Google takes on rivals with Pixel phone, new hardware

Google opened fire on rivals Apple, Samsung and Amazon in a new push into hardware Tuesday, launching premium-priced Pixel smartphones and a slew of other devices showcasing artificial intelligence prowess. The unveiling of Google's in-house designed phone came as part of an expanded hardware move by the US giant, which also revealed details of its new "home assistant," virtual reality headset and Wi-Fi router system. The San Francisco event marked a shift in strategy for Google, which is leadin