A Look at Google’s New Stock

Much like Apple’s highly publicised launch, Google had their own special event last Wednesday which saw the announcement of new phones, gadgets and other awesome products. But let’s start off with the Google Pixel – the “thinnest, lightest laptop that Google has ever made”.

That’s right, Google makes laptops. The four-in-one design allows this laptop to fold however you want and feels more or less like a tablet. According to Google, you can adapt it for the office, the classroom, or a long flight and it features a touch pad. It may look impressive, especially since it includes the Google Assistant which works like Apple’s Siri and a Pixelbook Pen, but there isn’t much else to it.

Google has collaborated with Snapchat to bring the snapping experience to the Pixelbook’s screen using high performance software and hardware, but you can’t help but ask: Do you really want to snap from your laptop?

Other features include instant tethering and multiple layers of security thanks to the Chrome operating system, but it’s still prone to viruses. And with the overly hyped price tag, Google is making a great attempt, but it’s just not convincing to the average buyer.

But it was truly the Google Pixel 2 that grabbed our attention. Created in two sizes, much like Apple does with its regular and plus-sized phones, Google offers the same, except its bigger phone is called the XL.

The Pixel 2 is available in three colours: Kinda Blue, Just Black and Clearly White. Funny, right?

With full screen and immersive viewing, the vivid colours allow a display that’s perfect for virtual reality. In the words of Mario Queiroz, Google’s product chief: “We don’t set aside the better features for the bigger device”. The shade!

The Pixel 2 offers the Now Playing feature, where your phone automatically Shazams for you except… it’s not Shazam. The Pixel Edge feature is all about triggering the assistant with the press of a button – so if you need anything, your phone is there for you.

An interesting aspect is augmented reality (AR) where new stickers are included thanks to the camera which renders support for AR content. Speaking of the camera – it was rated the best on any smartphone according to DXO Mark. But the question is, does anyone even trust DXO Mark?

Expect Motion Photos where you can capture up to three seconds of photos. It’s like Apple’s Live Photos, but longer.

That’s not all. The Pixel 2 allows its users to access free, unlimited storage for their photos and videos in the highest resolution. That’s like your personal Photos folder, except you can store media forever. iCloud doesn’t stand a chance.

Mini products Google announced include the Google Home Mini (which comes free with the Pixel 2) and the Google Daydream View – a virtual reality headset where over 250 high quality titles are available. And the price tag is pretty decent. Just as the audience was getting overwhelmed, Google decided to come up with the Google Pixel Buds – which gives you a real time translation experience. The ladies at the salon will never be ready.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.