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Google previews completely redesigned Android “L”, Android TV, ‘Android Auto’ CarPlay competitor, & more at I/O

Google’s response to Apple’s WWDC kicks off today with the opening keynote address at the Google I/O conference and, like Apple, this time around Google gave a full preview of the next version of Android ahead of a fall release. Android “L” (we’re assuming a dessert name will be decided on later) introduces a completely new design language as well as major enhancements for battery life, a new Android Runtime to replace Dalvik, and integration with its Android Wear platform. We also got a look at its answer to CarPlay and Apple TV: Android Auto and an accompanying SDK for developers and a revamped ‘Android TV’ platform. Also new is the Android One program to help get devices into emerging markets and a Continuity like feature for Chromebooks and Android devices.

Google’s Sundar Pichai, who had some words about Tim Cook recently, also shared some numbers on Android that appeared to be in response to Cook’s comment at WWDC regarding Android switchers and the platform’s security. Google claimed it now has 1 billion 30-day active users and also shared that it’s now at 62% of the overall tablet market. That market is based on shipments, however, so to drive the point home Google gave us a number on usage: 42% of YouTube usage on tablets is Android. He also made reference to the fact that Android had many of the features that Apple just introduced– widgets, third-party keyboards– as far back as 2009. 

Head below for a roundup of all the news from 9to5Google:

Google announces Android ‘L’ with ‘Material Design’, developer preview coming soon

Google announces Android One program to create high quality, affordable smartphones in developing markets

Numbers from Google I/O: Over 1 billion 30 day active users, 62% of overall tablet market

Android “L” will include Factory Reset Protection (kill switch) and Universal Data Controls (privacy) to enhance security

Google announces Android Auto connected car platform

Google announces over 300 million active mobile web users

Google announces Project Volta & Battery Saver to vastly improve battery life on Android

“L” version of Android to drop Dalvik, introduce new Android Runtime with better performance, graphics

Android TV: Google’s next foray into the living room announced

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

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Comments

  1. 1 billion users, wow, sounds impressive. How many of them will be able to upgrade to this new version?

    • Tim Cleary - 10 years ago

      I’d say ’bout tree fitty

    • Edison Wrzosek - 10 years ago

      And out of those 1 billion users, 800 million of them don’t use the devices to go online and instead just play Candy Crush with stutter, because that’s all their good for. This backed up by Internet usage statistics from multiple sources monthly (not the Candy Crush part though)…

  2. axecop - 10 years ago

    We already know that Android white box tablets are simply for viewing media. Pretty hilarious to tout those as some magic stat…

    • Edison Wrzosek - 10 years ago

      They have to tout something, otherwise what can they do?

      • Nycko Heimberg - 10 years ago

        Google takes simply a big advance on iOs….
        Looked you at the demo of ChromeCast?
        Google used an iPhone 5.
        Are not racist Google.

      • thejuanald - 10 years ago

        They can be well ahead of the game when it comes to phones, tablets and TV when compared to apple. Jesus, reading some of your comments is hilarious. This I/O must have really hurt your sensibilities because you’re acting really defensive.

      • Avenged110 - 10 years ago

        There’s a difference between being defensive and making note of embellishment.

  3. kyle3lias - 10 years ago

    I dislike Google every day a bit more.

  4. Sumit Agnihotri - 10 years ago

    not even 14 % can get New version of android …

  5. I’m an Apple & Google user. I temper my usage of Google products because I don’t like the idea of my “stats” being used for… Well… Advertising, various metrics, and I’m sure a ton of other stuff that they don’t tell you about. Google isn’t doing anything for free. So the question has to be, “Why?” The “why” is advertising and money collected from data that they can sell to advertisers. Or should I say, data that they can show advertisers to entice them to advertise with various Google properties. Now Google will actively use what you watch, listen to, analyze the location of where your pictures were taken (sell that info to vacation companies) and scan your documents. One day someone will get a warrant to search your “Unlimited” Google drive for anti-government propaganda.

    Yeah… I thought Facebook was becoming the Skynet of the future. Now I’m thinking Google and Facebook might be in a race for that title.

    • Xavier Poirot (@dalaen) - 10 years ago

      Google is a true competitor for your last line.

      Seriously, I was flabbergasted seeing “Users switch on their phone x times a day, takes y pictures per day, look up their emails z times a day”… They’re not even ashamed of it!

      • thejuanald - 10 years ago

        You do know Apple tracks lots of stats like this as well, right?

      • Xavier Poirot (@dalaen) - 10 years ago

        Yes. At the same level I don’t know, but sure.
        However, Apple’s PR doesn’t show “x selfies per day” next to a phone showing actual people’s pictures.

        I’m sure the pictures are taken from public Internet, or maybe they’re from their own employees. That’s not the problem. The problem is the poor image of themselves they’re showing.
        When you saw that presentation, you’re clearly aware they analyze your whole daily usage, and not necessarily for the best.

      • Avenged110 - 10 years ago

        Except whatever stats Apple takes are another form of R&D to influence future products. Google just does to sell it for advertising purposes.

      • milindrao - 10 years ago

        What is there to be ashamed? I have no problem with them using my data to provide targeted ads. Google is the only place I don’t turn off ads. Go to many websites and you will see annoying flashing ads or irrelevant ads. Google’s ads are actually useful.

        On Android especially, Google Now uses that information to give me very useful contextual information. It parses through my mail and let’s me know the time oft flight. It knows where I am and the traffic to the airport and notifies me when I should leave. Gives me a card packages being delivered so I can track them without having me dig through my mail. And all this is opt-in.

        Potential for abuse? Sure. But they are obviously aware that if they lose trust, they will lose users. The people who find it creepy (and it certainly comes close) will move away from Google. The vast majority of us find it incredibly useful.

  6. It’s funny, everyone says that Apple lack of innovation, but I’m seeing a copy with Google logos of Apple CarPlay.

    • You’re right. It was amusing to me to see “redesigned” Android (iOS redesign last year), Android TV (huge things to happen to Apple TV are rumoured) and Android Auto (do I need to say more?). They just don’t know what to do and they definitely can’t make that right. Apple will show them once again.

  7. Xavier Poirot (@dalaen) - 10 years ago

    By the way, x% of users from Fortune 100 have chosen Google.
    Yeah, Google. Not especially Android or anything, Google.

  8. scumbolt2014 - 10 years ago

    Where’s the Android Android Skynet?

  9. herb02135go - 10 years ago

    If you want to see the feature Apple will have next season just look at Samsung today.

    Clearly the fanboys are scared.

  10. standardpull - 10 years ago

    All this but the still struggle with understanding Do Not Track. It’s too hard for them to figure out if they should support user privacy wishes or sell that private data to the highest anonymous bidder.

    • milindrao - 10 years ago

      Google does not sell your data to anyone. They sell ads which they deliver from a pool of ads targeting what they believe will be of interest to you. Any data that they share with others is anonymized and rolled up.

  11. andreww500 - 10 years ago

    As a huge Apple fan, I hate to say it but Android Auto seems better than CarPlay, Android TV better than Apple TV and some design elements of L look better than iOS 8. Lets just hope there are some exciting things to be announced in the coming months. The Moto 360 looks fantastic but Android Wear looks pretty unintuitive and still pretty useless. Looking forward to see Apple do it right.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.