Google I/O is the company’s annual developer conference and much like the Apple equivalent it offers a number of new tools and approaches. The main news out of the tech gathering is the fact that the Android OS will feature heavily in the company’s future.
The I/O conference is a three-hour-long keynote presentation that’s held in San Francisco, with Google executives and engineers showing off a number of new products. The aim it seems was to add better tech functionality to everyday tasks and users lives. Android powered devices are destined for cars, living rooms, and wrists – wearable tech will be another new platform for Google’s OS.
Let’s consider some of the new tech, products, and innovations promised by the increasingly prevalent Google.
Android’s Lollipop
The newest version of the Android OS featured heavily at the conference and the VP of design at Google Matias Duarte led the discussion. The new OS is titled Lollipop or L for short and it comes with a load of new tools for users to enjoy.
There is a developed range of interface-related features including lending pixels “depth” and providing on-screen objects with greater dimensions. The graphics are greatly improved too meaning that objects in the L OS can have physical surfaces and edges. These objects will also have physical surfaces and edges with accurate perspectives and shadows.
Wearable Android’s Smartwatches
Google revealed a new version of Android destined for smartwatch screens. It’s dubbed Android Wear and wearable devices using this OS will effectively be an extension of users Android smartphone interface. Notification from both phone apps and apps devised for wearable users will be built into the new gadgets. Emails, appointments, weather updates and text messages will appear on connected watches making communication and keeping on top of daily tasks much easier.
Android TV
Android watches, a new Android OS, and now Android TVs; users can run their whole digital lives on this tech and Android has its sights on capturing the living room on top of wrists and phones.
Android TV can be incorporated into smart TVs, set-top-boxes and video games consoles allowing users to switch seamlessly between devices. The Google Play Store will have plenty of options for using streaming apps like Netflix, downloading movies and video games and alternating between different services.
The level of control over Android TV has greatly increased and users can access a wide variety of devices to operate their OS. Smartphones, tablets, and video game controllers can be used to navigate Google’s new OS offering.
Perhaps the best addition (and most tantalising) is the fact that users of Android TV can utilize Google’s impressive search platform to look up general and specific content.
Really Android TV is an updated version of the largely unsuccessful Google TV. This was the tech giant’s first foray into creating TV software, but it failed to gain anything close to widespread adoption. Now however Google looks set to change that trend and its most recent offering is focused on creating a platform that’s all about entertainment and ease of use.
The TV marketplace is already very crowded and it includes some big names such as Apple, Amazon, and Roku. However Google announced some early partners like Sony and Sharp, so perhaps those tech organisations will update smart TVs with Google’s latest software.
Google’s Advantage is Android
Google is focusing on Android and its update called L looks set to be the biggest release in Androids most recent history. The upgrades to the interface will provide users with visuals comparable to those they already enjoy on their more powerful computer screens. This will have a clear benefit when it comes to gaming on mobile devices.
The Android OS is also destined for creating a more smart experience within your car. Android Auto will allow users to use voice commands to send messages, make phone calls, play music, and much more. This isn’t particularly new but expect the application of this software to be better integrated and easy to use.
The other new addition to Google’s tech approach is Chromecast via cloud. This feature will allow users to wirelessly beam content to nearby TVs without connecting to Wi-Fi. This works through the cloud and a proximity-based authorisation system.
Google’s latest I/O conference was mostly aimed at developers. The tech company seemed to be saying that Google is the one stop shop for anything anyone wants to do on the internet. This extends to whatever device the user wants to access content on.
There’ll be a new Chromebook and Android with enterprise features and everything that runs on Google will communicate easily and effectively. Really Google is attempting to give Apple a run for its money. There are new fitness apps and better partnerships with Adidas, Intel, and Nike.
The future looks good for Google and for anyone evangelical about the company it looks like you can live a life not just according to Google, but one where Google is the dominant delivery platform of everything you could ever want from the internet.