Google Wifi Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Eero has just gotten a serious competitor — the Google Wifi router that was announced at Google’s launch event in San Francisco today.

This is the first Wi-Fi router — or router system — from Google and like the Eero it comes in three identical units. You only need one if you live in a small apartment, but the extra two will blanket a large home with Wi-Fi signal. Prior to this, Google has written software the OnHub routers that have hardware from TP-Link and Asus.

The new Google Wifi router.

James Martin/CNET

Google says the new Google Wifi system has a built-in Network Assist feature set that works using logic to optimize the connection, allowing Wi-Fi devices, like smartphones and tablets, to automatically connect to the closest unit and on the best channel at a given time. This means you can walk around the house without worrying about getting disconnected or even losing signal strength.

More from Google’s event

• Google Pixel phones, Daydream View and Chromecast Ultra: Everything Google just announced
• Google’s Pixel, Pixel XL are superphones set to take on iPhone 7
• Pixel hardware event is really about software
• See all of our Google coverage

What’s more, the system includes a free mobile app with built-in parental control, allowing you to pause (and resume) the internet connection to any connected device at anytime.

As far as hardware, Google didn’t yet reveal the specs of the Google Wifi. My guess, however, is the new router will use the latest 802.11ac standard, which is also used by the previous OnHub routers.

Google’s Pixel hardware event
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The best thing about the Google Wifi is its price, which is $129 for a single unit or $299 for a set of three. This is much less than the Eero, which costs $200 for a single unit or $500 for three. (The price for the UK and Australia have not yet been announced.)

You do have to wait until early December to get your own, however, but you can start preordering the Google Wifi starting in November. Check back then for its full review.

Google Pixel Phone and Google Pixel XL Phone Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Google decided it’s time to bring its phones out of their shadowy niche and duke it out directly with top manufactures such as Samsung and Apple. Welcome to the new Pixel phone era.

With premium features exclusive to Pixel phones and a sales plan that means you might actually find one in a store, the company is showing significantly more ambition than it did with the last six years of Nexus-branded phones.

The 5-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel XL are officially called “Pixel, a phone by Google” and have a “G” on the back, signifying how Google designed the phones on its own instead of tweaking another company’s product into a Nexus. Google is now the one picking components, providing support and promoting the phones.

Pixel, the first real Google phone, in pictures
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More from Google’s event

• Google Pixel phones, Daydream View and Chromecast Ultra: Everything Google just announced
• Google’s Pixel, Pixel XL are superphones set to take on iPhone 7
• See all of our Google coverage

So what does that ambition get you?

Unlike last year’s mid-range Nexus 5X and premium Nexus 6P, the Pixel phones are both top-shelf models. Google wants you to think of them as rivals to the most prestigious models out there, Apple’s iPhones and Samsung Galaxy models. They each have quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processors — two cores running at 2.15GHz and two at a more battery-efficient 1.6GHz — with a boost from Qualcomm’s Hexagon technology for tasks such as image and audio processing. The phones have OLED screens, 4GB of memory and either 32GB and 128GB of storage space.

Starting at $649 in the US and £599 in the UK, the 32GB Pixel is about the same price as Apple’s iPhone 7 and Samsung’s Galaxy S7. The 128GB model costs $749 or £699, and the corresponding Pixel XL models cost $769 and $869, or £719 and £819. Preorders begin now, with the phone arriving in stores and online on October 20. (We’ll report back once we hear details on Australian pricing, but $649 converts to AU$850.) There’s no expandable storage.

Below the Pixel phones’ “G” logo is one of several accents showing where antennas can harness radio signals.

Stephen Shankland/CNET

Google went adverb-happy with the colors: “very silver,” “quite black” and “really blue.” Limited availability means only the US will get the blue version initially. The back of the phone is actually two-tone, with a glossy “glass shade” across the top to make antennas work better and a more ordinary bead-blasted metal finish across the bottom. Like the front display, the glass shade employs Gorilla Glass 4 for scratch resistance.

In the hand, the Pixel’s metal-and-glass body definitely feels a step above Google’s previous Nexus handsets, with fewer exposed seams. The smooth aluminum makes for a premium, iPhone-like feel, but with chamfered edges that make it a bit less slippery.

The blue is pretty flashy, but looks surprisingly attractive in person.

James Martin/CNET

And while the glass shade might look a little odd, it feels pretty good to the touch, adding a bit of tacky grip. The fingerprint reader also rests neatly under one’s index finger, like last year’s Nexus smartphones. And I particularly like how Google weighted these phones: they’ve got some nice solid heft without feeling too heavy like many all-metal phones, or so light (like the Nexus 5X) that they feel hollow.

A few features will help the phones stand out from other models powered by Google’s Android software. They’ll be the only ones to include Google Assistant, a new beefed-up version of Google’s conversational system to control the phone and answer questions — Google’s rival to Apple’s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana and Amazon’s Alexa. It’ll also store all photos and video in original resolution for the life of the phone, shuttling older shots to cloud storage if you run out of room. And if you need to call Google’s support, a technician will be able to remotely control your phone. Android 7.1 — the latest version of Nougat — debuts with the Pixels.

Fans of the decades-old 3.5 mm audio jack standard will be happy to see one on the Google Pixel phone.

Stephen Shankland/CNET

Unlike the iPhone 7, the Pixel phones retain a 3.5 mm headphone jack — but Pixels come with no headphones, because really, don’t you already have some?

There’s no camera bump, but the Pixels aren’t the thinnest phone around. They’re slightly wedge-shaped, tapering from 8.6 mm at the top end to 7.4 mm at the bottom. The Pixel is 69.5 mm wide by 143.8 mm tall (2.73 by 5.66 inches), while the Pixel XL is 75.7 by 154.7 mm (2.98 by 6.09 inches). Screen resolutions are 1,920×1080 at 441 pixels per inch for the Pixel and 2,560×1,440 at 534ppi for the XL.

Based on a brief test, it seems Google has made good on its promise that the main 12-megapixel camera performs much faster than last year’s Nexus models — see CNET’s in-depth look at the Pixel camera for more detail. Another useful feature of Android 7.1 is that there’s no more long pause when you rotate the phone from portrait to landscape orientation. The company stuck with Sony for the camera’s sensor but promises faster autofocus. There’s no optical image stabilization like in the iPhone 7 — nor are there the dual rear cameras of the iPhone 7 Plus — but Google thinks its fast image processing will do the trick when trying to compensate for your unsteady shooting.

The front-facing camera has an 8-megapixel sensor, and twisting the phone back and forth switches to it from the main camera.

Stephen Shankland/CNET

The fingerprint reader on the center of the back gets a new trick, too: if you swipe down on it, it shows your notifications even as it unlocks the phone.

The Pixels, like the Nexus models of 2015, use the newer USB Type-C port for data links and charging. When watching video or browsing the internet, battery life should be 13 hours for the Pixel and 14 for the Pixel XL. The batteries can’t be removed.

Google is leaning on HTC to assemble the phone. The Taiwanese manufacturer has a long history with Google, building the first-ever Android phone, the T-Mobile G1 “Dream” that debuted in 2008, and the Nexus One that inaugurated the Nexus line in 2010. Google has also partnered with Samsung, LG Electronics, Motorola and Huawei to build Nexus phones.

Android partnerships remain. But there’s no more pussyfooting around here — Google is competing directly against Samsung and other partners who use Google’s Android software.

Google Chromecast Ultra Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

4K TVs are getting cheaper every day, and now 4K-capable devices to connect to those TVs are following suit. The cheapest so far is Chromecast Ultra.

This tiny device, available for $69 or £69 in November, promises better image quality than the current $35 Chromecast. (An Australian price wasn’t readily available but the UK price converts to AU$115.) That’s because it can stream the 4K and HDR video available from a handful of streaming providers, namely Netflix, YouTube and, coming in November, Google’s own Play TV and Movies store. The latter two only offer 4K, not HDR.

In theory 4K resolution provides a sharper picture than 1080p HD video, but in CNET’s tests the difference is subtle at best with Netflix and other streaming sources. HDR, aka high dynamic range, can provide a more dramatic improvement in contrast and color, depending on the video in question. Just don’t confuse it with HDR for phones (even Pixel phones with HDR+).

The dongle still hangs off your TV’s HDMI port, but now it has Ethernet too.

James Martin/CNET

Notably the Ultra is the first external streaming device to handle both HDR formats, HDR10 and Dolby Vision. Other HDR devices, including the $200 Nvidia Shield, the $100 Roku Premiere+ and the $70 Xiaomi Mi Box, are all HDR10-only. In our tests we’ve found that with TVs that do support Dolby Vision, the image is slightly superior to HDR10.

Of course, to get the benefits of 4K or HDR (in either format) you’ll need a compatible TV. You’ll also need to be watching a 4K and/or HDR TV stream, which are still restricted to a just a few shows, videos and movies. Such higher-quality streams require good bandwidth — 15Mbps or higher for Netflix, for example — and you’ll need to subscribe to Netflix’s $15 monthly plan to get access.

Aside from 4K and HDR, the Ultra is very similar to the current Chromecast, except that it’s only available in black. Both are tiny pucks with integrated HDMI cables designed to hang out of sight behind your TV.

One additional difference is the inclusion of an Ethernet port for wired internet, housed on the power adapter of the Ultra. That’s a nice addition given the higher bandwidth requirements of 4K video. The standard Chromecast is Wi-Fi-only, and both offer 801.11ac Wi-Fi. The Ultra is 1.8 times faster at starting streams then the current version, according to Google.

Chromecast requires you to use your phone, tablet or PC to “Cast” video from supported apps to the TV. The system is quite versatile and reliable in our tests, and app support is superb. One exception, however, is Amazon video. That popular service doesn’t work with the Cast system, so Chromecast can’t deliver its videos, which include a relatively large collection of 4K and HDR TV shows and movies.

In the past we’ve preferred Roku devices to Chromecast because they do support Amazon, and also offer an actual remote that we find more convenient to use than a phone. Roku’s least expensive player with 4K and HDR is the $100 Premiere+, and we look forward to comparing it to Chromecast Ultra as soon as we get our hands on review samples.

In the meantime, our review of the current Chromecast and the accompanying video (below) have some more details about how the device works.

New Chromecast keeps streaming cheap

Google’s Chromecast streaming device betters the previous version with improved Wi-Fi and a funky design, but the best part is the impulse purchase price.

by David Katzmaier

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Emerson Sensi review – CNET

The Good Emerson’s $160 Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat costs less than many other smart-home models, its button interface and app are thoughtfully arranged and it works with Amazon’s Alexa.

The Bad The Sensi doesn’t come with algorithmic learning, remote sensors or geofencing capabilities; the thermostat hardware is on the plain side of the spectrum.

The Bottom Line The Sensi is a solid option if you’re looking for a smart thermostat upgrade that still manages to keep things simple.

Visit manufacturer site for details.

Emerson’s Sensi Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat doesn’t rely on algorithms, remote sensors, geofencing or any other high-end smarts a la Nest’s Learning Thermostat, Honeywell’s Lyric or the Ecobee3. In fact, it’s really just a basic-looking programmable thermostat with a related app. So, why should you buy it over the competition?

Let me count the ways:

• It’s affordable — the Sensi has an MSRP of $160, but is widely available at stores like Home Depot for $129 and on Amazon for just $104. Nest and other connected models cost as much as $249. Amazon’s UK site lists Sensi for £341 through a reseller, so it’s much cheaper and easier to find in the US.
• It’s easy to use — Both the thermostat and the app have thoughtful, logical layouts that make usability a breeze.
• It works with Amazon’s Alexa — You can pair any Alexa-compatible device with Sensi for fast voice control integration.

If you’re on the hunt for a thermostat upgrade, but don’t want or need all of the fancy extras, the Sensi’s semi-smartness still makes it much simpler to heat and cool your home. I definitely recommend it.

Don’t overlook the understated Sensi smart…
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Sensi, part one

If I were to come across the Sensi on a store shelf alongside other connected thermostats, I would assume someone put it there by mistake. This thing is pretty utilitarian-looking. It’s way better than the 20-year-old, barely functioning model in my house right now, sure, but decidedly lacking in the dazzling design department.

All thermostats, all the time:

• What’s a C-wire, and why should you care?
• Honeywell finds a new look for its latest Lyric thermostat
• Same great Nest thermostat, now with even better looks
• Ecobee’s smart thermostat closes in on Nest
• Honeywell’s next-gen Lyric thermostat sings the same old tune
• These smart thermostats steal the heating and cooling spotlight
• Thermostat buying guide
• Have a radiator? This thermostat wants to make it smarter
• How to find a great thermostat for just 30 bucks

Since the advent of the Nest Learning Thermostat in 2011, a $249 smart model designed by two former Apple employees, a number of manufacturers have turned away from the practical rectangular white box look and have instead tried to add a dose of modern design into the mix.

Emerson didn’t do that with the Sensi, but it isn’t all bad news — its buttons are responsive, its display is large and it’s easy to read from a distance, as well as different angles. The app and Amazon Alexa integrations, too, are simple to configure and create a number of opportunities for remote access.

But before all that, you have to install your Sensi.

First stop? Check here to see if your wiring is compatible and be sure to visit Sensi’s support page if you have installation questions. As always, consult a professional if you aren’t comfortable going the do-it-yourself route, but a basic familiarity with thermostat wiring should have everything up and running in minutes. It took me roughly 10-15 minutes, but the holes in my wall from the old thermostat conveniently lined up with the Sensi’s, so I took a slight shortcut.

Click through the gallery below for a tutorial on how to install a Sensi thermostat; this covers everything from removing your old thermostat to pairing the Sensi to the companion app.

2017 Toyota 86 Release Date, Price and Specs – Roadshow

Xiaomi Mi Band 2 review – CNET

The Good The Mi Band 2 is absurdly affordable despite packing in a heart rate sensor, sleep tracking, water resistance and a battery life of a week.

The Bad The fitness band doesn’t offer the exercise tracking that would make it a perfect accessory.

The Bottom Line If you just want a basic fitness tracker for walking, the Mi Band 2 does the job fine, but you’ll have to look towards more expensive trackers if you want more features.

Visit manufacturer site for details.

With the Xiaomi’s Mi Band 2, the Chinese company updates its original $13 fitness tracker with a slightly more expensive version, adding new features such as an 0.42-inch OLED display and a heart rate sensor. The 149 yuan price, which converts to around $22, £17 or AU$29, is a fraction of what you’d pay for similar products such as the Fitbit Alta…or, even, Fitbit’s less-expensive Zip. It’s not yet on sale on Xiaomi’s US website.

That said, after a week and half wearing the Mi Band 2, I’ve found that while it’s not as fully featured as the Fitbit Charge 2, it at least tracks heart rate, something less expensive trackers like Fitbit Flex, Alta and Zip don’t. The Mi Band 2 only tracks steps and sleeping patterns automatically and heart rate only gets checked when you select it in the band’s menu. You can’t calculate heart rate all day or during exercises, which makes it effectively nearly useless unless you’re looking to peek at your resting heart rate.

By comparison, the Alta, which costs five times as much, doesn’t bother with heart rate but does pack a lot more, such as automatic exercise recognition, calendar alerts and options for clock faces. On that note, the Mi Band 2 does connect to your phone to deliver alerts such as those from WhatsApp.

Because it only tracks steps, the Mi Band 2 doesn’t come with exercise tracking, which means it won’t keep track of how long you’ve been jogging or cycling. That’s less than ideal if you want your fitness band to help you with those activities, and there’s no barometer to track step climbing either.

The Mi Band 2 features a heart rate tracker.

Aloysius Low/CNET

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