Google Pixel 9 series was unveiled at the Made by Google event in August comprising four models. A new report now sheds light on the bill of materials (BOM) of the Pixel 9 Pro whose place in the smartphone lineup has been reworked this year and it sits above the Pixel 9 but below the new Pixel 9 Pro XL. It is suggested that the smartphone costs less to manufacture compared to last year’s Pixel 8 Pro.

Google Pixel 9 Pro Bill of Materials

According to a report by the Japanese publication Nikkei (via @Jukanlosreve on X), the total cost of manufacturing the Google Pixel 9 Pro comes out to be approximately $406 (roughly Rs. 34,000). This is said to be 11 percent less compared to the Pixel 8 Pro, taking into account that it has a smaller battery and a smaller display than Google’s Pro model from last year.

This year, the Pixel 9 Pro isn’t a direct successor of the Pixel 8 Pro due to the introduction of the new Pixel 9 Pro XL, which has similar characteristics to the aforementioned device.

Tensor G4, which is the chipset that powers the Pixel 9 Pro, is reportedly its most expensive component at $80 (roughly Rs. 7,000) — an increase of 7 percent over Tensor G3’s cost. Meanwhile, the smartphone’s M14 display manufactured by Samsung Display costs $75 (roughly Rs. 6,000), and the camera module and other components are estimated at $61 (roughly Rs. 5,000).

However, the BOM includes just the components and not other costs associated with manufacturing the Pixel 9 Pro, such as research and development (R&D), logistics, marketing and distribution.

The Google Pixel 9 Pro price starts at $999 (roughly Rs. 84,000) for the base 128GB onboard storage model. Thus, the BOM of the handset turns out to be nearly 40.6 percent of its retail price, indicating that Google has a 59.4 percent gross margin for each Pixel 9 Pro unit sold.

Microsoft is rolling out a new feature for the Windows 11 File Explorer through its Insider Channels, the company announced on July 25. With its introduction, users will now be able to see their Android smartphones in the File Explorer when it is connected wirelessly via the Link to Windows app. This development builds upon a previous server-side feature addition for Android smartphones which lets users ask Copilot, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, to send a text message or summarise messages in their handset’s inbox.

Windows 11 File Explorer Update

In a blog post, Microsoft announced that the new feature for Windows 11 File Explorer is available across all Windows Insider channels to users registered as Windows Insiders. By connecting their Android smartphones wirelessly to their PCs via the Link to Windows app, users can browse through their files, folders and media located on their handset from the File Explorer.

Android Smartphone Visibility in Windows 11 File Explorer
Photo Credit: Microsoft

In addition to browsing capabilities, they can open, rename and delete files from their device, while also moving/copying them from their PC to their smartphone or vice versa. However, there are a few prerequisites for using this feature.

How to Use It

According to Microsoft, the user should:

1. Have a smartphone running on Android 11.0 or higher firmware
2. Have the beta version of the Link to Windows app installed on the phone (version 1.24071 and higher)
3. Be registered on the Windows Insider Program with the PC running on Windows 11
4. Have opted for any of the four Windows 11 Insider channels

Once the aforementioned conditions are fulfilled, users can go to Settings on their PC and then to the Bluetooth & devices tab. Next, they should select the Mobile Devices option and give permission for the PC to access their Android smartphone. A toggle to enable its visibility in File Explorer should then appear.

According to Microsoft, if users cannot see this option, then the feature may have yet to roll out to them. Although it has been introduced, it is still under testing. Thus, users may encounter issues while using this feature. Some known issues include syncing problems, a non-working automatic deletion feature and more.

One UI 7 — Samsung’s upcoming Android 15-based software update for eligible smartphones — is expected to arrive a few months after its competitors. While OnePlus and Oppo have already begun to roll out their Android 15 updates for flagship models, Samsung has yet to announce when it will roll out the One UI 7 beta to testers. A tipster has now leaked the purported launch timeline of the Android 15 beta and stable updates for Samsung’s Galaxy S-series smartphones.

One UI 7 Beta Release Timeline (Leaked)

Citing sources at Samsung, X (formerly Twitter) user NMPS (@FamilyTaes) claims that the One UI 7 beta programme could begin by next month. A post shared on the platform states that Samsung will release the One UI 7 beta for the Galaxy S24 series — that includes the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra — in the first week of December.

While Samsung Galaxy S24 series owners might not have to wait long to begin testing the One Ui 7 update, owners of the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23 Ultra will have to wait for at “least 2-3 weeks”, according to the tipster.

Users with a Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra might not get a One UI 7 beta release this year, the user claims, while the older Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra models won’t be part of the beta programme.

The tipster says that the One UI 7 beta programme is expected to run for a two-month period. Meanwhile, the stable version of One UI 7 is not expected to be rolled out in February. As a result, the Galaxy S25 series that is expected to launch in January could be the only handsets from the company to run on the latest version of One UI until the update is rolled out to older models a month later. 

Samsung is also expected to roll out the One UI 7 update to several other eligible Galaxy A-series, M-series, and F-series smartphones. According to another user on X, over 50 models are expected to receive an update to One UI 70. These smartphones and tablets are likely to receive One UI 7 after the Galaxy S-series models, which are usually the first to receive software updates.

Samsung has finally introduced its next-generation ultra-modern notebooks for the Indian market with the launch of its Galaxy Book4 series. Samsung has introduced three new models for the 2024 lineup – the Galaxy Book4 Pro, the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360, and the Galaxy Book4 360. The Book4 Series succeeds the previous Samsung Galaxy Book3 lineup of laptops, serving as the company’s premium offering within this segment. Much like the Galaxy Book3 range, these new laptops perfectly portray finesse and luxury.

Each laptop has cutting-edge hardware and features, making it the top choice in the premium laptop segment. With its lightweight form factor, immersive displays, and best-in-class hardware, the Galaxy Book4 series is here to slay the laptop segment. To discover the unique qualities of these newest laptops, be sure to read this article.

Galaxy Book4 Pro and Galaxy Book4 Pro 360

The latest 2024 Galaxy Book4 Pro series from Samsung will blow away your mind! The newest laptops are not just your regular ultrabooks but a pinnacle of notebooks. The Galaxy Book4 Pro series offers the ultimate screen experience with its 16-inch 3K Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. The screen provides unparalleled colours and saturations alongside a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate for a best-in-class experience.

The ultra-smooth and super-responsive touchscreen makes the Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 and Galaxy Book4 Pro even more special. Moreover, with Galaxy Book4 Pro 360, you also get S Pen support, meaning you can glide between your projects, draw your favourite inspirations with great detail, or write a diary to let out your innermost thoughts. Moreover, the Vision Booster lets you view the best-quality display even in bright sunlight while enhancing colour reproduction.

The Samsung Galaxy4 Pro series also packs a punch when it comes to performance. The latest lineup of laptops are loaded with the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, delivering up to 7 per cent more performance than the 13th Raptor Lake Intel chipsets. The new line of Ultra processors also houses advanced NPUs onboard that deliver the next level of intelligent AI performance for different tasks. The laptops are also Intel Evo certified, meaning they will glide smoothly at all the heavy tasks you throw at them.

The Galaxy Book4 Pro and Galaxy Book4 Pro 360 are among the lightest ultrabooks available in the market, making an ideal choice for those always on the go. The latest laptops brings exceptional battery backup. Moreover, if you are low on battery, you can quickly charge up to 35 per cent in just 30 minutes.

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Galaxy Book4 360

The Galaxy Book4 360 is one of the sleekest and most lightweight laptops available on the market, with just 13.7mm thickness and 1.46 kg weight. The laptop is available in Grey colour option, which redefines premium look and feel.

The latest 2-in-1 laptop offers a super sharp 15.6-inch Super AMOLED display that delivers vivid colours and ultra-fast response time to get the best visual experience in this segment. Moreover, you get muti-touch gesture support with the response touchscreen. With S Pen support, you can now flip the screen, take notes, and draw your masterworks with great precision.

The Galaxy Book4 360 is a powerhouse that provides state-of-the-art performance with the latest generation of EVO-certified Intel Core processors. This, coupled with powerful Intel graphics, will never cause you to notice any lag or drop in performance while using this beastly machine. You may wonder if all these power-packed performances will quickly eat away the battery. However, it is quite the opposite. With the all-new Galaxy Book4 360, the battery can last throughout the day. Moreover, a mere 30-minute charge can deliver up to 39 per cent of battery.

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Experience the Samsung Galaxy Ecosystem with Galaxy Book4 Pro Series and Galaxy Book4 360

The Galaxy Book4 series is so special and unique that you can get the maximum with your other Galaxy devices. With the Galaxy ecosystem, you can easily connect your smartphone and use it as a webcam to get the highest quality of video and the perfect angle during virtual meetings and more.

Talking about AI features, you can access an AI-powered Photo Remaster tool that lets you upscale your old and low-quality images to high-quality ones with simple taps. Moreover, the Samsung Studio makes editing videos on your laptop and Galaxy mobile more accessible. It brings out the masterpiece you always envisioned.

Apart from this, Buds Auto Switch to switch from one device to another; Multi-control to manage projects across devices; switch to dual-monitor experience with Galaxy Book4 and Galaxy Tab; quick share to transfer files at blazing high speeds; and more. These are some of the long list of features the all-new Galaxy Book4 Pro, Galaxy Book4 Pro 360, and Galaxy Book4 360 offer, making it your most reliable companion.

Disclaimer: T&C’s applied.

Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro have been on sale in China since the end of October, and they are expected to be available in other global markets soon. Xiaomi has not announced anything regarding a global launch, but ahead of that, the vanilla model has reportedly appeared on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification website, indicating imminent launch in India. The Xiaomi 15 features a 6.36-inch 1.5K OLED display and a Leica-tuned triple rear camera setup led by a 50-megapixel primary sensor. It runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC and has an IP68 rated build.

As reported by 91Mobiles, the Xiaomi 15 has bagged certification from the BIS website with model number 24129PN74I. The “I” in the model number allegedly refers to the Indian variant. The screenshot of the listing shared by the publication suggests that the phone received the certification on Friday (November 22). It does not include any specifications.

The Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro debuted in China in October last year, and the India launch of the non-Pro model took place in March this year. Based on this, it is speculated that the Xiaomi 15 will break cover in March 2025 in India.

Xiaomi 15 Price, Specifications

The vanilla Xiaomi 15 is priced at CNY 4,499 (roughly Rs. 52,000) for the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant in China. The Indian variant is expected to come with the same price range and hardware as the China version.

Xiaomi 15 runs on HyperOS 2 interface based on Android 15 and features a 6.36-inch 8T LTPO display with a 1.5K resolution (1,200×2,670 pixels) with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 3,200nit peak brightness. It runs on Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 onboard storage. It has a Leica-branded triple rear camera unit that includes a 50-megapixel Light Fusion 900 sensor, a 50-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle shooter. For selfies and video chats, it has a 32-megapixel front camera.

The Xiaomi 15 has an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and supports a face unlock feature. It is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. It houses a 5,400mAh battery with support for 90W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging.

Google Chrome may be getting a new search feature that works similarly to ‘Circle to Search’ – the visual lookup tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) which Google introduced in January, according to a report. The feature is said to be integrated into Google Lens and can be accessed via a beta version of Google Chrome on desktops and Chromebooks. Notably, Circle to Search was also recently introduced on iOS devices via a shortcut.

Google Lens’ Drag to Search

According to a report by 9to5Google, Google has introduced a new functionality, dubbed ‘drag to search’ on Chrome 127 and 128 beta versions for desktops and Chromebooks. It appears in the form of a Google Lens icon alongside the bookmarks option in the address bar.

Visual Lookup in Google Lens on Chrome for Desktop

To activate this feature, users can simply click on the icon and a new window appears, stating that users can “search anything on this page with Google Lens”. Subsequently, a custom selection window pops up which can be dragged to search for anything on the web page. The feature’s user interface (UI) is similar to the one on the Android platform, with a shimmering appearance on the borders of the selection window.

According to Google, when a user accesses Google Lens’ new functionality, a screenshot of that page is sent to the company. Gadgets 360 staff members were able to verify the new drag-to-search functionality in Google Chrome 128 beta on Windows. Since it is only available in a beta version of the web browser, the feature is experimental.

This feature was first reportedly leaked by X (formerly Twitter) user @Leopeva64 via a series of posts in May. At the time, the user speculated to be an AI-powered lookup feature similar to Circle to Search and could improve upon the existing functionality of Google Lens.

Other New Features in Chrome

In recent months, Google has been said to be developing several new features for its web browser. A report suggested that Google Chrome on Android could soon read aloud web pages in the background, via a feature dubbed ‘Listen to this Page’. The web browser also added new actions and more features on both Android and iOS platforms in a bid to provide an improved search experience to users.