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The Google Pixel 2 XL vs. the competition: Cameras rule
In a year where the Galaxy Note made a comeback and Apple is mixing things up by offering both the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, it's hard to know what to make of Google's newest handsets at first. The Pixel XL isn't particularly flashy on the outside, though the single 12.2MP camera looks promising. But can it compete against the dual camera rigs on other flagship handsets? To see what else this 6-inch handset has to offer versus some of its major competitors, we've stacked up their specs in the table below. Be sure to check back later this fall to see how both the new Pixels and the iPhone X fare in their respective full reviews.
Google WiFi, OnHub routers inexplicably crashed today (updated)
Google's smart router projects are supposed to provide hassle-free networking, but today many owners are experiencing just the opposite. Reports are streaming in of nonfunctional Google OnHub and WiFi units pushing little more than a flashing blue light. On Twitter, the Made by Google team is advising users to try setting up again, while a support forum thread that users in need of immediate access should use the credentials printed on the bottom of their devices.
Google WiFi review: A hassle-free router comes at a price
Google's not new to the hardware game, but with its "Made by" range, the company is making a concerted effort to marry its smart software with the gear we run it on. We've already tried the Pixel phones, Daydream View VR headset, Chromecast Ultra and Google Home, but until now, there was one Made by Google gadget we'd yet to test, and it's the one that arguably ties all the rest together: Google's aptly named WiFi router.
Welcome to Google's NYC home
Google has made minimal forays into real-world retail shops thus far. There's a good reason for that: The company has long been more focused on software than hardware. That's slowly changing, but Google went all-in on its own hardware brand when it announced the new Pixel smartphones, Google Home, Daydream VR headset and Google WiFi router earlier this month. For most consumers, buying hardware sight-unseen is still a tough proposition, so Google is finally making it easier for consumers to check out all its new gadgets -- in New York City, at least. The company's pop-up retail location opened its doors this morning, and while it wasn't exactly an iPhone-level stampede, there were a couple dozen people waiting to get in when it opened. A steady stream of passers-by came through in the hour I spent at the store.
Good luck buying a 128GB Pixel XL at Verizon tomorrow
Pre-order, pre-order, pre-order. While doing so with video games is basically pointless these days (the chances of a huge AAA title not being readily available at launch are slim), plopping down money in advance for electronics is sadly becoming a necessity. Case in point: If you want a 128GB Pixel XL on Verizon's network tomorrow, you're out of luck. "Initial inventory of Pixel XL 128GB is SOLD OUT... NOT in stores Thurs," Verizon's Jeffrey Nelson tweeted on Wednesday.
Google's play for the living room starts with Home
Today marked Google's biggest hardware launch yet. Not only did it announce two Pixel phones and a Daydream VR headset -- it also unveiled a slew of products for the living room. We already heard about Google Home, its voice-powered assistant-and-Bluetooth speaker combo at the company's I/O developer conference this year. New today, though, was a mesh networking router and an updated Chromecast. We took a closer look at all three immediately after the event and came away with a dream of a Google-powered home.
Google's Pixel phones arrive with full-res photo and video storage
In addition to unveiling its new Pixel phones at its big keynote today, Google revealed that its new handsets will come with unlimited cloud storage for full-resolution pictures and videos. That's a big deal if you plan to take advantage of the devices' 4K shooting capabilities and shoot stills at full 12.3-megapixel resolution. It's worth noting that the company already offers something similar with Google Photos, but the current arrangement still doesn't necessarily guarantee images will be saved at their fullest resolution.
We're live from the #MadeByGoogle launch event!
Not-so-cryptic teasers, seemingly ironclad leaks and a truly surprising advertising push have all led to this. Buckle up, folks: today might be a turning point for Google as an honest-to-goodness hardware company, and we're bringing you all the news live from the company launch event in San Francisco.
What to expect from Google's October 4th event
It's that time of the year when tech companies trot out their newest wares hoping to cash in on the holiday season buying spree and Google is no different. On October 4th the search giant is holding an event to show off, well something, but most likely some new phones. The company is mum on the details but of course that hasn't stopped the rumor and leak machines from spinning up and pumping out what we can expect from the Android maker's celebration of consumerism.
Google Pixel render shows off its software tweaks
Along with its leak of the 4K Chromecast earlier today, VentureBeat is showing off this picture that it says is of Google's upcoming Pixel phone. Along with the larger Pixel XL, it's expected to be the successor to previous Nexus devices, with a 5-inch 1080p screen and 32GB of storage onboard. A potential $649 starting price is also raising eyebrows, but previous leaks from Android Police indicate that the most notable feature will be software built to maximize Google's new Assistant AI.
Google might introduce another WiFi router on October 4th
We're less than two weeks away from Google's big fall event in San Francisco, and we already have a good idea of what to expect -- Pixel-branded smartphones, maybe Google Home, maybe a 4K-capable Chromecast. Android Police is offering up a new potential bit of hardware we haven't heard about yet: a new router called Google WiFi.
Google's likely Pixel phone event is happening October 4th
Hot on the heels of rumors and whispers aplenty, Google is sending out invites to an October 4th event that's expected to reveal, in full, new flagship Android phones, likely tagged with its Pixel branding. We're sure the company has more than a new phone or two. Unfortunately those aforementioned rumors also suggest they may not be as handily priced as their Nexus forefathers. (Maybe if you can hack a Nexus, you can buy us all one.) We'll be there to tell you all the important stuff next month. That said, the teaser video (below) doesn't show us much of anything. Maybe it's a new vertical search box? Be still, my beating heart.
