News

The first Android Q beta is now available on all Pixel phones

The public’s first look at Google’s latest OS

Published

March 14, 2019

Daniel Morial

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL | GadgetMatch

Still waiting for Android 9 Pie? Phone manufacturers really need to catch up if Pie isn’t available for your phone yet, because the next version of Android has just entered the beta phase. Ladies and gentlemen, Android Q Beta 1 is now available for download.

Google has released the first beta build of Android Q (can also be referred to as Android 10) and it can be installed on all Pixel phones. This means that even the first Pixel or Pixel XL will get updated to the next major version of Android even though they have passed their promised support window — at least for major updates.

To try out Android Q, you’ll have to enroll your Pixel phone in the beta program first. Since this is an early preview, not everything is final and things can be unstable.

Android Q Logo | Google

What’s there to look forward to in Android Q? The big change is in the security department. The new Android version will give users more control over apps and shared files. It’ll also come with new codecs, especially the open source video codec AV1 which allows high-quality streaming. For audio, there’s Optus that’s optimized for speech and music streaming.

Furthermore, there are improvements to ART for speedier and more efficient apps. Android Q should be able to start an app faster than before while consuming less memory. Support for foldable phones is also built into Android Q, of course.

If you’re interested in reading what’s new on Android Q, you may read the full post on the Android Developers Blog. And for those who’d like to see Android Q in action, here’s a video showing some of the new features of Google’s latest release courtesy of Android Authority.

Gaming

PlayStation declares AI as “foundational piece” in future

The brand, however, sees it more as a tool than a cost-cutting measure.

Published

July 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Being the gaming company that they are, Sony has embarked on a speedrun of its own: to deliver as much eyebrow-raising decisions as it can in a short span of time. Last week, PlayStation announced that the company will stop producing physical copies of its games in 2028. Now, the brand has confirmed that it will rely on AI for future game development.

In an interview with CEO Hideaki Nishino, via TweakTown, PlayStation has stated that AI will be a “foundational piece” in the company’s future game development. It is, however, some consolation that Nishino is adamant that it’s only a tool, rather than a cost-cutting measure.

Nishino says that AI usage can cut out repetitive tasks which frees developers up for more critical tasks. Interestingly, he also confirms that it will be used for asset placeholders and synthetic voices.

AI in game development isn’t completely new. In fact, some developers already use the technology just as how PlayStation describes it. However, it’s relatively uncommon for companies to essentially push AI to the forefront of development. Also, to be fair to Nishino, AI isn’t as maligned in Japan as it is in the Western world.

That said, it’s still an interesting decision to make, especially coming after Sony’s decision to cut off physical copies in 2028. PlayStation’s upcoming AI usage will surely raise some eyebrows.

News

Not even Nokia phones are safe from AI features

Users have to pay for the AI after 180 days, too.

Published

July 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Did you mistakenly assume that the only way to escape the deluge of AI is to go for a more budget-friendly smartphone? With major brands infusing their phones with AI, it’s a reasonable assumption. However, a batch of new Nokia phones proves that even the budget market isn’t safe from artificial intelligence.

Recently, Nokia, thanks to HMD, is launching four new phones: Nokia 200 4G, 210 4G, 215 4G 2nd Edition, and 235 4G 2nd Edition. It’s easy to get bogged down on the detailed specs of all four phones, but it’s even easier to focus on the ginormous AI button present on all of them.

All four phones are powered by Sikey AI. Pressing that big button lets users ask basic queries, so it’s more a voice assistant in essence than anything. However, when it’s literally a giant button, it’s also a very hard sell.

Even worse, the AI is free for only 180 days. Users will need to subscriber afterwards and on a separate smartphone (because the Nokia doesn’t have apps) to continue using the features. Otherwise, the AI logo turns into something completely useless.

In other news, all four phones are pleasantly dumb. The Nokia 215 and the 235 have a 2.8-inch IPS display, while the 210 4G and the 215 4G have 2.4-inch QVGA displays. All four models have everything you need from a simple communication device.

Gaming

PlayStation clarifies discs will still exist (somewhat) after 2028

Only games released before 2028 can still re-order physical discs.

Published

July 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The top headline last week was Sony’s universally panned decision to end physical discs in 2028. Today, PlayStation is clarifying its stance by confirming that physical discs will still exist past 2028 but only for games released before that year.

Last week, PlayStation announced that, starting in 2028, newly released games will no longer receive a physical copy, placing the concept of ownership into jeopardy. Naturally, everyone hated the decision, from those mourning the nostalgia of owning discs to those concerned over digital ownership.

Now, via Game File, the company reportedly messaged developers to clarify that they can still re-order physical discs past 2028 for existing games. Taken plainly, this means that PlayStation won’t just let the current stock run out. However, at the same time, the continuation of discs will depend on developers ordering more copies in the future.

Sadly, this is only a small consolation for the wider decision to kill of the physical disc. Though gamers can save some of the nostalgia, the future of physical media is still bleak. Without a release on physical media, it becomes a question of whether or not gamers actually own the game they paid for, especially since publishers can easily pull a game for whatever reason.