With a day to go before Google I/O 2014 kicks off, Sundar Pichai has given the strongest indication yet that the company will unveil the next major version of Android at the event. Google has typically made such announcements in the fall but Pichai told BusinessWeek that “I want the world to understand what we are doing sooner.”
Much as Apple did at WWDC 2014 earlier this month with iOS 8, Pichai is expected to preview the forthcoming operating system ahead of a formal release later this year. There is no word on version numbers or name although Lollipop and LemonDrop appear to be early favourites.
Pichai will also talk about Android Wear. First announced in March, the new Android extension is designed to bring Android to wearables such as smartwatches. Along with new information about it, Pichai will unveil new devices and new manufacturing partners (Samsung?) will also be announced.
Google will also unveil its latest attempt to get into the TV business with “software called Android TV.”
Google I/O 2014 kicks off tomorrow and we’ll bring you all the news as it arises. In the meantime, the BusinessWeek article about Pichai is well worth the read if you want to find out more about the man who controls Android’s destiny.
Source : BusinessWeek