New York (AFP)

New smartphone focused on photography and incorporating the recognition of movements, imminent launch of a platform of video games in streaming, presentation of a new range of connected products: Google multiplied the announcements Tuesday in New York.

Revised lines, use of the glass on the back of the device, as for most competitors' high-end devices, two optics integrated in a square frame on the back of the smartphone, the Pixel 4 has some similarities with its competitor. Apple, the iPhone 11.

For photography, now the main argument of all smartphone manufacturers, Google has put the package, with an integrated artificial intelligence that boosts the optical zoom or offers improved photos of nights, with even a mode "astrophoto" to realize night sky images.

The other novelty concerns the integration of motion recognition, not via the camera's cameras, as Samsung did in the past, but thanks to a miniaturized radar integrated on the top of the smartphone.

With a movement of the hand, the user can zap from one song to another and lower or cut a call or an alarm. The device also lights the screen when it feels the user approaching, to show the time including, but it's about all at this stage.

Among the evolutions, a faster facial recognition, which allows to unlock the device as soon as it is facing the user, or a new version of Google Assistant, only in English, faster in its answers because implanted on the device itself, and no longer via the cloud.

Available October 24 in several parts of the world, the device will be offered from 799 dollars in the United States, a little more expensive than the basic model of the iPhone 11. The XL version is available from 899 dollars.

- Launch of Stadia -

Google has also announced that the launch of its streaming video game platform Stadia will take place on November 19th.

Entering the online video gaming market, the search engine giant intends to upset the market dominated by the major players of game consoles like Sony and Microsoft, allowing users to enjoy their games, in optimal quality. and on any medium - computer, smart TV, smartphone - passing from one to the other.

Google's offer will include a catalog of thirty games at launch with several subscription options.

The California giant has also released the latest versions of its home-connected products, which go under the Nest brand, including the connected Mini speaker ($ 49, available Oct. 22), with a partially recycled plastic shell, and its Nest Wifi tools (starting at $ 269, available November 4), designed to improve the wifi connection in the home.

Google takes advantage of these items to launch, in early 2020, services with a subscription, Nest Aware ($ 6 per month), and its premium version, Nest Aware Plus ($ 12 per month), to keep records remotely Nest Cam cameras or the Nest Hub Max connected screen.

Other products were announced on Tuesday, including the Pixel Buds wireless headphones (starting at $ 179, available in the spring of 2020) or the new Pixelbook Go laptop (starting at $ 649, available October 28).

The internet search giant derives its revenues mainly from advertising. It has brought in more than $ 136 billion in 2018, compared to $ 595 million for "other bets" at Alphabet (the parent company), which include cloud computing and connected devices.

© 2019 AFP