Google brings alternative to Microsoft Powerpoint at Google I/O

During Google I/O opening keynote, there was no shortage of major and minor announcements At last introduction of a native mobile Google Slides application was done. It is a slideshow editor and auxiliary to Microsoft’s PowerPoint. This is one of the the third application part of the Google Docs suite which Google is releasing in native form on tablets and smartphones.Earlier, Docs and Sheets were released on Android and iOS, allowing customers to edit documents and spreadsheets on their mobile devices.

Speaking about Docs, Google enabled native document, spreadsheet, and slideshow editing on mobile devices through integrating up with QuickOffice.With Android L and the latest version of Chrome, Google fully integrated QuickOffice’s great functionality into its apps. Now, users will be able to edit and create documents when they are offline. Users will also be able to edit native Microsoft Office Word Docs in the Google Docs app.

Previously, Gmail would convert the Word doc into a Google Docs file. So now, when you receive an email from a colleague or friend with a Word document attached, you can open the Word file in the Google Docs app in its original format. All changes you make will be saved on the Word file and you can email the edited document back to its sender in its original format.

There is also a option to select whether a document is saved in a format for Microsoft Office/OpenOffice or as a Google Docs file. Additionally, Google’s office pack is boosted with collaboration features, permitting users to add comments and recommend edits.

Google hopes that these updates to its productivity apps will encourage even more people to switch from Microsoft Office and the traditional windows infrastructure to Google’s app suite and Chrome OS.

Google brings alternative to Microsoft Powerpoint at Google I/O

Project Volta aimed to improve the battery life in Android L

Yesterday some big announcements came at the Google I/O developer conference where Google unveiled its next Android OS namely the Android L. At the event, a new Android project namely the Project Volta was released that is aimed to improve the battery life in Android L. Through this project Volta, users and developers will get some unique battery saving tools.

Looking it from a developer’s perspective, Project Volta will aim to add new tools that can determine the reason and cause about how an app would affect the battery life of the device. This will also ensure that when the battery is draining out, it will prevent certain tasks from initiating. The first part of this project is called as Battery Historian meaning that it gives complete details regarding when the battery was drained and which part of the app is sucking out more battery juice which will help developers to identify and investigate the crucial parts of the app. The other part of the project  is the Job Schedular API, thereby helping developers to selectively choose the tasks to be performed depending on the battery conditions. This means certain tasks that consume more battery juice would take place only during the phone is kept for charging or if the battery is low, the phone will avoid updating apps.

Looking now from the user’s perspective, there is an inclusion of an built-in Battery Saver mode as found in premium Samsung and HTC devices. This built-in version will bring down display brightness, throttle your CPU and would even limit the updates at the background. However, Google is considered to be using a completely different kind of metric for this application so the comparison would get bit difficult. Google with its Battery Saver mode is considered to be offering an additional 90 minutes to usage for its Nexus 5.  Get more details regarding Google’s new features here.

Project Volta aimed to improve the battery life in Android L

Android Auto Introduced at Google I/O that Turns Your Car"s Dashboard Into a Smartphone

Google just unveiled Android Auto-its in-car interface service at Google I/O 2014. It is developed by the Open Automotive Alliance (comprising of Google itself, Audi AG, General Motors Co., Honda Motor Co., Hyundai Motor Group and NVIDIA Corp.). The idea behind Android Auto is to ensure that users aren’t switching between the mobile and the steering wheel while driving.

Android Auto is the Google’s answer to Apple’s CarPlay which also supports Siri-based contextual voice commands for making calls, sending and receiving messages.Well, note that your car will not run Android OS. Android Auto runs on your smartphone and provides users with a simplified Android user interface directly on the dashboard of their cars. It allows them to access features like navigation, communication, and listening to music.

Android Auto is absolutely voice-enabled utilizing Google’s Voice Search feature. It brings “the right information right when you need it” directly on your car’s dashboard. Users should just tap a button on their steering wheel for enabling Android Auto’s voice search. However, they can also control Google’s auto-centric service by pressing the touchscreen buttons on their dashboards. Speaking of navigation, Android Auto also supports full Google Maps experience, turn-by-turn navigation, and also gives personalized suggestions about possible destinations.

Similar to Google Now,users can also send text messages by tapping a button and verbally interacting with Android Auto. They can also access their Google Play Music playlists and curated music libraries. Google is also bringing some music-streaming apps to Android Auto such as Songza, Pandora,TuneIn, iHeartRadio and others. radio and music streaming apps.

Google has also introduced Android Auto APIs, where app developers can ensure that an app designed for smartphones runs on Android Auto as well. The SDK for Android Auto will be available later this year. Google is now partnering with over 40 car manufacturers including Bentley, Ferrari, Audi, Ford, Nissan, Mazda, Suzuki and others, which will support Android Auto.

 

 

Android Auto Introduced at Google I/O that Turns Your Car"s Dashboard Into a Smartphone

Google unveils schedule for its I/O 2014 conference

Google I/O is an annual developer-focused conference held by Google in San Francisco, California. Almost a month left for the event, Google has shared the schedule of events for fans and attendees,so that they can know where to be for their favourite events. This year’s conference will be held from June 25-26 and Google has already done with the registration process in late March.

Google has done something different this year for on-sight attendee registration by having folks submitting their interest in attending I/O conference. Applicants who make the cut will then be randomly selected and notified of their admittance.Of course, Google will livestream these events on its official YouTube channel, so those who can’t be present at the event can watch it from the luxury of their homes.

It’s too soon for any big clues as to what will be disclosed this year, although Google used its 2013 I/O conference to announce AllAccess music streaming, its first Google Play Edition phone and the Glass Developer Kit. Some top contenders for Google I/O 2014 include Android 5, an 8-inch Nexus 8 tablet, a Chromecast update and a deeper dive into the ear piece-wielding Google Glass 2.

You can find the complete schedule of events from the link below.

Source: Google I/O

Google unveils schedule for its I/O 2014 conference