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Lilbits: Samsung may be throttling Android app performance, Intel Core i7-12650HX leaked, Valve issues fix for Steam Deck stick drift

Every few years one or more phone makers seems to be caught throttling performance of certain Android apps and games, often to help phones get high scores in benchmarks even when they’re not representative of real-world performance. This time it’s Samsung’s turn. The company’s Game Optimizing Service has been discovered on Galaxy S22 phones, and […]

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Google and Levi’s will launch their first smart jacket this fall for $350 (Project Jacquard)

It’s been nearly two years since Google revealed it was working on technology to create smart clothing and other textiles by weaving electronics into fabric. Now Google and Levi’s have announced that the first commercial product based on Project Jacquard is coming this fall. That’s when you’ll be able to buy the smart jacket the two […]

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Google is scrapping Project Ara modular smartphone altogether

Google’s quest to build a modular smartphone platform may be over. Reuters reports that Google has “suspended” Project Ara as the company moves to streamline its hardware. Streamlining isn’t the same thing as pulling out of the hardware business: Google is also said to be prepping two new phones, an updated Chromecast, and other hardware for launch this […]

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Google’s modular smartphone is coming in 2017 (Project Ara dev edition coming in Q4, 2016)

Google’s Project Ara modular phone platform has been under development for years, and soon you’ll finally be able to get your hands on one. The first Project Ara developer kits will ship in the fourth quarter of 2016, and Google says it’s working on a consumer edition that will be available in 2017. The company […]

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Google unveils a gesture-controlled smartwatch using Project Soli radar

Google’s Project Soli is an effort to build a tiny radar system that allows you to interact with gadgets using gestures. For example, you can move your hand toward a device or away from it to flip through menus or scroll through content. Or you can use a virtual dialing gesture. The company introduced Project […]

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Facebook to invest in hardware, poaches Google ATAP head Regina Dugan to lead effort

Facebook is starting a new hardware known as Building 8, and the company is clearly thinking big. Facebook has hired the head of Google’s ATAP (Advanced Technologies and Projects) group to head the new effort. Appropriately enough, Regina Dugan confirmed in a Facebook post that she’s moving from Google to Facebook. Google’s ATAP division is […]

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Typing on air with Google’s Project Soli mini-radar

Google’s Project Soli is an effort to design a touch-free user interface for interacting with electronic devices using tiny radars. The company unveiled Project Soli at Google I/O in May, 2015, and now it looks like Google has begun sending development kits to testers. Engineer Alex Bravo has posted a short video showing a system […]

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Google to launch Project Soli alpha program (gesture-sensing mini-radars)

One of the most exciting new projects coming from Google’s ATAP team is Project Soli, which uses radar technology to allow a person to use minute gestures in mid air to virtually control such things as volume knobs on a watch face. Android Police reports that Google has begun notifying interested groups of an upcoming “Soli […]

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Google postpones Project Ara pilot until 2016 (modular smartphones)

Google plans to launch a pilot program for its Project Ara smartphone… but that pilot won’t be in Puerto Rico as originally planned, and it won’t be in 2015 as originally planned either. Earlier this year the company outlined vague plans for a “marketing pilot” that would allow customers to configure and purchase modular smartphones […]

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Google scraps Puerto Rico pilot for Project Ara modular smartphone

Google’s Project Ara is an effort to design a modular smartphone system that lets you customize your phone’s hardware and design by swapping out modules to add or remove cameras, batteries, storage, or even screens. The company’s been working on the technology for a few years, and had planned to launch a marketing pilot in Puerto […]