Every year at Google I/O, we see exciting new technology from Google. Android’s goal has always been to make computing accessible to many people. With over 3 billion active devices worldwide, Android has proven its global usefulness. Today, we highlighted our efforts to enhance connectivity and create a seamless ecosystem of devices. We’re using AI to improve customization and self-expression on Android. Stay tuned to learn more about the exciting updates and features coming to Android.
Android devices, like tablets and foldable, have improved quality and app experiences. Over 50 Google apps, including Gmail, Photos, and Meet, have been optimized for larger screens. Popular apps like Spotify, Minecraft, and Disney+ look great on larger screens and are easy to use. Foldable devices, like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and devices from other brands, offer smooth transitions and improved layouts. You can switch between tasks seamlessly as you fold and unfold your phone. Wear OS, the smartwatch platform, has grown significantly since 2021 and is the fastest-growing platform. Developers are investing in Wear OS, with WhatsApp soon releasing their first-ever smartwatch app. Exciting updates are coming to Wear OS, including new experiences from Gmail, Calendar, and more.
Android TV OS is now the top streaming platform worldwide for TVs, offering over 800 free TV channels in one place. Android Auto provides in-car experiences and will be available in 200 million cars this year. More car models will have Google built-in, doubling the current number by the end of the year. Google and Samsung are collaborating on a new immersive XR platform powered by Android, with more details to come later this year.
Android focuses on connecting different devices and enhancing their compatibility. Fast Pair makes it quick to pair over 300 headphones with your devices. Casting allows easy streaming of video and audio to various devices, supporting over 3,000 apps. Nearby Share, available on 3 billion devices, simplifies content sharing between your phone, tablet, Chromebook, and even Windows PCs (in Beta globally).
Find My Device is getting an update to support a wider range of devices from different brands. You’ll be able to track devices like headphones and tablets using Find My Device. To ensure your privacy and safety, unknown tracker alerts will notify you if an unrecognized tracking tag is detected. These alerts will help you locate the unknown tracker and ensure your devices are secure. For more information on these new experiences, you can refer to the provided blog post.
Android utilizes AI innovations to provide users with the benefits of Google’s AI at a large scale. AI models have helped protect Android users from 100 billion suspected spam messages in the past year. New AI-powered features are being introduced to make your phone more personalized, such as Magic Compose, Cinematic Wallpaper, and Generative AI Wallpaper. To learn more about these features, you can refer to the provided blog post.
Android not only connects devices but also connects people to each other. Group chats on Android allow seamless sharing of high-quality images and videos, typing notifications, and end-to-end encryption. Android has collaborated with major carriers and manufacturers to adopt RCS (Rich Communication Services) for improved messaging experiences. Currently, there are over 800 million people using RCS, with the goal of reaching 1 billion by the end of the year. Android aims for all mobile operating systems to adopt this messaging standard. Android is committed to bringing the benefits of computing to everyone through a complete ecosystem of devices and AI enhancements. Stay tuned for upcoming features and continuous improvements to Android. Developers can visit the Android Developers Blog to learn how to create experiences for Android users across different screens.
