Google unveils new Pixel 4 smartphone, Pixel Buds, Nest

Google has unveiled its much-anticipated new Pixel 4 smartphone, as well as a new laptop, wireless earbuds, and a range of other smart devices to rival Apple and other competitors.

The gadgets were revealed to a packed room at Google’s annual hardware showcase in New York City on Tuesday, where the focus was on privacy, sustainability, and “ambient technology” — smart devices that seamlessly enhance daily life without being intrusive.

Here’s a breakdown of Google’s new products.

PIXEL 4 SMARTPHONE

The Pixel 4, with a 5.7-inch display, and the Pixel 4 XL, with a 6.3-inch display, come with a raft of wild features.

They are the first smartphones to feature Motion Sense; technology powered by a radar chip that allows you to skip songs, silence calls or lower the volume of an alarm with the wave of a hand over the screen.

Quick Gestures allows you to do a lot without touching your phone, which is intended to come in handy when you need to be hands-free, such as when cooking, eating, or driving.

Face Unlock is another exciting feature. Attendees at the Google unveiling in New York were shocked by how fast the feature worked — it was as though the Pixel didn’t have a lock screen at all.

The speed is due to the Motion Sense radar capability, which senses the user reaching for the phone and readies Face Unlock in anticipation.
 

Making interaction with the Pixel 4 even more seamless is the upgraded Google Assistant integration. Voice command possibilities have been vastly improved; as Google staff demonstrated, you can find out when a favourite band is playing near you, invite a friend to go with you and find tickets all through voice command.

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