A
Pixel smartphone sets a 2-meter (6.5 foot) perimeter for safe
social distance as Scott Burns crosses the living room of his home
in the Silicon Valley city of Santa Cruz on May 29, 2020. (Photo by
Glenn CHAPMAN / AFP)
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Google on Wednesday unveiled two new smartphones with 5G
wireless capability under its Pixel brand, which showcases the
Android mobile system but has limited market share.
The new Pixel 5 will start at $699 for US customers and its
reduced-price Pixel 4a with 5G at $499, the California tech giant
announced at a streamed event.
The phones will be available from October 15 in the US and other
markets.
The new handsets are “packing more helpful Google features into
phones backed by the power and speeds of 5G,” said Google vice
president Brian Rakowski.
29 had a new way to keep their distance from others – a tool that
lets them know when people are getting closer than pandemic
guidelines recommend.
The announcement puts Google, for the moment, ahead of Apple in
the 5G smartphone race, with a 5G iPhone widely expected to be
unveiled in the coming weeks. It also positions Google with a
competitively priced 5G device as consumers begin looking for
upgrades.
Google’s Pixel handsets have won positive reviews for their
powerful cameras and integrated artificial intelligence, but have
failed to crack the top ranks of the smartphone market dominated by
the likes of South Korea’s Samsung, Apple and China’s Huawei.
The Pixel devices nonetheless serve as a showcase for Google and
Android, integrating hardware and software, and the newest Google
applications.
“Google has pivoted its Pixel line from competing at the highest
price points to offering more value, but the competition has
intensified in the mid-tier market as well,” said Avi Greengart of
the consultancy Techsponential.
“That leaves the Pixel 5 again trying to differentiate itself on
its camera and software.”
The launch comes with the global smartphone market struggling
from the pandemic-induced economic crisis and with many consumers
waiting for 5G devices.
Total smartphone sales were down 16 percent in the second
quarter, according to research firm IDC, whose survey showed Huawei
leading the market ahead of Samsung, Apple, and Chinese firms
Xiaomi and Oppo.
At Wednesday’s event, the company also announced a ramped-up
version of its Google TV platform which competes against Roku and
Amazon’s Fire TV.
“The new Google TV experience brings together movies, shows,
live TV, and more from across your apps and subscriptions and
organizes them just for you,” said Google TV senior director
Shalini Govilpai.
Also unveiled was a new Nest Audio smart speaker which is 75
percent louder and has 50 percent stronger bass than its original
smart speaker with the Google Home brand, according to the
company.
-AFP
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