Google's latest phone is feature-rich, with new AI built-in, more storage and a better HD camera. It can be difficult to tell when you're standing in the midst of a landmark moment in history. Few guessed, for instance, that in 2008 when Google debuted the G1, the first phone to run Android, the mobile software would end up transforming the wireless world. It didn't help that when Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin went up on stage, they did so wearing roller blades. Page and Brin are probably laughing their inline skates off these days.

With an aim to lead the world of smartphones with its artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology, Google on Tuesday launched much-awaited Pixel -- a new premium device completely designed by the tech giant with Google Assistant built right-in -- at a special event here. Don't Miss: Black Friday 2016: Everything You Need to Know Now The launch also ended the Nexus branding under which the company has always released phones in partnership with other original equipment manufacturers like LG (for Google Nexus 5) and Huawei (for Google Nexus 6P). Although HTC has manufactured the smartphones, the new device bears Google branding. With curved sculpted edges and a unibody made up of combination of aerospace grade aluminum and glass, the device comes in two sizes -- 5 and 5.5-inch with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protected super AMOLED display. Pixel is available in two -- quite black and very silver colors in India.

Okay Google, how much does the Google Home smart speaker cost? Available for preorder on today and shipping on November 4, Google Home is an internet-connected speaker with a built-in virtual assistant. It can query the internet and make online purchases for you, in addition to talking interfacing with other smarthome devices like the Nest connected thermostat. Google announced the smart speaker and the virtual assistant that dwells inside in May at its annual developer event, I/O, but kept the key details under wraps until today. Google Home represents a direct competitor to Amazon's Alexa, which also serves as a voice-activated conduit to the internet.

Salesforce.com Inc. CRM 0.61 % said it would embed artificial intelligence technology into its software for salespeople, making it the latest in a gaggle of companies racing to enhance workplace tools with human-like abilities. The company will demonstrate the new software at its annual user conference next month in San Francisco. Called Einstein, the new offering is a set of online AI services designed to automate tasks, predict behavior and spotlight relevant information. Einstein is the latest in a long line of AI products branded with human-sounding names including Alexa from Amazon.com Inc., Cortana from Microsoft Corp. MSFT -0.57 IBM -1.06 % IBM and Microsoft, in particular, have spearheaded a push to offer AI services aimed at corporate users.

Google Home, the company's answer to Amazon's Echo, made its official debut at the Google I/O developer conference earlier this year. Since then, we've heard very little about Google's voice-activated personal assistant. Today, at Google's annual hardware event, the company finally provided us with more details. Google Home will cost 129 (with a free six-month trial of YouTube red) and go on sale on Google's online store today. It will ship on November 4. Google's Mario Queiroz today argued that our homes are different from other environments.

Google launched an aggressive challenge to Apple and Samsung on Tuesday, introducing its own new line of smartphones called Pixel, which are designed to showcase a digital helper the company calls "Google Assistant." The new phones represent a big new push by Google to sell its own consumer devices, instead of largely just supplying software for other manufacturers. At a starting price of 649, the new phones are aimed at the same markets as Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy flagship phones. Google executives touted features such as a powerful camera and long-lasting battery during a product event Tuesday, where they said the phones will be sold in two screen sizes -- 5 inches and 5.5 inches -- and three colors: black, silver and blue. But they're clearly hoping that the new Pixel phones will be distinguished by their use of Google's software.

Google has placed a virtual assistant at the heart of its latest smartphones and first voice-activated speaker. The two Pixel handsets are the first mobiles to trigger Google Assistant by pressing their home buttons, somewhat like Apple's Siri. The Home speaker lets the same artificial intelligence tool be controlled without use of a touchscreen. Google also unveiled new virtual reality kit and a 4K media streamer. However, the US company will have to overcome privacy concerns and convince users that chatting to a virtual assistant has advantages over using individual apps.

Google has unveiled a new range of phones with a built in smart assistant to take on Apple and Amazon. The search giant has unveiled it's biggest ever range of hardware - with phones, smart speakers, TV dongles, a smart speaker and a wifi router. It says it hopes to use AI to create'a personal Google for each and every user.' At a special event in San Francisco the firm is unveiling a raft of new products - even though most of them have already leaked online. They include two new phones, a Pixel and the 5.5-inch Pixel XL The Pixel runs on a Snapdragon 821 2.15GHz processor.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The star of Google's splashy launch event in San Francisco was the one with the speaking part: The super-smart digital helper Assistant whose task is to maintain the Internet giant's tight grip on consumers and their wallets as their attention shifts to smartphones and Internet-connected devices. Assistant will create a "two-way conversation between our users and Google," CEO Sundar Pichai said at a splashy launch event in San Francisco. The goal: "a personal Google for each and every user," Pichai said. At Tuesday's coming out party for Assistant, Google introduced two new devices, Amazon Echo competitor Google Home and Pixel smartphones as vessels to show off what Assistant can do and "get Assistant in the hands of our users," Pichai said. Google will now focus on this intersection of hardware and software, Rick Osterloh, chief of the company's new hardware division, told reporters.

Google Home has removable base accessories. NEW YORK--The inevitable showdown between Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant is getting closer. Google said Tuesday that its voice-activated Google Home speaker, the company's answer to Amazon's popular Echo speaker, will go on sale Nov. 4 for 129. Google Home is coming to the U.S. only at first, and will be sold in the online Google Play Store, as well as at Target, Walmart and Best Buy; Google starts taking preorders today. Home is a showcase for the newly unleashed Google Assistant, an artificial intelligence-infused virtual assistant that wouldn't feel out of place hanging out with other digital assistants, notably Alexa, Apple's Siri, and Microsoft's Cortana.