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This is an archive article published on May 18, 2016

Google I/O 2016 highlights: Home speaker, Android VR, Android Wear 2.0, Google Cloud Platform

Google announces new VR platform and Android Wear 2.0 brings support for standalone apps

Google CEO Sundar Pichai during ‘Google for India’ event in New Delhi (File Photo)

Google I/O 2016, as expected was all about machine learning and artificial intelligence. Google has announced new Android Studio 2.2 Preview for developers which brings support for Java 8 and better C++ support.

Google didn’t converge Chrome OS with Android, as was widely rumoured rather announced wireless smart home speaker called Home with Google Assistant built-in. Google also announced two new chat apps called Allo and Duo which make communication even more interesting.

Google announced Android Wear 2.0 with support for standalone apps and native keyboard and Android VR based on a new platform called Daydream. Daydream ready smartphones coming later this year.

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Below are the highlights from Google’s two hour long keynote

12.23 AM: Google CEO Sundar Pichai says real test is whether humans can achieve lot more with machine learning and AI

12.19 AM: Google announces Cloud Platform and gently reminds how its Deep Learning robot won the game of GO

12.17 AM: Google CEO Sundar Pichai back on stage

12.13 AM: With Android Instant Apps, Google Play only downloads relevant part of app codes

12.12 AM: Android Instant Apps makes installing apps redundant

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12.06 AM: Google announces new Firebase Analytics suite that works across Android and iOS

12.02 AM: Top developers using Android Studio IDE, announces Android Studio 2.2 Preview

12.00 AM: Over billion people using Chrome on mobile every month. Google is making it easier to build mobile websites

11.55 PM: Android Wear 2.0 brings support for standalone apps

11.52 PM: Google has added keyboard to messaging on Android Wear

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11.50 PM: Android Wear 2.0 – the biggest update yet to Android wearables

11.48 PM: Daydream is Google’s platform for Android VR. VR centric Google Play, Street View, Photos coming this fall

11.45 PM: Android VR coming this fall with headset and dedicated controller

11.43 PM: Google announces Daydream ready phones will come later this year

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11.41 PM: Google announces Daydream – will enable high quality VR on mobile phones

11.39 PM: Virtual Reality coming to Android N – Clay Bavor

11.37 PM: Android N Beta quality version announced

11.36 PM: Android N brings support for 72 new emojis based UNICODE-9

11.31 PM: Google announces new productivity feature with new multitasking feature. Clear All makes a comeback on popular demand

11.29 PM: Android N comes with File based encryption, media framework hardening and seamless updates

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11.26 PM: Android N brings support for Vulcan API for better graphics rendering. This should make Android feel less laggy

11.24 PM: Overwhelming response to Android N developer preview

11.23 PM: Android is the most popular mobile operating system, increased opportunity for developers – Burke

11.21 PM: Time for Android with Dave Burke

11.18 PM: Google’s Duo has a feature called knock knock that shows a live feed of the caller

11.16 PM: Google Duo is video calling companion to Allo. Duo is a one-to-one video calling app

11.15 PM: Google Allo support incognito mode with end-to-end encryption

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11.13 PM: With Google Allo messaging app, its easy to search inside the app by typing @google

11.09 PM: Google has partnered with OpenTable for restaurant reservations

11.03 PM: Allo supports annotation on images. Suggest smart replies to text messages

11.01 PM: Google announces new messaging app named Allo

10.59 PM: Google Photos has over 200 million monthly active users. Sundar Pichai trolls selfie folks with Pomeranian selfie

10.57 PM: Google Assistant comes to life with Google Home wireless speaker

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10.53 PM: Mario calls Google Home – a beautiful, smart voice controlled speaker and assistant. Huge cheers for that product. Available later this year

10.51 PM: Google Home is basically a wireless speaker with Chromecast technology built-in – Mario Quieroz

10.49 PM: Google Home powered by Google Assistant announced – a WiFi speaker that streams music from the cloud

10.46PM: Over 25 million Chromecast devices sold – Pichai

10.43 PM: Google Assistant can engage in a conversation and book tickets for users

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10.41 PM: Google Assistant seamlessly integrated with Google Search, Maps, News and other services

10.39 PM: Sundar Pichai announces Google Assistant with conversational ability. A take on Siri and Viv.

10.37 PM: Google CEO Sundar Pichai talks about company’s natural learning and machine learning

10.31 PM: Google CEO Sundar Pichai on stage and says Google has been doing I/O for more than 10 years now

10.25 PM: We are T-4 from the official keynote start

#IO16 from the keynote stage. See you out there soon! Livestream at https://t.co/RN9cmLt58c pic.twitter.com/x1Jd9tbRgB

— sundarpichai (@sundarpichai) May 18, 2016

10.14 PM: We will be underway in 16 minutes. Do stay connected

9.20 PM: According to New York Times, Google will unveil its own-range voice assisted home devices.

8.23 PM: Hey everyone, you are early to this liveblog. The keynote is expected to start at 10.30 PM IST. In the meantime, read everything we expect to be announced at I/O 2016.