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Highlights: Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel Slate and Home Hub launched
Google hosted its annual ‘Made by Google’ event today where the company announced its latest hardware.Google launched its next-generation Pixel smartphones - Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The new Pixel 3 smartphones come with incremental upgrades and improvements over the Pixel 2 series. Pixel 3 starts at $799, and it will go on sale first in the US. The smartphones will be available in 12 more markets including India from November 1.Google also announced its Amazon Echo Show competitor, Home Hub. Google Home Hub features a display accompanied with a fabric-wrapped speaker. Google also announced its Chrome OS-based tablet, Pixel Slate.Here are the highlights from Google’s event.
Wrap up
That's it from Google's product launch event. To recap, Google launched Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL smartphones, Pixel Slate and Home Hub.
Price, availability
Google Pixel 3 phones will be available in the US later this month at a starting price of $799 (Rs 60,000 approximately). The phone will be launched in India on November 1.
Duplex on mobile
Google will roll out its new Duplex-based Assistant on Pixel phones later this month. Duplex will take calls on your behalf and even make reseverations at restaraunts.
Augmented Reality
Google has launched AR-based Playmoji characters. “Playmoji characters react to each other and to you, including your facial expressions. They interact with you in selfie mode too,” says Google.
Night Slide
The new camera mode takes brighter, detailed and colourful shots in the dark. The feature will be available on the new Pixel 3 later this month. Night Slide will come to older Pixel phones as well.
Top shot
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL come with a Top shot camera feature that prevents blurry images. The camera identifies smiles to take the photo in HDR+ mode. It will also suggest users to take newer photo if the first photo wasn't good enough.
Camera
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL come with 12-megapixel camera with autofocus, dual pixel phase detection, OIS, EIS, f/1.8 aperture. On the front, it has dual 8-megapixel cameras (wide-angle and normal sensor). The camera also supports HDR+.
Pixel phones
Google officially launches Pixel phones - Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The two phones come with larger screens and higher screen-to-body ratio. Pixel 3 also comes front-facing speakers.
Pixel Slate price, availability
Google Pixel Slate will be available in select markets at a starting price of $599 (Rs 44,000 approximately).
More on Pixel Slate
Google's new ChromeOS-powered tablet comes with deeper Google Assistant integration. The launcher on the device uses machine learning algorithms to recommend applications. It also supports split screen mode. Google Pixel Slate comes with a full-size backlit keyboard (detachable) as well. The folio on the back is also adjustable.
Pixel Slate: Features
Google Pixel Slate comes with dual-front cameras. Google is bundling three months of YouTube TV with the new tablet. It comes with 8MP front and rear cameras along with AI-based Portrait Mode support. Google Pixel Slate supports Linux applications as well.
Pixel Slate
Google says ChromeOS comes with big improvements. It now loads much faster and supports more applications. Pixel Slate will come with the new ChromeOS out-of-the-box.
Price and availability
Google Home Hub will be available for pre-order from today in the US. The device is priced at $149 (Rs 11,000 approximately).
Hub
As the name implies, Google Home Hub acts as smart hub for all connected devices like thermostat and smart bulbs in the house. The device comes with a Home View, a dashboard that shows status of all the connected devices. A dedicated Home App allows users to control connected devices remotely. Google Home Hub also comes with Photos integration. Google says it uses Machine Learning algorithms to show only “best photos” on the Home Hub.
More on Google Home Hub
Google's Home Hub comes with a smarter voice assistant and recognises users' voice. The device provides in-depth information like weather, calendar updates, and traffic. Google says YouTube has been optimised for Home Hub and comes with a number of How To videos. Google is offering free six-month subscription of its YouTube premium service.
Smart home solution
Google says the number of queries made on Google Home smart speakers have grown exponentially in last one year. The new Google Home Hub comes with all major Google services like YouTube, Calendar and Maps. All of these apps can be controlled via voice commands. Google Home Hub does not have a camera. The device looks like a tablet with a stand.
Pixel 3, Pixel Slate are official
Google says it has put the best camera on its new Pixel 3 smartphone. Google also announced Pixel Slate and Google Home Hub.
Digital Well-being
Google's new Pixel phones come with Android Pie. The latest Android update comes with features focused on digital wellbeing, allowing users to control and personalise time spent on the devices. READ: Google Android Pie: Machine Learning to Digital Wellbeing, here are top features
Privacy, security
Rick Osterloh says Google is committed to protect users' privacy and security. Google has included Titan chip on the new mobile phones for improved disk protection and encryption.
AI + Software + Hardware
Google says the big changes will come through a combined effort in Artificial Intelligence, software and hardware.
Pixel to get Gmail’s Smart Compose
Rick Osterloh announced that Gmail's new Smart Compose will come to mobile phones. Pixel phones will be the first devices to receive the new feature. ALSO READ: How to activate, use Gmail's new smart compose feature
Google turns 20
Rick Osterloh, head of Google's hardware division, takes the stage. He points out Google's efforts to improve user experience with speech recognition, voice and search.
Event begins
Google's hardware-focused event kicks off. As expected, Google is focusing on its software and Google Assistant as the key features of its new devices.
Last minute leaks
Ahead of the official launch, Google Pixel 3 has been spotted on Verizon's website. According to the listing, Google Pixel 3 64GB model will be priced at $799 (Rs 60,000 approximately). The new Chromecast was also spotted at an e-commerce website in the UK. The new streaming device was listed with a price tag of £29.99 (Rs 2,900 approximately).
Livestream
The livestream link for Pixel 3 launch is live. You can watch the live stream on Google's official YouTube channel.
Made by Google
Up and at 'em, #madebygoogle. We'll be live from New York right here at 11 a.m. ET. pic.twitter.com/46HiD0dOjD
— Google (@Google) October 9, 2018
Pixel-series isn't Google's first hardware. Before its “Made by Google” phones, the company sold phones under Nexus-series. The main difference is that Google has full control on Pixel phones in terms of hardware and software.
Google Home Hub
Google is expected to add a new product to its smart speaker lineup. Dubbed ‘Home Hub', this smart speaker features a display similar to the Amazon Echo Show and the newly launched Facebook Portal. Like the Google Home speakers, the Home Hub will also come with Assistant and the ability to control other smart home devices.
Dual OS Tablet
Google's ChromeOS-based Pixel Slate is said to come with dual OS mode. This essentially means the tablet will be able to run two operating systems. The second OS on the device will be Windows 10. Dual OS PCs are not a new concept. However, such devices haven't done well commercially.
New Chromecast
Google is also expected to launch a new Chromecast at its event. The third-generation Google Chromecast is said to come with improved connectivity features, including Bluetooth support. The media streaming dongle will also come with a new look with matte-black finish. According to reports, Google Chromecast 3 will launch at the same price as Google Chromecast second generation.
Looking back at Pixel 2
Google last year launched Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. The second-gen Pixel phones came with new design along with improved software. In terms of specifications, Google Pixel 2 comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and 12.3-megapixel camera. Pixel 2 XL is said to be one of the best camera phones in the world. The new Pixel 3 will be competing with Apple iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
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