Google Declares War on the iPhone

Google made a major move into the hardware business with its "Made by Google" event Tuesday, with many experts noting it appears ready to go head-to-head with a particular tech giant. Here's what you need to know:

• Lifehacker has a lengthy explainer of "everything ... that actually mattered" at "Made by Google." That list includes Google's new Pixel phones, Google Assistant, Google Home, and Chromecast Ultra.
• On the other hand, CNET discusses everything "we didn't get" at "Made by Google," including a tablet or laptop and Andromeda—an operating system rumored to combine Chrome and Android.
• As for the aforementioned Pixel phones, CNET reports they're Google's "best shot at making history again" by taking on the iPhone directly in a "showdown between two of the world's most powerful tech titans."

• TechCrunch focuses on Google Home, the company's version of Amazon's Echo that goes on sale Tuesday. The wireless speaker picks up voice commands to give you the weather, play music, queue up YouTube videos, and more.
• The Verge gives a quick review of some of the other hardware announced by Google, including the Daydream View virtual reality headset and Google WiFi, Google-made routers that can give maximum WiFi coverage around the house and even let parents kick their kids off the internet when it's time for bed.
• USA Today reports that Google Assistant—which is integrated into both Google Home and the Pixel phones—was the "star" of the event. Google CEO Sundar Pichai says he wants Assistant to be a "personal Google for each and every user."
• Finally, the Verge concludes that the major takeaway of "Made by Google" was one of imitation: "The overriding thing that Google will try to sell us is its vision of integrating that multiplicity of physical gadgets and trinkets into its digital empire of software and services. Just like Apple."

(More Google stories.)