Google Home Speaker launches for $99 with Gemini Live and 360-degree sound
Google is making a comeback in the smart speaker market. The new Google Home Speaker competes directly with the Amazon Echo Dot Max ($65 on Amazon). The speaker looks like a slightly flattened sphere covered in fabric; an RGB LED ring in the base provides visual feedback during conversations with the AI assistant.
A slider on the back allows you to disable the microphone to protect your privacy. The speaker’s body is made from 37 percent recycled materials. Weighing 396 grams and measuring 10.7 centimeters in diameter, the speaker is equipped with a 58-millimeter full-range driver designed to deliver even sound in all directions. It also features three microphones, an ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core processor, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, Thread 1.3, 1 GB of RAM, and 4 GB of flash memory.
With these features, the speaker is designed not only to play music but, above all, to provide access to Google’s Gemini Live AI voice assistant. Even without a subscription, this AI assistant is said to be able to handle everyday tasks, stream songs, podcasts, and audiobooks, and send messages. Anyone who wants to use more advanced Gemini Live features and set up smart home automations must sign up for a subscription costing $10 per month. Daily summaries and analyses of video feeds from smart home cameras are only available with a $20 per month subscription.
Pricing and availability
The Google Home Speaker is now available for pre-order for $99.99 at the Google Store , either in Porcelain (beige), Hazel (dark gray), Jade (green) or Berry (red). Shipping is expected to begin in late June. The speaker can also be set up via the Google Home app on an Apple iPhone.
Source(s)
Add as a preferred source on Google
No comments for this article
