Yesterday started the Google I / O 2022, an event focused on developers where Google takes the opportunity to show us its latest in hardware, software and tools. And, at Google I/O 2022 of course the news did not fail.
Google surprised us with a flood of new and upcoming Pixel devices, while presenting us with the second beta of Android 13, new features in its applications and services and much more. Here you have everything Google presented at I/O 2022.
Android 13 Beta 2
Google I/O is not just an Android event, but there is no denying that the robot’s operating system is the main protagonist. During the event, Google took the opportunity to announce Android 13 Beta 2 and reintroduce us with some news of the new version. Some of these we already knew from previous betas – such as changing an app’s language to something other than the system language – while others we didn’t.
Android 13 is starting to roll out as the betas progress, so there are fewer changes. In this beta, Google presents us with a more private photo picker, a renewed privacy panel and Material Theme Changeswhich will apply your custom icons to all apps, not just Google apps.
Additionally, we have learned that they will be joining the Android 13 Mobile Beta Program from Other Brands, that is, not just Google Pixel. The specific list of models is not yet final, but the Android 13 beta will have representatives from Asus, Lenovo, Nokia, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Sharp, Tecno, Vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE.
The Google Pixel 6a is official
The second star of the first day of Google I/O was undoubtedly the Google Pixel 6a, the new cheap mobile from Google that had been leaking for some time. The Google Pixel 6a inherits the pTensor processor typical of the normal model and its iconic design, while lowering some specifications in order to lower its price. It costs 459 dollars and will be sold in “summer”.
Now yes, the Google Pixel 6a launches globally like a new mobile with a 6.1-inch 60Hz AMOLED screen, a 12-megapixel dual camera with Google’s magic built-in as standard, a 4,410 mAh battery with fast charging and Android 12.1 under the arm.
The Google Pixel 7, for later
Google wanted to maintain interest in its series of own phones letting us see the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro in advance, with a similar design, although somewhat different from the previous Google Pixel 6.
Google Pixel 7 they are not ready yet, so your presentation will come later. For now we have this first look which tells us that the Pro model will gain one more lens and the fact that they will have a Tensor processor and the metal camera module is made from a single piece of aluminum , with 100% recycled materials. And with Android 13, of course.
Google Pixel Buds Pro
A material novelty more within our reach in terms of availability are the new google headset, the Pixel Buds Pro. Like the Google Pixel 6a, they were released worldwide. In Europe, its price is 219 dollars and can be purchased “soon”.
The Google Pixel Buds Pro are Google’s first TWS headphones with active noise cancellation and they promise to incorporate spatial audio later, after receiving an OTA. Their autonomy reaches up to 11 hours on their own and up to 31 hours with the additional charge provided by the case.
The Pixel Watch exists, but it is not yet marketed
We were quite convinced that Google was going to take advantage of this Google I/O to officially present the Pixel Watch which has leaked so much and in the end the reality w as somewhat different: Google confirmed the design and some details of the Pixel Watch, but its launch will take place in the fall
If you’ve been following the Pixel Watch leaks, what Google has done is basically confirm them. A smartwatch with circular Wear OS, with a curved screen, a minimalist design and which will integrate FitBit services. To find out more and to be able to obtain one, you will have to wait a little longer.
Google is preparing a tablet and… new glasses?
In case we didn’t have enough material, Google left honey on our lips by letting us see a corner of the Pixel tablet, which would be the first Google tablet for many years. Google is building its portfolio of Pixel devices and part of it will be a tablet of which we could only see a corner. For the moment we don’t know much more, although Google is already preparing Android and its applications for tablets.
On the other hand, Google left us a bit with the cliffhanger of augmented reality glasses which show how the translation of the Google Assistant could be applied in this type of device, but we should not have too many illusions about a successor to Google Glasses for the general public, since the company explains that ” it showed a prototype of what happens when we bring transcription and translation technologies to your view.”
Wear OS is all the rage
Google already announced Wear OS 3 last year, and while the Pixel Watch is supposed to come with Wear OS 3.1 inside, Google hasn’t told us more about it so far. Despite everything, we have known news of a Wear OS that will be available soon news from Samsung, Fossil and Mont Blanc.
A Wear OS will come the app from personal safety to use in case of emergency and to the Samsung Galaxy Watch, now the Google Assistant will arrive, confirmed by Google. For developers, Google announced the beta of Jetpack Compose for Wear OS and the Health Connect API, which makes it easy and secure to share health data between apps.
Google Wallet is back
Google Wallet wasn’t dead, it was out in town. And now come back for replace the Google Pay app. Google Wallet wants to be more than Google Pay to catch up with its namesake at Apple.
The change makes sense, because somehow it didn’t make sense to save the COVID certificate in a payment app, but in a “wallet”. Google Wallet wants to store everything: payment cards, passes, boarding passes, loyalty cards, vaccination passport, car keys, hotel keys, passports, driver’s license and much more.
Immersive mode in Google Maps
Google is preparing one of the most impressive updates to Google Maps yet with the new immersive mode that recreate cities in 3D relying on the data it has from satellite, Street View and photos.
Immersive mode is coming to Google Maps in a few cities: Los Angeles, London, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo They will be the first. This immersive mode of Google Maps will also allow us to check the local weather, in case we plan to take a trip, and even the traffic on it. On the other hand, Google announced that the ecological routes – which use less fuel – will be available for users in Europe before the end of the year.
Privacy News
In addition to the privacy news included in Android 13, Google took advantage of the event to show us some new tools that it is preparing. To begin with, it will soon be possible remove Google results that include your phone number or direction in a simple way, with a new tool.
Additionally, Google has introduced a new tool called my ad center (My Ad Center), where users can choose the categories and brands they prefer to receive ads from, in addition to restricting ads from sensitive categories.
Search enhancements
Google took advantage of the I/O to present us with some new features for its research. Specifically, for searches performed using the camera, with Google Lens. Without much promise, Google tells us of a future where the camera search takes into account the context of the whole sceneafter scanning with mobile.
Additionally, the multiple search combining images and text that we heard about last month can filter searches for find results near you. For example, you can take a picture of a t-shirt and see which nearby stores sell it.
Smart Speaker Improvements
Google didn’t show us any Nest Hub devices at this I/O, but we do know of some news coming to these smart devices. For example, the Google Assistant will improve the detection of pauses during the conversationso as not to jump into the fray before finishing our sentence.
Google’s biggest change to smart devices is Look and speak, whereby the assistant will know that you are talking to him if you look at his screen (and if he has a camera, of course). This is an optional feature that will be handled entirely on the device.
matter, in autumn
Matter is a connected home protocol that is backed by more than 180 companies, including Google, Apple, and Amazon, that seeks unify all kinds of smart devices under the same standard. Google has confirmed once again that its launch is still scheduled for October this year.
To set the stage, Google announced an SDK for Matter (coming June) and Matter support for Nest thermostats, as well as announcing that many Nest devices will become the controllers of Mattercontrol panels with which you can control local and remote devices from the Google Home app.
Flutter 3.0
Google announced Flutter version 3.0, Google’s framework for building cross-platform apps relatively easily. With Flutter 3.0, it is possible to build applications for six platforms with the same code, after the official and stable addition of support for macOS and Linux.
More languages for the translator
Google took advantage of the I/O event to announce the support for 24 new languages in your translator, including Native American languages and new dialects. With these additions, Google Translate now supports a total of 133 languages.
Table of Contents
