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With Google’s I/O 2015 kick-off event now in the books, it’s time to look back and take stock of what we did — and, more importantly, didn’t — get from Google.
Lori Grunin has the quick take on everything Google just announced, including Android M, the next version of its mobile operating system, updates to Android Wear
, and a new free photo-management service called Photos. As part of that service, Android, iOS and Web users can now back up and store unlimited, (that means up to 16 megapixels and 1080/60p video).
A few Google products rolled out in advance of the conference. There was Android Auto, with support from over 35 manufacturers, along with a development kit for its 3D-mapping and motion-sensing Project Tango tablet. And we’ve got a review of the just released Nvidia Shield microconsole, notable because it runs on the new Android TV platform.
But there were plenty of high-profile Google gadgets that didn’t make an appearance. Here’s our current scorecard of potential coming-soon products.
New Nexus smartphone
With the Nexus 6 coming out at the end of last year, Google’s Nexus line of smartphones isn’t due for a refresh quite yet, but we hoped we’d get a sneak peek at what Google might have in store for us, particularly with the arrival of several new Android hero phones from the likes of Samsung, LG and HTC in recent weeks. The latest rumors put a pair of Nexus phones on deck for later this year.
Enlarge ImageJames Martin / CNET
New Nexus tablets
Google recently announced it was discontinuing its Nexus 7 tablet, a 2013 product, and it hasn’t announced anything new to replace it. While the Nexus 9 came out at the end of last year, the tablet market has stalled as of late, so we may not see anything new for a while. That’s a shame, because Nexus tablets are generally very good values — at least, compared to Apple’s iPads.
Google Glass 2
There’s a been a lot of talk about Google rolling out a successor to its much-hyped, then much-maligned experimental eyewear, Google Glass . In Richard Nieva’s recent piece on the rise and fall of Google Glass, he writes that, “Google paused the project in January, halting the Explorer program and discontinuing production of the costly prototype. It’s reportedly working on a new model it hopes won’t alienate so many people.”
When we’ll see it, we don’t know, but expect the rumors to ramp up around this time next year.
Sarah Tew/CNET
New Android Wear hardware
Google talked up what seemed like some minor improvements to its Android Wear platform (those updates were actually announced in April), but didn’t show off any flashy new hardware in the process. The LG Watch Urbane , which we reviewed recently, is the first to include those updates, but Google didn’t highlight that smartwatch — or any other new smartwatches — as part of its Android Wear presentation.
Project Ara
Back at CES in January, Google got some press for Project Ara, its snap-together smartphone platform that allowed you to customize components to your liking. Phone-maker Yezz actually has a Project Ara prototype and hopes to start selling Ara modules later this year (the frames or “endoskeletons” will be sold by Google). No updates from Google on Project Ara, though.
Enlarge ImageLynn La/CNET
Project Tango
Google’s Project Tango tablet is geared toward professional developers interested in working on 3D or depth-sensing programs, and Google recently released a developer kit for it. We actually think it’s one of the best tablets of the year , but it isn’t a consumer product. Whatever the case, it didn’t get a formal invite to this year’s I/O dance.
Project Fi wireless service
Google recently announced that it was working with carriers Sprint and T-Mobile to offer a wireless service that would seamlessly switch between Wi-Fi hotspots and 4G LTE cellular networks. It was calling the service Project Fi.
The idea is to combine Wi-Fi with cellular service to come up with much cheaper service plans. We’re talking $20 a month.
Sounds intriguing, right? Which is why we were hoping we’d get some sort of update from Google at I/O on Project Fi. Not yet, anyway.
