Google doubles down on {hardware} with new devices

The Newest on Google’s product occasion (all instances native):

11 a.m.

Google is making a larger dedication to {hardware} in unveiling new telephones, a wise speaker and different devices.

The merchandise introduced Tuesday additionally underscore Google’s hope that by designing each {hardware} and the software program—the best way Apple has lengthy performed—merchandise and options will work higher, with little enter wanted from customers.

For example, the brand new sensible speaker known as House will be capable to use voice to regulate Netflix and different video on Google’s Chromecast streaming machine.

Google additionally hinted that the method lets Google take full benefit of capabilities it is designing with synthetic intelligence and machine studying. It hasn’t provided examples, although, on what customers will be capable to do on its new Pixel telephones that they will not be capable to do on Android telephones from Samsung and others.

One other theme working all through the occasion: Merchandise will get smarter due to synthetic intelligence know-how developed by Google. The options demonstrated appear much like what Amazon and Apple already supply with their digital assistants. Google officers have repeatedly emphasised that its AI know-how is within the early levels—so it stays to be seen what this new period for Google will result in.

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10:25 a.m.

Google is selling its new House sensible speaker as a technique to entry Google’s data—palms free.

It can counsel one of the best ways to get locations, due to Google Maps, or discover solutions from different sources, akin to Wikipedia. A function known as My Day can even supply a abstract of your upcoming day. You may want to present Google permission to activate that.

Amazon, Apple and Microsoft all have variations of such assistants.

House will work intently with different Google units. For instance, you probably have a Chromecast streaming machine, you should utilize House to regulate video in your TV. The function might be restricted at first. In some circumstances, Google must high-quality tune the software program to work with particular providers. Netflix might be one of many first to work, so you’ll be able to merely ask Google House to begin the Netflix present “Orange is the New Black.”

House might be obtainable for nearly $130 and include six months of YouTube Pink, a $10-a-month ad-free subscription. Orders begin Tuesday; House might be in shops on Nov. 4. The cylinder-shaped Echo prices $180, although Amazon additionally sells a smaller model formed like a hockey puck that sells for $50.

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10:15 a.m.

Google is able to begin promoting its echo of Amazon’s Echo.

The Echo is an internet-connected speaker that includes a voice-activated digital assistant. It is transferring into extra properties and lessening the necessity to discover data on Google’s search engine.

As a counterpunch to Amazon, Google has constructed an identical two-way speaker that it merely calls “House.” It will likely be capable of carry out most of the similar duties as Echo, together with enjoying music and fielding questions on all the pieces from the climate to what’s enjoying on the native theater. Google House can even be capable to management lights, home equipment and different units round the home, assuming you have put in “sensible” variations of them.

Google teased the House machine at a know-how convention in Could and is providing extra particulars Tuesday.

Google is betting that the data that it has gained whereas working the world’s dominant search engine will make the computer-powered assistant in House smarter than Amazon’s Alexa within the Echo, which has been available on the market since 2014.

Should you’re feeling creepy a couple of speaker listening to your conversations, Google says you’ll be able to flip the microphone off.

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10:12 a.m.

Google is updating its Chromecast video-streaming machine for watching Netflix and different on-line video on large screens.

The brand new machine, Chromecast Extremely, will assist a higher-resolution format known as 4K. That is a function already provided by bigger, dearer streaming units such because the $100 Amazon Hearth TV. Extremely will price about $70.

Chromecast’s low value has gained over a number of households. However you want a companion telephone to play, pause and quick ahead video, disrupting electronic mail, Fb and different duties you may wish to do whereas watching TV.

Google is dealing with competitors with low-end units. Roku simply introduced a $30 Categorical mannequin that is concerning the measurement of a finger, whereas Amazon simply up to date its $40 Hearth TV Stick. Each of these units include a distant, making them appropriate stand-alone devices. However neither streams in 4K.

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10:10 a.m.

Google desires to enhance Wi-Fi within the dwelling by creating its personal router.

The corporate says individuals use web in another way now, with video games, video chatting and extra on varied units all through the house. The brand new Google Wi-Fi system might be modular—simply add new elements based mostly on how your own home and rooms are formed. Software program will assist handle the assorted entry factors for you as you progress round.

It can price virtually $130 for the primary machine. A 3-pack for bigger properties will price about $300.

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10:00 a.m.

Google has unveiled its personal virtual-reality headset, known as Daydream View.

It can differ from different headsets like Samsung’s Gear VR in having a companion movement controller and compatibility with a variety of telephones, together with Google’s new Pixel telephones.

Daydream is a problem to extra refined methods from Fb’s Oculus enterprise, HTC and Sony—in addition to to Google’s personal Cardboard effort.

Cardboard is reasonable—obtainable for as little as $15—but it surely does not supply a lot management over VR environments past pushing a button on the headset as you progress your head. The brand new wi-fi movement controller for Daydream can perform like a fishing rod, a steering wheel or a pointer to allow extra refined VR experiences.

Though Google will make its personal Daydream headset, it plans to share design pointers with different producers.

Google says 50 companions are bringing apps and video games to Daydream, with extra on the best way. Google providers akin to images, YouTube and Road View maps can even come to Daydream.

The revealing got here at a Google occasion in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Daydream View and the controller might be out in November for $79.

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9:50 a.m.

Google is stepping up the advertising of its new Pixel telephones, and can supply them by means of Verizon in addition to Google’s personal on-line Play retailer.

Beforehand, Google telephones have largely been restricted to on-line orders.

The brand new telephones will are available two display screen sizes—5 inches and 5.5 inches. The smaller one will price about $650, with orders beginning Tuesday; the bigger model will go for about $750.

Google says the digital camera on Pixel telephones might be “wonderful.” Pixel homeowners can even get limitless storage of images at full decision. Others get limitless storage at excessive decision of as much as 16 megapixels; and something sharper than that will get diminished in high quality to qualify. Nevertheless, Google’s Pixels cameras are 12 megapixels, so they might have certified underneath the common plan anyway.

The telephones would be the first ones appropriate with Google’s upcoming Daydream virtual-reality system.

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9:40 a.m.

Google is introducing a brand new line of smartphones in its most aggressive problem but to Apple and Samsung.

The telephones unveiled Tuesday in San Francisco will carry the Pixel model, which Google has beforehand stamped on a pill and a Chromebook laptop computer. The telephones could have Google’s digital assistant and synthetic intelligence service, Google Assistant, inbuilt. The corporate says computing is changing into extra depending on AI, not simply on being cellular.

Google has launched a collection of its personal telephones, dubbed Nexus, since 2010. These telephones had restricted distribution and had been sometimes embraced by Google purists. Now, the corporate is casting apart the Nexus identify because it goals to turn into an much more distinguished participant within the cellular market

Google, after all, already gives the Android system software program that powers greater than 80 % of the world’s smartphones.

The brand new push pits Google in opposition to a well-known foe in Apple and its iPhone. However it additionally poses a brand new menace to Samsung, the most important maker of Android telephones.

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9:30 a.m.

Google is taking a web page from Apple’s playbook by making a much bigger push to construct its personal {hardware}.

Rick Osterloh, head of Google’s newly shaped {hardware} group, says that by constructing {hardware} itself, Google can take full benefit of capabilities it is designing with synthetic intelligence and machine studying.

Apple has lengthy taken an identical method by designing each iPhone {hardware} and the iOS operating-system software program that runs on it.

Google has designed {hardware} earlier than, however Osterloh says Google will now get deeper into it.

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9:15 a.m.

Google is opening an occasion in San Francisco with a prediction that synthetic intelligence will play a larger position in our lives.

CEO Sundar Pichai says computing is transitioning to an artificial-intelligence-first world, simply because it moved to a mobile-first world just some years in the past.

Pichai says, “Our purpose is to construct a private Google for each person. We wish to construct a Google for every person.”

Google providers alongside these traces embody Google Assistant, software program that is designed to reply questions and retrieve data, conversation-style. Google Assistant made its debut in a chat app known as Allo just a few weeks in the past. It can even be a part of the upcoming House sensible speaker. Google is predicted to announce extra particulars on the occasion.

The occasion—held on the former energy plant for a chocolate manufacturing unit—began with video exhibiting characters from the HBO present “Silicon Valley” bantering about expectations.

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7:35 a.m.

Google will ramp up its shopper electronics technique Tuesday because it’s anticipated to announce new devices at an occasion in San Francisco.

The merchandise embody new smartphones and an internet-connected personal-assistant for the house much like Amazon’s Echo speaker. All are meant to showcase Google’s software program and on-line providers. Analysts and business blogs say a virtual-reality headset and a house router may be on faucet.

Google makes most of its cash from on-line software program and digital adverts. However it’s placing extra emphasis on {hardware} because it faces rivals like Apple, Amazon and Samsung. Julie Ask at Forrester Analysis says new units might assist Google hold its providers entrance and middle within the battle for shoppers’ consideration.

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