A smart speaker device by Facebook Inc. called Portal+ is shown in this photo released by Facebook Inc. from Menlo Park, California, U.S., October 5, 2018. Courtesy Facebook Inc./Handout via REUTERS.
Facebook Inc on Monday released a smart speaker designed to ease video calls, but the company's history of privacy mishaps and the device's price and limited functionality could slow it from taking on market leaders Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google.
The device, known as Portal, comes in US$199 (RM827) and US$349 (RM1,450) versions and its signature feature is a wide-angle camera that automatically keeps users in focus as they move about a room, Facebook hardware executives shared in a meeting last week.
