Google’s upcoming Pixel Tablet is set to launch next year and while the company hasn’t officially told us much about it yet, details have been leaking for a while. Now a prototype of the Pixel Tablet has shown up on Facebook Marketplace, giving us an even better idea of what to expect.
In other recent tech news from around the web, it’s taking Apple longer than expected to announce a Mac Pro with an M2 series processor, Google is working on software that can read your doctor’s handwriting when you (or your pharmacist) cannot, and Amazon opened the door to sideloading apps on the Echo Show 15 when it rolled out an update that lets you run Fire TV software on the smart display… but the company is very much trying (unsuccessfully) to close that door.
Amazon blocks Downloader app on the Echo Show 15 in seemingly meaningless effort to thwart sideloading [AFTVNews]
The Amazon Echo Show 15 is a smart display that also works as a Fire TV device following a recent software update. Officially, Amazon make it hard to install apps on the Echo Show 15 if they aren’t in the Amazon Appstore. Unofficially, folks have already found a workaround. Unfortunately Amazon is trying crack down on that too by blocking installs of the most popular file download app for Fire TV devices.
Google Pixel Tablet and speaker dock prototypes leak on Facebook Marketplace [9to5Google]
Someone is apparently selling a pre-release Google Pixel tablet and companion speaker dock on Facebook Marketplace, giving us a better look at the prototype for Google’s upcoming hardware.
Google will soon translate your doctor’s terrible handwriting [The Verge]
Handwriting recognition is one thing. Bad handwriting recognition is a whole different ballgame. But Google is developing an AI model meant specifically to decipher scribbled names of medications in an effort to ensure your pharmacist knows what your doctor actually prescribed.
Apple Scales Back High-End Mac Pro Plans, Weighs Production Move to Asia [Bloomberg]
Apple’s first Mac Pro with an M-series chip has allegedly been delayed due to several factors. It’s now expected to have an M2 Ultra with up to 24 CPU cores, 76 GPU cores, and up to 192GB RAM. Plans for an M2 Extreme with double the cores are said to have been scrapped.
Keep up on the latest headlines by following @[email protected] on Mastodon. You can also follow Liliputing on Twitter and Facebook, and keep up with the latest open source mobile news by following LinuxSmartphones on Twitter and Facebook.
Given G’s track record with tablets, I’m not holding my breath – they are so terribly late with everything, it will be prohibitively priced, and won’t have game-changing features.
I also don’t understand the hype they are desperately trying to build by teasing news sites with bits that just don’t matter (docking a tablet to turn it into a smart monitor fine, but hardly new or interesting).
“Google’s first Pixel-branded tablet …”
Pixel C in 2014.
Pixel Slate in 2017.
But no one bought them so I don’t blame you for not remembering. No one is going to buy this one either.
Whoops. Should have said first Pixel-branded Android tablet.
Pixel C was Android. It was originally supposed to run ChromeOS but during its development Google discovered that ChromeOS didn’t have a tablet UI or apps. So it was released with Android Marshmallow instead.
Yes, product development at Google really is that bad. It explains such debacles as Stadia. Which is why I never buy actual Google products. I only buy products from companies that use Google operating systems and platforms to make products that are actually useful, like Samsung.
Oh right!
We know before that Mac Pro delayed. And sideloading apps on the Amazon Echo Show 15. Pixel Tablet leake was surprising.