Google held yesterday, the annual conference where it presents all the news that will arrive throughout the year in the form of devices, functions, operating systems, new applications ... We have reached a point where innovation has become a precious commodity and Google, like Apple previously, did not present us with any function that would blow our minds open.
In addition to officially presenting Android Q, although it did not reveal the full name of the next version of Android, the guys from Sundai Pichai also presented two new terminals: Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL, two terminals with a design from three years ago, where the upper, lower and side frames shine excessively. In addition, its price does not accompany much.
What's new in Android Q
Although the next version of Android, Q, has been with us for a few months, until now, the search giant had not officially announced this next version. In this event, some of the news that will come from the hand of the next version of the Android operating system for compatible smartphones.
With the launch of Android Pie, the theory was that thanks to Project Treble, the adoption of this version of Android would be much faster by users, but nine months later, Android Pie is found on 10% of devices, very little optimistic figures for Google's claims.
Project Treble is Google's bet to speed up updates, since the company makes sure that the operating system be compatible with all smartphone components, leaving only the manufacturers to adapt their customization layer.
Automatic responses to notifications
Throughout the day we receive a large number of notifications, some of which cannot really be of use to us at a specific time. With Android Q, the management of notifications, if it was already good in itself, now gets even better, since it will allow us to silence notifications from certain applications for a previously established period of time.
In this way we will be able to activate the do not disturb mode, but allowing a certain messaging application, for example, to notify us of new messages, a function ideal for when we cannot talk on the phone and we are waiting for a message or email.
Another of the most interesting aspects of the next version of Android, will be the automatic responses available in the notifications. In this way, we will be able to respond quickly without having to unlock the terminal, enter the application and write the answer. This function is very similar to the one we already have at our disposal directly through Gmail.
Dark mode
Some users believed the dark mode was already found natively on Android, due to the fact that some manufacturers offered it through their customization layer, but it is not. With the launch of Android Q, Google will offer the possibility of using a dark mode in our compatible terminal, a dark mode thate will ensure that all available applications activate it automatically when it is activated.
The dark mode, in addition to the new aesthetics that it offers us, allows us to save a large amount of battery as long as our terminal implements an OLED-type screen, since this technology turn on Only LEDs showing a color other than black. In this way, if most of the interface, including the background is black, it is not necessary to illuminate the entire screen as it happens with traditional LCD screens.
New gestures to interact with the device
With the release of Android Pie, Google started to introduce gestures on the screen to be able to move around the operating system, due to a need by the manufacturers, since most of them had chosen or were making the buttons that have been accompanying us since the first versions of Android disappear. While it is true that many of them are similar to those that Apple introduced with the iPhone X, really the source of inspiration for Apple was the jailbreak and Palm.
Foldable smartphone compatibility
When Samsung introduced the Galaxy Fold, the Korean company claimed that it had worked hand in hand with Google to adapt Android to this type of screen and the advantages they offer us compared to smartphone screens. As with the notch of some terminals, Google has had to adapt its interface to this type of terminal.
Google Assistant available in the terminal
Unlike other mobile operating systems, such as iOS, to be able to use the personal assistant, no need to have an internet connection, so that if we have airplane mode activated or we find ourselves without coverage, we will be able to ask Google to show us certain images, to activate or deactivate some mode of our terminal, to save a phone number ...
Also, when we start a conversation with Google, the assistant will be waiting for a few seconds to check if we want to ask one more question or although we have satisfied our need or curiosity of the moment, avoiding that we have to invoke the assistant again and again when we want to ask several questions.
Smartphones compatible with the Android Q beta
Last year, the number of terminals compatible with the first beta of Android Pie was very small, limited to only 7 models. This time, Google has managed to attract more manufacturers to this beta programTherefore, the number of smartphones compatible with the Android Q beta, and which will therefore be among the first to update to the next version of Android, is 21:
- Google Pixel / XL, Pixel 2/2 XL, Pixel 3 / 3XL, Pixel 3A / 3A XL
- Vivo X27, Vivo Nex S and Nex A
- Xiaomi Mi 9, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro
- Asus Zenfone 5Z
- Essential Phone
- Nokia 8.1
- LG G8 ThinQ
- OnePlus 6T
- Oppo reno
- Realme 3 Pro
- Sony Xperia XZ3
- TechnoSpark 3 Pro
Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL
A few days ago, Google itself recognized that the sales of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL were not being as expected, however, it seems that the search giant is still betting on launching its own smartphones. Of course, they want to reach a wider audience and for this they presented the new Pixel 3a and 3a XL at the event, two smartphones with a very unattractive design but that They offer us practically the same functions as the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.
Of course, the new models do not integrate Visual Core, the processor that is responsible for processing the captures made by the company's flagship and that has received such good reviews from the press. If we take into account that premise in addition to the price of both terminals, 399 and 479 euros respectively, and the design seems to me that little or practically nothing is going to get Google with these terminals. Further, They are made of plastic and do not offer a wireless charging system.
Most users rely on the aesthetics of the terminal when buying it, leaving aside the benefits. Only what we understand the most about the subject, we look not only at the design, but also at the features, power, processor, storage, manufacturing materials ... In the market both Xiaomi and Huawei or Samsung offer us terminals that are very similar in technical performance but with a much more attractive design than the Pixel 3a and 3a XL.
Logically if the exterior does not matter to you, it is likely that all those who offer us inside if you do. The new Google Pixel 3a offer us a fast charging system that with just 15 minutes of charging offers us an autonomy of up to 7 hours. The camera will allow us to capture every detail and colors in the dark without having to use the flash, and thanks to Google Photos, we can store all the content completely free of charge in the cloud.
As usual, Google offers us security and operating system updates for 3 years, for our terminal is always protected and its performance is optimal. Although today it seems a trifle, it includes a headphone port. Below we show you the complete specifications of both the Google Pixel 3a and the Google Pixel 3a XL.
The only and main difference is found in the screen sizeSince the Pixel 3a has a 5,6-inch screen while the 3a XL reaches 6 inches, both screens with OLED technology. Despite showing generous frames, the fingerprint sensor is available on the back of the terminal.
| GOOGLE PIXEL 3a | GOOGLE PIXEL 3a XL | |
|---|---|---|
| SCREEN | 5,6-inch OLED with FullHD + resolution (2.220 x 1.080 pixels) and 18,5: 9 screen ratio | 6-inch OLED with FullHD + resolution (2.160 x 1.080 pixels) and 18: 9 screen ratio |
| PROCESSOR | Snapdragon 670 with GPU Adreno 615 | Snapdragon 670 with GPU Adreno 615 |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| INTERNAL STORAGE | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| REAR CAMERA | Sony IMX363 of 12,2 MP with aperture f / 1.8 and OIS + EIS | Sony IMX363 of 12,2 MP with aperture f / 1.8 and OIS + EIS |
| FRONT CAMERA | 8 MP with f / 2.0 aperture | 8 MP with f / 2.0 aperture |
| DRUMS | 3.000 mAh with 18W Fast Charge | 3.700 mAh with 18W Fast Charge |
| OPERATING SYSTEM | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie |
| CONNECTIVITY | USB-C 2.0, nano SIM, WiFi ac 2 × 2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, Aptx HD, NFC, Google Cast, GPS, GLONASS | USB-C 2.0, nano SIM, WiFi ac 2 × 2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, Aptx HD, NFC, Google Cast, GPS, GLONASS |
| OTHER | Rear fingerprint reader, 3.5mm jack, Active Edge | Rear fingerprint reader, Active Edge, 3.5mm jack |
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 151,3 x 70,1 x 8,2 mm 147 grams |
160,1 x 76,1 x 8,2 mm 167 grams |
| PRICE | $399 | $479 |
Duplex, one step further
Google's Duplex technology showed us last year how it is possible book a table in a restaurant through a call using the Google Assistant. The guys at Sundai Pichai want to take this technology a step further and have implemented it on the web. In this way, the assistant will be able to enter our information, for example, to reserve a car, consulting the days of the trip that we have scheduled without having to do practically anything in the process.
Nest Hub Max
Google has managed to enter many homes through the Google Home, the company's smart speaker, but it lacked a smart device with a screen intended mainly to manage the smart home, such as the Nest Hub Max, a device with which we can make video calls through of Google Duo thanks to the integrated wide-angle camera, surfing the internet, watching television ... Nest Hub Max, is your commitment to this sector, where Amazon already offers several devices, as does Facebook with Portal.
This type of device that we can place in any part of the house, is designed to be used in the kitchen. Integrates a 1 inch screen and it offers us access to the whole world of Google through the touch panel. Google has taken advantage of the technology of Nest, a company that makes security cameras and that it bought a couple of years ago, in this device.
The Nest Hub Max will be available in the summer for $ 229 in the United States, however, the company claims that in the coming months, it will also be available in 12 more countries. among which is Spain, although we do not know at what price it will.