Report: Google Smart Display to Arrive in Late 2018

While Google’s plans for new Pixel phones and Pixelbook Chromebooks have leaked repeatedly, this one, I think, is new. A report this week claims that the online giant will also release its own smart displays in time for the 2018 holiday season.

“The new product, which is likely to be similar to the Amazon Echo Show, would round out the Google Home range of smart speakers running the artificially intelligent Google Assistant, akin to Amazon’s Alexa,” a report in the Nikkei Asian Review claims, citing sources.

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Google’s plan for the smart displays is “aggressive,” one source told the publication, and the firm aims to sell 3 million units over the holidays. That’s impressive, given that Google sold fewer than 4 million Pixel handsets in all of 2017. And given that Amazon sold only 315,000 Echo Show units last year. (Echo Show is Amazon’s Alexa-based smart display.)

As you may know, Google launched its smart display platform this year, combining its Google Assistant technologies with a Google Home-like smart speaker and a display in a single standalone unit. Smart displays are currently on sale by companies like Lenovo, LG, JBL, and Sony, and more are expected by the end of the year. (I’m currently evaluating a Lenovo Smart Display, which I’ve found to be excellent.)

The Nikkei Asian Review report also notes that Google won’t Quanta Computer—which produces the Pixel handsets as well as products like the Apple MacBook Pro—for its smart display. Instead, it will turn to Pegatron, one of a few companies that manufacture iPhones for Apple, and Compal, an iPad components supplier, for the new devices. Foxconn, which also makes iPhones, will apparently manufacture the next-generation Pixel phones for Google.

 

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Conversation 9 comments

  • Angusmatheson

    17 August, 2018 - 10:23 am

    <p>On the plus side, it only has to secretly record your location to send to Google once…unless you move </p>

    • PeteB

      17 August, 2018 - 1:22 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#302478">In reply to Angusmatheson:</a></em></blockquote><p>Swing and a miss</p>

  • JustDavid

    17 August, 2018 - 11:34 am

    <p>I can see it now, husband sets up the Google Smart Display. Shows the wife how to use it. Later on the wife asks for a map to a new store in town, and the map shows the starting location as the husband's phone. . . parked across town at the house of his mistress</p>

    • annacourt

      Premium Member
      26 August, 2018 - 3:55 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#302484">In reply to JustDavid:</a></em></blockquote><p>LMAO!!</p>

  • GT Tecolotecreek

    17 August, 2018 - 11:42 am

    <p>Got to get rid of all the tablet parts inventory that didn't sell!</p><p><br></p><p>Missing a word or two?</p><p> <em>…</em><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">also notes that Google won’t Quanta Computer—which produces the Pixel handsets as well as products like the Apple MacBook Pro—for its smart display.</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p>

  • wolters

    Premium Member
    17 August, 2018 - 12:02 pm

    <p>Notch or not, I am leaning toward staying with the Pixel line because I just don't need any more complication with my digital life. And I'm interested in this display. </p><p><br></p><p>I've been trying to to downsize and "detox" my digital life and things have been smoother since I went with a Microsoft and Google mix. Before that, I had Amazon Echo, Amazon Music, Samsung Ecosystem in addition to Microsoft and Google services. </p><p><br></p><p>I've strongly considered the Note 9 but just don't want to have to avoid and sidestep the Samsung stuff, especially Bixby. And I prefer WearOS over Tizen and I'm excited to see how WearOS will be on a Pixel Watch. And oh yes, I also have a Pixelbook, which supplements my Surface Book 2. </p><p><br></p><p>Interesting times…</p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    17 August, 2018 - 12:57 pm

    <p>we have made the act of turning the light on so complex we need a dedicated display that is "smart" to determine if the lights are on. </p><p><br></p><p>This is bordering on absurd. </p><p><br></p><p>Why not a phone? Why not an old tablet that runs an App? Why do I need a dedicated screen that is not a TV…not a Tablet…not a phone… to control my lights and thermostat?</p><p><br></p><p>Tech industry has gone nuts. feels like dot.com bubble all over again. </p>

  • wspaw

    Premium Member
    17 August, 2018 - 3:20 pm

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hopefully, this one will have some kind of audio out. </span>Just picked up the Lenovo 10 inch. Using the Spotify integration is probably our main use but the it has no audio output – corded or otherwise. No jack, no Bluetooth casting (only receiving), no Chromecast Audio support – nothing. You're stuck with the crappy on-board speaker. It very well may be going back…</p>

  • pecosbob04

    17 August, 2018 - 4:16 pm

    <p>Off topic question:</p><p><br></p><p>If Google is the "online" giant,</p><p>and Microsoft is the "software" giant,</p><p>What kind of giants are Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Intel, Kroger, Samsung, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Spotify,</span> Starbucks, and Twitter? </p><p><br></p><p>Hell I should know this but at the moment my memory fails me.</p><p><br></p>

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