Tag: google home

Google Is Planning To Launch Atleast Five Products in 2019
Google started launching devices with its branding with the first generation of Pixel smartphones. Some praiseworthy devices that the company has launched since then include the Google Home smart speakers and Pixel range of smartphones. However, the company has only had a handful of devices to its credit. Fresh Reports claim that Google is working on several new devices, and it might launch a total of five products this year. These are expected to be the Pixel 3 Lite series, the Pixel 4, a new version of Google Home, Pixel smartwatch and a Google Security Camera.

This news arrives after numerous leaks of the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel smartwatch have surfaced on the internet. Other products, like the Google Home refresh and a cheaper Pixel smartphone, also have been due for a while now. These products are expected to make their way to the markets in the coming months.

Google’s Product Lineup For 2019

One device that company is likely to launch is the Pixel 4 smartphone which will succeed the Pixel 3 lineup from yesteryear. The handset is expected to launch in the month of October this year. It is assumed to have an improved design and upgraded cameras. Going by the company’s past chipset selection, the future Pixel smartphone is likely to run on the latest Snapdragon flagship SoC which is the Snapdragon 855. In terms of memory and storage, the device is expected to be offered in the following storage variants:
- 6 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM
- 6 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM
The Google Pixel 3 Lite series is also expected to be unveiled this year. This includes the Pixel 3 Lite and the Pixel 3 Lite XL. The devices have been leaked countless times online and are expected to launch at the Google I/O in May. The leaks suggest that Pixel 3 Lite will feature the Snapdragon 675 while the Pixel 3 Lite XL will feature the Snapdragon 710. Google is expected to target the mid-range smartphone market with these devices. The anticipated smartphones will be available in the following storage variants:
- 4GB RAM and 32GB ROM
- 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM
Another product that Google may launch this year will be a revised version of its Google Home speakers. They may launch alongside the Pixel 4 in October and are expected to have an updated design and refined audio quality. The Pixel Smartwatch is another product that is expected this year. It has been leaked several times and will compete against the likes of Apple Watch. Interestingly, it will be the first smartwatch that the company releases.

Also read: Xiaomi Mi 9 Full Specs and Images Leak Before Launch

Google is also planning to launch the Google Home Security Camera later this year. It will be made in collaboration with Nest, which is an American company best known for making smart home products. The Nest products may be rebranded as the company got integrated into Google early last year. So the Google Home Security Camera could be part of the Google Home range of devices or feature the Nest branding. The device is expected to be announced in October at the Pixel 4 launch event.
February 16, 2019
Chromecast Now Syncs With Google Home Speakers For Multi-Room Playback

With the latest update, which is already rolling out, Google has added multi-room playback support for the Chromecast, when it is paired with Google Home speakers. This will add the Chromecast to the Home ecosystem and allow you to play a song, a playlist, a podcast or even an audiobook. The Chromecast will then let you play it across all speakers and other Chromecast-connected devices in your house.

Earlier, the Home ecosystem only allowed for speaker groups to be made with audio devices. Obviously, this did not include the Chromecast. The speaker support for Chromecast had been announced by Google way back in October. The feature is already available for users who are a part of google’s preview program. Working on all the generations of Chromecast, the update is expected to reach almost every device soon. Some users reported that there were not able to see the option even after the update. It was later found out that this issue will be resolved after rebooting the device.

The speaker group can be setup through the Google Home app. The speaker group also includes televisions, which can now be aded to the groups. For example, when a TV, which is connected to a Chromecast is synced to a speaker group, you can view the song information on the screen. This is displayed against a background of rotating images.

Also Read : Motorola’s Next Flagship Will Have Snapdragon 8150 And 5G Moto Mod Support

The new grouping also includes smart displays including the Google Home Hub and the recently launched LG Xboom WK9. Along with this, Google had also added support to pair bluetooth speakers with the Home App. This was done earlier this year and enables users to add voice control to the sound system.

November 20, 2018

Google Home Mini, Google Home Launched In India Starting Rs 4499

Google has launched its first-ever line of smart speakers in India at an event in Delhi. The company has launched its most affordable offering, the Google Home Mini for Rs 4499 and the mid-range Google Home for Rs 9999.

The Google Home Mini and Home will compete with Amazon Echo Dot and Echo, which were launched in India back in October 2017. The smart speaker industry in India is starting to pick up its pace as more companies are introducing their smart speakers in India. Recently, another Echo Dot/Home Mini alternate, Eufy Genie was launched in India which is available for Rs 3980 via Amazon. The Eufy Genie is powered Alexa, Amazon’s AI assistant. The Google Home and Home Mini, on the other hand, are powered by the Google Assistant, the company’s own AI assistant.

These smart speakers function only if they’re connected to a Wi-Fi network. The speakers act as great music players but once connected they can be used to also control different smart home accessories like a smart bulb. Additionally, these speakers can schedule a task, set an alarm, ask for trivia or the latest news.

Google Home Specs

Available in two colour variants, one with White, while the other a Slate fabric finish. The larger smart speaker has a 2 inch driver with dual 2 inch passive radiators. The speaker requires 16.5 Volts and 2A current, which is why the speaker has to be connected to a power source at all times. One can connect to these speakers using an iOS or Android smartphone using the Google Home app. The speaker supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Bands. Additionally, these speakers can connect with each other to run as a single set of speakers or for multi-room playback.

Weight (g)	477
Supported Audio Formats	HE-AAC, LC-AAC, MP3, Vorbis, WAV (LPCM), FLAC, Opus
Wireless network	802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz) Wi-Fi
Speaker	2in driver + dual 2in passive radiators
Connections	DC power jack, Micro-USB port (for service only)

Google Home Mini Specs

The Mini has a similar functionality in a compact form factor. The speaker is available in three different finishes, which includes Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral. Due to smaller form factor, it requires 5 Volts and 1.8 Amps power. However, it packs in a smaller speaker, which might not be able to fill out even a small room.

Weight Approximate	173 g
Height	4.2 cm
Colour	Chalk
Sound System	360° Circle Sound
Wireless Speakers	Yes
Power Source	Power Adapter

Buy The Google Home here

April 10, 2018

Google Home Smart Speakers Will Launch Exclusively On Flipkart

Google India is hosting an event on the 10th of April for the launch of the Google Home smart speakers. Flipkart has now made a dedicated page for the Google Home speakers. The Flipkart page features a Google Home and Google Home Mini with a hashtag #MakeGoogleDoIt. Additionally, the page also mentions different capabilities of these devices like hands-free play and pause gestures.

The Google Home and the Google Home Mini are the first set of smart speakers from the company which will also be powered by the Google Assistant. These smart speakers need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. The speakers act as great music players but once connected they can be used to also control different smart home accessories like a smart bulb. Additionally, these speakers can also be used to schedule a task, set an alarm, ask for trivia or the latest news.

As of now, the only competition the Google’s smart speaker lineup is the Amazon Echo series of smart speakers. Amazon had launched the Echo Plus, Echo, and Echo Dot in India for a price of Rs 14,990, 9,999, and 4,499 respectively. Considering these prices, the Google Home and Google Home Mini are likely to be priced at Rs 9,999 and Rs 4,499 respectively. However, the official price might vary a bit.

Google Home Specs

Available in two color variants one with White, while the other a Slate fabric finish. The larger smart speaker has a 2 inch driver with dual 2 inch passive radiators. The speaker requires 16.5 Volts and 2A current, which is why the speaker is needed to be connected to a power source at all times. One can connect to these speakers using an iOS or Android smartphone using the Google Home app. The speaker supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Bands . Additionally, these speakers can be connected to run as a single set of speakers or for multi room playback.

Weight (g)	477
Supported Audio Formats	HE-AAC, LC-AAC, MP3, Vorbis, WAV (LPCM), FLAC, Opus
Wireless network	802.11b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz) Wi-Fi
Speaker	2in driver + dual 2in passive radiators
Connections	DC power jack, Micro-USB port (for service only)

Google Home Mini Specs

The Mini has a similar functionality in a compact form factor. The speaker will launch in three different finishes, which includes Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral. Due to smaller form factor, it requires 5 Volts and 1.8 Amps power. However, it packs in a smaller speaker, which might not be able to fill out even a small room.

Weight Approximate	173 g
Height	4.2 cm
Colour	Chalk
Sound System	360° Circle Sound
Wireless Speakers	Yes
Power Source	Power Adapter

April 6, 2018

Google Home, Home Mini To Launch In India On April 10th

Google has sent out an invite to a new product launch on the 10th Of April in New Delhi. The official press invites says ‘join us as we bring you a sweet little something that’s bound to keep you talking for a long, long while.’ The company will launch the Google Home and Home Mini.

The Google Home and Home Mini are the first set of smart speakers from Google, powered by the Google Assistant. These smart speakers need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network, where they can be used to control different smart home accessories like a smart bulb. Additionally, these speakers can also be used to schedule a task, set an alarm, ask for trivia or the latest news.

As of now, the only competition the Google Home has is the Amazon Echo series of smart speakers. Amazon had launched the Echo Plus, Echo, and Echo Dot in India for a price of Rs 14,990, 9,999, and 4,499 respectively. Considering these prices, the Home and Home Mini are likely to be priced at Rs 9,999 and Rs 4,499 respectively.

Google Home Specs

The Google Home comes in White and Slate fabric finish. The smart speaker has a 2 inch driver with dual 2 inch passive radiators. The speaker requires 16.5 Volts and 2A current, which is needed to be connected to a power source all the time. One can connect to these speakers using an iOS or Android smartphone. The speaker supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi Bands for high-performance streaming. Additionally, these speakers can be connected to the same device to have group playback.

Google Home Mini Specs

The Google Home Mini has a similar functionality in a compact form factor. The speaker comes in three different finish, which includes Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral. Due to smaller form factor, it requires 5 Volts and 1.8 Amps power. However, it packs in a smaller speaker, which might not be able to fill out even a small room.

April 2, 2018
Mid-Range Google Pixel To Launch In India Soon

Google Pixel series of smartphones are known for their unprecedented camera capabilities. However, unlike Moto or Xiaomi smartphones, the Pixel devices retail at a higher price tag. Google is now targeting markets like India, which has a huge demand for smartphones priced between Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. According to a report, Google is planning to launch an Indian market specific device in July-August, which includes an affordable Pixel smartphone, Pixelbook and Nest devices. Additionally, the company will launch the Pixel 3 series of smartphones by Diwali.

If we look at the numbers, Google sold 3.9 million Pixel smartphones globally in 2017 while Apple sold 214.9 million devices. The existence of offline stores and affordable iPhone models like the iPhone SE has helped Apple to achieve these sale figures. Additionally, Google is still new to the hardware game and Apple has already established itself as a premium brand.

Pixel 2

Mid Range Google Pixel Specs

According to a report, Google will launch the mid-range Google Pixel smartphone and a Pixelbook in India by August 2018. However, the report does not specify the pricing or specifications of these devices. Along with these, the company might also launch the Nest series of smart home accessories. The Nest series of accessories comprises a thermostat and other smart home accessories.

Get ready to #MakeGoogleDoIt, at home too. Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/JuNvt3cpFE

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) April 2, 2018

Google will begin this launch by announcing the Google Home products. The company will launch the Google Home and Home Mini to take on the competition like the Amazon Echo speakers. The Home mini will retail for Rs 4,499 and the Home will retail at Rs 9,999. This time around, the company will focus on the offline market through brick and mortar stores. This means Google is most likely to set up stores in crowded places like malls and electronics stores.

April 2, 2018
Google Home Smart Speakers To Launch In India In April

The smart speakers industry has been thriving globally for a couple of years now. The Apple HomePod has recently joined the Amazon’s Echo lineup and Google’s Home speakers. In India, however, the only notable smart speakers available are the Amazon Echo speakers and the recently launched Eufy Genie. That is about to change, as Google will launch its Home smart speakers in India some time in April.

A new report claims that Reddington India has apparently communicated with its retailers about the scheduled launch. Right now, Google has three smart speakers in its Home lineup.], the Google Home Mini, Home and Home Max. In India, however, the company will to launch just the Home Mini and Home.

The Google Home Mini, launched as a competitor to the Amazon Echo Dot will launched at under Rs 5000. The smart home craze is still at a very nascent stage in India so, it will be interesting to see the battle between Google and Amazon here.

Of course, the Google Assistant powers the Home speakers. The smart speakers will be able to play songs, set reminders and call people with just a voice command. If users have smart products installed, the speakers will be able to control those as well. The Google Home smart speakers are expected to be optimised with local Indian languages, just like its AI assistant is.

The pricing here will play a huge part in consumers choosing the Google Home speakers over the Amazon Echo lineup. More details will follow.

March 29, 2018
Google Home With Touchscreen Display Spotted In The Official Google App

Google has been battling with Amazon in the smart speaker space since launching the Google Home. Google Home was the only smart speaker made by Google until 4th of October when it launched a new variant of the smart speaker, the Google Home Mini. It is speculated that the Google Home Mini was launched to compete with the inexpensive Amazon Echo Dot and had the same price as well (US $49). Amazon recently launched the Echo Show, which is a smart speaker with a touchscreen display and it appears that Google is working on a touchscreen smart speaker as well, as found by Android Police.

Amazon Echo Show

This seems to corroborate with a report from TechCrunch in September which suggested that Google was working on a table top smart screen device codenamed ‘Manhattan’ which would compete with the Amazon Echo Show. A deep study into the the APK of 7.14.15 beta version of the Google app found references to multiple on-display features such as notifications, YouTube video playback, photo galleries, Google Maps with business listings and more. The code throughout the app references “Quartz” that operates using voice commands.

The reference to Quartz can be found in many strings

<activity android:name=”com.google.android.apps.gsa.monet.quartz.QuartzMonetActivity” android:exported=”false” android:process=”:search” android:taskAffinity=”” android:theme=”@style/Quartz.TransparentNavBar” />

The reference of Quartz suggests that Google intends it for kitchen use as the study of the app points to a screen that can be used to display recipes and timers. The weather function referenced in Quartz offers 32 different dedicated icons showing everything from a sunny day to blizzards and hurricanes.

The new smart speaker will display cooking recipes

Google has an array of smart home devices ranging from smart speakers to wireless streaming devices like the ChromeCast. Coming up with a touchscreen smart speaker to compete with the Echo Show makes sense for Google and make full use of its AI and software integration. Also, the “Quartz” will play YouTube videos, unlike the Echo Show.

The Google smart speaker will play YouTube videos unlike the Echo Show

October 24, 2017
Google Launches The Google Home Mini For US$49

Sundar Pichai took to stage during the Google launch event on 4th October and talked about the importance of AI in the future of technology. Google has launched a new iteration of Google’s smart speaker, the Home Mini. The Google Home Mini will compete with Amazon Echo Dot in the market of mini smart speakers. The Google Home Mini is designed to fit into the aesthetics of your home with a circular shape. The speaker will be available in Coral, Charcoal and Chalk. To make the competition with Amazon Echo Dot even, the smart speaker will be available for US$49.

The Home Mini has a 360-degree sound stage. For more sound, the Google Home Mini can be connected with a different speaker. Google Home Mini is powered by Google Assistant and has the intelligence to differentiate the voice of different people in the house and perform actions based on the voice.

Google has partnered with Disney to bring Disney originals to the experience of Google Home. This is done in the bid to improve the interaction of Google Assistant with kids.

The Google Home Mini can perform a series of tasks with one command. it can find your phone even if it is on silent by a simple “find my phone” command.

The Google Home Mini will be available to pre-order from 4th October.

October 4, 2017
Google Launch Event Is Less Than 10 Hours Away – What To Expect

The 4th October launch event by Google is just a few hours away and the anticipation is increasing with every passing minute. Apart from the new Pixel devices, there are a few other products that might be unveiled by Google today.

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

The two new smartphones have been leaked for a while now and a lot of information about the phones is more or less clear. The Pixel 2 is expected to have similar thick bezels as the Pixel from 2016. The Pixel 2 XL will have a more 2017 flagship design with thin bezels and the recent leaks reveal a design very similar to the LG G6, which is possible considering LG is making the Pixel 2 XL for Google this time around. There is also an omission of the 3.5mm headphone jack and addition of front firing stereo speakers.

You may also like – Everything we know about the new Pixel smartphones.

Google Home Mini

This has been rumoured as well ever since the Amazon Echo Dot released. The smaller sibling of the Google Home will compete with Amazon Echo Dot and will be powered by the Google Assistant. The smart speaker will be available in Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral colours. The Home Mini will be priced at US$49 (Rs 3200 approx.).

New Daydream VR

The Daydream VR headset will be the second iteration of the wearable product by Google. Just like the Pixebook, no specific details have been revealed by the website. The colour variants, however, have been revealed and the Daydream VR will be available in Charcoal, Fog, and Coral colours. Just like the previous generation, a remote controller can be seen alongside the new generation VR headset in leaked images. The new wearable will reportedly cost US$99 (Rs. 6,400 approx.).

Pixelbook

The Google Pixelbook succeeds last year’s Chromebook Pixel. The laptop will be another high-end offering by Google and will be the first iteration that can be folded into a tablet. the Pixelbook will be accompanied by a pressure-sensitive stylus called the Pixebook Pen. No other details about the laptop have been revealed other than the storage variants and their prices. The 128GB base variant will be priced at US$1199 (Rs. 77,200 approx.), while the 256GB and 512GB variants are expected to be priced at US$1399 (Rs. 90,000 approx.), and US$1749 (Rs. 1.12 lakhs approx.) respectively.

You may also like – Google Assistant Might Be Heading To Chromebooks

October 4, 2017
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!

October 2, 2017
New Google Pixelbook, Google Home Mini And Daydream VR Leaked

After the Google Pixel, 2 XL images were leaked, new images of three new products and their details have been leaked before Google hosts a launch event n October 4th. Details about the new Google Pixelbook, Google Home Mini, and the Daydream VR headset have been revealed by Droid Life.

The Google Pixelbook succeeds last year’s Chromebook Pixel. The laptop will be another high-end offering by Google and will be the first iteration that can be folded into a tablet. the Pixelbook will be accompanied by a pressure-sensitive stylus called the Pixebook Pen. No other details about the laptop have been revealed other than the storage variants and their prices. The 128GB base variant will be priced at US$1199 (Rs. 77,200 approx.), while the 256GB and 512GB variants are expected to be priced at US$1399 (Rs. 90,000 approx.), and US$1749 (Rs. 1.12 lakhs approx.) respectively.

The Daydream VR headset will be the second iteration of the wearable product by Google. Just like the Pixebook, no specific details have been revealed by the website. The colour variants, however, have been revealed and the Daydream VR will be available in Charcoal, Fog, and Coral colours. Just like the previous generation, a remote controller can be seen alongside the new generation VR headset in leaked images. The new wearable will reportedly cost US$99 (Rs. 6,400 approx.).

The third product leaked is the Google Homi Mini. The smaller sibling of the Google Home will compete with Amazon Echo Dot and will be powered by the Google Assistant. The smart speaker will be available in Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral colours. The Home Mini will be priced at US$49 (Rs 3200 approx.).

The leaks, as we say, should be taken with a pinch of scepticism. The launch event is just a few days away and the new Pixel devices along with a host of new products will be officially launched on October 4th.

September 20, 2017
Mini Google Home To Take On Echo Dot

Google is reportedly planning to compete with the Amazon’s smart speaker, Echo Dot by releasing a miniature version of its own Home smart speaker. The unveiling of the miniaturised Google Home is expected to be at a hardware event planned for the upcoming Pixel sequel.

Planning to rival the Amazon’s Echo Dot, the Google Assistant powered smart speaker will allow you to access voice command interfaces for audio systems, connecting multiple Home units, playing music etc.

It is still unclear as to what all features Google’s smaller Home Speaker will come with but we are hoping that the voice-activated Assistant hub will host the similar features like its sibling. Some of which are expected to be hands free calling, accessing smart home devices, personalised experience by disguised voice feature, getting real-time answers related to traffic, weather reports etc.

No specific details about the mini Home speaker’s pricing, dimensions and feature set have been spilled yet. But given the massive popularity of Amazon’s Echo Dot which is priced at $50, a smaller, cheaper version of Google Home makes much more sense, as the original Google Home costs $129.

You may also like : Amazon Echo Dot, Prime Music Might Be Arriving In India This Diwali

It has also been reported that Google will also launch the new Pixel-branded Chromebook at the Pixel event. This will be the first Chromebook after the launch of the original Chromebook Pixel in 2015. At present, no information about the specifications for this laptop has surfaced. It has been widely reported that the new Pixel Chromebook is a byproduct of Google’s Project Bison, but, it appears not to be the case . Google may be planning to target the higher-end notebook market once again. It is safe to say that the new Pixel-branded Chromebook is intended to be a serious contender to Apple’s MacBook lineup and Microsoft’s Surface Pro.

August 22, 2017
Google I/O: Google Home and Assistant Launched

Google at Google I/O started today has launched the Google Assistant, merging many Google technologies, including “Okay Google”.

Sundar Pichai showed off the assistant at the Google I/O, with real-time results and a conversationalist response system. The idea is to help in follow up question and to do tasks that you have wanted your virtual assistants to do.

The assistant will work across devices and Google strengths, at home, at work or in the car. A device called Google Home will work as a home management system. The unit will be launched later this year with the customizable bottom. It has a wireless speaker, but it does a lot more than that, as it contains the Google Assistant inbuilt.

It will do basics, like set alarms, make lists and reminders, but will also control various home network devices, like Nest Equipment, lights etc.

Later on you will be able to order groceries or flowers, or even have the living room ready before you reach home, with the right music, lighting, and temprature along with your home delivery food order.

Mixed up with the Google Assistant, serches will allow follow up questions and a single one line conversation with a more natural reply. “Skynet” Anyone?

May 18, 2016