The developer concentric
Conference, Google I/O 2013 Started its Journey Yesterday with an
awesome keynote by famous Googlers. One day is just over, but there is
tons of news for both Developers and Users from the conference,
yesterday itself. The show is taking place in San Francisco and many
enthusiastic developers are there to listen to it. Though you may not be
able to enjoy it by going there, you were able to live stream it. You
may have missed that too. Do not worry. Let us have a brief look on what
kind of updates were revealed in the 3-hour lengthy keynote of Google
I/O 2013. Forgive us if we have missed one or two because there were
hundreds major and minor updates in that 180 minutes.
It will be totally messing up if
we are telling you the complete update list in one section. Therefore,
we are splitting the updates into subsections like Android, Google Play,
and Google Plus etc. So, let us start it.
Android
The famous Mobile Platform, nowadays
known as Google Android has tremendous updates in the first day itself.
We expected the launch of Android Lime Pie but there were no word about
it. Still, Android lovers, especially developers I would say, can be
happy with these updates. First part of keynote seemed like I/O 2013 is
only for Developers and not for Users.
Some News
In the first part of keynote, Google
announced the awesome statistics of Android’s growth and its popularity
as well. As of record, there are now 900 million Android Activations
which has taken more than doubling when compared to the last year’s.
Last year it was reported that there were 400 Million Android
Activations and then it is a big jump.
Google added that users have
installed around 48 Billion Android Applications, bringing a doubled
income (precisely 2.5 times) to the company when compared to 2012. In
the last month, users installed 2.8 Billion Applications. The company
also added that they are very much near to that 50 Billion record, which
is now of Apple.
Android Studio
I would say, this IDE is a perfect
gift for Android Developers. Rather than integrating their Android
Development into usual Integrated Development Environments, developers
can code their stuff in standalone software developed by Google. In
Android Studio, it is easier to make Android Applications as it includes
some awesome features when compared to the normal IDE’s like eclipse.
Major features are as follows.
You have a multi-device simulation
support in Android Studio, which means you can make sure that your
Application will work perfectly fine in all kind of Android devices
including a small screen Smartphone, large screen Smartphone or a Tablet
PC. All these simulations are integrated under one window. Rather than
just a developing environment, Android Studio is all about your
Application because you can get optimization tips, easy integration of
Google API’s, revenue graphs, analytic metrics etc. Do you still want me
to say Android Studio was star of the evening?
Samsung Galaxy S4 with Stock Jelly Bean
A new version of Samsung Galaxy S4, with stock android version of Jelly Bean will be available from June 26th. In this device, you will be getting all the features available for Nexus users like Instant Google Updates, Boot loaders etc.
The device comes instantly unlocked and
LTE support is stuffed with the device with an in-built support for
AT&T and T-Mobile. The device with 16 GB of internal memory is not
much a budget friendly one and it will cost you $649, which is a bit
huge though it is worthy buying.
Google Checkout Button
On the go shopping is much easier now
on Android. The company has rolled out a Check Out button enabling
one-click purchases. Via single tap, all your transactions will be
taking place through Google Wallet. Even one printout of payment will
not make you mess up because there will be an automated email system,
which sends the complete transaction details at the time of payment
itself.
Google Play
Yeah, it was sophisticated with Android first. Now, it has a lot more features, which gives it a unique role in Google Services.
Google Play Game Services
Google has made their biggest
contribution to Web Based Multi-player gaming by introducing Google Play
Game Services. Real time gaming, cloud support and other features are
now ready to work throughout Android, iOS and Web browsers. Isn’t that
awesome? Moreover, the service is available right today.
Google has integrated the Game Services
to Google Plus which in-turn allows you to sign in using your Google+
credentials. All your details including scores, achievements will be
there in the cloud servers and hence will be available across multiple
platforms. If you are a developer who has launched a game in Google
Play, you have access to game services. Google had included something
more for Game Devs for sure.
The company also introduced a superb
way to wipe out piracy from their Gaming Applications. As you know,
gaming applications are the major threats to the piracy stuff and
several websites are offering premium versions of games FREE. No
onwards, developers can integrate an API to their gaming application in
order check whether the application is from Google Play or not. If not,
the developer can take legal access and revoke the access as usual.
Google Cloud Messaging à Google Play Services
Google’s Cloud Messaging service is now
a part of Google Play Services. Cloud Messaging has now improved Synced
Notification, which makes you, see one notification only once. For
example, if you have a reminder in Google Calendar and see that
notification in your Phone, if you are using this Cloud Messaging’s
Synced Notifications, that reminder will not push you on your tablet PC.
The firm also added that Cloud Messaging would be soon integrated to
Google Chrome and Chrome OS, which is big news.
Google Play for Tablets
As the number of tablet users is
increasing day by day, Google Play team has taken a wiser move towards
the strategy. From now, Google Play Store has a special portion for
Tablet PCs, where users can get Applications and Games, which are
specially enhanced for Tablet PC usage. As a part of this, Google Play
Store in web will be also redesigned so that it can utilize the extra
screen area.
Google Play for Education
Confused? Actually, Google Play is
setting up an area, which is oriented for school students as well as
educators. In that section, students or educators can get suitable
application for their educational needs much simply than searching the
million collections for finding the best one.
Play for Education move also
concentrates on Google+ Groups where schools can easily push apps, books
or other content to students. Billing can be also done under one
window. Though the service is live officially now, users will have to
wait a bit. Still, developers can start coding for it.
Google Play Music All Access
One of the most rumored, Google’s Music
Streaming Service is out in Google I/O 2013. The service is officially
called Google Play Music All Access, is a truly personal music
recommender along with some awesome services. Purchasing this service by
paying the $9.99 monthly fee, you will get recommendations according to
your taste, explore feature and lot’s more. There is a 30-day trial and
you can try using it soon.
Google+
New Design & Hashtags
Google+ has been revamped with a new
multi-column redesigning. Each column is stuffed with individual posts,
which may look like Pinterest. Smartness gained by Google+ is that
whenever you write on a topic, the servers will understand the topic and
will suggest suitable Hashtags for you. I would and you would have to
say the update is good when compared to the old one because we can get a
compact but great experience with this view. It will not need much
description, just go to your Google+ and see what has changed.
Google+ Hangouts Replaces Babel
It has been rumored that Google was
about to launch a unified chatting platform called Babel. However, in
I/O the name was replaced by Hangouts. The unified messaging platform
from Google is powered by various mobile applications, which includes
exclusive features like Shared Photo Pool and Emoji. Even though
contacts are there, messages have major importance. As a big hit against
Skype, Google has launched group video chatting for FREE. Both Android
and iOS apps are ready for the battle and you can try those anytime.
Google Auto Enhance & Other Editing Tools
Now onwards, whenever you take a
picture and upload it to Google Plus, the servers itself will try to
enhance the photo. Via Auto Enhance, you are allowed to make edits such
as exposure control, red eye removal, wrinkle minimizing etc. Simply
saying, these tools are useful but if you think it’s not, you can switch
back to your own photo.
There is another feature dubbed
as Highlights, which will show only the best photos of your album
dominating the bad ones. Google servers are enough clever to distinguish
blurred, duplicated photos in your album. These features will be
available now and you must have a try. You can make use of that 15 GB
for uploading photos regardless memory will not be used if the photos
have a resolution less than 2048 pixels.
Google Maps
Google Maps has a huge update in this
I/O Conference. One of the major improvements is fused location
providing which will give you a more accurate location of your or your
friends. They also added that the fused location would decrease the
battery usage of Smartphone.
Geofencing is another option available
in the update, which will allow developers to set up location-based
triggers regarding the app. An API called Activity Recognition is also
added with Maps. Using the accelerometer and machine data of Smartphone,
Google Maps can now understand which transportation method you are
using (among walking, driving, cycling).
Google also added that the Maps User Interface is redesigned for Tablet PCs, which bring more compactness to user.
There’s more
We listed out updates under major
categories. However, there are miscellaneous updates made in Google I/O
2013. Let us have a look on them.
Payments as Gmail Attachments
One of the best updates I noticed. The
company will be introducing a new feature in upcoming months, which will
allow users to attach payments in their Gmail email so that the
recipient can redeem it through Google Wallet. This Video can tell you a lot.
Cards in Google Now
Google Now is no all about personal
assistance. Now you can set some cards regarding upcoming activities so
that Google Now can work as a reminder. As a significant feature, real
time transportation facilities will be available for selected cities,
which mean you can get timely alerts according to your preferences. So
do not get excited if Now is giving you an update ‘Missed Last Train’.
Route Recommendations and voice queries
were demoed in the screen. When the presenter asked, “Show me things to
do in Santa Cruz”, relevant results were there regarding her taste as
well as reminders. Just like in SIRI, now you can tell Google Now to
set reminders so that you will be notified in the specific time. This
update must be considered as a truly practical and useful one.
Google Voice Search into Chrome
I love this update and you would too.
Now you can use the so-called voice search in your desktop by means of
Google Chrome. You can do any kind of conversational search in Chrome
and you will get relevant replies. Company has given no word about the
launch of the feature in Chrome. But I’m waiting for it.
Google TV
Google TV has an update, which brings the latest version of Android and Chrome to it. Still, users will have to wait for an official word from Google TV Manufacturers though LG has promised an updated in the quarter of year. But the update is worthy we must say.
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon