Google I/O 2019: highlights

General

• Focus on privacy.

AI

• Launches AI Impact Challenge ($25M)
• Demos Project Euphonia (understand the speech-impaired)
• Improves Google Assistant (10x faster, to be added to Waze)
• Expands Duplex to web (assistant for making restaurant or hairdresser reservations)
• Improves Lens & adds to Google Maps

Android

• Passes 2.5b active devices
• Launches Android Q (beta #3; incl Project Mainline: deliver important code changes to specific internal OS components directly from Google Play)
• Plans parental controls
• Adds Live Caption for real-time subtitles
• Works with Qualcomm on API improvement for 5G

Android TV

• Enables one-click subscribing
• Reaches 140 pay-TV operator integrations, 60% of smart TV manufacturers uses Android TV, total 1k content providers & 5k apps.

Devices

• Launches Pixel 3a (5.6 inch, $400) & 3a XL (6 inch, $480), Nest Hub Max (10 inch screen, video camera, $230)
• Considers foldable device
• Rebrands Home Hub to Nest Hub (drops price to $130, expands to 12 more countries)

AR

• To add AR to Google Maps (for Pixel users)
• Google Search results in 3D AR

Privacy

• Adds incognito mode to Google Maps

Search

• To add podcasts

Google hardware event: Pixel 3, Pixel Slate, Home Hub, Chromecast 3

Pixel 3

• Pixel 3 (5.5 inch, $800 with 64 GB, 900 with 128 GB) & Pixel 3 XL (6.3 inch, $900 with 64 GB, 1000 with 128 GB) in US
• Based on Android 9 Pie, Snapdragon 845, OLED, wireless charging, 4 GB RAM
• With Assistant, Lens, Call Screen (robot answering, based on Duplex), Super Res Zoom, Night Sight, Top Shot (8 photos burst, selects best with ML), Photobooth (based on Clips), Motion Auto Focus
• Pixel Stand (for charging, $80)

Google Home Hub

• Assistant Smart Display, smart speaker with 7-inch display, $150, in US, UK, Australia
• With Assistant, personal info, Home View dashboard for smart home device control, access to Google Photos, YouTube & YouTube TV

Pixel Slate

• Tablet, 8 or 16 GB RAM, from $600
• With Chrome OS
• Sparate Slate Keyboard ($200), Pixelbook Pen ($100), Folio (cover, $200)

Chromecast 3

• 1080p, 60 fps, $35, in US, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ, Denmark, Finland, NL, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Singapore

Google launch event: Pixel 2/2 XL, Pixel Buds, Clips, Home Mini/Max, Pixelbook, Pixelbook Pen

Google launches new hardware & software/AI.

Hardware

• Smart speakers
• Google Home Mini ($50)
• Google Home Max ($400; with Smart Sound (adjusts to positioning in the room), Voice Match (identifies user))
• Laptop
• Google Pixelbook (from $1000, 3 versions; with 12.3 inch touchscreen)
• Smart pen
• Google Pixelbook Pen ($100; for Pixelbook)
• Smartphones
• Google Pixel 2 (5 inch; $650 or 750 for 64 or 128 GB)
• Google Pixel 2 XL (6 inch; $850 or 950 for 64 or 128 GB)
• work with Project Fi, eSIM, Android 8.0 Oreo, Active Edge (squeeze to activate Assistant)
• unlimited free photo/video storage
• Google Lens, Now Playing
• accessories (incl. certification program for 3rd party manufacturers 'made for Google')
• New Daydream View headset ($100)
• currently over 250 apps & games
• AR/VR for Pixel 2/2 XL: AR Stickers, AR apps (Houzz, League of Legends, Lego)
• Headphones
• Google Pixel Buds ($160; wireless)
• Camera
• Google Clips ($250; 8 GB; lightweight hands-free camera, control via app, makes clips, unlimited free storage)

Software/AI

• Google Assistant (on all devices) to add
• choice of voices (choice of 2)
• Family Link (game playing)
• manage home routines
• transactions (starting with 1-800-Flowers, Applebee’s, Panera, Ticketmaster)
• broadcast (to all Google Homes)
• Nest control
• Identification/recognition
• Google Pixelbook Pen: handwriting
• Google Clips: faces
• Google Lens: landmarks, books, music albums, movies, artwork
• Now Playing: songs
• Real-time translation in Google Translate on Pixel: speech