Google announced a few new pieces of hardware and some software at a media event today. Here’s the highlights:
Google Assistant: Google released details of its artificial intelligence platform, called Google Assistant, which the company says is like “your own personal Google.” The assistant can perform normal tasks like playing music, performing search queries, and providing navigation directions, as well as carrying on a normal conversation with the user. The company showed this by providing an example of a user asking for directions, then inquiring about restaurants at the destination’s end, and finally setting a reservation at one. Developers should note that an SDK is coming as well.
Pixel and Pixel XL: Pixel is the company’s new handset is the first official device with its machine learning AI built directly into it. The 12.3 megapixel camera has a f/2.0 aperture and includes features like “Smartburst,” which intelligently selects the best image from a burst of images, while HDR+ lets the smartphone shoot images in bright and low light situations. Unlike other smartphones, Pixel keeps HDR+ on by default, with “zero shutter lag”. There will be two versions: a 5-inch ‘Pixel’ and 5.5-inch ‘Pixel XL.’ They each feature Snapdragon 821 processors and 4GB RAM, a 2770mAh battery for the Pixel and a 3450mAh battery for the Pixel XL, and screen resolutions of 1080×1920 and 1440×2560, respectively. There’s also a fingerprint sensor, hi-definition AMOLED Display, and all of the smartphone’s components are covered by a combination aluminum unibody and polished glass encasement. Pixel includes “quick charging” that can get users up to 7 hours of battery life in only 15 minutes. A transfer tool will make it easy to transfer from iOS, as well. For those interested, Pixel will be available in 32GB and 128GB. For those Canadians out there, Telus let me know that Pixel and Pixel XL are now available for pre-order at Telus. Both devices will be available for purchase in-store and online at telus.com on October 20. Telus customers who pre-order the new Google Pixel or Pixel XL, will also receive a $100 Google Play credit. Also Koodo Customers can pre-order these phones here.
Daydream VR Headset: Daydream is Google’s entry into VR which it has crafted with a focus on comfortability and affordability thanks to its support of Pixel. Over fifty companies have partenered with Google and will bring VR experiences by the end of the year, including video games, video streaming apps like Hulu and Netflix, and even journalism publications.
Google Home: Next up is Google Home, which continues the company’s focus on Google Assistant in its hardware categories. The assistant will be able to infer the context of a user’s speech patterns when using Google Home, like asking the device to “play that Shakira song from Zootopia.” The AI then leverages Google’s search index knowledge to play the correct song from a user’s preferred music service, including Spotify, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, YouTube Music, and more.
Google WiFi: The company also announced Google WiFi, which will bring support for the expansion of network throughput in a home with a modular system that users can place in each room that needs a signal boost.
Chromecase Ultra: Finally for entertainment fans, there’s Chromecast Ultra, which supports streaming of up to 4K video content. The streaming device is also 1.8 times faster than the previous Chromecast, includes Ethernet support, and will be available in November.
Is there anything from Google’s announcement that has you excited?
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This entry was posted on October 4, 2016 at 7:33 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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So…. What Did Google Announce Today?
Google announced a few new pieces of hardware and some software at a media event today. Here’s the highlights:
Google Assistant: Google released details of its artificial intelligence platform, called Google Assistant, which the company says is like “your own personal Google.” The assistant can perform normal tasks like playing music, performing search queries, and providing navigation directions, as well as carrying on a normal conversation with the user. The company showed this by providing an example of a user asking for directions, then inquiring about restaurants at the destination’s end, and finally setting a reservation at one. Developers should note that an SDK is coming as well.
Pixel and Pixel XL: Pixel is the company’s new handset is the first official device with its machine learning AI built directly into it. The 12.3 megapixel camera has a f/2.0 aperture and includes features like “Smartburst,” which intelligently selects the best image from a burst of images, while HDR+ lets the smartphone shoot images in bright and low light situations. Unlike other smartphones, Pixel keeps HDR+ on by default, with “zero shutter lag”. There will be two versions: a 5-inch ‘Pixel’ and 5.5-inch ‘Pixel XL.’ They each feature Snapdragon 821 processors and 4GB RAM, a 2770mAh battery for the Pixel and a 3450mAh battery for the Pixel XL, and screen resolutions of 1080×1920 and 1440×2560, respectively. There’s also a fingerprint sensor, hi-definition AMOLED Display, and all of the smartphone’s components are covered by a combination aluminum unibody and polished glass encasement. Pixel includes “quick charging” that can get users up to 7 hours of battery life in only 15 minutes. A transfer tool will make it easy to transfer from iOS, as well. For those interested, Pixel will be available in 32GB and 128GB. For those Canadians out there, Telus let me know that Pixel and Pixel XL are now available for pre-order at Telus. Both devices will be available for purchase in-store and online at telus.com on October 20. Telus customers who pre-order the new Google Pixel or Pixel XL, will also receive a $100 Google Play credit. Also Koodo Customers can pre-order these phones here.
Daydream VR Headset: Daydream is Google’s entry into VR which it has crafted with a focus on comfortability and affordability thanks to its support of Pixel. Over fifty companies have partenered with Google and will bring VR experiences by the end of the year, including video games, video streaming apps like Hulu and Netflix, and even journalism publications.
Google Home: Next up is Google Home, which continues the company’s focus on Google Assistant in its hardware categories. The assistant will be able to infer the context of a user’s speech patterns when using Google Home, like asking the device to “play that Shakira song from Zootopia.” The AI then leverages Google’s search index knowledge to play the correct song from a user’s preferred music service, including Spotify, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, YouTube Music, and more.
Google WiFi: The company also announced Google WiFi, which will bring support for the expansion of network throughput in a home with a modular system that users can place in each room that needs a signal boost.
Chromecase Ultra: Finally for entertainment fans, there’s Chromecast Ultra, which supports streaming of up to 4K video content. The streaming device is also 1.8 times faster than the previous Chromecast, includes Ethernet support, and will be available in November.
Is there anything from Google’s announcement that has you excited?
Share this:
Like this:
Related
This entry was posted on October 4, 2016 at 7:33 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.