We're used to seeing speakers with Google Assistant built in, as Google Home has been around for a couple of years now. Today Google and JBL came together to announce a new kind of Assistant-powered speaker.
The JBL Link Bar is a soundbar that includes both Google Assistant and Android TV. Just connect it to any TV and your set will become a smart TV, complete with "Hey Google" hands-free controls.
JBL and Google aren't ready to talk pricing or availability for the Link Bar quite yet, saying only that the device is coming in fall 2018.
The JBL Link Bar looks like an interesting device. It combines two products that are popular ways to improve your TV watching experience — a soundbar for better sound and a set-top box for access to more content — into a single device. Now we just have to wait and see how much JBL will ask for it. If it's priced aggressively, the Link Bar could become a popular home entertainment product.
