Main financial assets discussed: Samsung (OTCPK:SSNLF), Qualcomm (QCOM), Motorola (MSI), Google (GOOG, GOOGL)
Top 3 key points:
1. Samsung has unveiled the latest iterations of its foldable phones, the Z Fold5 and the Z Flip5, with improvements in design and performance.
2. The new hinge design and larger external display on the Flip5 contribute to improved usability and competitiveness in the foldable phone market.
3. The developments in foldable technology, along with increased competition, are making foldables more mainstream and poised for significant growth in the market.
Recommended actions: **Buy** Samsung, Qualcomm, Motorola, and Google stocks as the developments in foldable technology and increased competition are expected to drive growth in the market.
The main topic of the article is the author's experience with the Google Pixel Fold foldable phone.
Key points:
1. The author praises Google's implementation of multitasking and the big-screen layout.
2. The author highlights the unique usage pattern of using the phone mostly closed, thanks to the outer screen.
3. The author appreciates the camera quality and image processing of the Pixel Fold but criticizes the battery life and screen brightness.
Google is rumored to be introducing new camera features, including AI-powered video noise removal, enhanced sound, perfect group photos, and photo stacking, in their upcoming Pixel 8 series smartphones.
Android 14 Beta 5.3 has been released by Google, featuring UI fixes for Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, improvements for calling issues on other Pixels, stability and performance enhancements, and important security fixes for high-severity vulnerabilities.
Google is expected to unveil the newest Pixel Watch and Pixel phones at its upcoming event, and a leaked 360-degree view of the Pixel 8 Pro has already surfaced, revealing new features such as a temperature sensor and a revamped camera app.
Google has released a teaser video showcasing the Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2, and Pixel Buds Pro ahead of their expected launch on October 4.
Google released a sneak peek at the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, showing that the design remains consistent and potentially trying to steal some attention from Apple's upcoming iPhone launch.
Google is rolling out a redesign of the Pixel Camera app with version 9.0, which includes a Photo/Video switcher and rearranged controls for easier one-handed access, but requires Android 14 and is currently only available for Pixel users on the Beta Program.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 outperforms the Google Pixel Fold in terms of speed and performance, thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and UFS 4.0 storage.
Google has released the September 2023 update for Pixel devices, which includes the latest security patches but no sign of Android 14, while the Pixel Fold will be among the devices to receive the latest Android updates and features.
Google is rolling out the Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 to Pixel phones, tablets, and Fold, offering new features such as user overrides for large screen devices and an aspect ratio settings menu.
The Android 14 QPR1 beta for the Google Pixel Fold now includes a feature that allows the outer screen to stay on when folding, similar to Samsung's One UI, but with the default behavior set to "Only games, videos, and more."
Google is set to launch the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones on October 4th, featuring AI-powered editing tools, professional DSLR-level controls, and a 50-megapixel wide camera, among other new features.
iPhone users may not fully understand the features and benefits they are missing out on until they try a late-model Android flagship device like the Google Pixel Fold, as Apple's innovations have stagnated compared to its competitors.
The OnePlus Open foldable phone, rumored to be similar in design to the Pixel Fold or Find N2, was spotted being used by Indian actor Anushka Sharma in a video, suggesting its upcoming release around October 19 with features including a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and a large camera array.
A leaked Google ad for the Pixel 8 focuses on the phone's AI features, including the ability to swap faces in images and the Magic Eraser tool.
Google has released an update for its Pixel Buds app ahead of the Pixel 8 event, confirming the addition of new features such as "Hearing Wellness" and "Conversation Detection" that encourage healthier listening habits and pause music during conversations.
Google is reportedly working on a new foldable Pixel device codenamed "Comet," which could offer a more compact and affordable option compared to the Pixel Fold, potentially disrupting Samsung's dominance in the book-style foldable segment.
Google announced that it is introducing new features for Pixel devices, including the dual-screen interpreter mode on the Pixel Fold, which allows two people who speak different languages to have face-to-face conversations with real-time translations displayed on their screens. Additionally, the Pixel Tablet is receiving updates, such as a new navigation bar for Kids Space and the ability to use Google Assistant while in Hub Mode. The updates will be rolled out gradually to Pixel devices.
Google is releasing a firmware update for its 2022 earbuds, the Pixel Buds Pro, which includes features such as conversation detection, improved call quality, hearing health monitoring, low-latency mode for gaming, and compatibility with Chromebooks.
Google is releasing an October Pixel Feature Drop that includes updates for the Pixel Fold and Tablet, such as a Dual Screen Interpreter mode and Hub Mode, along with improvements to the Google Camera app and lock screen clocks.
Google has rolled out an update to its Pixel camera app, featuring a revamped interface that improves usability and adds new features, although some users find the change of the camera switching and camera roll buttons' placement to be inconvenient.
Google is introducing new features to the Pixel Buds Pro through a software update, including Bluetooth Super Wideband, Clear Calling, Conversation Detection, low-latency gaming mode, and the ability to control the earbuds from a Chromebook; two new colors, Bay Blue and Porcelain, have also been added.
Google has set trade-in value limits for its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones, with trade-ins of older Pixel phones or iPhones getting higher values than other devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 4 or the OnePlus 10 Pro.
Google unveiled new Pixel smartphones powered by AI, along with an AI-enhanced digital assistant called Assistant with Bard, at its Made by Google event, as the tech giant focuses on integrating AI into its products and services.
Oppo's newest N3 Flip foldable phone offers native app support for over 80 applications on its bigger outer display, including Google Messages for showing recent messages and conversations.
Google is reportedly working on a more affordable version of its Pixel 8 smartphone, featuring a similar design with two rear cameras and a hole-punch selfie cam, but it remains to be seen what software features Google might hold back from the Pixel 8A.
The rumored Google Pixel 8a smartphone is expected to be released next year and will feature a redesigned body with rounded corners, slimmer bezels, and a smaller chin, according to leaked renders.
Google's Pixel Buds Pro have received an update that includes Conversation Detection, Bluetooth Super Wideband support, Clear Calling, and reduced latency for gaming.
The upcoming OnePlus Open foldable phone may surpass the Google Pixel Fold as the thinnest foldable available in North America, potentially challenging Google's marketing campaign.
Google's claim that the Pixel Fold is the thinnest foldable may be invalid as OnePlus is set to release the OnePlus Open, marketed as the thinnest foldable in North America, indicating that it will be thinner than the Pixel Fold.
Google has released a Pixel Buds web app that allows users to control various settings and update their Pixel Buds Pro without an Android device, although it is currently only available on ChromeOS.
The release of the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro highlights the missed opportunity for Google to wait and improve upon the Pixel Fold, as the latest devices offer significant improvements in issues such as heat problems and chip performance.
Google has launched a new app for Pixel phones called Magnifier, which allows users to zoom in on text and objects, and also introduced an update to its Guided Frame feature to aid blind and low-vision Pixel users in capturing selfies.
Google has changed the name of its camera app to "Pixel Camera" to emphasize its exclusivity to Pixel phones, and the app now includes new features and requirements specific to Pixel devices.
Google now allows customers in the US to purchase a new Pixel Buds Pro case for $70 if they have lost the original, expanding from only offering earbud replacements in the past.
The OnePlus Open foldable smartphone features a new camera sensor that significantly improves image quality and rivals the performance of Google Pixel, potentially positioning OnePlus as a top contender in Android photography.
