In a world crowded with smartphones and video streaming services and devices, do consumers still need more?
Alphabet (GOOG -0.72%) (GOOGL -0.65%) clearly thinks the answer is yes as it launches a new streamer and a fresh version of its Chromecast dongle. Those offerings, along with the latest iterations of Alphabet's Pixel line of smartphones, were unveiled during Google's Launch Night on Wednesday.
Image source: Getty Images.
The phones are the Pixel 4a 5G and 5, two 5G-capable handsets that -- like their forebears -- use the Google-developed Android operating system. The former is essentially an upgrade of the existing 4a, adding that 5G capability and featuring a slightly larger screen. The latter has a set of convenience and hardware features, including wireless charging and a body made of metal (as opposed to the Pixel 4a 5G's plastic).
The Pixel 4a 5G starts at $499, while the Pixel 5 retails for at least $699.
In the streaming-video realm, Google TV is a platform that ties together content from a host of outside providers, reminiscent of Roku's provider-neutral interface. Naturally, Google TV is very friendly to Alphabet's own YouTube TV, which broadcasts live programming; Google TV users can access that service's channel guide quickly and directly in the upper menu.
Lastly, Alphabet/Google's latest video-watching gadget, the Chromecast with Google TV, is a plug-and-play device that is inserted directly into a USB port on a TV. It also comes with a dedicated remote control, unlike previous Chromecasts that required a smartphone or even a PC as a navigation tool. As the device's name implies, its native streaming platform is Google TV.
Chromecast with Google TV, in the tradition of that product line, is inexpensive, starting at $49.99.
