT/ 2 pm BST.

We expect to see the arrival of its new foldable phones, theGalaxy Z Fold 6andGalaxy Z Flip 6, a successor to theGalaxy Watch 6 of some kind (maybe even a Galaxy Watch Ultra), and the highly anticipated Galaxy Ring.

Google's announcement is more surprising, as instead of October its Pixel phone launch event is scheduled for Tuesday, August 13. We know it's a Pixel phone event as well (rather than for some other hardware) as a promo clip shows us a look at the Pixel 9 Pro, and is titled "AI... meet IX" IX being nine in Roman numerals.

As we head into the warmer Summer months (at least here in the UK, where this writer is based), that means one thing: outdoor parties. Be it on the beach, by the pool, in the garden, or at a park, there's nothing better than being outdoors soaking in the rays and enjoying a BBQ. And if you want to keep everyone entertained with music, there are two new Bluetooth speaker contenders on the scene.

The new Beats Pill landed, and while it looks similar to the last-gen model, its makers promise big things. It's apparently louder, boasts IP67 dust and water resistance, has Bluetooth 5.3, supports USB-C for both audio passthrough and charging, and it costs just $149.99 / 149.99 / AU$249.95.

Then there's Ultimate Ears' new Everboom. This 360-speaker can get truly loud and still delivers a solid sonic performance with only some distortion at its max 89-decibel volume. At a more moderate loudness (which is where you'll be listening anyway), it sounds fantastic. Plus, it boasts IP67 dust and water resistance, and it floats, making it perfect for any gathering where it might take a dip.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! Its a couple of new huge updates onJames GunnsSupermanmovie. The forthcomingDCfilm is currently being shot on the streets of Cleveland, Ohio and, as many of us expected, some big leaks have emerged as filming on theDCU Chapter Oneflick continues apace.

And when we say big, we mean big. Not only did anewSupermanmovie leak reveal a new look at the Man of Steels costume, but it gave us our very first look at one of his fellow heroes in Mr. Terrific. A few days later, the same characterwas seen encountering Clark Kens most loyal friend in aSupermanmovie video leak, too. Lets hopesomesurprises are saved for the Kryptonians return to the big screen.

Meta might not have held its summer Quest Gaming Showcase this year, but the 2024 UplaodVR Summer Showcaseintroduced us to games and apps headed to the best VR headsets in the coming months.

The hour-long event had a lot to show off, but some highlights for us included Lovesick a punk-themed VR escape room, Pencil! a mixed-reality drawing teacher and assistive tool; and Cold VR a reverse Superhot where time speeds up when you slow down.

Originally posted here:

ICYMI: the week's 7 biggest tech stories from Google Pixel event details to a pair of new best Bluetooth speaker ... - TechRadar

The monthly Google System Release Notes primarily detail whats new in Play services, Play Store, and Play system update across Android phones/tablets, Wear OS, Google/Android TV, Auto, and PC.Some features apply to end users, while others are aimed at developers.

The following first-party apps comprise the Google System:

A feature appearing in the changelog does not mean its widely available. Some capabilities take months to fully launch.

Wallet

System Management

Wallet

Security & Privacy

The most notable thing in the June 12 update is how you can now use your USB and Wi-Fi at the same time to backup and restore your device during setup. The latest Fast Pair set-up process favors Wi-Fi, but theres a hidden way to leverage a cable:

If you want to transfer data with a USB cable instead of Wi-Fi, tap 5 times on the image on the Copy apps & data screen. You can do this even if you have not yet paired your phones.

The other thing of note in Google Play services is how youll be able to set a lost or stolen device to auto-lock once it loses connectivity. This might be referring to Offline Device Lock.

Finally, there are Adaptive Battery optimizations.

Developer Services

Safety & Emergency

Utilities

As of June 5, theres nothing too notable or specific.

Important: Some features may be experimental and available to certain users.

Developer Services

Device Connectivity

Wallet

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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What's new in the June 2024 Google System Updates [U] - 9to5Google

Google Translate is adding 110 new languages to its library, the largest expansion ever made to the platform. The update leverages Google's PaLM 2 large language model, an artificial intelligence tool that helps accurately translate across a wider array of languages than before. Those languages are spoken by approximately 614 million people, or about 8% of the global population.

The list includes some widely spoken tongues, dialects, and languages that are native to smaller communities. Notably, African languages saw their biggest expansion, with Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda, and Wolof joining the list. On the other end of the spectrum, Cantonese is likely one of the most widely spoken languages on the new list, as is Punjabi (Shahmukhi), the most spoken language in Pakistan.

There's also the Sicilian version of Italian, Manx, a Celtic language spoken on the Isle of Man that nearly went extinct, and a Papua New Guinea creole called Tok Pisin.

For languages that blend regional dialects and different spelling standards, Google goes for something that might be best understood by most people, as with the Romani language offered by Google Translate, which includes three different dialects.

The PaLM 2 LLM made the update possible, enhancing Google Translate's ability to learn and shift between languages efficiently. This model is particularly adept at handling languages that are closely related, like Awadhi and Marwadi, to Hindi or the various French creoles. PaLM 2's advanced capabilities allow it to manage the nuances and variations within these languages, providing more accurate and culturally relevant translations.

The application of PaLM 2 to Google Translate is also interesting due to its origins as a tool for helping foster communications between humans and AI. For instance, both PaLM and PaLM 2 have been employed for helping teach robots how to carry out tasks and process commands from humans into steps to complete those tasks.

Potentially, the best part is that it's available on the web or via the Google Translate app on Android and iOS.

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Forget Duolingo Google Translate just got a massive AI upgrade that gives it over 100 new languages - TechRadar

What's in a name? We could find out very soon, as Google may be about to release a successor to the Google Pixel Fold, with the new foldable phone apparently debuting under a very different name.

You'd imagine a Pixel Fold follow-up would be called the Pixel Fold 2, but the rumor mill claims Google has a different idea in mind. The new foldable is tipped to launch alongside the Google Pixel 9 lineup, and with that launch seemingly nailed on for August, we could find out shortly whether the next Google foldable is the Pixel Fold 2 or the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, as many now think.

Whatever name this Pixel Fold follow-up sports, the new model should introduce a number of improvements. The first Pixel Fold was an impressive foldable, thanks to its wide front display, high-quality cameras and intuitive multitasking. And while flawed in places (thick bezels, some apps don't go full-screen), Google's first attempt to make a foldable still earned itself a place on our list of the best foldable phones.

But the pressure is on Google to push the envelope with the Pixel Fold 2/Pixel 9 Pro Fold, as it will face some tough competition from the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 which we're expecting to see in July and other foldables. The next foldable PIxel is tipped to feature a narrower and sleeker design with less of a camera bump, a much more powerful Tensor G4 chip (maybe) and other upgrades. Heres everything we know about this phone so far.

First, let's talk about the name. While the Pixel Fold 2 would seem like the logical moniker for a Pixel Fold successor, Google's decision to make its foldable part of the regular Pixel flagship line apparently will spark a name change.

Having launched the Pixel 8a in the spring, Google is now turning its attention to its flagship phones, and Android Authority predicts we'll see four new phones under the Pixel 9 banner. Besides the standard Pixel 9, the Pixel 9 Pro will apparently come in multiple sizes. Alongside a smaller Pro phone, Google is apparently planning a Pixel 9 Pro XL. Meanwhile the Pixel Fold 2 would be integrated into the Pixel 9 lineup, picking up the Pixel 9 Pro Fold as a name.

When Google I/O came and went this past May without a new foldable remember, the original Pixel Fold got a preview at Google I/O 2023 this theory that the new version would be part of the Pixel 9 lineup took on more weight. We're also convinced of the name change thanks to reports that the new foldable may jump to the Tensor G4 chipset expected to debut with the Pixel 9 release.Going forward, then, we're going to refer to this rumored update as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

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Normally, flagship Pixel phones whether they include the Fold or not would arrive in October, as that's when Google typically holds its launch events. This year, though, Google has thrown us a curve ball.

The company has announced a Made by Google hardware event for August 13. It's almost certain that the Pixel 9 lineup will appear at that show. So if the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is part of that group of handsets, we're going to see it in mid-August.

There's no word on Pixel 9 Pro Fold pricing at this point, though that could change as we get closer to the August 13 reveal date. We don't expect the updated foldable to cost less than the Pixel Folds $1,799 starting price, but given the current trend of smartphone price increases, we wouldnt rule that out until we hear otherwise. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is currently rumored to be getting a $100 price increase, for example.

A design leak suggests that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold may look a little different to its predecessor. Rather than having a wider cover display which we prefer to the narrow displays of phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Google may be slimming things down a bit.

Sources also claim that the interior display will adopt more of a square-ish aspect ratio, similar to that of the OnePlus Open. Its possible that both of these changes could be in response to complaints that the Pixel Fold didnt have enough optimized apps, leading to black bars on the larger interior display. Sources also told Android Authority that it would lead to an even slimmer design, which we hope means theres a little less weight to carry around.

Leaked images have also shown a big change could be coming to the back of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Rather than the horizontal camera bar, which has been in use since the release of the Pixel 6, the 9 Pro Fold may have a smaller, fatter camera bump that lives in the top right corner. The image shows four lenses stacked together in pairs.

It doesnt look great, so were hoping this is just a prototype design that either gets replaced, or is seriously slimmed down for the final Pixel 9 Pro Fold model.

A recent exclusive from SmartPrix has shown the first 360 render video for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, as well as more specifics about its overall shape. According to the reports it looks like Google is aiming for the next Fold to be the thinnest foldable smartphone currently available in the North American market.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold could also have larger displays than rival foldables, at 6.29 inches on the outside and 8.02 inches on the inside.

Colors are always an important part of a phone's look, and it looks like the Pixel 9 Pro Fold may come in black and white once again. Sadly it may not see pink or green options like the other models.

One of the advantages to including the Pixel Fold follow-up with the Pixel 9 lineup is that it can feature the same Tensor G4 chipset found in this year's flagship Google phones. And that would mean improvements over a G3-equipped device.

While Tensor chips are not known for their benchmarking prowess, there have been rumors that the G4 chip may be based on Samsungs Exynos 2400 the same chipset that powers the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus outside the United States. Exynos chips don't beat the flagship Snapdragon chipsets employed by other Android flagships, but the new architecture could give the Pixel 9 Pro Fold a significant boost in computing power as well as additional AI features not found on last year's G3-powered Pixel 8 series.

Its also been suggested that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold could offer an increased 16GB of RAM, 4GB more than the original Fold. A storage upgrade to UFS 4.0 would offer faster read/write speeds and improved power efficiency.

Design leaks seem to show off a possible Pixel 9 Pro Fold with a fourth camera lens, though the quality isnt particularly good. What we can see, however, is that there only seems to be a single lens with the distinct square-shape of a telephoto lens. So the odds of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold getting a second telephoto camera, akin to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, look pretty slim based on this image alone.

We dont know what sort of changes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will offer compared to the first Pixel Fold which came with a 48MP main lens, a 10.8MP ultrawide and a 10.8MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom. A boost in resolution to the latter two would be welcome, as would other changes like a larger camera sensor or extended telephoto magnification.

No matter what happens,we can expect Google to go all in on AI camera enhancements both in terms of producing better pictures from the get go, and offering more powerful editing tools after the shot has been taken.

Its unclear what sort of battery we can expect from the Pixel 9 Pro Fold right now. At the very least wed expect something similar to the Pixel Folds 4,821 mAh battery, which lasted for 10 hours and 21 minutes in our battery testing. A endurance would be welcome, which come come through a more efficient chip if not a bigger battery pack.

Wed expect Qi wireless charging and a minimum of 30W wired charging to make a comeback as well though it would be nice if the next Pixel Fold supported the new Qi2 wireless charging standard.

Theres still a lot of unknowns about the Pixel Fold successor, not the least of which are its name and whether it's now part of the Pixel 9 lineup. Given the earlier-than-usual Google hardware event, though, we expect answers soon whether it's from the event itself or more leaks in the weeks to come.

Google is going to have to do a lot if it wants to stay relevant in the foldable phone market. Samsung has a lot of experience building foldables, while OnePlus has leveraged its relationship with Oppo to make the OnePlus Open the best foldable phone you can buy.

So whether Google opts for a fresh design, powerful AI features, improved hardware or a mixture of the above, the pressure is on. Lets just hope the rumors we see over the coming weeks and months can keep us feeling optimistic about the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's chances.

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Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold all the rumors so far - Tom's Guide

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The Foreign Ministry on June 29 hailed Google Translate's recent addition of the Crimean Tatar language.

"Thank you to Google for this crucial initiative, which demonstrates that the rich linguistic & cultural heritage of Ukraine's indigenous people is valuable to the global community," the Foreign Ministry said on X.

The statement comes a few days after Google announced its "largest expansion" of its free online translation tool, Google Translate, which saw the addition of 110 new languages.

In addition to Crimean Tatar, Google has incorporated 12 languages of ethnic groups in Russia which include Bashkir, Chechen, Udmurt, and Yakut. Tatar, a language used in the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, was previously added in 2020.

Google says that the new language additions which include Cantonese and Punjabi represent over 614 million speakers across the world.

The Ukrainian government has worked to preserve the Crimean Tatar language, endangered due to a declining number of speakers in Ukraine. Mass deportations and waves of repression of Crimean Tatars by both the Russian Empire and Soviet Union largely contributed to the decline.

Russias illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 has worsened the trend. Crimean Tatars in their native peninsula continue to face brutal persecution and deportation by the Russian occupation regime.

Who are the Crimean Tatars?

One of the most overlooked parts of Ukraine is its diversity. The Crimean Tatars a national minority native to Crimea and recognized as an indigenous people of Ukraine are a perfect example. The Crimean Tatars also referred to as Kirimli or Qrml endured wars, mass deportations, and waves

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Foreign Ministry hails Google Translate's addition of Crimean Tatar language - Kyiv Independent

Google has surprised us all by moving its annual October Pixel launch event forward to August: Tuesday, August 13 to be exact. What's more, the official teaser for the event gives us a big clue about what's going to be revealed.

Okay, it was already a pretty safe bet that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro would show up at this event but as Android Police notes, the very brief promo clip that appears as you load up the new holding page on the Google Store gives us a look at the Pixel 9 Pro.

This would appear to be the Pro model because of the triple-lens camera that's just about visible on the back of the handset oh, and it mentions "Pro" in the page URL too. The same teaser clip has also been posted to YouTube by Google and is embedded below.

It's not much to go on, but it confirms we are going to get Google's next flagship phones two months earlier than expected perhaps to get ahead of the iPhone 16, which is due in September. Google previously launched the Pixel 8a in May.

The Made by Google event page isn't giving much away about what's coming, other than that there will be a livestream. Assuming the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro are definitely going to show up, we could well see some more hardware on show, too.

A third model, the Pixel 9 Pro XL, has been mentioned by some sources. Then there's the Pixel Fold 2 aka the Pixel 9 Pro Fold the successor to the Pixel Fold, which launched back in May 2023, could be another handset that's revealed.

Other possibilities for this event include the Pixel Watch 3 (following on from last year's Pixel Watch 2), the Pixel Tablet 2 (the original Pixel Tablet went on sale in July 2023), and perhaps a new pair of Google Pixel Buds.

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Expect a few more leaks between now and August 13, and we've also got Samsung's next event on July 10 to think about as well that event should see the debut of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and several other shiny new gadgets.

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Google Pixel 9 Pro teased for first time in promo for Google's August Pixel event - TechRadar

When it comes to food-related nightmare fuel, here's my biggest one: I ask friends to pick out a restaurant, and they scroll through Google and Yelp reviews for so long that I turn into a skeleton, then a tumbleweed rolls in the distance.

Has this ever happened to you? You ask a friend to choose a bar/restaurant/coffee shop, and they wont go to a spot with less than 4.6 stars on Google. Well, its happened to me more than a few times, and Ive had enough. We need to stop relying on online restaurant reviews, full stop.

And I dont mean you need to turn off your phone and stumble upon an obscure hole-in-the-wall spot run by a grandma who is one

There's a very high chance that reviewers feel one of two emotions: complete adoration or pure, unadulterated rage. In fact, a study recently found that 1-star reviews are about four times longer than 5-star reviews, meaning our outrage is way louder than our praise.

I see it all the time when I read reviews of recipes, especially the ones left by the delightfully deranged commenters captured on the NYT Cooking Comments Instagram account. Even aside from the incredible written responses, the star rating system on many recipe websites tends to completely flatten almost all the recipes to a rating of 4 stars.

Its actually become kind of a game for me, finding a recipe on most websites that gets out of the purgatory that is 4 stars. And what does 4 stars even mean, really? With our review-obsessed society, 4 stars used to mean top-tier, but now is just above mid" when muddled with extreme opinions on either side.

When was the last time you really agreed with everyone? For me, maybe never. So why do we think a single restaurant review will lead us to our new favorite restaurant? Reviews, as open-access and relatively egalitarian as they are to read and write, also have the propensity to become a shouting match in an empty house. Theyre a medium that are largely unmonitored, often incentivized by restaurants, or full of review-bombs based on religious/political/public health-related beliefs.

In some cases, whole sites have been considered to be worthless, as is the case for Goodreads and their review-bombers that have reviewed books before they were even published, with many users stepping away from the platform. In restaurant terms, a single bad review can cost a restaurant 30 customers. And when those bad reviews can often be made by folks who have not even dined at the bakery/cafe/bar and they just gave it a 1-star review because they disagree with, say, the owners politics. This can have catastrophic effects on a business.

At the end of the day, reading restaurant reviews feels like skipping to the last page of a book. But worse, because its keeping you and your friends from deciding on where to eatand youre really hungry. Basically, online restaurant reviews are major spoilers, and while I love perusing a menu before I get to my dinner spot, building on your conviction and bringing a healthy appetite for new experiences has never led me astray, but a suspiciously high review definitely has.

After all, isnt that the beauty of taste? You get to have an opinion, and just a kind reminder, opinions are not facts (and thus reviews are not facts)! So please, I beg of you, the next time youre at a new restaurant youve wanted to try, just put your phone down and step inside. It just might be your new favorite place.

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Stop Reading Google's Restaurant Reviews - Can We Please Stop Relying On Google and Yelp For Restaurant ... - Delish