Google I/O 2021 keynote highlights: Google announces new upgrades for Android 12, Google Maps, Google Photos and more

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• 00:35 (IST)

  This brings us to the end of Day 1 of Google I/O 2021

  Thanks for tuning in folks!

• 00:32 (IST)

  Here's what Google has to say about the Project Starline

  Imagine a magic window, and through that window you see another person, life-size and in three dimensions.
  
  Project Starline is a technology project that combines advances in hardware and software to help people feel like they're together, even when they're apart. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/2yNJrXoQcx

  — Google (@Google) May 18, 2021

  ript>

• 00:31 (IST)

  Google announces Project Starline

  Google gives us a glimpse of Project Starline, which uses high-resolution cameras and depth sensors to create 3D images of a person during a video interaction; making it like being seated across from them

  

• 00:24 (IST)

  Google Health

  Google Health has partnered with Northwestern Medicine to advance the use of AI in mammograms for quicker, more accurate detection of breast cancer cases

  Advances in AI can not only help clinicians triage patients more effectively, they can also help solve big health challenges. #GoogleIO @GoogleHealth pic.twitter.com/1u3h80a690

  — Google (@Google) May 18, 2021

  ript>

• 00:22 (IST)

  Google and Fitbit

  Fitbit is now part of the Google fold. Some of the most popular features of Fitbit will be available on Google's Wear watches, and the two will also co-develop new watches. 

• 00:20 (IST)

  Google partners with Samsung

  On the wearables front, Google has teamed up with Samsung to combine the strengths of Wear OS with those of Tizen for faster performance and improved battery life. 

  We’re combining the best of @wearosbygoogle and @SamsungMobile Tizen into a unified wearable platform. ⌚ Apps will start faster, battery life will be longer and you'll have more choice than ever before, from devices to apps and watch faces. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/vj2aYZD81x

  — Google (@Google) May 18, 2021

• 00:16 (IST)

  Android 12 will come with support for 'Digital Car key' 

  Google will roll out the 'Digital Car Key' feature later this year, which will let car owners lock, unlock or start their vehicle with the help of NFC. To be available on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices. 

  

• 00:14 (IST)

  Android 12 connectivity

  You can now unlock and share files from ChromeBook directly via your Android phone. Google says that TV remote will come built into the phone and will work with Android TV. 

  

• 00:10 (IST)

  Android 12 comes with new features for privacy

  A new privacy dashboard will show what type of data was accessed and when. A new indicator has been added that will let users know when an app using their camera or microphone. 

• 00:08 (IST)

  Here's how the new Android 12 looks!

  Android has a new look. Inspired by Material You, we’ve rethought the entire experience for #Android12, from colors to shapes, light and motion. It’s more personal and expressive — a one-of-a-kind design, just for you. pic.twitter.com/xCRLr7XLWM

  — Google (@Google) May 18, 2021

• 00:06 (IST)

  ...and more design changes

  You can now summon Google Assistant by long pressing the power button. 

  

• 00:05 (IST)

  Android 12 design change updates!

  The new UI will come with a new 'Colour extraction' feature that creates a custom pallet based on the wallpaper you're using. You get a new lockscreen that supports dynamic light. The clock on the lockscreen also appears larger when you dont have any notifications. The 'quick settings' of the notification bar also includes Google Pay and Home controls. 

  

• 23:54 (IST)

  Google announces a new 'Material You' design that will roll out in Android 12 update

  ✨ Announcing Material You, a transformation in design at Google ✨
  
  Be a co-creator of your digital experiences. Coming first to Pixel with #Android12
  
  Learn more about the #MaterialDesign vision 👉https://t.co/Otb86qTQRR pic.twitter.com/04ARxOTbVa

  — Material Design at #GoogleIO (@materialdesign) May 18, 2021

• 23:52 (IST)

  Getting over a breakup? Google Photos will now help you by not showing images and videos of certain people!

  We're making it easier to choose the content you look back on. You can prevent photos of certain people or time periods from showing up in Memories in just a few taps. We’re also making it possible to remove a single photo from a Memory, rename it or remove it entirely. pic.twitter.com/eMgiJ3Ywt6

  — Google Photos (@googlephotos) May 18, 2021

• 23:48 (IST)

  Google Photos also gets new features

  The new 'Little Patterns' feature can read visual similarities between different pictures and present them as an assembled memory. Google Photos will also now sort images for memories basis of the occasion they were taken on. For example, pictures shot during Diwali will be presented as 'Diwali'.

  

• 23:43 (IST)

  Google brings new features for Google Shop
  The new "Shopping Graph" is a knowledge graph for shopping that shows reviews, pricing, video and more. It uses Lens, Photos, Search, Chrome and YouTube to gather information and allow users to shop easily. 

  

• 23:38 (IST)

  Google Maps will also show how busy an area is

  We’re making it easier to explore with Live View.
  
  Soon you’ll be able to access it right from the map to see helpful details about places nearby — like their busyness, reviews, photos, and more. #GoogleIO pic.twitter.com/V2g5Q8s7rR

  — Google Maps (@googlemaps) May 18, 2021

• 23:34 (IST)

  Google announces new improvements for Google Maps

  Google Maps' AR view feature will allow users to just point at a place like restaurant and instantly get details like reviews, how crowded they are and more. It will also work indoors to help users navigate buildings like Airports. 

  

• 23:27 (IST)

  Google announces new AR features for 'Search'

  Starting today, users will be able to see some of the world's best athletes via AR on Google Search

• 23:22 (IST)

  Google announces MUM (Multitask Unified Model)

  Google unveils the Multitask Unified Model (MUM) for Google Search, which will enable results that accurately answer a conversational and nuanced query. It can offer advice on what sort of prep would be needed for a hike to Mount Fuji... #GoogleIO #GoogleIO2021 pic.twitter.com/G5uZQ4ldiw

  — Tech2 (@tech2eets) May 18, 2021

• 23:20 (IST)

  More privacy related features

  You can now use "Delete last 15 minutes" feature to delete your recent search history. You will now be reminded to turn off your location history incase you didn't want to save it. Google is also bringing 'Locked Folder' for photos and videos that will need your password or fingerprint to open.  

  

• 23:13 (IST)

  New Password Manager upgrades announced

  The new 'Import Passwords' tool will now make it easier for users to import passwords from other password managers. 'Alert Password' will alert users if any of their saved password have become compromised in a third-party breach. Google Assistant will help you navigate directly to the compromised account so that you can quickly change its password. 

• 23:06 (IST)

  'Auto-delete' feature

  After 18 months, your data will be automatically get deleted unless you choose to do it sooner. 

• 23:02 (IST)

  Google announces TPU V4, a machine learning chipset

  Google reveals that TPU's are connected to super computers called pods. One Pod contains 4.096 V4 chipsets which is "10X the bandwidh per chip at scale to any other network technology". 

  

• 22:54 (IST)

  More about 'LamDA'

  Sunder Pichai announces 'LamDA', Google's latest innovation in natural language understanding. A language model for dialogue applications, LamDA is open-domain, which means it's open to all manner of conversations. #GoogleIO #GoogleIO2021 pic.twitter.com/YBFIR7s0UF

  — Tech2 (@tech2eets) May 18, 2021

• 22:52 (IST)

  Sundar Pichai announces 'Lamda' 

  It is a language model for dialogue applications.Notably, it is still in development

  

• 22:45 (IST)

  Google Meet gets a 'Companion Mode' 

  With this mode, "each remote person gets their 'own video tile' in Meet.. It will roll out later this year.

  

• 22:42 (IST)

  Google introduces smart canvas for Google Workspace

  This will allow users to collaborate and communicate effectively while working with a team. 

  

• 22:38 (IST)

  Google announces eco-friendly, safer routes features for Google Maps

  This will reduce fuel consumption

  

• 22:33 (IST)

  Google CEO Sundar Pichai is now live from Mountain View. 

• 22:04 (IST)

  The event is about to begin!

  Stay tuned for all the live updates..

  So excited that #GoogleIO is back! See you in 30 mins, live from Mountain View:) https://t.co/RN9cmLt58c pic.twitter.com/tWgRERFSLe

  — Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) May 18, 2021

• 22:03 (IST)

  Google IO 2021 livestream link

• 22:02 (IST)

  Pixel Watch expected specifications
  Going by the images shared by tipster Jon Prosser, the new Pixel Watch will have a circular dial with a physical crown, just like a traditional watch. In addition to this, it might come with interchangeable straps and a heart rate tracker.

  Google has recently hinted in a tweet that it will announce a new version of WearOS. It is expected that the rumoured Pixel Watch will run on WearOS.

• 22:00 (IST)

  Google Pixel Buds A series expected specifications
  Google’s official Android account on Twitter accidentally announced the Pixel Buds A earlier this month. The design looks identical to Google’s last month’s promotional email leak, but the all-white case is slightly different from the Panda-style colour scheme in the earlier image, indicating its availability in different colour options such as all-white or dark ‘forest green’. The inside of the charging case as well as the tips and wings of the buds are green.

  In terms of design, the new Pixel Buds A look similar to the first-generation buds, except they will be priced lower, a fact denoted by the ‘A’ branding used on the affordable Pixel phones.

• 21:55 (IST)

  Android 12 expected features
  As per tipster Jon Prosser, alongside the newly redesigned Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggle in the notification bar, there will be a new music widget, a new clock widget and a weather widget. There will be a few new small changes in the user interface. The updated Android 12 UI is also expected to come with a volume slider and new lock screen with larger clock text.

  The tipster further revealed that the new OS will also allow notification grouping where users can select apps of their choice. New animations are also expected to make their way in the upcoming set of updates.

• 21:48 (IST)

  New Android 12 updates are expected at the tonight's event 

  This year, the company is likely to announce a few UI updates for Android 12 that includes new widgets, animations and more.

• 21:47 (IST)

  Hi there! Welcome to the liveblog of Google I/O 2021

  The event will begin shortly! Catch all the live updates here
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