MANILA, Philippines – Google has announced a new Pixel phone lineup, as well as some other gadgets and advancements as part of its October event, which you can watch above.
Aside from watching the livestream above, check out the event’s announcements, which you can read at a glance, below!
The opening
Google’s Mike Osterloh opens the event by discussing that Google’s breakthroughs intersect AI, software, and hardware.
Osterloh explained Google’s investment in AI “is an opportunity to go forward in many areas at once. The big breakthroughs you’ll see are not in hardware alone.”
Without giving numbers, Osterloh added that Google Home’s daily active users have grown 5 times year over year.
The big reveal
Osterloh introduces the Pixel 3 smartphone, the Pixel Slate, and the Google Home Hub.
After talking about a “shared vision” between Google and Nest, Diya Jolly comes onstage to discuss the smart home.
Google Home Hub
The Google Home Hub looks to be a combined tablet, microphone, and speaker setup which uses AI to act as a personal assistant and smart home devicecontroller.
The device has no camera, which directly fires a privacy-based shot against Facebook’s own Portal device.
It features Ambient EQ, which analyzes the ambient light and adjusts the color and display brightness accordingly.
The Google Home Hub has a dashboard that, with one downward swipe enables Home View – allowing users to check the status of their smart home devices. There’s also the Home App, which allows control using your smartphone remotely.
Hub is integrated with Nest devices, such as Nest’s thermostat or smart doorbell. It’s also connected to Google Photos and YouTube, among other Google properties.
The Home Hub is priced at $149, with purchases to come with 6 months of YouTube Premium.
Google’s Pixel Slate
A Chrome OS experience meant to be held in your hands, but also provides a desktop experience, according to Google.
Uses a custom LCD display called LTPS, or Low Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon.
It also has front and rear cameras that take advantage of machine learning and portrait mode for great photos.
The Pixel Slate starts at $599, the Pixel Slate Keyboard comes in at $199, and the Pixelbook Pen will cost $99.
Those who buy a Pixel Slate or Chromebook gets 3 months of YouTube TV free.
The Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, and the Pixel Stand
The new Pixels come in a 5.5-inch Pixel 3 model and the 6.3-inch Pixel 3XL.The phones come in Black, White, and Not-Pink (which looks pink, really).
It also has an edge-to-edge flexible OLED display., and front-facing speakers that boast 40% more volume. You can expect louder audio and more screen real-estate.
It has one 12.2-megapixel rear camera, but sports dual front cameras. Google’s Pixel Visual Core chip helps you get the best photos, and they have a feature called Top Shot. Top Shot lets you slide across alternate shots in HDR+ to pick the best photo.
Additional camera features include the Super Res Zoom. Night Sight, and Group Selfie Shot (which is why they have a second camera – it takes a wider shot at 184% more of the scene compared to the iPhone XS).
Google also introduced the Pixel Stand – a best-in-class Pixel 3 wireless charger. The Pixel 3’s UI adjusts when it’s docked, and can act a bit like the Google Home by allowing for voice-activated Google Assistant use.
The Pixel 3 starts at $799 and comes out first on Verizon on October 18. The Pixel Stand, meanwhile is $79. – Rappler.com
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