Google IO 2013 video highlights: was this year a home run or snoozer? [POLL]
There were a lot of totally new apps and services announced today during the Google IO keynote address, and where we’ve been covering all of them throughout the day, we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss a thing. That’s why we’ve put them all together in one place, wrapping up all of today’s biggest announcements into a single post. We’ve got some nice highlight videos from all of today’s events, so sit back and check ’em out.
900 Million Android Devices Activated to Date
Because Android is an open mobile OS, it means just about anyone can install it to whatever device they want. With that, comes device activations growing an exponential rate — 900 million in this year alone. Can’t stop this Android train from tootin’ along its path for world domination.
Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition Announced
It was one of the day’s bigger announcements: a Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition. It’s the same device you know and love only without all those “gimmicky” features TouchWiz (er, Nature UX) brings. The device will go on sale in June for $650.
Google Play Game Services Announced
Google has officially announced a new Google Play Services API, one we all know as Google Play Games. Google Play Games will introduce services developers can build into their games to provide an all new gaming experience that features things like cloud-saving, achievements and leader boards, low-latency multiplayer matchmaking and more
Google Play Music All Access Announced
Google has officially announced its new music streaming service. The service will come as part of Google Play Music, and gets a sub tag called All Access. With All Access, you’ll get immediate and instant access to millions of tracks in the Google Play Store.
Google Play for Education Initiative Announced
Perhaps one of the more unappreciated parts of the Google IO press conference was Google’s education initiative. El Goog is building a Play Store specially for teachers and students, giving those in the education field an avenue to find apps, games and content that will help in the ever-important process of educating the world’s youth.
Google+ Update Brings New UI, Hangouts, and Easy Photo Editing
Google has announced a ton of new features for its social networking service, Google+. Emphasis has been put on the main stream, Google+ Hangouts, and Google’s photo features.
Google Maps Update Brings All New Revamped UI
Google introduces an all new Maps experience for Android users and the desktop at Google IO 2013. Here are all the details, coming soon to Android devices and the web this summer. Early access invite page can also be found here as well.
Now that you’ve been brought up to speed on Google IO 2013, we want to hear what you think. We’ve been reading through your comments on many of today’s announcements and not everything has been 100% kosher. There are a lot of changes and with changes comes resistance. Taking into account there was no new “X Phone” announcements, or even a new version of Android (not even 4.3 Jelly Bean), in your honest opinion: would you guys say Google IO 2013 was a home run, or complete snoozefest? After you take our poll, let us know why in the comments.
[polldaddy poll=7107301]