Google hypes Android M, Android Pay, Google Photos at I/O 2015

Google shows off new software at annual I/O developer conference in San Francisco

Google kicked off its annual I/O developer conference in San Francisco, showing off a new version of Android, a VR camera rig, numerous developer resources, and a lot more besides in an opening keynote that took up the better part of two hours.

Senior vice president of product, Sundar Pichai, hosted the event, which the search giant says attracted 6000-plus developers.

Much of what had been rumoured before the show did, indeed, appear on stage at the Moscone Center, including the aforementioned new Android version, Google Photos, Android Pay, and more. But there were conspicuous absences, as well, for example, Google didn’t mention its enterprise-focused products such as Android and Apps for Work, nor the rumoured Project Fi wireless service, or the Project Ara modular smartphone.

Android M

Arguably the biggest piece of news was the announcement of Android M, or Android 6.0, which was made available to developers today and is set to appear on user devices later this year.

The new operating system isn’t going to make too many big waves on its own – it doesn’t overhaul the interface design or radically change the way people interact with the device. But it does bring minor but helpful tweaks like granular app permission settings (which allow users to deny or approve specific permissions, like location tracking or Wi-Fi information, from each app), and Chrome custom tabs, which uses preloading and deep app integration to offer a more native-like mobile web experience.

Android Pay

As expected, Google rolled out a new mobile payment infrastructure called Android Pay at I/O 2015. It’s similar to Apple Pay and Google’s earlier attempt at mobile payments, Google Wallet, in that it’s an NFC-based system where you wave your phone at a properly equipped point of sale, but it adds an open infrastructure and improved tap-to-pay capability.

Google says there are 700,000 stores in the US that can accept Android Pay. Perhaps a payment war between Apple and Google will produce a renaissance through