The Google Pixel Tablet is a premium slice of media tech, complete with speaker dock that transforms it into the central hub of a smart home set-up
Is the new Google Pixel Tablet in it for the long haul? The company is the tech-world equivalent of that handsome rich kid at school who'll try anything once, however outlandish, and then face absolutely no consequences whatsoever when they crash and burn . As Google pivots towards creating hardware to better deliver the software that shapes, guides and controls our lives, it was inevitable that a dedicated tablet would be in the works.
The first Google tablets were branded Nexus 7 and released in 2012, just as interest in the company’s Android operating system started to snowball. These days, Android is the dominant mobile OS, with over 70 per cent market share, and Android tablets are two a penny, whether they’re sleek premium devices from Lenovo and Asus, or one of the myriad knock-off designs of dubious origin and quality that clog up Amazon search results.
The Pixel Tablet clips magnetically onto the dock, which charges as well as directs the sound through the large speaker. Then it’ll enter hub mode, which replicates the features of Google’s earlier , albeit with a bigger screen, better sound and the ability to take the screen with you. The size is pretty optimum as well, not so large as to be unwieldy.Hub mode is where you access Google Assistant, that font of trivia, train times and weather reports, although you can of course set it to spool through a Google-curated gallery or your own photo reel. The addition of the dock makes this tablet a cut above the rest .
Otherwise, this is a smart, snappy and thoroughly useful screen to have lying around. Powered by Google’s own Tensor G2 chip, it makes light work of streaming, with a crisp 2560 x 1600 resolution 11in screen and integral speakers that are more than sufficient for casual watching. The forward-facing camera works with Google’s Meet video calling system, and there’s the added bonus of being able to stream media from your phone to the dock with Chromecast.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pixel Tablet: Google's latest comes with a twist - but can it find an audience?Google has a history of killing off products that don't set the world alight, from its Stadia gaming platform to its previous Pixel tablet. It hopes its latest effort will find itself an audience by straddling the line between tablet and home hub.
Read more »
Google Pixel Tablet review: A new home for the same old AndroidA great idea in need of a few software updates
Read more »
Iraq: displays 2,800-year-old stone tablet returned by ItalyItalian authorities handed over the ancient tablet to Iraq after more than four decades.
Read more »
Antidepressants: Two million taking them for five years or moreThe scale of long-term use - and concerns about withdrawal symptoms - are revealed by BBC Panorama.
Read more »
Tell us your favourite Emmerdale stunt of all time by taking our pollThere are plenty of big and dramatic Emmerdale stunts to choose from
Read more »
Tram driver cleared of not taking reasonable care over fatal Croydon crashThe driver of a Croydon tram which derailed in 2016, killing six, has been cleared of breaking health and safety laws. Alfred Dorris, 49, was accused of heading into a sharp curve at three times the correct speed when his tram toppled off the line at Sandilands, south London.
Read more »