With only a few days to go before I/O finally kicks off, you’d think that the leaked info and the rumors would sort of die down, and everyone would sit tight to see what’s going to happen next, right? Well, this is Internet so, the chances of that happened are pretty slim now, aren’t they? It seems that Google is playing an interesting game when it comes to I/O, earlier we bought you the news that Sundar Pichai, head of Android, alluded to the fact that this year’s I/O was going to be about developers, and not product announcements. Now though, we’re hearing that Google do have at least one product to show off to the world, and improvements to those we know and love.
Android Authority have apparently spoken to “sources” that claim to have the low-down on just what Google are up to, and what they have to announce for us. In a nutshell, that includes some sort of smartwatch and changes to both Maps and GMail. There’s no telling just how reliable Android Authority’s sources are but, they did feel confident enough to publish their findings.
When it comes to Maps, we’re “Essentially, we’re set to get the iOS version of Maps, which is much prettier, on Android.” In that respect, the controls and UI of Maps are about to get out of everyone’s way and give more room to the actual…maps of Google Maps. All of this sounds very nice, after all sometimes too much happening on screen can be more of a hindrance than a help.
GMail is also set to go fullscreen with a UI change that brings gestures to the forefront. In this regard, the menu is said to be activated with a swipe in from the left, the bottom bar is to disappear and everything is to be cleaned up a little bit, bringing with it a much more fluid user experience. If anything, I am more excited for a change in GMail than I am Maps, as I rely on GMail more than anything else.
Now, for the Smartwatch, it’s said to operate much like Google’s Glass, with a UI that’s heavily influenced on the cards from Google Now. Apparently, the device has been shown off in a number of Google office around the globe such as the Berlin, Manchester, and Mountain View offices. Rumors first started surfacing when it hit the Berlin and Manchester offices. Unsurprisingly, the device needs to be tethered to a smartphone in order to function properly. It’s said to be launching “soon”.
While the updates to GMail and Maps seem very likely – Google like to show off their services at Google I/O. I am personally unsure if we will see a Smartwatch later in the week. I would love it if we did, let’s face it, we all secretly want a James Bond watch. Keep it locked to Android Headlines this week, as you bring you the biggest news from I/O as fast as we can type.
P.S. We’re fast typers.
[Source: Android Authority]