- have a single selfie camera, excluding a second wider-angle version
- cannot be charged wirelessly
- have bodies made out of plastic rather than metal and glass
- use Qualcomm's mid-range Snapdragon 670 processor rather than the more powerful 845 chip
- the 3a XL has a smaller 6in display than the 3 XL's 6.3in model
Camera tricks
Image copyrightGOOGLE Image captionThe Nest Hub Max adds a camera and has a bigger screen than its predecessor Another hardware launch at the IO event involved a larger version of Google's voice-controlled smart display for the home. The device now features a 10in, rather than 7in touchscreen and introduces a camera, which can be used for video chats as well as to provide home security via motion-triggered recordings saved online. The new machine is called the Nest Hub Max, and the existing smaller version is being renamed the Nest Home Hub, representing an extension to the brand. Nest used to be run as an independent smart home business within parent company Alphabet, but was subsumed by the Google division last year. The camera makes several features possible, including:- the ability to control music and other software with hand gestures
- face-recognition to provide personalised greetings and suggestions when it detects different family members entering a room
- an automatic framing facility to keep a person's face centred as they move about while taking part in a video call
Augmented search
Earlier at IO, chief executive Sundar Pichai announced that Google's search results would soon start to include podcasts. Users will be able to listen to the recordings directly from the results page, he said, or save them for later playback if they prefer. They will also be searchable by content as well as title. The firm's augmented reality chief Aparna Chennapragada was next on stage to demo how the technology - which mixes together computer graphics with real-world views - will also be used to enhance results. She revealed that relevant searches would now yield 3D models that can be rotated and viewed on Google's own page or superimposed over a camera-captured image of the surrounding area. This, she suggested, would help students explore new concepts or see how consumer goods would match with their current possessions. Apple has also taken time to promote augmented reality at its recent developer conferences, but outside of gaming the tech has proved more of a gimmick than a compelling feature for many users across their day-to-day activities. In a follow-up to last year's big announcement - a feature that allows Google to phone businesses and make computer-controlled voice bookings on a person's behalf - the company revealed plans to add fresh capabilities to its Duplex software. In the future, it said it aimed to make it possible for users to ask its virtual assistant to book a movie ticket or a rental car for their next trip, for example. It said its software would then automatically find a relevant rental car company and fill out all the forms including information about dates and vehicle preference by making reference to past choices and Gmail correspondence. Duplex is available in most of the US but has yet to launch elsewhere. Other announcements included:- an "incognito mode" for Google Maps, so the app can be used without keeping a record of past searches and travel
- the introduction of a "dark theme" to the next version of Android - a mode in which white text and icons are shown on dark backgrounds rather than the reverse. Google said use of the function should extend battery life
- "Focus mode" is also coming to Android devices in the autumn, which will allow users to disable distracting apps
- Google Assistant is getting voice-activated "driving mode". Users will be able to ask the Assistant to check their calendar for where they are going, and it will then suggest a route and ask whether they want to respond to messages or calls that come while en route. It will launch automatically once the phone links to the vehicle's Bluetooth connection
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
The Attorney General vs NDC impasse – why they ‘fight’
31 seconds -
High Court orders teacher unions to end strike
2 mins -
‘He worked with all staff irrespective of their status’ – GRA hails Dr Ammishaddai
8 mins -
Zack Orji underwent two brain surgeries; he is fine – Actors Guild of Nigeria President
31 mins -
Another accident leaves 5 police officers injured in Nsawam
33 mins -
I’ve really worked well as Veep; vote for me as President – Bawumia to traders
41 mins -
There’s something mysteriously amiss somewhere about ongoing ‘dumsor’ – Gabby Otchere-Darko
54 mins -
South Africa: Team Western Cape wins National Primary School Track and Field Championships
1 hour -
Chale Wote Street Art Festival: A call for artists ahead of 2024 edition
3 hours -
Floods: We’re exposed but my team and I are ‘running’ to catch up – Oppong Nkrumah
3 hours -
5 traits of sweet, committed men that may seem like red flags at first
4 hours -
We met on Twitter and our first date was a week-long road trip
5 hours -
The biggest mistake people make when meeting someone in person after talking online
5 hours -
I traveled 500 miles for a first date
5 hours -
My cousin saved my life and she never knew
5 hours