All You Need To Know About The 5 Newest Google Products And Why You Need Them In Your Life
There was once a time when choosing a search engine was a rather big dilemma. There were so many in the then young internet market, such as Alta Vista, Yahoo, and Webcrawler. However, one name emerged from that space to become one of the most well-known brands worldwide: Google.
The Silicon Valley company’s growth in the sector has seen them expand out of search algorithms to create a multitude of different programs and software ranging from Google Earth to Google Trends. And while they’re impressive, Google is now really exhilarating the tech world with its new hardware lineup.
The Google Pixel Event wrapped up on October 4th, 2017 in San Francisco and left technology enthusiasts all animated and thrilled. While some products, like the Pixel phones, are updates from last year, others — like the camera that uses artificial intelligence — are new. If you missed the live announcement don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a recap of five new Google products to be excited about!
Pixel 2
Last year, the Pixel, Google’s first ever full-fledged phone, was released to the public. While not completely revolutionary, it significantly showed Google’s intention to step into the product and hardware industry as a competitor to the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Samsung.
The Pixel 2 underlines the reason why Google chooses to name its phone series “Pixel”: it was building the best camera on the phone. They answered every promise made in this second-generation 12.2 MP back camera and 8 MP selfie camera effort that also comes with dual front-facing speakers and water-resistance. And this year they’ve introduced the Pixel 2, coincidentally (or strategically) right during the buzz of the iPhone X. Pixel 2 is set to give you an Android version of the iPhone, focusing on bringing out your inner sloth and making things super easy.
To grab one of these bad boys, it will cost you $649 (21,500 Baht) for the Pixel 2 or $849 (28,120 Baht) for the slightly larger Pixel 2 XL on the official Google Store. You can choose between Just Black, Clearly White, Kinda Blue, and Black & White with either 64GB or 128 GB storage. Even though they aren’t available in Thailand for now, but you can be sure to find some in MBK Center for a slightly higher price.
Pixel Buds
We all rather have our earphones wireless, so they don’t get in our way. Now Google also has their wireless headsets for you to consider in online stores called Pixel Buds.
These earphones are designed for high-quality audio and fit comfortably in your ear. They hold 5 hours of juice by themselves, but with its charging case, you can go up to 24 hours of listening time. You can use the right earbud to play or pause music, change volume, and even trigger Google Assistant. You can then use the microphone, that also filters out background noise, to access your messages, music, and more. But the best feature of the buds would have to be the real-time translation with Google Translate.
The Pixel Buds will cost you $159 (5,260 Baht). Remember, the buds work best on Pixel series phones, so this might be another good reason for you to grab yourself a pair.
Google Clips
We all love to have good photos. Unfortunately, not all of us are the best of photographers. Or maybe you just don’t have the time to capture all of the best moments of your day. Only if there was a camera that will automatically take photos for you. Now there is.
Introducing Google Clips, a clip-on camera that will automatically find the best time to shoot a photo according to its AI algorithm. It features Moment IQ, a machine learning algorithm that’s smart enough to recognize great expressions, lighting, and framing. Clips come in a two-tone white-and-teal color and have a battery life of three hours of continuous use. It has a 12-megapixel sensor, a 130-degree field-of-view lens, takes photos at 15 fps, and 16GB of internal memory.
Available at $249 (8,240 Baht), it might be pricey considering the Clip doesn’t record audio. But for the Social Media gurus of fast-paced world, it could be a lifesaver in making content every day for your channels.
Google Daydream View
Google announced an update to last year’s model of Daydream View VR headset. It’s available in gray, black, or coral pink to complement the Google Home colors and it’s compatible with the Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8, and LG V30.
Once on your head, you are invited into the Google Store… opening you a wide array of programs and content for your VR experience. You could start with a few games to get the hang of the device you are wearing. Maybe you prefer to watch a movie clip, with 360-degree versions your choice of fully immersive content.
What makes the Daydream View so impressive is how comfortable it is. Many are unsure about VR because of the headset requirement, uncertain of how it will feel resting on your eyes for hours at a time. The Daydream View fixes that problem. It is also, surprisingly, the cheapest item on this list at $99 (3,280 Baht). So if you have an Android phone and are keen on trying VR technology, give the Daydream View a go.
Google Home Mini and Max
Last year Google announced a squat little device that’s intended to sit in your house or apartment, providing an access point to all of Google’s services whenever you need them called Google Home. A bite-sized device that can help your with everyday tasks around the house like play music, waking you up, or control smart home gadgets. While the Home received a few awesome updates this year, they’re not the ones in the spotlight anymore.
If you love the Google Home, you’re in luck, because Google has just announced Google Home Mini, a smaller smart home device for listening to the news or podcasts. The Mini is real tiny, fabric covered, and stands just over 1.5 inches and 4 inches in diameter. They’re available in chalk, charcoal, and coral at only $49 (1,610 Baht)
Two is better than one, so Google decided to release another version of Home called Google Home Max that comes with a stereo speaker with two 4.5-inch woofers, which is 20 times more powerful than the original Google Home. This one comes in only black or white but can set you back $399 (13,100 Baht). The nice thing though, is Google will throw a free year of YouTube Red in the bundle as well.