The Morning After: What to expect at Google I/O 2023

Googles annual developer conference not only delivers on the software and web-based announcements but also on whatever hardware its been cooking up. In the past, that included smart speakers, phones, Chromebooks and everything else. For I/O 2023, were expecting lots of Pixel things. Rumors (and subsequent official teasers) point to Googles first foldable smartphone, the Pixel Fold, as well as the latest midrange Pixel, the Pixel 7a.

The Pixel Fold will open like a book, similar to Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold. Rumors suggest a 5.8-inch external screen and a foldable 7.6-inch 120Hz internal display. It has thicker bezels than the Z Fold, but its supposed to feature a durable, almost-gapless hinge and a battery that lasts 24 hours in normal use. It could cost up to $1,700.

At the other end of the how much?! spectrum, the Pixel 7a doesnt appear too different from its predecessor; it might have a faster 90Hz display and a 64-megapixel main camera. Google reportedly plans to price the new phone at $499 a little more than last years Pixel 6a, but still a fraction of the price of the Pixel Fold.

Thats not all. There is also the Pixel tablet, previewed at Google I/O last year, Android 14 (in testing since February) and maybe even a tease of the Pixel 8? Or even another smartwatch? Just two days to go

Mat Smith

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It has ceramic brakes.

Tesla has unveiled a $20,000 track package for its Model S Plaid, finally allowing it to reach the 200MPH top speed. The Model S Plaid vehicles the company delivered after they became available could only reach around 163MPH, which is fast, but not 200MPH fast. Turns out Tesla put a limitation on its software to prevent it from reaching its full potential. According to Electrek, the company wanted the vehicle to have bigger brakes first, so they could slow down better. The automaker first started offering the ceramic brake kit for $20,000 back in 2021, but it has yet to start installing it on customers' vehicles.

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The iPhone 15 Pro may not have solid-state buttons

A supplier suggested the parts are delayed.

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You may recall rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro featuring touch-sensitive solid-state buttons. It now looks like Apple wont replace the iPhones physical buttons for at least another year. In a shareholder letter spotted by MacRumors, Apple supplier Cirrus Logic said, A new product that we mentioned in previous shareholder letters as being scheduled for introduction this fall is no longer expected to come to market as planned. Cirrus already provides components for the iPhones Taptic Engine, so its got the Apple relationship. Cirrus previously told investors it was working on a new high-performance component that would arrive in smartphones sometime in 2023. Thats now less certain, apparently.

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Hogwarts Legacy adds a spider-free mode

The update arrives in time for the games launch on previous-gen consoles.

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Arachnophobic Harry Potter fans, rejoice. A new feature in Hogwarts Legacy removes spiders entirely from the game. The update coincides with the titles arrival on PS4 and Xbox One. The Hogwarts Legacy update (build 1140773) launched Thursday adds the new Arachnophobia Mode to the games accessibility options. It changes all enemy spider appearances to a floating meanie with glowing red eyes surrounded by hovering roller skates. (Arguably more terrifying?)

The mode also reduces and removes spider skitters and screeches, removes small spider ground effect spawners and makes static spider corpses in the world invisible.

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