The time is nearly upon us. The tickets have long sold out. Google I/O, the search giant's annual developer conference, kicks off today and promises a peek at what Google has in store for 2015.
All About Android in 2014
The 2014 conference (see video below) was notably Android-focused, with an overriding theme of taking Android out of mobile phones and putting it everywhere. Android, Google said, would be in watches, cars, TVs, and even laptops.
Among those, the most anticipated was Android Wear, which brought Android to smartwatches for the first time. But while Android Wear didn't really catch on, theApple Watch isn't exactly on every wrist, either.
I/O 2014 also saw the release of an enormous visual upgrade to the Android OS called Material Design. This emphasized a layered approach to app design, and including interactive elements that mimicked cut paper. It was a huge change for Android, and one that debuted with the release of Android Lollipop, an early version of which, dubbed Android L, was also announced at the 2014 conference.
What to Expect This Year
A quick note before we dive into the speculation is that what follows is just that: speculation. Technology moves fast, and the rumor mill moves faster, so take everything with a grain of salt.
New Android OS: Like last year, a new version of the mobile Android OS is expected to be at the center of Google's announcements. One big change Google may finally be introducing is fine-grained controls for app permissions. Currently, when you download an app you agree to grant the app access to tons of your phone's capabilities and your personal information with a tap. A new approach might follow in the footsteps of iOS and let users pick and choose which features and what information they want to share with apps. If included, this would be a big win for consumers and security advocates who have long criticized Android's permissions system.
But the big question on many salivating lips is, of course, what the next version of Android will be called. Tradition dictates that Android 6 will be named after some kind of sweet confection starting with the letter "M." Reports say that the company's internal name for the new operating system is Macadamia Nut Cookie, but few of Google's internal names ever see the light of day. My money is on Marshmallow, though I wouldn't be surprised if Google simply referred to the OS as Android M until the operating system's formal release this fall, as it did for Lollipop.
Android Pay: 2015 is going to be a big year for payment systems. Apple grabbed a lot of attention with its Apple Pay service, and federal law mandating chip and pin cards will completely change how Americans use credit cards this year. Though Google has long supported in-app payments and NFC transactions through Google Wallet, Ars Technica says that an independent API called Android Pay could make purchases with your Android even easier.
Android in Cars: In 2014, Google debuted Android Auto, which brought Android features into the automobile, provided you had a phone already attached to your car. Android M is rumored to be even more tightly integrated with automobile navigation and entertainment systems, but Google might go even further, and provide a version of Android that's built right in to new vehicles.
Google may hope that an automotive version of Android could do for high-tech cars what it did for smartphones and take the hassle out of constructing interfaces for automobiles. Though car manufacturers have almost universally failed to produce decent navigation and entertainment interfaces for cars, I have a hard time imagining they'd let Google take the driver's seat.
Brillo for IOT: Google is rumored to be building a super-small version of Android that can run on low-power devices. Specifically, the kind of low-memory, Internet-connected devices you might find powering smart thermostats or fridges. Since its purchase of Internet of Things maker Nest, Google has been pretty quiet on the IOT front, but a special version of Android—rumored to be called Brillo—might help bring more devices to market, and bring much needed standardization to the space. Besides putting the call out for an audio expert and cozying up to other device makers, nary a word has been heard from Nest. Perhaps that will change this week.
New Chromecast: Google first introduced itsChromecast streaming stick in 2013, and the platform is ripe for a new upgrade. But at I/O 2014, Google also showed off Android TV, which the company insisted was not a specific device, but a platform for developing in-home entertainment systems. Perhaps it's time these two got together? At the very least, we should expect to see more from Google on how it will be delivering movies and TV shows to your living room.
Everything Else: What more could you want? Perhaps Google Play launching in China, finally bringing first-party app support for Chinese Android devices as Ars reports. Perhaps clearer rules on how long Nexus devices will receive major system updates and security patches, as Android Police expects. Perhaps a new Google Photos app that will offer great backup and editing features, while divorcing Google+.
Potential Surprises
Expecting the unexpected is good, but tricky, advice. Here's a look at some Google I/O 2015 long shots that we just can't rule out.
Virtual Reality: For me, the breakout story of I/O 2014 was Google Cardboard. This flat-packed headset brilliantly brought a virtual reality experience to Android devices using no special hardware outside of two lenses. Since then, Cardboard has seen a handful of new releases, and other Android-based VR systems have grabbed headlines. I/O 2015 could see another in-your-face surprise. From what I've seen of Google's Project Tango, the company clearly has the know-how to do something amazing.
Google Glass: The (in)famous wearable computer system debuted at Google I/O 2012 in spectacular, wing-suited fashion. Since then, the device received mixed reviews and serious social backlash. Google has moved the platform out of its moonshot department and into active development, but also promised more low-key presentations in the future. Of course, how Google Glass could ever be low-key, especially when Luxottica is involved, is a mystery to me.
Self-Driving Cars: Google has been quietly tinkering with its self-driving cars for years, and recently announced that 100 adorable proptypeswill be on the streets this summer. It wouldn't be surprising if one of these autonomous autos rolled onto the Google I/O stage, with or without human help. Or an invitation.
Protests: The most surprising moment of I/O 2014 didn't come from Google, but from the audience. Two protesters, apparently working independently of one another, interrupted the proceedings to loudly object to Google's involvement with alleged killer drones and real-estate deals. Will 2015 see more interruptions?
Google I/O's day one keynote kicks off at 12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT. Be sure to check back for more live coverage and follow @PCMagLive for all the news from San Francisco.
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