Google releases I/O 2017 schedule

For developers attending Google I/O 2017 in Mountain View, California, you can now start planning your trip. Google released some of the scheduled activities happening at the annual developer conference this May 17 to 19 so you can start planning which events to go to. But Google points out that they haven’t released information on all sessions and want to keep some a surprise until the opening keynote on May 17^th (which starts at 10 a.m. Pacific time).

Aside from that, Google will be letting attendees reserve seats for some of the sessions ahead of time. But they also intend to leave a few seats open for those who want to attend at last minute. Google has increased the size of each tent to accommodate more people, too. The tech company also plans to double the number of Office Hours to give developers more time to talk with Google team members. And this year, the sandbox demo is moved inside climate-controlled structures to help keep people cool and dry for these events.

Source: Android Authority

Android N will reportedly bring '3D Touch' to Android handsets

Android users with a bit of iPhone 6S FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) will be happy to know that the '3D Touch' feature is part of the new Android N OS, at least for upcoming handsets that can support the feature. Similar to the 3D Touch that is one of the key features on the iPhone 6S, additional pressure on the display will invoke secondary menus and options which can make it easier to get to functions of certain apps without necessarily having to open those apps. 

Expected to be announced at Google I/O 2016, the new feature will enable more efficient access to apps and their features when enabled.

Source: Phandroid

Google I/O 2016 to take place in the Shoreline Ampitheatre

Google's yearly developer event, Google I/O, will take place on May 18 to May 20 and for the first time will not take place in downtown San Francisco's Moscone Centre but at the large and open Shoreline Ampitheatre in Mountain View, California which is roughly a 10 minute walk from Google's world headquarters (or a short 2 minute drive via a Google self-driving car). 

This is an interesting development which also seems to make sense. Google can better control what takes place in its own backyard and if it wants to demo new technologies such as robots, drones and autonomous cars, it can do so in its HQ. This is the first Google I/O since the company formed Alphabet and an important one to help chart the course of Google, Android, Chrome OS and various other services and products.

Google I/O: Android Wear now has 4,000 apps

We’re starting to see the smartwatch arena expand further with this announcement from Google. The tech company announced that its wearable platform now has 4,000 Android Wear apps for download on the Google Play Store. They’re ahead by a 1,000 or so third-party apps available for the Apple Watch but then again Apple’s wearable platform was released later than Android’s.

Source: Android Community