Highlights from Google I/O keynote: Major announcements made on Day 1

Google I/O 2021 sent the tech-space buzzing on Tuesday after the keynote, which included a flurry of announcements about their new products and services, including the introduction of the new-look Android 12. While some announcements were foreseen by users, others took them by surprise.

1) The revamped Android

Android OS, which is considered to be one of the most user-friendly software in the techs-space, was given a makeover by Google at the I/O keynote. While the freedom to customise your device remains to be the leading selling point, the “Material You” design adds a pop of colour to screens.

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2) Google-Samsung team up

The two tech giants formed a coalition to develop their wearable products. The announcement meant that Samsung will use Google Wear’s OS for its upcoming Galaxy smartwatches instead of its own Tizen platform. Bjorn Kilburn, the project director for Google Wear said at the event, “We’re bringing the best of Wear and Tizen into a single, unified platform”, reported AFP.

3) Moving image tech

Google Photos, a cloud-based software offered by the company, will be enriched with moving image tech. This addition will allow users to multiple still photos to create a moving image. However, social media reactions have pointed out that a similar feature was developed by rival Apple years ago.

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4) Google’s Quantum AI campus

The new campus, which was announced at the virtual keynote session, will be situated in California’s Santa Barbara area. According to the announcements, the campus will be responsible for conducting research on the unfolding field of quantum computing and developing its own quantum processor chips, reported AFP.

5) Google goes sustainable

Sundar Pichai, the company’s CEO, said that harnessing the potential of geothermal energy would be high on Google’s priority list while making efforts for the environment. “We need to go beyond wind and solar and tap into sources of on-demand clear energy like geothermal”, he said at the event.