UPDATED 04:10 EDT / SEPTEMBER 27 2016

NEWS

Google’s Oct. 4 event: What to expect and how to watch

The invites are already out for Google’s latest event, which will take place on Oct. 4 in San Francisco. The event will showcase the latest hardware from the company and is rumored to be jam-packed, with new smartphones, a tablet, smart home gadgets and more.

We look at what is rumored to be revealed at Google’s Oct. 4 event as well as how you can live stream the event and ensure you don’t miss out on any of the action.

What to expect at the event

Smartphones

The rumor mill has been in overdrive with what we can expect from Google’s next smartphones, the Pixel and Pixel XL (codenamed Sailfish and Marlin) and we expect to see the new hardware make an appearance at the Oct. 4 event.

Rumors about the HTC Corp.-built smartphones suggest the company will lose the Nexus brand in favor of Google Pixel. The two models will come in a rumored 5 inch and 5.5-inch display, with aluminum finish and a fingerprint scanner on the back.

Leaks about the camera suggest the smartphones will have a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facing camera with minimal or no camera bump.

Compared to previous Nexus devices, the Pixel phones are also rumored to have a higher price tag, starting at $649, putting it on par with Apple iPhone prices.

Unlike the latest flagships from Apple and Samsung Electronics Ltd., there have been no leaks to suggest the Pixel phones will be waterproof.

Tablet

Google, together with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd is also rumored to be working on a 7-inch tablet. Unlike the Pixel phones, the rumors about the tablet have been minimal. All we know at this stage is that it will be released before the end of the year and will have 4GB of RAM.

New operating system

Rumors have been making the rounds since last year that Google would combine its Android and Chrome operating systems (OS) to form the codenamed “Andromeda” OS.

Chromebooks already support Android apps, but Andromeda would be a more ambitious project to bring Chrome features into Android and provide a unified system for Google laptops, tablets and phones.

The new OS is rumored to make an appearance on a new Pixel 3 laptop, codenamed “Bison.” Rumors about the laptop include an ultra-thin 0.39-inch thick design with a 12.3-inch screen. It will come with either an Intel m3 or Core i5 processor, 32GB or 128GB of storage and 8GB or 16GB of RAM. However, as the Bison is rumored to only be released in Q3 2017, it is unlikely to make an appearance at next week’s event.

Smart home

Google Home, which the company launched at it’s I/O developers conference in May, is a direct competitor to the Amazon Echo and we will likely learn more details about it next week. Rumors suggest Google Home will cost $130, $50 cheaper than Amazon Echo, but more expensive than the second-generation Amazon Echo Dot that costs only $50.

Google Home will allow you to play music, get a weather update or set your thermostat. It will also integrate with Google Search and Google Assistant.

According to Android Police, Google will also launch its own-brand Wi-Fi router called Google Wi-Fi. The router is rumored to have “smart” features and will offer enhanced range. While Android Police’s source claims “multiple Google Wi-Fi access points (two or more) can be linked together to create one large wireless network.” The rumored price for the device is $129.

The company is also rumored to launch a 4K Chromecast device called Chromecast Ultra. According to the images leaked by Evan Blass, the “G” logo will replace the Chromecast logo. The device will cost $69, a steep increase from the Chromecast dongle, which costs $35.

Daydream VR

At Google I/O 2016, the company also announced a mobile virtual reality (VR) platform called Daydream VR. The platform, due to launch this fall, will have a strong lineup of video and gaming, including IMAX, CNN, Netflix, Lionsgate, and games such as EVE Gunjack Next and Need for Speed: No Limits.

The company will also be launching a VR headset. As shown on the Daydream site, the headset will pair with a smartphone and a small controller.

How to watch

If you are interested in seeing what Google launches at its event, head to the Made by Google site, specially created for the event, and add your email address. You will receive an email to add the event to your calendar and can watch the keynote live on Google’s YouTube channel.

Image via Google

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