What We Learned from the 2014 Google I/O Conference

The company unveils wearable gadgets, Android Auto and more.

Up Next at Google - Google’s annual two-day I/O conference kicked off on Wednesday in San Francisco. The search giant revealed some of its big plans for the year, including its efforts to extend beyond smartphones and push further into the wearable gadgets market, living rooms and TV sets. Keep reading to find out what tech goodies Google has up its sleeves. — Patrice Peck with reporting from AP(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

1 / 9

Up Next at Google - Google’s annual two-day I/O conference kicked off on Wednesday in San Francisco. The search giant revealed some of its big plans for the year, including its efforts to extend beyond smartphones and push further into the wearable gadgets market, living rooms and TV sets. Keep reading to find out what tech goodies Google has up its sleeves. — Patrice Peck with reporting from AP(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

An Event to Excite - The I/O conference is held each year to inspire developers to create devices and apps for Google’s ecosystem.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

2 / 9

An Event to Excite - The I/O conference is held each year to inspire developers to create devices and apps for Google’s ecosystem.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo By Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

A Time of Transition - Currently in a time of transition, the company famous for leading the world in online search has begun trying to mirror consumers’ ongoing shift to smartphones and tablets from laptop PCs and desktops.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

3 / 9

A Time of Transition - Currently in a time of transition, the company famous for leading the world in online search has begun trying to mirror consumers’ ongoing shift to smartphones and tablets from laptop PCs and desktops.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

At the Forefront of Innovation - Staying at the forefront of innovation with new, sometimes risky technologies, such as driverless cars, Google Glass and thinking thermostats, is also a priority for Google.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

4 / 9

At the Forefront of Innovation - Staying at the forefront of innovation with new, sometimes risky technologies, such as driverless cars, Google Glass and thinking thermostats, is also a priority for Google.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

More Women Attendees - Some 6,000 developers, journalists and bloggers attended the event, AP reports. The number of women attendees also grew to 20 percent this year from 8 percent in  2013. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

5 / 9

More Women Attendees - Some 6,000 developers, journalists and bloggers attended the event, AP reports. The number of women attendees also grew to 20 percent this year from 8 percent in 2013. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

ADVERTISEMENT
Android Wear - Google's smartwatches have arrived. The LG G and the Samsung Gear Live will be available on Wednesday, while the third wearable device, Motorola's Moto 360, will hit stores later this summer. Each smartwatch runs Android Wear, a version of the world’s most popular smartphone operation system designed for computerized wristwatches. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

6 / 9

Android Wear - Google's smartwatches have arrived. The LG G and the Samsung Gear Live will be available on Wednesday, while the third wearable device, Motorola's Moto 360, will hit stores later this summer. Each smartwatch runs Android Wear, a version of the world’s most popular smartphone operation system designed for computerized wristwatches. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Android Auto - Android Auto, the redesigned car-specific interface for Android, was introduced and has already been dubbed by some techies as “Google Now for your car.” For example, the Android Auto interface appears on a touchscreen dashboard, automatically showing information relevant to the driver’s habits based on information that Google and Google Now already knows about the driver. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

7 / 9

Android Auto - Android Auto, the redesigned car-specific interface for Android, was introduced and has already been dubbed by some techies as “Google Now for your car.” For example, the Android Auto interface appears on a touchscreen dashboard, automatically showing information relevant to the driver’s habits based on information that Google and Google Now already knows about the driver. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Android TV - Optimized for TV-watching, Android TV comes equipped with a recommendation system and voice searches for terms like “Oscar-nominated movies from 2002” and “Breaking Bad,” AP reports. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

8 / 9

Android TV - Optimized for TV-watching, Android TV comes equipped with a recommendation system and voice searches for terms like “Oscar-nominated movies from 2002” and “Breaking Bad,” AP reports. (Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Android L and Android One - The company announced the next version of Android, which is temporarily known as Android L. The key differences between the current and new operating systems will be Android L’s ability to work across all devices and a more human and approachable design with bright, lean color schemes and animation. Aimed at helping manufacturers build low-cost smartphones for emerging markets like India, Android One was also revealed to attendees.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

9 / 9

Android L and Android One - The company announced the next version of Android, which is temporarily known as Android L. The key differences between the current and new operating systems will be Android L’s ability to work across all devices and a more human and approachable design with bright, lean color schemes and animation. Aimed at helping manufacturers build low-cost smartphones for emerging markets like India, Android One was also revealed to attendees.(Photo: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)