Expanding its Portal family unit social media giant Facebook launched its new model of Portal video chat devices. After launching the devices, the company entered into the category of TV streaming hardware. Facebook introduced three models that include Portal, Portal Mini and Portal TV.
Facebook already owns three biggest social media platforms WhatsApp, Messenger and Instagram with more than 2.4 million users across the world. Through which they will try to lure customers to these devices.
The Portal and Portal Mini comes with a new design and looks like a photo frame. The portal puts on a straight-up design just like the Portal+, which was launched by the company last year whereas the Portal Mini has a straight landscape type design.
The newly launched Portal devices also come with the ability for WhatsApp calling besides Facebook messenger along with step up to a wide-angle camera. The devices also includes features such as Story Time for children that consists of award-winning kid’s storybooks such as Llama Llama, Pete the Cat and Otto.
The Portal video chatting devices allows the users to watch shows, for instance, Red Table Talk with the use of Portal TV in the Facebook Watch content while interacting on a video call at the same time. The users can also watch their favourite shows via video streaming app such as SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Starz, Redbull TV, Neverthink and Pluto TV plus it also gives the users access few music apps to the Spotify, iHeartRadio and Pandora.
Portal devices not only resemble a photo frame, but they can also be used as one to view your photographs as well as videos.
The devices come integrated with in-built Alexa skills that can also be launched using the Hey Portal voice command in US/Canada English. Keeping in mind the privacy and security of the users the device’s microphone and the camera can be switched off with the use of sliding switch along with a cover to wrap the camera. The voice, as well as the video call, are also claimed to be end-to-end encrypted.
The devices will start selling from October 15. The Portal comes with a price tag of $179 (approximately Rs 12,750) while the Portal Mini will cost $129 (approximately Rs 9,250). The Portal devices are available in black and white colour variants. The Portal TV can be purchased at $149 (approximately Rs 10,650) which ships on November 5. All the devices are initially available in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and New Zealand along with the US and Canada and have been put on pre-orders at portal.facebook.com. Indian availability is still unclear.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.
