Thanks to Alexa, you can start a Nissan SUV with your voice

The latest skill for Amazon’s Alexa doesn’t connect it to some gadget or appliance — it’s to lightly operate Nissan cars. Following last week’s news that BMW’s next models would work with the voice-controlled assistant, Nissan has announced that some of its cars will, too…so long as you just want to have it remotely start your car or unlock your doors.

The new Alexa skill links up with the automaker’s smart service, NissanConnect, to do a handful of basic tasks remotely following simple commands (e.g. “Alexa, tell NissanConnect Services to…”). Those include: Turning the engine on (or off), locking or unlocking the car’s doors, honking the horn and toggling on/off the lights. The skill seems to be available now, and with current models (listed below) to boot.

But those interactions seem limited compared to what BMW has in store next year (which will fully integrate Alexa into its vehicles), including asking for news or driving directions to appear on the vehicle’s dashboard screen. Still, it’s another foothold for Amazon, which is fighting to compete with the deals and integrations Apple’s Carplay and Google’s Android Auto have already secured.

Nissan owners can use the new Alexa skill in these models:

• Nissan Altima (2016-17)
• Nissan Maxima (2016-17)
• Nissan Murano (2017)
• Nissan Pathfinder (2017-18)
• Nissan Rogue (2016, 2017)
• Nissan Rogue Sport (2017)
• Nissan Sentra (2016-17)
• Nissan TITAN (2017)
• Nissan TITAN XD (2016-17)
• Nissan GT-R (2017)
• Nissan Armada (2018)

Via: CNET

Source: Nissan

‘F1 2017’ Racing Game Now Available From Mac App Store

Racing title F1 2017, the official game of the 2017 Formula One World Championship, is available for purchase and download from the Mac App Store starting today.

Published by Feral Interactive, F1 2017 was released for Mac in August, but has previously only been available from the Feral Store and Steam, with the Mac App Store taking longer to release.

F1 2017 is based on the 2017 Formula One season and offers access to all 24 circuits, 20 drivers, and 10 teams that are competing this season.

Players can choose from several unique Championship races to play, including the official 2017 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Classic All-Weather Championship, and the super-accessible, race-only Sprint Championship.

The game is the ninth F1 in the series, and this new version brings an expanded team management mode, giving players additional control over the research and development of new car parts.

Win the 2017 World Championship and race some of the fastest and most iconic F1TM cars of the last 30 years.

F1 2017 grants unprecedented access to not only the on-track excitement of F1, but also the off-track dealings and vehicle development that goes along with it. The ten-year Career Mode includes practice programmes to help hone your skills, an expansive Research and Development tree to provide greater control over the development of your car, and the ability to manage engines and gearboxes over the course of the season.

F1 2017 requires a 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, 2GB AMD R9 M290 or 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 6200 graphics or better, and 36GB of disk space, at minimum. Feral says the game is supported on the following Mac models:

• All 13″ MacBook Pros since late 2016
• All 15″ MacBook Pros since late 2016
• All 21.5″ iMacs since late 2015 with a 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor
• All 27″ iMacs since late 2014
• All Mac Pros since late 2013

F1 2017 can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $49.99. [Direct Link]

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Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL hands-on – The Pixel line, refined

Last year marked a big shift for Google’s mobile efforts in a bid to compete against Apple, Samsung, LG, and other top-tier smartphone manufacturers. With a little help from HTC, Google launched its very own consumer-friendly smartphone lineup that had no problem going head-to-head with the best devices on the market. Fast forward one year, and Google’s next attempt at winning over consumers comes hot on the heels of its 2,000-employee acquisition from HTC. This year, the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL bring a refined design, top-of-the-line specs, and what’s being touted as the best smartphone camera ever.

Without any further delay, let’s take a closer look at Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

Pixel 2 XL: The Google smartphone… redefined

The Pixel 2 XL is considerably different than the Pixel 2, with the latter more of an iterative upgrade that serves a different purpose. Manufactured by LG, we wouldn’t blame you if you confused the LG V30 with the Pixel 2 XL.

Like its smaller sibling, the Google Pixel 2 XL is made up of a mostly-aluminum chassis with a curved glass panel towards the top of the device that houses the camera. The fingerprint sensor is a little larger than last year, making it easier to find. The glass panel on the back side is smaller and stops short of covering the fingerprint sensor.

The key difference with the Pixel 2 XL this year is the display, with Google using a 6-inch pOLED 18:9 display at a QHD+ (2,880 x 1,440) resolution. Although the top and bottom bezels are not as small as on LG’s flagship, the display takes up a large part of the overall handset and is flanked by two front facing stereo speakers.

The whole package is powered by a very respectable 3,520 mAh battery that should offer all-day battery life

The Pixel 2 XL is powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of internal storage. It also sports an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which offers protection against dust and liquid and brings Google’s flagship in line with other flagships of 2017. As expected from the many rumors, Google also removed the headphone jack on both devices this year, instead opting to rely on USB Type-C to power wired headphones. The whole package is powered by a very respectable 3,520 mAh battery that should offer all-day battery life. In fact, Google says a 15 minute charge can deliver up to 7 hours of battery life.

These new cameras are apparently in a league of their own

Around back, the Pixel 2 XL sports a single rear camera. While last year’s devices offered up a stellar camera experience, these new cameras are apparently in a league of their own. According to DxOMark’s ranking – which should be taken with a grain of salt – the Google Pixel 2 scores a whopping 98, making it the best smartphone camera ever tested by DxO. The camera itself is a 1/2.6-inch 12.2 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. And, despite only having one camera, the Pixel 2 is capable of the same depth effect bokeh that dual camera devices offer. Is it any good? It’s difficult to say from our brief time with the device, but we can’t wait to put it to the test!

Running the latest Android 8.0 Oreo, the Google Pixel 2 XL also comes with a couple of new software additions, the most notable of which being the Always-On Display. This isn’t your normal Always-On Display, however. Google built a useful new feature into the device that will make it much easier to identify that song you’re hearing in a restaurant. The Pixel devices will constantly listen to the music around you and identify the song at the bottom of the Always-On Display without the user doing anything.

Editor’s Pick

Android 8 review: Oreo is for everyone

Three years ago Google introduced us to its new design language called Material Design. It was flat, graphical and colorful. It was the visual change that ushered in the beginning of a new age for …The Pixel Launcher has also been updated, with Google doing away with the “pill” and weather widgets that took up a lot of the real estate on the Pixel. There’s a new “at a glance” section at the top of the launcher that gives you easy access to upcoming events and weather.

Google recently acquired 2,000 engineers and some important Intellectual Property from HTC for $1.1 billion and the fruits of this are already apparent. Rather than a button to launch an Assistant like on the Galaxy S8, the Pixel 2 XL comes with an Active Edge feature (think HTC Edge Sense) that lets you squeeze the sides of the phone to launch the Assistant. It’s not as powerful as Edge Sense, though it’s still plenty fun to use.

The Pixel 2 XL comes in Just Black and (our personal favorite) Black & White color options. Call it a panda, Stormtrooper, zebra or otherwise, this color combination is rather unique and definitely stands out. However, the all-black Pixel 2 XL comes with a textured metallic back, while the Black & White version has a glossy finish that offers less grip and attracts more fingerprints.

At a cost of $849 – or up to $1200 in Europe once converted – the Pixel 2 XL is definitely not a cheap phone, though it’s cheaper than its two main rivals. The Galaxy Note 8 starts around $930 while the iPhone X will cost $999 when it launches at the end of the month. Pre-orders for the Pixel 2 XL begin today and will ship in 6-8 weeks, although there’s no exact shipping date given by Google at this time.

Pixel 2 – an upgrade to the Pixel

The Pixel 2 shares just about everything – specs, features, and design – as the Pixel 2 XL, aside from a few outliers

The Google Pixel 2 shares just about everything – specs, features, and design – as the Pixel 2 XL, aside from a few outliers. For starters, this device comes with a 5.0-inch Full HD OLED display with a more traditional aspect ratio of 16:9. The decision to go with a 16:9 display is certainly questionable, however. While the Google Pixel 2 XL sports an aesthetic that’s more in-line with other 2017 flagships, the Pixel 2 stands out because it looks more like a 2016 flagship, thanks to its big bezels on the top and bottom.

One other difference between the two models — battery size. The Pixel 2 comes with a 2,700 mAh battery, which is a tad small compared to other devices on the market. However, Google remains confident that the Pixel 2 will be able to achieve all-day battery life on a single charge.

Last but not least, you don’t need to pay as much for the Google Pixel 2. The Pixel 2 is available starting at $649 for the 64 GB model and $749 for the 128 GB variant. It’s available in Kinda Blue, Just Black, and Clearly White color options.

Don’t miss: Google Pixel 2 price, release date, and availability details

What do you think?

After much aplomb, Google’s new flagships are finally here and bring a ton of great features to the table. That doesn’t mean they’re perfect, though. They are priced higher than most people would like, and the lack of headphone jack will certainly turn some people away.

But what do you think? Are you planning on buying either one, or are you going to pass? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL hands-on review

Research Center:
Google Pixel 2

When Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones debuted last year, they were quickly recognized as the best Android phones around — from the uncluttered software experience with fast updates, to brilliant cameras aced independent tests. Plenty of newer phones have surpassed the Pixels, but Google’s 2017 follow-ups are looking to take back the crown. Can the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL take back the crown? We got a chance to find out in our hands-on review.

Bezel-less design, vibrant display

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL follow last year’s design theme with a mix of glass and aluminum that lends it a unique, futuristic look. There’s no specific use for the glass — it’s purely for aesthetic. Our favorite color is the “panda” black and white variant of the Pixel 2 XL, which comes with a red power button. The Pixel 2’s “Kinda Blue” color stands out, and it’s the shade we’d likely choose for the smaller phone.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL show the world it’s serious about hardware.

The phones feels almost the same as their predecessors, but the metal doesn’t feel as heavy or premium as what you’d find on the iPhone 7 or 7 Plus. On the back, the fingerprint sensor sits below a glass stripe, the Google logo hides at the bottom, and a single camera occupies the top left. The Pixel 2 camera placement slightly differs from the Pixel 2 XL, but the real design difference can be see when you flip the phones around.

The Pixel 2 has chunky edges around the screen, much like last year’s phones. It’s far from what you’d expect in 2017, considering one of the biggest trends this year has been the “bezel-less” design. That’s where the Pixel 2 XL comes in. It’s not as “bezel-less” as devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 or the LG V30, but you’ll find significantly reduced edges here. Shrinking the edges has an importance: You get a more compact phone, but a bigger display. The Pixel 2 XL is slightly larger than the Pixel XL, but you’re getting a much bigger 6-inch screen over a 5.5-inch screen. It didn’t feel tough to hold with one hand, though I have large hands. The Pixel 2 and last year’s Pixel are similar in dimensions, and they have the same 5-inch screen size.

We wish both phones got the same bezel-less design. They’re almost identical in specifications, but you’ll still feel a little left out if you prefer smaller phones. Google sort of makes up for this by popping in two front-facing stereo speakers on the top and bottom of both devices. This is one of the best improvements over last year’s Pixels, because it was easy to block the bottom-firing speaker when holding the phone.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The 5-inch AMOLED Pixel 2 has a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution (441 pixels-per-inch) with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen is protected by the latest Gorilla Glass 5 from Corning. The Pixel 2 XL also features Gorilla Glass 5, but the 6-inch OLED screen has a higher 2,880 x 1,440 pixel resolution (538 ppi). The screens looked bright and colorful — the Pixel 2 XL screen was more vibrant and sharp — but we’ll have to do more testing when we receive review units to see how they fare against the competition.

The phones are finally water resistant with an IP67 rating — that means like the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, you can take them underwater up to one meter for 30 minutes.

Not everything is an improvement, though. The company has followed Apple and HTC in removing the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of USB-C audio — good luck charging your phone and listening to music at the same time. Google didn’t offer up a good reason for this decision, and we think it’s hostile to users. Wireless earbud sales may be on the rise, but the 3.5mm jack is still widely used. Don’t worry — there’s an adapter included in the box, and both devices also utilize the new Bluetooth 5 chip for wireless connections.

Blazing fast performance, pure Android

What made last year’s Pixel phone unique was how it was one of the only Android phones to see true hardware and software optimization. Because Google designed the hardware and Android software, the devices felt faster, smoother, and more fluid than most Android devices. The same looks to be true again for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

Both are powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 — the same processor powering the Galaxy Note 8 and LG V30. You get 4GB of RAM, and options for 64GB or 128GB of storage. From what we saw in our brief testing, you can expect impressive speed when moving through the Android operating system.

Google Pixel 2 Compared To

LG V30

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active

HTC U11

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Nokia 8

Moto X4

OnePlus 5

Moto Z2 Force

Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom

Moto Z2 Play

Huawei Honor 9

Motorola Moto E4

Huawei Nova 2 Plus

Google Pixel

LG Optimus G Pro

The Pixel 2 has a 2,700mAh battery, and the Pixel 2 XL has a larger 3,520mAh battery capacity.

Both devices offer Active Edge, which lets you “squeeze” the phone to trigger a function — largely to activate Google Assistant. It’s a neat feature , but it’s not new – HTC introduced the same feature in its U11 smartphone.

We’re surprised at how much Google can do just with software.

You’ll find Android 8.0 Oreo installed, the new version of the Android OS released in August. It brings new features such as picture-in-picture mode and notification channels, and the Pixel 2 and 2 XL also have some other neat software improvements — notably a new home screen. The Google Search bar is on the bottom for easier access, there are new live wallpapers that subtly change, and a dynamic calendar widget shows what’s next on your agenda at a quick glance. There’s also an Always-On Display, which can not only tell you the time, it will identify a song playing it the background and show it here without you asking. It even happens locally on the device – no internet connectivity needed.

Google Lens is also a beta feature that Pixel 2 owners will be able to experience. It basically lets you identify objects, and buildings with just your camera and machine learning technology. It’s impressive and we can’t wait to try it out. Google also said the Pixel 2 XL’s camera is better optimized for augmented reality, though we weren’t able to try anything out yet.

The software changes all seem useful and better designed, but the main selling point here is still fast updates. When the next version of Android rolls around, the Pixel 2 and 2 XL will be the first to receive it. The same is true for security updates. If that matters to you, the Pixels are no-brainers.

Impressive camera

The 2016 Google Pixel quickly became known as the best camera phone when it was released last year, oftentimes beating out the lauded iPhone 7 Plus. We’ll have to do more testing to see how the Pixel 2 and 2 XL cameras fare, but independent camera review site DxOMark has given the phones the highest marks ever doled out — 98 out of 100.

We saw virtually no shutter lag when taking photos with the single 12-megapixel camera, which now features optical image stabilization. The photos now capture three seconds of video when you tap the shutter icon, so much like Apple’s Live Photos, you now get moving pictures.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

But the highlight is Portrait Mode, which adds a blur effect (bokeh) behind a subject, so you get DSLR-like images. Google is mimicking Apple and a few other Android manufacturers, but this impressive trick is that this is all done with one single-lens camera — not a dual-camera setup. Through machine learning and software algorithms, the single-lens camera can accurately identify the primary subject and blur out the background. Since it doesn’t require two cameras, it even works with the front-facing 8-megapixel camera. The feature worked well in our initial tests, doing a fairly good job with a selfie I took, though you could see it missed the tips of my hair in some parts. We’ll have to test this feature in depth to see how it stacks up against the iPhone X and 8 Plus, but we’re surprised at how much Google can do just with software.

Availability and price

The Google Pixel 2 will set you back $650. That’s a lot cheaper than many other Snapdragon 835 flagships devices we’ve been seeing this year from other manufacturers. Sadly, the Pixel 2 XL will drain your wallet even more as it costs $850. It’s similarly priced to the LG V30 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

Both phones are available for pre-order now, and they’re expected to ship towards the end of October.

So far, there’s a lot to like about the new devices from Google. Our biggest gripe is the loss of the headphone jack, but we’re looking forward to testing the phones further to see if the other improvements and features make up for it.

Google Pixelbook hands-on: Who wants this?

At $999, the Pixelbook made prove a difficult sell, but it’s one of the nicest pieces of hardware Google has ever made.

Does anyone want a $1000 Chromebook? We asked the question in 2013, and then again two years later, in 2015. Both of those laptops were exactly that — bulky, heavy notebooks that, while powerful, felt like overkill for the capabilities of Chrome OS.

Today, we have the spiritual successor to those laptops, the Pixelbook, a $999 convertible that promises to do a lot more than just make Chrome beautiful.

See at Google

On the Surface

I got to spend a bit of time with the Pixelbook at Google’s October 4 event in Toronto, and came away immediately enamored with the hardware. Built with a unified body of aluminum, the Pixelbook is solid and carefully designed to feel like something modern. It looks a bit like the Surface Book, but without the crazy jewelers hinge — and, being a convertible, the screen doesn’t disconnect.

This is a cross between a Chromebook Pixel and a Surface Book, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Instead, the Pixelbook has a hinge that flips the 12.3-inch display all the way round, into either a tablet mode with the keyboard on the other side, a tent mode for airplanes and tight spaces, a movie mode with the keyboard hidden, or a traditional laptop. The modality isn’t new — we’ve seen this from countless Windows partners, from Dell to HP, but Google makes it seem fairly natural on Chrome.

Furthering the Surface comparisons, there’s also a $99 Pixelbook Pen which, when combined with the Wacom-optimized touchscreen, allows users to write, draw, and navigate the OS. As Jerry pointed out in his excellent editorial, Chrome OS has come a long way to making Chrome touch- and pen-friendly, but we’re going to have to wait for developers to design apps to explicitly take advantage of the enviable 10ms latency in the pressure-sensitive pen.

At launch, only a handful of apps will be optimized for the Pixelbook Pen (Evernote and Google Keep among them), but more should be around the corner. Unfortunately, there’s no way to charge this thing — it uses a replaceable AAAA battery, and like many other powered pens out there, there’s nowhere to put the damn thing once you’re finished with it. At least Microsoft’s $99 Surface Pen has magnets.

Intro to input

A laptop is always as good as its input mechanisms, and while it’s possible to go pen-only, you’ll likely be typing and navigating using the built-in trackpad and keyboard. While some Chromebooks have been bogged down by problematic trackpads, Google’s own Chromebooks have never been among them — fast, smooth and accurate mouse navigation was present in the 2013 Chromebook Pixel, and it’s back in 2017 with the Pixelbook.

The keyboard is slightly different, though, if you’re upgrading from a previous-gen Pixel. Shallower than before, with less travel and notably less noise, the Pixelbook’s keyboard may take some getting used to, but it should do the job.

An assistant

On that keyboard you’ll find a dedicated Google Assistant button, one that can be used to bring up Google’s take on the omnipresent contextual helper at any screen.

Google Assistant could be a game changer for the way people use Chromebooks.

As on its phones and tablets, Assistant on the Pixelbook works both as a search tool and a screen reader, providing additional details on what you’re reading, watching, and listening to.

Assistant can also be called using the “OK Google” command at any time — just be prepared for all your other devices to light up at the same time — or with the Pixelbook Pen, which lets you circle anything on the screen to ask Assistant for a bit more information.

Software

It’s hard to really evaluate the software on a particular Chromebook, since it’s basically the exact same experience as on any other, from the $158 Acer CB3 all the way to the most expensive Pixelbook. Of course, this one supports Android apps out of the box, which is nice, and combines that functionality with Assistant and the mature, capable Chrome browser to deliver as robust a Chrome OS an experience as you’ll find today.

But it’s still Chrome. Most productivity apps come in the form of browser extensions or, at best, finely-tuned Android apps that have been tailored for the larger display. I’m not writing off the idea of using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite on a Chromebook, but it’s a certainty that the experience isn’t going to be as robust as that of a Windows or Mac, whose native versions have been in development for years.

Hardware for days … or years

The Pixelbook comes with a battery that should last 10 years, and two USB-C ports that let you recharge up to two hours of use in 15 minutes. That’s pretty great, but Chromebooks have never wanted for longevity.

At the same time, this is definitely the most power bestowed upon a Chromebook to date: the cheapest $999 model ships with a seventh-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage — more than enough for the average Chromebook user, who has been trained to rely on cloud services to mitigate traditionally low storage counts.

An extra $200 brings the storage up to 256GB of RAM, for a $1199 price, while the most expensive model, a $1649 version with 512GB of NVMe SSD and 16GB of RAM, will be available later in the year.

Dual speakers, four microphones, a headphone jack, two USB-C ports (both of which accept charging) and a 720p camera round out the specs, which should bode well for those who want to make the most out of the Pixelbook as an entertainment device.

Should you buy it?

A $999 Chromebook is a less divisive proposition today than it was a few years ago, but it’s still interesting that Google’s only branded laptop sits near the high end of the category. Like its phones, Google is trying to showcase the best of its software with this hardware, and in my short time with the laptop, it seems like that’s exactly the case.

It’s a beautiful piece of aluminum, with the exacting standards that the Chromebook Pixel line came to stand for. I doubt Google intends to sell millions of these, but I hope it gets more people on the Chrome OS train, because in it Google has one of the most versatile, power-efficient, secure, and enjoyable operating systems out there.

Now it has the hardware to match.

See at Google

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Google Play is coming to Chromebooks
• Acer Chromebook 14 review
• Join our Chromebook forums

Watch our Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL hands-on video!

We finally have all of the details on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL we were all waiting for. Two phones to carry on the new-formed Pixel legacy, done up a bit differently in 2017 with new hardware features and refreshed software wrapped up in a familiar design. You’ve no doubt read our Pixel 2 and 2 XL hands-on preview, and now it’s time to see the phones in action with our hands-on video!

Give it a watch above, then be sure to check out all of our excellent Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL coverage today and in the weeks and months to come as we get acquainted with these great new phones.

• Android Central on YouTube
• Google Pixel 2 + Pixel 2 XL hands-on
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in India: Everything you need to know

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL pack a lot of great new features, but it comes at a steep price.

Google’s Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are now official, and both phones will be going up for pre-order in India later this month. Like the first-generation Pixels, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be exclusively sold on Flipkart online, but they’ll also be heading to retail stores across the country.

Here’s what you need to know about the specs, availability, and pricing of the new Pixels.

What’s new in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL?

Google rolled out a slew of upgrades to the latest Pixels, including IP67 dust and water resistance, and front stereo speakers. The Pixel 2 sports a 5-inch Full HD panel and fairly large bezels, whereas the Pixel 2 XL has a 6-inch QHD display with narrow bezels, much like the Galaxy S8 and the LG G6.

Both Pixels are powered by a Snapdragon 835, and come with 4GB of RAM and storage options of 64GB and 128GB. There’s a 12.2MP camera at the back, which now has OIS as well as EIS, and an 8MP shooter up front. The Pixel 2 has a 2700mAh battery, whereas the larger Pixel 2 XL features a 3520mAh battery. There isn’t a 3.5mm jack this time around, so you’ll have to use a dongle if you want to listen to music using a wired headset.

Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?

How much do the new Pixels cost in India?

Here’s the breakdown on the pricing for the Indian market:

• 64GB Pixel 2: ₹61,000 ($940)
• 128GB Pixel 2: ₹70,000 ($1,075)
• 64GB Pixel 2 XL: ₹73,000 ($1,120)
• 128GB Pixel 2 XL: ₹82,000 ($1,260)

Do I get any freebies?

The new Pixels certainly don’t come cheap, and what makes it all the more annoying is that India is the only launch market where Google isn’t giving away a free Google Home Mini with every order. The Google Home isn’t officially available in India, but Google could have at least bundled one of the Live Cases with the phone.

That said, there are bound to be a few launch-day offers for either phone. Citibank usually does a ₹10,000 cashback promotion for new iPhones, and it’ll be interesting to see if the bank has a similar deal for this year’s Pixels. We’ll know more closer to launch.

When can I buy them?

You’ll be able to pre-order the new Pixels starting October 26 exclusively on Flipkart, with the smaller Pixel 2 going up for sale from November 1. The Pixel 2 XL will be available from November 15, and both devices will be sold at over a thousand retail stores across the country in addition to Flipkart.

You’ll also be able to pick up the updated Daydream View in the country for ₹7,999 starting November 1.

What’s your take?

What are your thoughts on the pricing of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in India? Anyone interested in Google’s latest flagship phones?

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL hands-on: Act two is great
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Pixel 2 vs iPhone 8: Camera Showdown
• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

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Senate committee sends self-driving car bill to floor for a vote

The Senate’s version of self-driving car legislation is escaping political limbo. Senators in the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee have unanimously approved the AV START Act, which lets car makers pursue safety exemptions for autonomous vehicles based on production volume and gives states control over rules for registration, licensing, insurance and safety (though not performance). The measure now goes to the Senate floor, where it’ll eventually face a vote.

The House of Representatives had already passed its take on the bill in early September, so a Senate vote in favor would leave only the matter of reconciling the two bills and sending the result to the President’s desk to sign.

Both bills exempt self-driving big rigs in the wake of pressure from labor unions, which are worried both about safety and job security for truckers. There’s also no federal requirement for a fallback to human control. Instead, companies are free to make autonomous-only cars so long as they sell less than a certain number of units in a given year. In the finished version of the Senate bill, companies are capped at 15,000 vehicles in the first year, 80,000 in three years, and no cap in the fourth.

If it passes, the measure isn’t going to please some people. There are concerns that AV START holds back progress in self-driving trucks, and that driverless car technology isn’t sophisticated enough to relinquish control quite so quickly. Nonetheless, there’s a lot of pressure to move forward: American legislators want the US to stay on the forefront of self-driving tech, and that means putting it on the road as quickly as possible.

Via: Reuters

Source: Senate Commerce Committee

Watch Google’s Pixel 2 event in under 15 minutes

Google dropped a ton of new hardware on us at today’s event: two phones, two smart speakers, a new laptop, smart earbuds that instantly translate words into your language, a camera that takes its own pictures and a revamped VR headset. Did we miss anything? The only way to know for sure is to check out all of our coverage from today, and catch all of the highlights in this video — it won’t take long.

Airbnb and WeWork team up to find desks for business travelers

There’s one thing a hotel can offer that most Airbnbs can’t: easy access to a conference room and various office amenities. In an effort to make up for that and to entice young professionals to book a rental rather than a hotel room, Airbnb has teamed up with WeWork. According to Bloomberg, corporate customers will be able to save a slot at the nearest WeWork office workspace when they rent a room on Airbnb’s website. As the publication said, the partners will likely have a tough time luring wealthy execs away from their hotels. But the new feature sounds useful for those who simply want access to a desk, printer, WiFi and other common office facilities while traveling.

Airbnb has been trying to win professionals all year by launching new features that cater to their needs. Back in April, when it announced that over 250,000 companies around the world have signed up to use it for work, it launched the “Business Travel Ready” search tool that shows only properties suited for business travelers. In July, Airbnb listings also started popping up on Concur for companies that book rooms through the business travel portal.

Airbnb and WeWork confirmed their partnership to Bloomberg but declined to discuss details, including the new feature’s launch date. The publication said, however, that the new tool will initially be available in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Washington, London and Sydney before making its way to other locations.

Source: Bloomberg