Google opens its first store
Not to be outdone by Microsoft and Apple, Google has opened its first ever store. Located within Currys PC World on Tottenham Court Road in London, this is not a standalone store but a "shop in shop". Going under the predictable moniker of the Google shop, shoppers can expect to find a range of hardware from the search giant.
The stores will give people the opportunity to browse and try out numerous Android smartphones and tablets. Other hardware such as Chromecasts and Chromebooks will also be available. But the Google shop is about more than just hardware, it also gives people the chance to get hands-on with Google software, and attend events and classes -- forget Google Glass, this is Google Class.
Google's James Elias said that the store offers a "genuinely unique try-before-you-buy experience", and there are currently plans for another two stores in the UK. The store is about more than just pushing products, the idea is to create an experience. Visitors will be able to use digital spray cans on the Doodle Wall to design their own Google logos, while a Chromecast pod allows people to watch Google Play Movies.
The store is also home to something called Portal. This is an immersive installation which features surround screens and can be used to fly around the globe with Google Earth.
Elias said:
The pace of innovation of the devices we all use is incredible, yet the way we buy them has remained the same for years. With the Google shop, we want to offer people a place where they can play, experiment and learn about all of what Google has to offer; from an incredible range of devices to a totally-connected, seamless online life.
In addition to Google products and services, the Google shop will offer assistance for anyone looking to be safer online, or who wants to know more about connecting devices together. Virtual Space Camps will be held for children to learn the basics of coding
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