This year, Google I / O was full of new discoveries, useful features and tools that make me ask “what took so long?”
Here is a summary of the five largest messages, in no particular order.
Pixel Watch
Pixel Watch should be one of the most anticipated releases around the Google I / O event. Rumors have been circulating for months, and the loud applause that erupted from the audience after the watch was unveiled shows the excitement surrounding Google’s entry into the smartwatch market.
Pixel Watch has a round dome and is made of recycled stainless steel. Custom straps are also available and can be easily attached / detached. The device will be integrated with Fitbit. You can read more about the watch here.
Pixel 6a / Pixel 7
The second expected hardware was the Pixel 6a. It has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a centered selfie camera with hole punching and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The device uses a Tensor processor and a Titan M2 chip and offers the same power as the Pixel 6Pro.
The Pixel 6a will cost $ 599 in Canada, but it is unclear when pre-orders will open.
Image credit: Google
Google also offered a cheeky unveiling of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The visual view included only the back of the devices, showing an aluminum coating. More information can be found here.
Language characteristics
Google I / O includes various updates that include language in one way or another.
Let’s start with Google Translate, which now includes 24 new languages. Updates include Native American languages such as Quechua, Rani, and Imatra. The new additions mean that Google Translate already supports 133 languages.
Image credit: Google
Automatically translated captions are now live for YouTube videos on mobile. Viewers can view captions in 16 different languages and access transcripts.
Google also visualizes its AR glasses, which allow users to access translated live dialogue in a language they understand. The promotional video shows that you are just wearing the glasses and someone is talking directly to a participant, which leads to a translated text on the lens.
TL; DR
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said he was looking for the acronym TL; DR when he came across a long document or email. It means “Too long, I haven’t read” and is the basis of a new feature that makes Google Docs more effective.
The automated summary condenses large pieces of text and extracts key pieces of information for the reader to review. Although currently only available for Google Docs, the feature will work with Workspace. Google says it will come to Google Chat in the coming months.
Monk Skin Tone Scale (MST).
Google uses the work of sociologist and Harvard professor Dr. Ellis Monk to provide users with access to images and other forms of content that represent them.
The ten skin tones that make up the scale. Image credit: Google
Dr. Monk’s scale includes ten different skin tones, and Google will include it with its Search feature and Google Photos. You can read more about it here.
Image credit: Google
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