Google is done with tablets, cancels two unreleased products

Google Pixel Slate

If you were expecting a Google Pixel Slate 2, unfortunately, you’re waiting for nothing. Google’s lead for its hardware business Rick Osterloh confirmed in a tweet that the company will be focusing its Chrome OS hardware efforts on traditional laptops like the Pixelbook. Meanwhile, the existing Pixel Slate will still be supported and get software and security updates in the foreseeable future.

Google initially had plans to release two more tablets, but it’s being rumoured that the teams behind these are being moved to other areas of the company—most of them are part of the Pixelbook team supposedly. These were both smaller in size than the Pixel Slate and were supposed to come out “sometime after 2019.” But it’s said that disappointing quality assurance testing results led to Google dropping the devices. What we might see before the year ends is a Pixelbook 2. A Google spokesperson who talked to Computer World said it’s “very likely” to see this laptop make a comeback this year.

Source: The Verge

Report claims Samsung and ASUS looking to build Pixelbook competitors

Looks like two tech companies don’t want Google to monopolize the high-end Chromebook space. Rumour has it both Samsung and ASUS are looking to upgrade their Samsung Chromebook Pro and ASUS C302CA to match up against Google’s Pixelbook. At the moment, both are powered by the Intel Core m3 processor with 4GB of RAM. The rumoured upgrades might see RAM pushed up to 16GB and the processor changed to an Intel Core m7 one.

In terms of pricing, we don’t a figure yet, which makes sense as the products themselves are rumours at the moment. But it’s expected these two devices might undercut Google’s Pixelbook with a price tag of at least US$800. The Pixelbook’s price starts at US$999. When it comes to the official launch, speculation is it might come by the end of the year or just in time for CES 2018.

Source: ChromeUnboxed | Via: Android Authority