In recent years, it has been impossible for Google to keep the details of its Pixel flagships under wraps until the official announcement. This year it’s been different in the sense that Google decided to reveal the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro’s designs back in May during Google I/O. Rather than try to keep secrets, Google instead opted to reveal some of the features itself.
This week, Google will be holding its annual hardware event where it will be unveiling confirming two new Pixel phones, a new Pixel Watch that integrates Wear OS deeper into Google-owned FitBit, and Google has confirmed that it will be announcing “additions to the Nest smart home portfolio”.
Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
Google’s first teaser of the Pixel 7 duo was during I/O back in May and it featured images of the new Pixels. In terms of design, they are similar to the Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, but feature slightly different camera bar, which will now be formed out of metal rather than the Pixel 6’s glass visor approach.
Fast forward to last week, Google released new teasers that highlighted the designs of each of the Pixels 7 and 7 Pro. It features close up shots of the hardware that showed the texture of the different materials. Based on these teasers, we know that the Pixel 7 will have an aluminum build with an anodized finish, and the Pixel 7 Pro’s finish will be shiny and glossy, but it’s not confirmed whether it will be made from stainless steel or aluminum.
For the Pixel 7 Pro, we’re expecting a less dramatic curve of the display’s edges. The Pixel 6 Pro’s curved edges were pronounced enough to make holding and using the phone a bit unconformable for prolonged periods.
Google Pixel 7 in white, mint green and black
Pixel 7 Pro in Obsidian, Hazel and Snow
As per recent leaks, the Pixel 7 will have an almost identical identical spec sheet to the Pixel 6: a flat 6.3-inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and up to 90Hz refresh rate, and even the cameras will be unchanged – 50MP (GN1) main and 12MP (IMX381) ultrawide units. The front facing camera may see the update to the 11MP sensor we know from the Pixel 6 Pro.
The Pixel 7 is also expected to have a 4,700 mAh battery (marginally up from the 6’s 4,614 mAh) with support for 30W charging.
We’ll get to the new Tensor chip in a sec, but let’s glance through the Pixel 7 Pro’s rumored specs first.
The Pixel 7 Pro’s rumored spec sheet also includes most of the same stuff as the 6 Pro: a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED screen with QHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It is also expected the 7 Pro will get a slightly updated selfie camera – the Samsung 3J1 sensor – one that would feature autofocus, though it would remain at 11MP resolution.
In the camera department, the Pixel 7 Pro will use the same 50MP JN1 main and 12MP ultrawide sensors, but the telephoto camera may be replaced to a Samsung GM1 module compared to the Sony IMX586 on the Pixel 6 Pro. A 5,000 mAh battery is expected to remain on the 7 Pro, now with support for 30W charging.
Tensor G2
The most major change on the new Pixels is going to be the Tensor G2 chip. The Pixels 6 and 6 Pro were plagued poor connectivity and battery life was not up to par with comparable flagships.
Given there’s not too much different with the Pixels 7 and 7 Pro, the key upgrade here will be the Tensor G2 chipset. Rumors of the Tensor G2 say it could be built on the 4nm process (last year’s Tensor was 5nm), which enabled higher clock speeds as hinted by early benchmarks of the chipset.
The same leak from last month revealed that the Tensor G2 could feature the same CPU configuration (2+2+4) as the Google Tensor though the two Cortex-X1 cores may see slight bumps in clock speed to 2.85GHz. Meanwhile, the Cortex-A76 cores could see clock speeds bump up to 2.35GHz. This reportedly translates to about a 10% bump in multi-core performance.
There’s evidence that we may see a notable improvement in graphics performance and efficiency thanks to a new Mali-G710 that would replace the Mali-G78 MP20 of the original Tensor chip.
The new chipset may come with a new Samsung modem – the S5300 5G. This new modem may bring better battery life, performance, stability, and efficiency compared to the previous release.
Pixel Watch
Google’s acquisition of FitBit a few years ago is finally going to be deeply integrated into Wear OS in the form of the Google Pixel Watch. Rumored for years, Google surprised us back in May during I/O when it confirmed that the Google’s first-party Wear OS offering was finally coming.
Google most recently teased the design of its Pixel Watch in a short trailer, more closely showing the round watch design and the curved display cover glass. The Pixel Watch will have a rotating crown and a multi-function button above it. It will also use a proprietary quick-release fastener to switch out the Watch’s bands.
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More recent renders of the Pixel Watch revealed bezels that may be thicker than initially teased back in May – a result of showing early renders when the hardware hasn’t been finalized.
Early rumors of the Pixel Watch suggested it may be powered by an Exynos 9110 with a co-processor for efficient standby power draw. It was rumored to have 1.5 GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage. This is for the LTE-variant, by the way. Rumors have pointed to a 300 mAh battery – though it isn’t certain whether that applies to a Wi-Fi + Bluetooth variant or an LTE variant, though 300 mAh for the latter does not seem like it would be enough.
Whatever the case may be, it is expected Google may advertise the Pixel Watch to last “up to a day”.
With Wear OS 3 smartwatches, the need for the Wear OS app will phase away. It will be up to each OEM to have its own companion app for new Wear OS smart watches and the Pixel Watch is expected to do the same. An unlock prompt back in June revealed that there will be a “Google Pixel Watch app”.
A more recent Pixel Watch leak showed many elements of the wearable’s UI. In addition to native support for Google Maps and Wallet, every Pixel Watch is said to come with a free 6-month Fitbit Premium membership, and renders of the Pixel Watch show deep integration with Fitbit.
Pixel Watch will integrate with Google Photos to use as backgrounds for watch faces, it will have smart home controls, and an emergency SOS calling screen.
Google Pixel Watch
Google Pixel Watch UI
One early hardware leak of the Pixel Watch measured a 40mm body that was 14mm thick with a visible display that’s 30mm in diameter (about 1.18 inches). It is still not known whether we’ll see the Pixel Watch be available in more than one size.
A Google Pixel Watch was forgotten at a restaurant (photos by u/tagtech414)
Nest Home
Google has confirmed that it will be announcing additions to Nest Home at this event. We initially thought a 1080p version of the Chromecast with Google TV was going to be announced at the event, but the very same Google Chromecast HD with Google TV had a quiet launch last month.
The last time Google released a new smart speaker was during its 2020 event when it launched the Google Nest Audio. Perhaps we can expect to see a refreshed Nest Home mini (currently on 2nd generation) as the last one launched in late 2019. Otherwise, the Nest Hub smart display was just refreshed last year, but the Nest Hub Max hasn’t seen a new version since 2019.
Are the most recent announcements what Google was referring to, or is there something else that Google is holding out to announce on Thursday? We’ll find out soon enough.
Pricing and availability
Rumors suggested that the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro may carry the same starting prices as their predecessors in the US. The Pixel 7 could start at $599 while the Pixel 7 Pro may start at $899. European customers may see a €649 starting price for the Pixel 7.
The Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will go on pre-sale on the same day as the launch event this week (October 6), though the time isn’t specified.
As for the Pixel Watch, the most recent rumor sees European pricing for the Wi-Fi + Bluetooth model to be set to £339 in the UK and €379 in the EU. There’s word of an LTE-enabled model as well, said to cost €419.
Although there’s no word on US pricing just yet, previous leaks and recent leaks of the EU’s pricing lets us speculate we may see a $299 starting price on the Pixel Watch. This is also considering the leak about a $399 LTE-enabled Pixel Watch.
Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.
The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.
Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.
The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.
Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.
On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.
The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.
More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.
Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:
You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!
Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.
Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.
There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.
Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.
Successful people tend to be secretive.
Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.
Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.
Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.
TORONTO – A new survey says a majority of software engineers and developers feel tight project deadlines can put safety at risk.
Seventy-five per cent of the 1,000 global workers who responded to the survey released Tuesday say pressure to deliver projects on time and on budget could be compromising critical aspects like safety.
The concern is even higher among engineers and developers in North America, with 77 per cent of those surveyed on the continent reporting the urgency of projects could be straining safety.
The study was conducted between July and September by research agency Coleman Parkes and commissioned by BlackBerry Ltd.’s QNX division, which builds connected-car technology.
The results reflect a timeless tug of war engineers and developers grapple with as they balance the need to meet project deadlines with regulations and safety checks that can slow down the process.
Finding that balance is an issue that developers of even the simplest appliances face because of advancements in technology, said John Wall, a senior vice-president at BlackBerry and head of QNX.
“The software is getting more complicated and there is more software whether it’s in a vehicle, robotics, a toaster, you name it… so being able to patch vulnerabilities, to prevent bad actors from doing malicious acts is becoming more and more important,” he said.
The medical, industrial and automotive industries have standardized safety measures and anything they produce undergoes rigorous testing, but that work doesn’t happen overnight. It has to be carried out from the start and then at every step of the development process.
“What makes safety and security difficult is it’s an ongoing thing,” Wall said. “It’s not something where you’ve done it, and you are finished.”
The Waterloo, Ont.-based business found 90 per cent of its survey respondents reported that organizations are prioritizing safety.
However, when asked about why safety may not be a priority for their organization, 46 per cent of those surveyed answered cost pressures and 35 per cent said a lack of resources.
That doesn’t surprise Wall. Delays have become rampant in the development of tech, and in some cases, stand to push back the launch of vehicle lines by two years, he said.
“We have to make sure that people don’t compromise on safety and security to be able to get products out quicker,” he said.
“What we don’t want to see is people cutting corners and creating unsafe situations.”
The survey also took a peek at security breaches, which have hit major companies like London Drugs, Indigo Books & Music, Giant Tiger and Ticketmaster in recent years.
About 40 per cent of the survey’s respondents said they have encountered a security breach in their employer’s operating system. Those breaches resulted in major impacts for 27 per cent of respondents, moderate impacts for 42 per cent and minor impacts for 27 per cent.
“There are vulnerabilities all the time and this is what makes the job very difficult because when you ship the software, presumably the software has no security vulnerabilities, but things get discovered after the fact,” Wall said.
Security issues, he added, have really come to the forefront of the problems developers face, so “really without security, you have no safety.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.
As online shoppers hunt for bargains offered by Amazon during its annual fall sale this week, cybersecurity researchers are warning Canadians to beware of an influx of scammers posing as the tech giant.
In the 30 days leading up to Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, taking place Tuesday and Wednesday, there were more than 1,000 newly registered Amazon-related web domains, according to Check Point Software Technologies, a company that offers cybersecurity solutions.
The company said it deemed 88 per cent of those domains malicious or suspicious, suggesting they could have been set up by scammers to prey on vulnerable consumers. One in every 54 newly created Amazon-related domain included the phrase “Amazon Prime.”
“They’re almost indiscernible from the real Amazon domain,” said Robert Falzon, head of engineering at Check Point in Canada.
“With all these domains registered that look so similar, it’s tricking a lot of people. And that’s the whole intent here.”
Falzon said Check Point Research sees an uptick in attempted scams around big online shopping days throughout the year, including Prime Days.
Scams often come in the form of phishing emails, which are deceptive messages that appear to be from a reputable source in attempt to steal sensitive information.
In this case, he said scammers posing as Amazon commonly offer “outrageous” deals that appear to be associated with Prime Days, in order to trick recipients into clicking on a malicious link.
The cybersecurity firm said it has identified and blocked 100 unique Amazon Prime-themed scam emails targeting organizations and consumers over the past two weeks.
Scammers also target Prime members with unsolicited calls, claiming urgent account issues and requesting payment information.
“It’s like Christmas for them,” said Falzon.
“People expect there to be significant savings on Prime Day, so they’re not shocked that they see something of significant value. Usually, the old adage applies: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
Amazon’s website lists a number of red flags that it recommends customers watch for to identify a potential impersonation scam.
Those include false urgency, requests for personal information, or indications that the sender prefers to complete the purchase outside of the Amazon website or mobile app.
Scammers may also request that customers exclusively pay with gift cards, a claim code or PIN. Any notifications about an order or delivery for an unexpected item should also raise alarm bells, the company says.
“During busy shopping moments, we tend to see a rise in impersonation scams reported by customers,” said Amazon spokeswoman Octavia Roufogalis in a statement.
“We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”
Falzon added that these scams are more successful than people might think.
As of June 30, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre said there had been $284 million lost to fraud so far this year, affecting 15,941 victims.
But Falzon said many incidents go unreported, as some Canadians who are targeted do not know how or where to flag a scam, or may choose not to out of embarrassment.
Check Point recommends Amazon customers take precautions while shopping on Prime Days, including by checking URLs carefully, creating strong passwords on their accounts, and avoiding personal information being shared such as their birthday or social security number.
The cybersecurity company said consumers should also look for “https” at the beginning of a website URL, which indicates a secure connection, and use credit cards rather than debit cards for online shopping, which offer better protection and less liability if stolen.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2024.
