iGyaan Network

Tag: Google Assistant

  • Google Assistant Can Now Recognise Songs

    Google Assistant Can Now Recognise Songs

    Google has rolled out an update to the Google Assistant which enables the AI assistant to recognise songs. One of the more popular features introduced in the Pixel 2 phones is ‘Now Playing‘, wherein the Pixel2 can recognise songs playing and pull up links to buy or stream them. The catch here is that while Pixel 2 doesn’t use the internet to search for songs, the Google Assistant needs the internet to recognise the song and pull up results.

    This feature will come in handy more than you think. If you are always reaching into your pocket and struggling to open Shazam just in time for it to catch the song and show a result, this feature can be priceless.

    If you enter a cafe and want to know what song is playing, simply open up Google Assistant and ask ‘what song is this’. Depending on how fast your internet connection is, Assistant will pull up a card for you with the name of the song, the artist, lyrics, and YouTube, Google Play Music, and Spotify (not available in India) streaming links. If Google Assistant has voice set as the preferred input method and you’re in a loud environment, you will see a new “What’s this song?” chip as the first suggestion in the carousel.

     

  • Google Launches The AI Powered Pixel Buds For US$159

    Google Launches The AI Powered Pixel Buds For US$159

    Google has launched the Pixel Buds, a Google Assistant powered pair of neckbands. The Pixel Buds are priced at US$159 and features tight integration with the Pixel devices such as the new Pixel 2, Pixel 2 Xl and the Pixelbook launched alongside on 4th October.

    The Pixel Buds are a direct rival of the Apple AirPods in terms of what it can do. The Google Pixel Buds feature touch controls and you can interact with the earphones via voice using Google Assistant. You can skip songs, ask for directions and call someone without using your phone at all. They are meant to work primarily with the Pixel devices. The cord connecting the two ear plugs is made of cloth. The Pixel Buds come in a little cloth-covered case that can also recharge them when they’re low. Google says they should last about five hours on a charge; the case can charge them four times. The earbuds have a 120mAh battery while the case has a 620mAh battery capacity.

    Just like the Pixel 2, the Pixel Buds will retail in three colour variant, White, Blue and Black. The Pixel Buds are up for pre-orders in the US and will start shipping in 6-7 weeks.

  • Google Launches The Pixelbook For US$999

    Google Launches The Pixelbook For US$999

    Google has launched a new iteration of its laptop lineup, the Pixelbook. The Pixelbook has a touch sensitive screen and can be converted into a tablet. Google has introduced a stylus as well called the Pixel Pen. The Pixelbook will also be powered by Google Assistant. Google Play Store will also be compatible with Pixelbook, meaning you can have your favourite Android apps on your laptop. The new Pixelbook starts at a price of US$999 and the Pixel Pen will retail for US$99.

    Pixelbook is the thinnest and lightest laptop we’ve ever made.

    The Pixelbook has a 12.3 inch 2400 x 1600 (235 ppi) Quad HD LCD display which is touch sensitive and support for the new Pixel Pen. Under the hood, the Pixelbook has the 7th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, up to 16GB of RAM and three storage options of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. The Pixelbook can be charged using a USB Type C cable and supports fast charging. Powering the device is a 41 Whr battery which gives a usage time of up to 10 hours. It also has a dedicated Google Assistant key to the left of the space bar. The Pixelbook weighs 1.1kg and is available in one colour variant only. The design is inspired by the Pixel phones with a two-tone colour at the back.

    The keyboard on the Pixelbook has backlit keys and a travel distance of 0.8mm. A new smart feature introduced by Google is that if the Pixelbook is out of WiFi coverage, it automatically connects to your Pixel phone.

  • Google Assistant Might Be Heading To Chromebooks

    Google Assistant Might Be Heading To Chromebooks

    Google is gearing up to launch a few marquee products at its 4th October launch. Along with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, there are rumours of a new Google Home, and laptops being unveiled at the event. A new leak through a teardown of the Google Home app suggests that Google Assistant might be making its way to the new Chromebooks.

    According to a report by 9to5Google, hidden deep in the compatibility section of the app is the mention of Chromebooks:

    Listed in the compatibility section of the Chat with your Assistant ‘game’ right alongside phones, Google Home, and Allo is Chromebooks, clear as day.  Not only is the text listed out, but a Chromebook icon shows up right along with those for Home and phones, so it seems pretty concrete that this is something Google intended to do, but just slipped out a little early.

    It seems like introduction of Google Assistant to Google’s laptop range suggests that the Pixelbook might be launched on October 4th. There are also reports that the new Pixel phones will and Google Assistant will be more integrated than ever and this may be the theme of the October 4th launch. Google Assistant is also getting updates that makes the AI assistant capable of performing more complex tasks and with Google Home Mini also launching, Google might be looking towards making its consumers surrounded by Google Assistant.

    The launch event is two days away so stay tuned because iGyaan will bring you all the news from the event!

  • Harman Launched Google Assistant And Alexa Powered Smart Speakers At IFA 2017

    Harman Launched Google Assistant And Alexa Powered Smart Speakers At IFA 2017

    One of the biggest tech event of the year, the IFA 2017 tech show in Berlin has been a platform for various tech firms to debut everything ranging from Wi-Fi fridges to smartphones. Aside from the newly launched flagships like the LG V30 and the Xperia XZ1, smart assistants, luxury headphones, Bluetooth speakers and smart audio gear were some of the devices showcased at the IFA 2017.

    Sinc the demand for smart speakers has surged in the recent past with the entry of Amazon Echo and Google Home, Harman is hedging its bets on smart speakers with the launch of two Google assistant and Alexa powered smart speakers.

    Harman Kardon Allure

    The Alexa powered, Harman Kardon Allure can be controlled via voice commands. The smart speaker lets you order pizza, play music, read the news, control your smart home appliances, make purchases from Amazon, and much more. Harman Kardon Allure features far-field voice technology which allows the speaker to hear commands even from a far distance. The speaker’s 360-degreeambient lighting that glows in time with the music. The Harman Kardon Allure is priced at $249.95 (approximately Rs 16000) and is available at Amazon.

    KEY FEATURES
    Amazon Alexa Voice Control
    Dual-band Wi-Fi
    Far-field Voice Recognition
    Built-in four-microphone array with advanced noise cancellation
    360-degree sound
    Ambient lighting
    Wireless Bluetooth streaming

    JBL Link Series

    The company’s other smart speaker offering includes Google Assistant powered JBL Link series, the LINK 10, LINK 20, and LINK 300. The Google Assistant built-in smart speakers let you stream music, ask questions, manage everyday tasks, etc, by waking the device by saying “Ok, Google”.  The LINK 10 and LINK 20 speakers have the IPX7 waterproof design. Both the smart speakers have 5 and 10 hours of battery life, respectively. The smart speakers can be easily linked together using any home Wi-Fi network. The LINK 10, LINK 20 and LINK 300 are priced at $149, $199 and $249, respectively.

    KEY FEATURES LINK 10 | LINK 20 | LINK 300
    Built-In Google Assistant  Yes
    Chromecast built-in with multi-room music playback  Yes
    Speaker output power 2x8W | 2x10W | 50W
    Bluetooth Yes
    Battery Life 5 Hours | 10 Hours | NA
    Dimensions (mm x mm x mm) 86 x 169 | 93 x 210 | 236 x 134 x 154
    Waterproof IPX7 Rating

     

    Voice controlled smart speakers are one of the most upcoming trends of 2017. And with Amazon’s Echo, Google Home and Apple’s upcoming HomePod, it will be interesting to see how Harman’s smart speakers will stack against its rivals.

  • Sony Launches The Smart Speaker LF-S50G To Rival Amazon Echo, Google Home

    Sony Launches The Smart Speaker LF-S50G To Rival Amazon Echo, Google Home

    Sony has launched its first smart speaker, the LF-S50G powered by Google Assistant at a price of USD 199 (Rs 12,700 approx.). The smart speaker will enter the market dominated by the likes of Amazon Echo and Google Home.

    The inclusion of the Google Assistant means that it will work almost identical to the Google Home and has plenty of power to fill “the average room” with sound, Sony claims. The smart speaker looks very similar to the Apple HomePod with a white speaker mesh wrapped around a metal frame. It is, however, a little taller and slimmer than the Apple HomePod, and there’s a slender silver base which houses the power port and two buttons. It has two microphones, which is same as Google Home, however, Apple’s HomePod has six and the Amazon’s Echo has seven for improved audio recognition. Both microphones on the Sony LF-S50G are positioned on the top of the speaker, with a rubberized cap to ensure splash resistance.

    Since the speaker is powered by Google Assistant, it’ll work for timers, Google searches, your calendar, controlling your smart home, and more. The top of the smart speaker also supports gesture controls. A rotation of a finger clockwise over the top of the speaker will increase volume, and movement in the opposite direction reduces it. You can also skip back and forth between songs by moving your palm over the top of the speaker, left to right to skip forward, and the other way to skip back a track. The smart speaker is equipped with a 360-degree speaker setup, a downward woofer, and an upward tweeter, delivering sound in all directions.

    The smart speaker from Sony boasts something that the Amazon Echo and Google Home miss out, a small matrix-dot display. It can provide you with useful info such as the time and the volume level and, seamlessly disappears in the speaker mesh if you do not want it.

    Sony says the LF-S50G release date is set for mid-October with a retail price of $199 (Rs 12,700) and will be available in Blue, White, and Black colour variants, but, there is no word about the speaker entering the Indian market, yet.

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