AC Newsweek
Newsweek is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week’s top stories so you can stay up to date on the latest tech news.
Android Central’s weekly news release is your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week’s biggest tech stories. This is where we dive into the headlines that provide the latest developments contributing to the digital landscape.
This week, the Nothing Phone 2a was released, a Google employee was charged with stealing artificial intelligence technology, Pixel dropped its March update, Windows 11 dropped Android app support, and YouTube got a version of its TikTok video editing tool.
Phone 2a did not arrive
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Earlier this week, Nothing finally released the new Phone 2a, aiming to be a cheap Android phone. The phone is equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro processor, 120Hz AMOLED display and dual camera system.
Nothing Phoenix 2a is made from 100% recycled aluminum, tin and copper. The company told Android Central that it used scraps from the Nothing Ear 2 production process to build the phone.
The Phone 2a runs Nothing OS 2.5, which is based on Android 14 and comes with three years of OS updates and four years of security updates. The camera system of the Phone 2a features a rear-facing 50MP Samsung GN9 primary sensor with an aperture of f/1.88. There’s also an ultrawide 50MP Samsung JN1 sensor with a 114-degree field of view. Phone 2a features a 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor on the front.
While Nothing hopes to bring its phone to the world, US users can only get it through the Nothing developer program for $349.
Ex-Google employee charged with AI theft
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On Wednesday (March 6), a former Google employee was accused of stealing Google’s artificial intelligence technology and secretly working with two Chinese companies.
According to reports, 38-year-old Ding Linwei, a Chinese citizen, was arrested in Newark, California. Ding was hired by Google in 2019, and his responsibilities include developing software deployed in Google’s supercomputing data centers. With access to this information, Ding allegedly began transferring sensitive Google trade secrets and other confidential information to his personal Google Cloud two years ago.
“Ding continued to upload regularly until May 2, 2023, when Ding uploaded more than 500 unique files containing classified information,” the DOJ said.
After the theft, Ding was offered a chief technology officer position at a start-up artificial intelligence company in China and attended the company’s investor meetings. The report also said Ding founded and served as CEO of a Chinese startup that aims to train artificial intelligence models powered by supercomputing chips.
He was charged with four counts of federal trade secret theft. If convicted, Ding could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 per count.
Pixel feature drops in March
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Google is bringing another feature drop to the Pixel Watch and Pixel phones this week. Users can now post 10-bit HDR videos directly on Instagram Reels and Ultra HDR images on social media apps. These features will be available via feature drops across Pixel phones, including the Pixel 7 series, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Fold.
The Call Screen feature is being upgraded to the Pixel 6 series and above (including the Pixel Fold in the US). The new update introduces a “hello” chip that users can tap when screening calls. It triggers Google Assistant “which then prompts the caller to speak, helping you understand why they are trying to contact you.”
The Pixel 7 series will launch Circle to Search. Users can long-press the Pixel home button or navigation bar and draw circles on the screen to learn about on-screen images, text, or video, all without leaving the app.
Additionally, several other Pixel devices are getting quick pairing, casting, and the ability to convert handwritten notes written with your finger or via a stylus into a document format.
Microsoft abandons Android
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On Tuesday (March 5), Microsoft announced that it will remove Android app support for Windows 11 through its Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) within a year. Therefore, users have until 2025 for the app to completely disappear.
Back in 2021, Microsoft brought native support for Android apps to Windows 11 for the first time. The service enables Windows PC users to discover popular Android apps through the Microsoft Store and download them through the Amazon Appstore. The company said that all apps and games that rely on its Android app subsystem will no longer work after a given date.
The company did not immediately disclose the reason for the cancellation. However, they said, “We appreciate the support of the developer community and remain committed to listening to feedback as we evolve the experience.”
Ultimately, it was revealed that the decision was driven, of course, by revenue and a lack of support from Google.
YouTube expands video editing capabilities
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Following the launch of the YouTube Create app last September, YouTube is now bringing its video editing tools to other markets. The streaming platform has announced that YouTube Create has now expanded to 13 additional countries. Initially launched in just eight countries, the app will now be available in Spain, Hong Kong, Brazil, Australia and more.
YouTube Create is designed to provide video creators with a user-friendly toolbox for making videos on the go. The app looks a lot like CapCut, which is owned by TikTok owner ByteDance. CapCut offers nifty built-in creative tools and cool AR and AI filters, and YouTube is experimenting with similar functionality in its Shorts.
Creators can split and trim videos, experiment with effects, and choose royalty-free music to blend with the original audio of the video clips. The app also has another tool called Audio Cleanup, which works by reducing background and ambient noise and improving the audio quality of smartphone-recorded clips.
YouTube hopes to simplify the otherwise complex video editing process with its new Creator app.
These are some of the biggest stories of the week. In the meantime, here are some other stories worth watching this week: