Google’s Matter smart home standard is launching this fall

Google plans to finally launch its new smart home industry standard called Matter this fall. Devices will all connect quickly and easily using Fast Pair and the platform will support a variety of voice assistants and networking protocols. Those include Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri as well as WiFi, Thread and Bluetooth LE. While Fast Pair feature has been used for headphones and audio gear, the company is working to use it for more things, including syncing lightbulbs and smart plugs with Android and Nest devices. You’ll be able to scan a code with your phone to get things rolling, which should be quicker and easier than the current method for adding new gear to your arsenal. 

The company first announced Matter in 2019, although back then it was known as Project Connected Home over IP (Project CHIP). At I/O 2021, Google announced a redesign to its smart home Developer Center to include all the tools developers would need to make product compatible with the standard. Matter was delayed until 2022 last August and the fall timeline now means Google has pushed it out yet again. The delayed launch was supposed to happen in the first half of this year. Still, after all of the roadblocks, the promise of a more seamless process for adding devices to your smart home from a wide range of companies is a compelling one.  

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Google teases its next generation of AR glasses

A decade after Google Glass made its debut at I/O 2012, Google is working on a new set of augmented reality glasses. The company teased the device at I/O 2022, sharing a short clip that showed off some of its capabilities. We saw an “early prototype” of the wearable transcribe a conversation in real-time, effectively providing captions for the wearer. Google also showed demoed the prototype translating a conversation from English into Spanish, allowing a non-English speaker to carry out a conversation with the Google employee speaking to them. 

Google didn’t say when it plans to release the wearable it showed off today. We’ll also note the teaser video the company played during its presentation included text at the bottom of the frame that said what it was showcasing was a “simulated point of view,” suggesting the final interface may look dramatically different from the one Google showed off today. 

Google’s cautious approach to sharing too many details before the device is ready is understandable. While Google Glass is still available to enterprise customers, it’s fair to say the wearable never quite took off the way the company envisioned. In addition to privacy concerns, the “Glasshole” label made it difficult for Google to sell consumers on wearable AR.  

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How to pre-order the Google Pixel 6a smartphone

Google’s annual I/O keynote was chock full of hardware and software announcements, key among them being the introduction of the Pixel 6a smartphone. The latest midrange handset brings many of the Pixel 6’s features down to the more accessible price point of $449. Google also announced the Pixel Buds Pro, its answer to Apple’s AirPods Pro and the company’s first earbuds to support active noise cancellation. It’ll be a while before you can get your hands on either of these gadgets, but here’s how to pre-order the Google Pixel 6a and everything else announced today.

Google Pixel 6a

Google I/O 2022 Pixel 6a
Engadget

The Google Pixel 6a will be available for pre-order starting July 21st for $449, and it will be more widely available starting July 28th. You’ll be able to pick it up from the Google store and other retailers.

The Pixel 6a is the latest midrange addition to Google’s smartphone lineup. But just because it’s not a true flagship doesn’t mean it won’t have some of the features that the standard Pixel 6 does. In fact, Google carried a lot of things over, including 5G support, the Titan M2 security chip and the same Tensor SoC that’s inside the Pixel 6 Pro. It also has an under-display fingerprint sensor and a USB-C port for charging, but alas, no headphone jack.

As far as the camera goes, the Pixel 6a has the recognizable camera bar that the rest of the Pixel 6 series has, along with a dual rear array that includes a 12-megapixel main shooter and an ultra-wide lens. It also has some of Google advanced camera features like Night Sight, Magic Eraser and more. Overall, the Pixel 6a’s design is very similar to that of the others in the lineup, but it’s about the size of a Pixel 5 and has a 6.1-inch always-on touchscreen with a 60Hz refresh rate and HDR support. Google claims the battery inside the Pixel 6a will last all day.

Google Buds Pro

Pixel Buds Pro
Google

The Google Pixel Buds Pro will be available for pre-order starting July 21st for $199, and they will be more widely available starting July 28th. They will be available in red, green, blue and black. You’ll be able to pick them up from the Google store and other retailers.

The Pixel Buds Pro are the first that Google has made that support ANC. The buds also have a new custom audio processor and transparency mode, the latter of which should help you jump into conversations without taking the buds out of your ears. Like many other earbuds at this price range, the Pixel Buds Pro will be able to connect to more than one device at a time and intelligently switch between, say, your phone when you need to take a call and music from your computer.

Google claims the Pixel Buds Pro will get up to 11 hours of listening time on a single charge, or up to seven hours if you use ANC for the whole time. The company also said they’ll be updating the earbuds to support spatial audio later this year.

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The Pixel Tablet is coming in 2023

Google’s last tablet was the ill-fated Pixel slate, a device that was widely criticized — so much so that in 2019, Google said it wouldn’t make tablets anymore. In classic fashion, though, the company is changing its tune. Today as part of its hardware presentation at Google I/O 2022, Google teased the Pixel Tablet, a premium Android-powered device that’s set to arrive sometime in 2023. 

As this product is months away from being released, Google is only giving us a scant few details right now. Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of devices and services, said that the Pixel Tablet is a “premium” device that will run on the company’s custom Tensor chips, just like the latest Pixel phones. What we haven’t heard is how much it’ll cost, how big the screen is or when it will be released. We can say that, based on the renders we saw, it looks a bit like someone just took the screen off a Nest Hub.

Naturally, the new tablet will run Google’s version of Android specifically built for larger screens, an initiative that’s been in the works for a while now. Historically, the big knock against Android tablets is that the software never feels like it’s built for the bigger screen, and that apps aren’t optimized to use this bigger view. Even with changes made to Android to support larger screens, it doesn’t necessarily mean developers will build their apps to take advantage of that space. 

But Osterloh told reporters in a briefing ahead of I/O that Google has clearly heard that users want a larger-screen Pixel experience to compliment their phones — so the company is at least seeing some level of consumer demand for such a device. Whether that leads into market adoption is another question entirely, as neither Chrome OS nor Android tablets ever caught on in a significant way. Samsung has had some success with its Galaxy Tab line and Amazon’s budget lineup of Fire tablets have both stuck around, but Apple’s iPad remains dominant. 

Given that this device won’t be out until sometime in 2023, it’s far too early to predict if Google has learned from its past mistakes in the tablet arena. But the company made a commitment at I/O to rebuild more than 20 of its apps for large-screen devices, and huge developers like Facebook, TikTok and Zoom are on board as well. If more third-party developers get on board by the time the Pixel Tablet arrives, it could have a shot at redefining what we think of when it comes to premium Android tablets.

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Google confirms the Pixel Watch is real and it’s coming this fall

The worst–keptsecret in tech is a secret no more. At its I/O 2022 developer conference today, Google just confirmed the existence of the much-leaked Pixel Watch. Not only that, the company showed pictures of the device, and it looks a lot like a bezelless Samsung Galaxy Watch. 

The Pixel Watch has a domed, round face and, like most Google hardware, appears to have a pastel-based color scheme. There is a “tactile crown” and customizable bands will be available, too. The device will run Wear OS 3, which the company launched last year in collaboration with Samsung, but with updates we heard about earlier during today’s keynote. Some features we already knew about, like offline Maps directions on your wrist, are finally arriving for real. Emergency SOS and a new Google Wallet are also coming to Wear OS on the Pixel Watch.

Google is also promising deep integration with Fitbit, which it recently acquired, for health and fitness-tracking features. Wear OS has long lacked comprehensive activity and biometric tracking tools, and now, the OS will better. Google had already said it was working with Fitbit and learning from Samsung on how to efficiently implement constant heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking. It appears the Pixel Watch, with the latest Wear OS, will offer that.

It will also have a Fitbit app that lets users collect “Active Zone minutes” that fans of the activity band maker will find familiar. You’ll also be able to log your progress against preset goals. It’s not yet clear how the Fitbit app will work with Google’s own Fit, or if there will be any overlap.

In fact, not much else is known about the Pixel Watch itself, except that more details will be released in the coming months and that it will launch in the fall with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. We don’t know what chipset Google is using, or what battery life to expect. One thing worth noting is that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which was the first smartwatch to run the new Wear OS, does not work with iOS. The Pixel Watch won’t either. But most iPhone users will likely opt for the Apple Watch, which to this day is the best smartwatch available.

The Pixel Watch is an intriguing offering from Google, but until we have more information, it’s hard to know if the company will be able to steal Apple’s crown. For now, after having had to wait so long, we’ll still have to wait a little longer to get all full details.

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Google expands emergency SOS and earthquake warning features

Google is expanding two of its personal safety features: the “SOS” alerts and its earthquake warning system. The company announced the updates during its I/O 2022 developer conference.Google’s emergency SOS features have already been available for Pixe…

End-to-end encryption is coming to Google Messages group texts

Almost a year after Google switched on end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for one-on-one chats in the Messages app, it says it’s bringing those protections to group texts. The expanded feature will be available as an open beta later this year, the company said today at its I/O 2022 developer conference.

Google hasn’t revealed more details about E2EE in group chats, but it will surely be similar to how the option works in one-on-one conversations. Everyone in the group will need to have RCS chat functions switched on to use the feature. You’ll be able to tell if a message you’re about to share with the group is encrypted if there’s a lock icon on the send button.

The Messages app now has more than 500 million monthly active users with RCS. So, there’s already a large number of people who’d be able to take advantage of E2EE in group chats. If everyone does enable RCS and E2EE, it’ll be much more difficult for snoopers to see the messages the group members are sharing with each other.

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Pixel Buds Pro are Google’s first earbuds with active noise cancellation

On top of all of today’s other big I/O news, Google is adding a new set of true wireless earbuds to its lineup of audio accessories. The Pixel Buds Pro are the first earbuds from the company with active noise cancellation (ANC) and soon they’ll support spatial audio when paired with a compatible Pixel phone. However, noise blocking and immersive sound aren’t the only big features Google has packed into these $199 buds. 

Inside, there’s a new custom-built six-core audio processor powered by Google algorithms that blasts sound through custom drivers. The company says all aspects of the setup, including the active noise cancellation, were tuned by its in-house audio engineers. A feature called Volume EQ feature adjusts lows, mids and highs when you change the volume level to maintain a balanced sound profile. If you turn down the volume, for example, the buds automatically increase the bass while also keeping mid-range and treble in check. Touch controls give you the ability to play/pause, skip tracks, adjust volume and activate (or deactivate) noise cancellation. Like both the Pixel Buds and A-Series, the Pro is IPX4 rated so you shouldn’t have any reservations about using them during a workout.

Google has also accounted for the fact that everyone’s ears are different. Even though the company says it scanned thousands of ears to find a shape with the most comfort for the most people, the included tips may not work perfectly for all users. With a tool called Silent Seal, Pixel Buds Pro can adapt to your ears to maximize the effectiveness of the ANC. Google says the earbuds also monitor pressure inside your ear canal and they can relieve it as needed to keep you comfy. 

Multipoint connectivity is a must for earbuds and headphones these days, allowing you to switch seamlessly between your phone and a computer or tablet. Pixel Buds Pro offer this feature, swapping from the last two Bluetooth devices you’ve connected them to — including TVs and iPhones. There’s also hands-free access to Google Assistant so you won’t have to reach for your phone to summon some help with a range of tasks. And yes, the list of chores still covers real-time translation for 40 languages. Transparency mode is another handy feature, allowing outside noise to come in when you need to be aware of your surroundings or have a quick chat. 

Pixel Buds Pro
Google

Speaking of voice, Google has employed bone conduction to help pick up your speech during calls. Combined with beamforming microphones, a voice accelerometer and wind-blocking mesh covers, the company says you can expect clear calls even in less than ideal environments. Mileage varies greatly claims like this from earbuds companies, so we’ll hold off on any proper judgement for now. 

Google promises up to seven hours of use with ANC on or up to 11 hours of listening with it turned off. That second figure is more than double the battery life of both the 2020 Pixel Buds and the Pixel Buds A-Series, neither of which have true noise cancelling abilities. Even if you opt for ANC mode, you still get two more hours than Google’s previous two sets. The case, which looks similar to one that came with the most recent models, supports wireless charging (Pixel Stand or Qi-certified accessories) and adds 13 hours of noise-cancelling use. Lastly, there’s a quick-charge feature that gives you one hour of ANC listening time in five minutes. 

The Pixel Buds Pro will be available for pre-order on July 21st for $199. They’re expected to start shipping on July 28th. And if you do decide to make a purchase, you’ll be able to choose from Coral, Lemongrass, Fog and Charcoal color options. 

Follow all of the news from Google I/O 2022 right here!

Update 4:06PM ET: This post has been updated with correct pre-order and launch dates. We apologize for the error.