Here’s what to expect from Google I/O 2021, first focus on Android 12

Google’s annual developer conference I/O was canceled last year due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic, and this year the company announced that the event will be held again. Google officials announced that this year’s I/O conference online keynote speech will begin at 1:00 pm Eastern Time on May 18 (early morning on the 19th Beijing time), and many new product and service announcements may be released at that time.

Last month, Google and its parent company Alphabet CEO (Sundar Pichai) revealed in an investor conference call: “Our product launch is returning to a normal rhythm. What is particularly exciting is that the developer conference I/O is back this year. It is held in a virtual online format and is free to everyone. We will release important product updates and announcements. I sincerely invite everyone to pay attention!”

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In the official description of the keynote speech, Google was vague about what might be announced, saying only: “Please stay tuned to understand how we are advancing our mission of organizing world information and making it universally accessible And useful.” But based on rumors and speculation, we can foresee the new products that Google may show at this event:

Android 12 

From a software development perspective, Android is the key to Google’s ecosystem and always takes center stage at I/O conferences. Google often uses the keynote speech of the I/O Developer Conference to describe the details of its Android system update in detail, and it is expected to be the same when Android 12 is released this year.

Google has released a number of developer preview versions of Android 12, most of which are just fine-tuned and include developer-centric features. But at the I/O conference, Google may show the new features of Android 12 for users, including major UI improvements that are rumored to be ongoing, such as the stacking window function, a new lock screen with larger clock text, and so on.

As far as I know, Android 12 seems to be ready for a major upgrade, and Google may share a lot of information about it.

Google main service update

Google also likes to use the I/O conference to showcase major updates in its services and software, and this year’s event may not be any different. In the past few years, Google released the incognito mode of Google Maps through the I/O conference, the new smart assistant voice, and the Google Duplex demo (Google Assistant called the hair salon appointment service in the demo). Google may introduce many equally exciting new features this year.

For a long time, Wear OS has made people feel that it is a failed product. Even rebranding, changing faces, and adding more hardware partners have hardly changed this fact. But please note that this year’s I/O will be Google’s first major developer event after the completion of the Fitbit acquisition. Google obviously wants to show its talents in wearable devices and fitness businesses.

True wireless headphones may appear

Due to several major leaks by Google itself, we already know that Google is developing a new Pixel Buds true wireless headset, and perhaps they will debut on I/O.

In March of this year, Google mentioned two devices that looked very likely to be the new Buds in a document submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This sign indicates that this product will be available soon.

In April, Google added a pair of unpublished images of olive green Pixel Buds to an email. Earlier this month, Google posted a tweet through its Android Twitter account announcing the launch of the Pixel Buds A series, but then quickly deleted the post.

These leaks did not reveal much information about Pixel Buds, but the “A series” nickname seems to indicate that they will be the more affordable models of the company’s true wireless headsets, similar to the lower cost Pixel 4A phones.

WearOS 

For a long time, Wear OS has made people feel that it is a failed product. Even rebranding, changing faces and adding more hardware partners have hardly changed this fact. But please note that after the completion of the Fitbit acquisition, this year’s I/O will be Google’s first major developer activity. Google Xi’an hopes to show its talents in wearable devices and fitness business.

In addition, the American technology giant will also launch Fuchsia OS, new audible products, smart phones and innovative products. We will publish this story for you at any time, so stay tuned!

Credits – TheVerge