It’s developer conference season – Apple’s WWDC (the one we care about the most) is in June, Microsoft has theirs later this month and Google’s I/O conference kicked off this week. The developer conference keynotes are fun because you can see what the companies are working on and what new products and features will be in the future. And sometimes we get a bunch of cool new stuff that non-developers are also interested in.
Such was the case with the Google I/O keynote, which was held on Wednesday and brought many new products and features, many of which we hope Apple paid close attention to. Here are five Google I/O announcements we wish had come from Apple instead.
Magic Editor in Google Photos
Magic Editor can fill in the gaps that may prevent certain types of image edits.
Google is using its AI research to create cool features for its Google Photos app. Last month, it brought Magic Eraser, a previous Pixel exclusive that lets users easily remove unwanted people and elements from a photo, to Googe One subscribers. Now it extends the functionality in a big way.
At Google I/O this year, the company unveiled its upcoming AI photo tool, Magic Editor. This feature uses overprinting, which is the use of AI to create an extension of an image that maintains the style of the original. It’s another way to fill an image gap while editing, but it allows more editing flexibility than Magic Eraser.
An example demonstrated by Google involved a photo of a child holding balloons while sitting on a bench. With Magic Editor, the child, the bench and the balloons were selected and moved, and the software created extensions of the elements cut by the edge of the photo.
Magic Editor will come to “select Pixel phones” later this year, but it’s certainly possible (and likely) that they’ll bring Magic Editor to the Photos app at some point. But for those of us who are fully invested in Apple’s ecosphere, these are the kinds of features we wish Apple would announce for its own Photos app.
Pixel tablet docking station
Google includes the charging speaker dock with the Pixel tablet at no additional cost.
Google has announced a new Pixel tablet that will compete with the iPad, but it’s not the tablet we envy, it’s the speaker dock that comes with it. A docked tablet enters “hub mode” and becomes a control center for smart home devices, streaming media, video calls, and more, making the Pixel tablet a true two-in-one device.
The dock features a 15-watt speaker with a 43.5mm driver, and Google claims the dock produces “four times more bass than the Pixel tablet alone.” The tablet magnetically attaches to the dock, which also charges it like MagSafe.
Rumors have been swirling for a while now about an Apple HomePod with a display, and that’s exactly what we have in mind. Maybe Google’s announcement will give Apple the encouragement it needs.
Multiple user accounts
Like other Android tablets, the new Pixel tablet will allow multiple user accounts. So if it’s in a shared environment – say, a family home – each person using the device can have their own user account and they don’t have to worry about maintaining their settings, privacy and security of its files, etc.
To date, the iPad – outside of a school setting – does not support multiple user accounts. This means anyone can view the files on a device, and users either have to adapt to the settings or constantly change them. iPad users have wanted this feature for so long now that hope has been lost, but we might get lucky this year and Apple will reveal multi-user support in iPadOS 17.
Folding Google Pixel
The Google Pixel Fold looks like the foldable phone that Apple would make.
When foldable Android phones started hitting the market, I scoffed, thinking they were unnecessary. Then I took a few flights and realized how nice it would be to have a bigger screen than the iPhone Pro Max for watching videos on long trips. Another time I used iTranslate to try to communicate with someone who didn’t know English and wished I had a bigger screen to show both sides of the conversation. A bigger screen would also be helpful when recording video so I can see more of what I’m shooting. Other times I just want a bigger screen without reaching for my iPad.
The foldable Android phones available right now don’t seem to last very long. But Google’s new Pixel Fold seems to be taking the right approach – admittedly, I’ve only seen photos and videos online, but it looks like the design, display and build have been carefully considered based on this. that the user wants and expects. The bezels leave a bit to be desired and we don’t fully trust Google to deliver a folding experience that isn’t riddled with bugs, but the approach feels solid.
If there’s one company that can make a foldable phone the right way, it’s Apple. We’ve seen evidence that Apple is working on one, based on rumors and a few patents filed by the company, but that doesn’t mean a foldable iPhone will ever see the light of day. As much as I would like to see it.
Immersive view for maps
Google Maps’ immersive view for driving directions is certainly pretty.
Apple Maps has come a long way since its introduction, but Google Maps is still king, mainly because Google continues to innovate and add new features.
The latest is Immersive View for directions, which provides a rich digital model of your route with “bike paths, sidewalks, intersections and parking” as you follow turn-by-turn directions. This gives you a better idea of the environment around you than the typical flat diagram you see in Apple Maps directions, so you have a better idea of where you’re going and where you’re heading. find.
The closest thing Apple brings to Immersive View is satellite view, but it’s not that close. We can’t wait to try it on Google Maps and would love to have something similar on Apple Maps.
Table of Contents
