Made by Google 2023: A Recap of Launches From the Event

• At the Made by Google event on October 4, the company launched the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Android 14, and more.
• One of the more in-demand updates announced by Google is the Assistant with Bard, which, as the name suggests, is the Google Assistant integrated with Bard running on Android 14.
• Made by Google is the last consumer electronics launch event by the five Big Tech companies.

Yesterday, the Made by Google marked the conclusion of the series of annual consumer electronics launches and updates by all five Big Tech companies. Starting in September with WWDC 2023, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and now Google have successfully showcased their tools in the year-long battle for dominance until next year when the cycle continues.

Of course, the arena for all companies isn’t the same, considering their product lines aren’t homogenous. For instance, Apple doesn’t necessarily view Microsoft through the same competitive lens as it does Google when it comes to smartphones. On the other hand, it may not consider Meta or Google as a rival for its laptop and tablet segment like it does with Microsoft.

Further, Meta may see Apple’s venture into immersive technology this year as a threat to its dominance in the sector, pending a reboot of the HoloLens mess.

More so than the product itself, technology and business watchers may find the competition to snatch a slice of the consumer market pie and eat it more fascinating than the products themselves. For others, the prospect of owing the latest products, often seen as a multi-year commitment by a significant portion of consumers, trumps anything else.

So, let’s look at what Google had to offer at the last of the Big Tech consumer device events of the year.

New Pixels

As expected, Google launched two additions to its Pixel lineup — the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

The clean design, leaked before the launch, has a pleasant aesthetic appeal to the two new smartphones. Dimensions-wise, Google has kept things similar to their predecessors with a minor change in the Pixel 8, which is 6.2” compared to the 6.3” Pixel 7.

The two devices retain Google’s AI-driven computational photography capabilities with minor tweaks in the camera hardware modules. The major changes can be seen in the displays, a new system-on-a-chip (SoC), a new thermometer, generative AI updates to the Google Assistant, and as many as seven years of Android and security updates.

Fans of the Pixel series may be disappointed with Google’s decision to go with Samsung’s Exynos 5300 5G modem, raising concerns about overheating, not unlike the Pixel 7 series.

The following table shows all that is new in Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro compared to Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, respectively.

See More: Tech Conferences Guide: Top Tech Events in October 2023

Pixel Watch 2

A year wiser and into the smartwatch segment, Google now hopes to leave behind the flaws that come with first-generation products. Pixel Watch 2 features improvements on the software front rather than the design elements, which is not a bad strategy considering it doesn’t need to fix anything that isn’t broken.

Improvements include automatic workout detection and the inclusion of an increased number of workouts. It also has a Safety Check feature that automatically sends an emergency message if the user doesn’t respond within the stated time.

New sensors in Pixel Watch 2, which runs on Wear OS 4, include those for accurate heart rate tracking (40% more accurate according to Fitbit CEO), stress tracking through a continuous electrodermal sensor, and skin temperature sensor for greater insights into sleep patterns.

More importantly, Google addressed users’ biggest complaint with the previous (and first) generation of the Pixel Watch: the battery backup. The company claims Pixel Watch 2 can now deliver 24 hours of battery life with always-on mode activated.

Android 14

Google’s latest version of the world’s most popular mobile operating system comes with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones after months in beta, followed by unveiling at the Google I/O 2023 conference in May this year.

Supported older Pixel devices should receive a notification from Google.

Key feature updates include the inclusion of passkeys for third-party apps, simplified app logins, AI-generated wallpapers, privacy-driven protections that remind users of data-sharing, 10-bit HDR image support, lock screen customizations, the inclusion of the Health Connect app, flash notifications, and more.

Additionally, Google Assistant is now integrated with its generative AI chatbot Bard for an improved personalized experience. Assistant with Bard and its generative and reasoning capabilities work across the device, including Gmail, Google Docs, YouTube, Maps, and more. Assistant with Bard accepts text, voice, and image inputs through a floating interface to execute tasks with a contextual understanding.

Google said that Assistant with Bard is in early experiment stages and would soon be available only to early testers. Users in limited markets (still undecided) can expect the rollout of Assistant with Bard in the coming months.

Google also released the Dual-Screen Interpreter mode for its Pixel Fold devices.

What thoughts do you have on Google’s new offerings and updates? Share with us on LinkedInOpens a new window , XOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!

Image source: Shutterstock

MORE EVENTS

• Connecting the Dots: Meta’s Ecosystem on Display at Meta Connect 2023
• Windows 11 Gets a Copilot: Microsoft’s Latest Offerings From the Fall Surface Event
• Oracle CloudWorld 2023: Charting a Course for AI-Driven Cloud Success
• Amazon Devices & Services Event: Alexa Update, a Powerful New Router, and More