Google I/O 2018 is starts soon. I/O tries to bring together developers from around the globe for talks, hands-on learning with Google experts, and a first look at Google’s latest developer products.
The Verge article Eight things to expect at Google I/O 2018 tells that at this year’sI/O, which will be held again at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California starting Tuesday, May 8th, we know we’ll be hearing about the future of Android and Google’s artificial intelligence efforts. But there will also be news on everything from its new wearable platform, Wear OS, and Google Assistant to Android TV, Google Home, Google Play, and Search. Expect updates to Assistant, Home, and Material Design, more details on Android P, Wear OS, Google News, Chromecast gaming, and more.
For updated check out The Verge Google I/O coverage as they seem to be actively covering the event.
Links to some interesting news:
More links to news coming later to comments section. I am not visiting the event. I just follow news reports on it.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
What to expect at Google I/O this week
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/07/google-i-o-kicks-off-tomorrow-heres-what-to-expect/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Google has been rolling out news at a steady rate since last week, in what feels like a bit of a last-minute clearinghouse ahead of tomorrow. The company’s already taken the wraps off of news about Android TV, Google Home, Wear OS Assistant, you name it. If this were practically any other company, we’d be concerned that there’s nothing left to discuss.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Washington Post:
Source: Google to debut at I/O a new set of Android controls that help users manage time they spend on their devices, amid a broader emphasis on responsibility — SAN FRANCISCO – Google on Tuesday plans to wade into the debate over whether technology – and the time spent on devices …
At Google, ‘responsibility’ upstages new technology
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/05/07/at-google-responsibility-upstages-new-technology/?utm_term=.be7fa7407710
Google on Tuesday plans to wade into the debate over whether technology – and the time spent on devices – is harmful to people’s health, criticism that it has dodged more than Apple and Facebook.
At its annual developer conference, scheduled to kick off in its hometown of MountainView, Calif., on Tuesday, Google is set to announce a new set of new controls to its Android operating system, oriented around helping individuals and families manage the time they spend on mobile devices, according to a person familiar with the company’s thinking.
The anticipated shift in tone at the event reflects increased public skepticism and scrutiny of the technology industry as it reckons with the negative consequences of how its products are used by billions of people.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ron Amadeo / Ars Technica:
Android Things, Google’s IoT platform for developers, out of beta with version 1.0, as Google promises to deliver updates for every device for three years — Google’s solution to IoT security is to do all the updates itself, for free. — It’s Google I/O week and even though the keynote …
Android Things 1.0 launches, Google promises 3 years of updates for every device
Google’s solution to IoT security is to do all the updates itself, for free.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/05/android-things-hits-version-1-0-with-centralized-google-update-system/
It’s Google I/O week and even though the keynote isn’t until tomorrow, news is already hitting the (Wi-Fi) airwaves. After being announced all the way back in 2016 and going through eight developer previews, Android Things is finally hitting version 1.0. Android Things is yet another Android OS form factor that lives alongside Android TV, Android Automotive, and (Android) Wear OS. Things is meant for IoT devices, with a special focus on fixing the security nightmare that IoT devices usually create.
Most Android devices are not known as bastions of security (the phrase “toxic hellstew” comes to mind) but the root cause of security problems on most Android devices is the same problem that plagues IoT: device makers don’t want to update their devices. Google is going to solve this problem by just doing all the update work itself: every single Android Things-based product will get three years of OS updates, direct from Google, for free.
It sounds so simple doesn’t it? Just make Google do it. But the reason Google can do all the updates for all the Android Things is because device makers aren’t allowed to modify the Android Things OS. Just like Windows, Android Things is closed source and has a centralized update system. Google controls the operating system, and device makers can only make apps. Such a centralized update scheme could never work the open source Phone Android, where OEMs can—and do—change every little thing about the OS (usually for no good reason).
With Google in charge of updates, three years of support will come to any device running the “long-term support version” of Android Things, which is expected of end-user devices. Automatic updates are enabled by default and will arrive as monthly security updates and the occasional major OS update. Google also mentions that after three years there are “additional options for extended support.”
As part of this centralized update scheme, Android Things only supports certain pieces of hardware. With the 1.0 launch, Google is certifying System-on-Modules (SoMs) based on the NXP i.MX8M, Qualcomm SDA212, Qualcomm SDA624, and MediaTek MT8516. We normally deal with SoCs (System-on-Chips) around here, but an SoM is pretty much the same thing—a CPU, RAM, storage, Wi-Fi, I/O and anything else you need to run a mini computer. SoMs are just bigger (and cheaper!) than SoCs, since the components are strewn around a tiny circuit board rather than crammed into a tiny chip.
Additionally, the NXP i.MX7D and hacker favorite Raspberry Pi 3 Model B are supported as developer devices. These don’t have a promise of 3 years of updates and aren’t meant for production devices, but they’re good for prototyping.
As an IoT OS, Android Things is a lot more stripped down than normal Android. Even a screen is optional. The OS is meant to run a single app at a time, which can be used as the interface for a touchscreen device or just to run a few sensors and communicate with the internet. As an example of what’s possible, one of the first devices that will run Android Things are the Google Assistant Smart Displays that will be out later this year from Lenovo, JBL, and LG. Android Things will also power Google Assistant speakers from LG and iHome.
If you haven’t guessed from the product lineup, Android Things makes it easy to use Google cloud services in your end product. The Google Assistant and Google Cast are well-supported APIs, along with the usual Google stuff like Firebase APIs, the Google Maps Platform, and mobile vision APIs. You also have (nearly) the entire Android Framework at your fingertips, so the app can be whatever you want.
A natural question to ask when you hear about three years of update support from Google is, how does it make money on this?
It seems like the main Google revenue stream for Android Things is through its (optional) cloud services. Google’s Firebase and Cloud Platform products offer easy ways to do push messaging, analytics, cloud computing, and integration with Google services. Usually these products start with a free tier for hobbyist and low-usage apps, but when an app sees an uptick in usage, Google starts charging for all that cloud processing.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sean O’Kane / The Verge:
Android Auto to get support for RCS, group messaging, better integration with 3rd-party apps, more; new Volvos to have built-in Google Maps, apps, and Assistant
New Volvos will have Google Maps, apps, and Assistant — even if you don’t have an Android phone
Plus, some new features for Android Auto
https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/7/17325550/android-auto-volvo-maps-assistant-google-io-2018
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google launches Android Things for appliances as earlier spinoffs scramble to catch on
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alphabet-google-android/google-launches-android-things-for-appliances-as-earlier-spinoffs-scramble-to-catch-on-idUSKBN1I81T0
Alphabet Inc’s Google (GOOGL.O) on Monday launched a spinoff of its Android operating system for home appliances and other machines, following mixed results with Android offshoots for cars, smartwatches and televisions.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
Google partners with JBL for Android TV-powered sound bar with Google Assistant, slated for later this year, says Android TV’s userbase has been doubling YoY
Google Teams Up With JBL for Android TV-Powered Smart Sound Bar
http://variety.com/2018/digital/news/google-android-tv-jbl-link-bar-1202800839/
Google’s next Android TV device is a sound bar: The company has teamed up with speaker maker JBL for the JBL Link Bar, a sound bar with integrated Google Assistant and far-field voice control that doubles as a full-fledged Android TV streaming device, it announced Monday morning.
The sound bar will be available to consumers later this year, with pricing and other details scheduled to be announced this fall. Google will show off the device at its Google I/O developer conference in Mountain View, Calif. this week, where the company will also preview the changes it is going to bring to Android TV with the next version of Android, currently code-named Android P.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Watch Google I/O keynote live right here
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-io-2018-live-stream-livestream-android-chrome-home-assistant/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
How did you find Microsoft Build yesterday? We don’t really have time for your answer because Google I/O is already here!
Rumor has it that Google is about to share more details about Android P, the next major release of its Android platform. But you can also expect some Google Assistant and Google Home news, some virtual reality news and maybe even some Wear OS news.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google announces a new generation for its TPU machine learning hardware
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-announces-a-new-generation-for-its-tpu-machine-learning-hardware/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
At Google, ‘responsibility’ upstages new technology
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/05/07/at-google-responsibility-upstages-new-technology/?utm_term=.886cfa20ca7c
Google on Tuesday plans to wade into the debate over whether technology – and the time spent on devices – is harmful to people’s health, criticism that it has dodged more than Apple and Facebook.
At its annual developer conference, scheduled to kick off in its hometown of MountainView, Calif., on Tuesday, Google is set to announce a new set of new controls to its Android operating system, oriented around helping individuals and families manage the time they spend on mobile devices, according to a person familiar with the company’s thinking.
In his keynote address on Tuesday, chief executive Sundar Pichai is expected to emphasize the theme of responsibility, the person said. Last year’s keynote was more focused on developments in artificial intelligence.
The anticipated shift in tone at the event reflects increased public skepticism and scrutiny of the technology industry as it reckons with the negative consequences of how its products are used by billions of people.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Android Things 1.0 launches, Google promises 3 years of updates for every device
Google’s solution to IoT security is to do all the updates itself, for free.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/05/android-things-hits-version-1-0-with-centralized-google-update-system/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Andrew Gebhart / CNET:
Google says blinds, kettles, ovens, refrigerators, air purifiers, fans, air conditioners, coffee makers, and sprinklers now work natively with Google Assistant
http://www.cnet.com/news/google-assistant-gets-native-controls-for-ovens-coffee-makers-and-more/
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Google I/O conversation
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/a-google-i-o-conversation/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Hey Google, what happened at Google I/O today?
Artificial intelligence.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google launches a Partner Program and developer API for Google Photos
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-launches-a-partner-program-and-developer-api-for-google-photos/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
The company is launching a developer API that will allow other apps and services access to connect to, upload to, and share to a users’ Google Photos library, as well as a Partners Program for Google Photos.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google opens Instant Apps to all game developers
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-opens-instant-apps-to-all-game-developers/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Instant Apps for Android have been one of Google’s most interesting technologies for mobile developers. In their earliest incarnation, Instant Apps were mostly useful for developers of relatively straightforward apps. Earlier this year, Google launched its beta of Instant Apps for games, too, which allows players to get a sense of the gameplay before actually installing the full game.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google brings its visual assistant to Android devices with Google Assistant
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-brings-visual-assistant-to-android-phones-with-google-assistant/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Google said it is rolling out its visual assistant, which brings ups information as well as ways to interact with apps with a Google Assistant voice request in a full-screen experience, to Android phones this summer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Assistant adds digital subscriptions and more ways to engage with Actions
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-assistant-adds-digital-subscriptions-and-more-ways-to-engage-with-actions/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
The company is launching support for digital subscriptions in Actions (Google Assistant’s voice apps), as well as a variety of tools to help developers promote their Actions, and engage their users.
With the new support for digital subscriptions, users can purchase access to premium content through an Android application that then becomes available in a Google Action, the company announced.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Assistant is coming to Google Maps
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-assistant-is-coming-to-google-maps/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
Google wants to bundle its voice assistant into every device and app. And it’s true that it makes sense to integrate Google Assistant in Google Maps. It’ll be available on iOS and Android this summer.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Maps goes beyond directions
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-maps-goes-beyond-directions/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Google today announced a new version of Google Maps that will launch later this summer. All of the core Google Maps features for getting directions aren’t going away, of course, but on top of that, the team has now built a new set of features that are all about exploration.
And because this is Google, that new experience is all about personalization with the help of AI.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google News gets an AI-powered redesign
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-news-gets-an-ai-powered-redesign/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s new Android TV dongle is for developers only
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/googles-new-android-tv-dongle-is-for-developers-only/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Google’s new Android TV dongle made its debut at an I/O session this afternoon. The ADT-2 is the follow up to, get this, the ADT-1, which was introduced at I/O back in 2014, designed to give devs an easy in to Google’s set-top offering.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s ML Kit makes it easy to add AI smarts to iOS and Android apps
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/googles-ml-kit-makes-it-easy-to-add-ai-smart-to-ios-and-android-apps/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
At its I/O developer conference, Google today introduced ML Kit, a new software development kit (SDK) for app developers on iOS and Android that allows them to integrate into their apps a number of pre-built Google-provided machine learning models. One nifty twist here is that these models — which support text recognition, face detection, barcode scanning, image labeling and landmark recognition — are available both online and offline, depending on network availability and the developer’s preference.
Tomi Engdahl says:
With App Actions and Slices, Google introduces more ways for users to interact with the apps on their phones
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-launches-slices/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Google Assistant will soon be able to call restaurants and make a reservation for you
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/the-google-assistant-will-soon-be-able-to-call-restaurants-and-make-a-reservations-for-you/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google wants to bring multiplayer AR to iOS and Android with its new Cloud Anchors tool
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-wants-to-bring-multiplayer-ar-to-ios-and-android-with-its-new-cloud-anchors-tool/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Onstage at I/O today, VR exec Nathan Martz announced Cloud Anchors, a tool for matching up users’ AR experiences with each other in real time.
“With Cloud Anchors, we actually allow multiple devices to generate a shared, synchronized understanding of the world so that multiple phones can see and interact with the exact same digital content in the same place at the same time,” Martz said onstage.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Assistant is getting support for custom and scheduled routines
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-assistant-is-getting-support-for-custom-and-scheduled-routines/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Just say “Hey Google, good night” and the Assistant will shut down your lights and start playing some nature sounds to soothe you into deep sleep (or whatever else you want it to do). One limitation so far was that you could only use Google’s preset routines (think “good morning,” “I’m home,” etc.). As the company announced today, though, you’ll soon be able to create your own custom routines and also schedule routines for a specific day or time.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google adds Morse code input to Gboard
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/google-adds-morse-code-input-to-gboard/?utm_source=tcfbpage&sr_share=facebook
Google is adding morse code input to its mobile keyboard. It’ll be available as a beta on Android later today.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Android gets a Jetpack
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/android-gets-a-jetpack/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
At its I/O developer conference, Google today announced Jetpack, a major update to how developers write applications for Android . Jetpack represents the next generation of the Android Support Library, which virtually every Android App in the Play Store uses
Jetpack combines the existing Android support libraries and components and wraps them into a new set of components (including a couple of new ones) for managing things like background tasks, navigation, paging, and life-cycle management, as well as UI features like emoji and layout controls for various platforms like Android Wear, Auto and TV, as well as some more foundation features like AppCompact and Test.
It’s important to note that developers can choose whether they want to use Jetpack.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s Android development studio gets a new update with visual navigation editing
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/googles-android-development-studio-gets-a-new-update-with-visual-navigation-editing/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Android’s development studio is getting a new update as Google rolls out Android Studio 3.2 Canary, adding new tools for visual navigation editing and Jetpack.
The new release includes build tools for the new Android App Bundle format, Snapshots, a new optimizer for smaller app code and a new way to measure an app’s impact on battery life. The Snapshots tool is baked into the Android Emulator and is geared toward getting the emulator up and running in two seconds.
The visual navigation editing looks a bit like a flow chart, where users can move screens around and connect them. You can add new screens, position them in your flow, and under covers will help you manage the whole stack in the background.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Android P Beta is available today
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/android-p-beta-is-available-today/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Android P leverages DeepMind for new Adaptive Battery feature
Brian Heater
@bheater / 11 hours ago
3Q3A2407
No surprise here, Android P was the highlight of today’s Google I/O keynote. The new version of the company’s mobile operating system still doesn’t have a name (at least not as of this writing), but the company’s already highlighted a number of key new features, including, notable, Adaptive Battery.
The new version of the operating system includes a number of visual upgrades, a change over the Oreo’s additions
Tomi Engdahl says:
Maps walking navigation is Google’s most compelling use for AR yet
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/maps-walking-navigation-is-googles-most-compelling-use-for-ar-yet/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Google managed to elicit an audible gasp from the crowd at I/O today when it showed off a new augmented feature for Maps. It was a clear standout during a keynote that contained plenty of iterative updates to existing software, and proved a key glimpse into what it will take to move AR from interesting novelty to compelling use case.
Along with the standard array of ARCore-based gaming offerings, the new AR mode for Maps is arguably one of the first truly indispensable real-world applications.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s new Android App Bundles promise to make apps radically smaller
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/googles-new-android-app-bundles-promise-to-make-apps-radically-smaller/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Google today announced Android App Bundles, a new tool for developers that will make apps radically smaller. The trick here is that developers can now say which of their apps’ assets should be included for a given device so there’s no need to ship every visual asset for every screen size and support for every language to every user
Tomi Engdahl says:
A Google Assistant update will teach kids to say ‘please’
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/a-google-assistant-update-will-teach-kids-to-say-please/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s first Smart Displays will launch in July
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/googles-first-smart-displays-will-launch-in-july/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Smart Displays were the talk of Google’s big push at CES this year — but there’s been nary a peep in the intervening months. As expected, we got a little more insight into the company’s Echo Show competitor at today’s big I/O kickoff — though the actual devices are still a few months out, officially launching in July.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Android P leverages DeepMind for new Adaptive Battery feature
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/android-p-leverages-deepmind-for-new-adaptive-battery-feature/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
No surprise here, Android P was the highlight of today’s Google I/O keynote. The new version of the company’s mobile operating system still doesn’t have a name
Google’s own DeepMind is doing much of the heavy lifting here, relying on user habits to determine what apps they use, when, and delegating power accordingly.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s ML Kit makes it easy to add AI smarts to iOS and Android apps
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/googles-ml-kit-makes-it-easy-to-add-ai-smart-to-ios-and-android-apps/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Tomi Engdahl says:
You can now run Linux apps on Chrome OS
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/you-can-now-run-linux-apps-on-chrome-os/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
For the longest time, developers have taken Chrome OS machines and run tools like Crouton to turn them into Linux-based developer machines. That was a bit of a hassle, but it worked. But things are getting easier. Soon, if you want to run Linux apps on your Chrome OS machine, all you’ll have to do is switch a toggle in the Settings menu. That’s because Google is going to start shipping Chrome OS with a custom virtual machine that runs Debian Stretch, the current stable version of the operating system.
Tomi Engdahl says:
8 big announcements from Google I/O 2018
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/08/8-big-announcements-from-google-i-o-2018/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
What Google announced: Google announced a “continued conversation” update to Google Assistant
What Google announced: Now, Photos is getting more AI-powered fixes like B&W photo colorization, brightness correction and suggested rotations.
What Google announced: Smart Displays were the talk of Google’s CES push this year
What Google announced: Google Assistant is coming to Google Maps, available on iOS and Android this summer.
What Google announced: As the war for creating customized AI hardware heats up, Google said that it is rolling out its third generation of silicon, the Tensor Processor Unit 3.0.
What Google announced: Watch out, Facebook . Google is also planning to leverage AI in a revamped version of Google News.
What Google announced: Google unveiled ML Kit, a new software development kit for app developers on iOS and Android that allows them to integrate pre-built, Google-provided machine learning models into apps.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jeremy Horwitz / VentureBeat:
Google debuts ARCore 1.2 with Sceneform SDK, Augmented Images, and Cloud Anchors, which enables collaboration between multiple ARCore device users via the cloud
Google debuts ARCore 1.2 with Sceneform, Augmented Images, Android and iOS Cloud Anchors
https://venturebeat.com/2018/05/08/google-debuts-arcore-1-2-with-sceneform-augmented-images-android-and-ios-cloud-anchors/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Steven Musil / CNET:
Google developing Lookout Android app to aid the blind and the visually impaired by offering users auditory clues to the objects, text, and people around them
Google developing Lookout app to aid the visually impaired
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-developing-lookout-app-to-aid-the-visually-impaired/
Google is developing an app it hopes will help the millions of blind and visually impaired people in the world become more independent.
The web giant said Tuesday it is working on an Android app called Lookout that offers users auditory clues to the objects, text and people around them. The app is designed to be used with a device worn in a shirt pocket or hanging on a lanyard around a user’s neck, with its camera pointing away from the body.
The Android app will offer users spoken clues to the objects, text and people around them.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Preview of changes and features coming in Android P: focus on “Digital Well Being” including usage dashboard, visual tweaks, gestures, and deeper AI integration — How the new update could help you use your phone less — This year, Google is doing something different with Android.
Android P: an exclusive first look at Google’s most ambitious update in years
How the new update could help you use your phone less
https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/8/17327302/android-p-update-new-features-changes-video-google-io-2018
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google AI Blog:
Breakdown of how Google Duplex works, with several audio examples of how the assistant would interact over the phone, handling interruptions, elaborating, more — Posted by Yaniv Leviathan, Principal Engineer and Yossi Matias, Vice President, Engineering, Google
Google Duplex: An AI System for Accomplishing Real World Tasks Over the Phone
https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/05/duplex-ai-system-for-natural-conversation.html
CNET:
A look at Google’s experimental Duplex tech, demoed at I/O, enabling Assistant to place voice calls for you, make restaurant and barber reservations, more — Experimental technology, rolling out soon in a limited release, makes you think you’re talking to a real person. — The conversation seems mundane.
Exclusive: Google’s Duplex could make Assistant the most lifelike AI yet
https://www.cnet.com/features/google-assistant-duplex-at-io-could-become-the-most-lifelike-ai-voice-assistant-yet/
Experimental technology, rolling out soon in a limited release, makes you think you’re talking to a real person.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Abner Li / 9to5Google:
Google adds Smart Compose feature to Gmail, which suggests phrases as you type and lets users autocomplete them by hitting tab, rolling out to all this month — Following a big revamp to Gmail last month, Google is adding a new machine learning feature this month.
Gmail’s latest machine learning feature is ‘Smart Compose’ to autocomplete messages
https://9to5google.com/2018/05/08/gmails-latest-machine-learning-feature-is-smart-compose-to-autocomplete-messages/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Andrew Gebhart / CNET:
Google says blinds, kettles, ovens, refrigerators, air purifiers, fans, air conditioners, coffee makers, and sprinklers now work natively with Google Assistant — After all the bombast over Duplex had died down, Google quietly rolled out a more immediately relevant smart home upgrade at Google’s I/O Developer Conference.
Google Assistant gets native controls for ovens, coffee makers and more
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-assistant-gets-native-controls-for-ovens-coffee-makers-and-more/
The days of asking Google to ask LG or Rachio to talk to your refrigerator or sprinkler are blessedly almost over.
After all the bombast over Duplex had died down, Google quietly rolled out a more immediately relevant smart home upgrade at Google’s I/O Developer Conference. During a developer keynote session, the search giant revealed nine new device types that will now work natively with Google Assistant — blinds, kettles, ovens, refrigerators, air purifiers, fans, air conditioners, coffee makers and sprinklers.
Google Assistant is the company’s voice-controlled digital helper similar to Amazon’s Alexa. You can talk to Google Assistant on your smartphone or a smart speaker such as a Google Home to control more than 5,000 devices. With support for native integrations, third-party developers can add Google Assistant controls to their devices, and they won’t have to include clunky extra activation language.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Tips TPU 3.0 as AI Expands
https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1333271
Google announced at an annual event here a laundry list of ways it is expanding its use of deep learning and a new TPU 3.0 chip driving them. Perhaps the most surprising of new AI-powered products, its sister company Waymo said it will launch a driver-less ride-hailing service in Phoenix later this year.
The slate of new Google applications using machine learning include:
Smart displays from JBL, Lenovo and LG using the Google Assistant
An improved Google Assistant that parses more complex queries
Computer vision capabilities integrated into camera apps in smartphones from 11 vendors
A new set of machine learning APIs in the next generation of Android
An extension of autocorrect that can suggest whole sentences or phrases
The most surprising of these is Waymo will launch a ride-hailing service later this year in Phoenix using self-driving cars.
“That’s just the beginning We are building a better driver for ride hailing, logistics and personal cars. Our technology is an enabler for all these industries, and we will partner with many companies,” said John Krafcik, chief executive of Waymo, a division of Google’s parent company, Alphabet.
Waymo partnered in 2013 with Google’s machine learning unit, Google Brain, to apply deep learning to reduce errors detecting pedestrians by 100x. Using Google’s TensorFlow framework and TPUs it now trains models 15x faster and has developed models to eliminate sensor noise caused by snow.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Dan Goodin / Ars Technica:
Microsoft May 2018 Patch Tuesday fixes 68 security issues, 21 of them critical, including one being actively exploited to hack users
Critical Windows bug fixed today is actively being exploited to hack users
Latest Patch Tuesday included 68 fixes, 21 of them rated “critical.”
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/05/microsoft-patches-critical-windows-bug-actively-exploited-in-the-wild/
Microsoft on Tuesday patched two Windows vulnerabilities that attackers are actively exploiting in the wild to install malicious apps on the computers of unwitting users.
The first vulnerability resides in the VBScript Engine included in all currently supported versions of Windows. A so-called use-after-free flaw involving the way the engine handles computer memory allows attackers to execute code of their choice that runs with the same system privileges chosen by the logged-in user. When targeted users are logged in with administrative rights, attackers who exploit the bug can take complete control of the system. In the event users are logged in with more limited rights, attackers may still be able to escalate privileges by exploiting a separate vulnerability.
CVE-2018-8174, as the flaw is formally indexed, is being actively exploited by attackers, Microsoft officials said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Richard Nieva / CNET:
A look at Google’s experimental Duplex tech, demoed at I/O, enabling Assistant to place voice calls for you, make restaurant and barber reservations, more
Exclusive: Google’s Duplex could make Assistant the most lifelike AI yet
https://www.cnet.com/features/google-assistant-duplex-at-io-could-become-the-most-lifelike-ai-voice-assistant-yet/
Experimental technology, rolling out soon in a limited release, makes you think you’re talking to a real person.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google AI Blog:
Breakdown of how Google Duplex works, with several audio examples of how the assistant would interact over the phone, handling interruptions, elaborating, more — Posted by Yaniv Leviathan, Principal Engineer and Yossi Matias, Vice President, Engineering, Google
Google Duplex: An AI System for Accomplishing Real World Tasks Over the Phone
https://ai.googleblog.com/2018/05/duplex-ai-system-for-natural-conversation.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lauren Goode / Wired:
Google announces update to Lens, rolling out end of May, focusing on shopping, text-reading, and language support; some handsets will offer Lens from camera app
Lens, Google’s Visual Search Tool, Gets Its Most Significant Update Yet
https://www.wired.com/story/lens-google-visual-search-tool-update/
When Google first announced Google Lens last year, it was described as a kind of search in reverse. Rather than type a text query to find image results, you could point your phone’s camera at an object, like a dog or a plant, to find text-based information. Lens was not only a statement about your camera as an input device but also a most Google-y expression of technology: It combined search, computer vision, AI, and AR, and put it all in apps that weren’t limited to one ecosystem.
At this year’s developers conference, Google announced the most significant update yet to Google Lens—one that emphasizes shopping, text-reading, and additional language support.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google previews what’s next for Android Auto
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/09/google-previews-whats-next-for-android-auto/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Over the course of the last few days, Google teased a few updates to Android Auto, its platform for bringing its mobile operating system to the car. At its I/O developer conference, the company showed off what the next version of Android Auto will look like and how developers can start preparing their applications for it.
Earlier this week, Google announced that Volvo would build Android Auto directly into its head units, making it one of the first car manufacturers to do so. Typically, Android Auto essentially mirrors your phone — with a special on-screen interface designed for the car. By building Android Auto right into the car, you won’t need a phone.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wear OS is getting a new battery saving mode
https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/09/wear-os-is-getting-a-new-battery-saving-mode/?utm_source=tcfbpage&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&sr_share=facebook
Given Google’s recent rebranding mode and a few pieces of news trickling out over the past week, it seemed safe to expect some key updates for the operating system formerly known as Android Wear. But the company only really mentioned Wear OS in passing at yesterday’s keynotes.