Google’s new phone is different from rivals. The Google Pixel Fold is a folding phone that opens out to a tablet but, unlike nearly every other folder out there, this one is wider, so that when open it really is tablet-shaped, that is, it has a landscape look rather than a square one. But the launch of the new tablet—and you can read my review in the coming days—is accompanied by the release of a brand-new mystery ebook (which is great).
The book is by the popular crime author Ajay Chowdhury, and is the latest episode starring Kamil Rahman, former Kolkata policeman now in London. The Invitation is designed to complement a commute, offering a highly engrossing interactive crime story that lasts around 20 minutes, complete with sound effects, drawings and countdown timer.
Since the Pixel Fold opens out to a book-shaped device, you might have expected it to play on left and right pages, but Google, who commissioned the story, has formatted it so it fills the screen, which adds to the visual impact.
The story is highly engaging, with London locations from the Tower of London to a street notorious for its connection to Jack the Ripper, and a plot that moves quickly across the British capital.
This being Google, there are several mentions of its products, such as Google Maps, though I’m told that the company left it to Chowdhury to write it as he pleased. It’s just the right side of product placement.
I talked to Andrea Zvinakis, Google’s product lead for Android foldable and large-screen surfaces, who is based in London. She was excited about the product, saying, “I actually I read it on my commute into the office yesterday. It’s a quick 20-minute read but it’s really fun, with a lot of Easter eggs sprinkled in. It’s fun to read, especially in London, just because there are so many landmarks mentioned in the book. The sound and video effects mean it feels like a mix between reading a book and consuming some interactive entertainment, or even participating in the murder mystery yourself.”
The book can be read on other devices, too, and there’s also a competition, with the chance of a prize of a Pixel Fold if you can count how many “folds” there are in the book.
This story is a first for Google, and I hope the company will do more. For now, though, it’s an intriguing and highly enjoyable way to spend a commute. And a great introduction to Google’s latest hardware. To get the story, go to ajaychowdhury.com and look for The Invitation.
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