The IT Nerd

I’m catching up on posting the big developments in the tech universe now that I have Internet again. One of the big stories this week was at Google’s I/O developer’s conference. Here’s the key highlights:

• Google announced Android Auto, its answer to Apple’s CarPlay. Android Auto is designed to bring the Android experience to a car’s in-dash infotainment system. Android Auto is contextually aware and puts the apps that users need front and center on the car’s dashboard. Google stressed that Android Auto is “completely voice enabled,” relying on Google Now for voice commands. Google also noted that it’s able to offer a completely personalized experience that is mobile, working with any Android Auto compatible car as it is reliant on an Android phone. Android Auto will be available in 25 different car brands, with the first cars rolling off dealer lots before the end of the year. Google is also releasing an Android Auto SDK in the coming weeks so developers can create apps for the platform.
• The Android Wear platform and announced availability of the first Android Wear devices. Google announced the release of the full Android Wear SDK, along with the launch of the first devices supporting Android Wear. The LG G Watch is available for order today, as is the Samsung Gear Live, a new Samsung watch that supports Android. The platform’s first circular watch taking advantage of the round UI, the Moto 360, will be available later this summer, and additional devices are in development by various partners. In terms of the LG G watch, I’ve already got a note from MobileFun that they are already taking pre-orders for the watch and they will have stock at the end of next week for delivery to customers on 7th July.
• The big news was a new version of Android. It’s being known as the “L” release right now but the big news is a UI overhaul the OS has enjoyed since Ice Cream Sandwich came out. You’ll be able to interact with notifications, right from your lock screen, just like iOS. Another feature is Trusted Environments, which allows you to access the phone without the hassle of pattern or PIN codes, but still leave you feeling secure that your data won’t be accessible to others. The authentication can come in many forms. For instance, it could be connected to a Android Wear watch. When the phone is within a foot of your G Watch or 360, it would function normally. But if it moved beyond that distance, it could automatically lock. There’s more, and if you feel brave there’s a development release available.

There were smaller announcements. Check out the Google Developer’s blog for more.

This entry was posted on June 26, 2014 at 4:50 pm and is filed under Commentary with tags Google. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.