Home
Mobiles
Mobiles Features
Android M, New Photos Service, and Everything Else You Can Expect at Google I/O 2015

Android M, New Photos Service, and Everything Else You Can Expect at Google I/O 2015

By NDTV Correspondent | Updated: 26 May 2015 12:49 IST

We are just few days away from the Google I/O 2015 conference that kicks off Thursday in San Francisco, where the company is anticipated to showcase some of the new products alongside announcing some major revamps to its existing products. The 2-day schedule for the upcoming Google I/Oconference has already spilled several beans about the event creating much abuzz on forthcoming announcements. In the meanwhile, recent leaks have also pointed to some interesting products yet to see the light of day.

Here we compile what is expected to be unveiled by the Mountain View giant at its annual developers conference, from long due product refreshes like the next Chromecast to developments in the dominating Android mobile ecosystem.

Android M
Google is expected to reveal its next mobile and tablet operating system iteration, currently rumoured to be dubbed Android M when released in a developer preview (like Android L for Lollipop). The company recently while revealing its 2-day schedule for the I/O conference accidentally revealed a small description of Android M in the Android for Work Update session on Day 1. Further confirming speculations about an imminent announcement on Android M, Google soon after removed the mention in the Android for Work Update session on Day 1 schedule.

The Android for Work session description read, "Android M is bringing the power of Android to all kinds of workplaces. This opens huge new markets for hundreds of millions of devices to workers at small business, deskless workers, logistics and warehousing jobs; all be empowered by adoption of Android devices at Work."

A recent leak even claimed that Google can announce a new update guarantee for Nexus devices at the I/O 2015. According to a report, Nexus devices will get system update for two years and security patches for three years from the date of OS release.

Other features expected to make it into Android M include multi-screen and multi-window functionality, as well as a Theme engine, both of which have seen limited inclusion in AOSP (Android Open Source Project) in the past and we've even seen some major manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, and HTC implementing in their own ways. Of course, more work on the Android for Work front, is also expected to be showcased.

Android Apps
Google may reveal details about Android M's native support for fingerprint authentication. An earlier report pointed out that Google was working on a setup and enrolment process alongside fingerprint lock screen. This could mean that Google will release a system fingerprint API that could be plugged in to any app and make it compatible with the feature. The piece of information came via the AOSP for Nexus 6 fingerprint sensor and an API for apps.

Another major announcement can be expected to be made on Google's offering users' granular control over Android app permissions. Android apps until now showed what permissions they need at installation and offered users option to either continue or withdraw. This might change with granular control over android app permissions.

If true, it would mean an Android user can choose to restrict what an app can access on their device or from the cloud, such as images or contacts or camera or even location. It's worth noting that some custom ROMs based on Android (such as Cyanogen) do let users control privacy settings on a per app basis.

Google had recently also unveiled the Designed for Families app developer program that certified apps to be kid-friendly. We may finally be shown how this affects the Google Play store at I/O this year.

Some of the other announcements include Voice Access feature, which is expected to be introduced at a session on Day 1, and as the name it will let users control apps using voice commands. The other feature rumoured is called Nearby, expected to be introduced at a session on Day 2, and is said to let users connect to others who are nearby. Google recently expanded Ok Google voice search and actions to include select third-party apps.

The search engine giant is likely to further expand new voice commands with more third-party apps at I/O 2015 conference. The much anticipated Google Now integration for the full range of third-party apps is also expected to be detailed further at I/O. Native support for VR apps is also expected.

New Chromecast
It's been a while since Google first revealed its HDMI media streaming stick, the Google Chromecast, back in 2013. Multiple updates to the hardware are expected to boost the bandwidth of the dongle, let's say Chromecast 2, that will enable it to support the numerous new video capabilities on the rise - such as 4K and 3D video. The announced Android TV feature to use Android smartphones as controllers may also be introduced for the Chromecast 2 at the conference, alongside iOS smartphone compatibility.

Google Photos
In a move to change fortunes, Google is expected to reveal a standalone Photos app, a new online-based photo sharing and storage service at the upcoming I/O event. Google has been rumoured for some time to be working on a standalone service focused on images that will be independent of Google+.

Google's upcoming Photos app was leaked recently, giving the world its first glimpse of the upcoming photo service. According to the early leak of the Photos app, the service will feature animations upfront and will offer features such as back-up of images. The new app alongside also includes new interactions (such as ability to pinch into photos or to swipe out); editing interface is also said to receive a face-lift, and auto-awesome features is said to be replaced by new "Assistant" feature.

New Calendar, Hangouts Features
Google earlier this month acquired the makers of the Timeful app. The company is expected announce few integrations of Timeful app into Google's own calendar app. Timeful is a calendar app that analyses a user's schedule to suggest free time slots for tasks the user wants to complete. This could be anything from wishful thinking (going to the gym) to a reminder to call a bank before the week is up.

Google's Hangouts app is also expected to see some smart additions via the company's acquired instant messaging application startup called Emu. Google acquired Emu last year. The instant messaging app Emu comes with a 'built-in assistant' and uses artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing to help it understand the content and context of messages. Google is likely to improve upon its Hangouts app as well as Google Now virtual assistant to compete with rivals like Cortana and Siri.

Android Pay
Google is also anticipated to launch the new payment service and API called Android Pay during Google I/O conference. A previous report stressed that Android Pay was being "built from the ground up" for Android developers using Host Card Emulation (HCE), and it would power in-store and in-app payments directly, apart from allowing firms to enable mobile payments via their own apps.

Google's Sundar Pichai, Senior Vice President, Android, Chrome and Apps, had even confirmed at MWC this year that the company was working on a new mobile payment system called Android Pay.

Android@Home, Internet of Things, Android Auto, Project Ara, Android Wear for iOS
Google, following Huawei's announcement of its own OS for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, is said to secretly readying its own IoT operating system codenamed Brillo, expected to be unveiled at I/O 2015. An embedded Android Auto version, instead of one that is powered from paired smartphones, is also expected, with its own app store.

Google's ATAP division also has a session scheduled, and may preview a new Project Ara modular smartphone prototype. The much rumoured Android Wear device compatibility via a companion app for iOS is also expected.

Google Search Buy Buttons
Google is also likely to announce the rollout of the reported 'buy buttons' at I/O 2015 conference to accompany sponsored product results in mobile search. The new service was one that Google was reportedly finding difficult to pitch to retailers - the largest spenders on search ads. While it is said to be aimed at helping retailers get difficult conversions from mobile searches results, it also alienates them by turning them into backend retail channels.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.