Pixel 8 Pro Gets ‘Pro’ Camera Controls & More; Pixel Watch 2; Netflix to Raise Prices-Again; Spotify Giving Premium Subscribers Free Audiobooks

Google has rolled out the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The new flagship phone gets an overhaul of the Google Camera app, bringing what Google claims are DSLR-like ‘Pro’ controls for settings like focus, shutter speed, and ISO, in addition to ‘Video Boost’  and night Sight Video capabilities. The Pixel phones already had some of the best still photo abilities of any smartphones. 9to5google.com reports that the new 8 Pro benefits from Google’s machine learning expertise. In addition to the pro controls, the Magic eraser can now run directly on the phone, and there’s a new ‘Zoom Enhance’ feature coming in a few months. You can preorder the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro today. The Pro starts at $999. The Pixel 8 Starts at $699.99. Both phones ship October 12th. 

The Pixel Watch was a bit underwhelming, and now Google has rolled out the Pixel 2 with some nice refinements. According to engadget.com, the latest iteration of the watch has better health and fitness tracking, significantly longer battery life, and better integration with Google services. Google has crowed that the case is made of 100% recycled aluminum, for a greener product. As rumored, there is also a new skin temperature sensor which can be used to measure your stress levels. The Pixel Watch 2 is available for preorder now starting at $349 for Wi-Fi only…more if you add LTE cellular. It ships next week. 

Netflix is going to raise prices…again! Theverge.com says the price hike will come in the next few months….or maybe even weeks after the SAG-AFTRA strike ends. The hit to the wallet will come to the US and Canada first. Netflix just raised prices across the board last year, and also cracked down on password sharing earlier this year. 

Spotify is getting serious about audiobooks. Premium subscribers can now enjoy 15 hours of listening a month with access to over 150,000 audiobooks. Mashable.com reports that the feature is also available for plan managers of Family and Duo accounts. The rollout of the feature has happened in the UK and Australia, and the US will get them in the coming months. Books can be accessed through the Premium catalog, which Spotify ays includes ‘upwards of 70% of best-selling books.’

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.