Google is celebrating the anniversary of Street View on Google Maps with the release of new features and a brand new camera. To start with, the company is bringing the iconic Street View feature that encompasses 220 billion images in over 100 countries and territories, to mobile. With the new update, Android and iOS users can look at historical Street View images from previous years on the Google Maps mobile app. Google has also unveiled a new camera to collect more Street View data. The new device weighs less than 15 pounds and will be available alongside Google’s Street View cars and Trekker backpacks starting next year.
The search giant via a blog post on Tuesday detailed new features that Google Maps is rolling out to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Street View. The Street View feature is getting upgrades and is coming to Android and iOS platforms allowing users to explore historical Street View images from previous years on the Google Maps mobile app. While viewing Street View imagery of a place, users can tap anywhere on the photo to see details about the location. Then tap See more dates to travel back to see the historical imagery Google published of that place when the feature launched back in 2007.
Additionally, the company is piloting a new portable camera to capture high-quality images of traditionally under-mapped areas like the Amazon jungle. The new camera has a compatible design and it weighs less than 15 pounds. According to Google, it is roughly the size of a house cat. It will be fully rolled out next year. It comes with a modular design and options for customisation and can be attached to any vehicle with a roof rack and operated right from a mobile device.
The new Street View camera will sit with Google’s current fleet of Street View cars and Trekker backpacks to help users gather high-quality images of areas like remote islands with more details including lane markings or potholes.
To mark the 15 years of Street View, Google is allowing users to customise the chevron icon that represents their vehicle when in navigation mode to a celebratory Street View car. Furthermore, the Pegman indicator will be dressed up in a birthday hat and balloons. This is only available on the desktop service.
Match Group said on Friday that Alphabet’s Google will allow the dating apps maker to offer users a choice in payment systems, eliminating Google’s control over user data.
Match sued Google in May, calling the action a “last resort” to prevent Tinder and its other apps from being booted off the Google Play store for refusing to share up to 30 percent of sales.
The company said it has withdrawn its request for a temporary restraining order against Google after some concessions, including eliminating its complete control over user data.
Match’s lawsuit came against the backdrop of ongoing cases brought by Fortnite maker Epic Games, dozens of US state attorneys general and others in targeting Google’s allegedly anticompetitive conduct related to the Play store.
The development comes almost 10 days after Google rejected an app store monopoly suit filed by Tinder parent Match Group, saying it is a “self-interested” campaign putting money ahead of user safety.
Google’s response came a day after Match filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco accusing the tech titan of abusing control of the Play Store that sells digital content for Android-powered phones.
“This is just a continuation of Match Group’s self-interested campaign to avoid paying for the significant value they receive from the mobile platforms they’ve built their business on,” a Google spokesperson told AFP.
The litigation comes as part of an ongoing battle by Match, Epic Games and others to force Google parent Alphabet and iPhone maker Apple to loosen their grips on their respective app stores.
Match’s filing came after Google modified Play Store rules to require its family of apps to use the Internet giant’s payment system, which collects fees of up to 30 percent on transactions, court paperwork said.
Google has made it clear that it will remove Match apps from the Play Store if they do not comply with the rule, Match said in the filing, which described such punishment as a “death knell.”
“This is a case about the strategic manipulation of markets, broken promises, and abuse of power,” Match said in the suit.
Google countered that Match is free to make its apps available elsewhere online, including on its own website.
While the App Store is the only gateway for content to get onto Apple mobile devices, users of Android-powered smartphones or tablets can download apps at their own risk from online venues other than Google’s Play Store.
Match’s lawsuit contends that despite having options, users get content for Android devices from the Play Store more than 90 percent of the time.
Match apps offered in the Play Store qualify to pay fees of just 15 percent on subscriptions, according to the Google spokesperson.
The North American smartphone market has witnessed a small 4 percent increase in shipments in the first quarter of 2022, as per a report by market research firm Canalys. Apple became the primary driver in this case, which grew 19 percent to achieve a 51 percent market share in Q1 2022, while Samsung secured the second spot. Motorola took third place in this stream, whereas TCL and Google managed to get into the top fourth and fifth positions, respectively during the quarter.
A report from Canalys says that the North American smartphone shipments reached 39 million units in the first quarter of 2022, marking a 3.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth.
Photo Credit: Catalys
Apple was the largest contributor to smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2022 with 19.9 million shipments that helped it achieve a market share of 51 percent, the report states. Samsung shipped 10.5 million units taking the second spot with a market share of 27 percent. The South Korean brand saw a year-on-year growth of just 1 percent.
Motorola took the third spot in terms of smartphone shipments in North America. The company shipped 4 million products and recorded a 56 percent annual growth with a 10 percent market share.
On the other hand, TCL and Google captured the fourth and fifth spots in the North American smartphone shipments market with 4 percent and 3 percent market share, respectively in Q1 2022.
“High inflation places an enormous amount of pressure on carriers in North America as rate increases will be necessary,” said Brian Lynch, Canalys Analyst. “Heavy discounting and high trade-in values are being used to lure in and retain customers for the region’s biggest telcos, easing pressure on the high-end smartphone market. Supply will remain a key bottleneck for the top vendors in the upcoming quarter, but North America will continue to be a priority and is likely to maintain healthy supply levels. The North American market is well placed to avoid any significant volatility in shipments despite the uncertain outlook of its economy,” Lynch further added.
The iPhone 13’s high performance is being considered as the powering background for the Apple’s strong shipment growth in the North American smartphone segment in Q1 2022, according to the report.
Google has unveiled the Protected by Android branding for security and privacy on Android. First seen last week in screenshots at Google I/O, the Android YouTube channel has now uploaded a short video that features the branding, on how Android is keeping your information safe. Some platform and ecosystem features of Android were also highlighted in the video including Verified by Play Protect, monthly security updates, and location access permissions. The video also provides the link to the website of Protected by Android. Google recently introduced Privacy Guide, which is a step-by-step guided tour of some existing privacy and security controls in Chrome.
Protected by Android appears to be the latest branding by Google for privacy and security on Android. The Protected by Android video was uploaded on the Android YouTube channel by the tech giant earlier today. The video description says, “Android is all about keeping you and your information safe so you can focus on what matters most. From detecting and defeating bad apps to helping you control your personal information, you’re always protected by Android.”
The 50-second-long video starts with an animation of the green Android transforming into a green shield with a checkmark. The rest of the video is a compilation of images of people on their smartphones along with captions. The first caption says that “Whatever you’re up to, you’ve got peace of mind when you’re protected by Android.”
Three platform and ecosystem features are particularly highlighted in the video. They include Verified by Play Protect with the caption, “You’re safe from malware and harmful apps”, monthly security updates with the quote, “Defended by non-stop security”, and location access permissions along with the caption, “And in control of your personal information”.
The video ends by saying, ”Android has you covered so you can focus on what matters along with the check-marked shield morphing back into the green Android. The description of the video gives you the link to protectedbyandroid.com, which redirects you to android.com/safety.
Google last week at I/O 2022 had revealed the upcoming unified Security & Privacy settings page of Android 13 will feature the Protected by Android branding, which can be seen beneath the Scan device button and under the Uninstall harmful app button.
Photo Credit: Google Security Blog
Google recently introduced Privacy Guide, which is a step-by-step guided tour of some existing privacy and security controls in Chrome. The Privacy Guide is meant to enable users to easily understand what happens when a particular setting is on or off.
Google Pixel Watch was unveiled alongside the Pixel 6a during the I/O 2022 event this week as the company’s first smartwatch. Google confirmed that the wearable will be available in the US starting this fall, but ahead of the official launch, a new report suggests that Google Pixel Watch will pack a four-year-old processor. The Samsung Exynos 9110 SoC, which debuted back in 2018 with the Galaxy Watch, is expected to power the wearable. The Google Pixel Watch will come in a circular domed design with swappable wrist bands. It will also feature Fitbit integration for enhanced fitness tracking support.
A report by 9to5google has suggested a key specification of the Google Pixel Watch. As per the report, the smartwatch will be powered by the Samsung Exynos 9110 SoC, a chip that debuted with the original Galaxy Watch in 2018. Google is most likely using the older chip because the Pixel Watch has been in development for a long time, notes the report. The Exynos 9110 SoC is a 10nm chip and it features two Cortex-A53 cores.
Recently, at I/O 2022, Google teased the Pixel Watch without confirming the launch date and price details. The device will run the latest Wear OS and features a circular display with minimal bezels and curved glass protection. It also has a stainless-steel build.
Google has packed customisable, swappable wrist bands on the Pixel Watch. Further, the wearable is confirmed to run on an improved Wear OS UI with more fluid navigation and smart notifications.
The Pixel Watch comes integrated with Fitbit and supports Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Wallet. It can be used as a remote for compatible smart home devices using the Home app for Wear OS.
It will also offer heart rate tracking and sleep monitoring. Users can also see their active zone minutes when working out and track their stats and progress against different fitness goals.
The Pixel Watch will also work with the Find My Device app to help users locate their misplaced Pixel phone, earbuds, or any other supported devices on a map available on their wrist.
Google has announced that Android Auto — the platform which allows drivers to access music, media and navigation apps on car infotainment system screens, and cars that have Google built-in — will be getting a string of new features later this year. Android Auto features include a new user interface, and support for suggested responses that are based on Google Assistant’s contextual suggestions. For those who have cars that have Google built-in will be able to enjoy watching videos through the YouTube app in the coming months.
As per the announcement made by Google at I/O 2022, Android Auto will get a new user interface that will essentially put all the important functionalities that drivers prioritise in their cars — navigation, media and communication — on one single screen. Google says that this change will help in making the driving experience safer. The new look, which is expected to roll out later this summer, will show maps, media player and communications apps on the same page.
The apps will be placed adjacent to each other in a split screen mode. Google says that the new Android Auto interface design is able to adapt to different screen sizes — widescreen, portrait and more. This will mitigate the need to return to the home screen and/or scroll through a list of apps in order to open a desired functionality.
In the current scenario, it becomes difficult for a person, who is using Maps for navigation on Android Auto, to return to the home screen and open another app, say WhatsApp for checking messages. By doing this, the Maps navigation interface goes in the background and the chances of missing an important turn are increased. With navigation and media ‘always on’, the chances of missing a turn while shuffling through other apps will be reduced.
In the case of the second feature, Google seems to have found a way to further integrate the power of Google Assistant in Android Auto. With the virtual assistant’s contextual suggestions, drivers can now choose suggested replies for messages, sharing arrival times with a friend, or even playing recommended music more efficiently in the car. This feature will be available alongside the already present voice replies functionality.
For cars that come with Google built-in, the company is preparing to roll out two new functionalities in the coming months. Building on its previous announcement of bringing YouTube to cars with Google built-in, Google said more video streaming apps, including Tubi and Epix Now, will join the queue. This will help drivers to watch videos directly from their car display. Although the details are not clear, it seems that drivers will only be able to watch videos when their cars are parked, and not while they are driving.
The second feature for cars that have Google built-in is giving the drivers the ability to browse the web directly from your car display, and cast their own content from their smartphones to their car screen.
Google Pixel Watch debuted during the I/O 2022 consumer keynote on Wednesday as the company’s first smartwatch — quite a long time after being a part of rumour mill. The new offering comes in a circular domed design, unlike the Apple Watch that features a rectangular display, that carries rounded edges. The Pixel Watch also carries distinct colour options and a list of fitness tracking features. In addition to the Pixel Watch, Google unveiled the Pixel Buds Pro as its latest truly wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds — countering the likes of Apple’s AirPods Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Pro.
Google Pixel Watch, Pixel Buds Pro price
Google Pixel Watch price is yet to be revealed. However, Google said at the keynote that the smartwatch will be available in the US starting this fall.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro, on the other hand, are priced at $199 (roughly Rs. 15,400). The earbuds come in four distinct colours — Charcoal, Coral, Fog, and Lemongrass — and will go on pre-orders in the US starting July 21.
Details on the launch of the Pixel Watch and Pixel Buds Pro in India are yet to be revealed.
Google Pixel Watch specifications
The Google Pixel Watch runs the latest Wear OS and features the circular display with minimal bezels and a curved glass protection that brings the pebble-like domed design. It comes tactile crown — similar to Apple Watch’s Digital Crown — and has a stainless steel build. The Pixel Watch also comes with customisable, swappable wrist bands that can seamlessly attach. The watch, though, doesn’t seem to support any regular 22mm straps. It also sounds familiar if you have seen an Apple Watch that supports proprietary-style bands.
On the software side of things, Google said that the Pixel Watch runs an improved Wear OS UI with more fluid navigation and smart notifications. It makes sense for Google to deliver a distinct experience on its own device over other smartwatches, so you may notice a list of differences over other Wear OS models.
“It’s all designed to be tappable voice enabled and glanceable so you can be more present at home, at work or on the go,” said Rick Osterloh, SVP, Devices and Services at Google, during the keynote.
The Pixel Watch is also integrated with Google’s offerings including Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Wallet to deliver an enhanced experience. Google has also made the Pixel Watch as a remote for compatible smart home devices using the Home app for Wear OS. This lets you adjust your thermostat or turn on or off lights directly from your wrist.
Google has additionally integrated Fitbit within the Pixel Watch to deliver “industry-leading health and fitness experiences” out-of-the-box. Google said that the watch provides continuous heart rate and sleep tracking. Users can also see their active zone minutes when working out and track their stats and progress against different fitness goals.
The Pixel Watch also works with the Find My Device app to help users locate their misplaced Pixel phone, earbuds, or any other supported devices on a map available on their wrist.
Google Pixel Buds Pro specifications
The Google Pixel Buds Pro come with active noise cancellation (ANC) that uses a new silent seal technology that is claimed to help compensate for audio leakage and maximise the amount of noise that has been cancelled. This makes the new earbuds a significant upgrade over the existing Pixel Buds and Pixel Buds A-Series as both don’t have ANC support. The Pixel Buds Pro also include a transparency mode that helps users hear ambient sound. Later this year, Google has also promised to update the Pixel Buds Pro with spatial audio support to take on Apple’s AirPods Pro.
Google Pixel Buds Pro come with ANC and transparency mode Photo Credit: Google
Detailing ANC, Google said the earbuds carry beam forming microphones that use noise suppression algorithms trained with machine learning to suppress wind traffic and other background noise. The earbuds are also powered by a custom audio chip that is claimed to deliver power efficiency to make the hardware last for up to 11 hours of listening time or seven hours with ANC turned on.
Similar to existing Pixel Buds and other Pixel devices, the Pixel Buds Pro come with a hands-free Google Assistant experience. You can use the experience to translate in 40 languages or ask the Assistant to get walking directions, without requiring to physically use your phone.
Google has bundled the Pixel Buds Pro earbuds with a charging case that has USB Type-C for wired charging as well as Qi wireless charging. The buds also include support for multipoint connectivity to let users connect them with “compatible phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs” simultaneously and switch between audio streams while on-the-go. Users will also be able to find their Pixel Buds Pro using Find My Device in case they lose the earbud.
Connectivity-wise, the Pixel Buds Pro have Bluetooth v5.0. The earbuds can also be paired with any Bluetooth v4.0+ device, including Android and iOS devices as well as tablets and laptops.
The bundled case has IPX2 splash resistant design, while the earbuds have IPX4 sweat resistance. The earbuds also include capacitive touch sensors for tap and swipe gesture support. The charging case support sFast Charge to deliver up to one hour of listening time with five minutes of charging. It also brings a total listening time of up to 31 hours (without ANC).
Google Maps is getting an all-new experience called ‘immersive view’, to deliver an enhanced digital model of buildings and streets around the world. The new mode uses advances in computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver a rich viewing experience to users, Google said while announcing the new feature at its I/O 2022 consumer keynote on Wednesday. Google also announced the second beta of Android 13, its upcoming operating system. The company also announced updates coming to Google Workspace including automated transcriptions, portrait light, and portrait restore on Google Meet. Additionally, there were announcements related to Google Assistant, YouTube, skin tone representation, and others that you will find in detail here.
Google Maps updates
With the ‘immersive view’, Google Maps help provide the rich view of a neighborhood, landmark, restaurant, or a popular venue you search. It fuses together billions of Street View and aerial images alongside advances in computer vision and AI to provide the rich, digital model of virtual maps, the company said.
“Whether you’re traveling somewhere new or scoping out hidden local gems, immersive view will help you make the most informed decisions before you go,” Google said.
In addition to the immersive experience, the new view includes the time slider that users can use to even check out what the area looks like at different times of day and in various weather conditions. Users can also glide down to street level to look at nearby restaurants and see information such as live busyness and nearby traffic.
‘Immersive view’ uses Google Cloud to offer the digital view to users. So, it is device agnostic and can work with any phone and device, Google said. The experience has initially started rolling out in Los Angeles, London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo.
Google Maps is also expanding eco-friendly routing to more places including Europe. It was launched in the US and Canada in the recent past and has been used by people to travel 86 billion miles, saving over an estimated half a million metric tons of carbon emissions, Google claimed.
Further, Google is making its Live View available to developers through the new ARCore Geospatial API. It brings augmented reality (AR) to display arrows and directions on top of real-world viewing to help users navigate indoor areas such as airports, malls, and train stations.
Android 13 beta 2 release
Among other announcements, Google at the I/O 2022 consumer keynote announced the release of Android 13 beta 2. The update will carry a list of improvements and enhancements over the first beta release that debuted for select Pixel devices last month. Google also announced features including a unified Security & Privacy settings page, new media control featuring album’s artwork, and a new photo picture that lets users to select the exact photos and videos that they want to grant access to. Android 13 will also include optimisations for tablets, including better multitasking capabilities and features including an updated taskbar with the ability to switch the single tablet view into a split screen.
Android 13 beta 2 has been released Photo Credit: Google
Google Meet updates
Google Meet is getting the portrait restore that uses Google AI to help improve video quality and add enhancements even if a user is sitting in a dimly lit room and using an old webcam or have a poor Wi-Fi connectivity. Google said that the feature can help enhance video automatically.
In addition to the portrait restore feature, Google Meet is getting portrait light that is claimed to use machine learning to simulate studio-quality lighting in video feed. Users can also adjust the lighting position and brightness.
Google Meet is also getting de-reverberation that helps filter out echos in spaces with hard surfaces using machine learning. The company claims that the feature helps you sound “like you’re in a mic-ed up conference room…even if you’re in your basement.”
Additionally, Google Meet is getting live sharing to sync content being shared in a virtual call and allow participants to control the media. Developers can also use live sharing APIs to integrate Meet into their apps.
Google is also bringing automated transcription later this year and meeting summarisation next year to enhance conversations on Google Meet.
Google Workspace updates
Google Workspace is getting Google Meet’s automated transcriptions to help users transcribe conversations directly in their documents. Google is also extending auto-summaries to Spaces to provide a digest of long conversations. Auto-summaries were introduced on Google Docs earlier this year.
Google Workspace is getting new updates soon Photo Credit: Google
Further, Google is adding security protections that were a part of Gmail to Google Slides, Docs, and Sheets. The company claimed that these protections will help users prevent from opening documents containing phishing links and malware using automatic alerts.
Google Assistant updates
At the I/O 2022 consumer keynote, Google announced Look and Talk that is rolling out to in the US on Nest Hub Max to help people access Google Assistant without saying the “OK Google” or “Hey Google” hotword. Users will just need to look at the screen and then ask for what they need. The feature uses Face Match and Voice Match features based on machine learning and AI algorithms to recognise users and quickly enable voice interactions. Google said that the feature will be available as an opt-in offering.
Once enabled, you can use Look and Talk to interact with Google Assistant by just looking at the screen of your Nest Hub Max.
“Video from these interactions is processed entirely on-device, so it isn’t shared with Google or anyone else,” the company said.
Google also noted that the feature work across a range of skin tones and for people with diverse backgrounds.
In addition to the Look and Talk feature, Google is expanding quick phrases to Nest Hub Max to let users skip saying “Hey Google” for their most common daily tasks. This means that you will be able to turn on the lights in your room by saying, “Turn on the living room lights,” without saying the hotword first.
Google Assistant is also getting new speech and language models that can help understand the nuances of human speech — like when someone is pausing, but not finished speaking, the company said.
YouTube updates
Google at the I/O keynote announced that it is bringing auto-translated captions on YouTube to mobile users to help users view video captions in as many as 16 languages. Google is also bringing auto-translated captions to all Ukrainian YouTube content next month.
Skin tone updates
Google is releasing a new skin tone scale called the Monk Skin Tone (MST) Scale based on the research conducted by Harvard professor and sociologist Dr. Ellis Monk. This will help bring more inclusive of the spectrum of skin tones, the company said.
The new 10-shade skin tone scale will be integrated within various Google products over the coming months. Google is also releasing the scale openly to allow others in the tech industry to incorporate a vast range of skin tones into their experiences.
One of the key Google products that will start using the MST Scale will be Google Search. It will start showing users an option to help users further refine results by skin tone. Creators, brands and publishers will also be able to use an inclusive schema to label their content with attributes like skin tone, hair colour and hair texture.
Google Photos will also use the MST Scale to allow users to enhance their photos using a new set of Real Tone filters. These filters will be rolling out on Google Photos across Android, iOS, and the Web in the coming weeks.
Google Pixel 6a was launched at Google I/O — the company’s annual developer conference — on Wednesday. The smartphone is powered by the company’s in-house Tensor processor and a Titan M2 security coprocessor, paired with 6GB of RAM. The Google Pixel 6a sports a 6.1-inch display with always-on support. It is equipped with a 12.2-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera, along with an 8-megapixel selfie camera. The smartphone is claimed to offer over 24 hours of battery life, and up to 72 hours backup with an included extreme battery saver mode. A more affordable model when compared to the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, the Pixel 6a will also get a minimum of five years of security updates, according to Google.
Meanwhile, Google also teased the design of its upcoming Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones arriving later this year, with the next generation of its Tensor SoC, an aluminium camera module, and Android 13. The company also revealed that it is working on a Pixel branded tablet that will also be powered by Google’s processor, expected to launch in 2023.
Google Pixel 6a pricing, availability
Google Pixel 6a is priced at $449 (roughly Rs. 34,800). The smartphone will be sold in Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage colour options and will be available for pre-order in the US starting July 21, according to the company. The company is yet to announce pricing and availability for the Google Pixel 6a in other markets, including India. However, the company has confirmed that the Pixel 6a will indeed make its way to India, later this year.
Google Pixel 6a specifications
The Google Pixel 6a runs on Android 12 out-of-the-box and features a 6.1-inch full-HD+ (1,080 x 2,400 pixels) OLED display with 20:9 aspect ratio. The display also features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection and 60Hz refresh rate. It is powered by an octa-core Google Tensor SoC and a Titan M2 security coprocessor, paired with 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM.
For photos and videos, the Google Pixel 6a comes with a dual rear camera setup that includes a 12.2-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.7 aperture lens, and a 12-megapixel secondary sensor with an ultra-wide-angle camera with an f/2.2 aperture lens. For selfies and video chats, the Google Pixel 6a features an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture lens. The rear camera offers up to 4K video recording at 30fps while the front camera offers up to 1080p video recording support at 30fps.
Google Pixel 6a comes with 128GB of inbuilt storage. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB Type-C port. Sensors on board include an accelerometer, ambient light, barometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor, along with a an in-display fingerprint sensor for biometric authentication. Google has provided a 4,410mAh battery on the Pixel 6a that comes with fast charging support.
Pixel 7 series, Pixel tablet teased
At the Google I/O keynote event, the company also teased the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro — its upcoming flagship smartphones that are set to arrive later this year. The smartphones will be powered by the next generation of Google’s Tensor SoC, and will run on Android 13 out-of-the-box.
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will launch later this year Photo Credit: YouTube/ Google
Google also briefly showed off the smartphone’s design, including the bar-shaped rear camera module, which will be made of aluminum, instead of glass like the current Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro models. For photos and videos, the Pixel 7 will feature a dual camera setup, while the Pixel 7 Pro will feature a triple rear camera setup.
Google also teased an Android-powered tablet which is expected in 2023 Photo Credit: YouTube/ Google
Alongside the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, the company also announced that it is working on an Android-powered tablet that is expected to launch in 2023. Google’s Senior Vice President of Devices and Services Rick Osterloh revealed that the tablet will be powered by a Tensor SoC. Other details of the tablet are expected to be revealed in coming months.
Google at the I/O 2022 consumer keynote on Wednesday announced a series of updates aiming at Wear OS and Android tablets that are designed to upgrade user experiences across devices — not just limited to phones. One of the most important updates coming to Wear OS is the quick access to Emergency SOS. Google is also bringing Google Assistant support to smartwatches. Additionally, tablets based on Android are getting updated Google apps. Google separately introduced updated Google Wallet on Android to support things such as payment cards, transit and event tickets, and even student IDs.
By bringing Emergency SOS to Wear OS, Google has started allowing its users instantly contact their trusted family member or call an emergency service directly from their smartwatch. The Mountain View, California-headquartered company said that it is working with various partners to enable the new feature.
Wear OS devices are getting the Emergency SOS alert feature Photo Credit: Google
Google also talked about the Emergency Location Services (ELS) feature that is designed to help first responders to locate you when you call for help in case of a medical emergency or natural disaster. It was launched in markets including Bulgaria, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, and Spain earlier this year and is now available to more than one billion people worldwide, the company said.
In addition to ELS, Google has Early Earthquake Warnings in 25 countries that it is set to expand to “many of the remaining high-risk regions” around the world.
Further on Wear OS, Google said at the I/O 2022 that it is bringing Google Assistant to Samsung Galaxy watches. It will soon be available on the Galaxy Watch 4 series to begin with. The Google Assistant experience on Wear OS can be used for natural voice interactions and accessing features such as voice-controlled navigation or setting reminders.
At last year’s I/O keynote in May, Google announced its partnership with Samsung under which Tizen is combining with Wear OS. The company showed positivity of that move by saying that there are now three times as many active Wear OS devices as there were last year. However, exact number of active Wear OS users have not yet been revealed.
Google also revealed that new Wear OS devices are coming from Samsung, Fossil Group, Montblanc, and Mobvoi, among other players, later this year.
For tablets, Google at the I/O 2022 keynote announced that it is updating more than 20 Google apps over the next few weeks to take “full advantage” of the additional screen space. These will include YouTube Music, Google Maps, and Messages, among others.
Google also said that it was working with other apps including TikTok, Zoom, and Facebook to improve their experiences for users on Android tablets.
TikTok is getting optimised for Android tablets Photo Credit: Google
Additionally, users will be able to copy a URL or picture from their phones and paste them on your tablet.
On Android in general, Google is launching virtual cards that will be available on Chrome and at the system level to help users easily make payments, without requiring them to manually enter card details such as the CVV when checking out.
Google is also expanding Fast Pair support to more devices to let users easily set up and pair their devices. The expansion was originally limited to earbuds and recently reached Bluetooth headphones, Chromebooks, and smart TVs.
The Google Wallet app on Android is also becoming a unified platform to help people access their payment cards, transit and event tickets, boarding and loyalty passes, and student IDs. It will also be able to save virtual car keys and vaccine records as well as digital driver’s licence and official IDs. Google is essentially making its Wallet app on Android similar to Apple’s Wallet.
However, in addition to adding the new features to the Wallet app, the Android maker is working on updating its integrations with other Google apps and services. This will, for instance, allow users to view their transit card balance in Google Maps when search for directions once the card is added to the Wallet. Users will also be able to add fare to their transit card from Google Maps by tapping the card information.
Google Maps is getting a Google Wallet integration to let you add fare to your transit card seamlessly Photo Credit: Google
Google Wallet is also coming on Wear OS, with initial support for payment cards.
Alongside the Wallet updates, Google announced that it is updating Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging experience by bringing encryption to group conversations. It will be rolled out in an open beta later this year, the company said.
Google additionally announced extension of casting capabilities to devices including Chromebook and Android Auto in-car systems.
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This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
