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Facebook took a big bet on connecting people via video with the original Intelligent portal display, and the company is back with two new portals: a bigger Portal + for large group calls and a battery-powered Portal Go that can follow you as you move around the house.
The Portal Go is Facebook’s first portable smart display. It has a 10.1 inch screen with a screen resolution of 1280 by 800. It also has two full range speakers and weighs around three pounds. There is a built-in handle on the back that you can support to carry the device around your home. It’s the kind of gadget you would put in a common space like the kitchen or living room, although you can move it anywhere you might want to move for a video call. The Portal Go can also be used outdoors, if you have a strong Wi-Fi connection. And because Facebook allows music playback with apps like Spotify and Pandora, you can use the Go as a speakerphone when you’re not using it for calls.
Facebook also launched the Portal +, an update to the original display which was launched in 2018. The Portal + is the largest of the Portal family, with a huge 14-inch screen and 2160 by 1440 display resolution. You can rotate the screen in several ways and move it goes up and down depending on on your needs. Facebook says the Portal + can accommodate up to 25 people in gallery mode on one Zoom call at a time.
The two Portal devices are grouped together in a 12 megapixel camera with an ultra-wide field of view. Portals also have a feature that allows the camera to follow you around the frame and Powered by AI sound technology also helps the person on the other line hear you regardless of your distance from the microphone.
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Facebook has a less than flawless balance sheet regarding Privacy and Security, To to say the less. So it followed in the footsteps of other smart display manufacturers by incorporating camera lens covers on the Portal + and Portal Go and a hardware mute button for the microphones. Facebook has moved the processing of AI technology from the smart camera locally to the device rather than relying on its servers in a distant cloud.
Facebook has also updated its Watch Together experience so you can chat with people using Messenger on the phone, laptop, or tablet. Multi-device support for WhatsApp will also arrive on the portal in the coming months, and you will be able to use the portal to connect with these contacts as well.
There are a few more software updates that should help make the portal a bit more accommodating for homes with multiple people. For little kids with curious fingers, there is a screen lock you can set to prevent anyone from using the portal while you are away. In focus mode, you can allow access to multiple apps and contacts chosen by you or the device owner. This will allow others to contact those you call often without allowing them to access other parts of your account.
Facebook also announced that you can use the portals for work. BBusinesses with Portal devices can manage remotely and interact with employees. In addition to Zoom, BlueJeans, and Webex, Portal will support Microsoft Teams integration available in December. You will be able to use the smart screens to access calendars, contacts and shared files, as well as chat with your colleagues through the Microsoft office suite. I’m not sure we need another device to interact with coworkers, but it’s there if you want it.
The $ 350 Portal + and $ 200 Portal Go are available to pre-order now and sale Oct. 19.
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