14 DAY TRIAL // Google I/O 2014 kicks off on Wednesday at 9AM PDT. While the entire two-day conference is quite exciting and has plenty of workshops and sessions that participants can attend, it’s the keynote that has everyone excited, because that’s when Google lays it all out on the table, presenting its many exciting projects to the world.
So, what could possibly get us all enthusiastic about the event? Well, last year alone, it unveiled a slew of new things, such as Google+ features, a completely new Google Maps version, Hangout, devices, and more.
This year, there’s already a lot of hype around many of its tools, including those related to Android and the crazy projects Google X comes up with.
But there is more that Google can announce at the conference, including about its core projects.
Gmail
Gmail is the first project Google had outside the search engine. When it introduced the webmail service, people were so surprised that they didn’t know whether it was all a joke or if they were being serious.
The service has come a long way since then, and it is now one of the best out there, offering plenty of features to make everyone happy.
However, much more can be done about it, the company feels, and a redesign may be high up on the list. Not too long ago some pictures leaked indicating a major overhaul of the interface, making everyone think of Microsoft’s Windows 8 because of the way the ribbons are displayed and the way the buttons are placed.
Perhaps Google I/O is the perfect place where the new Gmail could be unveiled.
Google Stars
A few weeks ago, Google Stars made its way online for a brief period of time. Basically, it’s a tool that replaces the bookmarking system within Chrome, which is less than ideal. The app is fun to use and gives users a lot more room to manage their bookmarks. However, Google decided to take it down at the time, and the app hasn’t been seen since.
If Google wants to make its official introduction to have the highest impact, it could certainly introduce it on Wednesday.
Google Cloud
Google offers quite a few cloud tools. It has, in fact, developed a nice infrastructure so far, but there is plenty more that needs to be done if it wants to really compete in this area with other companies such as Microsoft, or even Amazon.
What sets them apart is the fact that Google’s competitors actually have a plan for their cloud businesses, a direction and a strategy, while the Internet giant has no strong backbone for its tools. Its offerings are narrower compared to other companies, so developers may end up choosing others.
Whether Google will actually present a palpable plan for this area of its business remains to be seen, but the fact is that at one point or another it’s going to have to put things straight.
You can also read about what Google may be planning to announce at I/O 2014 regarding its Android ecosystem or its crazy Google X projects.