The time is nearly here and we are ready to liveblog. Will Google unveil the long-rumored Nexus 7 successor? Will there be new phones to consider? What does the future hold for Google Glass? Over the course of the next three hours (!) we’re eager to find out. Join us at 9:00 AM PT for all the excitement.
Filed under: Google
The five-month-old LG Nexus 4 just showed up on the Bluetooth SIG for a second inspection. The SIG’s site appears to be down right now, but TechTastic took a screen grab which lists the revised handset as supporting Bluetooth 4.0. This is interesting, because up until now the Android Open Source Project hasn’t supported this Bluetooth spec or its Low Energy mode, meaning that the original Nexus 4 couldn’t use it despite having the necessary hardware. Judging by the appearance of this SIG listing, Bluetooth 4.0 support for stock Android could be announced at I/O later today. Oh, and while we’re on the subject of a potentially updated Nexus 4, there have been more sightings of a white version in Dubai (shown above). Ripe for another I/O giveaway?
Update: The SIG is back up, so we’ve added it as a source link below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG
Source: TechTastic, TechView, The San Francisco Android User Group, Bluetooth SIG
Just hours before its I/O event, Google has apparently had a little accident: the sign-up page for “the new Google Maps” briefly went live, revealing a slew of extra details about what’s coming in the rumored refresh before quickly being pulled. Droid-Life managed to grab some screenshots, including the one above, which gets to the heart of what Google is trying to achieve. The central idea is that Google will create maps tailored to the kind of information you’re looking for, using a “smarter search box” to highlight just the “things that matter most,” whether those be flights, ground transport or the new Earth View that integrates directly with Google Earth without the need for a plug-in. According to the leaked sign-up screens, the bringing together of all Google’s data will result in layers of information that reach “from outer space down to the streets” — but there’s still no evidence about how (or whether) this might work on mobile. Stay tuned to our Google I/O opening keynote liveblog for more.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Droid-Life
Who can forget last year’s Google I/O opening keynote? With skydivers and a plethora of extreme antics all culminating in the on-stage unveiling of Google Glass, it will go down in history as one of the most exciting product unveilings of all time. Can Google top that this year? It’s certainly going to try, and rather than hosting multiple keynotes on multiple days big G is doing it all in one shot. One three hour shot. Set your alarms and make sure you find a comfortable chair then join us at the URL below for the 9:00am PT (12:00pm ET) liveblog tomorrow, May 15th.
Google I/O 2013 opening keynote
Filed under: Google
During Google I/O this week, visitors to the Moscone Center will have their every movement tracked, but it’s not as creepy as it sounds. Google’s Cloud Platform Developer Relations team is spearheading a project called the Data Sensing Lab, which utilizes a network of Arduino sensors to collect ambient data and translate it into easily understood visualizations. Fluctuations in temperature, air quality and humidity will be recorded along with noise levels and foot traffic to provide a real-time breakdown of activity within the Moscone Center. The information from the Data Sensing Lab will then be displayed on a number of screens scattered around the conference floor.
The Data Sensing Lab is the next step in Google’s quest to master environmental data collection after absorbing the team behind Behavio last month. Developer Programs Engineer Michael Manoochehri admits that the plan is “kind of futuristic, and maybe a little crazy,” but emphasizes the practical uses for real-time environmental analytics. For example, information about air quality fluctuations can be monitored to adjust a room’s temperature and footstep counters can provide valuable insight into which areas are most popular. In the spirit of open innovation, Google promises to make the Cloud Platform code, the Arduino sensor designs and the collected data available online after the conference. Big Brother might be watching, but at least we’ll be able to watch right along with him.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Google
Google’s big annual developer conference kicks off on Wednesday, and while Android lead Sundar Pichai has downplayed big new announcements at Google I/O this year, we’ve also seen reports that suggest the Nexus line of Google-branded hardware won’t go completely untouched.
The rumors suggest that we won’t see a brand new Nexus phone at Google I/O this year, but what we could see instead is a mid-cycle upgrade for the Nexus 4. In fact, the existing version seems tailor-made for a couple quick internal hardware upgrades to inject some fresh life into sales and activate some new buzz around the product, which by most accounts has been selling fairly well, especially when compared to previous Nexus flagship phones.
What we’ve heard indicates that the Google Nexus 4 will appear at I/O boasting a 32GB internal memory upgrade, along with built-in LTE support. There’s an LTE-capable wireless radio built into the current Nexus 4, but it lacks a proper signal amplifier and as such remains officially disabled. Nearer the Nexus 4′s launch, you could activate it with a backdoor hack, but Google quickly shut that down.
Both these spec bumps would be easy enough to accomplish, and are both considered the most noteworthy obvious flaws on an otherwise very impressive device. And a new spy shot making the rounds today backs up earlier claims we might see a white version of the Nexus 4, which so far only ships in black, which could be another factor in convincing new buyers to take the plunge.
It’s not clear how exactly Motorola’s devices will fit into the Nexus line, but it’s also worth mentioning that a new device labeled the “Motorola XT1058″ has just been spotted making its way through the FCC, which suggests it might arrive very soon. What precious little info the filing contains suggests that this could be the fabled XFON we’ve been hearing Motorola is working on for Google, and it could theoretically make an I/O appearance, but this could also be yet another smartphone already on Motorola’s roadmap pre-acquisition, and there’s no guarantee we’ll see it at the show either way.
There’s less buzz around new Nexus tablet hardware making an appearance at I/O, but there are some indications we could see some upgrades there, too. KGI Securities analyst Mingchi Kuo says there’s a brand new Nexus 7 coming, with a high-res, 1920×1200 display, an improved processor and a decent rear camera.
Reuters also reported earlier that a next-gen Nexus 7 would arrive, powered by a Qualcomm chip just like Kuo reports, but they’ve pegged that tablet for a release in July, which suggests we might not see it at I/O after all, except maybe in a preview capacity. Google demoed the original Nexus 7 at I/O in 2012, however, before bringing the device to market in mid-July 2012, so we could see a similar pattern repeat itself here.
I’d hesitate to suggest we’ll hear about much more beyond the Nexus 7 in the tablet category. Sales of the Nexus 10 have reportedly been quite low so far, and that device was only introduced in partnership with Samsung late last year. Google will likely want to give it a bit more time to try to pick up sales, or might focus its Nexus tablet efforts on the apparently more popular 7-inch market instead.
Earlier rumors suggested we might see a Nexus 11 make its initial appearance at I/O, too, but while it reportedly sits on Samsung’s roadmap for the year, there’s been nothing so far to indicate we’ll see it at I/O.
We won’t see Google’s bizarre boondoggle make an appearance at this year’s conference, and we didn’t really need AllThingsD’s reported confirmation of that fact to predict its absence, but it’s nice to have it.
The Nexus Q was Google’s attempt at answering the Apple TV and AirPlay if you recall, but it was an overpriced, precious gadget that essentially screamed “niche,” and a small one at that. Kuo said in the same report that detailed updated Nexus hardware that we’d see Google come back up to the plate with a stronger Apple TV-type device later this year, but it doesn’t look like we’ll see that at I/O.
Pichai said in his Wired interview this morning that Google doesn’t have “much in the way of launches of new products” at the moment, but that leaves wiggle room. It sounds like he’s trying to manage expectations, and a couple of upgrades to existing product lines would be right in line with something Google hopes will impress, but not on the scale of something like a new smart watch or the original Google Glass reveal.
Let’s be honest: it’s doubtful we’ll ever get to directly recreate the skydiving antics of Google I/O 2012’s opening keynote. Some of us on the I/O 2013 floor, however, could get the next best thing. As part of a Google Maps API showcase, Portland-based Instrument has developed a Map Diving game for Chrome that has players soaring over real locations to reach Pilotwings-style checkpoints. The version that will be at the event links seven instances of Google’s web browser, each with its own display; gamers fly by holding out their arms in front of a motion camera like the Kinect or Wavi Xtion. Sergey Brin probably won’t be waiting for anyone on the ground once the demo’s over, but Instrument hints in a developer video (after the break) that there could be a take-home version of Map Diving after the code is tuned for a single screen. Either way, we can’t wait to give it a spin.
Filed under: Gaming, Internet, Software, Google
Via: The Verge
Source: Instrument
Google’s spreading the love around to both I/O 2013 attendees and non-attendees alike with an update to its official conference app and a schedule of live-streaming videos, events and interviews. After signing in with your Google+ account, the app will figure out whether you’ll be there in person or not, with attendees getting automatic WiFi settings for the show, device-synced schedules, a lock screen agenda widget, NFC badge scanning and vector-based maps with session info. If you’ll be there in spirit only, you can use an off-site attendee mode to coordinate livestream viewing, which can be done to a big screen via the app’s dedicated HDMI video output. Meanwhile, Mountain view said live video would be available on your computer, tablet or phone for all the sessions, as well as the keynote, product announcements and interviews — you can find the details at the source.
Filed under: Misc, Software, Google
Source: Google Developer’s Blog, Google Play
And they’re off! Devs, engineers and the simply curious are, right now, pounding away at their keyboards trying to secure themselves a spot at Google’s big I/O event for 2013. The $900 tickets ($300 for a limited number of “academic” passes) are on sale as of 7AM PT / 10AM ET at the source link. Of course, as usual, these babies probably won’t last more than a few minutes so act fast. Though, if you miss out on your chance to attend, you can always live vicariously through us.
Update: Well, that was quick. All those tickets were snatched up in about 50 minutes. So, if you didn’t secure your spot, you’re sadly out of luck. But don’t worry, we’ll be there and will make sure to tell you all about it. With as little gloating as possible, of course.
Filed under: Misc, Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Source: Google I/O
If you’re still recovering from losing an hour of sleep this past weekend, you may have forgotten that registration for Google’s annual I/O conference opens tomorrow at 7AM PT. General admission is $900, while full-time students or faculty members of high schools and colleges can score a discounted Academic pass for $300. In order to attend Google’s three-day shindig, you’ll need to be at least 16 years old, have a Google+ profile to sign into the registration process and a Google Wallet account to purchase your ticket. While it remains uncertain if the company will be serving up slices of Key Lime Pie at this year’s conference, we wouldn’t be surprised if some type of dessert-flavored software is announced along with a few other goodies. Google warns that tickets will be limited, so if you plan on attending you’ll definitely want to set yourself a reminder and make sure that all of your ducks are in a row in order to increase your odds of securing a spot.
Filed under: Misc, Software, Google
Via: Droid-Life
Source: Google
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