Week-in-Review // October 13

Google unveils its new flagship phone, Facebook is the champion of bad timing yet again and Apple is expanding its AR and chipmaking ambitions in Europe.

Here's your weekly roundup of the top stories from the tech world:

1. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL up close and hands-on

Google released a slew of new products this week at a major hardware event in New York City, but the company's new flagship phone was the undeniable star of the show. The Pixel 3 and 3XL come packed with a number of new AI features, like Google Lens and Duplex. With a starting price of $799, the Pixel 3 is a downright deal.

2. Facebook, are you kidding? 

Facebook is trying its hand at hardware and this week the company announced it's releasing Portal, a voice-enabled smart display with a focus on video chatting. But let's be honest, after a recent data breach, people are looking for ways to use Facebook less, not more.

3. Apple makes a pair of European acquisitions 

On Wednesday, Apple inked a $600 million cash deal to acquire the IP, talent and licenses of U.K.-based chipmaker Dialog Semiconductor. This is Apple's biggest deal by far in terms of talent acquisition and will see 300 Dialog employees joining Apple's staff.

Apple also closed a $60 million deal to acquire Spektral, a Danish computer vision startup that will be key in further developing Apple's AR tech.

4. Why missing Saudi journalist's Apple Watch is an interesting, but unlikely lead 

A manhunt has been underway all week in Turkey after Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish authorities have been searching for Khashoggi's Apple Watch to gain a better understanding of his movements, but a small technicality likely makes these efforts futile.

5. Looking back at Google+ 

While the business version of Google+ lives on, the social platform is dead for consumers after the company found (and covered up) a hack that exposed almost half a million users' data. But things weren't always like this and Google+ was once heralded as a serious contender to Facebook. TechCrunch's Sarah Perez looks back at the seven-year history of Google+.

6. Boston Dynamics' Robots are evolving 

At this point, we’ve gone from “Haha, neat, look at the funny robot running like a human,” to “I’m pretty sure that robot could beat me up.”

7. The next big restaurant chain may not own any kitchen 

Investors are pouring millions into the creation of a network of shared kitchens, storage facilities and pickup counters that could help the food delivery market grow from a $35 billion to a $365 billion industry by 2030.