Google Pixel

9to5Google and Android Central point out that after Google announced its new Pixel 9 lineup with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, its store listing for the original foldable Pixel phone went away.

However, Android Central has heard from Google that it will return after the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s launch, which is scheduled for September 4th.

Michael Fisher’s latest video has a great interview with Google devices boss Rick Osterloh. When asked whether Google has interest in creating a more affordable flip-style Pixel, Osterloh suggests that Samsung and Motorola have that foldables category pretty well handled for now.

As for adopting Qi2 wireless charging, he says it’s “a matter of time.” Maybe the Pixel X?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold feels more premium than Google’s original foldable. Some people are inevitably going to miss the unique shape of the first-generation Fold, but by every other measure, my first impression of the 9 Pro Fold is that it could be something special.

Thing is, there’s no getting past that $1,800 price — especially when the cameras are far from Google’s best.

“Everything we’ve shown you is launching in the next few weeks.” Osterloh is wrapping things up and tells us that Project Astra is going to live in Gemini Live. Apps will integrate with Gemini Live, too, and he tells us to “stay tuned.”

We’re getting a live demo of the Buds Pro 2 and Gemini Live, which led into an awkward introduction for YouTuber Mark Rober.

Google Tensor A1 is inside the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 to handle processing for noise cancellation. The buds are smaller and lighter, too, and they’re the first earbuds to let you access Gemini directly.

But it could also lead to a lot more unnecessary calls to 911. We’ve got a lot more reporting to do to figure out just how game-changing this new feature for Google’s wearable is in its current iteration, but this could lead to an exciting and less scary future for people with sick relatives or folks who live alone.

There’s a bigger one, and the screens are brighter on both sizes. Lots of new running features, a readiness score, and a new “Morning Brief” from Fitbit. Also, loss of pulse detection. Cue the video that will trigger my health anxiety.

We got a chuckle as one of the generative AI options in the Magic Editor demo produced two normal-looking hot air balloons and a weird one that looked like a cross between a loaf of bread and a basketball. AI, everybody!

Magic Editor comes with some new tools this year, including Auto Frame to correct the angle in a slanted photo while using gen AI to fill in the gaps. Oh, and then you can reimagine the grass on the ground as wildflowers. It’s something!

We’re getting a live demo of Add Me, which lets you add yourself to a group photo by combining two frames. Why did we need Jimmy Butler for this? Why is he wearing the little Google propeller hat? Unclear.

We just saw a side by side of low-light panoramas between the Pixel’s new panorama mode and the iPhone 15 Pro — the sample was labeled onscreen but was referred to as “another camera” in the presentation. Shots fired?

We’re watching the new image generating feature as it creates a a picture of a beach bonfire with a sky full of fireworks from prompts. It runs on a combination of on-device and AI in the cloud. What is a photo, etc., etc.

Keke Palmer just interrupted the event to hype an after-event event and her book. All I could think about was how the guy from “Hot Ones” said she’s the most charming person he ever interviewed on the show.

We’re getting a look at Call Notes on Pixel 9. There’s a transcript of a recorded conversation in the phone app — and it all stays on-device. The demo went fine, but the loud thud behind the stage was slightly concerning?

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold is getting its time in the spotlight, and Google is emphasizing its thinness and the eight-inch inner screen, which the company calls the biggest screen you can buy on a phone. Which, yeah, that seems about right.

Yup, it’s 2024 and we’re talking about the importance of phone RAM. I’d roll my eyes that this is still a conversation, but after trying a lot of different Android E Ink tablets with different amounts of RAM, I can confirm — RAM is very important!

Both the XL and regular Pixel Pro will have the same features. Thank you for not gatekeeping cool features to big phones. Some of us have tiny hands and pockets.

The Pixel 9 series is finally onscreen — all four of them. But we’ve been talking about Gemini features coming to the whole Android ecosystem right up til now. That’s a lot of time before the phones!

But for a very visual-sounding demo, Gemini Live is surprisingly sparse on visuals. As it comes up with ideas for keeping kids entertained, there are no pictures or references — it’s really like she’s just chatting with an acquaintance on the phone.

We’re getting a look at Gemini Live for the first time, with a couple of voice options called things like “Dipper” and “Ursa.” Notably, none of them sound like... her.

Gemini pulls out a list of foods mentioned in a video and adds them to a grocery list. It really does feel like Google is going out of its way to highlight partner devices in this new era of Android and Pixel on one team...

And Google definitely was doing a dig at Apple by making it clear this was a live demo and not prerecorded. Unfortunately, the demo then struggled, and there was a deeply awkward silence in the room before things got back on track.

We’re watching as Gemini tries to pull some information from a picture of a concert poster. It’s, uh, not going well. It failed twice on a Galaxy S24 Ultra, and now we’re onto a second demo unit.