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AI-powered Google for Jobs has work for everybody
While the technology industry is a goldmine of employment, for anyone not developing an app or working on AI, finding a job can be tough. This is especially true for folks looking for entry-level positions. Craigslist decimated the classified section of newspapers and while sites like Monster, Linkedin and others are helpful if you have an established career, for entry-level jobs, it's tough to find work. According to Google, it's also hard for employers to find people to fill those positions.
Google opens up its 'instant' apps to all developers
This time last year, Google unveiled "instant apps" -- think of them as chunks of an application that can be run without downloading anything from the Play Store. For months after the announcement, Google only let certain partners build those bite-sized apps, but no longer. With the public launch of an SDK here at Google I/O, any developer can whip up an instant app of their own, and that's good news for everyone involved.
Google Lens resurfaces questions about AI and human identity
Today at the company's annual developer conference, Google CEO Sundar Pichai uttered a phrase that will no doubt be repeated in corporate boardrooms across the world for the foreseeable future: "AI first." It wasn't the first we've heard of the formerly "mobile-first" company's focus on artificial intelligence, but Google I/O 2017 marked the first time we saw many of the tools that will back up that new catchphrase.
Google I/O 2017 by the numbers
It was an exciting few hours in Mountain View California on Wednesday when Google took over the Shoreline Amphitheater for its annual I/O Developers Conference. The company announced a bunch of updates to its AI efforts (including Google Assistant), previewed some of the features of the Android O beta, and announced that 360 degree YouTube videos are coming to your living room. Numbers, because how else will you know how much you need to save up for the new standalone Daydream headset?
Google is building AR and VR that knows where you are
Google made plenty of VR- and AR-related announcements at I/O, its annual developer conference today. Not only will Samsung's Galaxy S8 and LG's upcoming flagship be Daydream-compatible, but the company also announced that it's working on standalone Daydream VR headsets. Enabling the latter is a unique technology called WorldSense, a new set of positional tracking tools that doesn't require any cameras or complicated setup. This sets the Daydream headsets apart from the competition. The current HTC Vive, for example, needs external room sensors; Google's upcoming headsets wouldn't.
Google search is a powerful job hunting tool thanks to AI
After announcing a slew of new updates to its smart home, VR and mobile products, Google unveiled the latest feature coming to its core product: its search engine. Over the next few weeks, users in the US will be able to look for job listings on Google.com via a new tool called Google for Jobs. This function will make it easier to discover openings close to you, as well as positions that have been traditionally more difficult for existing portals to find and classify (e.g., retail and service jobs).
Android powers 2 billion devices around the world
Onstage at Google I/O today, CEO Sundar Pichai announced that seven of the company's core product platforms now reach more than a billion monthly active users each. According to Pichar, however, the most impressive statistic was Android, which as of this week now has more than two billion active devices.
Android’s built-in AI knows what you need to copy and paste
Late last month Google previewed a way of using AI to copy and paste without actually having to copy and paste on a mobile device. The feature was teased as a way Android will use context to take what you've been researching in Chrome and apply it to other apps. Well, there's a bit more to it than that.
HTC Vive and Lenovo are developing standalone Daydream VR headsets
Google has another way to differentiate its mobile VR platform from Samsung's: standalone headsets that have all the hardware you'd need built right in, without the need for a phone. At Google I/O today, the company revealed that we'll be seeing standalone Daydream headsets from HTC Vive and Lenovo later this year. They'll be based on Qualcomm's 835 VR platform and use WorldSense, a variation of Google's Tango 3D mapping technology, for positional tracking without the need for any external sensors.
Android O focuses on reducing boot time and battery drain
In an effort to make apps run better and with greater security on Android O, Google has unveiled Vitals during its Google I/O keynote. One key aspect called Google Play Protect provides "comprehensive security services for Android," as we've detailed in a separate post. The other part is around OS optimizations, a new effort to keep your apps running more smoothly and prevent them from excessively draining your battery.
Samsung's Galaxy S8 will work with Daydream VR this summer
Perhaps you were excited about playing with Google's Daydream VR headsets but never bought one of Google's very own Pixel phones (or a handful of other niche Android options). Fortunately, you'll have some more familiar phone choices later this year, with a software update bringing Daydream compatibility to both Samsung's Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus as well as a yet-untitled LG flagship device coming later this year. As Google notes, this will bring the number of compatible devices to 11 by the end of the year. Wait, no new Daydream Views headset? Well, not yet.
Android Go is streamlined for cheap phones
It's no secret that Google has been working on improving its apps and operating system for those using less-powerful devices or unreliable connections. It's optimized its apps to use less data and memory, but now it's expanding its focus across the OS. At its developer conference today, Google previewed a version of something the company has been calling Android Go, and it's supposed to work well even on devices with less than 1GB of onboard memory. Google says Go will ship "as an experience" in 2018, which means manufacturers will potentially start making handsets with the lighter OS after that.
Android O beta is available to download today
It wouldn't be Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference, without the birth of a new version of Android, would it? 2017 sees the arrival of Android O, an operating system that's not really about flashy, attention-grabbing features. Instead, the software is all about making the user experience much faster and easier, thanks to weirdly named concepts like Fluid Experiences and Vitals.
Google Play protects your Android phone against rogue apps
Your phone's security is more important than ever, and Google knows it. The internet giant is launching Google Play Protect, a suite of services that helps you secure any Android device with Play Store access. The feature scans apps for threats (including relatively new risks, thanks to machine learning) and will either keep these rogue apps off of your device or remove them. It's always updating, and its relatively high visibility (see the image above) promises greater transparency into the security of your Android gear.
Android O adds Notification Dots to your app icons
If you have an Android phone, you probably live through the notification panel. The bite-size alerts become a to-do list of sorts, summarizing which apps and messages require your attention. With Android O, Google is giving the experience a bit of a revamp. "Notification Dots" are small, circular blobs that sit on top of your app icons. They'll only appear when you have an unread notification -- long-tap and you'll get a quick preview in the form of speech-like bubbles. You can either tap them to jump right in or drag down from the top of the screen (as normal) to get a better look.
Google Photos' improved AI pesters you into sharing pictures
Google is adding ways to make photo sharing from Google Photos a lot easier. And guess what? It's powered by AI. The feature is called Suggested Share, which will remind you to share photos and even suggest the people you should share them with. The app will have a new sharing tab; it will rifle with all the stuff you've taken and then use machine learning to discover who you should send them to. And to ensure sharing happens regardless of recipient, Photos uses SMS to send shareable links, no app install required for your friends.
YouTube is bringing 360-degree videos to your TV
Google's I/O 2017 developer conference isn't just about its search engine getting smarter. The company has also announced that YouTube's 360-degree videos are coming soon to TVs, expanding beyond smartphones and web browsers for the first time. "It's not just about the size of the screen," YouTube product manager Sarah Ali said before demoing a 360-degree video from Coachella. "It's about giving you an experience that [traditional] TV just can't match."
Google Home will handle your phone calls too
The Google I/O announcements didn't skimp on the internet giant's domestic assistant hub. Now users can make hands-free calls on their Google Home -- and as long as they're to anyone in the US or Canada, they'll be absolutely free. The hub recognizes your voice commands and automatically finds the right number from your contacts but differentiates by your vocal tone, so asking to "call mom" won't accidentally call your significant other's parent by mistake (and vice versa).
Google launches a massive open AI division
Today at Google's I/O developer conference, CEO Sundar Pichai greeted the assembled press and attendees with news that the company will be focusing heavily on AI both for its services and research. The new Google.ai site and division will focus on artificial intelligence, deep learning and building the tools to make that work possible.
Google Home gains Bluetooth to play audio from any device
Google's smart speaker was already handy for a lot of things, but today the company is announcing a ton of new features for the device. During the keynote for its I/O developer conference, the company said it's adding Bluetooth connectivity to Google Home. This means you'll be able to play music and other audio from any device, including those running Android and iOS.
