Technically, Google I/O may be Google’s annual developer conference — an event developers can attend to learn how to best take advantage of new features in Google’s latest products and updates — but we also know it’s an announcement Activities of major events. Every year, we usually get a glimpse of what Google is likely to announce, and can usually predict at least a lot of what’s to come.
Derrek’s expectations for Google I/O 2022 are filled with careful consideration and calculations based on what we know and what’s been rumored for months.But here, I put all caution behind me because, heck, there are things I just think Look and don’t care how realistic my Google I/O 2022 wish list is. Will these all come true? possible! We just need to find out on May 11th.
pixel watch
(Image credit: u/tagtech414 on Reddit)
At this point, the Pixel Watch seems all but confirmed. Two weeks ago, we leaked the first images of a real-life Pixel Watch, thanks to a reader who did spot it sitting in a dining room. Not sure if this is the watch’s final design, but it certainly matches the leaked renders and images of the watch we’ve seen over the years. If we’re seeing the end result, that’s what I’ll call it right now: the Pixel Watch will be the new best Android smartwatch.
It also coincides with the one-year anniversary of Wear OS 3, the smartwatch operating system jointly developed by Samsung and Google to unify Android’s rather chaotic watch ecosystem. Google has a long history of leaking its products, only letting those leaks fuel “early” product launches. This happened on the Pixel 4, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5 and even the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Conspiracy theories aside, I’d love to see Google follow the same steps on the Pixel Watch.
Wear OS 3 for everyone
(Image credit: Nick Sutrich/Android Central)
When Google unexpectedly released Wear OS 3 at last year’s Google I/O conference and caught us off guard, almost no one could have guessed that only one The watch collection will be updated after a full year: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Watch 4 Classic.
While we can speculate about the politics behind Wear OS 3, the truth is that Google’s longtime partners — like Fossil and Mobvoi — should get this update on their watches soon.
pixel folding
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich/Android Central)
This is where I enter the realm of distant but not unreasonable aspirations. Like the Pixel Watch, the Pixel Fold is a rumored and allegedly delayed product for several years. Google has come a long way with the Pixel lineup since the release of the Pixel 6, and the Pixel Fold is arguably the most exciting Pixel ever.
With more rumors and leaks about the phone, the Pixel Fold looks more like an OPPO Find N laptop than the Galaxy Z Fold 3. I certainly wouldn’t expect Google to launch this phone. phone and give a proper release date and price, but I’d love to see Google officially develop foldable phone hardware.
Plus, since Android 12L is focused on tablets and foldables — and Google already released code to the public in its March update — this would be the perfect time to show off all of these lovely new foldable features baked into Android itself. . Why not use this time to show off the fruits of your labor, Google?
Google’s next-gen AR/VR project
(Image credit: Nicholas Sutrich/Android Central)
The final piece of Google’s hardware puzzle is the rumored Project Iris AR/VR headset. Since this is just the latest discovery after Google seems to have ditched everything it’s been doing in VR over the years, I certainly don’t think we’ll see much on the hardware side. Project Iris is expected to take place sometime in 2024, but the Google I/O 2022 schedule shows that Google is still very interested in talking about its AR projects and development.
The fact that the company just acquired Raxium, a company best known for making AR/VR-centric microLED displays, shows Google’s renewed interest in trying the right hardware. The incredible success of the Oculus Quest 2 proves that affordable, standalone console-like headsets aren’t just possible. They are the future.
I/O will be a great show
(Image credit: Android Central)
My hopes and expectations for this show may be a little high, but it feels like this year has really been a blowout year for Google. It’s finally bringing much of its Pixel hardware division under one roof, including a new acquisition that will give Google the ability to make its own displays at some point in the future.We know the Pixel Watch exists because we seen It, we know Google is working on a foldable and some as yet unannounced new AR/VR tech.
Whatever happens, it’s going to be a great show and we’ll be there (virtually) to cover the whole thing. Stay tuned to Android Central starting May 11th.