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We know just about all there is to know about the upcoming Pixel and Pixel XL. Well, except exactly how much each model will cost - that one has remained elusive, even as we're a mere two days from the official launch. But hardware-wise, we know Google's new top-tier devices will feature Snapdragon 821 chipsets, likely four-carrier US compatibility, 32 or 128GB of storage, 4GB of RAM, 12MP and 8MP rear and front cameras, USB-C ports, and 5 and 5.5" displays. The only real differences will come in regard to price, display resolution and size, and battery capacity.
Two independent and reliable sources have confirmed to us that Google is planning a new Pixel laptop to be released in Q3 2017. The project, known internally as 'Bison' and by the informal nickname 'Pixel 3,' will likely be the first brand-new device to showcase Google's combined Android / Chrome OS 'Andromeda' operating system in a laptop form factor. Bison, then, would be the culmination of years of work by Google's Pixel team and Google's Android and Chrome OS teams.
Once again, we're partnering with NVIDIA for an awesome giveaway bundle. To celebrate the release of Borderlands 2 for SHIELD (I know, we're a little late here), we're handing out a super awesome multiplayer SHIELD bundle. If you're our lucky winner, you'll receive one (1) NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV console, four (4) official NVIDIA SHIELD gamepads, and one (1) free code for Borderlands 2 for SHIELD.
Speaking to Android Police, two sources claim that Google will announce its Google Home and the 4K 'Chromecast Ultra' devices will be priced at $129 and $69, respectively, at its October 4th event.Google Home was announced at Google I/O in May. Our sources also confirmed that the personalized base covers Google showed at I/O will be a feature of the final device. The $129 price point for Google Home matches that of the previously-unrumored Google Wifi, a router that will allegedly be able to create a single, large wireless network using multiple access points. $129 also undercuts Amazon's Echo by a full , and though it matches the price of the portable Amazon Tap, it's clear Google has Amazon's flagship smart home product in its sights with Home. As far as Home features, we don't have anything new to report at this time, just the price.Chromecast Ultra, which we are now all but certain is the name of Google's upcoming 4K version of Chromecast, will come in at $69 retail. That means it will be double the price of the existing Chromecast 2015. Now, you may say "that's expensive!" And for a Chromecast, it certainly is. As far as what it brings beyond 4K, one of our sources claims that HDR is indeed on the list of bullet points. Unfortunately, we don't really have anything else as far as expanded feature set might be concerned. And remember: it's almost certainly a given that the standard full HD Chromecast will remain on sale after the Ultra is released, because 4K penetration, though growing, still is far from ubiquitous. Now, why you'd want a 4K Chromecast over, say, Xiaomi's upcoming Mi Box Android TV? We'll probably have to wait a bit for that debate to be settled.We rate our confidence in this rumor as a 9 out of 10. The price points have been corroborated independently by two sources. We subtract a point, as usual, because it's always possible product announcement plans or prices can change - nothing is truly, completely certain until it is announced. But we don't have long to wait: October 4th is just around the corner.
OnHub-schmonhub: two sources are now telling us that Google will introduce an own-brand Wi-Fi router called Google Wifi, and that the device will cost $129. A source that has proved reliable in the past has told us that the device will be launched alongside Google's Pixel phones, Google Home, and the 4K 'Chromecast Ultra' on October 4th.That source additionally claims that Google will advertise the router as having "smart" features - probably similar to OnHub in some respects - and that Google will claim it provides enhanced range over typical Wi-Fi routers (a claim we see basically every router make, to be fair). But the one thing that will make it an insta-buy for many over OnHub? Our source claims multiple Google Wifi access points (two or more) can be linked together to create one large wireless network. Do I have your attention now? Because my interest is certainly piqued.We don't have any details on how this works, unfortunately. But one source claims the Google Wifi device will essentially be like a little white Amazon Echo Dot. So, relatively small and inconspicuous.We give this rumor a confidence level of 9 out of 10. We are extremely confident that Google Wifi is real and that it will cost $129 when it is released. We are fairly confident it will be announced on October 4th alongside Google Home, because it seems positioned as a sort of companion device to Home. Where we subtract a point is on the multiple Wifi "mesh" system - it's not clear if this is a launch feature or something that Google merely plans to do eventually. And knowing Google, major device software features getting pushed is far from impossible.So, in short: don't buy an OnHub right now. That would be a bad idea.
Welcome back to another week of the Android Police Podcast. To catch us live on Hangouts On Air every Thursday at 5:30PM PST (subject to change as per the calendar widget below), just head over to androidpolice.com/podcast. For the unedited video show, click here (warning: this video is uncut). As always, we'll take your questions at 530-HELLO-AP and also at our email address: podcast at androidpolice dot com.