Australia Moves Forward With Teen Social Media Ban as Platforms Begin Lockouts 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
Apple Leads Singles’ Day Smartphone Sales as iPhone 17 Demand Surges 
Apple Alerts EU Regulators That Apple Ads and Maps Meet DMA Gatekeeper Thresholds 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
Coupang Apologizes After Massive Data Breach Affecting 33.7 Million Users 
Norway’s Wealth Fund Backs Shareholder Push for Microsoft Human-Rights Risk Report 
Sam Altman Reportedly Explored Funding for Rocket Venture in Potential Challenge to SpaceX 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
OpenAI Moves to Acquire Neptune as It Expands AI Training Capabilities 
Baidu Cuts Jobs as AI Competition and Ad Revenue Slump Intensify 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
Microchip Technology Boosts Q3 Outlook on Strong Bookings Momentum 
Nexperia Urges China Division to Resume Chip Production as Supply Risks Mount 
Apple Appoints Amar Subramanya as New Vice President of AI Amid Push to Accelerate Innovation 
Firelight Launches as First XRP Staking Platform on Flare, Introduces DeFi Cover Feature 
Intel Boosts Malaysia Operations with Additional RM860 Million Investment 
As mentioned in various leaks in previous months, the Galaxy Tab S8 series was launched alongside the Galaxy S22 lineup at the Unpacked event on Wednesday. The new tablets are confirmed to run on One UI 4 based on Android 12, but Samsung told its customers that the new tablets are slated to support the upcoming Android 12L operating system.
Google officially unveiled the Android 12L in late 2021, noting that it is an extension of the Android 12 OS specifically designed for devices with larger screens like foldable phones and tablets. The software update is still in beta and has received its third and final beta version on Wednesday.
The release of the Android 12L beta 3 update this week is a good indication that Google is on track to release its full version within the first quarter of the year. That means its official launch is likely slated for March. And once Android 12L is released, Samsung says its fans can expect the update to be available to the Galaxy Tab S8 series as well.
“We are in constant conversation with our collaborators at Google and Android, and we’re committed to bringing Android 12L to our tablets in the future,” Samsung told 9To5Google. “Currently, we do not have a set timeline for when Android 12L will be available on these devices.”
Going by Samsung’s statement, it looks like the Android 12L is not just headed to the Galaxy Tab S8 series. People using older tablets from the company are likely to receive an update as well. The OS is designed to make it easier for developers to support their apps on devices with larger screens and improve compatibility. Google also wants users to maximize their devices' large screens by adding more features for multitasking.
Samsung confirmed the leaks and announced a new “Ultra” model in the Galaxy Tab S8 series. Like the usual standard model plus variant, the 14.6-inch tablet is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, supports S Pen, and has dual cameras (13MP + 6MP) on the back. Another unique feature of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is its display notch where users will find two 12MP sensors.
