Today we’re taking a peek at what Google revealed on day 1 of Google I/O 2021. This is generally the day when Google reveals the bulk of their public-facing news for devices and software, and this year was no different in that respect. Google reminded the world that their heart is in organizing the world’s information and making said data valuable to all users, starting with a conversation with a paper airplane.
Below you’ll see a “a few things to know about Google I/O 2021” from Google. This video shows what the event is all about, and what Google’s goals are in continuing to run the event here in 2021 and beyond.
Google LaMDA natural language tech
Google Search AI, AR, skin condition check
Google Photos just reached its end-of-free-ride situation for Google Pixel devices. The first Google Pixel smartphones were sold with the suggestion that users could upload unlimited photos and video to Google Photos forever. That wasn’t entirely true – not forever, anyway.
Google revealed Material You, a design concept and expansion of Material Design. Material You will be implemented on Android devices first – on Google Pixel devices first – and will eventually make its way to all Google hardware. With Material You, the color scheme of the device is selected by the user, and can be seen throughout the UI of the device – and potentially inside 3rd-party apps, too. Google also delivered some new foldable phone tools for developers with Android 12.
Google teams with Shopify
Google revealed Shopping Graph and a selection of shopping tech features and tie-ins with artificial intelligence and monitoring abilities for retailers. The user will have an easier time finding what they want to buy and buying what they want – or that’s the goal. Google is teaming with Shopify to make their easy shopping future a reality.
Digital car key, Fast Pair expansion
The most interesting piece of hardware shown at Google I/O 2021 had to be Project Starline. This is an experimental system of machines that allow users to video chat with one-another with a layer of reality not possible before now.
With Project Starline, one user sits near a device that consists of a special display, 3D sensors, and camera tech, and chats with another person in a different location with a similar device. Each user sees the other with an unprecedented layer of 3D-scanned and formed reality.
Samsung Tizen and Google Wear OS combined
Samsung and Google are mashing Tizen OS and Wear OS together for one super-powered mobile operating system for mobile wearable devices. See how Wear OS got an upgrade in a major way, starting this week.
It’ll be interesting to see how other companies respond to Google delivering a software that’s as much Samsung’s as it is Google’s, “bringing the best of Wear and Tizen into a single, unified platform.” Google Watch with Tizen has already been guaranteed three years of updates right out the gate.
Android 12 Beta 1 and GSI
If you are a developer, you can access Android 12 Beta 1 for your smartphone now. Even if you are not a developer, you can, potentially, load said software to your smartphone. It’s still in test mode, not past beta, but it’s available.
Google Assistant upgrade
With new Google Assistant Capabilities, users will be able to jump into apps with far greater ease than ever before. Shortcuts allow the jump, and editing shortcuts is set to be simple.
Google quantum computing
Google revealed their quantum computer roadmap with a goal of a real-deal, useful, functional, productive quantum computer ready to roll inside the decade. They revealed their Santa Barbara, California facility for the first time ever, noting that this will be the location where Google will both run a quantum data center and manufacture quantum processors.