⥠Welcome to The Weekly Authority, the Android Authority newsletter that breaks down the top Android and tech news from the week. The 225th edition here, with an update on Chromeâs ad blocking, Oppoâs new foldables, Motorolaâs crazily-priced flagship, our favorite geeky podcasts for the holidays, and more.
âJust as we thought it couldnât get any colder here, it was -8°C when I left the house this morning. Then I watched a documentary about life in Yakutsk, the worldâs coldest city, where temperatures regularly reach below -30°C. Eek!
Before we dive into this weekâs scoop, weâd like to thank the sponsor of this email, Wondershare Filmora!
John Dye / Android Authority
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Popular news this week
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Samsung:
- Samsung Good Lock is finally available in more countries: If youâre in Europe, Latin America, and a couple of Asian countries, you can now find the apps in the Galaxy Store.
- Samsung reportedly ditches Samsung, will rely on Samsung for future Samsung chips: Samsung has apparently formed a chip development team within its mobile unit, with the purported goal of making custom phone chips. The company currently relies on a sister unit for its Exynos chips.
Movies/TV:
Gaming:Â
Reviews
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
Features
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
Weekly Wonder
Hard to believe that this time next week, weâll be winding down for a weekend of festivities and Christmas movies. But whether youâre celebrating with turkey, presents, and all the trimmings, or just taking a break from work to chill, we know youâre going to be keeping on top of all the tech news on the AA site, our Twitter, and over on YouTube too (you are, right?!)
For those days when screen time isnât on the cards, weâve put together a few of our favorite tech, science, and generally nerdy podcasts to help you get your geek on and stay on top of the latest news over the festive season. So here they are, our top picks â add one, two, or them all, to your podcast app of choice!
Best for an Android deep dive: Android Bytes
Mishaal Rahman and David Ruddock chat with Android experts and ask super-nerdy questions about all things Android, like âWhat are the hidden costs of building an Android phone?â If you need your Android fix over the holidays, this is a must-listen, with episodes ranging from 30 minutes to an hour â and thereâs a huge back catalog to listen to, as well.
Best over breakfast: The Hustle Daily Show
The Hustle Daily Show remains one of my favorite podcasts for a quick catch-up of the dayâs top stories. Hosts Zachary Crockett, Juliet Bennett Rylah, Jacob Cohen, and Rob Litterst provide a daily dose of offbeat and informative takes on all the latest business and tech news. Each episodeâs around 10-15 minutes in length, making this a great way to get tech headlines over breakfast.
Best for smart home and IoT enthusiasts: Internet of Things
This weekly podcast is packed with news and analysis on smart home, industrial internet of things, enterprise internet of things, and more, from co-hosts Stacey Higginbottom and Kevin Tofel. Episodes run around an hour long, perfect for a lazy afternoonâs listening on the couch.
Best for behind-the-scenes stories: Business Wars
Not strictly a tech podcast but a riveting listen nonetheless, Business Wars dives deep into the cutthroat world of business as host David Brown shares the stories behind the worldâs biggest business rivalries through clever sound design and reimagined conversations. New episodes land Wednesdays, and there are already over 450 for you to listen to.
Best for science nerds: Flash Forward
Iâve been a fan of Flash Forward since it began, looking at possible (and not so possible) future scenarios every week, answering questions like âHow would diplomacy work if we couldnât lie?â or âCould we all live underground?â Host and award-winning science journalist Rose Eveleth presents a combination of investigative journalism and audio drama thatâs truly engaging. Sadly, the podcast itself ended in 2021, but its new immersive drama, Welcome to Vanguard Estates, has landed, and you can pick your own route through the story. Itâs definitely worth a listen this holiday season.
Best for gamers: Kinda Funny Games Daily
When I canât be bothered reading the games headlines from the week but want to stay abreast of whatâs happening, Kinda Funny Games Daily is where I turn. This podcastâs vibe is very much a group of friends chatting about all things gaming, which I guess is why itâs the worldâs most popular daily video game news podcast. Hosts Greg âGameOverGreggyâ Miller, Tim Gettys, Blessing Adeoye, and Star Wars Rogue One writer Gary Whitta, the podcast covers the latest in PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and other gaming news, with a cast of guests and games industry veterans.
Tech Calendar
- January 5-8, 2023: CES 2023 (Las Vegas)
- January 12: Motorola Moto G Play launches (US and Canada)
- February (date TBC): Samsung Unpacked (Galaxy S23?)
Tech Tweet of the Week
The comments here are comedy goldâŠ
Paula Beaton, Copy Editor.
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