Google and Amazon had a bit of a spat a few days ago when the search engine giant blocked Echo Show devices from accessing YouTube. The video streaming service is an essential feature on the Echo Show, which is often useful for viewing video recipes while in the kitchen. Now, according to TechCrunch it appears that Google’s reasons for blocking YouTube access has to do with an upcoming product.
Google Smart Screen Codename “Manhattan”
The project apparently goes by the codename “Manhattan” and will be a 7-inch touch screen tabletop device. The initial plan was apparently to create similar functionality but on larger screens, but the project has since pivoted to rival Amazon’s Echo Show.
It appears that Google has this plan in the works for a while, but with the release of the Amazon Echo Show, they had to move the timetable up. The original target launch date was to be on mid-2018. Now, it might hit the store shelves before the end of the year. It is expected to have Google Assistant, Photos, YouTube and video calling features. Plus, it is has the ability to act as a smart hub for controlling home functions via Nest or other devices.
