Facebook to enter hardware business; may launch video chat device 'Portal'
In a reported bid to enter the hardware product market, Facebook is planning to launch a home video chat product titled "Portal" in May that will compete with Amazon's Echo Show and Google Assistant-enabled touchscreens. According to a report by online news network Cheddar on Wednesday, "Portal" will be the first finished hardware product from Facebook's secretive Building 8 lab and may see the light of the day in May -- the time when Facebook organises its annual F8 developer conference. The report claimed that Facebook plans to sell the device for $499 through pop-up stores as well as online. "Portal" is seen as a competition to Amazon Echo Show and four Google Assistant-powered smart speakers that were launched at CES 2018 this week. The four new smart displays include devices made by Sony, Samsung-owned JBL, LG and Lenovo. These devices feature a touchscreen that can be used to display visual information to accompany i...