Google I/O 2017

BRAD CHACOS reveals everything announced at the event, from new Android O features to standalone Daydream VR headsets

Big data on the big stage

Leading up to its annual I/O developer conference, Google announced so many new products and features that it was hard to imagine anything would be left. But it left some rounds in the chamber, revealing goodies ranging from an updated Google Assistant to helpful feature updates for hardware like Home and Chromecast to a new vision computing platform that imbues Google apps with the ability to see, understand, and translate the world around you.

Android O

Even though Android O isn’t new, Google revealed some fresh new features for its upcoming operating system revamp. Highlights include a picture-inpicture mode for app multitasking; ‘notification dots’ that show when a home screen app has associated notifications, summoned with a long-press; and tweaks designed to make everyday tasks like copy-pasting much more fluid and seamless.

Android O is also getting operating system optimizations that drastically reduce boot and app load times, as well as a new Google Play Protect app that’s your hub for keeping your phone safe and secure. Even better? You can try all this stuff right now with the Android O beta program.