14 DAY TRIAL // Tomorrow, June 26, the next version of Android operating system will be officially unveiled at Google I/O. And what better person to introduce the new mobile platform than Sundar Pichai, head of Google's Android.
In a lengthy interview for Businessweek, Pichai has confirmed that he will be master of ceremonies at Google I/O and among other things revealed on the stage, he will also preview the next version of Android.
Speaking of which, it looks like the screenshots leaked earlier today are a clear hint that Google is ready to make an official announcement regarding the so-called Android “L” (Lollipop? Lemonhead?).
Sundar Pichai will present the next version of Android in front of almost 6,000 developers and members of the press, but this will only be a preview of what's to come.
Google will still release the Android “L” or whatever its name is in fall, so Android enthusiasts should not expect to get any major upgrades on their smartphones until later this year or maybe early 2015.
The reason behind Google's decision to preview the new Android version at I/O developer conference is the fact that many handset manufacturers have complained that they do not have enough time to offer updates to their products or new devices in time for the holidays.
This means that every year, all handset makers, except one that is selected by Google to build its own Nexus smartphone, are at disadvantage. This is just one of the reasons, but one that probably weighs more is the fact that Google wants its Android partners to be able to offer major upgrades much faster.
So, while Google will indeed preview the next version of Android during the I/O event that's set to start tomorrow, the operating system will only be available this fall.
Now that we've cleared that up, let's see what else will be showcased at Google I/O. Well, it looks like Pichar will also offer more details on Android Wear, but also additional manufacturing partners and new devices.
Google is also expected to talk about television, though additional information on the matter is still under embargo, so we don't know too much, except that Pichai has gathered the TV team into one group under the Android umbrella.
Google I/O is a two-day event that is set to kick off on June 25. We will be live blogging the entire event tomorrow, so stay with us for some of the hottest Google-related news.