The Weekly Authority: Pixel tablet deets leak

Welcome to The weekly authoritythe android authority newsletter with the best Android and tech news of the week. The 210th edition here, featuring a Pixel tablet leak, Samsung’s budget-friendly battery release, IFA 2022 launches, a new mafia game and more of the week’s best tech news.

🍁 Although it’s not officially autumn, it sure feels like it here. There’s a chill in the air, pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu (see this issue’s Weekly Wonder), and friends keep asking what my plans are for Halloween. I don’t mind – fall is my favorite season!

Samsung:

• Samsung is launching a phone with a 5,000mAh battery for less than $300: The Samsung Galaxy A23 5G launched Thursday with a battery the same size as the S22 Ultra, for about a quarter of the cost.
• The Samsung Galaxy S21 series will also get the latest camera update from the Galaxy S22, adding a Galaxy Z Fold 4 camera feature to the 2021 flagships.
• And Samsung will stop shipping dumb home appliances by the end of 2023 and switch all of its TV remotes to solar power too.
• The Galaxy Tab S8 is also the first Samsung tablet to get the Android 12L-based One UI 4.1.1 update, now available in the US (and already in Europe and South Korea).
• Plus: Samsung attacks iPhone 14 series before launch.
• Cyberattack on Samsung puts personal information of US users at risk, may have revealed customer names, contact and demographic information, date of birth and product registration information.
• Finally: Samsung’s latest foldables doubled shipments in one key region.

Sony:

• Sony announces the Xperia 5 IV: a little less phone for a lot less money – hello bigger battery and brighter screen, goodbye variable telephoto.

• Movie fans, take note! US cinemas are selling $3 cinema tickets for the newly announced National Cinema Day on Saturday, September 3.
• Not in the mood for a theater trip? Here are the best new movies to stream from the comfort of your home this week, including the slow-burn thriller The American.
• We also have the best new TV shows to stream this week, including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
• More than half of our readers have received storage warnings on Android TV – isn’t it about time the makers of Google TV and Android TV consider adding more internal space or storage expansion options?
• Netflix turned 25 on Monday — did you know the company’s first DVD ever aired was Beetlejuice, or that the “tudum” sound we all know so well was originally going to be a bleating goat?
• And Netflix with ads could cost between $7 and $9 a month, and could hit some markets as early as this year.
• Speaking of which, a new report claims Netflix will launch its ad-based plan on November 1, ahead of the new Disney Plus ad-based tier on December 8, but officially Netflix says no plans have been made.
• Speaking of which, Netflix is ​​securing worldwide streaming rights to a slew of classic anime, including Berserk, Parasyte, Monster, and more.
• Finally: Rick and Morty Season 6 will apparently change the way we think about Rick, landing Sunday at 11pm ET on Adult Swim, and also available on Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Stream.

• A new mafia game is in development, but there are no details about a title or release date yet.
• It looks like Sony is jumping into mobile games with the acquisition of Savage Game Studios – the company also announced a new PlayStation Studios Mobile Division.
• Meanwhile, Sony is launching a lighter PS5 model for the second year in a row.
• Speaking of acquisitions, Detroit Become Human and Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream have been bought by China’s NetEase, though the French game studio says it will continue to operate independently.
• The Last of Us Part 1 reviews are in: Ars Technica says it has “enough serious upgrades to deserve a thumbs up,” while IGN gives it the ‘click of approval’, calling it ‘an absolutely top-notch visual showcase of what the PlayStation 5 is capable of’.
• And the September games of PlayStation Plus are revealed: for PS Plus Essential subscribers there will be Need for Speed ​​​​Heat, Toem and Granblue Fantasy Versus, while for Extra and Premium accounts Deathloop and Assassin’s Creed Origins will be available from September 6.
• Elsewhere, Facebook Gaming is shutting down its app in October, although you can still find your games, streamers, and groups in the Gaming tab in the Facebook app.
• valve says: it just passed the 5,000 verified and playable titles on Steam Deck.
• Speaking of the next generation of Steam Decks, Valve employees confirm.
• ASUS is teasing the Dimensity 9000 Plus powered ROG Phone 6D Ultimate gaming phone, and it’s coming pretty soon.
• And Logitech G Gaming Handheld Leaks: A Slick Android Handheld That Supports Geforce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming – Can We See It At IFA 2022?
• Finally, Samsung’s first OLED gaming monitor doesn’t require a console or PC.

• IFA 2022: Here’s what to expect from the tech show: Until September 6, we expect a lot from Huawei, Lenovo, Asus and more (android authority).
• What is the difference between QLED and OLED? Which one should you choose? Although they may look the same, they are not the same (android authority).
• A new approach to automotive batteries could transform EVs: “Car companies are designing ways to build a car’s fuel cells into the frame, making electric rides cheaper, more spacious and capable of reaching a range of 620 miles” (wired).
• Pairwise uses CRISPR to change the taste and taste of staple foods: “The company processes the ‘least desirable’ parts of fruits and vegetables to improve their taste” (Up-and-coming tech brew).
• When the UK’s timing systems fail, this service will save them: “Standardized time is broadcast by satellite networks around the world, but their signals are vulnerable to interference – so the UK is building a more resilient system” (wired).

We’re now in September, and while fall doesn’t officially start until September 22, it looks like Starbucks is early on its Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) game. The popular spiced fall drink first landed in 2003 and has become a fixture on the seasonal calendar every year, though it seems to arrive earlier each year.

As a huge fan of all things pumpkin spice, this got me thinking. What is the history of this acclaimed herb, and why do we love it so much?

• It turns out that the popular spice mix is ​​over 200 years old, 223 years to be exact.
• The term usually refers to a blend of spices used to flavor pumpkin pie, including cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice.
• Recipes for spice-filled “pumpkin pie” date back to the late 1800s.
• But it wasn’t until the 1930s that premixed pumpkin spice mix was available to buy.
• And we still don’t know who to credit for the invention of the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It’s said that Peter Dukes (who was Starbucks’ director of espresso—and yes, that’s an actual job title) was the one who brought the idea to the company, in addition to seasonal drinks like peppermint mocha and eggnog latte.
• Apparently, when developing the pumpkin spice latte, Starbucks’ research and development team poured espresso over pumpkin pies to determine the perfect ratio of spices to coffee and steamed milk. Sounds delicious.
• It wasn’t until 2015 that Starbucks started using real pumpkin in the drink.
• Apparently, the PSL wasn’t even meant to be such a huge hit: it debuted in just 100 Starbucks stores in Washington, DC and Vancouver, BC.
• These days it’s hard to imagine this time of year without it.

Pay more for your PSL

If you’re in the mood for your favorite fall drink, some sad news. This year, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back with an all-time price hike thanks to inflation:

• According to CNNa grande PSL will cost you 4% more compared to last year.
• That means you’ll pay between $5.45 and $5.95, depending on your location.
• But you can always buy some pumpkin spice mix, coffee, and milk of your choice to make your own PSL at home.
• Picking up one of the best smart coffee makers is a good place to start, and you’ll also want to get your hands on a coffee mug warmer to make sure your drink stays nice and warm.
• Just take it easy with the PSL – too much caffeine can affect your sleep, although the best sleep trackers make it easier to keep an eye on bedtime habits.

Technical calendar

• Sept 2-6: IFA Berlin
• September 6: Huawei Mate 50 Series Launch
• September 7 at 10am PT (1pm ET, 7pm CET): Apple’s Far Out event
• September 10 at 9pm CEST: Ubisoft Forward Showcase
• Sept 29: OnePlus 10T on sale
• October 6: Pixel 7 launch? (TB)
• October 13: Pixel 7 for sale? (TB)
• Nov 8: Skull and Bones release date on Xbox Series S/X, PS5, PC, Stadia and Luna
• Nov 9: God of War: Ragnarok launches on PS4, PS5
• Nov 18: The Dark Pictures: The Devil in Me launches on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and PC

It’s finally here: an AI-generated artwork won first place in a competition…

Something extra: Check out this cheerful little ermine playing on a trampoline to brighten up your week.

Paula Beaton, text editor.