⚡ Welcome to The Weekly Authority the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 250th edition here with a possible stylus and keyboard for the Pixel Tablet, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 leaks, Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 price rumors, the latest Reddit updates, and some bad news for anybody thinking of buying an Xbox Series X or subscribing to Game Pass. Plus, we dive into some safety concerns surrounding the Titan submersible tragedy.

🪤 I’m back from my trip up north, where we saw a 70th-anniversary production of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap. It was amazing, even if I did guess whodunnit!

Popular news this week

Google:

• Pixel Tablet may be getting a stylus and keyboard, according to a Google app.
• Speaking of, the Pixel Tablet already has an update. Here’s why you should install it ASAP.
• And the Pixel Tablet’s new Google Weather app is gorgeous.
• The Pixel 7a might be using a slightly inferior Tensor G2 processor, ostensibly for price-related reasons, could lead to hotter chipset.
• The US’s largest news publisher sues Google over alleged digital ad monopoly.
• Google Nest cameras and doorbells were down for many people on Tuesday but the issue was fixed by Thursday.
• Meanwhile, Chromebook X leaks: Google’s new badge of excellence for laptops.
• Was WhatsApp secretly listening to you? Google says it was just a bug.
• And iPhone goes through existential crisis in new Google Pixel ads.

Samsung:

• The Galaxy Z Fold 5 isn’t out yet, but we’ve already got Z Fold 6 leaks.
• Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 price rumor could be good news for your wallet.
• Samsung brings its self-repair program to the UK and Europe.
• Leak suggests the Galaxy Watch 6 may get a price bump.
• Samsung’s clever Galaxy Enhance-X app is now available for a ton of phones.

OPPO & OnePlus:

• This might be our first look at the OnePlus Fold.
• The OPPO Find N3 Flip could have the best cameras on a clamshell foldable.
• Meanwhile, OnePlus makes its tablet and phones work together like iPads and iPhones.
• And OnePlus 10 update allows cellular data to be shared with the OnePlus Pad.
• Also: Latest OnePlus 11 and 11R update focuses on OnePlus Pad connectivity.

Nothing:

• Nothing Phone 2 could be much more expensive than Phone 1.
• A Nothing smartwatch could be in the works.

Apple:

• Apple takes a page from Samsung, patents Gear VR-like headset for the iPhone.
• Apple Self Service Repair for iPhones streamlined, but still requires 79lb kit.
• AndApple could force a 111-year-old fruit company to change its apple logo.
• Also: iOS 16.5.1 fixes critical iMessage security flaw, you should update immediately!
• Plus: Apple Vision Pro’s Guest Mode will let you share the $3,500 headset with friends.
• And the Vision Pro’s clunky battery may be why Apple didn’t show off fitness apps.

Social media:

• Reddit hacker demands $4.5M and a change to new API rule: Ransomware group BlackCat claimed responsibility for the February Reddit cyberattack and wants Reddit to reverse controversial API price changes.
• And here’s the note Reddit sent to moderators threatening them if they don’t reopen.
• Plus: r/Android is back (kind of), but wants your help deciding what to do next.
• Also: TikTok’s COO has quit, though will stay on in an advisory role.
• Weekly weirdness: Could Zuckberg and Musk have a cage fight?

Space:

• The special ingredient for Mars travel meal prep? Astronaut breath.

AI:

• Biden will host a forum about artificial intelligence with technology leaders in San Francisco.

Elsewhere: 

• Amazon announces Prime Day details: Here’s what to expect.
• NFC payments are about to become faster, easier, and truly contactless.
• Now realme is leaving the German market following legal spat with Nokia.
• Leaked ASUS Zenfone 10 renders give us a great look at the compact flagship — plus, here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming phone.
• Speaking of, another ASUS Zenfone 10 leak confirms the return of the 3.5mm port.
• HONOR 90 Lite and friends come to the UK.
• Want lag-free gaming audio on any device? Qualcomm has a chip for that.
• Razer goes after dbrand by launching Razer Skins for laptops, consoles, and handhelds.
• New patent hints at a phone with under-display rear (?) cameras.
• And WhatsApp is finally bringing you relief from spam callers.
• Elsewhere, WhatsApp’s latest beta update reveals Meta Quest support could be coming soon.
• Now the UK is warning Android users over accidental emergency calls.
• A cable you can buy protects you from ‘juice jacking,’ but you don’t need it.
• Spotify to introduce new ‘Supremium’ tier plan that will include Hi-Fi audio.
• China’s ByteDance has gobbled up $1 Billion of NVIDIA GPUs for AI this year.

Movies/TV

• Check out this week’s best new streaming shows, from Marvel’s Secret Invasion to Netflix’s LGBTQ+ drama series Glamorous.
• We’ve also rounded up the week’s best new streaming movies, including the fifth installment in the Evil Dead series, Evil Dead Rise, and fantasy horror Unwelcome.
• The spot where YouTube TV gives you a break from ads is now getting ads.
• Speaking of, YouTube TV tests new multiview stream combos just for you if you’re not a sports fan.
• And Zoom is officially coming to Google TV, but only on Sony sets.
• Netflix Tudum took place last weekend, and here’s what you missed: live-action remakes of Avatar: The Last Airbender and One Piece, the game show adaptation of Squid Game, a teaser for an adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel The Three Body Problem, and lots more.
• Speaking of, we saw the first teaser for Money Heist spin-off Berlin, coming to Netflix in December.
• Also: Stranger Things 5 cast adds Linda Hamilton, best known for her work on the Terminator franchise.

Gaming:

• First up, some bad news: Microsoft to raise Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Series X prices.
• More bad news: E3 2024 and 2025 cancelled according to Los Angeles tourism department, but ESA says “no final decisions” made about 2024 show and beyond.
• Cloud sync error on your Steam Deck? Here’s how to fix it.
• Steam Next Fest runs until Monday, so there’s still time to check out these demos.
• Microsoft is no longer developing games for Xbox One, though cloud streaming means you can still play modern “Gen 9” games.
• Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn delayed until 2024.
• June’s Nintendo Direct on Wednesday had Pikmin 4, Detective Pikachu, and more — and Eurogamer has everything you missed.
• And Metal Gear Solid 3 is headed to PC for the first time, as Konami confirms Steam release for Master Collection.
• Finally: Sony won’t share PS6 info with Call Of Duty devs if owned by Microsoft.

Reviews

• Samsung Galaxy A34 5G review: Should you buy it? “The Galaxy A34 5G’s biggest challenge might come from Samsung itself.”
• Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review: Should you buy it? “Have dual-screen laptops finally been perfected?”
• Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch: How do they compare? “Strengths and weaknesses are more evenly distributed than you might think.”
• Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) review: Should you buy it? “The latest Moto G Stylus 5G starts with the established Moto G formula, upgrades a few specs, and slots in a stylus.”
• Garmin Forerunner 255 vs 265: Which one should you buy? “AMOLED excellence squares up against an outdated display.”

Features

• Can you use the Razr Plus fully closed? I tried for a day, here’s how it went (Android Authority).
• The official Google Pixel Tablet case’s clever design hooked me from day one: “A simple and ingenuous stand design makes this official case a winner” (Android Authority).
• I tried to replace my Nest Hub with a Pixel Tablet, and here’s how it went: As it turns out, these are very different products despite a similar look (Android Authority).
• Pixar used AI to stoke the flames in Elemental: “It’s harder to make fire than you might think. But the Pixar team was determined to do the impossible” (Wired).
• Your next job interview could be with AI instead of a person: “Many job seekers already use AI to build resumes and cover letters, but employers are also using it on their side, with more to come” (ZDNET).
• New nanotattoos don’t need batteries or wires: “While it has biosensor potential, the ink could be sprayed on almost anything” (IEEE Spectrum).

Weekly Wonder

Following the tragic news on Thursday that all five members of the submarine expedition to the Titanic are presumed dead after a “catastrophic implosion,” there’s been a lot of discussion in the media surrounding the safety of the Titan submersible.

• The Independent spoke to Chris Brown, a digital marketing businessman and friend of British billionaire Hamish Harding, one of the five passengers.
• Mr. Brown was almost a passenger on the expedition but pulled out due to safety concerns, though didn’t mention what these were.

Later, details emerged which suggested OceanGate, the company responsible for building the sub, had a questionable record of safety.

• Passengers signed a “death waiver” before boarding, a disclaimer which stated that the submersible “has not been approved or certified by a regulatory body, and could result in physical injury, disability, motion trauma, or death.”
• Back in 2018, OceanGate’s director of marine operations, David Lochridge, was fired after the company claimed he shared confidential design information with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and breached his contract.
• Lochridge filed a wrongful termination suit, claiming he’d been fired for whistleblowing regarding safety issues.
• Lochridge commented on issues including flammable materials onboard the sub, “visible flaws” in the carbon fiber hull, and a viewing window that hadn’t been rated for the Titanic’s depth, allegedly pushing for more testing and outside evaluation from the American Bureau of Shipping.

Other concerns were raised by submarine industry leaders in 2018 in a letter from the Marine Technology Society to OceanGate, signed by over three dozen experts, warning of “catastrophic issues” in the development of the submersible.

• But in a 2019 blog post, OceanGate defended the decision not to have the submersible “classed” by outside evaluators: “The vast majority of marine (and aviation) accidents are a result of operator error, not mechanical failure. As a result, simply focusing on classing the vessel does not address the operations risks. Maintaining high-level operational safety requires constant, committed effort and a focused corporate culture — two things that OceanGate takes very seriously and that are not assessed during classification.“
• The list of alleged issues goes on: In 2020, OceanGate’s CEO told Geekwire the sub’s hull showed signs of “cyclic fatigue” during testing. Following a 4,000-metre dive in the Bahamas, the hull depth rating was reduced to 3,000 meters (1,000 meters less than the depth of the Titanic, according to TechCrunch.
• In 2022, the Titan suffered battery issues and had to be manually attached to a key lifting platform, according to court documents obtained by the New York Times.
• And also, in 2022, CBS News observed “off-the-shelf components” being used on the sub, including lights from Camping World. That same year a communications issue caused the sub to be lost for almost three hours underwater.

This raises the question, could this tragedy have been avoided if OceanGate had done its due diligence with building, testing, and certifying the Titan sub?

Tech Calendar

• June 29: ASUS Zenfone 10 launch @ 9 AM ET
• June 29: Anapurna Interactive showcase @ 3 PM ET
• July 1: Reddit’s API changes take effect
• July 6: HONOR 90 global launch
• July 11: Nothing Phone 2 launch @ 11 AM ET
• July 11-12: Amazon Prime Day
• July 26 (TBC): Samsung Galaxy Unpacked (Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5)
• October 24-26: Snapdragon Summit 2023 (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?)

Tech Tweet of the Week

Something extra: Capcom celebrates its 40th anniversary with the launch of an interactive website where you can play games, find hidden characters, and more (h/t: The Hustle).

Until next week,

Paula Beaton, Copy Editor.