At the Google I/O 2021 event, Google announced updates to a number of services, including Maps, Photos, and operating systems, as part of its effort to demonstrate its position in a world that has become increasingly digitally linked.
The announcements made during Google’s virtual I/O developer conference work particularly well for the company’s smartwatch initiatives.
Here are some key highlights from event:
LaMDA conversation technology
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, demonstrated some amazing demos of someone conversing with an AI using Google’s latest LaMDA conversation technology.
By 2030, Google wants to be carbon-free
The company has introduced load shifting to transfer loading to the periods when it is least harmful to the environment. Data centers will be served by a new geothermal plant. It will be heated and cooled using Dragonscale solar panels.
Android 12
Android 12 will feature a brand-new “Material You” design with a slew of new features, according to Google. It has a lot of color and customization options, and the latest mobile OS will also let you change the device colors to fit your wallpaper better. It also includes a new privacy dashboard and several new privacy tools.
Google Photos
Google Photos will now have a feature that allows you to store photos in a password-protected space on your device. When you scroll through the app, these images will not appear. It will be available first on Google Pixel and then later on other Android devices. Google Photos is getting some eye-catching new “cinematic moments,” which combine two photos to produce a moving picture. Google is also introducing new Memories, such as those focused on visual trends in your images.
A new health tool
Google has unveiled a new health tool that allows you to take a snapshot of a problem skin region and answer questions about their skin type and signs to help you recognise skin conditions more accurately. This year, Google plans to launch a pilot of the tool.
Digital car keys
Starting with Android 12, Google will allow “pick Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones” to function as digital car keys. The function supports UWB and NFC, but so far, only BMW has stated that it will support Android’s digital car key.
Google Maps Live View augmented reality tool
Google Maps is undergoing several updates, including the addition of new functionality for its Live View augmented reality tool. Google is also introducing new features to make maps more informative, such as displaying various restaurants at different times of day, pointing out local landmarks if you’re visiting a new city, and displaying how busy a certain area is.
Google’s password manager
Google also confirmed that users would be able to adjust a website’s stored password directly from Google’s password manager. In the United States, it’s starting to roll out to Chrome on Android, and it’ll be widely accessible in the coming months.
Wear OS
Wear OS (now known simply as Wear) and Samsung’s Tizen will be merged into a single platform, according to Google. As a result, applications can launch quicker and have a longer battery life.
Smart Canvas
Google unveiled “smart canvas,” a new project for its Workspace office platform that will make collaborating across products easier. The project will allow you to connect to other Workspace apps, and you can start a Meet video call directly from a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slide.
Online Shopping
Google has teamed up with Shopify to expand the number of merchants available on Google Shopping.
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