After much speculation, leaks and conspiracy theories, Google took the stage of its special event today to present its hardware news later this year. In the end, we didn't have many, which doesn't mean that the ads are no longer interesting.
Let's take a look at them.
Pixel 3
The new generation of smartphones from Google is exactly what the leaks showed, which is causing some people to wrinkle their noses especially with respect to the Pixel 3 XL, which has a gigantic cutout at the top of the screen and a pretty chin underneath.
Even so, the basic design of the handsets remains the same as their predecessors, with rounded edges, colored buttons and two finishes on the back. The difference now is that the rear part is all glass to allow the wireless charging feature to be the “matte” part you see in the lower rear portion is nothing more than a different, blasted treatment of the material. The aluminum is only relegated to the side, even.
Flexible OLED displays are 5.5 inches (without cropping) on ​​Pixel 3 and 6.3 inches (with cropping) on ​​Pixel 3 XL, and it should be noted that DisplayMate has already declared the larger model panel as the best display screen. smartphone available on the market, taking off the crown of the iPhone XS Max a few weeks after its release. The speakers are narrow and, according to Google, also the best and most powerful ever released on a mobile device. We'll have to prove it, of course.
In terms of camera, Google has the difficult task of overcoming its work with Pixel 2, widely regarded as the best photographer of the previous generation of smartphones. If they succeeded, we will have to wait and see, but the news is pretty cool: the company beats firmly in its decision to keep only a rear (12 megapixel) camera on the devices, bringing innovations primarily in the software. The best part that they all “live” on a new special chip created by Google called Visual Core ie the device does not need to resort to cloud to bring the new features; Everything happens in your internal processing.
We have here, for example, a feature called Top Shot It captures multiple photos in sequence with HDR + enabled and suggests the best one for you, not something optional, but rather standard device behavior. O Super Res Zoom It uses artificial intelligence to capture your natural hand movement and thereby create a pixel map around your image that allows you to build a more defined digitally zoomed photo. O Night Sight It's another breakthrough in Google's nighttime photo technology, which says that in most situations flash won't even be needed.
If on the back we have only one camera, on the front there are only two, one brings a wide-angle lens so you can fit more friends in that one. selfie of group. Oh, and of course we have fine-tuned augmented reality features, whether it's on the back camera or the front: a new app called Google Playground features franchise, cartoon and celebrity-based characters to interact with them on your mobile screen.
Other specs don't even sigh, but they're in line with what we've seen in the Android world: we have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage (no microSD slot) and 2,915mAh batteries (Pixel 3) and 3,450mAh (XL). Oh, no headphone jack.
In terms of software, here we have Android 9.0 “Pie” with all its new features and look. Some news was presented today as exclusive of the new Pixel smartphones; the way Call Screenfor example, is the first practical application of Duplex technology and allows Google Assistant to answer a call for you, interact with the person on the other end of the line, and transcribe what they are saying so that you decide to answer or dismiss the call. Amazing!
The new Pixel is now available for pre-sale in the US and select countries; they cost from $ 800 (Pixel 3) and $ 900 (XL) and come in three colors: Just Black (black), Clearly White (White and Not Pink (a very discreet kind of rose). Official availability starts on the 18th next.
Pixel Stand
At a glance, this little accessory can be taken as a simple wireless charger, but Pixel Stand more than that when resting your Pixel smartphone on the dock, the accessory basically turns the device into a Google Home screen, displaying larger information for you to see. Everything from anywhere in the room and listening to your commands to activate features, send messages, read notifications, or control your home's connected devices.
Speaking of connected devices, by the way, take a look at the smart lamps Made-for-Google Launched by GE they don't require a hub and connect directly to the Google Home app for prices starting at $ 25 for a two-lamp package.
In addition, we have here a special alarm mode that mimics the aurora lights on the smartphone screen; The accessory even makes the device show Google Photos photos at night or when not in use. An integration with the Nest Hello smart doorphone shows who is at your door directly from your smartphone screen.
The Pixel Stand recharges Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL at a rate of 10W, and works with any smartphone that supports Qi only Pixels, however, I will have all the extra features of Google Home. It is already available for pre-sale and costs $ 80, arriving at stores also on the 18th next.
Home Hub
Mountain View Giant's newest intelligent speaker follows in the footsteps of Amazon and Facebook by including a recipe screen to make your home activities simpler. The main difference is that, for privacy reasons, Google preferred not to include a camera here ie no video calls or the like with Google Home Hub.
The 7-inch screen comes with a modified and very limited version of Android, allowing you to perform a variety of tasks, such as controlling smart home devices, playing music, checking the best way to work or weather, tracking revenue from websites or YouTube videos and more. All this, of course, can also be controlled by voice, with the help of Google Assistant she even recognizes each user's voice to show that person's specific appointments or settings.
The Google Home Hub comes in four colors (gray, mint green, pink and black) and is now available for pre-order from us. $ 150; The official launch will take place on the 22nd in the US, the UK and Australia. Ah, buyers will also get six free months of YouTube Premium, which is a pretty cool offer.
Pixel Slate
Admitting that Android tablets have died and only need to be buried, Google took the day to announce also its first tablet running Chrome OS. Pixel Slate is a bet that comes to compete with iPad Pro and Surface Pro, with its 12.3-inch screen and 3000 Ă— 2000 resolution; here we have Pixelbook Pen support (from last year's Google Pixelbook) and a special keyboard cover with curiously circular keys that Google says are best for typing.
Google, incidentally, has come up with an interesting design trick so you can adjust the angle at which the tablet rests on one surface: the back of the Pixel Slate has multiple magnets arranged at intervals and you can “snap” the cover to any of them. having various options from almost fully standing to almost fully lying down.
Here are two cameras, one at the rear and one wide-angle at the front (they come in portrait mode, but without the advanced software technologies of Pixel smartphones); two USB-C ports, one on each side, one headphone jack (correcting: no, the Pixel Slate does not have a headphone jack) and a proprietary port for connecting the keyboard cover completes the physical connection interfaces. The power button has a biometric sensor and the battery, according to Google, lasts about ten hours in regular use.
Pixel Slate will be launched by the end of the year in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom at prices starting from $ 600 which match Intel Celeron processor version and 4GB RAM. Other versions, with Core M3, i5, i7 chips and up to 16GB of RAM will also be available, for prices up to $ 1,600. The backlit keyboard case costs $ 200 and the Pixelbook Pen costs $ 100.
New Chromecast
Launched without any fanfare, the new Chromecast, disregarding the new matte finish, basically identical to the previous version even the power port remains Micro-USB, frustrating those who expected a switch to the USB-C standard. Despite this, the new version of the accessory has faster Wi-Fi antennas, supporting 5GHz networks, and has a 15% faster processor that supports 1080p playback at 60 frames per second (no, not 4K yet).
In addition, we now have a Bluetooth connection on Chromecast which at first does not mean much but can create a network of accessories for the device such as remotes and joysticks. The new accessory costs the same $ 35 from before and are now available in US, UK, Canadian, and a number of other countries.
via Cult of Mac
