Google Announces 'Home Hub' Smart Display With 7-Inch Screen, No Camera

At its Pixel 3 launch event, Google announced a smart speaker called the Google Home Hub, featuring a 7-inch display to give you visual information, making it easier to control smart home devices and view photos and the weather. Interestingly, Google decided not to include a camera in this device for privacy reasons, as they want you to feel comfortable placing it in an intimate location, such as a bedroom. PhoneDog reports: Google explains that Home Hub will be able to recognize who is speaking to it using Voice Match to provide info for that specific person, which should help to make the device more useful in homes with multiple people. And when you're not using Home Hub, a feature called Live Albums will let you select certain people and have Google Photos create albums with images of these people. Another feature of Google's Home Hub is the Home View. With it, you can easily see and control your smart home devices. And then there's Ambient EQ, which uses a sensor that'll adjust the color and brightness of the Home Hub screen based on the ambient lighting. That includes dimming the screen at night when it's time for bed. Google Home Hub will be available for $149 in four colors -- Chalk, Charcoal, Aqua, and Sand. It will launch on October 22nd and each purchase will come with six months of YouTube Premium.

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[bob4u2c]

It usually takes a screw driver and a pair or wire cutters. In more difficult cases you might need a rigid plastic spreader and some heat. Typically if I plan on turning the microphone back on I'll pick up a small switch and wire the microphone in series with it.

Right to repair, or right to "modify", same thing in my book.

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[Pseudonym]

It usually takes a screw driver and a pair or wire cutters.

I take it you've never tried to open up a Nexus phone.

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[Namarrgon]

Yes, there's a Mic Mute switch that disables the mic, like most smart speakers.

Of course, if you don't trust that switch to actually disable the mic, then maybe you don't want to buy one in the first place.

We can locate you and ID via microphone

[WillAffleckUW]

It's actually not that hard to identify the person by voice and walk, as well as typical patterns (time of day, route, breath), so the lack of a camera still permits everyone in the world to know exactly who was where and what they were doing.

Don't ever keep it in a bedroom, unless it's for an older person who needs assistance and who agrees to it. Or a child with breathing problems.

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[PolygamousRanchKid]

It's actually not that hard to identify the person by voice and walk, as well as typical patterns (time of day, route, breath), so the lack of a camera still permits everyone in the world to know exactly who was where and what they were doing.

. . . but does it really lack a camera . . . ?

I guess we'll have to wait for a device teardown to be sure.

Pro Hint: It's in the expensive looking Ethernet connector.

what now?

[AndyKron]

I wonder how they're getting around the camera? Maybe a 3D laser scanner instead?

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[TeknoHog]

I recall reading about displays with embedded light-sensing pixels, with some processing they can act like a camera. It helps that Google knows how your lighting is set up.

This or Facebook's?

[mentil]

Hmm do I want the Facebook version with a camera for $50 more, or do I trust Google more with my private info? Decisions, decisions.

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[Fly Swatter]

It looks like your are playing their game, you have already lost.

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[sysrammer]

You caught one! Kudos.

First Command

[Charcharodon]

"Ok Google"........."go fuck a goat".

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[RockDoctor]

"Hello Default User Name, I have found three suppliers of goats in your area, one which asserts that it's goats are virgins. Please complete your account set-up for us to order you a goat and have it delivered to your home. Please specify 'virgin' or 'experienced' in your order."

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[WillAffleckUW]

More strange is the little hole has a protective lens inside of it.

By the way, what's this pinout for CAM?

It's a tablet with a stand...

[Fly Swatter]

How innovative.

Already out there

[dyfet]

https://www.hackster.io/darian... [hackster.io]

I guess Google is simply catching up to Pi....

I hope Google isn't your safe word ...

[fahrbot-bot]

Google decided not to include a camera in this device for privacy reasons, as they want you to feel comfortable placing it in an intimate location, such as a bedroom.

Where is can still hear everything you say ... in bed.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Nest

[bekeleven]

Who would buy into a Google "smart home" after the Nest Hub?

No G Suite support... still!

[SilentTristero]

...and of course it still doesn't work [google.com] for people with G suite accounts (no calendar access).

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[coofercat]

But you get a year of youtube, so you can watch ads on a 7 inch screen from across the room. You won't need g-suite with entertainment options like that!

Let the customer decide?

[Eloking]

Google decided not to include a camera in this device for privacy reasons, as they want you to feel comfortable placing it in an intimate location, such as a bedroom.

When in doubt, let the customer choose. For instance, sell one device with (Pro?) and one without. Or you can add some little door to hide the camera.

As for the piracy concern, I baffle me how anyone could fell threatened by some Google Home with or without camera but don't mind a cellphone with the same assistant. I mean, that one "really" follow you everywhere and if Google really wanted a HD livestream of your meaningless lives (and pay for it), they would have done it a loooong time ago.