Tech Talk

Google IO 2022 was full of surprises, because along with the expected announcements the company also teased the likes of the Pixel 7 and even a new Pixel Tablet. This came as a complete surprise, as other than a job advert there had been no previous sign that Google was working on a new slate. But not only has Google now confirmed that it is working on one, it’s even shown images of the Pixel Tablet, and shared the first details. Below, then, you’ll find everything we’ve heard so far about the Google Pixel Tablet. Currently that’s basically just what Google has told us, but we’d expect leaks and rumors will start rolling in soon, and well add them to this article once they do. Cut to the chase What is it? An upcoming tablet from Google When is it out? 2023 How much will it cost? No idea yet Google Pixel Tablet release date and price Google has confirmed that it’s aiming to launch the Pixel Tablet sometime in 2023, so there’s quite a while to wait before it's availab

The Google Pixel 6a is now official, though you can't buy it until July 28. If you want something to pass the time until then, an unboxing video of the phone has leaked out from one of Google's official channels on YouTube. As spotted on Reddit (via 9to5Google ), the unlisted video gives us a guide to the phone from Google Retail Training France. Whether or not Google is going to allow it to stay up now it's been discovered remains to be seen. We already know what the Pixel 6a looks like of course, but the video gives us some interesting hands-on footage, and shows the packaging of the device. We also get a look at the fingerprint sensor, which looks speedy enough (it's apparently using a different component to the sensor in the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro). Specs appeal The first proper look at the Google Pixel 6a came at Google IO 2022 , although there's still a lot that we don't know about this mid-ranger. The price is going to be $449 / £399 / A

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Apple’s rumored mixed reality headset seems like the worst-kept secret in tech, and a new report about the device from The Information (its second this week ) is chock full of details about the unannounced product’s turbulent development. One of the most notable parts of the story is about Apple’s decision to go with a standalone headset. At one point, Apple hadn’t yet decided whether to move forward with a more powerful VR headset that would be paired with a base station or a standalone one. While Apple’s AR / VR leader Mike Rockwell apparently preferred the version with the base station — which included a processor that eventually shipped as the M1 Ultra , according to The Information — Apple executives chose to go with the standalone product. Bloomberg reported similar details in 2020 . That choice has apparently had long-term effects on the development of the headset. “By the time the decision was made, the device’s multiple chips had

Memorial Day TV sales are starting to arrive as we're just over a week away from the holiday weekend event. We've created this guide to bring you the hottest Memorial Day TV sales and stand-out deals on 4K, OLED, and QLED displays from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and more. The Memorial Day sales event is a fantastic time to score a cheap TV deal with retailers like Amazon and Walmart offering record-low prices on budget sets like Vizio, TLC, and Insignia. If you're looking for a premium OLED or QLED display, Best Buy and Samsung offer massive discounts on last year's best-selling TVs. Due to rising consumer prices, we know that finding a cheap TV is more important than ever, so we'll be focusing on Memorial Day TV deals that offer the absolute best value and include price history information. Below you'll find today's hottest Memorial Day TV sales, followed by the best deals categorized by size. We'll be updating our guide with more Memorial Day TV

Illustration by Alex Castro / Th Google has released its annual diversity report, and the company says it made some positive progress over the past year. The company saw its “largest increases in representation of Black and Latinx Googlers in the US ever” at 20 percent and 8 percent respectively year over year, according to chief diversity officer Melonie Parker . Google also reported improved leadership representation of Black, Latinx and Native American employees by 27 percent, Parker says. But some data shows there is still more work to be done. The company’s US workforce is 33.5 percent women and 66.5 percent men, numbers that are only slightly different than the 32.2 percent women and 67.8 percent men reported in 2021. And in its 2022 report, Google said 48.3 percent of its US workers are white, while 43.2 percent are Asian, 6.9 percent are Latinx, 5.3 percent are Black, and 0.8 percent are Native American. The company does provide a vast amount of information about its stati

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge Reuters reports TikTok is testing games for the app in Vietnam ahead of a “major push” into the space. A company representative confirmed tests of HTML5 mini-games, saying, “We’re always looking at ways to enrich our platform and regularly test new features and integrations that bring value to our community.” The outlet’s sources indicate the plan is for ad-supported games that draw from the library of its parent company, ByteDance, which could boost revenue and increase the amount of time people spend on the TikTok app — if that’s even possible. Image: Zynga Disco Loco 3D TikTok has already tried at least one in-app mini-game, as it teamed up with Feeding America to make Garden of Good , a FarmVille -like experience where players could earn points and use them to make a donation. It also announced a partnership with FarmVille developer Zynga late last year to make Disco Loco 3D , an HTML5-based endless runner that could work inside t

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge In the coming weeks, Google will begin beta testing a feature for Android 13 that makes it easier for users of braille displays to get up and running. Google announced in a blog post on Thursday that the next Android 13 beta will include “out-of-the-box support” for braille displays. Braille displays are used to create pin patterns to touch-read on-screen text and also type in braille. The display allows people with deafblindness to use smartphones and people who are blind to silently use mobile phones without screen readers or voice commands. Braille display support was already available on Android with Google’s screen reader Talkback, but now you won’t have to install another app first to access the feature. Braille display users will continue to access the same functionality like navigating the screen with the display’s buttons, making a phone call, writing an email, or sending a text message. Image: BraillePens Braille displays let us