Android chief Sundar Pichai has dismissed rumours that Google I/O 2013 will launch a host of new products, instead revealing the annual conference will be focused on developers.
As Andy Rubin’s replacement, Pichai has been discussing how he is finding his new role as Senior Vice President of Android, Chrome and Google Apps and has revealed what that the 3-hour-long Google I/O Keynote speech will not be used to launch new products.
“[Google I/O 2013 is} going to be different. It’s not a time when we have much in the way of launches of new products or a new operating system,” said Pichai. “Both on Android and Chrome, we’re going to focus this I/O on all of the kinds of things we’re doing for developers, so that they can write better things. We will show how Google services are doing amazing things on top of these two platforms.”
Rumours had suggested that this year’s Google I/O would be used to launch the Google Nexus 5, a new generation of the Google Nexus 7 tablet and the latest iteration of the Google Android OS, Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie.
Other features tipped to make an appearance are Google Babble, or Google Hangouts as it is supposedly now known, the Google Game Center, Google Now for iOS and new information on Google’s augmented reality headset, Google Glass.
If Pichai is correct, Android Key Lime Pie, the Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 may not be seen at all, with the search engine giant instead using the keynote speech to engage with developers and discuss the future possibilities for the Android developers.
Pichai did reveal that his Android handset of choice is the Samsung Galaxy S4, saying the South Korean company is “a great partner to work with” and it “plays a critical role in helping Android be successful.”
Despite the strong ties between the OS and the South Korean company, we actually think the partnership is affecting Android. Read why in our feature: Why Samsung is hurting Android.
Via: Wired
