Apple for once did not dominate the headlines this week. During Google’s two-day developer’s conference, Google I/O, the search giant packed in a number of headline-grabbing announcements—particularly about the future of Android.
On day one, Google formally disclosed its next Android releases: improved video services, and the so-called future of Android, or Android@Home, which could even involve Android light bulbs. Google also launched its Google Music Beta, possibly including anti-piracy protections, and disclosed that it could pay up to $500 million to settle a Department of Justice investigation. On day two, Google announced a revamped Android Market featuring music recommendations (like Apple iTunes already does).
Google also said that Android applications have been installed over 4.5 billion times to date, covering 200,000 discrete apps. The idea, of course, is to elicit more. Google takes a 30 percent cut of all Android Market sales, and Google's keynote pitch to add in-app payments through a single line of code provides it another route to higher revenues. Google’s Android Market lead Eric Chu said that Google didn't have any plans to cut its revenue share to 5 percent, as it will do for the Chrome App Market.
This week we kept an eye out for some of the most interesting tweets about Android, in light of all the I/O announcements. Click on the slideshow below to start, and check out PCMag’s pick of nifty tech products demonstrated at Google I/O.
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