# A Summary of the Most Notable Google/Android News This Week
Welcome to **Android Central’s Weekly News**, your primary destination for a succinct summary of the most important tech headlines of the week. This week has been brimming with thrilling advancements in the Google/Android sphere, ranging from exciting hardware releases to fresh software upgrades and even some unforeseen service interruptions. Here’s a recap of the key stories that captured attention.
## 1. **Oura Ring 4 Takes the Lead**
The Finnish firm Oura has unveiled its newest wearable device, the **Oura Ring 4**, a smart ring that enhances the achievements of its earlier model, the Oura Ring Gen 3. While the updated version maintains a similar design, it comes with a variety of enhancements beneath the surface:
– **All-titanium construction**: This makes the ring more resilient and lighter.
– **Enhanced sensors**: These offer more precise health and activity tracking, including heart rate monitoring for up to 40 different endeavors.
– **Smart Sensing feature**: This improves the automatic detection of activities and monitoring of stress.
– **Battery longevity**: The ring can operate for up to eight days on a single charge.
– **Revised app interface**: The Oura app has been revamped with a new look, easier navigation, and a timeline feature for a quick view of your day.
The Oura Ring 4 is available for pre-order starting at $349, with shipments expected to begin on October 15.
## 2. **One UI 7 Delayed Longer Than Anticipated**
Samsung users will need to wait a little longer for the **One UI 7** update. At the **Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) 2024**, the company disclosed that the update would be launched alongside the **Galaxy S25 series**, anticipated in early 2025. This is a significant delay compared to previous years when Samsung rolled out major Android updates by year’s end.
Nonetheless, Samsung did hint at some new features coming with One UI 7, such as:
– **Distinction between the notification shade and quick settings panel**: Depending on where you swipe down on the phone, different features will be accessed.
– **Enhanced one-handed operation**: The search feature in the app drawer will be relocated to the bottom of the screen for easier reach.
Although the stable release is postponed, Samsung confirmed that the **beta version** of One UI 7 will be accessible before the end of the year.
## 3. **Android 16 “Baklava”**
Despite the fact that **Android 15** hasn’t been fully deployed yet, whispers about **Android 16**, codenamed “Baklava,” are already circulating. According to **Android Authority**, Google might be making a bold move by returning to the start of the alphabet with this dessert-themed identifier.
There are also speculations that Android 16 could debut as early as **Q2 of 2025**, which would be sooner than typical for a major Android launch. This might align with **Google I/O 2025**, but it’s still too early to confirm.
## 4. **A Significant Verizon Outage**
This week, **Verizon** faced a widespread network outage that rendered many users on the East Coast without cell service for almost an entire day. The disruption, occurring in the aftermath of **Hurricane Helene**, commenced around 10 a.m. ET and wasn’t fully resolved until after 7 p.m. the same evening.
The timing of this outage was particularly unfortunate, as many individuals depended on their phones to reach emergency services or their loved ones. Luckily, some users were able to utilize “disaster roaming” and satellite communication features on their devices.
## 5. **New Chromebooks and Enhancements to ChromeOS**
Google introduced two fresh Chromebooks this week, alongside a series of intriguing updates to **ChromeOS**:
– **Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11**: This detachable Chromebook features an 11-inch 2K screen, a MediaTek Kompanio 838 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. It will launch this month starting at $349.
– **Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus**: Equipped with an Intel Core 3 100U processor, this premium Chromebook has a 15.6-inch OLED display and 256GB of storage. It is the first Chromebook to incorporate Google’s new **Quick Insert Key**, which enables quick access to tools like **Help Me Write**. The Galaxy Chromebook Plus will hit the market in October for $799.
In addition to the new devices, Google announced several new features for ChromeOS, including:
– **Chat with Gemini**: A new button on the screen that allows users to engage with Google’s AI.
– **Welcome Recap**: This feature provides suggestions based on your previous session.
– **Focus Mode**: A newly designed feature aimed at helping users maintain productivity.
