Google’s annual developer conference kicks off on 8 May in the United States, and Sundar Pichai will be hosting the keynote. The usual suspects at the event range from detailed features of the next Android version (P, in this case), what Google plans to offer in the field of machine learning and AI among others.
In addition to that, we’re most likely to come across improvements to Android Auto and Google’s long-lost Android Wear (called Wear OS). Here’s everything we expect to see from the 90-minute long keynote, and this is where you’ll be able to see the live stream of the event.
Keynote Live Stream: Where and When to Watch?
Unlike Facebook and Apple’s developer events, Google gives you a host of platforms from where you can watch the keynote.
Google I/O 2018 page will run a liveblog and the stream from the venue which will start from 10:30PM (IST). You can even head over to Google Developers page on YouTube to catch Sundar Pichai speaking all about Google.
Android P - More Will be Revealed
We still don’t know whether Google, with Android P, will stick with its tradition of naming it after sweets or desserts. What we do know is the set of features that users can expect to get on their Android devices this year.
The new version will make notch design a mainstream for Android devices in the coming years. Android P is also expected to focus heavily on privacy.
Wear OS - Upgrade is Due
It’s been a while since we heard about Android Wear from Google. Their wearable platform has a new name now – Wear OS (nothing to do with Watch OS :P).
Apart from the name, we don’t know much about this version, except that many people now believe that Google Assistant will get added to the wearable platform as well. Apple’s already done it with Apple Watch and Siri, Google is doing it now (better late than never!)
Android Auto to get Moving
The Google I/O session schedule has a special mention for Android Auto, which confirms that it will part of the keynote. What new additions can we expect for this version of Android? Mostly incremental, with more apps added to the library and better hands-free approach for it as well.
Google Home With Screen?
Amazon already has two smart speaker devices with screen; Echo Show and Echo Spot. Google doesn’t have a Home-like device with screen that also supports Google Assistant.
All this imply that Google could have a hardware announcement to make at the keynote on Tuesday, will it have a screen or just another speaker upgrade? We’ll find out soon.
Chrome, Google Lens 2.0 and More
Google could also have Chrome-centric upgrades to talk about. The web-browser, leads its segment but with privacy becoming a pertinent issue, they might want to tone-down the impact it has on user and their data.
Google Lens 2.0 could be the finished version of the product that was showcased at last years event. The feature lets you decipher visuals from the camera, letting users buy the product (if possible)
The sensor is likely to integrated with more devices in 2018 (beyond Google Pixel and OnePlus).
Other than that, it’s quite possible that Google might ape Samsung’s Bixby button hardware into its own Assistant ecosystem. Last but not the least, virtual reality and augmented reality could be part of the keynote with an Oculus Go-like device.
You can watch the keynote via Google platforms or stay tuned to The Quint’s live blog later on Tuesday.
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