Google Just Launched the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL

A first look at today's Made by Google announcement, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones.
Susan Fourtané

Google is having us at the edge of the chair. Not yet recovered from the recent news that Google is shutting down Google+ after a March data leak bug, we had to quickly turn our attention to the annual Made by Google event where the technology giant shows off all its latest gadgets every October. 

During the Made by Google event held in New York City today, Google unveiled the latest products in its Pixel, Home, and Chromecast lines. 

Watch Made by Google live here: 

 

The Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL

Google introduced today the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL, Google's built-in-house Android phones.  

The Pixel 3 XL has a 6.3-inch screen, 128GB of storage space, and bundled USB-C headphones. It uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset, has 4GB of RAM and a 3,732mAh battery.

The Pixel 3 XL has a 12.2-megapixel main camera as well as a pair of 8-megapixel front-facing cameras, which allows it to take extra-wide shots.

The Pixel 3 includes a new camera feature called Top Shot that captures photos of people at the exact right moment. Pixel 3 offers free unlimited storage for all your photos.

On top of a second selfie camera, the Pixel 3 and Pixel XL also feature wireless charging. The Pixel-branded wireless charging accessory with Assistant features is called the Pixel Stand.

New Pixel navigational elements include wiping down for notifications and squeezing the sides to launch Google Assistant, with new adds such as long-pressing the power button to take a screenshot. With the new Pixel, you can use the Pixel's camera to recognize and draft an email from a business card.

The phone can also recognize a restaurant name in an email, and offer the option to make a reservation right on the spot, using Google's Duplex Technology.

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The camera is a big focus for Google's new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. One feature Google announced in Made by Google 2017 was AR Stickers, which Google has now renamed to Playground. Four new packs of Playground are now available on the Play Store. 

Playground is launching in Pixel 3 and is being incorporated into Pixel 1 and 2. Pixel 3 also includes six months free use of YouTube music. 

Top Shot uses machine learning to choose the best shot you can possibly have. Using machine learning, Night Sight is designed to never use the flash again taking incredibly bright untouched images. 

Pixel 3 is a phone that can answer the phone. Call Screen uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to pick up calls you can't take or don't want to take such as those telemarketing calls. Call Screen shows the conversation in real time on the screen. You can pick up the conversation whenever you want.

The Pixel 3 and its larger variant come in three available colors: white, black, and the new sand pink.

Pixel 3 is available for pre-order now starting at $799 and $79 for the Pixel Stand.

Google Home Hub 

Google's Diya Jolly also introduced Google Home Hub. Google Home Hub is Google's answer to the Amazon Echo Show. Home Hub, a new add to the smart home, can handle voice commands to control smart home products around your house, such as security cameras, lights, and TV.

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Using voice recognition technology, Google Home Hub also includes Voice Match to differentiate between various users in a household with authorization to activate Home Hub. Home Hub can tell the user everything they need to know by the time they finish their first cup of coffee in the morning. 

Home Hub comes in four beautiful colors to match your home palet. Ambient EQ controls automatically the lighting in the home. 

Rather than being a hardware innovator, Google has differentiated itself by building strong and smart software features and this is what Google showed off in this year's announcements. 

Home View lets you control over 2,000 smart home devices from different manufacturers. 

Google Home Hub is available for pre-order at $149 today. 

Google Pixel Slate 

Powerful productivity in a slate form. That's what Google's Pixel Slate is. Pixel Slate is thin and light in stylish midnight blue. Pixel Slate is engineering with a stunning display with a maximum number of pixels, wide angle lens, dual front speakers, machine learning customizes everything for you with the Google Assistant.

It includes an embedded security chip and double password protection. Pixel Slate combines work and play and is powered by Chrome OS. 

Google Pixel Slate is going to be available later this year. 

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