This Thursday, Googlers and developers across the globe will converge on San Francisco for Google I/O 2015. The tech conference is Google’s chance to announce new products and initiatives, with an epic 150-minute keynote timetabled to begin at 17:30 BST. Here’s what we’re expecting to be announced!
Android M
Google revealed Android Lollipop for the first time at I/O last year, and it’s a safe bet that Android M will dominate the headlines this year. No one is quite sure what the full name will be – although Macadamia Nut Cookie, MNC, has been rumoured to be an internal codename – and we may not even find out at the event. But what we will learn are the major features of the OS – including native fingerprint reader support, better privacy controls and security options and an even more clever Google Now service.
Android Wear & Android Auto
Android isn’t just for phones and tablets any more. Android Wear has proved to be a useful OS for smartwatches, and it would make sense to see some new models or features at I/O. The first reviews of Android Auto were also released today, so we can expect some news on that front as well, as Google continues to take strides towards being at the heart of everything remotely techy in your life.
Android Pay
Google CEO Sundar Pichai promised an upgrade to Google’s anemic Wallet mobile payments system back at MWC, and that may be coming in the form of a new service called Android Pay. Like Apple Pay, the service would use NFC to let you pay for goods and services at locations across the United States; unlike Apple Pay, the system is backed by American carriers Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. That could grant it a strong debut in the US, and hopefully similar deals can be made abroad too.
Google Photos
The social network Google+ is dying a slow death, but there are some bits worth saving. Perhaps the most obvious is the service’s clever photo service, which Google are going to break out into a standalone option called Google Photos. With automatic GIF creation, “auto awesome” photo enhancements and more to come, I’m curious to see how Photos fares when freed of the shackles of Google+.
Internet of Things
One interesting report ahead of MWC suggested that Google would be releasing a new operating system adapted for the Internet of Things, a sort of all-encompassing network that connects “smart” devices with one another without using much power. The project is expected to become another part of the Android brand, although right now it’s codenamed Brillo.
Chromecast
The Chromecast has been a strong performer for Google since its release, offering a simple and low-cost way to watch YouTube videos, listen to music and stream Chrome tabs to your TV. A Chromecast 2 would therefore make sense, perhaps launching with 4K support and faster networking options. The software side of things could also see improvement, including better integration with mobile operating systems and Chrome OS.
Chromebook
The back-to-school season is kicking off soon, and Chromebook laptops will be strong contenders if Amazon’s best-seller lists are anything to go by. I/O would be a good opportunity for Google to introduce some new models at the low-end and mid-range sections of the market.
Conclusion
So, what are you hoping to see from Google I/O? Let us know in the comments below, or write to us on Twitter @mobilefun!
Photos from The Verge.
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