Latest news with #AndroidEcosystem
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Google Announces Smart Glasses Partnerships
Google announces partnerships with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to make AR smart glasses with AI applications. Sameer Samat, president of Google's Android Ecosystem, discusses the plans with Bloomberg's Jackie Davalos at Google I/O. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Engadget
19-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Google I/O 2025: New Android 16, Gemini AI and everything else to expect at Tuesday's keynote
Google I/O, the search giant's annual developer conference, kicks off on Tuesday, May 20. The event is arguably the most important on the company's annual calendar, offering the opportunity for the company to share a glimpse at everything it has been working on over the past year — and contextualize its biggest priorities for the next twelve months. The dance card for Google I/O was apparently so packed that the company spun off a dedicated Android showcase a whole week earlier. (See everything that was announced at the Android Show or go to our liveblog to get a feel for how things played out.) With that event now behind us, Google can stay focused on its most important core competency: AI. Google's presentation will come on the heels of announcements from three big rivals in recent days. Further up the Pacific coast, Microsoft is hosting its Build developer conference, where it's already unveiled an updated Copilot AI app. Meanwhile, at the Computex show in Taiwan, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang highlighted a partnership with Foxconn to develop an "AI factory supercomputer" powered by 10,000 Blackwell AI chips. And Meta held its debut LlamaCon AI conference last month, but CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plans for AI dominance have reportedly since hit some snags. (Apple will share its updated AI roadmap on June 9 when its WWDC developers conference kicks off.) If you'd like to tune in from home and follow along as Google makes its announcements, check out our article on how to watch the Google I/O 2025 keynote. We'll also be liveblogging the event, so you can just come to Engadget for the breaking news. The presentation featured Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who took over for Burke in 2024. We saw Samat and his colleagues show off years, Android hasn't had much of a spotlight at Google's annual developer conference. Thankfully, last week's Android Show breakout let Google's mobile operating system take the spotlight for at least a day. The presentation featured Android Ecosystem President Sameer Samat, who took over for Burke in 2024. We saw Samat and his colleagues show off the new Material 3 Expressive design, and what we learned confirmed some of the features that were previously leaked, like the "Ongoing notifications" bar. Material 3 Expressive is also coming to Wear OS 6, and the company is expanding the reach of Gemini by bringing it to its smartwatch platform, Android Auto and Google TV. Android is also amping up its scam-detection features and a refined Find Hub that will see support for satellite connectivity later in the year. Speaking of timing, Google has already confirmed the new operating system will arrive sometime before the second half of the year. Though it did not release a stable build of Android 16 today, Samat shared during the show that Android 16 (or at least part of it) is coming next month to Pixel devices. And though the company did cover some new features coming to Android XR, senior director for Android Product and UX Guemmy Kim said during the presentation that "we'll share more on Android XR at I/O next week." It clearly seems like more is still to come, and not just for Android XR. We didn't get confirmation on the Android Authority report that Google could add a more robust photo picker, with support for cloud storage solutions. That doesn't mean it won't be in Android 16, it might just be something the company didn't get to mention in its 30-minute showcase. Plus, Google has been releasing new Android features in a quarterly cadence lately, rather than wait till an annual update window to make updates available. It's possible we see more added to Android 16 as the year progresses. One of the best places to get an idea for what's to come in Android 16 is in its beta version, which has already been available to developers and is currently in its fourth iteration. For example, we learned in March that Android 16 will bring Auracast support, which could make it easier to listen to and switch between multiple Bluetooth devices. This could also enable people to receive Bluetooth audio on hearing aids they have paired with their phones or tablets. Remember Google Glass? No? How about Daydream? Maybe Cardboard? After sending (at least) three XR projects to the graveyard, you would think even Google would say enough is enough. Instead, the company is preparing to release Android XR after previewing the platform at the end of last year. This time around, the company says the power of its Gemini AI models will make things different. We know Google is working with Samsung on a headset codenamed Project Moohan. Last fall, Samsung hinted that the device could arrive sometime this year. Whether Google and Samsung demo Project Moohan at I/O, I imagine the search giant will have more to say about Android XR and the ecosystem partners it has worked to bring to its side for the initiative. This falls in line with what Kim said about more on Android XR being shared at I/O. If Google felt the need to split off Android into its own showcase, we're likely to get more AI-related announcements at I/O than ever before. The company hasn't provided many hints about what we can expect on that front, but if I had to guess, features like AI Overviews and AI Mode are likely to get substantive updates. I suspect Google will also have something to say about Project Mariner, the web-surfing agent it demoed at I/O 2024. Either way, Google is an AI company now, and every I/O moving forward will reflect that. Speaking of AI, Project Astra was one of the more impressive demos Google showed off at I/O 2024. The technology made the most of the latest multi-modal capabilities of Google's Gemini models to offer something we hadn't seen before from the company. It's a voice assistant with advanced image recognition features that allows it to converse about the things it sees. Google envisions Project Astra one day providing a truly useful artificial assistant. However, after seeing an in-person demo of Astra, the Engadget crew felt the tech needed a lot more work. Given the splash Project Astra made last year, there's a good chance we could get an update on it at I/O 2025. According to a report from The Information , Google might be planning to unveil its own take on Pinterest at I/O. That characterization is courtesy of The Information, but based on the features described in the article, Engadget team members found it more reminiscent of Cosmos instead. Cosmos is a pared-down version of Pinterest, letting people save and curate anything they see on the internet. It also allows you to share your saved pages with others. Google's version, meanwhile, will reportedly show image results based on your queries, and you can save the pictures in different folders based on your own preferences. So say you're putting together a lookbook based on Jennie from Blackpink. You can search for her outfits and save your favorites in a folder you can title "Lewks," perhaps. Whether this is simply built into Search or exists as a standalone product is unclear, and we'll have to wait till I/O to see whether the report was accurate and what the feature really is like. Last year, Wear OS didn't get a mention during the company's main keynote, but Google did preview Wear OS 5 during the developer sessions that followed. The company only began rolling out Wear OS 5.1 to Pixel devices in March. This year, we've already learned at the Android Show that Wear OS 6 is coming, with Material 3 Expressive gracing its interface. Will we learn more at I/O? It's unclear, but it wouldn't be a shock if that was all the air time Wear OS gets this year. Google has jumped the gun and already launched a standalone NotebookLM app ahead of I/O. The machine-learning note-taking app, available in desktop browsers since 2023, can summarize documents and even synthesize full-on NPR-style podcast summaries to boot. Google has a terrible track record when it comes to preventing leaks within its internal ranks, so the likelihood the company could surprise us is low. Still, Google could announce something we don't expect. As always, your best bet is to visit Engadget on May 20 and 21. We'll have all the latest from Google then along with our liveblog and analysis. Update, May 5 2025, 7:08PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on a leaked blog post discussing "Material 3 Expressive." Update, May 6 2025, 5:29PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on the Android 16 beta, as well as Auracast support. Update, May 8 2025, 3:20PM ET: This story has been updated to include details on how to watch the Android Show and the Google I/O keynote, as well as tweak the intro for freshness. Update, May 13 2025, 3:22PM ET: This story has been updated to include all the announcements from the Android Show and a new report from The Information about a possible image search feature debuting at I/O. The intro was also edited to accurately reflect what has happened since the last time this article was updated. Update, May 14 2025, 4:32PM ET: This story has been updated to include details about other events happening at the same time as Google I/O, including Microsoft Build 2025 and Computex 2025. Update, May 19 2025, 5:13PM ET: Updated competing AI news from Microsoft, Meta and NVIDIA, and contextualized final rumors and reports ahead of I/O. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Mint
18-05-2025
- Mint
Android 16: What do Google's major updates mean for you?
Google unveiled the biggest update to its Android mobile operating system in years, a week ahead of Google I/O, its annual developer conference held in Mountain View, California, which will take place over 20-21 May this year. The updates coming to Android 16 were revealed during The Android Show, streamed online on 14 May. Incidentally, this is just weeks before Apple Inc is expected to unveil its overhauled iPhone software. Android remains the world's most widely used operating system, powering more than three billion active devices globally across phones, watches, tablets, TVs, and other smart devices. The update focuses on three main pillars: design enhancements, experiential improvements, and AI-powered assistant integration, said Sameer Samat, president of Android Ecosystem, during the presentation. Firstly, the Android design language has evolved significantly with Material You, transforming into Material 3 Expressive, Samat revealed—a more personalized, flexible, and aesthetically pleasing UI system based on smooth, tactile animations, vivid color themes, and adaptable fonts. This design language extends across all devices, including Wear OS 6, which has been tailored specifically for round watch displays, optimized not only for beauty but also efficiency, offering up to 10% battery savings. Material 3 Expressive takes into account personalization as a core UX principle and displays Google's commitment to personalization, not just visually but interactionally, with physics-based animations and haptic feedback enhancing satisfaction and immersion. Instead of static, uniform interfaces, this evolution allows users to feel a device is uniquely theirs. Such emotional engagement in UI design can contribute to higher user satisfaction and longer usage durations, impacting brand preference and ecosystem lock-in, said Samat. Android 16 will feature live updates as a productivity booster: The introduction of live updates in the notification shade addresses a common user frustration—missing important information buried in notification clutter. This feature transforms the notification area into a dynamic, glanceable hub for ongoing events, such as food orders or ride shares, reducing the need for repetitive app checking. This improves user focus and reduces distraction, which aligns well with current digital wellbeing trends. One of the highlights of the update is the evolution of Find My Device to FindHub, expanding use cases beyond just locating gadgets to include personal safety and location sharing. The Find My Device feature, which allows Android users to locate lost phones and other devices, will have support for more partners (such as built-in luggage finding from brands like July and Mokobara, as Tech Crunch reported), satellite-based finding capabilities, and airline partnerships. The introduction of satellite connectivity to maintain communication without cellular signals is especially significant for emergency preparedness, outdoor activities, and underserved coverage areas. The video revealed that the next wearable version of Android, Wear OS 6, is coming this year. Wear OS 6 places tactile and visual harmony at the forefront, adapting UI elements to the round watch face for a more natural and aesthetic feel. The notable 10% battery improvement demonstrates Google's technical focus on optimizing performance alongside style, essential for wearable devices where battery life remains a key limitation. The 'shape morphing' adaptive UI also indicates a shift toward more fluid, context-aware interfaces that respect device form factors. During the Android Show, Google said that in addition to coming to Wear OS later this year, its AI assistant Gemini will be making its way to cars, Google TV, and mixed-reality headsets this year. 'Gemini represents a significant step in AI assistant capabilities, moving beyond simple voice commands into collaborative, contextual assistance,' said Samat, adding that its integration of live screen and camera sharing is particularly innovative, allowing real-time visual context understanding—huge for troubleshooting, learning, or decision-making. Availability across multiple platforms and languages ensures accessibility and positions Gemini as a central node in Google's AI ecosystem.
India Today
15-05-2025
- India Today
Google teases Android smart glasses, likely to be unveiled at IO 2025
Google has all but confirmed that its long-anticipated Android smart glasses will take centre stage at the upcoming I/O 2025. This developer conference is scheduled for 20 May. The tech giant gave a clue about its smart glasses during the livestream of The Android Show: I/O Edition, where Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem, ended the broadcast by slipping on a futuristic-looking headset, teasing 'a few more really cool Android demos' for the big the concept of getting smart glasses from Google is not new. The tech giant has flirted with the idea of smart glasses before, with one of the most notable being Google Glass. However, this device didn't work out well for the company and was eventually discontinued. We can say the Google Glass was not very refined and was too wacky. In fact, the concept was also too early to make its way into the market. But now, particularly after success of the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, Google feels that it needs to enter the arena had earlier shown the prototype of the Android smart glasses multiple times. At the TED 2025 'Humanity Reimagined' event in Vancouver, the company showcased a working prototype of its Android XR glasses. Unlike earlier efforts, these new glasses closely resemble ordinary eyewear — like Meta's Ray-Ban — but come equipped with a suite of advanced features powered by Gemini, Google's generative AI. Android XR smart glasses demo advertisementThe prototype also showcased features like real-time transcription, translation, and even a memory function. This feature uses the onboard camera and AI to keep track of what the user is seeing — such as helping them recall where they last left their keys. Google even demonstrated how the prototype can record real-time conversations and perform visual recognition. Looking at it, the Android smart glasses seem far more refined and smarter than Google feature which looks promising is a built-in display. However, according to reports, the final product expected to debut at I/O might not include one. According to reports from South Korea's ETNews, Google is collaborating with Samsung on a separate smart glasses initiative codenamed 'Haean.' While these smart glasses are still in the production stage, they are rumoured to arrive as a direct competitor to Meta's Ray-Ban smart Ray-Ban smart glasses cost Rs 29,900 in India and feature an ultra-wide 12-megapixel camera to capture photos and videos.
Phone Arena
14-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Here are all the Android devices that were showcased at the end of the Android Show stream
Google premiered a new episode of The Android Show on YouTube yesterday, giving us an early look at what to expect from Android 16 and beyond. Hosted by Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem, the stream walked viewers through some of the biggest updates coming to the platform, many of which will take center stage at this year's Google I/O — including that big Android 16 redesign to the Material 3 Expressive design one of the more fun moments came right at the end. Dieter Bohn, Director of Product Narrative at Google, made an appearance to showcase a wide range of Android devices. It was a reminder of how diverse the Android ecosystem has become, not just in terms of hardware design, but also in the experiences these phones offer. Dieter picked up and talked about a few of the devices, highlighting what makes each of them unique. Others were just sitting on the table, but still worth pointing out. We've identified all the phones shown in the clip and included a quick rundown below. If you're curious about the future of Android hardware, this is a great preview of what's coming. Dieter Bohn, Director of Product Narrative at Google, showcasing some notable Android phones. | Image credit — Google Below are all the phones we could identify that were shown during the segment: Here's a closer look at each one: Dieter called out the phone's beautiful display, with a matte finish that helps reduce glare. He also mentioned the strong performance, pro-light camera system, and native support for Gemini AI. In our review, we found the Galaxy S25 Ultra to be one of the most complete flagship phones right now. It features a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a quad-camera setup with a 200MP main sensor, and S Pen support. It's still a large phone, but the titanium build helps keep it more comfortable to hold. This one was praised for being a solid value pick. Dieter said it takes great photos with both its wide and ultrawide cameras, lasts over 30 hours on a charge, and comes with Gemini for conversational help. The Pixel 9a offers the same Tensor G4 chip as the higher-end models, making it fast and capable for its price. In our review, we highlighted the excellent photo quality, especially in low light, and the clean software experience with regular updates. The slightly larger OLED screen also makes it more enjoyable for watching content. A stylish flip phone with a twist. Dieter pointed out the unique wood finish on the back and its compact size. He also highlighted how it lets you manage tasks using Gemini directly from the external screen. We found it to be one of the most polished clamshell foldables yet. It has a massive cover screen that supports full apps, a slick hinge design, and a snappy Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. The cameras are decent for a foldable, and the design makes it super pocket-friendly without sacrificing functionality. Dieter said this phone stood out with its eye-catching lights on the back that provide helpful ambient info. It has a zoom lens and a dedicated button that can save notes and screenshots into an AI-powered memory system. We noted that the (3a) Pro keeps Nothing's unique design language but adds more practicality this year. The Glyph Interface now supports app-specific notifications, and the camera system is more versatile thanks to the inclusion of a telephoto lens. The software remains clean and fast, and battery life is solid. This phone wasn't discussed on camera, but it's known for its advanced camera setup and sleek design. Reviews have praised its image quality and performance, though battery life and software support may be areas to watch. In our review, we called the Xiaomi 15 Ultra one of the most impressive camera phones on the market, featuring dual 1-inch sensors and advanced computational photography. It's also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. However, the software may feel a bit heavy to users used to stock Android. Also shown but not discussed, the Z Fold 6 continues Samsung's push in foldables with improved durability, multitasking tools, and a streamlined design. It comes with the latest Snapdragon chip and Galaxy AI features. We noted that the Z Fold 6 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, with a redesigned hinge and brighter main display. It supports all the familiar multitasking tricks like split screen and pop-up windows. Another device spotted on the table. The OnePlus 13 features a large battery, premium build, and fast performance. Reviewers have liked its solid all-around user experience and its clean software approach. We found the OnePlus 13 to deliver excellent value, combining a 6.8-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and a huge 6,000 mAh battery. OxygenOS feels snappy, and the camera setup has improved dramatically, especially with the main and ultrawide sensors. It also supports 100W fast charging. While Dieter didn't call this one out by name, a closeup shot reveals a device that strongly resembles what we believe is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold . The bezels and screen shape match the ones in the physical device, though the back wasn't visible. In our review of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold , we found the device builds on Google's first-gen foldable with a sleeker design, better durability, and improved battery life. It features a brighter inner display, thinner bezels, and upgraded hinge mechanics that make it feel more premium. The camera system has also been enhanced, and the inclusion of Gemini AI brings smarter multitasking and productivity features. With all of these phones in one place, it's clear Android is entering the next phase with a focus on design, AI, and hardware variety. If this lineup is any indication, there's a lot to look forward to when it comes to Android devices in the future.
