Wednesday 18-05-2016 12:38
Google Launching Smart Home Competitor to Amazon's Echo
Google
Smart Home
Amazon Echo

The Home reportedly resembles Google's OnHub router
Google is holding its IO developer conference later today, and the rumours are starting to come flooding in. We've already seen reports of a
standalone VR headset, and there are now reports that Google is set to unveil a voice-activated smart home device, Google Home.
According to the
New York Times, Home will be 'a virtual agent that answers simple questions and carries out basic tasks', similar to Amazon's Echo device.
The Amazon Echo has so far sold 3m units since it
launched at the tail end of 2014, and the AI virtual assistant underpinning the system, Alexa, looks to be an increasingly large part of Amazon's tech strategy.
Google Home, set to launch this autumn, was first reported earlier this month by
Recode, under its codename, 'Chirp'. The device will reportedly have a cylindrical form factor similar to Google's OnHub wireless router (which itself looks a lot like the Echo).
For the full details on this and everything else being announced at IO, check the site later today for our coverage.