According to reports, Facebook is planning to finally launch its Portal video chat device that has been in the works for some time.
Facebook‘s second entry into the hardware market may be on its way this week, with sources claiming that the tech giant is prepared to launch its Portal video chat device with the next few days. The device will work a lot like Amazon’s Echo Show, and will allegedly be available in two screen sizes and two different price points to reflect that. The one with the larger screen is rumoured to go for around $400, while the one with the smaller screen for around $300.
We’ve been getting word about Portal for some time now, but haven’t seen anything concrete – yet it was rumoured that Facebook originally planned to announce it at F8. How so? Well, as a recent report in the Cheddar says that “the company’s scandals, including the Cambridge Analytica data breach and the bombshell revelation that Russia used the platform to interfere with the 2016 elections, led executives to shelve the announcement at the last minute.”
So, is Facebook about to launch Portal now? The company doesn’t “comment on rumour and speculation,” so we’ll just have to wait and see. However, there is word that Facebook employees have already been testing the device in their own homes and have shown it to major retailers as well.
If you don’t count Facebook’s failed attempt at hardware with its “Facebook phone” back in 2013 (a partnership with HTC) Portal is Facebook’s second venture into consumer hardware devices after Oculus. Will it work?
And my final question is: Do we need more “Facebook” in our lives?
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