- Google sucks at security, makes ugly software, and most importantly, innovates slower than Apple,
is what you might've thought before today's Google IO.
Have you seen what they're doing with Android 12? And don't even get me started on the range
of third-party designs when Apple's idea of innovation
includes updating the look of the iMac once every, I don't know, 11 years or so and making a purple iPhone.
- Hey! - Okay, those were cheap shots.
Apple is absolutely innovative, but just because they have
a world-class team of developers and designers, doesn't mean that Google can't also have a world-class team of developers
and designers, and it really shows. So let's dive deeper
because there is more to the story than innovation alone.
Like learning about our sponsor, Crucial. Crucial has been making high quality RAM and SSDs
for over 20 years. And with their Crucial System Scanner tool,
finding the perfect parts for your system is now easier than ever.
Check out Crucial at the link in the video description. (pop intro music plays)
Rumors suggested we might get a glimpse at Google's new white chapel SOC, maybe
see the Pixel Buds A-series. And of course, we expected news about Android 12
and Wear OS, but the reality of it is with no IO event last year at all,
Google had a clean slate. They could surprise us and it's safe to say
that they did and that they didn't. They didn't pull off an Apple, one more thing,
product announcement. It is a developer keynote, so it's not like they had to, but what they did surprise us
with, is just how much effort has gone into Android 12.
I mean, look at this. It's superficially more than a little iOS-like,
but it's got its own style, or more accurately, You've got your own style.
Google's new material you UI is front and center, featuring responsive design that
dynamically resizes to fit your content and user tweak-able elements
from the color palette all the way down to line weights.
And not only that, but it can do a lot of the work for you by automatically generating complimentary colors
and even pulling a pallet out of your phone's wallpaper. Meaning, if you're a fan of matching themes,
you are going to love Android 12. More of these onscreen elements are larger
and more animated, which means that you're going to be treated to a lot more eye candy.
They showed off the idea, for example, of the lock screen lighting up in different ways, depending on how
you woke the phone and the new combo notification shade
and quick settings area is far more alive than it's ever been.
Importantly, if Google is to be believed, it's not going to come at a significant cost
to responsiveness or battery life, where not only
have animations transitioning between apps been shortened
but they claim that they're getting a good 22% less CPU time
with 15% less time on high performance course.
Along with your interrupts, this all means that the CPU is freed up to do more while also doing
much less in the background which should lead
to better battery life. That's awesome, but not as innovative
as the new privacy features. The privacy dashboard shows you a breakdown of how all apps,
including Google Zone, have been using your Android devices
sensors, and it quickly and easily lets you revoke access
for apps that you don't trust. Like on iOS, there are now clear indicators
in the system tray when apps use a sensor and there are new toggles for microphone
and camera access that you can use to block access for all apps, including Google Zone.
It's not as good as a pure hardware switch but having OS wide controls like that is a game changer
and it's baked right into Android now. This is one area that Apple has been pushing really
hard recently as a shining example of why their closed ecosystem is superior to Android.
And Google has just pulled the rug right out from under them.
Okay? Following Apple's lead here is not that innovative
and we still don't have any control over app tracking in the same way that iOS provides.
But hey, at least if you love Android, you can control the size
of your water bottle from lttstore.com, they both cost the same.
Moving on to camera, then. Google showed off a new machine learning algorithm that detects
and enhances the auto white balance and exposure settings to make skin tones
appear more natural. But this time, for everyone, not just whites
like me. Until now, partly due to limited dynamic range
in photos, de-saturated highlights haven't accurately portrayed how darker skin looks
in real life, and shadows have often ended up crushed altogether. So, to solve this,
Google's created an algorithm that promises to preserve these skin tones, while also preventing later parts
of the image from being blown out. This is a real problem that affects real people,
and it's really cool to see that real work is going into solving it.
And what's more Google is planning to release it to the whole Android ecosystem rather
than keeping it to themselves for their refresh pixel line, that should launch alongside the final version of Android 12,
sometime in the fall. This is super innovative
and the beta is available right now, if you're interested with One Plus
and Xiaomi phones, among those called out as supported.
Aside from Android itself, a lot of focus was spent on Google search and backend systems,
which for a developers conference, makes sense to a degree
but we were really hoping for some more info on the long rumored white chapel In-house SOC
that we think might debut in the next pixel phones.
They did still hint a deeper collaboration with Samsung, however, when they revealed long awaited updates
to Wear OS, so get subscribed because we're definitely going to be taking an in-depth look
at these when they come out. For now, let's take a moment, though,
to acknowledge an area where Apple has clearly led the pack
and Google is playing catch up. This entire list of expected features in
the new WEAR OS is stuff that I can already do on my Apple watch
with the exception of Google's tiles feature. All day battery? Check.
Fast app start up? Check. Turn by turn directions? Check.
Offline music? Check. Payments without a phone? Check. Quick app navigation? Check. Health and fitness app, freaking check.
I mean, don't get me wrong. Most of these things are what Wear OS has been sorely missing
and are why the ecosystem clearly hasn't taken off the way Apple's watch OS has, but holy crap,
has it ever taken them a long time to catch up.
And I am really hoping we end up with something a little less cumbersome
that I might be able to actually use. Because as most of you probably know,
I don't even keep a SIM in my iPhone. I've just been wearing this Apple watch as a silent protest
against how terrible Wear OS has been. There's some more me too bits in here as well.
Like the ability to use your phones NFC and ultra wide band as a car key to lock, unlock
and start your car. Super sweet. The ability to use your Android
as an Android TV remote, complete with voice search and on-device keyboard support.
Yes, for mine video shield. Love it. And the ability to use your phone
to unlock your Chromebook, which can now receive your phone's notifications
while you're using it Apple style. Finally, as before, Android auto is superior CarPlay,
It really is guys. Don't don't at me.
Back to the question of innovation though. Google's main message this year was that they're not
only catching up to Apple in key areas but also surpassing them in others that really do matter.
And to hear Apple tell it, that's an impossibility
with Google's open model for Android. To say that they can't innovate as fast
as Apple is honestly just kind of ludicrous. I mean, a perfect example of this
is project Star Line, a real-time 3D representation
of two people as if they're in the same room separated by a display. It's not ready for prime time.
and it's possible that it'll morph into something else and
or end up dead before it launches. Remember tango?
But it is the kind of stuff that keeps Googling moving forward along
with healthy competition from other innovators like Apple.
Just like our sponsor, Shells. Thanks to Shells
for sponsoring today's video. Shells.com offers secure personal cloud computers that can be accessed
from anywhere on almost any device. It was created by one of the founders
of private internet access and it runs in your web browser. So it works on your phone, your tablet, your computer
or even your new X-Box. You can open up a brand new high-speed computer
in under five minutes and they've got options for both Windows as well as various Linux systems,
depending on your preference. Shell's virtual desktops are always on
so you can switch devices on the fly and their affordable pricing starts
at just 4.95 a month with no hidden fees. So give your computer a break
and get a virtual desktop at the link down below. Thanks for watching guys.
If you're looking for something else to look at, view, watch, go check out
our review of Google's Nest Hub. For an example of some of maybe Google's slightly
less successful innovation. It's not that it's bad. It's just, I dunno,
just watch the video, I guess.