At 13 o'clock on May 11, US Eastern time (1 o'clock on May 12, Beijing time), Google's 2022 annual Developer Conference Google I / O will begin. At this conference, new hardware products may play a leading role, overshadowing the updates of Android 13 and other operating systems.
Google 2022 Developer Conference
This year, Google may release a variety of hardware products in its keynote speech. Rumors have been circulating in the market about Google's first wearable device, pixel watch, and the mid-range model of pixel 6 flagship last year. Moreover, the outside world may see a new real wireless headset coming out, and even more surprises.
Here are the new hardware products or system updates that Google may release:
Hardware:
Google watch is finally coming
Pixel watch prototype
The news that Google has developed its own smart watch has been around for a long time, but it may eventually come in 2022. Its configuration and design have been leaked. The document of the U.S. patent and Trademark Office also revealed its name, pixel watch. Most importantly, however, the prototype of the smart watch was found abandoned in a restaurant, resulting in a large number of photos being posted online. From these leaked information, the outside world began to have an in-depth understanding of the pixel watch. The biggest question now is whether all Google's investments (including billions of dollars in Fitbit) can create a real challenge Apple Dominant products.
Midrange mobile phone pixel 6A
Pixel 6A rendering
Over the past three years, Google has launched a more affordable and less equipped mid-range mobile phone version after each pixel flagship. This year, it's pixel 6's turn, but there are rumors that pixel 6A may be different from previous A-Series phones. Although mobile phones such as pixel 4A and 5A are equipped with camera functions similar to flagship machines and degrade the processor performance, it is reported that pixel 6A may overturn this practice. 9to5 Google reported last year that the new phone may use the same tensor processor as the pixel 6, but the main camera sensor will be downgraded from 50 million pixels of the pixel 6 to 12 million pixels. Google's mid-range mobile phone is usually released in August, and its debut at the Google developer conference is a little earlier, but judging from Google's recent submission to the Federal Communications Commission, its launch may be just around the corner.
True wireless headset pixel pads Pro
This rumor is uncertain, but according to the news recently revealed by twitter source Jon Prosser, Google is preparing to release a set of real wireless headphones called pixel pads pro. Their potential functions and specifications are unclear, but the word "pro" in the headset name is usually used to indicate that they support active noise reduction - this will be the first time that Google real wireless headset supports active noise reduction. Google currently only sells a true wireless headset pixel buses a series, which was originally released as a cheap version of the second-generation pixel buses. However, with the shutdown of pixel buses, Google currently only has pixel buses a series, so it is natural to add Pro brand headphones.
New smart display nest hub
Given that it is only a year since Google released its last nest hub smart display, it seems too early to expect its follow-up products. However, a report from 9to5 Google in March said that the outside world may see a tablet with a detachable screen later this year, which can be used as a tablet. From the shape, it looks like an ideal smart home controller, which also explains why Google is re focusing on tablets. However, the release date of the new device is vague "2022", so there is no guarantee that Google will show the new device this week or whether it really exists.
Software:
Android 13 details are ready to come out
Android 13 app notification request
In terms of software, Google will preview the next major version of the mobile operating system: Android 13. Technically, it has been released in beta, which gives the outside world a glimpse of Google's update plan in advance. However, only after the opening of the developer conference can the outside world fully understand Google's overall vision for Android 13. So far, it looks like Android 13 will continue a lot of work started by Google from Android 12. Last year's customized theme material you looks likely to expand to cover more user interface elements in the operating system. Google will continue to restrict which operating systems Android apps can access by default. Any news about major new initiatives may be revealed in Google's keynote speech.
Foldable device optimization system Android 12L
Android 13 is not the only major update Google has made to its mobile operating system this year. There is also a new version of the operating system Android 12L optimized for tablets and foldable devices. It will be released sometime this year and will be installed on Samsung, Lenovo and Microsoft devices. The developer conference is a good time for Google to provide more specific details. In addition to the system, there have long been rumors that Google is also developing one or two foldable devices. There have been rumors that these products will be launched last year, but considering that there has been no news leakage recently, these products do not seem to be released immediately. Although Samsung is currently developing the third generation of foldable mobile phones, foldable mobile phones are still very small products outside China.
Wearable and TV system
Of course, Android is not the only operating system managed by Google. The company also has a wear operating system for smart watches. If Google releases pixel watch this week, this operating system will certainly attract some attention. Even if it is not released, a year after Google announced the merger of its platform with Samsung's tizen, Google is likely to explain more about the future development direction of the system.
Google also has Android TV and Google TV systems, which are designed for TV. These systems will introduce some new features this year, as a Google product manager said in January. In addition to providing more smart home control and video conference services, the company is obviously interested in supporting home fitness.
Application and service updates
In addition to hardware and platform related updates, if Google does not announce some updates to its many applications and services, the keynote speech will not be complete. Last year, for example, the locked folder feature of Google photo albums, the augmented reality view update of Google maps, and the new "smart canvas" program of office productivity software were designed to make its services more interconnected.
Surprise
In addition to traditional product launches, the Google developer conference can always bring some surprises. Last year, Google announced an experiment called project Starline, which is actually a video chat system designed to create the impression that you are sitting opposite someone hundreds of miles away. Like other AR / VR projects people have heard of (such as rainbow film project augmented reality headset), it is not a real product and may not appear until 2024 at the earliest. But Google is often keen to showcase such early R & D projects, and this year is unlikely to be an exception. (author / Xiao Yu)
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