It’s been a busy week for tech news – while some news days might seem slower than others, there’s always a tasty tidbit of information lurking just around the corner. With that in mind, we’re recapping some of the biggest updates and announcements from the tech landscape this week – everything from smartphones, software, and more. In case you missed them, here are some notable updates this past week.
OnePlus Unveils its own AI Editing Software
OnePlus recently announced that it was moving forward with its plans to integrate generative AI software into its smartphones, and as such recently announced its new “AI Eraser” feature. Simply put, it’s OnePlus’ own take on features like Google’s very own Magic Eraser, which lets users remove unwanted visual elements from the background of their photos. According to OnePlus, the AI Eraser feature will begin to arrive for OnePlus devices globally starting from April. Several phones including the OnePlus 12, OnePlus 12R, OnePlus 11 and OnePlus Open will be compatible with the feature, while handsets for users in Europe will begin to receive these features later in Q2 2024.
Google Bids Farewell to its Podcasts App
In a move that has once again revived talks of the dreaded “Google Graveyard,” the Google Podcasts App has finally been shut down. It should be noted that this has been a long time coming, with Google announcing several months back that the small user base was a key point of consideration in shutting down the podcasts app. Part of the announcement reads:
“Looking forward to 2024, we’ll be increasing our investment in the podcast experience on YouTube Music… as part of this process, we’ll be discontinuing Google Podcasts. As part of this process, we’ll be helping Google Podcasts users move over to Podcasts in YouTube Music.”
The Pixel 8a Gets Leaked… Again
Google can’t seem to get things right when it comes to leaks. Time and time again, its various Pixel phones have appeared on the internet way before the intended launch date, and the same goes for the Pixel 8a. Most recently, the phone appeared in a Google Fi ad, at least according to a user which managed to save the image and share it online. The ad shows the Pixel 8a in two different colours, including a blue variant and what appears to be a white model. Upon closer inspection, it’s clear that the phones in the ad aren’t the Pixel 8, due to the lack of a microphone between the camera lenses, as well as the flatter camera bar.
Mobvoi Updates Several TicWatch Models
In a recent announcement, smart wearable brand Mobvoi stated that it will provide a new software update for several of its smartwatches, which include the TicWatch E3, TicWatch Pro 3 GPS and TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS. The updates come with version numbers RMRB.240228.002 and RMKB.240228.004, so TicWatch owners might want to keep an eye on their devices for the new update. In addition to the latest security patches, the updates also come with an option to pick a desired shortcut for the secondary function key (which somehow disappeared in a previous update), as well as a fix for problems with Bluetooth calling functionality.
The Star Wars KOTOR Remake is Still Alive
A few years back, it was announced that a remake of the highly-popular Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic RPG was in development, with developer Aspyr set to handle production on the game. Eventually, the task was handed over to Saber Interactive, although not much has been heard about the game’s status in recent years. With that being said, Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch finally revealed that the KOTOR remake is still under production over at Saber Interactive, following the latter’s split from Embracer Group. Karch states:
“It’s clear and it’s obivous that we’re working on this… It’s been in the press numerous times. What I will say is that the game is alive and well, and we’re dedicated to making sure we exceed consumer expectations.”
