Google I/O 2015 Developer Conference Highlights, Keynote Speakers, and Program Schedule: 8 Things To Know

Sundar Pichai Speaks At Google I/O
Sundar Pichai speaking at Google I/O developer conference on June 2014. |

Android, Chrome, Chrome OS, Google API, Google Web updates, and latest news in software development will all be presented at the 2015 Google I/O developer conference on Thursday, May 28 and Friday, May 29 at San Francisco, California. The conference will be held at the Moscone Center. "I" stands for input and "O" stands for output. It slogan of the annual event is "innovation in the open."

Google will unveil latest software updates such as the Android M along with new privacy controls to improve the Android experience for users. The company will introduce revamped versions of Android Wear, Android Auto, Android Pay also known as Google Wallet, and Google Cast.

"Google I/O is two days of inspirational talks, hands-on learning, latest developer products," states the I/O official website.

8 Things To Know:

1) The I/O 2015 conference introduces thirteen code labs for attendees to experiment with latest mobile devices, wearables, and Cloud technology. The labs are in a level two develop sandbox testing environment so as to not interfere with existing data and live servers. Best of all the labs are self-paced. Google provides the workstation, tools, and tablets.

2) Google is making the big push for Android TV Gaming. There will be keynotes on recommended features as well as the Google Cast software developer kit (SDK). In 2014, the Smart TV ran on Lollipop 5.0. Android TV, an interactive TV experience now runs on Android M 6.0. Users can play games available in the Play store as well as access the Play store to stream videos on Netflix and Hulu as well as other TV channel apps. Mobile devices can be utilized as controls for Google Cast.

3) To make internet access a notch easier for users, Google created a brand-new CAPTCHA system called the reCAPTCHA. Google software engineer Ying Liu and product manager Vinay Shet will give Keynote speeches on reCAPTCHA. CAPTCHA as everyone knows protects users from online spam, but is also time-consuming to use since it asks for people to prove they are not robots by entering a cryptic line of letters. reCAPTCHA is mobile-friendly and presents easier challenges such as selecting photos rather than submitting text.

Photo of Google I/O Conference Attendees
(Photo : Maurizio Pesce/Flickr/CC)
Google I/O developer conference attendees gather in front of sign on August 2014.

4) Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) 3.0 is an innovative way for users to send and receive messages and data from Google servers. Similar to iCloud, updates can be pushed even when the app is not in use. Users can start using GCM in two quick steps. The first step is to create a Google application programing interface (API) project online and the next step is to enable GCM service. The Keynote speech is by product manager Tingmui Li, Global Cloud lead Francesco Nerieri, and Mobile Cloud lead Subir Jhanb.

5) Project Volta increases battery life on Android devices with a series of system optimization option which include improved power save modes and transparency in battery usage. Project Volta brings updates in apps such as Battery History which shows users what apps and actions drain the most battery. There are also updates in Job Scheduler, an app that allows users to manipulate the time and place when certain tasks run. Instead of overworking the CPU at critical times during the day, users can shift the option of running tasks when the device is charging.

6) Skybox allows Android users to observe the Earth with clear satellite images and videos in real-time. The videos are high-definition and created with upgraded analytics software. Skybox is pivotal in Google's development of self-driving cars. A once private company was acquired by Google on August 2014. The Keynote speech is given by product manager Jonathan Zemel.

7) gRPC is a modern remote procedure call that "can run anywhere." It runs on several different programming languages such as C++, Java, Objective-C, Python, Ruby, Go, C#, Node.js, and PHP. The Keynote will be presented by Abhishek Kumar twice at the conference. gRPC equips software developers with a reliable way to cater to clients, such as the ones who wish to know how to extend battery life and monitor CPU usage.

8) Firebase is an quick way to build apps. It is compatible with Android, iOS, and Javascript SDKs. Firebase enables developers to easily store large amounts of data with a couple lines of codes. It is also one of the fastest ways to authenticate users. The Keynote will be presented by James Tamplin on day 2 of the conference.

Photo of the Moscone West in San Francisco
(Photo : Ed Burnette/Flickr/CC)
Photo of the Moscone West in San Francisco, California on May 2008.