Facebook Is Expected to Launch Its “Portal” Video Chat Device Next Week

• The long-rumored “Portal” device from Facebook might see an announcement next week according to reports.
• The device will come in two variants of varying sizes at 400$ and 300$.
• New privacy features are being built into the device including a privacy shutter.

A device that Facebook has been working on for a long time according to rumors will be revealed later this week as per reports. The social media giant was supposed to push out the device earlier this year during the F8 conference, but the Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal pushed things to September.

Facebook is ready to introduce the long-awaited “Portal” device and Cheddar reports that it will come in two variants. The standard sized “Portal” will be priced at $300. A larger version of the display will be available for $400. The devices will come with Alexa integration and can be used completely using voice commands.

The Portal device from Facebook will have all the capabilities of a smart voice assistant with some unique features from the social media company. The device is said to include multiple cameras powered by artificial intelligence that are capable of following the owner around to allow you to use it from any part of the room. However, after all of the recent controversy, Facebook has decided to include a dedicated privacy shutter that will prevent the camera from capturing any feed.

According to Cheddar “Portal represents Facebook’s first foray into selling its own consumer hardware outside of Oculus, the VR headset maker it acquired in 2014 for around $2 billion. Facebook designed software for a phone in partnership with HTC in 2013 that flopped.”

The Portal device will be the first device to be developed in the company’s Building 8 hardware lab, where a lot of experimental hardware is developed. There is no official word on an announcement yet, and it remains to be seen if the social media giant truly pushed out the device this month.

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