Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Google unveiled its Smart Displays to take on the Alexa-powered Echo Show. At the time, Google showcased four smart displays from JBL, Lenovo, LG, and Sony, however, the companies had released no information regarding their final release timeline.
At the recently concluded Google I/O developer conference, the company shared more details about the upcoming Smart Display. The company announced that the Smart Display will hit shelves later this year in July and will come with a YouTube TV app and a couple of other new features in tow, according to a recent report from CNET.
Upon release, not only will the Smart Displays allow users to watch normal YouTube videos, but they’ll also give users access to YouTube TV – a live streaming service which offers stations like TNT, Cartoon Network, ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC for just $40 a month. It’s also worth noting that Google pulled YouTube from the Echo Show last fall, so the upcoming smart displays may pose stiff competition to Amazon’s Alexa-powered device when it comes to the content offered on each platform.
Additionally, Google also announced customizable ambient screens at I/O and promised support for immersive third-party experiences. This feature will also show up in the upcoming Smart Displays and it’ll allow users to choose from a variety of customizable ambient screens, along with immersive experiences like games which make use of both the touch and voice capabilities of the device.
