What to expect from the Google October event in New York City

It’s the spookiest month of the year, but for tech-lovers there’s a big event to get excited about before anyone starts carving pumpkins — Google’s annual hardware event. It takes place on October 9, and it will be broadcast live from New York City.

While Google I/O tends to showcase Google’s latest software developments — like the latest version of Android — Google’s October event has always been a carnival of the company’s latest hardware. In previous years we’ve seen the reveal of the Google Home, the mighty Pixelbook, and the reveal of the newest Pixel phones. This year, there have been an endless stream of leaks leading up to the October 9 event, so we have a strong idea what the new Pixel phones will be like and more. Here’s what to expect.

How to watch the event

Interested in watching Google’s newest hardware be revealed in real time? You’ll be able to watch a livestream of the event from 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT) on October 9 from Google’s YouTube channel. We’ll have people on the ground at the event, so make sure to follow Mobile Editor Julian Chokkattu and Associate Computing Editor Luke Larsen for the latest hands-on information, and keep an eye on the Digital Trends Twitter account for the latest news.

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

OnLeaks/MySmartPrice

It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that we’ll be seeing the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL take center-stage at the event on October 9.

We’re expecting two new Pixel models from Google — the Pixel 3 and the super-sized Pixel 3 XL. Early rumors suggested there would be a third, lower-cost Pixel phone in the vein of the iPhone XR, but the idea seems to have been laid to rest.

According to some pretty conclusive leaks, we’ll see some fairly significant differences between the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL. The Pixel 3 will look similar to the Pixel 2, but will feature slimmed bezels, curved display corners, and a 5.3-inch screen with a longer aspect ratio. The Pixel 3 XL has courted a little more controversy with a deep notch cut into the large 6.2-inch display, and a rather sizeable chin at the bottom. There’ll be an edge-to-edge screen on the XL, which won’t be present on the Pixel 3.

It’s not so different on the inside of each phone though, and we expect to see both models powered by the mighty Snapdragon 845 processor. Both will also come with a slightly modified version of Google’s Android operating system, which should ensure super-smooth performance and provide some extra fun features. Rumors seem to be unsure about the rest of the specifications, but most agree that the Pixel 3 will likely start at 4GB of RAM and a 128GB hard drive, while the Pixel 3 XL will probably come with at least 6GB  of RAM — similar to the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.

Google’s still not bowing to the dual-lens trend, and the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will come with just a single camera lens on the back. However, both phones will apparently also come with two front-facing lenses, one of which is a wide-angle lens for group selfies.

Read more:

Google Pixel 3 news

Google Home Hub Smart Display

Google hasn’t really released a home device since the debut of the Google Home Max last year, so it makes sense that now would be the time for Google to throw out another Google Home device — and our money is on a Google-branded smart display.

Rumors on this are actually fairly sparse right now, but there have been renders of a Google-branded smart device leaked, and it’s looking pretty impressive. Named the Google Home Hub, the smart display is comprised of what looks like a tablet mounted on a stand base. Powered by the Google Assistant, this device would be able to tell you the weather, show you the latest news, Nest video feeds, and other such actions. However, there’s no camera listed in any of the spec sheets, and it’s currently unknown whether the screen will be detachable from the base — essentially making it a tablet with a dock.

We’ve seen other smart displays powered by the Google Assistant — which may be why Google’s allowed Amazon to get a head start with its own Echo Show — but we’re still excited to see what a Google-built smart display will entail.

Read more:

Google Display Speaker

Pixel Stand

In a very similar vein to the Google Home Hub, we’re also expecting to hear more details about the Google Pixel Stand — a way to turn a Pixel phone into a fully-fledged Google Home device.

Details on the Pixel Stand are fairly scarce, but it seems the stand will allow a Pixel phone to work more intimately with Google Assistant, allowing the Assistant to function with a locked screen, and potentially increasing the number of personalized responses. It’s also likely the stand itself is a wireless charger, and will keep the phone’s battery topped up while docked — which means the stand may not work with earlier Pixel devices as they don’t support wireless charging.

It also doesn’t appear the stand has any built-in speakers or other functionality.

Read more:

Google Pixel Stand news

Pixelbook 2

Last year’s October event saw the release of the very first Pixelbook, so it’s natural to expect a follow up this year for the Pixelbook 2.

This upgrade is expected to come with upgraded internal components, including a probable upgrade to 8th-generation Intel processors replacing the older 7th-generation chips in the first Pixelbook. Interestingly, there could be the possibility of a lower-cost Pixelbook model armed with Intel’s Y-series processors — though there’s nothing solid on that yet. However, it does seem that the new Pixelbook will come with an upgraded 4K display — making it one of the few 4K Chromebooks out there — as well as much reduced bezels to maximize the amount of screen real estate available.

Also expect to see improved LTE support on a new Pixelbook — possibly through Google’s Project Fi — and security upgrades, such as fingerprint scanning or even facial recognition. With Chrome OS slowly making paving the way to become “Android for tablets,” expect more support for using the Pixelbook as a tablet.

Read more:

Pixelbook 2 news

Pixel Slate 2-in-1 Chromebook

Google Pixelbook in tablet mode

But the Pixelbook might not be the only Chrome OS-based Pixel device at the event. Rumors that Google was working on a convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook have persisted for a while, with the codename “Nocturne” being completely separate from the “Atlas” Chromebook we’re not fairly sure is the Pixelbook 2.

Named the Pixel Slate, this product will be Google’s first ever Chrome OS tablet, and will potentially be equipped with the same 8th-generation Intel processor we expect to see in the Pixelbook 2. However, the most interesting rumors concern the OS the Pixel Slate will run. Not content with just Chrome OS, some rumors contend the Pixel Slate will also ship with the ability to dual boot into Windows 10 — dramatically increasing the range of options open to users.

However, don’t expect the same bezel-trimming design we expect to see in the Pixelbook 2. While slimmer bezels are great in most devices, tablets need them for grip, so you’re unlikely to see as dramatic a reduction on this device. Still, we’re extremely interested to know more about this device.

Read more:

Google Pixel Slate news

Chromecast 3

Credit: /u/GroveStreetHomie

A third-gen Chromecast wasn’t on anyone’s radar — until someone walked out of a Best Buy after accidentally buying one. Now it looks like an upgraded version of Google Cast-powered Chromecasts will be unveiled at Google’s October event.

But despite the device having already been sold to someone, details on the new version are still fairly elusive. It seems the Chromecast 3 will sport a slightly different look to older models, with a matte black finish and Google’s “G” logo in place of the Chrome swirl, as well as being slightly thicker. It’s also rumored to come with more Bluetooth support than older versions, which could mean support for game controllers and other such devices. It doesn’t seem like a major overhaul, unlike Amazon’s Fire TV Cube.

Read more:

Google Chromecast 3 news

Pixel Buds 2

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There isn’t much to suggest that Google intends to release a second generation of the wireless Pixel Buds, except for a tweet from noted and usually-accurate leaker Evan Blass. In that, he claims that Google will be looking to release a new version of the Pixel Buds alongside the Pixel 3 phones. However, it’s worth noting this tweet also mentions a Google Pixel Watch releasing at the same time — which Google confirmed won’t be happening.

So while we’re not convinced the Pixel Buds 2 will be in attendance on October 9, we do expect Google to eventually get around to releasing an upgrade for its original wireless headphones. If the Pixel Buds 2 do show up, expect Google to have tackled some of the common criticisms of the originals — which might include cutting the cord between the earbuds, upgrading the charging case into something more practical, and improving the fit. There’s also a chance the new Pixel Buds are included with the Pixel 3 smartphones as wired USB-C earbuds with Google Assistant functionality.

Google’s October 9 event kicks off at 11 a.m. ET.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google will announce hardware on October 9, new Pixel phones expected
• Google Pixel Slate — the first detachable Pixelbook 2-in-1
• Google Pixelbook 2: Everything you need to know
• Chromebook keyboard showcase may have leaked Pixelbook 2 images
• Google’s Pixelbook 2 ads reveal bezel-less design ahead of October launch

Apple’s free ‘Everyone Can Create’ curriculum is now on Apple Books

Back in March, Apple held an education-focused event in Chicago where the company debuted a 9.7-inch iPad, along with educational apps for the classroom. Among these was its ‘Everyone Can Create’ curriculum — a program that provides teachers with free project guides to help boost student creativity and engagement — and it’s now officially available on Apple Books.

Teachers can use Everyone Can Create in conjunction with their already existing lesson plans regardless of the subject —  math, history, social studies, language arts, and even coding. Within each guide (all of which are available for free), teachers are provided with a series of projects that help students build upon their knowledge of the topic with the ability to incorporate drawing, music, video, and photography.

Using Apple’s 9.7-inch iPad and apps like Clips or iMovie, students can take advantage of the built-in camera to produce videos based on historical events or work with light and shadow to capture photos. With support for the Apple Pencil, students can also draw with the iPad while learning about many of the elements of art, including symmetry, shading, color, and texture. Teachers can also take advantage of GarageBand, to help teach students how to identify melodies or harmonies, and make their own music.

When it comes to core curriculum subjects like math, teachers can help students learn what can sometimes be tricky concepts like measuring a parabola. To teach that concept, the app encourages the use of the iPad camera and burst mode to capture the arc of a basketball being thrown through a hoop. With over 300 lesson ideas, teachers can choose which ones they’d like to incorporate into the classroom.

At its event, Apple also introduced its software platform known as Classkit complete with Schoolwork integration. This allows teachers to easily assign an activity within an app and then check on the status of a student’s progress. With Apple Pencil, iWork allows teachers and students to do more — like adding smart annotations and drawings when using Pages or writing in Numbers when creating lab reports.

The Everyone Can Create curriculum also isn’t the first of its kind for Apple. In 2016, the company launched Everyone Can Code which provides students (ranging from kindergarten to college) with a program focused specifically on helping teach them how to code. With teacher guides and lessons, the curriculum starts by introducing students to basic skills before allowing them to eventually build real apps on Mac.

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Halide Developer Takes a Deep Dive Into iPhone XS Camera and Skin Smoothing Rumors

Sebastiaan de With, the developer behind photography app Halide, has taken an in-depth look at the front and rear-facing cameras in the iPhone XS and XS Max, providing some insight into complaints about a possible skin smoothing “beauty mode” that results in less realistic selfies than prior iPhone models.

A soft filter on selfies “doesn’t exist,” says de With, with the smoother look attributed to more aggressive noise reduction techniques and the merging of exposures that eliminates sharp light and dark contrasts where light hits the skin.

Camera differences between iPhone X and XS Max demoed by a Reddit user
Both the front and rear-facing cameras in the iPhone XS and XS Max are using computational geography to improve photo quality, a feature that takes multiple shots at once and then merges them into a single perfect photo.

Apple’s iPhone XS website explains all of the different things that are going on behind the scenes when an image is captured, and part of the process involves taking shots that are underexposed, overexposed, and captured at different times, with the camera taking the best elements of each shot and combining them.

Apple says the iPhone XS performs 1 trillion operations per photo
According to de With, this results in a “whole new look” for photos that represents a “drastic departure” from images captured with previous-generation iPhones. As the Halide blog post explains, the small areas of contrast seen in photos from older iPhones can make images look sharper, but these areas of deep contrast have been eliminated in the iPhone XS models.

Using the exposure merging techniques, the iPhone XS reduces the brightness of the bright areas and the darkness of the shadows. While the detail is still there, we see it as less sharp because of this loss of contrast. Skin ends up looking smoother because the “light isn’t as harsh.”

The iPhone XS and XS Max are also using much more aggressive noise reduction techniques than in previous iPhones. de With says this is because the iPhone XS models prefer a faster shutter speed and a higher ISO level, capturing photos quicker but resulting in more noise. Taking care of that noise sacrifices some detail and contrast.

Noise in a RAW iPhone X image (left) compared to RAW iPhone XS image (right)
In the front-facing camera specifically, which uses a smaller sensor than the rear-facing camera, the heavy noise reduction paired with the image merging techniques leads to the noticeably smoother selfies that people have seen with the iPhone XS camera.

The tradeoff is that selfies, which traditionally are worse in mixed or harsh lighting (the majority of lighting!) are now no longer blown out, and in most cases it just looks better, if just a little on the smooth side.

According to de With, Apple can tweak these settings through software updates if the majority of people are unhappy with the selfie camera, so we may see a better compromise between noise reduction and the filtering of harsh lighting in the future.

All in all, de With believes the iPhone XS camera is better than the iPhone X camera thanks to its superior dynamic range, with some post processing able to re-add the contrast where necessary.

There are issues with RAW image capture because of the noise level. When taking RAW photos with an app like Halide, de With says it is a must to do so manually and to reduce the exposure. Otherwise, RAW images will end up looking worse than Smart HDR JPEGs.

To account for the changes to RAW image capture, Halide is gaining a new Smart RAW feature that uses the new sensor tech in the iPhone XS to get better images. It avoids Smart HDR all together to cut down on noise reduction and pull out more detail.

Halide’s full blog post is well worth a read for anyone interested in an in-depth look at the camera changes Apple has introduced in the iPhone XS and XS Max. The Halide app can be downloaded from the App Store for $5.99. [Direct Link]

Related Roundup: iPhone XSBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now)
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MacRumors Exclusive: Save on Anker’s Portable Batteries, Lightning Cables, Speakers, and More

MacRumors and Anker have partnered up again this week in a new sale that nets our readers as much as 42 percent off the popular accessory maker’s iPhone cases, portable batteries, headphones, Lightning cables, and more. There are twelve total items in this sale, and all of the accompanying promo codes will last for about two weeks, expiring on Sunday, October 14.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

To take part in the exclusive sale, add one of the below items to your cart on Amazon, proceed to checkout, enter the relevant promo code into the Gift cards & promotional codes field, and then click “Apply.” Discount prices in this article don’t include taxes or shipping costs, but Amazon Prime subscribers can get the typical free two-day shipping on their orders.

Note that only one code can be used per order, so if you’d like to order more than one type of item, you’ll need to place separate orders.

iPhone Cases

• iPhone X Breeze Case – $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $7.99

• iPhone X Shield Case – $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $6.99

Lightning Cables

• PowerLine+ Lightning Cable with Pouch (3ft, Red) – $9.49 with code RUMORS92, down from $13.99

• Powerline+ II Lightning Cable with Pouch (6ft, Black) – $13.49 with code RUMORS53, down from $17.99

Wall and Wireless Chargers

• PowerPort Cube with 3 Outlets and 3 USB Ports – $20.79 with code RUMORS63, down from $25.99

• USB-C Wall Charger with 5 Ports – $39.99 with code RUMORS56, down from $49.99

• PowerWave 7.5 Stand Wireless Charger – $39.99 with code RUMORS25, down from $49.99

Portable Chargers

• PowerCore II 20,100 mAh Portable Charger – $47.99 with code RUMORS26, down from $59.99

• PowerCore Speed 20,100 mAh Portable Charger + 30W Power Delivery Wall Charger – $79.99 with code RUMORS75, down from $99.99

Audio Accessories

• Soundcore Spirit Pro Sports Headphones – $39.99 with code RUMORS88, down from $49.99

• Soundcore Vortex Wireless Headset – $44.99 with code RUMORS03, down from $59.99

• Soundcore Flare Portable Bluetooth 360-degree Speaker (Black) – $50.99 with code RUMORS31, down from $59.99

You can also head to our full Deals Roundup for information on other sales going on as we head into the fall.

Related Roundup: Apple DealsTag: Anker
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Apple Highlights Best ‘Shot on iPhone XS’ Photos

Apple this afternoon shared several of the best “Shot on iPhone” photos that it’s seen on Instagram and Twitter from customers who have purchased one of the new iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max devices.

The photos were collected from Instagram and Twitter users who included the hashtag “#ShotoniPhone” alongside their photos, with images showcasing Portrait Mode, Smart HDR, more advanced bokeh, Depth Control, and other features introduced with the iPhone XS and XS Max.

Image via Instagram user garethsingham
Apple’s new iPhones continue to offer the same 12-megapixel dual-lens telephoto and wide-angle camera system introduced in the iPhone X, but multiple upgrades result in pictures that are better than ever before.

More straight out of camera #iPhoneXS #ShotOniPhoneXs #shotoniphone pic.twitter.com/EzDNOjB9xw

— Andrew Kearns (@andrewtkearns) September 27, 2018

The iPhone XS and XS Max are equipped with an improved wide-angle image sensor that’s 32 percent larger than the sensor in the iPhone X and twice as fast for better image fidelity, greater color accuracy, and improved performance in low light conditions.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Austin Mann (@austinmann) on Sep 26, 2018 at 8:39pm PDT

A new image signal processor and second-generation Neural Engine included with the A12 Bionic chip allow Apple to process photos in a new way, using a Smart HDR feature for better dynamic range. The new hardware also powers Depth Control and better bokeh when using the iPhone’s Portrait Mode for artful background blurring.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Katy Morgan (@katypotaty77) on Sep 23, 2018 at 11:16pm PDT

The full range of Instagram photos highlighted by Apple can be seen in the Apple Newsroom feature.

Related Roundup: iPhone XSTag: Shot on iPhoneBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now)
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Apple’s Greg Joswiak Speaks About Screen Time in New Podcast

Greg Joswiak, Apple’s VP of iOS, iPad, and iPhone Product Marketing, recently sat down with Arianna Huffington on the Thrive Global Podcast to discuss the new Screen Time feature that Apple implemented for the iPhone 5s and later in iOS 12.

According to Joswiak, information is the “cornerstone” of what Apple is doing with Screen Time. The company’s goal is to provide people with information about how they’re using their apps so they can come to their own conclusions about whether they’re happy with their usage statistics.

If you ask people how much they’re using their devices, they can only guess. If you ask them how much they’re using a particular app or category of app, they can only guess. I almost guarantee you their guesses are wrong. So what we wanted to do was provide people with the real information about how much they’re using devices, apps, categories of apps, and how many notifications they’re getting. These things are very measurable.

With Screen Time, built into iOS 12, users can get a complete overview on how much time is spent on each of their devices on a daily or weekly basis, with Apple offering up a weekly report. Joswiak says Apple wanted to make it as easy as possible, which is why iOS 12 asks people to opt in at sign up and delivers automatic reports each week.

Apple is hoping people will be “more cognizant” of what they’re doing on their devices, using the Screen Time information to make better choices. Joswiak believes the vast majority of people will turn Screen Time on and will use the information to regulate behavior. That’s how he uses Screen Time – awareness without imposing limits.

For me, I couldn’t imagine leaving my home in the morning without my iPhone. I think like most people. I still found it fascinating to be able to open up the Screen Time app and see where I was spending my time. […] That information was useful for me to regulate myself a to the behavior that I want. I didn’t need limits, I just needed that information.

Even with children, Joswiak thinks parents will benefit most from being able to have an “intelligent conversation” about device usage with real data usage rather than implementing parental controls, but the controls are there for parents who need them.

Because of Apple’s focus on user privacy, no data about Screen Time or app usage information is sent to Apple or any third party. Apple can tell who has Screen Time enabled and who doesn’t for users who send diagnostic information to the company, but data is otherwise “available only to you.”

Joswiak also highlighted iOS 12’s features for cutting down on notifications, such as Instant Tuning, which lets you quickly turn off notifications for a particularly bothersome app without having to dig into the settings. Do Not Disturb has also been expanded in iOS 12 with new options that let it be turned on for an hour or a critical event.

Apple was not concerned with people using their devices less as a result of Screen Time, because it aims to provide the best usage experience, not the longest. “We don’t need to make you use it every minute of every day,” said Joswiak. “Our business model doesn’t depend on how much you use your devices.”

Screen Time was not developed because of the well-known shareholder’s letter that called on Apple urging Apple to do more to protect children from smartphone addiction. Screen Time was conceptualized well over a year ago with the idea that Apple “wants to empower people with Apple.”

“It’s not a kids thing,” explained Joswiak. “It’s an everybody thing.” Apple didn’t set out to create a solution for parents to lock down their children’s devices, it was created to give everyone information on how devices are being used. “Apple is not reactionary,” said Joswiak. “We bring out features we think are going to help people.”

Screen Time is available for all devices starting with the 2013 iPhone 5s, and bringing these kinds of new features is to millions of iOS users is something that only Apple can do, according to Joswiak. He says that soon, 80 percent of the user base will be using the latest version of iOS 12, which is “staggering.”

Joswiak says that Apple has “lots of ideas” on how to take Screen Time further in the future. “We know there’s lots more we’ll want to do over time,” he said.

Related Roundup: iOS 12Tag: Greg Joswiak
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HP tries out a new premium laptop look with the leather-clad Spectre Folio

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HP has a new idea for what a premium laptop should look and feel like and it’s one made of something you might not expect: leather. The newly debuted Spectre Folio is a powerful, convertible laptop that doesn’t utilize a leather sleeve or skin; the full-grain leather is bonded to the aluminum and magnesium frame. It has color-coded hand-stitching that accents the main leather panels and even the touchpad has the same coloring, giving a uniform, unique look and feel to HP’s new notebook.

When you think of premium materials in the electronics market, you might think of exotic metals required for their construction. You might think of tempered glass, carbon fiber, or brushed aluminum, far different elements and compounds than those you find in furnishings or fashion. But HP’s Spectre Folio brings the worlds of classic and modern design together with what it has used to create the Spectre Folio, making something that has an old-world feel to it, with modern hardware under the hood.

Able to seamlessly snap between three distinct usage modes — laptop, tablet, and somewhere in between for media viewing and creation — the Spectre Folio has a choice of three configurations using Intel’s Y-series CPUs. The first offers an eighth-generation, dual-core i5-8200Y, starting at $1,300; the second, is a dual-core (with hyperthreading) i7-8500Y, priced at $1,500, and the third offers the same CPU, but without the built-in LTE Advanced data connectivity, for $1,400.

Each configuration will come with 8GB of DDR3 memory, 256GB of NVMe M.2 SSD storage, and a 13.3-inch 1080P, IPS display. HP claims that a 4K model will be made available at some point in the future. Port wise, it offers a pair of Thunderbolt 3 connectors, a single USB-C 3.1 connector, and a standard headphone jack. The battery is 54.28 watt-hours and we’re told it will be good for anywhere up to 18 hours of battery life in ideal scenarios.

The Spectre Folio lives up to its moniker in that it will be entirely silent, featuring no fans — exhaust holes wouldn’t exactly gel with a leather-clad exterior — but there is a slight gap behind the hinge, which adds a little bit of passive airflow to aid in cooling.

The leather-bound HP Spectre Folio will go on sale on October 29 at Best Buy in the Core i7 configuration, with additional models appearing on HP’s web store.

Can’t wait for that? These are our favorite laptops available right now.

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Google Maps adds new features to help make your commute less dreadful

Regardless of how close you live to your office, commuting is never fun — there’s always either an unexpected delay, traffic jam, or accident. That’s why Google is attempting to make your commute a bit more enjoyable, with new features to Google Maps that help you navigate disruptions to your commute ahead of time.

When you open the app, you’ll now see a tab dedicated specifically to commutes. This will provide you with access to traffic and transit information in real time, depending on where you’re headed. Google Maps will let you know if you’ll need to leave earlier than usual, and will also notify you about alternative routes to help you get to work on time. Those with an Android, will receive notifications for any delays or commute disruptions on their route straight to their device.

Another new feature provides support for those who have mixed-mode commutes. For example, if you drive to the train station and then hop on public transit, the app will give you updates for each part of your trip. You’ll know if there’s traffic getting to the station, when the next train will arrive, and how long it should take you to get to the office once your train reaches its destination.

Those who rely on the subway know that trains are often unpredictable, and that delays are common. To make your commute easier, users will have access to live updates of where their train or bus is on the map. For users in Sydney, Australia, Google’s partnership with Transport New South Wales also shows how full the next bus or train is. The feature will also be coming to more cities around the world soon.

Commutes can be made more tolerable with one thing — a good playlist. You’ll now have the ability to control Spotify, Apple Music, or Google Play Music right from Google Maps rather than having to switch back and forth between apps. Android users can also look through songs, podcasts, albums, and playlists on Spotify through Google Maps.

The new Google Maps update is rolling out on Android and iOS this week — and you’ll be able to find it via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

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