Google’s next-generation Pixel devices could arrive in a little over a month, according to prolific (and often accurate) leak source Evan Blass[1]. The Pixel 2 (or whatever they end up being called) will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 mobile system-on-a-chip, Blass claims, and based on previous rumors, these devices look like a solid follow-up to Google’s debut premium Pixel phones.
There will reportedly be both a standard Pixel and an XL version, just liek there were last year, with thinner bezels up front surrounding a screen with a narrower 2:1 aspect ratio, like the one found on the new Samsung Galaxy S8 and the LG G6. The 6-inch AMOLED display on the larger XL model will be provided by LG, per reports, and the smaller device will be more of an entry-level offering when compared to last year, where they were basically indistinguishable save for their size.
That smaller Pixel gen 2 device will have thicker bezels than its larger sibling, and a 4.97-inch 1080p display, per reports. One notable change could be front-facing speakers, which would improve sound quality. It’ll also reportedly have ‘squeezable’ sides, which will activate Google Assistant when pressed.
Other rumored tech specs include a report that it’lll have 4GB of RAM on board, and that internal storage might get a boost to 64GB. The camera will get some upgrades, potentially due largely to software, and another rumor suggests it might drop the headphone port which it actually highlighted as a feature differentiator vs. the iPhone last time around.
Google revealed last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL at an event on October 4, so it’s very likely the October 5 date is spot on. With the Galaxy S8, the Note 8 and the...
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Welcome to this week’s Market Wrap Podcast, I’m Mike Gleason.
Coming up later in today’s program we’ve got a fantastic interview with MoneyMetals.com columnist Guy Christopher. Guy shares some helpful tips on how to talk to your family and friends about the importance of gold and silver, and offers up some of his other great insights as well. You won’t want to miss my interview with Guy Christopher, coming up after this week’s market update.
For the third week in a row, the gold market traded up near $1,300 an ounce. And for the third week in a row, sellers came in to defend that major resistance level.
Gold prices currently come in at $1,291, posting a weekly advance now of 0.3%. Silver also shows a small gain, up 0.5% this week to bring spot prices to $17.13 an ounce. Relatively quiet trading is taking place in both the platinum and palladium markets as well, with prices checking in at $984 and $935 an ounce, respectively.
Elsewhere in the metals universe, copper is on the move. On Thursday, copper prices surged above $3 a pound to a three year high. Base metals are benefiting from recovering industrial demand out of Asia and concerns about limited global supplies.
The mining industry nearly got obliterated by the bear market of 2011-2015. Whether it’s copper, nickel, gold, or silver, metals prices have only recently recovered enough to save more mines from closing. It will take much higher prices to actually bring new production online.
Meanwhile, political uncertainty could help drive safe-haven demand for precious metals and weigh on the stock market in the weeks ahead. President Donald Trump is growing frustrated with the uninspired and legislatively unproductive leadership of