Keynotes From The Google I/O 2014 Conference

Today, Android announced a bunch of great products that will be launching later on this year. Everything from a new update and interface to the way wearable tech is being used was discussed. For those of who missed this event, here is what went down:

The New Android Smart watches

Android gave the audience a sneak peek of the new smart watches that will be released later on this year. Like most smart watches out on the market, the watches will measure health analytics and alert the user when they have a notification through the use of sensors. But what distinguishes these new watches from the rest is the voice capability and the automatic sync from watch to phone. Another neat thing is when a user receives a call, a picture of the person who is calling will appear on the screen. The user can even dismiss or answer the call through voice, which is great for driving. Android is gearing up with other great companies, like Samsung and Motorola, to bring the latest in wearable technology to the public.

Android One

The new Android One smartphone will include a dual SIM card, 4.5 inch screen, and whole new interface. Android claims that the phone will cost under $100, which is a great price compared to other phones currently on the market. Developers wanted to create a whole new phone that changed the way pixels were used. Google’s SVP Sundar Pichai asked, “What if pixels not only had color, but depth?” and that is why Android decided to change the user interface. With the new L update, phones will have brighter colors along with a “ripple” effect.

Notifications will automatically show up on the main screen, and the user can seamlessly respond or dismiss the notifications. Another neat thing is the way users are able to unlock their phone. Android wanted to make the way users unlocked their phone more personnel by using wearable tech. For example, the user can unlock their phone will use of a blue-tooth enabled smart watch. All of the software and updates will come straight from Google, which will eliminate third party software that may be infected.

A Whole new Way to View Content

Through the use of Chromecast, users can display SMS messages,pictures,and videos on a TV without having to be connected to a Wifi hotspot. Which is great for those who have long passwords or just want to simply play it safe. Users can even access movies and video games straight from the Google Play Store! Video games are controlled by either the use of an Xbox look-alike controller or a tablet, which allows the user to play with the controller of their choice. Another great thing, is the new ambience backdrop. Android looked at blank TV’s as a canvas and decided to opt in for a more personal effect. The new backdrop will include pictures from artists and places from all over the world and will even provide information of when and where it was taken.

The world of home entertainment technology seems to never stop evolving. You can’t buy a brand new TV without a new and better TV rolling out while you’re leaving the store. For people like myself it can tend to be a little frustrating.

There are now four current screen resolutions for home entertainment. SD is the basic which is 720×480 resolution. Then there is HD with a resolution of 1920×1080. Then next level (which very few people actually have) is Quad HD which is 3840×2160. And now the big daddy which is 4K (or Ultra HD) which has a massive resolution pixel count of 4096×2160.

The thing about the Ultra HD televisions is that it is putting the cart before the horse when it comes to the technology. You can have the hardware, but there is currently no content filmed at this high of resolution for you to watch. It is actually said to be the last resolution TV that you will ever need, as content will have to catch up to the device sitting on your entertainment center.

This will allow consumers to view a true digital cinema experience. George Lucas was one of the first to realize that these higher resolution films will be the future after filming Star Wars Attack Of The Clones. It was filmed in full 1080 resolution, but if you sat in the front row of the theater, the edges were softened and you could event see pixel rows which obviously distracts from the experience.

While the new technology is super cool, many experts say that the difference between 1080 to the Ultra HD format will not be near as drastic as the difference between SD and HD resolution TVs. So, if you are a super movie buff, and have an extra few thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket, then get ready to break out the credit card.