What to expect from Google I/O on Wednesday

Google’s annual developer conference, Google I/O, is scheduled for this week and will kick off with a keynote presentation on Wednesday. May 11, at 1 pm ET. Although the conference itself is aimed at helping developers get the most out of Google’s tools and platforms, the keynote address is relevant to a much broader audience, with hardware and software announcements for products launching in the next 12 years. months.

This year, we were able to see a number of hardware announcements during the keynote. There are ongoing rumors of the search giant’s first wearable device, the Pixel Watch, as well as a mid-range counterpart to last year’s Pixel 6 smartphones. We may also see a new pair of true wireless earphones announced. And maybe even some surprises, too.

The software announcements are likely to focus on Google’s major operating systems, such as Android 13, the next major version due for release later this year. Google presenters could also announce new features for other platforms like Wear OS or Android TV. The company’s ever-expanding range of services (think Google Maps or workplace tools like Google Docs) are also likely to get some improvements.

Here’s a full rundown of what we’re looking forward to:

Google could finally announce its Pixel Watch

Rumors that Google is making its own smartwatch have been around forever, but 2022 could finally be the year it actually happens. Has been spec leaks, design leaksand a US Patent and Trademark Office filing. revealing the Pixel Watch name. Most significant, however, is an apparent prototype of the smartwatch. found abandoned in a restaurantprompting a flood of photos to be posted online.

Between all the leaks, we’re starting to get a pretty good idea of ​​what form the Pixel Watch will take. The big question now is whether all of Google’s investments (which include spend billions on Fitbit) can create something that is capable of presenting a real challenge to Apple’s dominance.

Image: Steve Hemmerstoffer/ 91Mobiles

A new mid-range Pixel 6A

For the past three years, Google has followed up each of its flagship Pixel smartphones with a more affordable version with stripped-down specs. This year, it’s the Pixel 6’s turn, but rumors suggest the Pixel 6A could be a bit different from previous A-series phones.

While phones like the Pixel 4A and 5A combined similar camera features to their flagship counterparts with less powerful processors, reports suggest the Pixel 6A could change this approach. AN report 9to5Google Last year he suggested that the new phone could have the same Tensor processor as the Pixel 6 but a downgraded 12-megapixel main camera sensor instead of the Pixel 6’s 50-megapixel sensor.

An announcement at Google I/O would come a bit earlier than the August launches we’ve typically seen for Google’s mid-range phones. But timing of a recent FCC filing suggests that his launch could be just around the corner.

Maybe some professional wireless headphones

This rumor is less certain, but a recent leak from jon prosser suggested that Google is preparing to launch a new set of wireless earphones called the Pixel Buds Pro. Not much is known about their potential features and specifications, but the use of the word “Pro” in the name of a set of earphones is used. usually to show that they support active noise cancellation, which would be a first for a pair of Google headphones. true wireless earphones.

Google currently only sells one pair of true wireless earbuds, the Pixel Buds A-serieswhat were they originally announced as a more affordable counterpart to the second-gen Pixel Buds. But with the Pixel Buds now discontinued, Google only sells the affordable entry into the lineup. Adding a Pro brand entry would be a natural change.

Image: Google

A lot of details about Android 13

On the software side, there’s Android 13, the next major version of Google’s mobile operating system. Technically it has already been released in beta — offering small glimpses of Google’s plans for the update — but it won’t be until I/O that we’ll get a full picture of Google’s overall vision for Android 13.

So far, it looks like Android 13 is set to continue much of the work Google started with Android 12. It’s likely that last year’s customizable themes (marked Material You) will expand to cover more user interface elements in the operating systemand google continues restrict which aspects of the operating system Android apps have access to by default. Any news about major new initiatives will likely come during Google’s keynote.

And maybe, just maybe, some folding news

Android 13 isn’t the only major update Google has for its mobile operating system this year. There’s also Android 12L, a new version of the operating system optimized for tablets and folding devices. We know that it is due to its launch sometime this year and will ship on devices from Samsung, Lenovo, and Microsoft. I/O would be a good time for the search giant to offer more concrete details.

In addition to software, Google has long been rumored to be working on one either two own folding devices. At one point there were rumors that these were going to launch last yearBut, given the lack of leaks recently, it doesn’t look like an announcement is imminent. After all, foldable phones are still niche products outside of China, even though Samsung is now on its third generation of foldable devices.

Signs of a new Nest Hub?

Since it’s only been a year since Google released its latest Nest Hub smart display, it seems premature to expect a follow-up. But a report from 9to5Google since March He claims we could see one with a detachable screen that could be used as a tablet sometime this year. The form factor looks like it would be ideal as a smart home controller and would also explain the renovated attention Google is paying tablets.

But with a vaguely rumored launch date of “2022,” there’s no guarantee that Google will be ready to show off the new device this week, and that’s if it even exists in the first place.

Image: Eve Blaise / 91Mobiles

As well as updates for your other platforms.

Of course, Android is not the only operating system managed by Google. It also has Wear OS for smartwatches, which is sure to get some stage attention if Google ends up announcing its Pixel Watch this week. Even if it isn’t, the filing comes a year after Google announced it would merge its platform with Samsung’s Tizen. (The resulting software went on to appear on the galaxy 4 clock.) And it seems likely that Google has more to add on how development is going.

There’s also its Android TV and Google TV software, which are designed for, you guessed it, TVs. And we know they have some new features this year because one of their product managers said so much back in January. Support for home fitness workouts is apparently something the company is interested in, along with offering more smart home controls and video conferencing services.

Expect a host of software and service updates from Google

Hardware and platform-specific announcements aside, a Google I/O keynote wouldn’t be complete without the search giant announcing updates to a handful of its many apps and services. Last year, for example, we saw a locked folder feature announced for Google Photos, updates to Augmented reality view of Google Mapsand a new smart canvas initiative for its office productivity software that is designed to make its various services more interconnected.

Given the sheer variety of Google’s software offerings, it’s hard to make any specific predictions about which one will grab the stage this year. But I guess Google Workspace is likely to feature prominently. The “smart canvas” has already resulted in some slippery new features for Google Docs, and I suspect this is just the beginning of Google’s plans to overhaul its office software for remote work.

With a few surprises thrown in for good measure

Away from the more typical product announcements, Google always has a few surprises up its sleeve for I/O. Last year, he revealed a experiment called Project Starline, effectively a video chat booth designed to create the impression that you’re sitting directly across from someone who could be hundreds of miles away. Along with other AR/VR projects we’ve heard about (like the Project Iris augmented reality headset,) is not yet a real product and might not be until 2024 at the earliest. But Google is often keen to show off these kinds of early R&D projects, and this year is unlikely to be an exception.