Google I/O 2015, the biggest developer conference starts at San Francisco’s Moscone Center. The event paves the way for future innovations. Google is expected to make big announcements on the company’s latest projects.
There are going to be big ticket announcements by Google at the event. The biggest ones to look out for is Android M, Android Wear, Google Cardboard, Chrome, and of course self driving cars.
Watch Google I/O 2015 Keynote
Android M
Google unveiled Android M developers preview. Here are the key highlights of the new operating system by Google that will power the future devices.
1. Google has enhanced the app permissions on the Android M. It will make app installation seamless.
2. Web experience is also enhanced with Chrome custom tabs that will be rolled out to users in Q3 this year.
3. Android Pay an open platform, uses NFC and Host Card Emulation. Will work across 700,000 stores in the US.
4. Google made it official, now devices to get fingerprint support. So good news for Samsung Galaxy S5 and S6 owners in India,
5. Android M uses motion detection. If your tablet doesn’t move in awhile, it cuts off apps.
6. USB Type-C is going to be supported on Android M.
7. Android M fixes Volume controls, Now it will get a drop down to control individual levels. And you can properly silence android smartphones now.
8. Android M developer preview for Nexus 5, 6, 9, and Player comes out.
Android Wear
Android Wear update was also announced for Android Wear watches like the Moto 360, LG G Watch R and much more that are to come in 2015. Here are the key highlights.
1. Maps works in the black-and-white glance mode.
2. Android Wear to get scroll with wrist gestures options and they can also can draw emojis.
3. New apps coming to Wear: Uber, Foursquare, CityMapper.
4. Google Fit, a golf swing app, and Shazam will use the watch’s own microphone.
5. More than 4,000 apps specifically for Android Wear.
Project Brillo and Weave
Internet of things is going to be big in the near future. Connected homes and businnes with smartdevices is what the future will look like. Google announced project Brillo open to developers to work on ‘Internet of Things’.
1. Project Brillo to be the underlying operating system for the Internet of Things.
2. This is derived from Android.
3. It supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy.
4. Weave will be the Internet of Things communications layer.
5. Weave lets Brillo devices, phones, and the internet all talk to each other.
6. Weave supports cross platfrom devices and Android devices will auto-detect Brillo and Weave devices.
7. Brillo launches in Q3, and Weave in Q4.
Google Now
Since its launch Google has been adding features to Google Now. This time around too there are new goodies on offer.
1. Google Now shows actions and info from apps inside Google Now. You can order an Uber or play Pandora or reorder groceries from Instacart.
2. Introduces: Now on Tap.
3. Android reads the screen when you tap the home button and then it conducts a search and gives users Google Now cards.
4. Android reads the screen when users will tap the home button then does a search on it to give them Google Now cards.
Google Photos
A completely new product offering from Google that will be available from May 28th for Android and iOS users. Key highlights of Google Photos.
1. Google says it’s home to all your photos and videos.
2. It organises photos just like how photos are organised on an iPhone.
3. It Auto-backups all your photos and videos.
4. Google photos has a timeline browsing of photos just like moments on iOS.
5. Google uses machine learning to organise by people, places, and things on Google Photos.
6. Social Media integration directly on the app of google Photos.
7. There’s a thing called “photos assistant” that makes auto-gifs, and also tells you the other things going on in your photo stream.
8. You can look at those albums (On Your Phone) on the web, no app required.
9. With Google Photos, you can copy those photos to your own library.
10. Google photos, support original resolution up to 16 megapixels, up to 1080p for videos
11. Google Photos is available free on Android, iOS, and web.
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