Google I/O represents crossroads for Android's bevy of products

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Today's Google I/O Keynote felt very much like a bookend to Apple's own WWDC keynote earlier this month in the same venue. Just like Apple, Google focused on its two main operating systems and their surrounding ecosystems. Android, which is now being called Android "L" because even Google realizes calling an OS 'Lollypop' just sounds juvenile, and Chrome as well as it's huge array of cloud services.

Google's presenters were clearly responding to some of the announcements by rival Apple at WWDC and they did have an Android or Chrome counterpart to Apple's new CarPlay (Android Auto), HealthKit (Google Fit, Android Wear) and HomeKit (Nest). Google's SVP Sundar Pichai also cheekily poked a few jabs at Apple stating that Android had custom keyboards and widgets, which are coming soon to iOS 8, available to their devices various versions ago. 

Almost as if following a similar script, Android is getting a huge visual and interface makeover similar to what iOS underwent a year ago. The new Material Design UX, clearly being spearheaded by former webOS designer Matias Duarte, is slicker, more responsive and has a lot of smooth transitions as well as step-by-step animations. It also features a unified approach to the design of Android interfaces on smartphones, tablets and smartwatches. 

Regarding wearables, one did get the sense that it really is very early stages in the development of Google's smartwatch platform and it looks like it really is up to the developers to flesh out how they can elevate the current state of smartwatches today. Some of the demos, specially the Google Now integration, were quite impressive and they are offering two devices up for sale in the Google Play Store, a US $229 LG G Watch and a new Samsung Galaxy Live smartwatch.

It seems like Android "L" represents a fresh start for Android and along with a new look and feel, new 64-bit processor compatibility and a variety of peripheral ecosystems in wearables, automotive, home and health monitoring, and even SmartTVs, it looks to be laying the groundwork for the future.