Google just wrapped up it’s I/O developer conference and there were a few announcements I’m excited about. This year’s exhibition, like most tech events these days, was totally virtual and takes place over two days.
What is Google I/O, exactly?
Google I/O is a generally yearly developer conference where the company frequently announces new software upgrades and hardware innovations.
The most exciting part is the opening keynote, because that’s when Google makes the big news. It takes place on the first day. However, there are consumer and developer-focused keynotes, as well as technical sessions, workshops, AMAs, and meetings, at the conference. The conference’s program and session schedules are available on the official Google I/O homepage, so keep checking there for updates.
When will Google I/O 2021 be held?
The conference ran from May 18 to 20 and was held virtually given the Covid Pandemic.
What happened at the Google I/O 2021 conference?
Every year, Google hosts a developer conference to keep them up to date on the company’s latest developments and to assist them in updating their apps. However, it also features new consumer products or innovations, such as new hardware. Google, on the other hand, concentrated completely on software news this year.
Android 12
The new version of Android has been released by Google. Android 12 is the name of the new operating system, and the first public beta is already available. Since 2014, Google has made the most significant changes to its user interface. There’s a substantial shift in how widgets are presented and customized, as prior leaks have suggested. More than that, each menu, layer, and stock app’s whole UI has been redone. Here, we go over all of Android 12’s new features.
Wear OS
Wear OS is being redesigned by Google in collaboration with Samsung and Fitbit.
Wear OS has been totally revamped thanks to a collaboration between Google and Samsung. Wear OS is now just known as Wear. The new smartwatch operating system features a different design language from the previous iteration. New watch faces, enhanced apps, and a dark theme are all available. The new system effectively combines Wear OS and Tizen, with the “next Samsung Galaxy Watch” guaranteed to run the new software.
Switching between apps and navigation have both been improved, as have other improvements. Google’s own Wear apps, such as Google Play, Maps, and YouTube Music, have also been improved. For health and fitness features, the new OS makes use of Google’s Fitbit acquisition.
The smartwatch OS now has Fitbit capabilities. Fitbit will develop its own smartwatches based on Wear OS in the future.
Project Starline
What is Project Starline from Google, and how does it work?
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, announced at Google I/O 2021 that his business began working on a project “many years ago” that draws on several fields of computer science and relies on custom-built hardware and highly specialized equipment. Project Starline is a prototype system that allows you to video call someone and interact with them in hyper-realistic 3D.
Digital Car Key
In the fall of 2021, Google will release its Digital Car Key.
Google has also announced that it will offer Digital Car Key services, which will be available starting in the fall/autumn of 2021.
Apple CarKey, which was revealed at WWDC 2020 and has been available since iOS 13, will provide a comparable experience. NFC and UWB (ultra-wideband) technologies will be used by the Google system for authentication and unlocking, as well as to ensure that the system is safe.
Password Manager
A bevy of new features are coming to Google’s password manager.
Google’s password manager is getting a makeover, with a bunch of new features that should make it a lot more useful. Currently, Android and Chrome have a password management system that is tied to your Google Account and accessible at passwords.google.com.
You’ll be able to import passwords from other services in a future system upgrade. It will also be more proactive in informing you when a password has been compromised as a result of a hack or security incident. Not only that, but you’ll be able to use the password manager to automatically update the hacked password, restoring security to your accounts. The exact day on which the upgrades will be released has yet to be determined.
