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Top 5 Highlights from Google I/O 2015 Keynote

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Yesterday, when the rest of the world's attention was focused squarely on the (admittedly abhorrent) FIFA scandal, die-hard nerds such as myself has our attention fixed not towards Sep Blatter's crumbling ivory tower, but to San Francisco. Google's highly anticipated (by the tech community at least) annual I/O developers conference might have lacked the pizzazz and flair of an Apple keynote speech, but it more than made up for this subtlety in announcements. If you'd rather see for yourself, of course, you can watch the three hour conference below in all its glory, but for those of us who don't have 3 hours to spare on our Friday afternoons (I know I certainly don't) I've taken the liberty of focusing on some of the most notable announcements made yesterday at the Moscone West Convention Centre.

Google I/O 2015 – Keynote

 

Android M

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Perhaps the most notable announcement arrived early on in the form of a new version of Android with a focus on battery performance, mobile payments and more. Set to be released in the third quarter of 2015, Android “M” (the first version of Android in recent memory not to be named after a dessert) was described by senior vice president of products Sundar Pichai as a major software upgrade that would focus on “Polish and quality” above all else. Visually, it appeared there were few really significant changes, but under the hood it's another story entirely.

Android M is a new version of Android with a focus on battery performance, mobile payments and more

The new build of Android will focus on six core areas of improvement, chief amongst which will be app permissions, which will be simplified in order to make it clear to users when they use a feature for the first time whether the app needs to use the camera, location data, or other information about a user and their device. The internet experience is also due for an upgrade, with Google set to introduce a way for developers to use Chrome as the core of an in-app web browser, rather than having to build a separate browser. The experience is also set to be made faster and easier to use in general. There's also a more nuanced update on the cards, which will make it easier for apps to know which links to open in which other apps, meaning a hopeful end to those irritating lists that pop up whenever we want to watch a YouTube clip with the YouTube app.

The new build of Android will focus on six core areas of improvement

On the other end of the spectrum, the new Android is introducing a few new features, with Android Pay easily the most exciting of. This is Google's take on Apple's integrated mobile payments system. It's been confirmed in the US, but there is no word on a UK release yet. Fingerprint support is also being implemented, meaning that Android phones with fingerprint sensors built in are now open to developers, meaning it can be used for more than simply unlocking your phone. Used in conjunction with Android Pay, this could be a game changer! Finally, Android M will provide a significant boost to battery life and charging times. A feature called “Doze,” will mean phones automatically use less power when not in use, with Google stating the improvement could see devices lasting twice as long on standby!

 

Project Brillo

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Described by Google as the “Underlying operating system for the Internet of Things,” Brillo runs on the same core of drivers and code as Android, but has been dramatically simplified so it can be used on all manner of smart devices and for many eclectic, real world applications. Brillo also uses a common language called “Weave,” which allows devices to talk to one another over the cloud. The idea is to standardise all devices across multiple platforms, and it will be released by the end of the year.

 

Android Wear

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Not much was said about Google's answer to the Apple Watch, but it was stated that a new update to the software will let users draw emojis and control their Android smartwatches with gestures. Honestly, considering the runaway success of the Apple Watch, it's not surprising that Google chose to keep tight-lipped when it comes to Android wearables. Dave Singleton from Google's Android Wear division did take to the stage, however, to hive a brief update on the state of the firm's focus on wearables.

 

Google Now and Now on Tap

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The Google Now smart search feature will be updated significantly in the coming months, and the “Now on Tap” system will also allow users to make contextual searches within apps. This new, deeper understanding of context can be accessed using voice and on-screen controls from virtually any Android app. In an on-stage demonstration, Google showed someone listening to Skrillex and then asking “What's his real name?” The app then produced the result (Sonny John Moore for anyone that cares). Now is a key area for Google, and this update places it in more direct competition with Apple's Siri and Microsoft's Cortana, which will be coming to Android and iOS later in the year. Of course, the Now system will only work well if you're willing to give Google access to your data, and some of us are just not ready to do that.

 

Google Photos

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Google's photo service has been heavily rumoured for a while now, and it was finally officially unveiled yesterday. The new service is available for free from today on iOS and web as well as on Android, and it will give users the ability to save an unlimited number of photos and high-definition video for free. The Google Photos system is designed to organise your photo and video collection, enhance and collect them into stories automatically and make it easier to share them with your friends and family. The system also features the ability to search easily across years, months and events, group photos by the person featured in an image or automatically based on your habits, and browse your photos on any smart device. Built-in editing tools will also let users adjust their photos in a manner akin to a less ambitious Photoshop, and a new Photo Assistant will be able to suggest edits or collections for you.

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The Rest

  • A new version of Google's affordable VR headset Google Cardboard was unveiled.

  • A new VR program called “Expeditions” was announced, which will virtually take students to places like the Moon and the Great Wall of China!

  • A new VR camera system called “Jump” was unveiled. The frankly bizarre looking system works via a special camera rig that can capture 360 degree VR video in real time!

  • Android Studio 1.3 will make it easier for developers to create and code new apps.

  • A new family-friendly Play Store with apps specially selected for kids was announced.

  • Plenty that only those with a degree in coding could come even close to understanding.

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Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK.

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