Live Blog: Made By Google October Phone Event
by Matt Humrick on October 4, 2016 12:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Android
- Mobile
12:06PM EDT - I'm here at Google's October phone event
12:09PM EDT - Google's first subject: using machine learning to approve their assistant AI
12:15PM EDT - This is my first Live Blog, so please bear with me.
12:16PM EDT - Google talking up AI. The next big innovation.
12:17PM EDT - Building hardware and software together let's Google create the best experience around AI
12:17PM EDT - Hardware with Google Assistant at its core
12:18PM EDT - Sounds like more hardware coming from Google in the future
12:18PM EDT - Introducing Pixel
12:19PM EDT - Polished aluminum case
12:20PM EDT - Pixel first phone with Google Assistant built-in
12:20PM EDT - "No unsightly camera bump"
12:21PM EDT - Photography, storage, communications, and VR central themes
12:23PM EDT - Google Assistant searching photos based on date with natural voice command
12:23PM EDT - Uses Google's Knowledge graph to find contextual results
12:24PM EDT - Ask it who's playing at a concert venue, and it will return upcoming shows with dates
12:24PM EDT - Google Assistant works with third-party messaging apps
12:26PM EDT - Ask about a restaurant and get contextual links to Yelp, Maps, etc.
12:26PM EDT - Get directions, message a friend, and make a reservation all in one easy flow without jumping between apps
12:26PM EDT - No more copy-paste between apps
12:27PM EDT - Now talking about Pixel camera
12:27PM EDT - DXOMark of 89
12:27PM EDT - iPhone 7 was 86
12:27PM EDT - 12.3MP rear camera
12:28PM EDT - f/2.0 aperture and 1.55 micron pixels
12:28PM EDT - Smartburst - hold down shutter button and take a continuous picture. Phone selects best image of capture.
12:29PM EDT - HDR+ combines multiple short exposures, reducing noise and improving dynamic range
12:29PM EDT - HDR+ has zero shutter lag
12:30PM EDT - Claims camera capture time is faster than any other phone
12:30PM EDT - Samples gyroscope 200 times per second for video image stabilization
12:31PM EDT - Google Photos integration. Free unlimited photos and videos at full resolution stored in cloud.
12:32PM EDT - Live blogging is hard :)
12:32PM EDT - Presenters talk fast
12:32PM EDT - Google Duo preinstalled on Pixel.
12:33PM EDT - Google Duo preinstalled on Pixel.
12:33PM EDT - This is Google's new video conferencing app
12:33PM EDT - Pixel comes with quick charging
12:34PM EDT - Pixel comes with Nougat, obviously. Software updates installed in background.
12:35PM EDT - New Google tool to make it easy to switch from iPhone to Pixel
12:35PM EDT - Now back to hardware
12:35PM EDT - Pixel has 2 screen sizes: 5" and 5.5"
12:36PM EDT - 3 colors: Black, Blue, Silver
12:36PM EDT - Pixel is first phone to be Daydream VR ready
12:37PM EDT - Verizon is exclusive carrier partner in US
12:37PM EDT - Also available unlocked
12:38PM EDT - Video time
12:39PM EDT - No mention of HTC. Google phone "inside and out"
12:39PM EDT - Video done. Moving on to VR.
12:39PM EDT - VR a transformative technology
12:41PM EDT - Discussing Google's Daydream platform
12:41PM EDT - Daydream View: Google's take on VR headsets
12:41PM EDT - Wanted to make something that is comfortable and easy to use
12:42PM EDT - soft, flexible, breatheable
12:42PM EDT - made from soft micro-fabrics
12:42PM EDT - It's soft and cozy :)
12:42PM EDT - 30% lighter than other headsets
12:42PM EDT - fits over glasses
12:43PM EDT - Which reminds me, I should be wearing mine
12:43PM EDT - Headset includes auto-alignment system and communicates with phone wirelessly
12:44PM EDT - Comes with a small wireless controller. Gyro inside
12:44PM EDT - Controller can be stored inside headset when done using it
12:45PM EDT - Presenter just dropped the controller on the floor. It survived
12:45PM EDT - 3 colors: Slate (gray), Snow (silver), Crimson
12:46PM EDT - Harry Potter VR content: Fantastic Beasts
12:48PM EDT - I've got my glasses on now. Headache averted
12:48PM EDT - Still discussing VR content
12:48PM EDT - VR journalism from New York Times
12:48PM EDT - More than 50 partners already onboard Daydream
12:49PM EDT - Google Play Movies, Photos, Street View, and YouTube will be Daydream compatible
12:50PM EDT - Street View in VR should be useful. An interesting way to explore new places.
12:51PM EDT - Already 100k+ immersive videos on YouTube?
12:51PM EDT - A lot of possibilities for VR content on YouTube
12:52PM EDT - Headset and controller available in November for $79
12:52PM EDT - plus a Pixel phone of course :)
12:52PM EDT - Now discussing connectivity
12:53PM EDT - Announcing Google WiFi
12:53PM EDT - Expandable system: network of access points
12:54PM EDT - Add access points to tailor coverage to your home
12:54PM EDT - Network assist feature automatically optimizes the network and connections
12:54PM EDT - Makes it easier to manage network
12:55PM EDT - Can control Google WiFi with app on phone
12:55PM EDT - Can disable network access on per user basis
12:56PM EDT - Announcing Chromecast Ultra
12:56PM EDT - cast content up to 4K and HDR
12:56PM EDT - 4K content coming to Google Play Movies in November
12:57PM EDT - Comes with Ethernet port
12:57PM EDT - Old school
12:58PM EDT - Moving on to Google Home
12:59PM EDT - Enjoy music, manage tasks, control devices in home with your voice
12:59PM EDT - Very neutral design
12:59PM EDT - LEDs and touch surface on top
01:00PM EDT - There's a mute button to make it stop listening
01:00PM EDT - Can swap bases to get a different visual look
01:01PM EDT - Several speakers inside base for playing music
01:01PM EDT - Use your voice to control music playback.
01:02PM EDT - Ties into YouTube Music, Pandora, Spotify, iHeart
01:03PM EDT - Can choose a default music service, so you don't have to keep telling it what source to use
01:05PM EDT - Google Home ties into Google's knowledge graph to answer questions you ask
01:05PM EDT - Also grabs snippets from the Web if it cannot find answer in knowledge graph
01:06PM EDT - Google Home names source of snippet from the Web before reading the answer. That's a nice touch
01:07PM EDT - Can ask it where to buy camping gear and it will tell you a list of stores and how far away they are
01:08PM EDT - Can follow up that query with directions
01:09PM EDT - Seems to work well with natural language queries (at least the examples provided)
01:09PM EDT - Can add items to shopping list and later access it with your phone
01:11PM EDT - Can use voice to control devices in the home.
01:11PM EDT - Can control TVs via Chromecast
01:12PM EDT - Google Home + Chromecast = Siri voice control on AppleTV
01:13PM EDT - Netflix support coming soon
01:13PM EDT - Works with Google Photos to display photos via Chromcast
01:14PM EDT - Google Home works as the voice control interface
01:14PM EDT - Google Home can also control external speakers via Chromecast Audio
01:15PM EDT - Can play music over multiple speakers within a group. Spread music throughout home
01:15PM EDT - Google Home: A WiFi speaker with Google Assistant built in
01:16PM EDT - Costs $129. Available for preorder today. Shipping Nov. 4
01:16PM EDT - 3 colors (fabric): Mango, Marine, Violet
01:17PM EDT - 3 metal base colors: Carbon, Snow, Copper
01:17PM EDT - Video time again
01:18PM EDT - It feels like I'm typing a lot
01:20PM EDT - Now talking about the openness of Google Assistant
01:21PM EDT - New developer options for tying into Google Assistant
01:22PM EDT - New conversation building tools coming in December
01:22PM EDT - Actions on Google
01:23PM EDT - embedded Google Assistant SDK
01:23PM EDT - will launch next year
01:23PM EDT - GA on Raspberry Pi
01:24PM EDT - Should enable third-party hardware with GA
01:24PM EDT - Wrapping up
01:25PM EDT - Thanks for reading along everyone
01:25PM EDT - I'm going to give my fingers a rest now
01:26PM EDT - And that's a wrap. Now for some hands-on
85 Comments
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JBVertexx - Tuesday, October 4, 2016 - link
Well, I will be buying the pixel. I have an HTC One M7 and haven't found a compelling upgrade until now. Last year's nexus 5x was not high-end build quality (but it was perfect for my son), and the 6p was too big. This year, I really tried to buy the HTC 10, but black wasn't available on Verizon.I never have liked iOS, and I don't want Samsung bloat. Just preordered my black Pixel.
I'm sure I won't be the only one.
tuxRoller - Tuesday, October 4, 2016 - link
Assuming the reviews don't find anything wrong (like cheap nand), this is my next phone.I really don't understand all the whinging.
For Android, everything looks to be completely top of the line. Assuming that's the case, then you shouldn't expect it to be cheap.
cjpp78 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
to my understanding it has ufs storage. so glad of that because I was disappointed with slow nand of the 6p..still pretty quick but boot times and app opening could be faster so the sd821 soc and ufs storage of pixel are welcome.Impulses - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
I don't think it's grossly overpriced for what's on tap, even tho I'm disappointed they've messed around with a split design back and still didn't bother to squeeze in a Qi wireless charging coil...I do think it's mildly overpriced, since the larger storage tier pushes the price $50-150 than an HTC 10 or S7 (granted the former is currently on sale, kinda sneaky on HTC's part).
I think there's a lot of little things not necessarily obvious at first blush that might make someone choose this over either of the aforementioned phones, and then there's software (which would already make me favor a 10 over S7).
They're basically the high end phone a lot of people always wished Google would build, and it's presented as such, not as a 'Nexus'. Then that's subjective things like on screen vs capacitive, rear vs front fingerprint readers, etc.
I'm willing to give them a shot, but if they come out with screens with shoddy calibration, poor efficiency, or some other unforeseen snafu they'll really be screwed, the margin for error is pretty small now days.
tuxRoller - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
Yeah, I'm not a fan of the glass on back either, but it does seem to be an extension of the 6p's visor, and it serves purpose.... which wouldn't be necessary had they used plastic!!!!You touched on something that I think it's quite interesting. People have been asking Google to make a no compromise phone. An Android iPhone:) They do this, and are surprised, even angry, that it costs as much as the other flagship android phones did when they are first launched.
People luuuuuv to complain.
That said, if there are issues like you mentioned, i won't touch it.
cjpp78 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
exactly, you're thinking the same as me, in terms of not liking ios. That and not willing to settle for samsung's software support and lower performance of their bloated software. The Pixel phones could be whats good about ios, the software support from the os developer and its still android on high end hardware. This could be the fastest android phones around when it releases. For me though I want the XL model, probably black as wellhano - Tuesday, October 4, 2016 - link
Well, it comes down to features. Apple's phones aren't made for VR. They don't have the non-persistent screens and their Bluetooth LE has the worst latency out of the phones. If you are buying for VR, like me, then the Google (or Samsung) is the way to go.KoolAidMan1 - Tuesday, October 4, 2016 - link
The SE is also faster than the latest, most expensive Android flagships. Between that and its software ecosystem its a really terrific option.cjpp78 - Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - link
The iphone 7 isn't much faster than a $400 one plus 3 that keeps pace with iphone 7 pretty well except opening heavy games. I'm very interested in speed test between pixel and iphone 7. Guessing iphone might be slightly faster in real world use but probably not much.fanofanand - Tuesday, October 4, 2016 - link
Excellent job Matt, you really covered this event extremely well. As for the content, screw Google and their $649 phones. They developed a following by being as good as the best while being 60% of the price. I haven't bought a non-Nexus phone in 4 years, It's going to be a sad day when my N5 dies.