Today’s Made by Google Launch event formally introduced the world to an array of new Pixel devices.
Today’s Made by Google Launch event formally introduced the world to an array of new Pixel devices. Extensive information about the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones has already been shared , or otherwise leaked out , but some new tidbits were covered as well. In addition, the Made by Google team announced the Pixel Watch and shared its vision for a cohesive ecosystem incorporating an upcoming Pixel Tablet as well.Google’s Senior Vice President of Devices and Services, Rick Osterloh, introduced the event. He explained that the core of Google’s consumer ecosystem is built on AI, Android, and Google Tensor . Google Tensor is the company’s designed in-house computing platform which was introduced with the Pixel 6 family. Osterloh says the chip’s machine learning capabilities enable Pixel-only experiences which include Live Translate, Magic Eraser, and Real Tone.Osterloh says Google is building a Pixel portfolio that includes phones, tablets, watches and earbuds. The company has previously released a Pixel Slate tablet in 2018 which curiously used Intel Core processors but was widely considered to be a flop . Google says the tablet market is challenging because these devices spend more than 80% of their time at home, and are typically used for short periods of time. Often, tablets end up in a drawer or otherwise forgotten about.The new Google Pixel Tablet has a plan to augment its usefulness. The Pixel Tablet will work with a new charging speaker dock to extend its versatility. While docked, the tablet will function like a Nest Hub and sit perched up at an angle. The dock’s speaker is said to provide richer sound for media consumption, whether it is used for video streaming, music playlists, or to provide another avenue to reach Google Assistant.The dock’s magnetic connection system should make it easy to grab and stow the Pixel Tablet for other uses, while also reducing cable clutter for charging. We think this is a very slick solution which solves many of the pain points we have encountered when using tablets—primarily that stowing them can be awkward and that they represent yet another device that needs to be charged. The tablet announcement serves more as a teaser at this point though, and Google did not discuss pricing or availability beyond arriving in 2023.The Pixel Watch is now available for order, however. The Pixel Watch is Google’s first wearable device that marries together Fitbit and WearOS experiences. The Pixel Watch features an array of activity and sleep trackers to provide deep insights into health and fitness. This includes a recognition that sometimes rest is more important than another workout and will provide recommendations accordingly based on the user’s needs.
