If you’ve been eyeing Apple’s 5th-generation iPad Air for a while, now is a great time to purchase one. On Amazon, a handful of the 64GB WiFi models are $99 off at the moment. Specifically, you can get the Space Gray, Blue and Starlight colorways for $500. That’s a record-low price for the iPad Air.

Of all the different tablet models Apple currently offers, the iPad Air is the one that’s the best for most people. Engadget Deputy Editor Nathan Ingraham awarded the tablet a score of 90 when he reviewed it last spring. The iPad Air features the same elegant design language as the iPad Pro while costing significantly less. It’s also no slouch, with Apple adding its M1 system-on-a-chip to the 2022 model. That’s the same processor you’ll find on some of the company’s older Mac laptops, making it more than powerful enough to handle any task you could throw at it. The iPad Air also comes with a bright and vivid 10.9-inch display, a USB-C port for charging and a battery that can power the device for about 12 hours before it needs time at the outlet. About the only issue with the iPad Air is that the base model only comes with 64GB of storage. Keep that in mind if you decide to take advantage of Amazon’s sale.

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The biggest news in tech this week came from Google's annual developer conference on Wednesday. They announced three new devices: The Pixel 7a smartphone, the Pixel Tablet and the Pixel Fold. Discounts on brand new products don't happen often, but both Amazon and Google were quick to bundle Pixel 7a orders with a $50 Amazon gift card, or a free pair of Pixel Buds, respectively — not sales per se, but free stuff is still compelling for anyone already planning on getting a new phone. Of course, there were deals unrelated to Google too, like savings on Amazon devices including the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Echo speakers, and nearly all Kindle models. There's also a sale on Anker charging devices and Apple AirPods Pro. Here are the best tech deals from this week that you can still get today. 

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max

As part of a larger sale on Fire streaming devices, Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max is on sale for $35, which is a 36 percent discount and matches the lowest price the streaming device has gone for, including during Black Friday sales. If the screen you plan to use with the stick isn't 4K, you probably don't need this model. The Fire TV Stick Lite is also on sale, going for just $20 after a 33 percent discount. Our commerce writer, Nicole Lee, named it the best budget streaming device in our guide. It grants access to the latest Fire TV interface and includes an Alexa voice remote so you can find content and change channels just by asking. Keep in mind that the Fire TV Stick Lite isn't able to control your TV's power or volume, so you'll need to use two remotes.

Google Pixel 7a

Google officially announced the Pixel 7a towards the end of its I/O event on Wednesday. Within minutes, both Google's storefront and Amazon had the new smartphone for sale. Now both are sweetening the deal with add-ons. Amazon is bundling the phone with a free $50 gift card and Google is throwing in a phone case and a pair of Pixel Buds A-Series (which have an MSRP of $99).

The $499 mobile is a budget alternative to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, coming in $100 cheaper than the base model Pixel 7. It features the same Tensor G2 chip as its pricier siblings and actually has higher-res cameras and a slightly bigger battery. Our senior writer, Sam Rutherford, already published his review, and says, "it's got everything you need and more." The Amazon deal has one caveat: that bright coral color option you see in Sam's review isn't available on Amazon because it's a Google Store exclusive.

Anker 735 charger

Anker has earned numerous accolades from us in our charging and battery guides, so it's nice to see the brand putting on a wide sale like this one. The Anker 735 Charger is $38.41, which is a 31 percent discount and only a dollar more than its lowest price ever. It will deliver up to 65W of power as it charges up your devices, which should be enough for fast-charging smartphones and tablets. A slightly newer version of the charging brick, confusingly also called the 735 Charger, won a top spot in our fast-charger guide. It's down to $48 after a 20 percent coupon. Just be sure to click the coupon box as you add the charger to your cart. 

If it's time to replace the cable you use for your iPhone, you may want to consider the six-foot PowerLine II UBC-C to Lightning cord, which is just $9 after a 31 percent discount. 

Apple AirPods Pro

The second-gen AirPods Pro are back on sale for $200, which is a record low. There really is no better pair of wireless earbuds out there right now for iPhone users. The AirPods Pro pair quickly with iPhones and switch between it and other Apple devices quickly. We also appreciate the hands-free Siri access it offers, so you can get questions answered, respond to texts and more just by using voice commands. The latest model offers excellent sound quality and active noise cancellation, plus much-improved Transparency Mode.

Apple AirTags

A four-pack of AirTags is down to $89 again at Amazon, which is close to the lowest price we've seen. These Bluetooth trackers let you keep track of items like your keys and wallet from within Apple's Find My app. And the latest iPhone can even lead you directly to your lost things, provided you're still within Bluetooth range. Just make sure to pick up a case or a holder for your AirTags when you buy, since they do not have built-in holes for keyrings.

Beats Fit Pro

Sometimes the best colors aren't included in a promotion, but this time, even the flashy colors of the Beats Fit Pro are 20 percent off (unfortunately, the earth-toned Kardashian shades are only 10 percent off). That makes the Coral Pink, Tidal Blue and Volt Yellow shades just $160, which is the lowest price we've seen yet. 

We named the Beats Fit Pro our favorite earbuds for working out and gave them an 87 in our review thanks to their secure and comfortable fit. They've got enough bass to get your exercise playlists pumping and the six-hour battery life will get you through a workout and well beyond. It's worth noting that they don't support wireless charging and they tend to work better with iPhones than Android phones, possibly because Apple owns the Beats brand. 

MOOD MK1

The MOOD MK1 effects pedal from Chase Bliss is down to $245 at Reverb and directly from Chase Bliss, which is a 30 percent discount off the usual $350 price tag. Our managing editor Terrence O'Brien wrote about a different pedal from the brand last year and was impressed by the hardware. The MOOD MK1 is similarly well-regarded and one of the more popular pedals out there. It was discontinued and replaced by the MK2 this year, which is why the deal only lasts as long as units remain, but it still a worthy music-making companion — particularly at this price. 

Samsung T7 Shield SSD

Samsung 1TB T7 Shield SSD is on sale for just $75 at Amazon, which handily beats the original $160 list price. Of course, as is the way with storage devices, the price has been steadily dropping since it was released last year, but it's still a great way to expand the capacity of your devices. This is a more rugged version of the SSD we named the best portable option in our guide. The discount is part of a larger Samsung storage sale that also includes the internal 980 Pro SSD 2TB drive, which is $20 off and down to $140 and the 256GB EVO Select microSD memory card which is perfect for tablets and handheld gaming devices with a memory card slot. It's on sale for $18, which is 55 percent off the list price. 

Eargo 7

As part of a Mother's Day sale, the Eargo 7 is $300 off right now at the brand's website. an over-the-counter hearing aid made by a brand that acts more like a tech company than a stodgy medical device organization. Our editor-at-large James Trew tested them out, and found them to be pretty comfortable after an hour or so of wear and appreciated the battery life that was enough to get through a full day of use. They don't over emphasize sharp sounds or emit feedback like other hearing aids, and they adequately amplify sound. In the end he said, the Eargo 7s prove that "OTC hearing aids don’t have to mean scrimping on features and performance."

Roborock Q5 Robot Vacuum Cleaner

A bunch of Roborock robot vacuums are on sale at Amazon right now, so you can pick one up for as low as $280. One of our favorite robo-vacs, the Roborock S7+, has a $270 clippable coupon that will bring the final price down to a record low of $680. While its mobile app left much to be desired, the S7+ is a solid dirt-sucker with handy zone-targeting and cleaning schedule features. It also has extra perks like a child lock and a "pin and go" option, which lets you send the machine to a specific location in your home for more precise cleaning.

Apple HomePod (2nd gen)

Apple's latest HomePod is $20 off and down to a record low of $279. While not a huge discount, it is the first we've seen on this model that came out earlier this year. Apple fixed one of our biggest complaints about the original HomePod here — lackluster Siri capabilities. The new model can now recognize multiple users, play music from voice commands from a number of difference services, create recurring smart home automations and more. That, combined with the HomePod's excellent audio quality, clean design and lower price led us to give it a score of 84 in our review.

Apple Pencil (2nd gen)

The second-gen Apple Pencil is back on sale for an all-time low of $89. If you have a higher-end iPad, it will come as no surprise that this is the stylus you should get to use with it. It's one of the best iPad accessories you can buy, and it will be useful for artists, note-takers and even those who just want a bit more precision when interacting with their tablet. It has little to no latency, and it magnetically attaches to the side of your iPad so you can keep it handy all the time.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition

Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite Signature is down to $145, which is close to a record-low price. It's likely overkill for most people, but the Signature has a lot of perks that avid readers of ebooks will appreciate including a larger, more responsive screen, automatic brightness and warm light adjustments and wireless charging. We also appreciate its USB-C charging port and slim bezels. You can also save money on other Kindle models right now, too, including our favorite budget ereader, the 2022 Kindle, and the Kindle Kids version.

Google Pixel Buds Pro

You can still get Google's Pixel Buds Pro for only $145 at Wellbots when you use the code 55ENGAD at checkout. Google's answer to Apple's AirPods Pro earned a spot on our list of best wireless earbuds thanks to their solid sound quality, comfortable design, reliable touch controls and wireless charging. The buds also have a number of Android-specific features, including fine-tuned Google Assistant perks and automatic switching between Android devices.

Amazon Echo Show 8

The Echo Show 8 is down to $75 right now, which is only $5 more than it was during the holiday shopping season last year. This is one of our favorite smart displays, and it will be best for those who already use Amazon's Alexa or prefer that virtual assistant over others. Its 8-inch size is just right for most rooms of the home, and it will be better for watching TV shows and video chatting than other, smaller smart displays. We also appreciate that it has an upgraded camera with a physical shutter that you can use when you need more privacy.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are down to $249 right now, which is close to their record-low price. These buds earned a spot on our list of best wireless earbuds for many reasons, but the standout is their noise cancellation performance. They are, by far, the best earbuds you can get today if you want to block out the world. They also have a comfortable design and great ambient sound as well. The discount on these buds is part of a larger sale on Bose headphones at Amazon, which also includes the QuietComfort 45 headphones for $279.

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Say goodbye to another high-profile Apple Watch app. As MacRumorsnotes, Meta is telling Facebook Messenger users that the Apple Watch version will be unavailable after May 31st. While you'll still get message notifications beyond that point, you won't have the option to respond. Meta didn't provide an explanation in a statement to Engadget. Instead, it pointed users to Messenger on "iPhone, desktop and the web."

Meta (then Facebook) introduced Messenger for the Apple Watch in 2015. The app couldn't offer text responses, but you could send audio clips, stickers and similar smartwatch-friendly responses from your wrist. That made it helpful for quickly acknowledging a message without reaching for your iPhone.

There are a few factors that may play a role. To start, the limited interaction hurt the app's appeal. That may have affected its potential audience. Meta is also laying off roughly 10,000 employees and refocusing its efforts in a bid to cut costs. That means cutting less essential projects, and it's safe to presume Messenger for Apple Watch wasn't a top priority.

Numerous well-known companies have dropped their Apple Watch apps over the years. Meta scrapped its wrist-worn Instagram app in 2018. Slack, Twitter, Uber and others have also ditched their wearable clients. In many cases, developers left due to either a lack of demand or a lack of necessity — there's not much point to a native smartwatch app if you'll likely pick up your phone regardless.

Apple may be aware of this. Rumors suggest watchOS 10 may be redesigned around widgets. Apps might stick around, but the emphasis could be on quick-glance information rather than navigating apps on a tiny screen. Even if you use Messenger for Apple Watch now, there might not be as much incentive to use it going forward.

Google’s big developer conference had a lot to get through. That included the Pixel Fold (more on that below), a new Pixel A-series phone for only $500, a tablet, Android 14, a faster, more sophisticated AI language model, and lots more tricks for AI chatbot Bard. Coming soon, Bard will be able to analyze images and integrate into Google apps, like Gmail and GDocs. And if you haven’t dabbled with Bard yet – no more waiting list.

Google

And while Google had media and analysts captive, it showed off its holographic meeting experience, Project Starline, two years after it first appeared. Google did not allow Engadget to take pictures or video of the setup – it’s difficult to capture holographs on camera anyway – but our impressions were of an uncanny experience. The prototype uses a light-field display that looked like a mesh window, with multiple cameras to get the visual data to generate the 3D model of the caller. It’s not perfect, but then the system is busy. Sound and images are broadcast to the cloud over WiFi, creating a 3D model of both callers, then sending it down to the light display.

The pitch may be the most realistic, detailed teleconferencing experience, but the tech is still far away from our homes and offices. And Google does like to kill its darlings when things aren’t working out. Will Project Starline survive?

– Mat Smith

The Morning After isn’t just a newsletter – it’s also a daily podcast. Get our daily audio briefings, Monday through Friday, by subscribing right here.

The biggest stories you might have missed

May's PS Plus Extra and Premium lineup includes 'Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart'

Roku unveils a $99 smart home monitoring system

Google Maps is expanding Immersive View to routes

Google's Bard AI is now available without a waitlist in 180 countries

Google Photos will use generative AI to straight-up change your images

Google Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4: Battle of the foldable

Google Pixel Fold hands-on: A real rival for Samsung

Its first foldable phone is here. And expensive.

Engadget

While the $1,799 Pixel Fold is more expensive than reports suggested, its hardware is mostly what we expected. It sports a 5.8-inch external display and a wide 7.6-inch internal screen when it's opened. It has a new 9.5-megapixel external camera and an 8MP internal shooter, and its rear setup features a 48-megapixel main camera, a 10.8MP ultra-wide and a 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5X optical zoom. In a lot of ways, the Pixel Fold is like last year’s flagship Pixel 7 Pro, but foldable, with the same Tensor G2 processor.

Google apparently had to redesign a lot of components to make it into what is a pretty slender widescreen foldable. We got to see one in person (because we’re Engadget), and the screen has a wider aspect ratio than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. The bezels are… chunkier too, but that hasn’t put us off too much. The company hasn’t confirmed a shipping date, but it’ll be "sometime next month." It’s offering pre-orders for the foldable if you’re already sold on the concept.

Continue reading.

Google Pixel Tablet hands-on

A $500 smart display with a detachable screen

Though it was initially teased at last year’s Google I/O, the Pixel Tablet is finally ready for purchase. You can now pre-order it for $499, and that includes the speaker base. The Pixel Tablet will likely spend most of its time in your home as a smart display, and you can buy additional docks for $120 each, so you can have stations in multiple rooms to feel like a millionaire.

The company doesn’t want you to think of this as a standalone $370 tablet. With an 11-inch screen, a rounded-rectangle shape and a mesh fabric covering the speaker base, the Pixel Tablet looks incredibly similar to the Nest Hub Max. When the tablet is docked, you can use it as an additional screen and Chromecast to it. Google said this is the first tablet with Chromecast built in, but to be clear, the feature is only available when the device is docked and in Hub Mode, not as a standalone slate.

Continue reading.

Scammers used AI-generated Frank Ocean songs to steal thousands of dollars

It follows the fake Drake and The Weeknd song that circulated last month.

Mario Anzuoni / reuters

More AI-generated music mimicking a famous artist has made the rounds — while making lots of money for the scammer passing it off as genuine. A collection of fake Frank Ocean songs sold for a reported $13,000 CAD ($9,722 in US dollars) last month on a music-leaking forum devoted to the Grammy-winning singer, according to Vice. The fact Ocean hasn’t released a new album since 2016 and recently teased an upcoming follow-up to Blond may have added to the eagerness to believe the songs were real.

Continue reading.

Vast and SpaceX plan to launch the first commercial space station in 2025

The duo will have to compete with Blue Origin and other big rivals.

Another company wants to launch the first commercial space station. Vast is partnering with SpaceX to launch its Haven-1 station as soon as August 2025. A Falcon 9 rocket will carry the platform to low Earth orbit, with a follow-up Vast-1 mission using Crew Dragon to bring four people to Haven-1 for up to 30 days. Vast is taking bookings for crew wanting to participate in scientific or philanthropic work. It’ll be racing against Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, which doesn't expect to launch its Orbital Reef until the second half of the decade. Voyager, Lockheed Martin and Nanoracks don't expect to operate their Starlab facility before 2027.

Continue reading.

Google Pixel 7a review

It’s got everything you need and more for just $499.

Engadget

So maybe we had one piece of Google hardware a little early. With the Pixel 7a, Google seems to have nailed the balance between price and performance. We’re talking a Tensor G2 chip, a 90 Hz display, wireless charging and a higher-res rear cam, all starting at just $499. And when you factor in its design, the Pixel 7a delivers everything I like about the regular Pixel 7 for $100 less. I’ll say this: If you’ve got family members musing on buying a new Android phone, save yourself a headache and recommend the Pixel 7a. 

Continue reading.

Google's I/O event this year was jam-packed with new product launches and an in-depth introduction to its new generative AI offerings. The star of its new set of device was, perhaps, the new Pixel Fold, a veritable rival to Samsung's foldables powered by a Tensor G2 chip. Like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, it opens like a book so you can fully use its 7.6-inch display, though it also comes with a 5.8-inch external display. It's now available for pre-order and will set you back $1,799 when it starts shipping in June. 

The company has also unveiled its new mid-range phone, the Pixel 7a, that will cost you $499. In addition, the Pixel Tablet is now available for pre-order for the same price. You can use the 11-inch tablet as a smart home display with Google Assistant and Chromecast when it's attached to its speaker dock. On its own, it can last for 12 hours, and while it doesn't come with a stylus, it does support third-party pens. 

But the most important and relevant unveiling of the event was the company's PaLM 2 AI language model, which is the technology behind its Bard AI chatbot and which will power new features across its products. Bard will soon have the ability to decipher images in your queries and respond with images in turn — it's now available without a waitlist in 180 countries. Gmail will have the ability to craft responses to emails for you, while Photos is getting a Magic Editor that can move objects in your pictures. You can get a glimpse of all Google announcements in a condensed version of its I/O keynote above.

Expect to see better looking Android TV apps, as well as more offerings from developers, in the future. At Google I/O today, the company announced the alpha version of Compose for TV, a framework that will make it easier to build attractive Android TV apps with less code and more intuitive tools. Google says developers will be able to bring over their existing code, and by moving to Compose it should be easier to update apps moving forward. The framework has direct access to the Android APIs — which most devs are already used to — and will support code from existing Android mobile and tablet apps. Google is also unveiling a set of TV design guidelines to help developers optimize their apps for big screens.    

Google has certainly come a long way when it comes to home entertainment. Its first Google TV platform, released in 2010 before the rise of streaming services, fizzled and died. It bounced back with the cheaper and far more popular Chromecast, which eventually led to Android TV, a platform that now houses a revived "Google TV" interface. 

When it comes to streaming platforms, Apple still has more tools for developers to build attractive TV apps, but it's nice to see Google making an effort. It's not like there's much competition from Roku or Amazon's Fire TV devices. Android TV's true power is its ubiquity, much like Android itself. According to Strategy Analytics, Android TV shipped on more devices than any other streaming platform last year. (Even my Formovie projector has Android TV built-in.)

Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2023 right here.

You won't have to install Android apps on your Chromebook when you need them in a pinch. After a preview at CES last year, Google has enabled app streaming through Phone Hub in Chrome OS Beta. You can quickly check your messages, or track the status of a food order without having to sign in again.

Once Phone Hub is enabled, you can stream apps by either clicking a messaging app notification or browsing the Hub's Recent Apps section after you've opened a given app on your phone. Google doesn't describe certain app types as off-limits, although it's safe to say that you won't want to play action games this way.

The feature works with "select" phones running Android 13 or newer. The Chromebook and handset need to be on the same WiFi network and physically close-by, although you can use the phone as a hotspot through Instant Tethering if necessary.

Google is ultimately mirroring the remote Android app access you've had in Windows for years. However, the functionality might be more useful on Chromebooks. While app streaming won't replace native apps, it can save precious storage space and spare you from having to jump between devices just to complete certain tasks. This approach is also more manufacturer-independent where Microsoft's approach is restricted to Samsung and Honor phones.

Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2023 right here.

At I/O 2023 today, Google shared a few updates for both Android Auto and Android Automotive OS. Perhaps the biggest news is that Google is working with Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex to bring those virtual meeting apps to Android-equipped vehicles. If the thought of joining a video call in your car sounds like a driving hazard, don't worry: the meetings will be audio only with simplified controls on the infotainment display.

Google is also rolling out Waze in the Google Play Store for all vehicles with Google built-in. This means the popular navigation app will be available outside of just Android Auto and beyond Volvo and Polestar models. What's more, the company is allowing developers to integrate the instrument cluster with their navigation apps. As you might expect, this will put turn-by-turn directions in the driver's line of sight. Plus, developers can access vehicle data like range, fuel level and speed to give drivers even more insight on their trips. 

Google

Google has added new app categories to the Android for Cars App Library. That repository now allows developers to add IoT and weather apps for use in vehicles. For example, The Weather Channel app will be available alongside existing software like Weather and Radar later this year. The company is also making it easier for media apps (music, audiobooks, podcasts, etc.) to port their software to Android Auto and Android Automotive OS.

Additionally, the company has new categories for video and gaming apps in its library, with the goal of expanding to browsing apps soon. These are specifically designed for use when the car is parked or by passengers. YouTube is now available for all automakers to add to cars with Google built-in. Google says Polestar, Volvo and other "select partners" have committed to adding the video-streaming app via over-the-air updates. In terms of games, the initial slate includes Beach Buggy Racing 2, Solitaire FRVR, and My Talking Tom Friends. What's more, Google plans to add multi-screen support to Android Automotive OS 14, which will allow "shared entertainment experiences" between drivers and passengers. 

Google

Google says Android Auto will be available in almost 200 million cars by the end of 2023. The company also says that the number of cars with their infotainment systems powered entirely by Android Automotive OS with Google built-in should nearly double by the end of the year. That latter figure is spurred by adoption by automakers like Chevrolet, Volvo, Polestar, Honda, Renault and more. In March, GM announced it would phase out Android Auto and CarPlay in its EVs in favor of Android Automotive.

Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2023 right here.

To say the Google I/O 2023 keynote was packed would be an understatement. Google unveiled a flurry of new Pixel devices as well as the latest versions of Android and other platforms. It also won't surprise you to hear that AI was everywhere — this was Google's big chance to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Don't worry if you missed something during the event, though, as we've got all the biggest announcements from the event.

Pixel Fold

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

There's no doubt that the (previously confirmed) Pixel Fold was the star of the show. Google's first foldable phone features the same Tensor G2 chip as the Pixel 7 Pro, but opens like a book to reveal a 7.6-inch display. There's a 5.8-inch external display, and the cameras are only a slight step back between the 48-megapixel main camera, 10.8MP telephoto and ultra-wide lenses and an 8MP internal shooter. This is also one of the thinner foldables at 0.48in when closed. It's available for pre-order today and will sell for $1,799 when it arrives in June.

Pixel 7a

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Google's budget (really, mid-range) phone just got a significant upgrade. The Pixel 7a sports the same Tensor G2 as its pricier Pixel 7 counterparts while adding features that were sorely missed on earlier A-series models, such as a smooth 90Hz display, a 64MP main camera and wireless charging. You can order it today for $499, or $50 more than its predecessor.

Pixel Tablet

Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Google first teased the Pixel Tablet a year ago, and it's finally ready to ship its return to Android-powered slates. As mentioned last fall, this is really a hybrid 11-inch smart display. It can sit in a speaker dock to serve as a Google Assistant hub and Chromecast device, but detaches when you're ready to watch videos or check your social feeds. It's powered by the same Tensor G2 as the Pixel 7 and offers a healthy 12 hours of battery life. You can expect pen support, too. It's available to pre-order today for $499.

Android 14

Google

Google fully unveiled Android 14 at I/O. The major revision includes upgrades you saw in the previews, such as custom sharing features as well as stricter security, but also adds iOS 16-style lock screen customization complete with "cinematic" wallpaper that makes subjects stand out. You'll see likewise see AI-generated wallpapers that are cued to images and art styles. Google will release the new OS late this summer, and is expected to deliver the upgrade to Pixel users first.

Wear OS

Google

Google is still committed to improving its Wear OS smartwatch platform following last year's overhaul. At I/O, the company introduced long-sought native watch apps for Gmail and Calendar that let you manage your messages and schedules from your wrist. WhatsApp is coming to Wear OS, too. Google also released its first developer preview for Wear OS 4, a major update that promises improved battery life and performance, simple watch backups and more accessibility. All the new software arrives later this year.

PaLM 2 AI model

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

In some ways, the most important announcement at I/O is for tech that sits behind the scenes. Google has unveiled a PaLM 2 AI language model that will underpin more than two dozen of the company's products, including Bard. It's faster and more efficient, and can run locally on mobile devices. It's more adept at handling multiple languages and can generate JavaScript and Python code.

Search Labs 

Google

Among Google's many, many AI-related introductions are three test features available through Search Labs. A Search Generative Experience provides automatically-generated overviews, exploration pointers and follow-ups. Code Tips will even offer programming snippets and advice. Add to Sheets, meanwhile, lets you plug search results into spreadsheets.

Bard

Mojahid Mottakin on Unsplash

Google is rapidly expanding Bard's capabilities. On top of using PaLM2, the generative AI chatbot will soon let you include images in your queries, and bring pictures into its responses. It will also integrate Google apps (such as exporting to Docs and Gmail) as well as partner products like Adobe Firefly (for turning ideas into images). More importantly, it'll be much easier to use Bard in the first place — Google is dropping the waiting list and making Bard available in English to more than 180 countries, along with support for Japanese and Korean.

AI in Photos and Workspace

Google

Like it or not, Google is putting generative AI in many of the apps you use. To start, Photos is getting a Magic Editor that can move subjects, add content and even replace the sky. The experimental feature will be available on some Pixel phones this fall.

Generative AI will also be available across core Workspace apps through Duet AI. Gmail on mobile will help you write messages. Slides will help you create background images using text descriptions. AI in Sheets will analyze your data, while Docs will offer "assisted writing." Even Meet will use the technology to create unique video call backgrounds.

Everything else

Google

There were numerous important updates across Google's other products. Project Tailwind is an AI-driven personal notebook. The redesigned Home app is now available to everyone, with Matter support coming to iOS users in the weeks ahead. Find My Device will soon support a wider range of hardware, and detect unknown trackers to help catch stalkers. Google Maps, meanwhile, is bringing Immersive View to routes.

Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2023 right here.

After confirming its existence last week, Google has formally introduced the Pixel Fold, its first stab at a foldable phone. Like past foldables, the new Pixel has a vertical hinge that lets it unfurl like a book. When it's folded, you get a more traditional form factor with a 5.8-inch display. Open it up, and you get a wider 7.6-inch screen for multitasking or watching videos. Both OLED panels have 120Hz refresh rates, and the device runs on the same Tensor G2 chip found in last year's Pixel 7 line. Google is pushing the phone's thinness (12.1mm folded, 5.8mm when not), battery ("over 24 hours") and weight (10 ounces) in particular as selling points. It also claims that the near-gapless hinge is built to last over time.

We'll have to review the Pixel Fold before we can speak to that. For now, though, we've laid out how the Fold compares on paper to the most prominent book-style foldable on the market today: Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4. No, specs can't tell the whole story with a form factor like this, and both Samsung and OnePlus are expected to launch new foldables in the coming months. But if you want a sense of what the Pixel Fold's $1,799 starting price will get you, here's a quick rundown. The phone is available to pre-order now and will ship in June. For more impressions, check out our initial hands-on.

Google Pixel Fold vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2023 right here.