Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG,NASDAQ:GOOGL) just wrapped up the keynote for its Google I/O 2015 conference. Last year’s version of Google I/O saw the debut of Google Fit and Android TV, Android Lollipop and plenty of stage time for Android Wear-powered smartwatches.
This year’s Google I/O included the expected Android update and advances in current Google services but also new products like Android Pay and a free photo storage service.
Google I/O: Android by the Numbers
The keynote kicked off with an overview of just how dominant Android is.
Eight out of 10 smartphones shipped in 2014 run Android with over 4,000 different devices using Google’s mobile operating system. There are currently seven smartwatches running Android Wear (more are promised for later this year) and 35 car brands participating in Android Auto.
Google has sold 17 million Chromecasts. Gmail, YouTube, Maps, Search Android and Chrome each count over one billion users.
Later, we learned that Google Play also has over one billion active users, who installed over 50 billion apps in the past 12 months.
Yeah, Android is big.
Android M and Android Wear
The new version of the Android operating system takes many of the customizations that original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) have made in their own versions and integrates those into the main build of Android.
Improvements include app permissions, the ability to embed the Chrome web browser within an app, official fingerprint reader support, enhanced battery conservation (motion detection is used to automatically put devices into power saving mode without disrupting notifications) and USB C support.
Android M is available as of today on Nexus devices for developers and rolls out in Q3 for everyone else.
News on the smartwatch front at Google I/O was mostly a re-hash of recent software updates.
With the Apple Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Apple Watch on shelves, Android Wear devices gained new abilities like scrolling with wrist gestures, always-on watchface, power-saving black and white Google Maps in glance mode and the ability to draw emojis. At this point there are now over 4,000 apps built specifically for Android Wear.
Android Pay
Google says its new Android Pay mobile payment system is focused on “simplicity, security and choice.” Android Pay uses a smartphone’s built-in security and near field communication, and Google is touting it as an open platform, so that users can choose to use Google Pay itself or bank apps.
Android Pay — which works on Android KitKat and up — is being preinstalled on new devices from mobile carriers including AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T). Android Pay will be supported by 700,000 U.S. stores and also work for in-app purchases.
Project Brillo
Google says its Nest, Android and Chrome OS teams are working together on the Internet of Things. Project Brillo is the result, an operating system to power all of these connected devices.
Brillo (launching in Q3) is a low-level, secure OS based on Android. Weave (launching in Q4) is the communications layer supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth low energy, and it allows smart devices to interact with Android devices.
Smartphones, tablets and other gear running Android will automatically detect devices running Brillo and Weave, taking on Apple and its HomeKit platform.
Google Now and Google Maps
With the accuracy of speech recognition improving from a 23% error rate in 2013 to just 8% today, Google Now isn’t just getting better at understanding what you ask, it’s gaining a new level of app integration with a feature called “Now on Tap.”
A user can be running an app and Google Now knows the context of his or her question, within the app.
In one example, the Google I/O presenter asked Google Now the real name of an artist whose song was playing in Spotify, and the screen switched to show search results.
The apps themselves don’t have to be modified. Besides the cool factor, this essentially means that Google can be a part of every app on a smartphone, not just the native Google apps.
A big Google Maps development was demoed at Google I/O for the first time: offline support for Google Maps including turn-by-turn voice direction. Location information such as hours of operation for stores will also work in offline mode when the updated Google Maps arrives later this year.
Google Photos
Google Photos, a new service unveiled at Google I/O, is intended to be a centralized home for all your photos, with storage, backup, organization, search and sharing tools. Google Photos supports Android (naturally) iOS and web access.
Unlimited photos and videos (up to 16MP photo resolution and 1080p video) can be stored using Google Photos for free, starting today.
Android One and Chromebooks
Google I/O included a refresher on the Android One initiative.
Google expects 1.2 billion smartphones to be sold in six emerging markets, most of those Android devices. GOOG continues to work with 10 smartphone makers to ensure high quality, affordable devices. Android One is now active in seven countries, with Turkey as the latest addition.
While Android One is about accessibility for smartphone users, Chromebooks bring the concept to PCs.
One thing both classes of device have issues with in developing markets is speed and connectivity. So, Google is creating optimized versions of its web pages and services for these regions. Android will auto-detect connection speeds and serve optimized content (with fewer images) where warranted. Chromebooks will also gain more offline support.
Google Cardboard
Google I/O 2015 also saw an update to the Cardboard 3D viewer handed out last year. The new version is bigger (fitting phablets up to six inches in size) and the one million Cardboard users are expected to grow since this new version works on the iPhone as well.
There is also a new educational aspect to Cardboard called Expedition that lets teachers take students on virtual reality (VR) “field trips” using the cardboard headsets. To help with content creation, Google will also be offering Jump, a camera rig for shooting VR video that uses off-the-shelf cameras.
If Android fans needed anything else to be excited about, this Google I/O announcement probably did it: Time Warner Inc’s (NYSE:TWX) HBO Now — a former Apple exclusive — will be coming to Android this summer, with Chromecast support.
As of this writing, Brad Moon did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
