Google consolidates Home and Nest smart home initiatives

Fresh from Google IO 2019 is the news that Google Home and Nest devices are now consolidated into a unified smart home hardware and software initiative. The first product under this brand is the Google Nest Hub. A 10-inch smart display with Google Home functionality as well as a camera for video calls (or for security when you're away), this device can be anyting from a smart-speaker, kitchen TV, or digital photo frame.

Coming to Canada for the first time, the Google Nest Hub comes in a variety of colours including, chalk, charcoal, aqua and sand. Google says You can buy Hub for $169, and starting today, you can pre-order from the Google Store.  Google also has some deals for pre-orders of the Nest Hub between May 7 and May 27, Customers will get a Google Home Mini for free. Starting today, pricing for Google Home speakers will be $129 and Google Home Max will be $399.

Apple updates Clips app on iOS with retro effects and a new camcorder feature

Apple has just updated the Clips app on iOS. The slick and easy to use video creation app is ideal for creating shareable short videos and effects. The latet version can simulate a vintage camcorder, there are also 8 new posters, various retro-style banners and 3D effects plus the ability to create original songs in GarageBand and sync them with your newly created videos. Clips is available in the App Store now.

Arguing the merits of an update to iPhone SE

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

I recently re-activated my iPhone SE as I missed the device's small form factor and exquiste build quality. after updating to the latest version of iOS and installing my favourite apps and services, I marvelled at how good this two year old device still rocks.

A lot of it is iOS 12, which runs smoothly on older hardware. The iPhone SE's small 4-inch display and lower resolution is less demanding on the hardware and I found performance and battery life to be outstanding.

The iPhone SE is basically a souped-up iPhone 5 with iPhone 6S specs and an improved 12-megapixel camera. The iPhone SE, like the iPhone 5S before it, is impeccably balanced and precisely engineered. It really stands above other iPhone designs. Solid stainless steel and glass enclosure, a headphone jack and no unsightly camera bump.

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Report: Google's Pixel smartphone is fastest growing US phone brand with 43% increase

A new report from Strategy Analytics states that Google's Pixel line of smartphones is the fastest growing smartphone brand in the US with a 43 per cent growth year-over-year. Often considered the underdog brand way behind Apple's iPhone and Samsung's dominant Galaxy line of devices, Google Pixel has gained a reputation for its clean operating system, simple yet elegant design and for it's impressive photography capabilities despite having only one rear camera.

While this report seems like a nice feather on Google's cap. It becomes more meaningful when considering that the entire smartphone market is struggling. Global smartphone sales have dived by 23 per cent in the past year. Both Apple and Samsung have been forced to adjust earning's expectations after missing their sales targets in Q1.

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