☀️ Good Morning, folks. I woke up with my iPhone 12 in hand today and felt a strong need to get a new phone. Not that I am terribly unhappy with it, but I could definitely do with better battery life. Thankfully, several new phones are launching soon, including the new iPhone 14 series. Over in the Android world, Google is all set for the next Pixel launch. Read on for more on that and other tech news you may have missed.

Pixel 7 series incoming

As October nears, it’s time to anticipate a new Pixel phone. This year’s Pixel launch will be extra special because Google is hosting an offline event after years, and it’s also gearing up to launch its first-ever smartwatch.

• Google has finally announced an October 6 launch event.
• The company has confirmed it’ll launch the new Pixel hardware lineup on the day.
• The launch is happening in Brooklyn, New York, making it Google’s first in-person event since the onset of the pandemic.
• You can mark your calendars for a livestream of the event here.
• Speaking of the Pixel 7 series, it’s no stranger to those of us who’ve been keeping tabs.
• Google already shared the official imagery of the phones, and we’ve also seen some unboxing videos.
• The company has also confirmed the name of the new Tensor chip that’ll power its latest flagships. It’s called Tensor G2.
• Google says the new processor will bring “even more helpful, personalized features to photos, videos, security, and speech recognition.”
• Confused if you should buy the Pixel 6 or wait for the Pixel 7? Here’s some advice.

Not just a smartphone launch

• Google told us a long while back that its first smartwatch — the Pixel Watch — would debut later this year, and it’s finally coming on October 6.
• It’ll be interesting to see the new Wear OS 3 on hardware actually made by Google.
• It’s sort of a litmus test for the company to show it can do Wear OS wearables better than others in the market.
• However, we’ve heard some concerning things about the Pixel Watch.
• The battery life may not be great, and it may only pack basic fitness tracking features. That doesn’t really inspire confidence.
• That said, there’s stuff to be excited about too.
• It’s tipped to get some cool accessories, ship with USB-C charging, be the first Google Fi watch, and have Fitbit integration.
• If you don’t want to wait for the Pixel Watch, here are some of the best smartwatches you can buy right now.

Roundup

📷 Google Pixel 6a vs iPhone SE (2022) camera shootout: Affordable excellence (Android Authority).

⏬ More Pixel news — The final update for the Pixel 3a and 3a XL comes out today (Android Authority).

⌚ Over at Samsung, a new charging cradle may be the company’s answer to the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro’s design flaw (Android Authority).

❓ Did you know — Google only agreed to make Android 12L if Samsung promised to make a foldable every year? (Android Authority).

🏭 Switching gears, the Biden administration has revealed details of its $50 billion plan to kickstart chip-making in the US (Engadget).

📱 Meanwhile, Qualcomm announced new processors that bring premium features to affordable phones. (Android Authority).

🏠 T-Mobile is expanding its home internet service to 64 new cities (T-Mobile).

📡 HUAWEI Mate 50 series beats rivals to the punch with satellite support (Android Authority).

⚡ The Samsung Developer Conference 2022 starts on October 12. Expect to hear more about the company’s plans with Android 12L on foldable phones, One UI 5, and more (Samsung).

📺 The cheaper Chromecast with Google TV could launch soon (WinFuture).

🌍 Google Maps is expanding its eco-friendly navigation to new countries (Google).

Wednesday Weirdness

A Japanese hotel certainly takes the concept of a nightcap very seriously. So much so that the establishment is offering a beer tap inside its guest rooms. Why? Because who doesn’t like a constant supply of craft beer day in and day out?

The Villa & Barren Lounge in Japan’s Shinzouka City offers five rooms, each equipped with its own beer tap, not just smart coffee makers or tea bags.

• The taps supply 10 liters of craft beer per night to hotel guests absolutely free of cost.
• That’s equal to over 17 pints per night.
• What’s more? This beer is specially brewed for the hotel’s taps and is unavailable elsewhere.
• I guess they really want to give their guests a good reason not to check out. 🤣

Have a nice day,

Adamya Sharma, Editor