Google Gemini upgrades add more autonomous AI to phones and watches
Shipping on the just-announced Pixel 10 Android phones, the new Magic Cue feature enables the chatbot to comb through your digital life and pull up relevant information on your phone just when you need it.
Placing a call to an airline will automatically display your booking information from Gmail in the phone app. Or when a friend texts about brunch on Sunday Gemini will suggest a suitable coffee shop and show your calendar in line with your messages.
The feature is part of a series of artificial intelligence upgrades for the newly announced Pixel 10, 10 Pro and 10 Pro Fold phones. Each has the new Tensor G5 chip, which runs Magic Cue and other AI tools locally on a device.
Leo Gebbie, a principal analyst at the research firm CCS Insight, said Google was 'arguably positioning on-device AI more effectively than any of its rivals' and that the Magic Cue feature was 'an early step towards the much-vaunted agentic AI experiences, which have been promised on smartphones for some time'.
He added: 'Google can take advantage of the fact that most Android users will already have heavily populated apps such as Gmail, Calendar and Maps with their personal information, and it is now drawing this data together in a more helpful way than ever before.'
The Pixel 10 has a 6.3in OLED screen and an upgraded imaging system that includes a 10.8-megapixel 5x telephoto camera for the first time, taking the number of cameras on the back to three, compared with two on previous models. The Pixel 10 Pro comes in two sizes with a 6.3in or 6.8in screen and features three cameras on the back including a 48MP telephoto camera capable of 10x optical zoom.
The Pixel 10 Pro Fold becomes one of the first folding phones to feature the full IP68 water and dust resistance common among standard slab phones, as Google attempts to allay durability concerns of the flexible screen. It features a similar camera system to the Pixel 10.
The phones also support various AI photography features including the new Camera Coach that uses Google's AI servers to analyse the scene in front of the camera to suggest different framing, angles and lighting to take a better photo.
The Pixel 10 starts at £799 (€899/$799/A$1,349) and the Pixel 10 Pro starts at £999 (€1,099/$999/A$1,699) and ships on 28 August. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold costs from £1,749 (€1,899/$1,799/A$2,699) and ships later on 9 October.
Google also unveiled the Pixel Watch 4 smartwatch, which brings Gemini to the wrist and can act as personal AI heath coach. Part of the new Fitbit app, Gemini can create personalised fitness and sleep plans, measure the impact of training in real time and answer health and fitness questions chatbot-style.
The Pixel Watch 4 is available in two sizes and has a domed screen that is 10% larger than its predecessors. It is the first smartwatch to offer SOS satellite-based emergency services when off the grid, starting with the US. The device is also the first Google smartwatch to be designed for serviceability including battery and screen repairs, finally catching up to Apple and Samsung. It costs from £349 (€499/$349/A$579).
Meanwhile, the Pixel Buds 2a are a cheaper version of Google's compact Bluetooth earbuds and cost £129 (€149/$129/A$239). They have a same Tensor A1 chip as the company's top Buds Pro 2 earbuds, and have noise cancelling and integrated Gemini AI assistant. The Buds 2a charging case is also designed with a replaceable battery, although the earbuds themselves are not repairable.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geeky Gadgets
36 minutes ago
- Geeky Gadgets
iOS 26 Beta 7: A Full Breakdown of ALL New Features
Apple's iOS 26 Beta 7 marks a pivotal step in the journey toward the final release of iOS 26, expected in mid-September. This update emphasizes refining existing features, enhancing system performance, and addressing specific issues. While it does not introduce innovative changes, it underscores Apple's commitment to delivering a stable and polished operating system that meets user expectations. The video below from Daniel About Tech gives us more details about the new iOS 26 beta update. Watch this video on YouTube. AI-Powered Adaptive Power Notifications: Smarter Battery Management A standout feature in Beta 7 is the Adaptive Power Notifications. This innovative addition provides alerts when Adaptive Power mode is activated, offering a smarter alternative to the traditional Low Power Mode. Powered by artificial intelligence, this feature optimizes battery usage by analyzing your device habits. It dynamically adjusts background processes and app activity based on your usage patterns. Battery life is extended without compromising overall performance. Ideal for users who depend on their devices for long durations, making sure uninterrupted functionality. This enhancement allows you to maximize battery efficiency while maintaining a seamless user experience, making it a practical addition for everyday use. Refined Visuals: Enhanced Toggle Animations Beta 7 introduces subtle yet impactful changes to the toggle animations within the settings menu. These refined animations may appear minor at first glance, but they significantly contribute to a more fluid and engaging interaction. The updated visuals make navigating through settings feel smoother and more responsive. Apple's attention to detail in design ensures that even the smallest elements enhance the overall user experience. These improvements demonstrate the company's dedication to creating an interface that is both functional and visually appealing. Apple Watch Blood Oxygen Monitoring Restored For Apple Watch users, Beta 7 resolves a critical issue related to the blood oxygen monitoring feature. Previously disabled on Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 models in the U.S. due to patent-related concerns, this functionality has now been restored. The update ensures accurate and seamless monitoring of blood oxygen levels, a key health feature for many users. It reaffirms Apple's commitment to maintaining the reliability and accessibility of its health-focused technologies. This fix is particularly significant for users who rely on their Apple Watch for health tracking, offering peace of mind and reinforcing the device's role as a trusted health companion. Performance and Stability: A Smoother Experience System performance and stability are central to Beta 7, with several enhancements aimed at improving the overall user experience. These refinements ensure that the software feels more responsive and reliable during daily use. App navigation is smoother, and control center interactions are faster. System fluidity has been improved, reducing lag and enhancing responsiveness. Fewer crashes and glitches make this beta version more dependable for everyday tasks. These updates bring iOS 26 closer to the high standards of quality expected in a final release, making sure a seamless and enjoyable experience for users. Looking Ahead: Final Touches Before Release As the official release of iOS 26 draws near, future beta updates are expected to focus on minor tweaks rather than introducing new features. This approach aligns with Apple's strategy of delivering a reliable and well-rounded operating system. For beta testers, this means a smoother transition to the final version, with fewer surprises and a more polished experience. By prioritizing performance, stability, and user satisfaction, Apple continues to refine iOS 26, making sure it meets the expectations of its diverse user base. The journey toward the final release reflects the company's meticulous approach to software development, setting the stage for a robust and dependable operating system. Advance your skills in iOS 26 Beta Updates by reading more of our detailed content. Source & Image Credit: Daniel About Tech Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Gen Z drives boom in boxed wine - as it's cheaper and more sustainable
Younger drinkers are ditching bottled wine in favour of more convenient alternatives, according to a leading retailer. While Gen Z might be the most teetotal generation, they're also driving sales of boxed and canned wine, new Ocado data suggests. Canned wines are proving a popular and convenient option for shoppers, with sales of M&S California Rosé increasing 541 per cent over the last year, and Canned Wine Co's Gamay up 212 per cent. There has even been a resurgence of once-derided boxed wine, driven by Gen Z - adults aged between 18 and 28 - who say they prefer the convenience and think that it has improved in quality. Almost three in five are happy to drink wine from a box or a can, with 63 per cent believing they offer better value. Sales of boxed Nice Pale French Rosé have rocketed 559 per cent over the last year, while Isla Negra Sauvignon Blanc increased 73 per cent. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the environment is another driving factor, with 59 per cent of Gen Z drinkers seeing boxed wine as more sustainable, compared to 46 per cent of the wider population. Social media is driving interest in wine more generally, with over half of Gen Z shoppers saying TikTok and Instagram have improved their knowledge of it. Vanessa Pearson, beer, wine and spirits trading manager at Ocado Retail, said: 'These formats offer flexibility, especially in the summer, while the locally-sourced movement aligns with the more conscious choices that customers are making.' At the same time, sales of English wine are up 17 per cent year-on-year on Ocado, with sales of the canned wine Uncommon growing 32 per cent. Gen Z might be eyeing wine alternatives, but there is a also a growing market for no and low alcohol products. Among the most popular products on Ocado has been Thatchers Zero cider, with sales up 90 per cent over 2024, while Tanqueray alcohol-free gin increased 32 per cent. Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5 per cent ale remains a firm favourite, with sales up 22 per cent over the last year. Similarly, Guinness Zero has proved a hit with drinkers. In 2023, owner Diageo announced it would aim to triple production of its zero-alcohol brand in response to changing tastes. The drink, which launched in 2021, is on course to account for 10 per cent of all Guinness sales in Ireland in the coming years.
Reuters
37 minutes ago
- Reuters
Washington's chip stakes look like industrial policy on overdrive
LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Market talk may be of fiscal dominance in the U.S. debt market but Washington's startling moves to take a direct stake in its leading chipmakers look like industrial policy on overdrive - alarming some investors about where it might end. For an administration that loudly espouses a credo of deregulated free markets, that's quite a look. Donald Trump's second administration is proving anything but a "light touch" government - pursuing high trade barriers, greater control of monetary policy, heavy-handed re-industrialization, strict immigration controls and heightened national security priorities. But taking direct stakes in leading U.S. companies is a whole different level, moving into territory most Western market economies have feared to tread for decades. The White House confirmed on Tuesday that it's working on a deal that could see the U.S. government take a 10% stake in troubled chip giant Intel (INTC.O), opens new tab, less than two weeks after Trump had suggested its boss should step down over his China links. Intel is the only integrated American firm currently capable of manufacturing leading-edge chips and its importance is underlined by the fact the world's premier producer - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co ( opens new tab - is caught in geopolitical crosshairs due to China's claim on the island. Initially, the Intel deal looked like it might be a one-off, reflecting both the company's struggles and its strategic heft. But now the entire sector appears to be up for grabs. According to Reuters sources, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is considering having the government take equity stakes in other chipmakers in exchange for cash grants approved by former President Joe Biden's CHIPS Act, which was aimed at spurring factory-building in America. The Commerce Department oversees the $52.7 billion CHIPS Act funds, much of which has not yet been disbursed to companies such as Micron (MU.O), opens new tab, Samsung ( opens new tab, TSMC and Intel. A widening government footprint in the corporate world, which Lutnick suggested would stop short of controlling stakes or even voting rights, follows a series of government moves on what it sees as critical companies and possibly revenue sources. What looked to some like a government export tax was agreed with Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O), opens new tab last week, giving the U.S. government 15% of revenue from sales to China of certain advanced chips. The White House said it may expand this to other chip companies too. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is slated to become the largest shareholder in a small mining company, MP Materials (MP.N), opens new tab, in a bid to boost output of rare earth magnets amid a tense standoff with China. When it comes to Intel at least, investors seemed to welcome the plan as a way of steadying the shaky ship and the stock initially surged to a six-month high on the news - aided by an additional $2 billion investment from SoftBank. However, the share price has since been dragged back down by a wider tech sector swoon. The extent to which government dabbling in what it considers strategically important companies is partly responsible for this week's tech shakeout is unclear. But obvious concerns about shareholders getting diluted by Uncle Sam and who or what Washington might next consider "strategic" are bound to have unnerved some investors. Writing on the Intel proposals, Saxo Bank investment strategist Jacob Falkencrone said the structure of the deal would be as important as the move itself, though he noted that the shift in U.S. industrial policy from subsidies to ownership stakes was perhaps the biggest takeaway of all. Indeed, government stakes in private companies have been a rarity since World War Two, only seen in scale recently when Washington was forced to plow funds into ailing banks and other firms as part of the financial rescue during the banking bust in 2008. "Then, the motive was survival. Now, it's about resilience," Falkencrone said. And even if outright nationalization is not on the agenda, government involvement could still impact capital allocation, export compliance and where chips are made. "The broader point is this: if Washington is willing to take a stake in Intel, it may be prepared to do the same in other 'strategic' companies," Falkencrone said. "That's a shift worth considering across the portfolio – not just in semiconductors, but in any sector that could be deemed critical to national security in the years ahead." Perhaps the most telling review of the moves came from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, a progressive Democrat, who on Wednesday threw his support behind Trump's chipmaker stakes. "If microchip companies make a profit from the generous grants they receive from the federal government, the taxpayers of America have a right to a reasonable return on that investment," Sanders said. Unfettered, free-wheeling capitalism may be alive and well in parts of the new economy, such as crypto markets, but it seems the West Wing will be breathing down the neck of the industrial world for some time to come. The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters -- Enjoying this column? Check out Reuters Open Interest (ROI), your essential new source for global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn. Plus, sign up for my weekday newsletter, Morning Bid U.S.
