Facebook likely to launch 'Portal' video chat device

| | San Francisco
  • 0

Facebook likely to launch 'Portal' video chat device

Saturday, 22 September 2018 | IANS | San Francisco

Facebook likely to launch 'Portal' video chat device

Taking on Amazon smart home devices, Facebook is reportedly set to announce its own video chat device called Portal next week.

Similar to Amazon's Echo Show, the device will be Facebook's first foray into the consumer technology space, Cheddar reported on Friday.

Amazon Echo Show and Echo Spot devices add video to the audio experience via voice assistant Alexa. While Echo home devices are microphone-equipped speakers, the Amazon Echo Show and Spot also include a display.

According to the report, Facebook originally planned to announce Portal at its annual F8 developer conference in May.

"But the company's scandals, including the Cambridge Analytica data breach and the bombshell revelation that Russia used the platform to interfere with the 2016 elections, led executives to shelve the announcement at the last minute," claimed the report.

The social media giant was yet to comment on this development.

"The larger device could be priced around $400, while the smaller one could go for around $300," the report added.

Portal will feature a privacy shutter that can cover the device's wide-angle video camera.

It will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to recognise people in the frame and follow them as they move throughout a room.

Portal will also have integration with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant and let users play music, watch videos, see cooking recipes, and get news briefs.

This will be Facebook's first consumer tech device outside of Oculus -- the virtual reality headset maker it acquired for nearly $2 billion in 2014.

 

State Editions

AAP declares candidates for April 26 Mayoral polls

19 April 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

BJP banks on Modi, uses social media to win voters

19 April 2024 | Saumya Shukla | Delhi

Sunita all set to participate in INDIA Bloc rally in Ranchi

19 April 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Woman boards bus in undergarments; travellers shocked

19 April 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Bullet Rani welcomed by BJP Yuva Morcha after 65 days trip

19 April 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Two held for killing man in broad daylight

19 April 2024 | Staff Reporter | Delhi

Sunday Edition

Astroturf | Reinvent yourself during Navaratra

14 April 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

A DAY AWAITED FOR FIVE CENTURIES

14 April 2024 | Biswajeet Banerjee | Agenda

Navratri | A Festival of Tradition, Innovation, and Wellness

14 April 2024 | Divya Bhatia | Agenda

Spiritual food

14 April 2024 | Pioneer | Agenda

Healthier shift in Navratri cuisine

14 April 2024 | Pioneer | Agenda

SHUBHO NOBO BORSHO

14 April 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda