Facebook has announced a series of virtual reality and augmented-reality devices to be released this year. The idea is that these new devices will become integral in the upcoming digital transformation, providing more immersive experiences through social media interaction.
The “facebook portal tv” is a device that allows users to watch Facebook videos on their TV. This device was announced at the 2018 CES.
Are you looking for an answer? Our table of contents is as follows:
With the debut of Facebook’s Portal, the social networking giant has begun to enter the hardware market. The product line-up is presently growing in response to consumer requirements, having begun with two communication devices, the Portal and Portal+.
What is the Portal on Facebook and how does it function?
Portal on Facebook is a communication tool designed to make it simpler for people to communicate with their friends and family. Three of the gadgets are similar to the Amazon Echo Show (Amazon Echo Show) in terms of display.
These gadgets, which are designed to seem like digital picture frames, serve as gorgeous, intelligent displays while waiting for you to make or receive a call. Though video calling is their primary emphasis, they also have a number of other features that we’ll go over in more depth below.
First and foremost, let’s learn how to set up your very own Portal on Facebook.
Who knows what a Facebook gateway is.
Portal allows you to call Facebook friends, Messenger connections, and WhatsApp contacts from any Portal-linked account.
What is the best way for a Facebook gateway to accept calls?
Portal calls may be made using other Portal devices, WhatsApp on mobile devices, the Messenger app on mobile devices or tablets, or messenger.com or facebook.com.
Prices of Facebook Portals and Where to Buy Them
The Facebook Portal cost $199 when it was launched, while the Portal+ cost $349. Prices have been cut as a result of the recent debut of the Portal TV and Mini. Here’s where you can get the best deal on Facebook Portal:
Deals
The Facebook Portal – All of the Devices
The Portal lineup includes a variety of devices, each with its own set of functions. Currently, there are four devices in the product line:
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Facebook Portal
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Portal+ on Facebook
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Portal TV on Facebook
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Mini Facebook Portal
A lot of characteristics are shared by all of these gadgets. They all have tweeters and rear-mounted drivers, as well as built-in speakers. They produce a significantly larger sound than one would think considering their size, thanks to their unusual design.
Furthermore, they are all equipped with a camera that can capture film in 720p, ensuring excellent image quality. They also include a total of eight microphones that concentrate on the speaker while reducing background noise. They’re also all equipped with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 connection.
Now that we’ve addressed their commonalities, let’s look at the distinct, distinguishing characteristics that separate them apart:
Facebook Portal
The Portal, along with the Portal+, was the first gadget in the line-up to be released. It is the smallest of the two originals, with a 10-inch screen. The Facebook Portal has a 12 MP camera with a 140-degree wide viewing angle.
It has a 720p monitor and a 4-mic array as well as 10-watt speakers. You have the option of using it in landscape or portrait mode.
The Portal is beautiful because of its clean minimalistic bezelled appearance. It’s available in the same custom black and white as the rest of the product line.
Portal+ on Facebook
The Portal+, like the Portal, is a smart display. The biggest difference is the screen size. The Portal+ has a futuristic 15.6-inch display. It has a bright, snappy touchscreen and is coupled to an L-shaped (backwards) base made of high-quality, smooth-finish material.
It may be used in both landscape and portrait mode. It just takes a light touch to flip from one to the other, and it turns 90 degrees. It comes with a simple black or white stand that has the camera on top and the speaker on the bottom.
It boasts a 140-degree field of vision and a 1080p resolution display, as well as digital zoom up to 8x and 360-degree beamforming from its four-mic array. You must connect it into a power source to operate it since its huge HD display consumes a lot of electricity and it is constantly listening. The speakers have a power output of 20 watts.
Because it is not heat nor water-proof, Portal+ should be kept on a cold, dry surface – ideally not in the kitchen. As a result, as much as people want to put monitors in their kitchens, this technology would be ineffective there.
Portal TV on Facebook
Portal TV comes with a remote control that may be used to make and receive phone calls as well as change device settings. It uses cutting-edge technology to transform any TV into a massive video calling display with a 120-degree field of vision.
To link Facebook Portal to your TV, it takes the shape of an intelligent camera with a slew of useful functions. All you need is an HDMI connector. You can use it for video calling by placing it on top of your TV or somewhere nearby. The gadget can make or receive video calls to or from anybody who possesses a Portal device. It can also call anybody with a smart device that can make and receive video calls using Messenger and WhatsApp.
It notifies you when a call is incoming for your convenience, giving you the option of picking up or not. The call appears on the huge screen only after you accept it. When you don’t want your obnoxious aunt to disturb your movie time, this option comes in useful.
One notable drawback of this TV is that 720p streaming, which is perfect for little devices, just does not cut it on your massive 4K TV. Aside from that, it seems to be a well-thought-out and inventive technology that might find a home in many hearts and homes.
Mini Facebook Portal
With an 8-inch display screen, this is the smallest gadget in the lineup. Its main goal is to provide a smaller option to the other devices in the lineup.
With the exception of screen size, it resembles a picture frame and shares most features with the Portal.
Demo of the Facebook Portal
Features of the Facebook Portal
We now know how to get your new gadget set up and operating so that everyone can stay connected. But how does it function in practice? Let’s have a look at the device’s many features to get a better understanding of this:
Video Chat on the Facebook Portal
As previously stated, the Portal’s primary goal is to revolutionize video chatting. The goal of these gadgets, according to Facebook, is to keep humans at the center. They want to be able to communicate with individuals for longer lengths of time and with more ease than is now feasible.
Having to hold onto gadgets like cellphones in order to make video calls, they argue, restricts the scope of contact. As a result of not needing to hold onto a gadget, it claims that users will be able to spend much more time on calls than they already do.
Portal supports Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.
To start a video conversation, just say “Hey Portal” and then tell the gadget to call a certain individual. Because video calls are made via Messenger, the person you’re contacting must also be a Messenger user and have the program installed on their mobile device. The individuals you call, on the other hand, do not have to have a Portal.
Because Facebook has said that it would allow WhatsApp calling on mobile devices, it will only be a matter of time until you can make calls from Messenger to this app.
Call for a Facebook Portal Group
Portal can accommodate up to seven persons on a group call at once, including yourself. Each individual will need Messenger installed on their device, although Portals are not required. Anyone on a live call may invite their contacts or Facebook friends to join them.
To make a group call, follow the steps below:
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To reach the Menu while on a call, touch the device screen.
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Select the person or individuals you wish to add to the call by tapping the symbol that looks like a person.
Camera with Intelligence
Your device’s smart camera allows it to do more than just make video calls; it also has a number of other tricks up its sleeve. The camera can monitor your motions and follow you around a room while you’re doing other things.
It will keep you inside its frame at all times as a result of this function, so you won’t have to worry about wandering out of camera range. Furthermore, if there are many individuals in a room, it immediately zooms out to encompass everyone.
Essentially, it can zoom in and out of different settings to keep everyone involved in the activity. It does this by focusing on various objects and optimizing the results using a wide-angle lens.
It’s like having your own cinematographer panning and tracking your video conversations, according to Facebook. Surprisingly, the AI-powered smart camera can distinguish between a human and a pet. As a result, your call will never be interrupted by roaming felines and canines.
Inventive Sound
Smart Sound technology, which amplifies speech while reducing background noise, is another fantastic feature. Beamforming is used in this clever mic technology to track individuals and reduce ambient interference.
If there is loud music playing, for example, it will cancel it out and isolate the person’s speech. This means you can video chat with Grandma while doing the dishes or vacuuming.
And, since each device has eight microphones, it’s simple to communicate with a full family without having to strain to hear anybody.
It’s Storytime!
This is another another fantastic feature aimed for children (and the young at heart). They may enjoy seeing their favorite bedtime tale come to life due to augmented reality with this (AR). The Spark platform provides AR functionality for the devices.
This feature basically allows you to add animation, unique sound effects, and music to your tales. You can also use AR to add facial filters to the tale to make it more engaging. The feature frames and animates the tale using the smart camera and a basic teleprompter, bringing it to life.
As a result, the person on the other end of the line sees your face and hears your voice change to fit the story’s characters. What a wonderful method to make storytime meaningful for your children when you are away from home, or to let grandparents to connect with their grandchildren from afar.
Story Time currently features 15 tales, but the firm has said that more will be added in the future. The Three Little Pigs, Mary Had a Little Lamb, and Itsy Bitsy Spider are just a few of the books your youngsters could appreciate.
Superframe
This is a fantastic feature that makes the gadget a fantastic addition to any household. When your smartphone is idle, Superframe enables Portal to gather photographs and videos from your Facebook account and show them on its screen.
You may also add your local weather to the Superframe to get a quick look at the prediction. To do so, follow these steps:
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Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
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“Superframe” should be selected.
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Select “Weather” from the drop-down menu.
Games
Some of the quick games offered on Messenger are also available on Facebook Portal. Sudoku, Battleship, Draw Something, and Words with Friends are just a few examples.
Notifications of Activity
When you’re not on a call, you can also check which of your pals has the Messenger app active by looking at the green dot we all despise. You’ll be able to know when it’s a good moment to contact them this way. It will even suggest you to call someone when they come online. If your gadget believes you need some inspiration, it may send you messages like “Try ‘Hey Portal, call Alice.’”
You have the option of turning on a notice if you are truly waiting for someone to become active so you may contact them. This is how you do it:
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Add the individual to your Favorites list.
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On the home screen, tap their symbol.
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Tap the “I” symbol in the top right-hand corner of the pop-up that displays.
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Toggle “Activity Notification” on or off.
When that individual logs on or becomes active, you’ll hear a clicking sound from your Portal to let you know.
Zooming
If your vision is failing and you refuse to use your glasses, the gadget may assist you in seeing clearly. Here’s what you should do:
That is all there is to it. When you’re having trouble seeing anything, just touch the screen three times. This will magnify the area of your screen where you have tapped. You may restore it to its original size by touching three times more.
Accounts to Add
You may add up to four accounts to a single device if you live with family or friends. Here’s how you can do it:
Everyone may access their contacts and make calls on the smartphone after creating separate accounts.
Spotlight
When making a call in a busy place, you may use the Spotlight function to concentrate your attention on a single individual. For as long as the camera is turned on, it will stay pointed on that individual. Follow these steps to turn it on:
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During a call, double-tap on the person’s face (on the screen, of course!)
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A green square will appear, with a notice in the bottom right corner that says “Spotlight On.”
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When you’re done highlighting the individual, press the bottom right corner of the screen and choose “Spotlight Off.”
Setting up the Facebook Portal – A User Guide for Getting Started
It’s really simple to set up your Facebook Portal. Take the following steps:
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Place the gadget on a flat, solid surface and connect it to the power outlet using the provided power cable.
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Select your Wi-Fi network from the screen, input the password, then click “Join” to connect the device to the internet.
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After that, tap “Next” and log into your Facebook account.
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Finish the setup procedure.
“Do you need a Facebook account to utilize Portal?” many new users wonder. The answer is “yes,” as we’ve seen above. The gadget links to your Facebook account, which has advantages that we’ll discuss later in the review.
List of Facebook Portal Commands
Facebook Portal needs both Alexa and its own assistant, which reacts to the wake phrase “Hey Portal,” for it to work properly. The device’s Alexa voice commands function in a similar fashion to how they work on Amazon Alexa speakers. However, “Hey Portal” is in charge of some of the smart display’s most important features.
Controling speaker volume, making phone calls, and activating on-device applications are just a few of the options. However, it lacks more advanced features such as searching for answers to questions or playing music. Take a look at Portal commands to get a better idea of what it can do.
How to Have Control Over Who Calls You
You may use the Home and Away feature to guarantee that people only call you while you are at home. Any calls to the device will be immediately transferred to your phone while you are gone if this functionality is enabled. To activate it, follow these steps:
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Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
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Select “Incoming Call Settings” from the drop-down menu.
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Select “Only When You’re Home” from the drop-down menu.
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Your phone will display an alert asking you to confirm that you wish to utilize the Home and Away function. To confirm, tap it.
Apps & Integrations for the Facebook Portal
Is Facebook Portal compatible with Alexa from Amazon?
Though the main objective of Facebook Portal is to revolutionize video chatting, it is also useful for a variety of other purposes. One of the most notable features in this respect is its connection with Alexa, one of the most well-known AI assistants. Yes, Alexa is pre-installed on the device.
On other Alexa hubs, you can get her to do very much the same things. You may, for example, ask her for the news or the weather forecast, set timers, or make shopping lists and add goods to them.
According to the corporation, whatever you can do with Alexa will function here as well. However, there are a few notable changes in functioning. You can’t conduct video calls using Alexa voice commands, for example, since the video call capability is only available via Messenger.
The corporation is said to be working on its own digital assistant that will operate on Portal devices, but no date has been given.
Is It Possible To Use Facebook Portal With Google Assistant?
Unfortunately, at this time, Portal does not support Google Assistant. The good news is that Facebook intends to incorporate her as well at some point in the future.
Facebook Surveillance
You may use the Facebook Portal to access Watch, a YouTube rival. Because there are so many services that utilize Facebook, it’s a terrific way to remain up to date on what’s going on.
However, you will have much more access to viral videos and humour. Currently, there aren’t as many content providers on the site as there are on YouTube, and no original shows are available (think Hulu and Netflix).
You may even view videos with your friends and family while on the phone using Watch.
Increasing the Number of Apps for the Facebook Portal
Despite the fact that it comes with its own set of applications, you may add to them by pressing on the Portal App icon. The choices are presently limited, but Facebook claims that they will expand over time.
Concerns about privacy on the Facebook portal
Facebook has been embroiled in privacy controversies for the greater part of this year and the previous one. The Cambridge Analytica incident, which occurred at the start of 2018, wreaked havoc on the corporation. It even caused the launching of Facebook Portal to be delayed.
The September breach reignited the fires of suspicion just when everything appeared to be cooling down. At the time, it was estimated that at least 50 million user accounts had been hacked. When it comes to client trust concerns with the organization, they are simply the top of the iceberg.
Customers may avoid gadgets made by the same business as a result of these troubling stories. The fact that the gadgets include microphones and cameras that monitor movement isn’t helping matters either.
As a result, Facebook has gone above and above in terms of supporting privacy on the Portal range of products. The following items were included:
Cover for the camera
To begin, all Portal devices have a camera cover that enables you to turn off the device’s video stream anytime you wish.
Switch between microphone and camera
Second, it contains a physical button that may be used to switch off the microphone, camera, or both at the same time.
Local AI
A third component that aids privacy is the device’s artificial intelligence. Its AI operates locally on the device rather than on Facebook’s servers.
There aren’t any facial recognition capabilities.
Furthermore, the gadget does not feature face recognition, according to Facebook. This implies it doesn’t track individual users since it can’t identify them.
Encryption
Facebook also emphasizes that all video calls made to or from the device are encrypted. They also pledge that they will not listen to, watch, or save the contents of consumers’ video calls.
Individuals who value privacy will like the fact that it is compatible with both WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Why? Because all WhatsApp and Messenger calls are encrypted in transit, and all WhatsApp calls are encrypted from end to end. These are excellent choices for making private calls.
Voice Interactions should be removed.
Additionally, under your Facebook Activity Log, you have the option of removing your voice history. Users may also opt out of data collecting by adjusting their privacy settings.
Lock the screen
The screen lock, which uses a 4 to 12-digit password to block access to the device, is another privacy feature.
How to Make a Phone Call to the Facebook Portal
If you have Facebook Messenger 4, you can make direct phone calls to a Portal from your phone. In October of 2018, this version was launched. Follow these steps to make a call from your phone to a Portal:
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On your phone, open the Messenger app.
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Start a discussion with the person you’d want to call.
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At the top of the message box, tap the video camera icon.
Is it possible to see photos from Facebook, Instagram, and Google Photos on Portal?
No. Portal currently using Superframe to display pictures and videos. As a result, you’ll need to upload photographs to Superframe in order to see them. Superframe now only allows you to upload photographs from Facebook.
Where Can I Find the Facebook Portal?
In the following countries, Facebook Portal and Portal+ are presently available:
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United States of America of America
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United Kingdom of Great Britain of Great Britain
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Canada
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France
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Spain
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Italy
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Australia
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New Zealand is a country in the Pacific Ocean.
They were only accessible in the United States at first, but in June of this year, they were extended to include additional nations.
The new Portal, Portal TV, and Portal Mini, on the other hand, are available for presale in the following countries:
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Canada
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France
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Italy
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Spain
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United Kingdom
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United States
The gadgets will begin delivering on November 5, 2019 in the areas where they are available for presale.
Competitors on the Facebook Portal
Facebook Portal aims to compete with industry heavyweights in the smart display market. Amazon Echo Show and Google Home Hub is a device that allows you to control your are two of its main rivals.
Let’s see how they stack up.
Amazon Echo Show vs. Facebook Portal vs. Google Home (Nest) Hub
|
Features |
Google Home Hub |
Amazon Echo Show |
Facebook Portal |
| Calling through video |
|
|
|
| Dimensions of the Display |
7-inch |
HD Video on a 10.1-inch Display |
8-inch, 10-inch, and 15.6-inch displays are available. |
| Streaming music and movies |
|
Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music are all supported. |
|
| Controlling Your Home With Technology |
Controls smart home gadgets that are compatible. |
Controls smart home gadgets that are compatible. |
Limited |
| Photos |
Google Photos access |
Facebook photographs and Amazon photos |
Superframe is used to view Facebook photographs. |
| Resolution |
1024 x 600 pixels |
960 x 480 pixels |
1280 x 800 pixels |
| Features of a Smart Kitchen |
YouTube instructional videos provide step-by-step recipe guidance. |
Amazon meal kits integration and step-by-step recipe guidance |
Alexa was only able to help with a few recipes. |
| Cost |
$150 |
$230 |
$349 / $179 |
Troubleshooting with the Facebook Portal
When attempting to make a call, an error message appears.
When you try to make a call and get an error message, it’s most likely because you’re using an older version of the program. You’ll probably need to update the software on your device to fix the problem. This should fix the problem and enable you to make and receive calls again.
When your Portal is not in use and is plugged in and linked to Wi-Fi, it will automatically update and go to sleep. It will restart after the newest software has been installed. Once it happens, log back into the device by following the instructions on the screen.
Factory Reset for Facebook Portal
To do a factory reset on your Portal devices, follow these steps:
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Go to “Settings” on your Portal.
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Scroll down to “Factory Reset” and press it.
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For security reasons, you may be prompted to check in to your Facebook account.
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Wait for the device to finish the reset procedure after clicking “Reset.”
Alternatively, you may delete all accounts from the device and it will be reset to factory settings immediately.
A third possibility is to:
How can I change the location of the weather on Superframe?
The gadget automatically detects your location and displays local weather information depending on that area. Go to Settings>Location to modify it manually.
Help with the Facebook Portal
Visit https://portal.facebook.com/help/ at any moment to obtain assistance from the Portal support staff.
Watch This Video-
The “facebook portal plus” is a new device that allows you to control your home using the Facebook app. It’s available for pre-order and will be released in April 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best portal device?
A: That is a very difficult question to answer. There are many different portal devices with various strengths and weaknesses. You need to decide what your personal needs and preferences are when deciding which device would be the best for you, because there is no single best one in general.
What does Facebook portal work with?
A: Facebook portal is only compatible with the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Windows Mixed Reality headsets.
Will Portal work with any TV?
A: Portal will require a 4K compatible display.
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