What to anticipate from Google I/O on Wednesday

Google’s annual developer convention, Google I/O, is scheduled to happen this week, kicking off with a gap presentation on Wednesday, May 11th, at 1PM ET. Although the convention itself is pitched at serving to builders get probably the most out of Google’s instruments and platforms, the keynote is related for a wider viewers, with {hardware} and software program bulletins for merchandise due for launch within the subsequent 12 months.

This 12 months, we may see plenty of {hardware} bulletins through the keynote. There are ongoing rumors concerning the search big’s first wearable, the Pixel Watch, in addition to a midrange counterpart to final 12 months’s Pixel 6 smartphones. It’s potential we may additionally see a brand new pair of true wi-fi earbuds introduced. And perhaps even some surprises, too.

Software bulletins are prone to deal with Google’s main working techniques like Android 13, the following main model due for launch later this 12 months. Google’s presenters may additionally announce new options for different platforms like Wear OS or Android TV. The firm’s ever-increasing vary of providers (assume Google Maps or office instruments like Google Docs) are additionally prone to obtain some enhancements.

Here’s a full rundown of what we’re anticipating:

Google would possibly lastly announce its Pixel Watch

Rumors of Google making its personal smartwatch have been round perpetually, however 2022 may lastly be the 12 months it truly occurs. There have been spec leaks, design leaks, and a US Patent and Trademark Office submitting revealing the Pixel Watch title. Most considerably, nonetheless, is an obvious prototype of the smartwatch discovered deserted in a restaurant, resulting in a flood of images being posted on-line.

Between all of the leaks, we’re beginning to get a fairly good concept of what type the Pixel Watch will take. The huge query now could be whether or not all of Google’s investments (which embody spending billions on Fitbit) can create one thing that’s capable of current an actual problem to Apple’s dominance.

Image: Steve Hemmerstoffer / 91Mobiles

A brand new midrange Pixel 6A

For the previous three years, Google has adopted up every of its flagship Pixel smartphones with a extra reasonably priced model with decreased specs. This 12 months, it’s the Pixel 6’s flip, however rumors recommend the Pixel 6A could be somewhat completely different from earlier A-series handsets.

While telephones just like the Pixel 4A and 5A paired comparable digicam options to their flagship counterparts with much less highly effective processors, reviews recommend the Pixel 6A may flip this method. A report from 9to5Google final 12 months prompt the brand new cellphone may characteristic the identical Tensor processor because the Pixel 6 however a downgraded 12-megapixel major digicam sensor as a substitute of the Pixel 6’s 50-megapixel sensor.

An announcement at Google I/O would come somewhat sooner than the August launches we’ve usually seen for Google’s midrange telephones. But the timing of a current FCC submitting suggests its launch may very well be simply across the nook.

Maybe some professional wi-fi earbuds

This rumor is much less sure, however a current leak from Jon Prosser prompt that Google is making ready to launch a brand new set of true wi-fi earbuds referred to as the Pixel Buds Pro. Not a lot is thought about their potential options and specs, however using the phrase “Pro” within the title of a set of earbuds is often used to indicate they assist energetic noise-cancellation — which might be a primary from a pair of Google true wi-fi earbuds.

Google at the moment solely sells one pair of true wi-fi earbuds, the Pixel Buds A-Series, which had been initially introduced as a extra reasonably priced counterpart to the second-generation Pixel Buds. But with the Pixel Buds now discontinued, Google is simply promoting the reasonably priced entry within the lineup. Adding a Pro-branded entry can be a pure shift.

Image: Google

A number of particulars about Android 13

On the software program facet, there’s Android 13, the following main model of Google’s cell working system. It’s technically already been launched in beta — providing small glimpses of Google’s plans for the replace — nevertheless it gained’t be till I/O that we’ll get a full concept of Google’s general imaginative and prescient for Android 13.

So far, it appears Android 13 is about to proceed a whole lot of the work that Google began with Android 12. Last 12 months’s customizable themes (branded as Material You) look prone to increase to cowl extra UI parts within the working system, and Google is continuous to limit what facets of the working system Android apps have entry to by default. Any information on main new initiatives will possible emerge throughout Google’s keynote.

And perhaps, simply perhaps, some foldable information

Android 13 isn’t the one main replace Google has coming to its cell OS this 12 months. There’s additionally Android 12L, a brand new model of the OS optimized for tablets and foldable units. We understand it’s on account of launch in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months and can ship on units from Samsung, Lenovo, and Microsoft. I/O can be a great time for the search big to supply extra concrete particulars.

As nicely as software program, Google has lengthy been rumored to be engaged on one or two foldable units of its personal. At one stage there have been rumors that these had been going to launch final 12 months, however, given the dearth of leaks lately, it doesn’t really feel like an announcement is imminent. Foldable telephones are, in spite of everything, nonetheless very area of interest merchandise exterior of China, regardless of Samsung now being in its third era of foldable units.

Signs of a brand new Nest Hub?

Given it’s solely been a 12 months since Google launched its final Nest Hub good show, it appears untimely to anticipate a follow-up. But a report from 9to5Google from March claims we may see one that includes a removable display that may very well be used as a pill in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months. The type issue seems like it might be perfect as a wise dwelling controller and would additionally clarify the renewed consideration Google is paying to tablets.

But with a obscure rumored launch date of “2022,” there’s no assure Google will probably be prepared to indicate off the brand new gadget this week, and that’s if it even exists within the first place.

Image: Evan Blass / 91Mobiles

Plus updates for its different platforms

Of course, Android isn’t the one working system that Google manages. It additionally has Wear OS for smartwatches, which can nearly actually obtain some onstage consideration if Google does find yourself asserting its Pixel Watch this week. Even if it doesn’t, the presentation comes a 12 months after Google introduced it might be merging its platform with Samsung’s Tizen. (The ensuing software program went on to look on the Galaxy Watch 4.) And it appears possible that Google may have extra so as to add on how growth goes.

There’s additionally its Android TV and Google TV software program, that are designed for — you guessed it — TVs. And we all know they’ve some new options coming this 12 months as a result of one in every of its product managers mentioned as a lot again in January. Support for dwelling health exercises is seemingly one thing the corporate is taken with together with providing extra good dwelling controls and video conferencing providers.

Expect a plethora of Google software program and repair updates

Away from {hardware} and platform-specific bulletins, a Google I/O keynote wouldn’t be full with out the search big asserting updates for a handful of its quite a few apps and providers. Last 12 months, for instance, we noticed a locked folder characteristic introduced for Google Photos, updates to Google Maps’ augmented actuality view, and a brand new “smart canvas” initiative for its workplace productiveness software program that’s designed to make its numerous providers extra interconnected.

Given the massive breadth of Google’s software program choices, it’s troublesome to make particular predictions about which ones will get consideration on stage this 12 months. But I’d guess that Google Workspace is prone to characteristic prominently. “Smart canvas” has already resulted in some slick new options for Google Docs, and I think that that is simply the beginning of Google’s plans to overtake its workplace software program for distant working.

With some surprises thrown in for good measure

Away from extra typical product bulletins, Google all the time has a couple of surprises up its sleeve for I/O. Last 12 months, it revealed an experiment referred to as Project Starline, successfully a video chat sales space designed to create the impression that you just’re sitting instantly reverse somebody who could be tons of of miles away. Along with different AR / VR initiatives we’ve heard about (just like the Project Iris augmented actuality headset,) it’s not an actual product but and may not be till 2024 on the earliest. But Google is usually eager to indicate off these sorts of early R&D initiatives, and this 12 months is unlikely to be an exception.