madebygoogle2016
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Verizon has final say over when its Pixels get Android updates
Verizon is pretty pleased to be Google's sole US carrier partner for the new Pixel and Pixel XL. Sure, you could order one straight from Google, but nothing sates gadget lust like being able to walk into a store and buy a thing right there. Buying a Verizon model obviously won't be for everyone, though, and we now have a clearer understanding of how those phones will -- and could -- differ from the ones you can order from Google.
Personal assistants are ushering in the age of AI at home
Google Home is the latest embodiment of a virtual assistant. The voice-activated speaker can help you make a dinner reservation, remind you to catch your flight, fire up your favorite playlist and even translate words for you on the fly. While the voice interface is expected to make quotidian tasks easier, it also gives the company unprecedented access to human patterns and preferences that are crucial to the next phase of artificial intelligence. Comparing an AI agent to a personal assistant, as most companies have been doing of late, makes for a powerful metaphor. It is one that is indicative of the human capabilities that most major technology companies want their disembodied helpers to adopt. Over the last couple of years, with improvements in speech-recognition technology, Siri, Cortana and Google Now have slowly learned to move beyond the basics of weather updates to take on more complex responsibilities like managing your calendar or answering your queries. But products that invade our personal spaces -- like Amazon's Echo and Google Home -- point to a larger shift in human-device interaction that is currently underway.
Here's what you missed at the 'Made by Google' event
It may be time to bid a sad adieu (sadieu?) to the beloved Nexus line and hello to Google's new Pixel phones, but we've still got a whole slew of fresh hardware to look forward to. In addition to the higher-end handsets, Google also unveiled the Daydream View VR headset, the Chromecast Ultra, a WiFi router, as well as the official price and availability of its Home smart speaker. Tying all of the gadgets together is the company's AI Assistant, which you can use on the Pixels and Home, and Google promises to make it available on more platforms in future. Our senior editors Nicole Lee and Chris Velazco break down what all this new stuff means for you, and share their impressions of the new products. Click here to catch all the latest news from Google's fall event.
Watch the Made by Google launch event in 15 minutes
Google unveiled its plan for consumer hardware earlier today, showing off Pixel phones, the Google Home hub, Google WiFi router, Chromecast Ultra and Daydream VR headset, plus its Assistant AI ready to tie everything together. We liveblogged every second of the full presentation, but if you're in a hurry you can catch a quick runthrough of all the announcements right here in just 15 minutes, or head straight to our hands-on impressions.
With Assistant, Google is becoming a lot more like Apple
Google may have finally taken control of its hardware with the new Pixel phones, but the company's still focusing on software. In particular: artificial intelligence. The AI-powered Assistant is an integral part of its new phones, Allo messaging app and smart speaker, making for a more uniform and useful experience across all of Google's (and other brands') devices. If that sounds familiar, it's because Apple brought Siri to multiple platforms first.
'Great British Bake Off' host stars in a Daydream VR game
Plenty of people were wondering what comedian and actress Sue Perkins would get up to now that she's done hosting The Great British Bake Off, and now we finally have the answer: She's starring in a virtual reality video game for Google's Daydream platform. EarthShape is a game about the first astronaut to leave humanity's home planet on a millennia-long mission to terraform the universe. The StarSeeker, as the astronaut is called, travels the universe planting flowers and cultivating life "through a fun new gameplay mechanic."
Google's Pixel and Pixel XL might make you forget those Nexuses
Goodbye, Nexus. Hello, Pixel. Google pulled back the curtain on two new smartphones at its keynote today, marking the end of a hardware era and signaling the start of something exciting. The Pixel and Pixel XL were tailor-made to reflect Google's changing priorities, and after a little bit of hands-on time, I'm cautiously excited about this new direction.
UK pricing for Google's Pixel phones, Daydream VR headset and more
A wealth of leaks might've taken some of the sting out of Google's big event today, but there was quite a lot to take in nonetheless. Google spent a lot of time talking up its AI Assistant -- the same one that debuted in its Allo messaging app -- but who are we kidding? New hardware was the highlight tonight, and there's a lot of it, from a pair of Pixel smartphones to a new VR headset, 4K Chromecast and more. And now it's time to lay out how much all that new gear is gonna cost you.
By the Numbers: The 'Made by Google' edition
Google laid out its AI-powered vision for the future of mobile computing at its Made By Google event in San Francisco on Tuesday. The company debuted its widely anticipated (and widely leaked) Pixel phone, showed off its Daydream VR headset for the first time, unveiled the new 4K Chromecast and further expounded upon just how its Google Home smart speaker fit into a connected household. Numbers, because how else will you when the future arrives?
The Pixel XL vs. the competition: The bigger flagships face off
Once more, Google is giving us two flagship phone sizes to choose from. But this time, the company's releasing them under its own brand, Pixel. There are great features like Google Assistant and a new camera to check out, but how does the new XL's hardware compare to its competition? We've sized up the specs of the larger Pixel versus premiere handsets like the iPhone 7 Plus, Moto Z and even the recalled Galaxy Note 7 (we hope you've exchanged yours by now) for a better look.
The Google Pixel vs. the competition: Ready to rumble
We may be saying goodbye to the Nexus name, but we're not saying goodbye to the things we've come to expect from Google's premiere phones. The new Pixel still offers everything you'd expect in a flagship, including a highly-rated camera, a fingerprint sensor and the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack. But, with so many current phones offering similar chipsets, features like Google Assistant could make all the difference. We'll take a closer look at some of the bells and whistles in our eventual review, but for now there are specs to chew over. Check out the table below to see how the Pixel measures up on paper to some of its leading competition.
Google's AI-powered 'Home' hub ships next month for $129
During its announcement-filled keynote today, Google revealed that its voice-powered assistant/Bluetooth speaker Google Home will cost $129 and is slated to go on sale November 4th. It's the stationary piece of Google's plans to make the platform all about you. As CEO Sundar Pichai said: "The goal is to build a personal Google for each and every user."
Google WiFi is a router that simplifies whole-home wireless
Those rumors of Google giving WiFi routers another shot? They're true. Meet Google WiFi, a router designed entirely in-house... and with a few nice advantages over the OnHub line. Apart from being much smaller (no vase-like design here), its big trick is its ability to create an Eero-style mesh network. You only have to add additional units to your network to improve coverage -- there's a Network Assistant app that makes it easy to add more routers and improve your signal.
A new 'Harry Potter' adventure will hit Google's VR platform
One of the first pieces of content to launch on Google's new Daydream mobile VR platform expands on the most popular and fantastical multimedia franchise in modern history. A VR experience built around Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a new film in the Harry Potter universe, is heading to Daydream. Google only teased the experience on-stage at its "Made by Google" event today, but it dropped one crucial piece of information: Players will be able to use the Daydream controller as a wand in the game.
Chromecast Ultra brings 4K and HDR to Google's streaming pucks
With the last-generation Chromecast, Google managed to turn its inexpensive streaming device into something that was fast and genuinely useful. Now, as the rumors foretold, there's a 4K/HDR upgrade: the Chromecast Ultra. It's still a svelte puck like the earlier models, but it has a bit of a stealth bomber aesthetic. And at $69, it's far more expensive than the current $35 Chromecast. Still, it comes in $10 less than Roku's cheapest 4K player, and will be useful for anyone who wants to quickly stream high-res video to their new 4K TV.
Google Pixel tools help you switch from an iPhone
We've seen many attempts at helping you switch from one smartphone platform to another, but Google is kicking things up a notch with its Pixel smartphones. The lineup will include software to bring over contacts, media and messages from other phones, including iPhones. It'll even bring over your iMessages, in case you're worried that all those blue chat bubbles will disappear while moving to Android. To that end, Google bundles an adapter to help iPhone owners make the leap. These tools aren't that necessary if you store a lot of your data in the cloud, but it's evident that Google wants to remove as many pain points as possible -- it wants Pixel to appeal to everyone. Click here to catch all the latest news from Google's fall event.
Google $80 Daydream VR headset is soft and self-contained
On stage at its keynote today, Google unveiled its upcoming VR headset, dubbed the Daydream View. The View looks nothing like similar VR rigs and, according to Google's VR lead, Clay Bavor, that's a good thing.
Google claims the Pixel has the 'best smartphone camera ever'
Google has revealed the specs for its new Pixel smartphone's 12.3-megapixel rear camera and they're pretty impressive. For starters, its 89 score from DXOMark makes it the "best smartphone camera" ever, the company says, and brings it close to a dedicated compact camera in terms of sharpness and color accuracy. The relatively large sensor and smallish megapixel count yields a big 1.55-micron pixel size, meaning the camera will be good in low light too.
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.
Android Nougat 7.1 leans on the cloud for everything
Android 7.1 is coming. What's so different with this version? According to a report by Bloomberg, pro camera effects, instant chat support and a feature that automatically offloads items from your phone to the cloud. You know, like the Nextbit Robin. Similar to the Nexus line that came before it, the Pixel phones will get software updates directly from Google. But, the difference here is that thanks to the Nougat OS, the downloads will happen automatically and in the background, as soon as they're available, according to Google director of product management Sabrina Ellis.
