Google Pixel 4 eyeing bigger market share with the motion-sensing tech

Google on Tuesday unveiled the all-new Pixel line-up, which comprises Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. One of the main highlights of the new Pixel phones, Google has integrated new motion-sensing technology, courtesy of a Soli chip. It can detect your movement for faster face recognition. For example, it can trigger facial recognition as soon as Soli senses an action, resulting in faster unlock. On top of that, you can perform certain gestural functions by hand movements. For example, you can silence the alarm by simply waving your hand across the screen.

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Well, it seems like Google is aiming to boost its smartphone market share with features, including gesture recognition that lets users simply wave your hands to get things done. Google said the Pixel 4 has a starting price of $799 in the US and will be available to purchase starting October 24. The new devices aim to ramp up Google challenge in the premium smartphone segment dominated by Apple and Samsung, and with Chinese-based Huawei pressured by US sanctions. However, Google won't or perhaps can't sell them in the Indian market.

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Google's New York City event unveiled included updates to Nest smart home cameras and speakers that come on the heels of Amazon's new Alexa-powered products. While Pixel smartphones don't command much of the overall market, which is dominated by Android handsets from Samsung, they provide an opportunity to showcase the operating system's capabilities made available to OEMs. Meanwhile, Google's focus still remains on software and services, whether in smartphones powered by its Android or devices infused with the Assistant.

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Pixel 4 featured ramped-up camera capabilities, combining improved lenses with artificial intelligence to boost optical zoom and improve photos taken after dark, with a feature devoted to capturing images of the heavens at night. Motion-sensing technology that Google has been working on for some time is built into Pixel 4 and will allow for some basic controls, such as skipping to the next song, by holding up or waving hands.

Google's motion-sensing technology relies on radar, taking a different approach than Samsung did when it built gesture commands into a smartphone.

(With agency inputs)