Google I/O 2022 live blog: Pixel 6a, Pixel Watch, Android 13 and all the news in real time

Android 13 will probably cause a stir during today’s keynote. But two of the most interesting bits of information we saw in the first beta were the addition of Bluetooth LE audio and the possibility of Google’s response to Apple’s Spatial Audio.

Combined with support for MIDI 2.0 devices, Android 13 could be a major update for audio enthusiasts. We’ll have to see what Google is talking about today.

OK, so it could be big. Mysmartprice apparently spotted a Chromecast device with Google TV running Android 12 on Geekbench.

Given that the existing 2020 model of the device is still running on Android TV OS 10, this listing likely means one of two things – either Google is testing the current version so it can get an upgrade to Android 12 plus later this year, either there’s a new Chromecast model with Google TV coming soon.

Both seem plausible, but we heard rumors in January that a new Chromecast with Google TV could arrive later this year, so for now let’s just say the latter option seems more likely.

That said, owners of the existing model are likely hoping it’s the first, as Android 12 support could bring a host of new features, including 4K UI support and rate switching. of refreshment. Hopefully we’ll find out soon anyway.

Google has long been rumored to be working on a Pixel Fold device to take on Samsung’s best foldable phones, and it’s possible we could get a glimpse of Google’s first foldable today. Or at the very least, we could learn more about the new foldable phone software features in Android 13.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 is set to debut in August, and today new renders of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 have emerged that show off the design from every angle.

TechDroider has a quick summary on Twitter of what to expect at Google I/O 2022 today, and it matches what we’ve heard. This includes the launch of the Pixel 6a phone and a possible Google Pixel Watch teaser. So while the watch may be shown today for the first time, it may not ship until the fall.

The tweet also indicates that we may see Android 13 Beta 2 rolling out and a version of Android 13 for non-Pixel devices. However, we advise you to sideload the beta on your primary phone.

If the Google Pixel 6 debuts today, it will inevitably be compared to the new iPhone SE 2022. And that’s because Google and Apple will be vying for the best cheap phone on the market. Well, the best cheap phone under $500.

Our Pixel 6a vs iPhone SE 2022 preview shows you how these phones stack up so far based on rumors and our iPhone SE 2022 review. a pint, but the Pixel 6a is expected to have a much bigger screen (6.2 vs. 4.7 inches), an ultra-wide camera (the iPhone SE only has one) and a 90Hz display plus fluid.

Stay tuned for more information.

What could be better than a little pinball machine to pass the time between now and the start of the Google I/O 2022 keynote? Developer Flutter has teamed up with Firebase to release #IOPinball. This Google I/O game is open to everyone, and it works well on my MacBook Pro.

With Google’s Wear OS 3 set to have stage time at Google I/O 2022 today, you might be wondering if your Android watch can run the software. Our Kate Kozuch has put together this handy Wear OS 3 smartwatch eligibility guide for you to check.

This prototype leak was just one of many around the new Pixel Watch; following them has been almost a full-time job for the past few months.

Luckily, you don’t have to wade through hundreds of articles to know what to expect, as we’ve rounded up the 5 biggest Google Pixel Watch rumors so far into one handy primer.

The Google Pixel Watch is a strong candidate to be unveiled at I/O 2022 today, ending a long wait for the company’s first wearable.

While we don’t know for sure what it will look like or what its specs will be, we have a pretty good idea due to a slew of leaks over the past few months.

The biggest of these a few weeks ago came when a Pixel Watch prototype was allegedly left in a restaurant. Yes really. Assuming the images are genuine, it appears to be an attractively curvaceous smartwatch with an almost bezel-less design and a few hardware buttons on the side.

If you want a stealth candidate for a Google product to be in the news at I/O, look no further than Maps, one of the software giant’s most popular programs. Maps has made frequent appearances at I/O keynotes over the years, as the crowd seems to be excited about a useful app gaining even more functionality.

Off the top of my head, the latest I/O keynotes have seen Maps add Google Assistant, adapt an incognito mode and work on AR-guided navigation in Live View. What could be planned for 2022? Your guess is as good as mine, but I’m predicting something that leverages all the data Google collects about people and places to power new Maps features.

There’s a hardware rumor that I don’t think will materialize for Google I/O 2022 that involves the so-called Imminent launch of the Pixel Buds Pro.

A few weeks ago, leaker Jon Prosser said that the Pixel Buds Pro were due to debut soonand even listed some colorways the wireless headphones would appear in. Prosser didn’t specifically mention I/O in his tweet, but at the time, the developer conference seemed early enough to do the trick.

There’s only one problem with that line of thinking – we haven’t heard many details about the headphones themselves. And that’s usually as good a sign as any that a launch isn’t happening anytime soon. The more rumors you hear about a product, the closer you are to a launch, at least in my experience.

Then again, given my experience with tech predictions, don’t be surprised if Sundar Pichai hits the Google I/O stage today with a pair of Pixel Buds Pro.

As for the potential powers of the Tensor, I touched on this a few weeks ago when I wrote on the Pixel 6 features I hope to find in the Pixel 6a. Let’s just say that Magic Eraser – the one-click tool to remove unwanted objects and people from photos – was the most successful.

In my opinion, there are two intriguing things about the Pixel 6a, which may or may not show up on Google I/O today. For starters, what will adding the Tensor chip to the Pixel 6a allow the budget phone to do? And how does the Pixel 6a compare to the Samsung Galaxy A53?

The answer to the first question probably helps provide the answer to question #2. If it were to arrive now, the Pixel 6a appears at a time when it’s the Samsung phone that can claim to be the best value for money among Android handsets, at least if our Galaxy A53 vs. Pixel 5a face to face is something to pass. The Pixel 6a has its work cut out to topple the A53, and Google’s usual photography expertise won’t go any further.

My colleague Jordan Palmer has spent a lot of time with Android 13, and he goes into today’s keynote hoping that Google solves a thorny issue – exactly what third-party apps can track about you on Android.

If you read Jordan’s Android 13 wishlistyou’ll find that he thinks the solution to Android’s ills lies in Apple’s approach to the same problem with its iPhones.

Google I/O is traditionally Android’s release party, with Google showcasing its next software update during the I/O keynote and kicking off a beta process that will culminate in the release of the next version of Android towards the end of summer.

Android 13 may well launch in the same time frame later this year, but you can already get the first beta version of this software update, provided you have a Pixel phone. Still, we expect Android 13 to get a big showcase during today’s keynote, especially if Google wants to talk about features that haven’t yet caught the eye.

Hello and welcome to Tom’s Guide’s Google I/O 2022 live blog. We’ll keep you up to date with all the latest conference news as it happens – so bookmark this page and check back regularly.