Google Launches New ‘Pixel’ Smartphone

Google Launches New ‘Pixel’ Smartphone

Google has announced its first smartphone designed in-house, the Pixel.

The company showed the new phone to the world during a launch event Tuesday in San Francisco, California.

“So today, I’m very excited to introduce you to a new phone made by Google, we call it Pixel.”

That was Rick Osterloh, head of Google’s newly-formed hardware group.

Google’s Android operating system already runs millions of phones worldwide. In the past, the company has sold phones and tablets under the Nexus¹ name.?

But the Pixel smartphone marks a change by Google to design and build its own devices, rather than just supplying software to other manufacturers.

In addition to the smartphone, the company also launched several other high-tech³ devices designed to compete with main rivals Apple and Amazon.

One of the main features of Pixel is that it includes the company’s latest artificial intelligence service, called Google Assistant. Users can talk directly to Google Assistant to ask questions, get information or even to perform tasks.

Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said the idea behind Google Assistant is to provide a useful, personal experience for device users.

“Just like we built a Google for everyone, we want to build each user his or her own individual Google.”

Google Assistant uses technology similar to that of Apple’s Siri service, and Microsoft’s Cortana system.

Pichai called Pixel the “first phone made by Google, inside and out.” Taiwan-based HTC manufactures the phone but Google says it completely designed and built Pixel.

Here are some of the main features of the new Pixel smartphones.

Two sizes and prices

The phone comes in two sizes, 12.7 centimeters, or 14 centimeters. The price of the smaller phone starts at $649. The larger one, called Pixel XL, will cost $769. Users can upgrade either phone from 32 GB to 128 GB for $100 more.

The prices are comparable to Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy⁴ models.

The phones have an aluminum⁵ body and glass case, sold in three colors – Quite Black, Very Silver and Really Blue.

Improved camera and video quality

Pixel has a 12.3 megapixel camera that the company calls the “best smartphone camera” ever made. Google cited a review from DXOMark, which gave Pixel a rating of 89 out of 100. This is better than the 86 score given the iPhone 7, and the 88 rating for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

The company said camera speed is also faster, permitting users to take photos without delay. A demonstration⁶ showed a user recording⁷ video as they walked down a street. The video suggested that the phone’s new video stabilization⁸ technology records images smoothly⁹.

Processing and OS

A Snapdragon 821 processor, run by Android’s newest OS, Nougat, powers the phone.

No storage limit

Using Google’s cloud system, Pixel phones can store unlimited¹⁰ photos and video.

Battery life

Google says Pixel can get users through the day with one charge. It also says the battery can charge for seven hours of use in just 15 minutes.

Easier updates

Software upgrades are easier with Pixel because when a new update is available, it is automatically downloaded and installed. The next time the phone is turned on, the update is complete.

24/7 support

Google offers a service built into the Pixel phones that lets users talk with helpers at any time to solve problems. The phones have a screen sharing option, so the helper can see exactly what the user is seeing.

A highlight of the launch event came when the company’s vice² president of product management, Brian Rakowski, showed off some of the Google Assistant’s human-like actions.

The Pixel phones are already being sold in the GoogleStore, and will be distributed through mobile carriers throughout the world.

Words in This Story

introduce – v. to make someone or something known for the first time

hardware – n. the machine or equipment parts of a computer

artificial intelligence – n. the development of computers to perform intelligence-related tasks without human involvement

upgrade – v. improve something to a better or newer model

cloud system – n. a way to store and regularly access computer data on multiple servers through the internet

1 nexus   

n.联系；关系

参考例句：

• Shared ambition is the vital nexus between them.共同的志向是把他们联结在一起的重要纽带。
• Either way,the nexus between the consumer and consumer prices is important.无论那个方面，消费者与消费价格之间的关系是至关重要的。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

4 galaxy   

n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物)

参考例句：

• The earth is one of the planets in the Galaxy.地球是银河系中的星球之一。
• The company has a galaxy of talent.该公司拥有一批优秀的人才。

5 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

6 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

7 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

8 Stabilization   

稳定化

参考例句：

• The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
• With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。

9 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

10 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。