Apple, Google, and Samsung have had a bit of a bizarre love triangle going on in recent months, with the California companiesbrokering a deal to end AirTag stalking, and the Android cohortscombining their AirPlay alternativesinto a unified platform. But that hasn’t stopped the trio from competing amongst itself, and this week, Samsung snatched the crown from Apple, while the latter seems set on dulling the emulator edge Google has honed for Android. Meanwhile, Google’s hoping an internal shakeup can right the ship, but it’s sending mixed signals with Maps, and its Pixel plans seem to have sprung a leak.
Catch up on last week’s biggest Android headlines here
Android 15 goes public, Chrome goes paid, and Google’s AI goes free in this week’s news
Samsung’s back on top — for now
At the beginning of 2024,Apple took the titleof world’s largest smartphone maker after 13 years of Samsung holding the spot. But release cycles create an ebb and flow pattern in smartphone sales, and Samsung moving its stylus-sporting top-tier model from a late-year announcement to a launch alongside the Galaxy S series in 2022 has likely resulted in higher peaks and lower valleys.
But this week,Samsung reclaimed its crown, with hype from September’s iPhone 15 launch having fizzled out. Analysts have attributed some of Samsung’s sales resurgence to strong interest in Galaxy AI, and to the company’s credit, it’sexpanding availabilityof these features rather than keeping them S24-exclusive as a selling point. And while Samsung doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, especially withnew foldables on the horizonanda major midrange phone finally comingto the US, Apple’s next iPhone release looms this fall, so we might be shuffling the leader board around again come winter.
Samsung dethrones Apple to become the world’s largest smartphone maker again
Preliminary Q1 2024 smartphone shipments show the Korean giant is again back at the top
Apple’s eating Android’s emulator lunch after all
With its eye no doubt on those same sales figures that have Samsung smiling this week, Apple will be looking to bring more people into its walled garden, as it always does. One market segment where it could see some gains is Android’s retro gaming faithful, who have largely only had one choice in mobile operating systems before now.
But regulatory pressure from the EU has Apple reconsidering some of its App Store policies, and it changed its stance on emulators last week. We weren’t sure the new policy was going to open the floodgates at first, and concernsstill linger over Apple’s rules around game ROMs, but we’re already starting to see a sweeping change.Testut’s Delta Nintendo emulatoris now on the App Store, and days later, popular Sega and PlayStation emulatorProvenance announced its intentionsto follow suit. It appears Android’s unchecked emulator dominance has finally come to an end.
iOS inches closer to Android with new third-party app store and Nintendo emulator
But in typical Apple fashion, there are a few catches…
Google Maps takes two steps forward, one step back
Google Maps is doing its part to help society on its path to sustainability,announcing a batch of new eco-focused featuresthis week ahead of Earth Day. The app will now give you walking and public transit directions alongside driving directions, hoping to gently nudge you away from your car and towards a lower-emission alternative.
And things are happening beyond our one and only planet now, too, as early signs offuture satellite connectivity features coming to Google Mapshave now appeared. But like with many Google products, it was two steps forward and one step back for Maps this week, as Google announcedit will be deleting drafted reviews this Julyafter discontinuing the draft feature altogether.
Publish your Google Maps drafts now or forever hold your peace
Unpublished reviews will be deleted by July
It’s Pixel leak season and Google’s shaking things up
At the end of last week,the Pixel 8a leaked in 4 colors, but the renders were pretty grainy — luckily, earlier this week,we saw those same colors in beautiful HD. Now, we’re seeing thefirst live images of the Pixel 9 Pro, and it’s a beaut — but we suspect people might have problems with a couple of the design changes. That was rumored to be one of three upcoming Pixel 9 models, but it turns out there could be four, because thePixel Fold 2 might actually be called the Pixel 9 Pro Fold— try saying that three times fast.
If you’re starting to think Google’s Pixel division has a problem with leaks, you might be onto something. But things are only getting more hectic for the team behind Google-branded hardware, as the company folded its Pixel team into its Android division toform a new Platforms and Devices branch. The hope is that better integration between the teams can make things more efficient, especially with AI now taking up so much of both divisions' time, but the results are yet to be seen.
Google is making huge changes to its Android and Pixel teams in the name of AI
Rick Osterloh is taking on Google’s new ‘Platforms and Devices’ team, while Hiroshi Lockheimer looks to new projects
Android 15 keeps shaping up, one commit at a time
If you’re not paying close attention, you might think new Android versions hardly change anything nowadays. But the AOSP commits never really slowed down, they just shifted focus toward refinement — which may not be good headline fodder for your feed, but does wonders for quality of life on the platform. Android 15 looks like it will continue this trend, as we keep learning about feature after feature through a steady drip of discoveries.
This week, we learned Android 15 will have a toggle that makes your phoneignore Wi-Fi networks secured with the antiquated WEP standard. Google was also spottedtweaking animations in the Pixel Launcher, and it turns out Android 15 couldtreat misbehaving apps like your favorite bar during Covid. In a more intriguing development, Android 15 is working onsupport for a spec that could charge your tracker or stylus— but the most headline-grabbing Android 15 discovery this week was likely a glimpse of how the new versionwill help your phone connect to satellites.
Here’s how Android 15 could help your phone connect to a satellite
A leaked video has revealed the satellite pointing UI
