Google introduced several new products alongside the launch of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones last year. One of the new products that the company announced is the Google Clips. Every year, during the Google I/O conference, the company announces something new and interesting.
Most of these new products are based on a new idea and are different from the rest. Google Clips is a new idea that people may or may not like. Remember the Google Glass? This is not exactly similar though as you don’t wear it on your head, and given the AI’s rise, this new Google product is AI-powered, too.
What is Google Clips?
Alright, so let’s get right to it. Google Clips is a small portable camera that will automatically take photos to capture moments as and when they happen. It can even take short video clips of your close ones, friends or even your dog. You attach the Clip on to your body and activate it, but a better way to sue it would be to place it somewhere where it has the view of the area where your kids play, or whatever it is that you want to it to capture.
Everything happens with the help of the machine-learning AI system on-board. You don’t have to take photos, instead, you can just place it a convenient place, or even wear it if you don’t find that creepy, and whenever Clips finds interesting moments, it will automatically start to capture photos and videos of you, your family, and even pets within that area of view.
You can import the recordings as either stills, videos, or GIFs. It comes in a tough package as well, allowing the users to use it outdoors. It has an IPX4 water resistance certificate as well, that should protect it from water splash, but not when it is submerged in water. It’s only a bit of protection from water, so take care. You can connect the Clips’ to your Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth or WiFi. Also, Pixel users get free storage for their Google Clips photos and videos!
Google Clips is priced at $249!
Google Clips compatibility
Google Clips, sadly is not compatible with many, let alone all, Android phones and tablets yet. In fact, only a few devices are a go for Google Clips, and that includes the obvious ones in Google Pixel and Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy S7 and S8, while on the iOS side, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
- Google Pixel
- Google Pixel 2
- Samsung Galaxy S7
- Samsung Galaxy S8
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
Google Clips Specs
The Clips features a single 12-megapixel camera with a f/2.4 aperture, a 1.55µm pixel size, and a 130-degree field of view. The camera also has auto-focus, a nighttime mode, and can record videos at 15 FPS.
It doesn’t record sound though, as there is no microphone. It comes with 16GB of internal storage and a battery that can last up to 3 hours on the continuous shooting mode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXh1yyvXpwo
Reasons to buy it
Okay, let’s talk about why you may want to invest in the Google Clips AI camera. For starters, there isn’t anything like it available on the market yet. And who doesn’t like to capture beautiful memories, that can otherwise be missed because you are too slow to take out your smartphone from your pocket. Or simply a situation when you are not around your kid when he is up to something nice? Well, think of that time and how cool it gets when Google Clips recognizes an activity of your 1-year old and captures it and uploads it to your device. Damn cool, right?
The second good enough reason is the software of course. Using the camera is simple, as you just need to twist the lens. Then you can either place it on a spot, or wear it on your, and forget it’s even there. Most people will not forget though, as the camera isn’t very cheap. So, whenever some activity appears in the drawing room, where you have put up Google Clips, the device will automatically capture it — we all know it’s not always possible to pick out our smartphone because those moments cannot be anticipated, created, or repeated.
If you’re a parent or someone who loves to travel, then this is a good option for you. Instead of mounting on a GoPro and taking pictures yourself, the Google Clips will do it for you without your interference. Parents can take endless photos of their kids, which they love doing, without missing the action themselves. Usually, when you point the camera at kids, they tend to stop what they’re doing and pose, but that won’t happen with Clips’!
Adventure goers can also use clips to capture moments on the go, without having to stop and take photos. However, the first case scenario is better suited for Clips, as it will associate with faces much more easily than new places.
So there you go, there are some really good reasons to buy the Google Clips camera, especially if you’re a parent! And over time, the A.I will get better and Google may allow it to recognize unfamiliar faces as well and it could act as a security camera. The potential with A.I is huge and that’s what makes this camera very interesting.
How Google Clips works
The software will look at things around you and your life. It will then familiarise itself with the faces, people, things that you always see. It will remember your actions, the things you like to do, and much more. The face recognition software runs on the camera itself, which makes things faster.
As and when it thinks a memory is worthy of being saved, the Clips’ camera will take a burst of shots at 15FPS. You can then use the entire set of photos as a GIF, or you can select your favorite still photo from the bunch.
You get an accompanying app that you install on your smartphone, from where you can edit and select which pictures need to be uploaded to the cloud. The best part is that all the photos captured by the Clips’ camera are stored offline within the device. It’s not uploaded to Google servers, or anywhere else that its own storage, which is pretty secure. And makes it less creepy.
The Google Clips camera also has a shutter button though, tapping on which takes a shot clip. A light indicates when it is taking pictures, but it’s very subtle. Google actually says that it is best to just leave the camera somewhere. The clip case provided with the camera acts as a stand or a clip.
Is it worth the $249 price?
This is the big question, isn’t it? Should you spend $250 on a camera that’s not better than a standard GoPro, and doesn’t let you do much. But then it’s all about not doing much, and still save moments that are automatically identified and captured by the AI. So, it really depends on you.
If you’re someone who likes to live in the moment and not behind the lens, and at the same time don’t care much about image quality, then this is for you. Yes, the price is on the higher side, and the specs aren’t that great either, but that doesn’t matter — it is not your price-for-specs thing, it’s rather a price-for-moments thing. But you do get a different experience with Google Clips, unlike any other camera.
For others, the Clips’ is just a waste of money, so don’t bother purchasing it if you’re all about professional looking photos and videos. There are many cheaper cameras that can clip on to your shirt or jeans and record videos.
When does Google Clips release?
Google has already released Clips’ and it is available for purchase through the Google Store. However, as of now, the Clips is out of stock and we have no idea when it will return. Previously, when it was briefly available, the delivery dates ranged up to March 2018.
So, yes, if you’re interested in purchasing the Google Clips’ camera, then you will have to wait a little longer. All you can do right now is join the waitlist there!
Buy Google Clips → Google Store | Best Buy
So, what do you think about Google Clips? At what price Google Clips would have made a nice purchase for you?
