October 4th is shaping up to be a huge day for Google, Android, and the future
We are a little over a week away from Google’s yearly device announcement, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest announcement since Android was announced 8 years ago. The company is expected to announce a slew of devices including the Pixel and Pixel XL, Google Home, Chromecast Ultra, but this event is turning out to look like there will be much more.
Last year, Google took to the stage in California to announce the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C, but this year’s event could change the way that Google introduces products. We’re seeing more build up after it announced the event as we have seen product placement in a lot more places than we’re used to.
Combined with these devices that we already knew were in the works, it appears that Google may have another product that it will show off. David Ruddock from Android Police is reporting that we may get a sneak peek at the “Pixel 3” laptop which would be running the new “Andromeda OS” which combines both Android and Chrome OS.
The device would be the 3rd Pixel laptop to be released by Google and is still in its early stages, but the report suggests Google will be giving everyone a glimpse at its next event. The laptop would be the culmination of many reports suggesting that Google has been planning to merge Chrome OS and Android at some point in time, which gained even more traction after the Google Play Store was introduced to Chrome OS at Google I/O 2016.
It’s important to note that these specifications are subject to change as the project will not be finalized until Q3 2017, but here’s what Android Police has so far:
- 12.3-inch Display
- Intel M3 or i5 Processor
- 32GB/128GB Storage
- 8GB/16GB RAM
- Fingerprint Scanner
- (2) USB Type-C ports
- Stylus Support
- 10-hour Battery Life
It’s also suggested that Google wants this package to be under 10mm which would pit the device against Apple’s Macbook in terms of portability. The Pixel 3 will also support a “tablet” mode meaning that the device may follow in the footsteps of the Lenovo Yoga lineup with its convertible design. Finally, if you’re worried about paying a premium for this device, the report suggests Google will be pricing the Pixel 3 at $799 to start and will sell a Wacom stylus separately.
But that’s not all folks….
After getting confirmation from multiple sources, 9to5Google is reporting that the Nexus branding may not be dead after all and this may come to fruition in the form of the rumored Huawei Nexus tablet. What makes this tablet so interesting other than retaining the Nexus branding that we’ve come to know and love is that it will, in fact, be running Andromeda OS.
As for what the device will be running under the hood? Here’s a refresher from a leak that came out earlier this month:
- 7-inch AMOLED 2560 x 1440 Display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 Processor + Adreno 530 GPU
- 4GB RAM
- 64GB Storage
- 13MP camera
This would mark the first tablet released since the Pixel C was introduced last year and the first 7-inch tablet from Google since the Nexus 7 2013. The report from 9to5Google also suggests that although the Pixel 3 will be available in Q3 2017, the new Huawei tablet running Andromeda OS will be available to developers sooner, allowing for developers to begin developing for the new operating system.
As for the event itself, Google is preparing to change the world and I can’t wait to see what’s in the cards for the future of Google, Android, and anything else that is in the works. Let us know in the comments below what you’re most excited for when Google takes the stage on October 4th.