Digital Trends Live: Google I/O Conference preview, Android Q, and more

By Todd Werkhoven May 7, 2019

On the latest episode of Digital Trends Live, host Greg Nibler and Luke Larsen, DT’s associate editor of computing, speculate in the lead-up to Google I/O Conference.

Topics include the release of midrange Google Pixel devices, Android Q, a recap of the Microsoft Build 2019 show, Alexa availability in 60,000 smart devices, and Galaxy Fold order cancellations (unless you ask them not to), all leading up to a live watch party for the Google I/O conference.

Later, DT Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Kaplan joins us from New York with Nisa Amoils, author of WTF is Happening? Women Tech Founders on the Rise, to talk about the role of women in the technology field, and investing venture capital dollars with female founders.

Nibler then welcomes Adam Kinney, director of machine learning and automated analysis at Mixpanel, who outlines how companies can use machine learning to make sense of their data.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Todd Werkhoven's work can be read at numerous publications and he co-authored a personal finance book called "Zombie…

Mobile

Google’s Digital Wellbeing widget hits Android devices soon

Google Pixel 6 Pro clock widgets. Credits: Google official.

A Digital Wellbeing widget will soon arrive to Android devices to help users keep a track of screen time and how much time they spend on Google apps. While the exact release date is currently unknown, it is expected that this widget will eventually be released to all Android devices. Notably, this is a feature that's already available for iPhone users since iOS 12, so Google is very late to the party by comparison.
As per 9to5Google, Digital Wellbeing will soon get this widget. A teardown of the APK file that Google uploaded to the Play Store revealed that the version 1.0.416751293.beta supported the Digital Wellbeing widget.
Google's Digital Wellbeing app received a widget that manages time spent on apps. Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Google's more recent widget additions have been appreciated for their usefulness. The Google Photos widget enabled users to decorate their home screens with photos of their closest companions and favorite shots. Meanwhile, YouTube Music also introduced a "recently played" widget for Android 12 users that was available in three size options depending on the home screen layout. The widget provides quick access to played videos, playlists, albums, and more.The screen time checking feature is especially useful to those who suffer from bedtime procrastination and internet addiction. Apps like Instagram have a feature for checking the average amount of time spent on the app in the past week, with an option for setting daily reminders that appear once users reach their time limit, so the fact that Google hasn't had one up till now has been a pretty big omission.

Mobile

Android at Google I/O 2021: Everything new

Android 12 teaser images

After a few months of early developer previews, at Google I/O 2021 Google has finally given us an in-depth look at the nest-generation version of Android, Android 12 -- and boy is it an upgrade. The new operating system represents a massive overhaul to the user interface, along with support for new features like stacked widgets, new settings toggles, and more.

Android 12 will be released to the public later this year, likely in September or October. Until then, early builds of it will be available in the form of beta releases, though we don't recommend installing those on your primary devices considering the fact that they likely have bugs that could impact usage of your phone.

Mobile

Google Maps is getting improved Live View navigation, more detailed map data

google maps

Google is making Maps even more helpful than it already is. At Google I/O 2021, the company announced a series of updates to Google Maps that will make it more helpful in day-to-day life, and improve features like the augmented reality (AR) view that Google launched in Maps last year.

Perhaps the most notable change to Maps is that Google is adding more detail in several places. For example, Google Maps will now show users where things like crosswalks, street signs, and intersection markers are straight from the normal map view. As noted by Google at the event, this could be very helpful for parents with strollers, those in a wheelchair, or those who just want to plan their exact walk. The more detailed view was actually already announced by Google in August, but is now more rolling out to 50 more cities around the world.