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Live notes, observations from Google’s I/O 2013 keynote

We’re live on the scene from Google’s 2013 I/O keynote, and although the event will be streamed online, we will be providing  live commentary and photos on this page. Among other things, we’re expecting talk of a new Google Maps web interface and perhaps the debut of a Google-made Spotify competitor. The event starts at 9AM Pacific/ Noon Eastern time…

– Android head talking about momentum and growth of Android

– Hugo Barra up talking new Android stuff

– Barra discussing Maps APIs, today Google is launching free new location API and algorithms for developers

– New low-power (1% per hour) location API, GeoFence API (like from iOS). 100 geofences simultaneously.

– Physical activity tracking API based on accelerometer data… very cool. Battery efficient without GPS. Walking, driving, cycling, etc.

– Cross-platform Google+ sign in. Demo with The Fancy between website on computer and the Android app. Cool integration between computers and phones for logins. App automatically installed on Android device after accessing the Fancy site on a PC.

– Improved Google Cloud Messaging, interesting that their speed of message transfers is constantly improving

– Wow, new Notification sync API between devices. So, dismiss a notification on your Android phone, it will also be dismissed on your tablet. These new features are launching on a rolling basis.

– New Gaming APIs: “cloud save” user data, so pick up on your tablet on a level you already started on your phone. New APIs for virtual trophy walls, leader boards. Sort of like Game Center on iOS. Uses Google+ Circles integration to connect people.

– Multiplayer gaming demo crashed because of poor network connectivity.

– New Android Studio developer tools.

– Live previews of edits in margins of Android Studio. Easy to manipulate different interfaces for different screen sizes. This should make it really, really easy for optimizing apps for different sizes. Android has been panned for the lack of optimized apps for specific screen sizes. This should help alleviate that problem.

– Also included in Android Studio is dynamic localization. In the new Google Play app submission editor, there is a new automated translation system. Developers can send their strings to the translation company. Google offers many choices for different budgets. It is a pilot program.

– Interesting Google analytics options for tracking where users found Google Play apps that they download.

– Beta testing, alpha, rollouts for Google Play app launches. Features and app updates could also be rolled out gradually.

– Google Play improvements for end-users being discussed now. New Google Play view for tablet-optimized apps. Similar to Apple’s iPad App Store specifically featuring iPad-optimized software

– Google now talking Music Service: Google Play Music All-Access.

– A mix between Spotify and Pandora. “Radio without rules.”

– Stock Google Galaxy S4 just announced.

– Interesting, stock Android 4.2 Galaxy S4.

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