10:45am PT
That’s all folks! You can learn more about these products on the Google Store right now. As for us, we’ll be running over to get our hands on the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in person, and see if they really are the world’s best smartphone camera. Stay tuned or our hands-on take later today!
10:43am PT
The Google Clips camera looks for clear moments to capture. You can clip it anywhere. It features an F2.4 lens, 130° field of view, and captures short ‘clips’ that can be saved as motion photos, videos, or high res stills. You can choose which high-res still to save by navigating through a clip. When reviewing clips on your phone, just swipe right to save any one.
Will cost $ 250 and is “coming soon.”
10:40am PT
“A camera that takes photos for you, so you can enjoy the moment and get shots you could never get before.”
Starts with an AI engine at the core of the camera. Google Clips looks for “moments” by analyzing the scene and capturing photos automatically, so you can be part of the moment you’re capturing.
10:38am PT
One more photography update, having to do with candid photography that lets you be part of the moment as the photographer.
Meet Google Clips: a new lifelogging-style camera designed with parents and pet owners in mind.
10:37am PT
Here’s something they did NOT mention when talking about the new screen: the new Pixel 2 wide gamut display claims to offer “100% DCI-P3 coverage.” While OLEDs often offer close to full DCI-P3 coverage, our Technology Editor Rishi Sanyal is a bit skeptical of the 100% figure and wants to see an actual CIELAB diagram. Some estimates ‘cheat’ by counting extended gamut outside of the P3 space in one color to make up for the lack of gamut coverage in another color. We’ll have to wait and see, but most OLED coverage estimates max out at 99% DCI-P3 coverage.
Plus, we’re still waiting to find out if the Pixel 2 phones offer proper color management to provide accurate color on these wide gamut displays. Even the original Pixel phones offered wide gamut displays, but displayed wildly inaccurate colors because of the lack of proper color management and display profiles.
10:30am PT
Worth noting about that DxOMark score of 98: that’s an aggregate of Photo and Video scores.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 still beats the Google Pixel 2 in the Photo category, scoring 100 to the Google Pixel’s 99. The Pixel’s insane Video score of 96 is what gives it that high overall score. In Video, the iPhone 8 Plus scored an 89 and the Note 8 only scored an 84. We’re guessing this high score is largely due to the smooth video the combination of optical + electronic stabilization enables.
Here’s DxOMark’s full review.
10:27am PT
Feature breakdown:
- Ultra Vivid OLED Display
- Super Fast Charging
- Water Resistant
- The Fastest Fingerprint Sensor
- Smartest Assistant
- First Phone with Google Lens
- Exclusive AR Stickers
- World’s Highest-Rated Camera
Pre-orders start today.
10:23am PT
12MP F1.8 rear camera with OIS. Smaller 1/2.55″ sensor though (1/2.3″ on last year’s models). HDR+ still takes a burst of shorter exposure shots to preserve highlights, then combines (averages) them to reduce noise. The latter essentially simulates the effect of a larger sensor. While this works very well for static scenes, it can be problematic for moving objects like running kids.
Portrait mode in the Pixel 2 uses Google’s computational photography tech. No second camera required. Just split pixels on the sensor combined with machine learning. This allows both the front and back camera to use Portrait Mode.
It’s actually quite clever: the phone creates a rudimentary depth map using Dual Pixel technology and machine learning. Or, as our Tech Editor explains it, “The pixels are split just like on Canon Dual Pixel sensors. And the Samsung Galaxy. It’s used for phase-detect AF (fast focus) as well as to create a rudimentary depth map using the left and right perspectives viewed from behind one lens. Smart.”
And you no longer have to move the camera upward while taking a photo in Portrait mode. You can just snap a shot. This would make it work better with slightly moving subjects compared to the original Pixel phones. Sadly, Portrait mode is not simulated in real-time as it is on recent iPhones.
Oh, and the Video mode uses OIS and EIS at the same time. We’ve seen this on 1″-type compact cameras and some ILCs like Canon M-series and the Olympus E-M1 Mark II, but it’s a first for smartphones. This should lead to incredibly smooth video!
10:20am PT
Pixel camera now!
“With Pixel 2, we have reimagined smartphone photography. DxOMark has issued Pixel 2 an unprecedented score of 98.”
That trounces the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 which both scored 94.
10:18am PT
Augmented reality updates now. Very similar to the AR updates we saw with Apple and the new iPhones—inserting furniture or games into the real world through augmented reality.
Something ‘exclusive’ to Pixel 2 are AR stickers that interact with the world and with each other… because Google needed something to compete with Apple’s Animojis.
10:14am PT
Talking about Google Lens now. Using pictures, machine learning technology, and Google Assistant to pull information out of images and tell you all about them. Like pulling phone numbers off a flyer, or… telling the difference between muffins and chihuahuas (their example, not ours).
10:10am PT
Squeezing the phone triggers Google Assistant, so you can ask it to take a selfie. And it uses Machine Learning to tell if that squeeze was “intentional.”
Still waiting on more comprehensive updates about the camera. Hopefully it’s not all software and AI-based improvements. We’re really hoping for some hardware updates like OIS and maybe a bigger sensor or better processor.
*fingers crossed*
10:05am PT
Pixel 2: Full HD OLED display on the smaller 5-inch model. 100,000:1 contrast ratio. More than twice the contrast ratio of phones in its class (save for the iPhone X). Comes in three colors: Kinda Blue, Just Black, and Clearly White.
Pixel 2 XL: Less bezel, ‘gently curved’ screen, wide color gamut display, integrated circular polarizer so you can view the screen through sunglasses, 538 ppi (up from 534 ppi in the first Pixel XL). Comes in two colors: Just Black and ‘stylishly simple’ Black and White. We’re told the screen is optimized for VR, which may mean a pixel arrangement more amenable to high magnification.
“We don’t set aside better features for the larger device.” OOOO sick burn on Apple.
And yes, they are both IP67 dust and water resistant! On par with the iPhone, but a bit short of Samsung’s IP68. That’s a big upgrade from the IP53 rating of last year’s phones (what do IP ratings mean?).
10:00am PT
Google VP Mario Queiroz on stage, getting ready to talk about a ‘smarter’ and ‘simpler’ smartphone.
The Google Pixel 2, designed “with the best of Google built in.” Comes in 2 sizes, 5-inch and 6-inch XL. More Google Assistant capabilities and will “continue to offer the best photography.”
9:58am PT
One hour later, we’re FINALLY about to hear about Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL!!!
9:55am PT
The 12.3-inch Quad HD touchscreen is nice, it’s the first laptop with Google Assistant built in, and the laptop comes with the new Google Pen that can be used in concert with Google Assistant. 2,000 levels of pressure sensitivity… wonder how well photo editing in Lightroom on the Pixelbook works with the pen?
9:49am PT
*Sigh*…
Still waiting on the Google Pixel 2 launch. Moving on to Pixelbook from Google Home. It’s like they’re TRYING to torture the photo nerds. Let’s see if there’s any photo-centric reasons to be excited about the Pixelbook…
9:35am PT
We’re getting a bunch of Google Home updates/announcements. There’s a small one now… something about fabric… they needed 100+ tries to find an appropriately grey grey… cool stuff… clearly we’re very interested in this part.
*insert Jeopardy waiting music here*
9:21am PT
Next generation of Google devices are “fast” and “easy to use” and “anticipate your needs.” Products that get faster and more helpful over time thanks to machine learning.
9:19am PT
Rick Osterloh: “Pixel had the best and top rated smartphone camera. We’re really proud with how well the Pixel did as our first generation smartphone.”
He’s not wrong. But there’s a lot of room to improve…
Rick is talking about the challenges facing hardware development. So Google is going to take a “different approach” to smartphone [photography] advances by living at “the intersection of AI, software and hardware.”
9:12am PT
Pichai is confident that Google is at the forefront of driving the shift to this AI-first future.
One of the major leaps forward Google has made, is in Object Detection, which he says is now at 45% accuracy! The company is using this tech in Google Lens and, says Pichai, in the Google Pixel smartphones.
9:05am PT
Google CEO Sundar Pichai on stage. Started with a somber note about the horrifying tragedy in Las Vegas, and the natural disasters around the world.
Now talking about how Google is using machine learning technology to improve everything from Google Maps, to parking difficulty prediction, to Google Translate. Pichai is “excited about a shift from a Mobile-first to an AI-first world.”
This shift will no doubt have a major impact on the future of mobile photography.
8:59am PT
Are you ready? The Google DJs are winding down the music.
8:45am PT
We’re officially inside the SF Jazz Center waiting for the presentation to start! A few things we’re hoping for: optical image stabilization, better depth of field simulation with live preview, and a much more durable Pixel 2/XL on par with the iPhones (IP67 rating) or even Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 (IP68 rating).
8:30am PT
Hot on the heels of Apple’s own smartphone announcement, Google is taking on the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X with its own release. In T-minus 30 minutes, Google is set to unveil the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL (among a few other things) and we’ll be covering the launch live from San Francisco on Twitter and on this page.
Watch the livestream with us, and keep refreshing this page for up-to-the-minute takes on all things photography related from the Google event.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
