This archive report was first published on 19 September 2019.
Facebook's foray into the smart home market has been a long time coming, but the company's latest announcement has finally made it a reality. In October 2018, Facebook unveiled a 10-inch tablet-like smart screen that allowed users to make video calls from anywhere in their home.
However, despite the initial excitement, the first-generation Portals received poor reviews and had disappointing sales. But Facebook is not giving up yet. The company has announced a new lineup of Portal devices, including a refreshed 10-inch HD display, an 8-inch HD display, and a new webcam-like device called Portal TV.
Portal TV is a device that connects to your TV using the HDMI port and comes with a remote control. It has a 12.5MP 120-degree wide-angle camera and 8 microphones to ensure it picks up audio well. The device also includes a speaker and is gearing up to become a sort of set-top box that could replace other boxes should it get more apps in the future.
Facebook has assured users that the new devices have several security and privacy features, including the ability to disable the camera and microphone with a tap or a switch, a camera cover to block the lens physically, and the Smart Camera feature that tracks users and runs locally on-device, not on Facebook's servers.
While the gadgets aren't available for the African market yet, Facebook envisions a future where users can video chat with friends and family as if they're in the living room with them, watching a video from Facebook Watch together.
