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Google’s “Launch Night In” Events Brings New Googly Things

New Hardware and Software Releases from Phones to AI Secretaries

By Pedigo Fri 02 Oct, 2020 2:40 PM
Google continues an exciting fall season in tech announcements with its “Launch Night In” event hosted virtually on Wednesday, September 30th. On the heels of new products from Nvidia and Amazon, Google is not resting on their laurels. Wednesday’s event included announcements for a pair of new Pixel Android phones, a new Google TV Chromecast, Nest Audio, and an AI-based secretary to handle long wait times on the phone.

Google Pixel 5

Google’s 2020 flagship phone will hit the market on October 15th starting at $699 USD. It comes in one size: a 6-inch FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels for a pixel density of 432ppi) and OLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate. For photos, the Pixel 5 is equipped with a 12-megapixel primary lens and a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens for better scenic, landscape, and group pictures. The cameras will support “Night Sight” which uses artificial intelligence to boost low-light photos.

Under the hood will be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor with 8GB of RAM and a 4,080 mAh battery which is larger than those found in the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G. Also inside is support for Qi-based wireless charging. The Pixel 5 can also charge devices itself such as Pixel Buds by placing them on the back of the phone.

The Pixel 5 comes with an IP68 rating for water resistance and will be shipping October 15th in colors “Just Black” and “Sorta Sage.”

Google Pixel 4a 5G

Google is also upgrading the Pixel 4a in the form of the Pixel 4a 5G. In addition to the 5G support, it’ll have a larger 6.2-inch FHD+ OLED 90Hz screen, up from the 5.8-inch on the existing 4a. It too, will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G processor and will come with 6GB of RAM.

There will be a 12-megapixel main lens (as is on the 4a already) and a 16-megapixel ultrawide replacing the telephoto lens. The Pixel 4a 5G will have a 3,885mAh battery, Titan M Security chip, a rear fingerprint reader, and an increasingly rare feature on phones: a headphone jack.

The 4a 5G will launch in November, will come in black, and is priced at $499 USD.

Nest Audio

Google’s new premiere smart speaker is the Nest Audio, replacing the aging Google Home. In an effort to reduce e-waste, Google is making the mesh covering of the Nest Audio out of recycled plastic bottles. The speaker will have physical controls on top and a hardware mute switch on the back, but will primarily be controlled through Google’s Assistant voice control technology.

Google is saying the next speaker is 75% louder with 50% stronger bass and will auto-tune the sound for the media you’re actively listening to via a Media EQ function. It is already ready for pre-order and will start shipping on October 15th at a price of $99.99 USD (£89.99).

Chromecast with Google TV

Google’s newest Chromecast will be powered by Google TV and will come with a remote control, a departure from prior Chromecast devices which required the user “cast” multimedia from a phone, tablet, or computer within the same network.

The new Chromecast will support 4K HDR at 60 fps and audio formats, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. It’s already for sale via pre-order and is anticipated to ship mid-October. It will cost $49.99 USD and £59.99 in the UK.

Hold for Me (AI Secretary)

For owners of the Pixels 4a, 5, and 4a 5G, there’s an interesting new feature that promises to make waiting on the line (with the accompanying horrible music) a thing of the past. Released on Thursday, October 1st, “Hold for Me” will leverage Google’s AI to take over as an automatic secretary when a caller is placed on hold to a call center leaving the user free to put down the phone.

The service will listen for a call being picked up and send a notification to the user to get back on the horn. Google’s assistant will ask the call center to hold, hopefully keeping them on the line instead of hanging up due to dead air.

“Hold for Me” is powered by Google’s Duplex technology which recognizes the differences of hold music, the automated voice recording thanking you for your saint-like patience, and an actual human picking up the call.

The service will be limited to US toll-free numbers and select Pixel phones at release.

Are any of you all planning on picking up a new Pixel phone, Nest Audio, or Chromecast? Anyone interested in letting Google’s AI secretary manage those long wait times to the ISP? Let us know in the comments below.

WRITTEN BY Pedigo
EDITED BY Silek
4 Comments
Fri 02 Oct, 2020 6:36 PM
I have thought about switching from Samsung Galaxy to Pixel on and off. Seeing the Pixel 5 specs, that just might tempt me enough to go for it instead of the Galaxy S20. I've been using Samsung phones for quite a while and really enjoy them, but the Pixel 5 looks to have some nice features. Great article, thank you for putting it up, I might not of even known about the Pixel 5 for a while without this Cool.
Fri 02 Oct, 2020 9:46 PM
I have thought about switching from Samsung Galaxy to Pixel on and off. Seeing the Pixel 5 specs, that just might tempt me enough to go for it instead of the Galaxy S20. I've been using Samsung phones for quite a while and really enjoy them, but the Pixel 5 looks to have some nice features. Great article, thank you for putting it up, I might not of even known about the Pixel 5 for a while without this Cool.
If you're a big phone camera buff, then the Pixel is rather compelling. Google has done some incredible things with AI and software to really leverage the hardware. I've had the Pixel 3a since release and it's a solid device so I have high hopes for the 4a 5G as soon as 5G is a bit more saturated.

Have you looked at the S20 FE? It seems to be mostly the same as the S20 but at a friendlier price. I generally go the mid-tier route because I like to buy a new phone every year without feeling like I'm being fleeced.
Sat 03 Oct, 2020 1:53 AM
The price tag caught my eye, I don't go after the latest and greatest and wait till something I have breaks before I replace it. Just old school that way. I'm still using a Galaxy S8+ that I bought right before the S9 was launched if that tells ya something lol. My S8+ still works excellent, never broke the screen thus far and the battery life still is great so no need for me to upgrade atm.

With more and more things being made easier with Google and synchronized like your calendar for example, I would enjoy the Pixel 5, but I might not get it till there's a Pixel 6 or later Tongue Out. Gotta get every penny's worth of my S8+ hehe.
Sat 03 Oct, 2020 8:33 PM
Once you go Pixel you'll never want to go back.

I have a 3a and I've owned Windows, iOS, and Android phones. My 3a has been the best in terms of experience and updates out of all of them.

One perk to them is you get two years of Security & OS updates. So since you tend to hold on to your phones for awhile that's a bonus for you. Your phone will be protected and you'll get the same updates as the new phones. I'm going to hold onto my 3a until the 5a comes out next year.