Technology

What to expect from Google’s Pixel 9 event

Published

1 year ago

July 31, 2024

What to expect from Google’s Pixel 9 event

Google’s earlier-than-expected Pixel hardware event is just around the corner — it’s scheduled for Tuesday, August 13th. Thanks to the relentless flow of leaks that have emerged over the past few weeks, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Google has already confirmed that it’s launching the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but the company may have some other surprises in store, including the Buds Pro 2 and maybe even the Pixel Watch 3.

Here’s a roundup of everything we know so far.

Google Pixel 9 lineup adds a smaller Pro option

Alongside the Pixel 9, Google is expected to release the Pixel Pro in two sizes: a larger 6.8-inch model and a smaller 6.3-inch variant. It’ll be the first time the Pro features are available in two different sizes, with the telephoto camera previously being reserved only for the larger phone model.

As shown in the image shared by Google itself (and many, many leaks), the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro will also come with some design changes. Both the Pro and standard models are getting flatter edges and a rounded camera module that protrudes from the back of the device.

A leaked spec sheet from OnLeaks suggests that the Pixel 9 Pro models will come with an upgraded G4 Tensor chip and 16GB of RAM. The base Pixel 9, on the other hand, is expected to have the same chip with a 6.3-inch display and 12GB of RAM.

The cameras on both devices will likely get some upgrades as well, with the leaked spec sheet showing the Pixel 9 with a 10.5MP selfie camera, a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 48MP ultrawide lens. Meanwhile, the leak indicates that the Pixel 9 Pro will have a 42MP selfie camera and three cameras on the rear, including a 50MP main camera, 48MP ultrawide lens, and 48MP telephoto camera.

This leaked specs sheet reveals an ‘XL’ Pixel 9 Pro.

Image: OnLeaks via 91mobiles

Another report from Android Authority suggests Google may add an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor to the Pixel 9 lineup, which could hopefully improve some of the issues users have been having with the existing optical under-display sensor. The Pixel 9 is expected to come in obsidian, porcelain, rose, and green, while the Pro model is rumored to come in charcoal, porcelain, rose, and hazel.

The Pixel 9 Pro Fold gets taller and slimmer

Those three phones aren’t the only ones Google is planning to release this summer. It’s also getting ready to release its next-gen foldable, now called the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

This image of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes straight from Google.

Image: Google

When compared to last year’s device, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold appears to be taller and slimmer. That design change is also reflected in the squircle-shaped camera housing on the rear of the device, which now comes with two sets of cameras.

In terms of specs, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold is rumored to come with a 6.3-inch cover display and an 8-inch inner screen. That’s larger than the original Pixel Fold’s 5.8-inch outer display and 7.6-inch inner display. The leaked specs sheet indicates that the Pixel 9 Pro Fold will come with the same G4 Tensor chip as the other devices in the lineup, as well as 16GB of RAM.

It may also have a 10MP front-facing camera, with a 48MP main camera, a 10.5MP ultrawide lens, and a 10.8MP telephoto sensor on the back of the phone.

Google brings more AI to the Pixel

With Samsung and now Apple making an effort to bring AI to their phones, it’s no surprise to see Google doing the same. A set of leaked marketing materials from OnLeaks hints, among other features, at a new Pixel Screenshots feature that “helps you save info that you want to remember later — like events, places and more.”

Leaked marketing materials show a new ‘Pixel Screenshots’ feature.

Image: OnLeaks via 91mobiles

That tracks with a previous leak from Android Police, which suggests that the feature can “save and process helpful details” from your screenshots, letting you search through them. It sounds a bit like Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature but appears to only work on the screenshots you take manually, rather than scanning your entire device. The marketing materials also show an integration with Google’s AI chatbot Gemini, along with Circle to Search.

This feature appears to use AI to completely transform the background of a photo.

Image: OnLeaks via Android Headlines

A leaked Pixel 9 ad posted by Android Headlines (it has since been taken down) gave us a glimpse at a feature called “Add Me,” which appears to use AI to put someone in a photo when they weren’t originally there. It looks like Google is planning to update its Magic Editor tool, too, allowing you to replace the background of an image based on a prompt.

The Pixel Buds Pro 2 brings back the wing tip

It’s already been two years since the launch of the original Pixel Buds Pro 2, and now it looks like Google is planning to give them a refresh. Leaked images from OnLeaks show the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with a small wing tip that sticks out from the side of each bud — sort of like a smaller version of the “stabilizer arc” on the original Pixel Buds.

Other small changes include larger grills that match the colors of the bud, as well as a charging case that appears to come with a small speaker (maybe to emit a noise when using Google’s Find My feature?). The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are expected to come in gray, white, green, and pink.

What appears to be the Pixel Buds Pro 2 in a mint green.

Image: OnLeaks via Android Headlines

We may have a good idea of what the Pixel Buds Pro 2 will look like, but we don’t know much about the specs. A regulatory listing spotted earlier this year suggests the case may come with a larger 650mAh battery. Other than that, we can likely expect the Pixel Buds Pro 2 to feature the same active noise cancellation and multipoint features as their predecessor.

A Pixel Watch 3 with two sizes and bigger screens

So far, we’ve only seen renders of the Pixel Watch 3 that show a device with a slightly chunkier design. Unlike its predecessor, the Pixel Watch 3 is expected to come in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. The 41mm version is rumored to come with a 10 percent larger screen than its similarly sized predecessor, thanks to thinner bezels.

A render of what looks like the 45mm Pixel Watch 3.

Image: OnLeaks via Android Headlines

Recent leaks also suggest both Pixel Watch 3 models will get a brighter 2,000-nit display and an ultra wideband chip that could make location tracking more accurate. The 41mm watch is also rumored to come with a slightly bigger 310mAh battery and 20 percent faster charging than the Pixel Watch 2.

Both sizes could offer up to 24 hours of battery life with always-on display enabled or up to 36 hours with a new Battery Saver mode, according to leaked marketing materials shared by Android Headlines. The materials also hint at support for offline Google Maps, new camera controls when connecting to a Pixel phone, and the ability to view your Nest Cam and Nest Doorbell’s live feeds from your watch.

It looks like the Pixel Watch 3 could come with a new “Battery Saver” mode.

Image: Android Headlines

Unfortunately, you may not be able to use your current Pixel Watch 2 bands with the larger 45mm device. A report suggests that the 45mm version has an “altered” band connection that could make it incompatible with smaller bands. The 45mm Pixel Watch 3 may not get as many band options as the 41mm version, either, according to Android Headlines.

Anything else?

It may seem like we already know all we know about Google’s upcoming hardware event, but the company may still surprise us. For one, there’s a possibility that we may get a look at the new “Google TV Streamer,” which 9to5Google published leaked images of in July. It looks way different than the Chromecast, but we still don’t have any details on specs.

That’s all we know for now, but there’s still time between now and Google’s August 13th event, which means there’s still a chance for more leaks.

Technology

Microsoft’s first Windows 11 update of 2026 stopped some computers from shutting down

Published

2 hours ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

Microsoft’s first Windows 11 update of 2026 stopped some computers from shutting down

Microsoft has identified issues upon installing the January 2026 Windows security update. To address these issues, an out-of-band (OOB) update was released today, January 17, 2026.

– Connection and authentication failures in remote connection applications: This issue affects multiple platforms including Windows 11, version 25H2; Windows 10, version 22H2 ESU; and Windows Server 2025. See the bottom of this message for the complete list of affected products.

-Devices with Secure Launch might fail to shut down or hibernate: This issue only affects Windows 11, version 23H2.

Technology

Fiber broadband giant investigates breach affecting 1M users

Published

3 hours ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

Fiber broadband giant investigates breach affecting 1M users

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Brightspeed, one of the largest fiber broadband providers in the United States, is investigating claims that hackers stole sensitive data tied to more than 1 million customers.

The allegations surfaced when a group calling itself the Crimson Collective posted messages on Telegram warning Brightspeed employees to check their email. The group claims it has access to over 1 million residential customer records and threatened to release sample data if the company does not respond.

At this point, Brightspeed has not confirmed a breach. However, the company says it is actively investigating what it calls a potential cybersecurity event.

DATA BREACH EXPOSES 400,000 BANK CUSTOMERS’ INFO

Fiber networks carry massive amounts of personal data, which makes internet providers attractive targets for extortion groups. (Philip Dulian/picture alliance via Getty Images)

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What the hackers say they stole

According to Crimson Collective, the stolen data includes a wide range of personally identifiable information. The group claims it has access to:

Customer names, email addresses and phone numbers
Home and billing addresses
User account details linked to session or user IDs
Payment history and partial payment card information
Appointment and order records tied to customer accounts

If accurate, that combination of data could create serious identity theft and fraud risks for affected customers.

Brightspeed responds to the allegations

Brightspeed says it takes the situation seriously, even as it continues to verify the claims.

In a statement shared with BleepingComputer, the company said it is rigorously monitoring threats and working to understand what happened. Brightspeed added that it will keep customers, employees and authorities informed as more details become available.

So far, there has been no public notice on Brightspeed’s website or social media channels confirming customer data exposure.

Who Brightspeed is and why this matters

Brightspeed is a U.S. telecommunications and internet service provider founded in 2022 after Apollo Global Management acquired local exchange assets from Lumen Technologies.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company serves rural and suburban communities across 20 states. It has rapidly expanded its fiber footprint, passing more than 2 million homes and businesses and aiming to reach over 5 million locations.

Because Brightspeed focuses on underserved areas, many customers rely on it as their primary internet provider. That makes any potential breach especially concerning.

A closer look at Crimson Collective

Crimson Collective is not new to high-profile targets. In October, the group breached a GitLab instance tied to Red Hat, stealing hundreds of gigabytes of internal development data.

That incident later rippled outward. In December, Nissan confirmed that personal data for about 21,000 Japanese customers was exposed through the same breach.

More recently, researchers say Crimson Collective has targeted cloud environments, including Amazon Web Services, by abusing exposed credentials and creating rogue access accounts to escalate privileges.

In other words, the group has a track record that makes its claims hard to ignore.

What this could mean for customers

Even though Brightspeed has not confirmed a breach, the claims alone are enough to raise red flags. If customer data was accessed, it could be used for phishing scams, account takeovers or payment fraud.

Cybercriminals often move fast after breaches. That means customers should stay alert even before an official notice appears.

CyberGuy reached out to Brightspeed for comment, and a spokesperson told us,

“We take the security of our networks and protection of our customers’ and employees’ information seriously and are rigorous in securing our networks and monitoring threats. We are currently investigating reports of a cybersecurity event. As we learn more, we will keep our customers, employees, stakeholders and authorities informed.”

JANUARY SCAMS SURGE: WHY FRAUD SPIKES AT THE START OF THE YEAR

How to protect your personal data and online accounts

Even if this Brightspeed investigation does not end up impacting your account, these steps are worth following. Most data breaches lead to the same downstream risks, like phishing scams, account takeovers and identity theft. Building these habits now can help protect you across all your online accounts.

Cybercriminals often use public posts and countdowns to pressure companies into responding quickly. (Sebastian Kahnert/picture alliance via Getty Images)

1) Watch for phishing attempts

Scammers often take advantage of breach headlines to create panic. Be cautious with emails, calls or texts that mention your internet account billing problems or service changes. If a message pushes urgency or pressure, pause before responding.

2) Avoid suspicious links and attachments

Do not click links or open attachments tied to account notices or payment issues. Instead, open a new browser window and go directly to the company’s official website or app. Strong antivirus software adds another layer of protection against malicious downloads.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

3) Update your account passwords

Change your Brightspeed account password and review passwords on other important accounts. Use strong, unique passwords that you do not reuse elsewhere. A trusted password manager can generate and store complex passwords, which makes account takeovers much harder.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com/Passwords) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com

4) Reduce your data footprint

Personal data spreads quietly across data broker sites. Using a data removal service can help limit how much of your information is publicly available. Less exposed data means fewer opportunities for scammers to target you.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

5) Turn on account alerts

Brightspeed lets customers turn on account and billing alerts through the My Brightspeed site or app. You can choose which notifications you receive by email or text. Alerts can help you catch unusual activity early and respond before more damage occurs.

6) Monitor your financial accounts closely

Check bank and credit card statements often. Look for small or unfamiliar charges since criminals sometimes test stolen data with low-dollar transactions before attempting larger fraud.

7) Consider fraud alerts or a credit freeze

If sensitive information may have been exposed, placing a fraud alert or credit freeze can add protection. These steps make it harder for criminals to open new accounts in your name. To learn more about how to do this, go to Cyberguy.com and search “How to freeze your credit.”

You may also want to consider an identity theft protection service that monitors for suspicious activity and sends alerts. Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number (SSN), phone number, and email address, and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com

When personal and billing information is exposed, the risk extends beyond one company to everyday customers. (Pixelfit/Getty Images)

Kurt’s key takeaways

Brightspeed’s investigation is still unfolding, and the company says it will share updates as it learns more. Until then, the claims highlight how valuable customer data has become and how aggressively extortion groups are targeting infrastructure providers. For customers, caution is the best defense. For companies, transparency and speed will matter if these claims turn out to be real.

Do you feel companies are doing enough to keep your personal data safe? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

The Setapp Mobile iOS store is shutting down on February 16th

Published

14 hours ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

The Setapp Mobile iOS store is shutting down on February 16th

Setapp Mobile was a bold, breakthrough project that aimed to provide EU iOS users with access to alternative app marketplaces – creating a new app ecosystem where both developers and users could thrive. We are proud of what we have accomplished with it over the past two years and still believe passionately in this vision.

As a result of still-evolving commercial conditions, we have determined that it is not viable to continue development or support for Setapp Mobile within Setapp’s current business model.

While we are disappointed to discontinue Setapp Mobile, we are looking forward to pursuing the development of other innovations. We are excited to focus efforts on various projects that will launch later this year. This includes Eney, a first-of-its-kind AI assistant native to macOS, and new enhancements to Setapp Desktop.