The day has finally arrived. The Made by Google event in NYC brought us the official introduction to the much leaked Google Pixel 3 as well as a bunch of other hardware and goodies. The event even opened with a Pixel 3 leak video. Read on for our full coverage of Made by Google 2018.
Google Pixel 3 & 3 XL
https://youtu.be/vKSA_idPZkc
There’s little that we don’t know about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. It’s been significantly leaked over the past few weeks but here’s some of what Google had to say at the Made by Google event.
We already know the Google Pixel camera is one of the best but now Google has made it better with Top Shot, Night Sight, and Super Res Zoom. All of these features are designed to give the Pixel and edge. Top Shot will take multiple frames and pick the best. Night Shot gives you better low-light performance and Super Res Zoom gives you clearer zoomed photos.
Google also added a second camera on the front that is basically a wide-angle lens. Google also built in a new feature called Playground to both front and back cameras. Playground is basically AR stickers which you can create from either camera.
Google Lens is also integrated directly into the Pixel 3 cameras and it can be used without a data connection. Google Lens helps you search the world around you by recognizing objects with the camera and performing a Google Search for them. Here are some other features:
- Photo Booth Mode
- Motion Auto-Focus
- Portrait mode depth of field editing
- Unlimited storage to Google Photos at original quality
- Flip to Hush
- Titan Security
The Pixel also has a new Call Screen feature. This feature allows your phone to answer for you and is transcribed for you on your screen. You can also choose how to interact with the call from the screen. Call screen will be coming to all Pixels next month but launches today on Pixel 3.
Google also introduced the new Pixel Stand. It’s a wireless fast charger but also works with Google Assistant. When the phone is docked it turns into a sort of Google Assistant screen. You can also control all of your smart home devices from the screen. Much like the Home Hub. Technology like this has been done before but it’s also very useful.
The Pixel 3 comes in 3 colors, Just Black, Clearly White, Not Pink .Pixel 3 starts at $799USD pre-order now and get YouYube Music free for 3-months.
Google Pixel Slate
https://youtu.be/FF1yy67BSp0
Google calls the Google Pixel Slate a completely new experience. The Slate is thin and light and Google says it’s designed to be beautiful. The Slate has 293 ppi with 6 m pixels. The resolution is 3000 x 2000 with a 3:2 aspect ration. Google really ranted about how great the Slate’s display is.
The Slate’s speakers are on the front for better sound, I’d have to agree that front-facing speakers make a difference. Google says they also tuned the EQ algorithm give you the best sound you can hear.
Google also touted the cameras on the Slate saying the rear camera has portrait mode. The front camera is supposedly great for video conferencing.
Google says the software is updated and works more like a Chrome OS experience. This new software works more like a desktop than a mobile OS and makes more sense on a screen of this size. The Slate also has a Titan security chip which is supposed to secure your passwords and personal data on the Slate. Of course, the Google Assistant is tightly integrated here as well.
Google also introduced the new Pixel Slate keyboard. It’s a full-size backlit keyboard that types quietly and comes with a full-size trackpad. Google also made sure to mention how well its apps work on Slate, with emphasize on G-Suite. Slate also uses the desktop version of Chrome which gives you more power than the mobile version.
You can order Pixel Slate soon starting at $599USD with the keyboard priced at $199USD. There is also a Pixel Pen you can throw in for an additional $99USD. If you purchase Slate you will get 3-months of YouTube TV for free.
Google Home Hub
https://youtu.be/LxuHbgz1UtI
Google says they spent “countless hours” on the design of the Google Home Hub. It has a floating display that reacts to ambient light (Ambient EQ) and it does not have a camera. Ambient EQ is much like Apple’s TrueTone Display technology which adapts to the lighting in the room. As with Google Home, the Home Hub uses Voice Match so it can recognize your voice and others as well.
The Google Home Hub is very much like the Lenovo smart Display as well as the JBL LINK VIEW. The biggest difference is the Home Hub does not have a camera. The Google Home Hub will come with 6 months of YouTube Premium for free. Google says that Hub will simplify your home and life.
Like the Lenovo and JBL devices, the Hub can control your smart home and smart devices. So long as they are compatible with Google. Google calls their control center, Home View. Home View shows you all of your connected devices and allows you to control all of them by room. You can also use the Google Home app to control your devices even when you’re not at home.
Google also touted the deep integration Hub has with Google Photos. They also introduced Live Albums to Google Photos which is designed to make Hub a great place to see your photos. You can also share those Live Albums from Hub with others. Google uses machine learning to filter unwanted photos from your Live Albums. That means no pics of receipts and random things you don’t care about.
Google Home Hub is available for pre-order today for $149USD. You also get that free 6-months of YouTube Premium.
What do you think of these new Made by Google products? Let us know in the comments below or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.
