Google’s annual developer conference kicks off in San Francisco tomorrow. While it’s still ostensibly about developers,
Google I/O is also an opportunity for Google to show off what it’s been doing over the past year, and talk about the new products and services we’ll have soon. Last year Google announced Android L (later Lollipop), the first available Android Wear devices, Android Auto, new Chromecast features, and more.
Let’s take a look at what the rumor mill has churned out as we approach the big day. Here are the things you can expect Google to talk about during the keynote on Thursday.
Android M
Google outed itself when it posted the new I/O schedule — one of the sessions on the agenda clearly referenced Android M, so we know that’s happening. Google removed the listing, but you can’t stop the speculation. Since then, a number of important details have come to light.
First up, Android M will once again have a developer preview available for download shortly after the keynote. Android L was the first time Google did this, but apparently it’s a trend now. It will probably only run on recent Nexus devices like the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9. Maybe older phones like the Nexus 5 will get in on the fun too. This will hopefully help developers get out ahead of the changes so they can be ready to go when M comes out.
As for the features in Android M, it seems it’s a lock that Google will add native fingerprint scanning to the platform. There have been a lot of commits in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) that point this way, and there are a few reports that say the same. We’re also expecting security improvements in the form of a revamped permission system. Apple has been seen as more user friendly in this respect for the last few years, but that might be changing.
The way apps work right now on Android, you can see the permissions when you install something, but that’s it. If you install, the apps get whatever permissions they asked for. Android M might borrow a little from Apple by allowing users to reject individual permissions like location access or contact reading.
Google has also started to branch out and allow third-party apps to plug into the Now service in recent months, but I’d wager that will become an official open feature in Android M. Developers should be able to embed cards in Now with proper controls for users to get rid of them. There may even be a way to place Google Now in third-party launchers, which isn’t currently possible. Developers might also find themselves coping with Google’s new interest in battery life. Android M will allegedly have a focus on
keeping battery usage down by making sure background apps don’t ping the system too often.
Android Pay has been confirmed by Android head Sundar Pichai, but he didn’t explain in too much detail what it will do. We can look forward to all the specifics at the keynote. This may or may not be limited to Android M, but we know that Pay will offer a platform for app developers to plug into the secure NFC payment method on devices. Google Wallet will do the same thing, so it’s not being replaced by Pay. Google is reportedly offering carriers a small cut of Android Pay sales so they’ll promote it. Carriers get nothing from Apple Pay. Android Pay will also support fingerprint authentication in the future.
Android Wear
Google’s wearable platform is based on the same software that runs phones and tablets, but Android Wear is much more stripped down. Still, with a new version of Android itself, there will probably be things to say about Wear too. It’s likely the long-rumored iOS support for Android Wear watches will be debuted, though. Expect a few minor refinements in the software experience with Wear, but the potential hardware announcements will be much more interesting.
There are two watches floating out there at the periphery that could make an appearance at I/O and make people very happy. There’s a watch in the works that will run Android Wear with an Intel processor and
hardware designed by Tag Heuer. I’m sure it will look very nice, but the price is rumored to be about $1,400.
Huawei has already announced its Android Wear watch, but there haven’t been any more details on this device since Mobile World Congress. It has a round display, metal body, and a wide selection of 18mm bands. The price is unclear, but it certainly won’t be $1,400. Google I/O would be a good time and place to finally announce these things.
New Google Photos
There have been rumors of a proper re-launch of Google’s photo platform for months, and we know this is happening at I/O. The new
Android Photos app has leaked, but it’s not just about Android. Google is taking Photos and making it a distinct product that still has strong ties to Google+. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Google+, but it puts Photos in a more easily accessible place. Instead of people avoiding it because they don’t want to dig into G+, it will have its own URL at photos.google.com.
The Android app contains all the auto-backup features, sorting, auto-categorization, and sharing features that Photos in Google+ had. It gains a few new tricks like more control over auto-awesome enhancements and stories (a feature collectively called Assistant now). The new Photos experience will also have support for a nifty method of sharing content with a link that you can deactivate at any time.
This will probably roll out shortly after the keynote, or possibly even before if you’re watching closely enough.
Chromecast 2
Google
announced the Chromecast two years ago, and it was a smashing success. After years of living room disappointment, it turns out all Google needed to do was produce a cool piece of inexpensive hardware and get out of the way. The streaming media Google Cast protocol has since found its way to Android TV and a number of wireless speakers. That original piece of hardware could use some love, though.
We know Google is working on new hardware, and Google I/O seems like a good time to show it off. There are going to be several developer sessions at I/O about Google Cast, so that would jive nicely with new hardware. Some of the things Google wants to do will require a hardware update.
For example, the original Chromecast doesn’t support 802.11ac networks, or even 5GHz wireless N. It also can’t handle 4K video, 60fps video signals, or YouTube 3D videos. The Chromecast needs to stay inexpensive, but with a few years since the last iteration, Google ought to be able to keep the price point and beef up the feature set.
Brillo IoT
One of the more recent rumors for I/O is that Google is working on an operating system for connected home devices, the so-called internet of things (IoT). This isn’t google’s first shot at home automation. Do you remember Android@Home? Of course you don’t, because Google talked about it once four years ago at I/O and never mentioned it again.
The new vision for the Google IoT is code named Brillo. It’s a stripped-down version of Android that can operate on devices with 32 to 64MB of RAM. So we’re talking about things like smart lightbulbs, door locks, refrigerators, and more. Google basically wants to be the unifying force in your smart house, and we could definitely use one.
There are currently half a dozen competing home automation standards, so you always have to worry if the device you’re buying can talk to the other ones you already have. Google is in a particularly good place to make things a little less crazy. It owns both Nest and Dropcam, which are popular options for connected thermostats and security cameras, respectively.
Project ARA and Glass
Two of Google’s most futuristic products might show up at Google I/O, but there’s no solid information on this. Still, it’s about time that Google Glass came out of hiding
after being turned upside down a few months back with promises of a new version. The Glass Explorer Edition hardware was rather bulky, and it didn’t offer the best battery life. It was also plagued by waves of bad press from the mainstream media who worried about privacy invasion and the general creepy factor. Google didn’t help by keeping the price high and not releasing new hardware.
Meanwhile,
Project Ara is supposed to be ready for a real world beta test later this year. This modular smartphone project was inherited by Google when it bought Motorola several years ago. Consumers will apparently be able to pick and choose which modules to put in their phone shell and have it all work together. There are a lot of questions that need to be answered on both fronts, and I/O is the place to do it.
And probably more…
Google will probably have at least a few surprises up its sleeve at I/O 2015. No matter how much we think we know, Mountain View always seems to keep a few good things under wraps. The fun kicks off with the keynote on Thursday May 28th at 9:30AM PDT.
