Google, which has been making the headlines quite often recently, is set to make some big announcements through a major event being planned for Oct. 4.
According to a report by Android Police, a reliable source said that on that date, Google will be announcing its Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones, the Google Home speaker, a Chromecast model that can support 4K video and an in-house design for a viewer of Daydream VR.
The source, however, did not reveal additional details about the event, such as where it will be held and at what time. Android Police also pointed out that dates for such events are always subject to change, but Oct. 4 should be a good guideline date for Google's planned announcements.
Here's a quick recap of the hardware that are part of Google's upcoming event.
Pixel And Pixel XL
It was recently reported that Google will be dropping the Nexus brand for its upcoming HTC-manufactured smartphones, which were codenamed Marlin and Sailfish. Instead, the 5.0-inch device will be named the Pixel, while the 5.5-inch device will be named the Pixel XL.
The price tags of the successors of the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P have also been leaked. The 32 GB Pixel will cost $449, while the 32 GB Pixel XL will cost $599.
Google Home
The Google Home speaker, which Google announced at its annual I/O developers conference, is a voice-enabled device that is being set up as a competitor to the Alexa-powered Amazon Echo.
Google parent company Alphabet also recently moved dozens of engineers from smart home division Nest Labs into Google specifically to work on Google Home, bolstering the talent behind the development of the device.
Chromecast 4K
The new Chromecast model will be able to support 4K videos, and will be named either Chromecast Plus or Chromecast Ultra, according to Android Police. Such a device will receive significant interest because of the growing popularity of 4K television sets and 4K content.
The Chromecast actually did better in terms of sales compared with the Apple TV in the first quarter, and Google will be looking to build upon that success with a Chromecast model that is capable of 4K content.
Daydream VR Viewer
The in-house design for the Daydream VR viewer, which could be simply named Daydream View, is also set to be revealed at the planned Oct. 4 event. This would allow Google to reveal that the Pixel XL is a Daydream-ready device, as well as discuss how its VR platform is different from everyone else's.
The Daydream VR initiative, which was also first revealed at the I/O conference, is expected to be launched by Google in the coming weeks, with YouTube stars being hired to promote the platform.
Google In The Holidays
The upcoming hardware that Google will be announcing could ensure that the holiday shopping season will be filled with Google devices.
Mark Oct. 4 on your calendars for now, but always be on the lookout in case the date of the planned event changes.
