Google already made it clear at the beginning of the year that it intended to introduce us to its beloved intelligent assistant even in the soup with the confirmation of agreement with several companies that would be in charge of launching, this 2018, speakers with support for their Assistant system. Among them, four firms stood out, JBL, Lenovo, LG and Sony, brands that ensured that their Google Assistant products would also have an extra key element: a screen.
Last week without going any further Lenovo he was ahead within the group and fulfilled its promise with the commercialization of the interesting team Lenovo Smart Display, a well-built device and an attractive 8-inch design; today JBL does the same, throwing -he already showed it at CES 2018- his new Link View.
JBL Link View: features
Unlike the Chinese brand's proposal, JBL's smart team is committed to very rounded lines that give it an air less refined and current than Lenovo's - not to mention that it is larger in proportions and therefore "more junk". Leaving aside the aesthetic sense, the device has a 8 inch and a 5 MP front camera for video conferencing (only with the Google Duo platform, be careful) that you can always cover completely while you mute the microphone, to ensure your privacy 100%.
The Link View is splash resistant (It has IPX4 certification) so that you can have it for example in the kitchen, and it has Bluetooth 4.2 support. It goes without saying that it offers perfect synchronization with your mobile terminal, so you can stream your content to its screen.
When the Lenovo Smart Display came to light, some media criticized its audio quality. In the case of JBL, expert precisely in this field, it is expected that there will be a qualitative leap compared to its competitor, making use of two 10 watt speakers (and 55mm) each (their response frequency is 55Hz-22kHz).
Price and Availability
The JBL Link View is located now available for reservation, riding a the official website from the manufacturer, with a distribution date for September 3, although at the moment only with access for those who live in the US. Its price is U.S. dollar 249, the same cost of getting the Lenovo model.
We will have to wait and see what LG and Sony have to offer us in this emerging segment. Maybe next time IFA 2018 Let's get rid of doubts and get to know the Google Assistant proposals of these two Asian firms. The curiosity to see how they have devised this product is great. That of course.