Chromecast 2.0 coming in various colours and more apps

Google is updating its Chromecast streaming dongle with a different form factor as well as a variety of Googly colours. Priced the same as the ubiquitous Chromcast HDMI stick we all know and love, the new Chromecasts can manage faster and higher resolution video transfers. It will be available in lemonade, coral and black starting today in 17 countries and will set you back $45 when you buy it from the Google Store, Best Buy or Wal-Mart. Apps for accessing services like Showtime, Spotify and NBA are built-in. Aside from Chromecast for Video, another device focusing on Audio is also being made available for the first time.

Google throws down entry in 2-in-1 market with Pixel C

Things are certainly heating up in the 2-in-1 tablet space dominated by Microsoft's Surface (and similar PC devices) and soon to be occupied by Apple's iPad Pro and now the new Google Chromebook Pixel C. Reminiscent of the pretty but exorbitant Chromebook Pixel from a few years back, the Pixel C runs Marshmallow but features a removable keyboard. Looks like Google's busted out top notch build and materials and, as a result, the Pixel C looks really premium and is expected to be really expensive. HTC's Nexus 9, which has a pretty amazing keyboard as well, is another good option for a 2-in1 device.

Google's Nexus 5X and 6P come to Canada in October, starting at $499 and $599 respectively

Google just unloaded a bunch of new products, the most interesting of which are the 2015 class of Nexus devices, namely the LG made Nexus 5X and the Huawei built Nexus 6P. Both devices are available for order now in select markets but will be coming to Canada in October. Pricing is expected to go as follows; Nexus 5X will be made available as 16GB (CAD $499) and 32GB (CAD$559) variants and the larger Nexus 6P comes in 32GB ($699), 64GB ($749) and 128GB ($849) variants add taxes and factor in the soul-emptying dollar exchange rate and you have the most expensive Nexus devices ever sold. Below is Google's, er... Alphabet's official news release and device specs.

Today we’re introducing the latest Nexus treats, both running Marshmallow, sweetened by amazing apps and sandwiched by some cutting-edge hardware (see what we did there?):

• Nexus 6P is the first all-metal-body Nexus phone. Built in collaboration with Huawei, this 5.7” phone is crafted from aeronautical-grade aluminum, with a USB Type-C port for fast charging, a powerful 64-bit processor, and a 12.3 MP camera sensor with massive 1.55µm pixels (hello, better photos!). The Nexus 6P starts at $499.
• You’re not the only one who misses your Nexus 5. We’ve joined forces with LG to bring it back with the new Nexus 5X, which gives you great performance in a compact and light package, with a beautiful 5.2” screen and the same 12.3 MP camera and Type-C port as the Nexus 6P. Nexus 5X starts at $379.

Both phones include a new fingerprint sensor, Nexus Imprint, which gives you quick and secure access to your phone, as well as use of Android Pay (in the U.S.). They are available for pre-order on the Google Store from a number of countries, including the U.S., U.K., Ireland and Japan, and come with a free 90-day subscription to Google Play Music. In the U.S., pre-orders include a $50 Play credit to help you stock up your favorite music, apps, games and shows. 

Sweden's Symetium pursues the dream of the smartphone PC

Ubuntu's tried to do it, Microsoft with Windows 10 on phones and Continuum is trying to do it. Using a smartphone in dual-mode as a desktop PC is one of the great aspirations of our time and while our smartphones are effectively supercomputers in our pockets, there hasn't really been a smart and elegant solution into making them capable enough to also run desktop apps.

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