Skip to main content

Hidden clues uncover date and location of Google’s I/O 2018 conference

Sundar Pichai stands in front of a Google logo at Google I/O 2021.
This story is part of our complete Google I/O coverage

Google I/O ARG
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Google’s annual I/O Conference will run from May 8-10, and will be held in the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California.

That announcement didn’t come easy, though. In Google’s usual, eclectic fashion, the location and date were only unearthed after a series of clues, laid out breadcrumb-style, led intrepid adventurers to the correct location.

Recommended Videos

It all began with a tweet from the Google Developers Twitter account, which posted a mysterious image. Amateur-detectives were quick to identify the image as binary code, and were able to translate the code into a URL for Google’s I/O website.

Plans are coming along for #io18pic.twitter.com/48VpqvVqWU

— Google for Developers (@googledevs) January 24, 2018

The website takes users into street view for what is most likely a Google Developers office, and into an escape room-style puzzle that needs to be solved before the next door can be opened. By all accounts, it was a fun puzzle, and The Verge is taking credit for cracking it first, working alongside a Discord server of other adventurers.

The full solution isn’t something that we’re going to spoil here, since although the final outcome is known, there’s nothing stopping you from tackling the puzzles yourself for fun. Among the hints and clues that The Verge came across, perhaps the most tantalizing is this image of an upside-down pineapple cake.

For those who aren’t immediately struck by the significance of the image, remember that Google tends to add a letter to each of the major new versions of Android. Android 8.0 Oreo has been out for a while, which means the letter “P” is highly likely to be the next significant version of Android — Android 9.0 P.

Whether or not Android P will be named “Pineapple” remains to be seen. Our very own Julian Chokkattu was handed a peppermint cookie by Google at CES, and “Peppermint” would also be a viable name for the next Android version. Could the cake — dare we say it– be a lie?

I just got a peppermint cookie from @Google and I'm convinced it's a teaser. Android Peppermint? #DTCES #CES2018

— Julian Chokkattu (@JulianChokkattu) January 10, 2018

Regardless of the naming convention, it’s highly likely that Google will use its I/O conference to discuss the future of Android, and maybe even reveal the new version right there. With the emphasis on Google Assistant at CES 2018, we would also expect to see much more from Google on that very subject. Past Google I/O conferences have been packed with new innovations, and we’re expecting this year’s to be exactly the same.

Mark Jansen
Mobile Evergreen Editor
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…
The Google app on your iPhone just got a hidden new feature
iPhone display showing Google image in black on white

Here's some exciting news for users of the Google Search app on iPhone and iPad. According to 9to5Google, you can now personalize the home screen icon of the Google Search app to reflect your mood better.

The traditional Google app icon features red, yellow, blue, and green on a white background. However, you can now customize it to have a dark background or opt for a black icon on a white background or a white icon on a black background.

Read more
The Google Pixel 9 may steal a key iPhone 16 Pro feature
A render of the Google Pixel 9 smartphone in black.

Google Pixel 9 OnLeaks / 91Mobiles

We've officially entered the second half of the year, which means we're ever closer to new flagship phones from Apple and Google. Now, the news is that one of the most anticipated new features likely to arrive on the iPhone 16 Pro series could also be coming to the Google Pixel 9.

Read more
Your Google Chrome app is getting 5 helpful new features
An Android phone showing Android 15.

The Google Chrome app for iOS and Android is introducing numerous new features to make searching in Chrome easier than ever. These features are either going live now with the latest Google Chrome app update or launching on the iPhone 15, Galaxy S24, and other devices later this year.

Google is introducing additional Chrome Actions to help you find local places. When searching for a restaurant, you will see shortcut buttons in the search results that allow you to call the restaurant, get directions, and access reviews. Android users can access this new feature in Chrome now, while iOS users must wait for a fall update.

Read more