Google IO 2020: Despite cancellation, here’s the Android 11, Google Pixel 4a and other news to expect

Google IO 2020 (the company’s yearly developer meeting) was nevertheless months absent from its planned May twelve-fourteen operate, but Google cancelled it in any case out of problem around the coronavirus. What that implies for all the news we envisioned to listen to is uncertain – but the demonstrate could possibly go on in a distinctive way.

On March 3, Google formally cancelled the actual physical party:

A #GoogleIO update.Owing to worries around the coronavirus (COVID-19), we have resolved to cancel this year’s actual physical party at Shoreline Amphitheatre. It can be unhappy that we would not be in a position to acquire as a developer neighborhood but your wellbeing and protection is our priority. (one/two)March 3, 2020

On the official Google IO 2020 site, the enterprise confident that every person who acquired tickets would get a total refund by March thirteen, 2020, and these who registered this year’s demonstrate would be specified the selection following 12 months to acquire tickets for Google IO 2021.

But that could possibly not be the close for Google IO 2020: Google especially cancelled the actual physical party, clarifying on its site that: “In excess of the coming months, we will investigate other approaches to evolve Google I/O to very best join with our developer neighborhood.”

This could necessarily mean the meeting could nevertheless happen as an online-only party, which Google has now performed for its Cloud Subsequent party. They’re going to have to announced the news by some means – and there’s tons of it headed our way.

Whether or not in an online session or at a independent announcement, we’re expecting to see lots that Android supporters should be interested in – most notably the expose of Android eleven.

There is also a substantial possibility that the Google Pixel 4a and Google Pixel 4a XL will be unveiled then, and we may even see the lengthy-rumored Google Pixel View, amid quite a few other points. So in other phrases, Google IO isn’t just for builders.

Underneath we have highlighted all the points that we know or expect we’re likely to see then, together with some points that are extended shots but could nicely make an visual appeal. And we’ll be updating this report as more news and rumors pour in, so make certain to look at again often.

Android eleven

Android eleven is probable to be the most important expose during Google IO 2020 and we’re almost selected we’ll see it there, as Google tends to at minimum partly unveil its important Android updates at IO.

That said, it almost certainly won’t look on telephones until September or October, probable landing together with the Google Pixel 5 range. Certain capabilities also almost certainly won’t be unveiled until just after IO.

So far we haven’t heard a lot about Android eleven, but 1 matter we do know is coming is ‘Scoped Storage’, which alterations the way apps accessibility other documents on your device, with a look at to escalating speed and protection.

That’s not a lot to go on, but we should study lots more about Android eleven during IO 2020, and it is probable that a developer beta will even be released there.

Google Pixel 4a / Pixel 4a XL

Though the Google Pixel 5 range almost certainly won’t land until around October, there’s a substantial-possibility that we’ll see the mid-range Google Pixel 4a and Google Pixel 4a XL during Google IO 2020, specified that the Google Pixel 3a range was announced at Google IO 2019.

You can believe of these as more reasonably priced options to the primary Pixel four handsets, however some sources reckon there won’t be an XL product, so we could possibly only see 1 Pixel 4a.

In any scenario, leaks suggest the 4a could possibly really have a rather distinctive style and design to the Pixel four, with a punch-gap digicam and a 3.5mm headphone port. It could possibly also have 5G, which no existing Pixel does.

Not a lot else is known about the Google Pixel 4a still, but it is not likely to have the Motion Perception element from its pricier siblings, which to be truthful is almost certainly no great loss for most persons.

Dress in OS updates

Dress in OS has felt a bit neglected, with no sizeable updates to the platform because the start of Dress in OS two in August 2018, but if Google is likely to release a big new update then the program-focused IO is the evident location for it to happen.

We’re not really expecting to see any big alterations, as no this kind of points have been rumored, so if you are hoping for Dress in OS 3 you are almost certainly likely to be out of luck, but you never know.

And it wouldn’t be at all stunning if the platform observed a lesser, more incremental update, however what it would involve is anyone’s guess appropriate now. At IO 2019, for reference, Google confirmed off the widget-like ‘Tiles’ element.

Google Assistant

Google is always doing work on Assistant, and at IO 2019 it unveiled tech to make Google Assistant more rapidly, together with a driving mode.

For Google IO 2020 we’d expect more new capabilities and enhancements to be announced. Having said that, Google announced a whole bunch of new capabilities – this kind of as scheduled actions and a speed dial element – at CES 2020 in January, so maybe some of them will be rolled out.

Google Search

Google Search also got some like at IO 2019, and we wouldn’t be shocked if it is additional improved during Google IO 2020.

We’re not certain still what will change listed here, but for reference, Google additional augmented actuality (AR) photos to search effects at Google IO 2019.

Other program updates

Beyond the points mentioned higher than, we’re probable to see updates and enhancements to other key Google program, this kind of as Maps and Duplex.

Probably we’ll see Duplex more commonly supported, even though Maps may develop into more detailed or have other capabilities additional. That’s just speculation for now, but we’d be shocked if these or other key Google apps never get some form of update.

Google Pixel View

We have been listening to rumors about a Google Pixel View for a long time, and to be truthful we never definitely expect it to land during Google IO 2020, but the enterprise has proven off wearables from other organizations in previous a long time, so it is possible.

Appropriate now we’re not entirely persuaded the Pixel View even exists, and if it does, it may nicely not land until October together with the Pixel 5 range, or maybe not even until following 12 months.

If it does land at Google IO 2020 however then we could possibly also see a even larger Dress in OS update than we’re expecting, as it would make perception for Google to start its 1st smartwatch with exciting new program.

New good dwelling gadgets

From speakers to screens to cameras, we could see a range of new good dwelling gadgets during Google IO 2020.

At IO 2019 we observed the Google Nest Hub Max good exhibit, but Google has its fingers in quite a few good dwelling pies, including the Nest Hello doorbell, Google Nest Wi-Fi, and the Google Nest Mini speaker, in addition good thermostats, smoke alarms and more.

So we may see new entries in any of these merchandise strains, or maybe good versions of other gadgets entirely.

Google Stadia

Google Stadia (the company’s recreation streaming assistance) is now listed here, but at present only ‘Stadia Pro’ is offered – this means you need to have a membership to use the assistance, alternatively than just currently being in a position to acquire the video games. That will be shifting at some level in 2020, so it is possible that Google will use IO 2020 to start the ‘free’ tier.

There are also some promised capabilities that are at present absent, this kind of as ‘Crowd Play’, which will let you be part of a streamer’s recreation at the press of a button. So this or other capabilities could possibly start at Google IO 2020. We could possibly also see new distinctive video games announced or released for the platform.

Probably most excitingly, we could possibly see Stadia opened up to non-Pixel telephones. We know this is happening at some level, and it is 1 of the primary marketing details of the platform.

Google Enjoy Move

Google Enjoy Move, like Google Stadia, is now listed here, but at present it is only offered in the US. We know it is only a issue of time prior to it will start elsewhere, so possibly Google IO will be the venue where its get to is widened.

We wouldn’t be shocked if Google also announces all sorts of new written content for its Apple Arcade-like recreation and application membership assistance.

Augmented and digital actuality

AR and VR have been extremely up and down around the final few a long time, but we wouldn’t be shocked if we see new developments in these fields during Google IO 2020.

One evident matter we could possibly see is enhancements to ARCore – the advancement package Google developed that enables AR experiences to be created for Android and other platforms.

VR bulletins are possibly a lot less probable, specified Google has largely abandoned its VR headsets, but you never know.

5G

Though quite a few 5G networks and the 1st 5G telephones arrived in 2019, it is during this 12 months that we’re expecting 5G to definitely begin having big – 5G telephones will probable develop into more reasonably priced and 5G networks should begin starting to be a lot more common.

As this kind of, we’d expect the likes of Google to begin searching at 5G way too. The Pixel 4a higher than is rumored to occur in a 5G taste, but we could possibly also see Google announce apps and program capabilities that get advantage of the speed of 5G.