WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:07.070 - Google sucks at security, makes ugly software, and most importantly, innovates slower than Apple, 00:00:07.070 --> 00:00:10.330 is what you might've thought before today's Google IO. 00:00:10.330 --> 00:00:14.940 Have you seen what they're doing with Android 12? And don't even get me started on the range 00:00:14.940 --> 00:00:18.250 of third-party designs when Apple's idea of innovation 00:00:18.250 --> 00:00:24.263 includes updating the look of the iMac once every, I don't know, 11 years or so and making a purple iPhone. 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:28.930 - Hey! - Okay, those were cheap shots. 00:00:28.930 --> 00:00:32.280 Apple is absolutely innovative, but just because they have 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:38.740 a world-class team of developers and designers, doesn't mean that Google can't also have a world-class team of developers 00:00:38.740 --> 00:00:42.760 and designers, and it really shows. So let's dive deeper 00:00:42.760 --> 00:00:47.380 because there is more to the story than innovation alone. 00:00:47.380 --> 00:00:52.030 Like learning about our sponsor, Crucial. Crucial has been making high quality RAM and SSDs 00:00:52.030 --> 00:00:55.060 for over 20 years. And with their Crucial System Scanner tool, 00:00:55.060 --> 00:00:58.563 finding the perfect parts for your system is now easier than ever. 00:00:58.563 --> 00:01:04.669 Check out Crucial at the link in the video description. (pop intro music plays) 00:01:10.200 --> 00:01:14.239 Rumors suggested we might get a glimpse at Google's new white chapel SOC, maybe 00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:19.010 see the Pixel Buds A-series. And of course, we expected news about Android 12 00:01:19.010 --> 00:01:24.300 and Wear OS, but the reality of it is with no IO event last year at all, 00:01:24.300 --> 00:01:28.520 Google had a clean slate. They could surprise us and it's safe to say 00:01:28.520 --> 00:01:33.560 that they did and that they didn't. They didn't pull off an Apple, one more thing, 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:39.690 product announcement. It is a developer keynote, so it's not like they had to, but what they did surprise us 00:01:39.690 --> 00:01:43.140 with, is just how much effort has gone into Android 12. 00:01:43.140 --> 00:01:48.380 I mean, look at this. It's superficially more than a little iOS-like, 00:01:48.380 --> 00:01:53.510 but it's got its own style, or more accurately, You've got your own style. 00:01:53.510 --> 00:01:57.781 Google's new material you UI is front and center, featuring responsive design that 00:01:57.781 --> 00:02:02.090 dynamically resizes to fit your content and user tweak-able elements 00:02:02.090 --> 00:02:05.170 from the color palette all the way down to line weights. 00:02:05.170 --> 00:02:10.820 And not only that, but it can do a lot of the work for you by automatically generating complimentary colors 00:02:10.820 --> 00:02:15.800 and even pulling a pallet out of your phone's wallpaper. Meaning, if you're a fan of matching themes, 00:02:15.800 --> 00:02:20.400 you are going to love Android 12. More of these onscreen elements are larger 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:24.510 and more animated, which means that you're going to be treated to a lot more eye candy. 00:02:24.510 --> 00:02:29.410 They showed off the idea, for example, of the lock screen lighting up in different ways, depending on how 00:02:29.410 --> 00:02:32.900 you woke the phone and the new combo notification shade 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:36.880 and quick settings area is far more alive than it's ever been. 00:02:36.880 --> 00:02:41.600 Importantly, if Google is to be believed, it's not going to come at a significant cost 00:02:41.600 --> 00:02:44.954 to responsiveness or battery life, where not only 00:02:44.954 --> 00:02:48.110 have animations transitioning between apps been shortened 00:02:48.110 --> 00:02:51.637 but they claim that they're getting a good 22% less CPU time 00:02:51.637 --> 00:02:55.370 with 15% less time on high performance course. 00:02:55.370 --> 00:03:00.630 Along with your interrupts, this all means that the CPU is freed up to do more while also doing 00:03:00.630 --> 00:03:04.040 much less in the background which should lead 00:03:04.040 --> 00:03:08.760 to better battery life. That's awesome, but not as innovative 00:03:08.760 --> 00:03:13.438 as the new privacy features. The privacy dashboard shows you a breakdown of how all apps, 00:03:13.438 --> 00:03:16.580 including Google Zone, have been using your Android devices 00:03:16.580 --> 00:03:20.090 sensors, and it quickly and easily lets you revoke access 00:03:20.090 --> 00:03:24.220 for apps that you don't trust. Like on iOS, there are now clear indicators 00:03:24.220 --> 00:03:28.620 in the system tray when apps use a sensor and there are new toggles for microphone 00:03:28.620 --> 00:03:34.170 and camera access that you can use to block access for all apps, including Google Zone. 00:03:34.170 --> 00:03:39.690 It's not as good as a pure hardware switch but having OS wide controls like that is a game changer 00:03:39.690 --> 00:03:44.260 and it's baked right into Android now. This is one area that Apple has been pushing really 00:03:44.260 --> 00:03:49.970 hard recently as a shining example of why their closed ecosystem is superior to Android. 00:03:49.970 --> 00:03:53.330 And Google has just pulled the rug right out from under them. 00:03:53.330 --> 00:03:57.030 Okay? Following Apple's lead here is not that innovative 00:03:57.030 --> 00:04:01.050 and we still don't have any control over app tracking in the same way that iOS provides. 00:04:01.050 --> 00:04:04.180 But hey, at least if you love Android, you can control the size 00:04:04.180 --> 00:04:08.150 of your water bottle from lttstore.com, they both cost the same. 00:04:08.150 --> 00:04:12.520 Moving on to camera, then. Google showed off a new machine learning algorithm that detects 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:16.120 and enhances the auto white balance and exposure settings to make skin tones 00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:20.830 appear more natural. But this time, for everyone, not just whites 00:04:20.830 --> 00:04:24.220 like me. Until now, partly due to limited dynamic range 00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:28.950 in photos, de-saturated highlights haven't accurately portrayed how darker skin looks 00:04:28.950 --> 00:04:33.780 in real life, and shadows have often ended up crushed altogether. So, to solve this, 00:04:33.780 --> 00:04:38.915 Google's created an algorithm that promises to preserve these skin tones, while also preventing later parts 00:04:38.915 --> 00:04:44.600 of the image from being blown out. This is a real problem that affects real people, 00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:48.390 and it's really cool to see that real work is going into solving it. 00:04:48.390 --> 00:04:52.660 And what's more Google is planning to release it to the whole Android ecosystem rather 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:57.980 than keeping it to themselves for their refresh pixel line, that should launch alongside the final version of Android 12, 00:04:57.980 --> 00:05:01.170 sometime in the fall. This is super innovative 00:05:01.170 --> 00:05:04.800 and the beta is available right now, if you're interested with One Plus 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:08.210 and Xiaomi phones, among those called out as supported. 00:05:08.210 --> 00:05:12.600 Aside from Android itself, a lot of focus was spent on Google search and backend systems, 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:15.861 which for a developers conference, makes sense to a degree 00:05:15.861 --> 00:05:20.757 but we were really hoping for some more info on the long rumored white chapel In-house SOC 00:05:20.757 --> 00:05:24.360 that we think might debut in the next pixel phones. 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:29.173 They did still hint a deeper collaboration with Samsung, however, when they revealed long awaited updates 00:05:29.173 --> 00:05:34.190 to Wear OS, so get subscribed because we're definitely going to be taking an in-depth look 00:05:34.190 --> 00:05:38.020 at these when they come out. For now, let's take a moment, though, 00:05:38.020 --> 00:05:41.470 to acknowledge an area where Apple has clearly led the pack 00:05:41.470 --> 00:05:45.960 and Google is playing catch up. This entire list of expected features in 00:05:45.960 --> 00:05:49.340 the new WEAR OS is stuff that I can already do on my Apple watch 00:05:49.340 --> 00:05:53.280 with the exception of Google's tiles feature. All day battery? Check. 00:05:53.280 --> 00:05:56.600 Fast app start up? Check. Turn by turn directions? Check. 00:05:56.600 --> 00:06:02.720 Offline music? Check. Payments without a phone? Check. Quick app navigation? Check. Health and fitness app, freaking check. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:07.590 I mean, don't get me wrong. Most of these things are what Wear OS has been sorely missing 00:06:07.590 --> 00:06:13.890 and are why the ecosystem clearly hasn't taken off the way Apple's watch OS has, but holy crap, 00:06:13.890 --> 00:06:17.250 has it ever taken them a long time to catch up. 00:06:17.250 --> 00:06:20.880 And I am really hoping we end up with something a little less cumbersome 00:06:20.880 --> 00:06:25.600 that I might be able to actually use. Because as most of you probably know, 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:31.390 I don't even keep a SIM in my iPhone. I've just been wearing this Apple watch as a silent protest 00:06:31.390 --> 00:06:36.350 against how terrible Wear OS has been. There's some more me too bits in here as well. 00:06:36.350 --> 00:06:41.394 Like the ability to use your phones NFC and ultra wide band as a car key to lock, unlock 00:06:41.394 --> 00:06:45.810 and start your car. Super sweet. The ability to use your Android 00:06:45.810 --> 00:06:50.356 as an Android TV remote, complete with voice search and on-device keyboard support. 00:06:50.356 --> 00:06:54.850 Yes, for mine video shield. Love it. And the ability to use your phone 00:06:54.850 --> 00:06:58.530 to unlock your Chromebook, which can now receive your phone's notifications 00:06:58.530 --> 00:07:04.710 while you're using it Apple style. Finally, as before, Android auto is superior CarPlay, 00:07:04.710 --> 00:07:06.613 It really is guys. Don't don't at me. 00:07:07.820 --> 00:07:12.070 Back to the question of innovation though. Google's main message this year was that they're not 00:07:12.070 --> 00:07:17.250 only catching up to Apple in key areas but also surpassing them in others that really do matter. 00:07:17.250 --> 00:07:20.530 And to hear Apple tell it, that's an impossibility 00:07:20.530 --> 00:07:24.580 with Google's open model for Android. To say that they can't innovate as fast 00:07:24.580 --> 00:07:28.770 as Apple is honestly just kind of ludicrous. I mean, a perfect example of this 00:07:28.770 --> 00:07:32.240 is project Star Line, a real-time 3D representation 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:38.400 of two people as if they're in the same room separated by a display. It's not ready for prime time. 00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:41.614 and it's possible that it'll morph into something else and 00:07:41.614 --> 00:07:45.650 or end up dead before it launches. Remember tango? 00:07:45.650 --> 00:07:49.960 But it is the kind of stuff that keeps Googling moving forward along 00:07:49.960 --> 00:07:53.793 with healthy competition from other innovators like Apple. 00:07:54.970 --> 00:07:58.160 Just like our sponsor, Shells. Thanks to Shells 00:07:58.160 --> 00:08:02.830 for sponsoring today's video. Shells.com offers secure personal cloud computers that can be accessed 00:08:02.830 --> 00:08:07.180 from anywhere on almost any device. 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For an example of some of maybe Google's slightly 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:50.810 less successful innovation. It's not that it's bad. It's just, I dunno, 00:08:50.810 --> 00:08:52.310 just watch the video, I guess.