Google I/O 2021 – Highlights of the Google’s Annual I/O Developer Conference

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Every year Google organizes its annual I/O developer conference where Google announces its new projects and its future plan. Last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic Google had to skip this event, but this year Google is back with its I/O Developer Conference. This year this event was free and was a virtual event. This year anybody could have watched this event through Google’s official YouTube channel.

This year’s Google’s Annual I/O Developer Conference was held in Mountain View, California. At this conference, the software giant announced new updates to Maps and Workspace and also showed us a glimpse of a new version of Android and WearOS software. Here we bring you the details of this conference that Google has unveiled through this I/O conference.

Google Maps:

Google has unveiled that Google Maps will get all new Eco-friendly route option which will help you to save some fuel and money too. Along with this feature, Google Maps will also have Safe Routing. This feature will use machine learning based on the safe route and fuel-efficient roads, weather and traffic conditions so that we can ride on a safe route to our destination. The reason behind this update is to eliminate sudden stops and breaking of the vehicle.

Google Workspace:

A new update to Google Workspace will bring “Smart Canvas”. It looks like that this update will be a combination of Google Sheets, Docs and Slides. Along with “Smart Canvas” Google meet will also be integrated into Google Workspace. Towards the end of this year, a Companion Mode may also be added to Google Workspace. This Companion Mode will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for framing, lighting, focusing, and translation.

Android 12:

Google has announced a new version of Android i.e., Android 12. Most of the world’s smartphones are running on the Android platform whether in their original form or customised form. Android 12 will bring personalizable colour palettes, an updated & faster notification bar, Enhanced Battery Saving Mode etc. In Android 12 lock screen, home screen and setting everything will be updated and redesigned. The stable Android 12 will be released later this year but the Android 12 Beta programme has already available on Google’s Pixel smartphones, Asus, OnePlus, Realme, TCL, Vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE smartphones.

WearOS:

The newer version of WearOS is going to be released soon. Google and Samsung are going to merge their WearOS and Tizen respectively which will result in a new version of WearOS. It is said that this merger will improve the battery life and also the always-on heart rate monitoring system, apps will load 30% faster and animations will be smoother. Now the developer will create apps for this single new platform. Samsung has already said that their new Galaxy Smartwatches will run on this new version of WearOS. Fitbit devices will also run on this new OS.

LaMDA AI Platform:

During the I/O conference, Google also introduced its LaMDA- a natural language platform. This platform is in the R&D stage in the company. The idea behind developing this platform is to create a voice assistant which doesn’t struggle to understand and can have a natural conversation.