Google unveils Amazon Echo competitor

Google on Wednesday unveiled a voice-activated, Internet-connected device that can manage tasks inside the home, placing the search giant in direct competition with Amazon and its Echo system. The announcement, made at the company’s developer conference in Mountain View, further cements Google’s vision to expand beyond search and become intertwined in every aspect of consumers’ lives. While Amazon’s $180 Echo has a head start, Google is betting that its dominance of the Internet search market will give consumers a reason to buy the company’s new Google Home device instead. Google will help them in multiple aspects of daily lives, from turning on a thermostat to translating words, playing music and searching for selfies amidst their large digital photo collections. “Adoption of the connected lifestyle continues to expand as the supporting technologies mature and the value propositions of smart, connected devices and streaming services are better understood by consumers,” said analyst Brad Russell with the Parks Associates research firm.