News - Google I/O: first day roundup

[HEXUS]

Music, Maps and Search dominated the proceedings.

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[Smudger]

Biggest news for me was that they're going to release a Samsung GS4 with stock android, for $649. Which is about £430. Whilst not Nexus 4 pricing, that's still quite good...

[crossy]

Google Maps: This update is said to “get rid of any clutter” and focus upon individual experience and exploration. When you search the new Google Maps, the map which is rendered is apparently individually tailored for you “Like a friend drawing you a map to her favorite restaurant, with only the roads and landmarks you need to get there, the new Google Maps instantly changes to highlight information that matters most.” A lot of this friendliness is highlighting local services and businesses etc with “Info cards” and also building recommendations based upon your history and your Google+ friends.

Hmm, I hope this is an opt-in feature because I really don't like the idea that the map of your route will be simplified down to a line between point A and point B. All the promotional stuff is probably to be expected too - although I guess that this means that you're out of luck if you don't have a data connection.

Likewise, I'm less than impressed with voice search and especially voice presentation. Fine if all you want to know the latest Orioles,Green Bay Packers,etc scores - less useful if you're doing something more involved. Besides, I can read quite well so I'm happier to have the information I asked for presented as text. Plus I see scope for all kinds of havoc if - for example - you surreptitiously do a NSFW search and it promptly reads out those embarrassing search results. Or better still, you ask something innocent and it misunderstands and reads out the wrong information.

Imagine the following scenario in a meeting...
Q: "Give me the STD code for Bristol" (because you want to phone a colleague at your Bristol office)
A: "Sexually Transmitted Disease clinics in Bristol are available at..."

[Noxvayl]

Imagine the following scenario in a meeting...
Q: "Give me the STD code for Bristol" (because you want to phone a colleague at your Bristol office)
A: "Sexually Transmitted Disease clinics in Bristol are available at..."

Solution:
Q: "Give me the area code for Bristol"
A: "Bristol's area code is 0117"

I think this would be a good thing, people would finally be encouraged to stop using abbreviations and acronyms in speech.

I find it ridiculous that a person says lol instead of laughing, what the hell!?

[Saracen]

Google Maps: This update is said to “get rid of any clutter” and focus upon individual experience and exploration. When you search the new Google Maps, the map which is rendered is apparently individually tailored for you “Like a friend drawing you a map to her favorite restaurant, with only the roads and landmarks you need to get there, the new Google Maps instantly changes to highlight information that matters most.” A lot of this friendliness is highlighting local services and businesses etc with “Info cards” and also building recommendations based upon your history and your Google+ friends.

And the highlighted bit is the problem I have with Google .... exactly what "history", and is this optional, I.e. can you opt out of their "friendliness", because it's not about being friendly, it's about using your activities to sell targeted advertising. Some people may want targeted advertising, and in which case, fine, no problem. But can those that don't want targeted advertising, and I stress targeted advertising, opt out?

Overall that’s lots of interesting new technology and most of it is available to us for free.

The price is the loss of privacy involved in them tracking, recording, monitoring and analysing every scrap of information they can get about each of us.

[Jaffo]

Lots of interesting and impressive stuff but disappointed that there was no update to the Nexus 7.

[miniyazz]

What is that thing in the photo?

[Hicks12]

Biggest news for me was that they're going to release a Samsung GS4 with stock android, for $649. Which is about £430. Whilst not Nexus 4 pricing, that's still quite good...

Not really, forgot 20% vat if it did come into england or you got hit by customs which translates to ~ £510 atm!

[Smudger]

Not really, forgot 20% vat if it did come into england or you got hit by customs which translates to ~ £510 atm!

I was thinking if they sold it through the UK Play store, which they're not going to, so it's moot...

[Hicks12]

Well if they did bring it to the UK store it would still need to apply vat thats the point I was making , you can get the S4 at Virgin for £440 unlocked atm and by the sounds of it you will just simply unlock the bootloader and dump this rom on it!.

It seems overpriced for what it is though, Nexus 4 has everything apart from LTE and expandable memory so the premium is quite alot imo. I would like the Nexus 5 to be like the htc one, all metal as I miss the feel but glass IMO is better than plastic which is why i prefer my N4 to the samsungs but its not really a game changer.

[mikemikemi]

I was disappointed by the lack of new N7 as well.

I have taken the free 30 day trail of the music service for a spin though.