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| Google's conversation-based Assistant takes on Amazon | Google's conversation-based Assistant takes on Amazon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Google has announced a conversation-based tool to control smartphones, smartwatches and other devices. | Google has announced a conversation-based tool to control smartphones, smartwatches and other devices. |
| Google Assistant can be used to find information, play media and carry out tasks - such as booking cinema tickets - via a back-and-forth chat between the user and the software. | Google Assistant can be used to find information, play media and carry out tasks - such as booking cinema tickets - via a back-and-forth chat between the user and the software. |
| The firm also announced a voice-activated device with a built-in speaker called Google Home to deliver the tech to living rooms. | The firm also announced a voice-activated device with a built-in speaker called Google Home to deliver the tech to living rooms. |
| It will compete with Amazon's Echo. | It will compete with Amazon's Echo. |
| Amazon launched its own dialogue-based smart home device in 2014, which is powered by the firm's proprietary virtual assistant Alexa. | |
| Google's chief executive Sundar Pichai credited Amazon with pioneering the idea. | |
| His announcement was made at the start of the firm's IO developers' conference in California. | His announcement was made at the start of the firm's IO developers' conference in California. |
| "Google's new Assistant is its attempt to bring together a set of disparate efforts that have lacked a coherent brand," commented Jan Dawson from Jackdaw Research. | "Google's new Assistant is its attempt to bring together a set of disparate efforts that have lacked a coherent brand," commented Jan Dawson from Jackdaw Research. |
| "Referring to the combined functions of Google Now, OK Google, and other elements has been tough in the past, because there wasn't a single name for this functionality. | "Referring to the combined functions of Google Now, OK Google, and other elements has been tough in the past, because there wasn't a single name for this functionality. |
| "This should help Google compete more effectively both with Amazon's Echo device but also with better-branded personal assistants like Siri, Cortana, and Alexa." | "This should help Google compete more effectively both with Amazon's Echo device but also with better-branded personal assistants like Siri, Cortana, and Alexa." |
| Google Assistant can link into third-party services including Ticketmaster, Spotify, Uber and Whatsapp. But Alexa already works with many more. | Google Assistant can link into third-party services including Ticketmaster, Spotify, Uber and Whatsapp. But Alexa already works with many more. |
| "Amazon should take note of Google Home given Google's search and artificial intelligence capability, but Alexa has an early lead in third-party integration," noted Geoff Blaber from the CCS Insight consultancy. | "Amazon should take note of Google Home given Google's search and artificial intelligence capability, but Alexa has an early lead in third-party integration," noted Geoff Blaber from the CCS Insight consultancy. |
| Chat app | Chat app |
| Google Assistant also plays a role in a new chat app called Allo, in which it can make suggestions based on what the user is talking about with their friends. | Google Assistant also plays a role in a new chat app called Allo, in which it can make suggestions based on what the user is talking about with their friends. |
| One executive demonstrated the AI tool proposing a restaurant to visit when two users discussed wanting to eat Italian food. | One executive demonstrated the AI tool proposing a restaurant to visit when two users discussed wanting to eat Italian food. |
| Allo's other unusual feature is that it can provide replies on a user's behalf. | |
| This includes commenting on pictures sent by friends, thanks to its use of image recognition algorithms. | This includes commenting on pictures sent by friends, thanks to its use of image recognition algorithms. |
| The company said the suggestions should improve the more people use the app. | |
| A partner video chat app called Duo was also unveiled. A distinguishing feature is a live view of the caller, which is shown on the recipient's screen before they decide whether or not to answer. | |
| Virtual reality | Virtual reality |
| In the past, Google IO has provided a first look at the next version of smartphone operating system Android. | |
| But this year many details about Android N were released weeks ahead of the event. | |
| However, there were new details about a forthcoming virtual reality feature called Daydream. | However, there were new details about a forthcoming virtual reality feature called Daydream. |
| It introduces a dedicated VR app store and provides a set of specifications that devices must meet in order to provide a lag time of less than 20 milliseconds between movements of the user's body and on-screen responses. | It introduces a dedicated VR app store and provides a set of specifications that devices must meet in order to provide a lag time of less than 20 milliseconds between movements of the user's body and on-screen responses. |
| Daydream also includes a reference design for a VR headset mount - into which a variety of smartphones could be fitted - and a controller - a handheld device featuring a trackpad and two buttons. | Daydream also includes a reference design for a VR headset mount - into which a variety of smartphones could be fitted - and a controller - a handheld device featuring a trackpad and two buttons. |
| Google is not making either, but hopes that manufacturers will put the designs into production. | |
| "One of the worst things about Samsung's Gear VR [headset] is the control system - Daydream looks much better," said Mr Dawson. | "One of the worst things about Samsung's Gear VR [headset] is the control system - Daydream looks much better," said Mr Dawson. |
| The firm also announced an upgrade to its smartwatch operating system Android Wear. | |
| It now supports "standalone" apps, meaning the software can go online via wi-fi or a watch's own 3G/4G connection, rather than having to link up via a smartphone. | |
| This should make apps run faster and addresses a problem that had also plagued apps on the original version of Apple's rival Watch OS. | This should make apps run faster and addresses a problem that had also plagued apps on the original version of Apple's rival Watch OS. |
| In addition, the updated Android Wear provides ways to reply to messages beyond speaking into the device's microphone. | In addition, the updated Android Wear provides ways to reply to messages beyond speaking into the device's microphone. |
| Users will able to: | Users will able to: |
| How practical this will be is unclear, particularly as an on-stage demo went wrong. | How practical this will be is unclear, particularly as an on-stage demo went wrong. |
| "Android Wear 2.0 is a reset for Google's wearables platform," said Mr Blaber. | "Android Wear 2.0 is a reset for Google's wearables platform," said Mr Blaber. |
| "Having learned lessons from the first generation, Google and partners will hope 2.0 will kick start wearables adoption and usage." | "Having learned lessons from the first generation, Google and partners will hope 2.0 will kick start wearables adoption and usage." |
| Analysis: Dave Lee, North America technology reporter | Analysis: Dave Lee, North America technology reporter |
| Very impressive, Google, but it feels like you're a little behind. | Very impressive, Google, but it feels like you're a little behind. |
| Facebook already has a smart chat app. Amazon already has a cool assistant you can talk to in the kitchen. | Facebook already has a smart chat app. Amazon already has a cool assistant you can talk to in the kitchen. |
| And Oculus and Samsung have the Gear VR, a smartphone-powered headset. | And Oculus and Samsung have the Gear VR, a smartphone-powered headset. |
| So, the task for Google is both straightforward and enormous. Do all that, just better than everyone else. | So, the task for Google is both straightforward and enormous. Do all that, just better than everyone else. |
| Google's head-start in smart messaging is that its algorithm is by far and away the smartest. | Google's head-start in smart messaging is that its algorithm is by far and away the smartest. |
| And unlike Samsung's VR headset that needs a Galaxy phone, Google's Daydream mount is designed to work with a range of handsets. | |
| The biggest cheer, mind you, wasn't for any of the new products. | The biggest cheer, mind you, wasn't for any of the new products. |
| Instead, it was news of a fresh range of emoji depicting female professionals that drew delight from the audience here. | |
| Instant apps | Instant apps |
| Google rounded off IO's first event of the week with a look at a feature that could shake up one of Android's key principles. | |
| Rather than making users install an additional app each time they want to access a new service, the firm wants to make it possible to quickly download just the code needed to carry out a specific task. | Rather than making users install an additional app each time they want to access a new service, the firm wants to make it possible to quickly download just the code needed to carry out a specific task. |
| "We are evolving Android apps to run instantly without installation," explained Google executive Ellie Powers. | "We are evolving Android apps to run instantly without installation," explained Google executive Ellie Powers. |
| "We call this Android Instant Apps. | "We call this Android Instant Apps. |
| "As a developer... you'll modularise your app and Google Play will download only the parts that are needed on the fly." | "As a developer... you'll modularise your app and Google Play will download only the parts that are needed on the fly." |
| Examples given included a parking meter app that automatically presents its payment interface when a motorist leaves their car at a stand, and a news app that streams its videos when a user clicks a link. | Examples given included a parking meter app that automatically presents its payment interface when a motorist leaves their car at a stand, and a news app that streams its videos when a user clicks a link. |
| The idea echoes the Scopes found in Ubuntu's smartphone OS and Microsoft's App-V facility, which both aim to provide access to third-party services without making users download full apps. | The idea echoes the Scopes found in Ubuntu's smartphone OS and Microsoft's App-V facility, which both aim to provide access to third-party services without making users download full apps. |
| Analysts had mixed feelings about the proposition. | Analysts had mixed feelings about the proposition. |
| "Android Instant Apps [are the] first real signs of the post-app era," tweeted Gartner's Brian Blau. | "Android Instant Apps [are the] first real signs of the post-app era," tweeted Gartner's Brian Blau. |
| But Creative Strategies' Carolina Milanesi wrote: "Is it like a smart preview that will get me to install the apps I don't have?" | But Creative Strategies' Carolina Milanesi wrote: "Is it like a smart preview that will get me to install the apps I don't have?" |
| And Moor Insights' Patrick Moorhead added: "When I think about Android Instant Apps, why is the first thing I think of [a] security panic?" | And Moor Insights' Patrick Moorhead added: "When I think about Android Instant Apps, why is the first thing I think of [a] security panic?" |