Authors: Super UserAhead of its Google IO 2018 event on May 8, Google and JBL have announced a new breed of soundbar that takes the best of both companies and mashes them together.The result is the JBL Link Bar, and it offers Android TV and Google Assistant all built into a unibody soundbar.Now, you might be wondering, why is that so appealingAndroid TV has apps for Netflix, YouTube and Hulu, while Google Assistant that offers voice control over your smart home devices, music streaming services and answers to voice inquiries.
Combining the three products together in one spot is not only extremely convenient, but its also potentially cost-saving, too.If we were a betting website (which were not) wed bet that the JBL Link Bar is likely to take center stage - alongside a number of other new audio devices - at the May 8 event.No bonus for SonosIf theres one entity whod be nonplussed at the idea of a two-in-one soundbar, its Sonos.
Late last week the company sent out invitations to a June 6 event in San Francisco where its widely believed to be showing a product similar to the one JBL announced today.Sonos upcoming speaker is believed to incorporate Amazons Alexa smart assistant instead of Googles, however, and theres no word on what operating system the Sonos audio product will run, if any.While the JBL Link Bar is likely to take some of the wind out of Sonos sails, keep in mind that Sonos not only has a more robust multi-room audio platform of its own design going for it, but also its last product - the Sonos One - was easily the best-sounding smart speaker released last year.
(Sorry Apple HomePod!)What else is Google hiding up its sleeve Well just have to wait until May 8 to find out!Via The Verge