The Portal and Portal+ devices are two smart displays developed by Facebook and just released by the company, both of which are available for pre-order from portal.facebook.com priced at $199 and $298 respectively.
Both devices are designed to make video communication devices easier, and with the help of built-in artificial intelligence technology, they will help you stay in touch without having to constantly check that your camera is looking where you want it to.
Additionally, the Portal and Portal+ cameras feature built-in smart camera and smart audio technology, which will zoom in and rotate around the room, following you wherever you are, while the latter feature will automatically boost the volume of your voice and minimize background noise.
Portal devices will allow you to stay in touch with your Facebook and Messenger friend lists and will allow you to make calls to friends who don't have a Portal smart speaker but have Facebook or Messenger on their smartphone or tablet.
Additionally, Portal features Alexa -powered voice control , making it possible to initiate a voice call by simply saying “Hey Portal” and use all of Alexa’s features just like you would when using an Amazon device.
According to Facebook, Portal and Portal+ are designed to help you protect your privacy by making it simple to turn off the camera and microphone with a single tap, cover the camera using a special device provided in the box, and lock access with a four- to twelve-digit passcode.
Additionally, Portal devices don't keep any call history, Facebook says, but instead send your voice commands to their servers. However, the Menlo Park company lets you manage them by giving you access to your Portal's voice history from your Facebook account's Activity Log.
The Portal is a 10-inch smart speaker with a 1280 x 800 display, while the Portal+ features a 15-inch, 1920 x 1080 rotating display, both of which are available for pre-order from portal.facebook.com, Amazon , and Best Buy for $199 and $298 respectively, with shipments starting in November.
