Google I/O: What To Expect At Google's Biggest Event Of The Year
What Google's been up to — and not up to — gives us a pretty good sense of what it's planning to reveal at its big show. Here's what's probably in store for Google I/O 2014.
By Sadho Ram — 25 Jun 2014, 01:48 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Android Wear: Google has already said quite a bit about Android Wear, its new platform for wearable devices
Google announced Android Wear back in March in an effort to both tease some cool products and bring some order to the chaos of wearables, and smart watches in particular. Smart watches function mainly as notification and communication hubs, and with Google spelling out some standards, devs won't need to do much heaving lifting in porting their apps to this exciting — and confusing — new category.
mashable.com
We'll also finally get our first taste of Android Wear in real life. When Google revealed it, the platform wasn't nearly as exciting as its flagship device, the Moto 360. Motorola's smartwatch was notable for being the first with a round face, but no one outside of the company has tried it out.
That should change at I/O, and the Moto 360 will finally get a proper debut alongside other Android Wear devices such as the LG G Watch. There's also a possibility that Samsung, one of the most active smartwatch brands, will add an Android Wear device to its growing wearable wardrobe.
theverge.com
New Android: Whether we should expect a full version release (5.0: Lollipop?) or a smaller update to the current version, KitKat, remains to be seen
We don’t know for sure that Google will release a new version of Android, but it’s certainly due. It’s been nearly three years since Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" fundamentally overhauled the design and Android 4.4 "KitKat" came out last October.
If another version of Android arrives at I/O, it might start with an L (Lollipop?). Unfortunately, current signs point to the the big stuff coming later this year, so a small update or (if we’re lucky) a preview seems more likely. Don’t be surprised if we end up hearing quite a bit about the enterprise — Google has some catching up to do there.
mashable.com
Whenever the next big version comes, the spate of leaks and rumors from Android Police have us expecting a very big visual change. The details are unclear, but signs are strong that we might see a UI overhaul that brings Google’s web apps and Android apps closer together, an update rumored to be based on a design framework called "Quantum Paper." That visual change might even be mirrored by a functional one: the so-called "Hera" leak could be Android’s answer to iOS 8’s app extensions — only it would use web technologies to allow deeper integration between (and within) apps.
theverge.com
Android TV: According to reports, Google is taking another crack at television. This time it’s called Android TV.
It's rumored Google will re-launch its ill-conceived Google TV platform as Android TV. This makes sense from a branding perspective, although it's still a little baffling why Google is still focusing on this particular smart TV platform after its well-received Chromecast device.
mashable.com
Android TV will theoretically offer developers an easy way to create apps for smart televisions. Presumably those apps will be controlled by an Android smartphone or tablet, although there will need to be a way for the apps to work on their own, too — likely the reason Google thinks it still needs something separate from Chromecast.
A Wall Street Journal report revealed late Tuesday that Google will unveil a new television set-top box at I/O. The company will showcase at least one small set-top box that is similar to products such as the Roku, Amazon's Fire TV, and the Apple TV, WSJ said, citing people who have seen the device, which will have another company's brand.
firstpost.com
Home Automation and Android in the Car
Google's Nest thermostat will be able to work with fitness trackers, garage doors, cars and dishwashers.
Image via mshcdn.comGoogle's acquisition of Nest Labs is a done deal, and the company isn't wasting any time in pushing forward the connected-home vision that began with a cool-looking thermostat. On the eve of I/O, Nest opened its thermostat to developers, and it's holding sessions on the conference about exactly how to create apps that work with the device.
theverge.com
It might be a little early for Google to announce something as all-encompassing as and Android equivalent of Apple's HomeKit, but you can bet it's in the works. But there's another initiative that we've been waiting for more detail on: Android in the Car. While Google announced the program back in January, it hasn't followed up. With Apple CarPlay arriving soon, now would be an excellent time to show developers how to port their apps to in-vehicle experiences.
mashable.com
Not expected to be seen at the show, though, is a Nexus tablet from HTC powered by the K1 chip from Nvidia
A new version of Android, if it comes, will probably launch on new hardware — keep an eye out for new Nexus tablets. The Nexus 10 is starting to feel a little long in the tooth, but there may be a curveball this year: a Nexus tablet with an 8.9-inch screen. It’s alternately been codenamed "Flounder" and "Volantis," and supposedly it’s being manufactured by HTC with an aluminum body and styling that looks quite a bit like the Nexus 5.
theverge.com
It also might run on the ridiculously powerful Tegra K1 processor, which could make it very interesting for gamers. Unfortunately, current rumors have it pegged for Q4, so it’s not likely we’ll see it as soon as I/O.
recode.net