Google I/O: Android Keynote Highlights

Google's Android Keynote has just finished and here's the highlights, hot off the press:

Android Growth

• 100 million android devices have been activated in total.
• Over 300 different android devices
• 400,000 android devices are being activated every day
• 200,000 Apps in the Android Market

Honeycomb 3.1 announced

• Rolling out for some Tablets today
• Recent tasks list can now scroll
• Widgets can now be resized, both horizontally and vertically, on the fly
• USB Host mode - you can now plug in all manner of USB devices, such as keyboards, mice, controllers, digital cameras, etc.
• Honeycomb 3.1 is coming to Google TV
• Google TV is getting the Android Market, will run honeycomb optimised apps
   

Ice Cream Sandwich

• Next Version of Android after Honeycomb
• Will unify Android versions - will run on all Android devices, phones, Tablets and more. Addresses fragmentation woes. 
• More advanced technology - real time head tracking possible

Movie Rentals via Android Market

• Can now rent full films directly from the Android Market
• Variable Pricing
• Playable on your PC or Android
• 30 Day rental period
• High-definition
• "pinning" system allows you to download to your device for when streaming isn't possible
• Movies app for tablets rolling out as Android 3.1
• Phone app coming out later for 2.2+ devices

Music Beta

• Currently US only
• Store your music collection in the cloud
• PC/MAC application can sync with your existing music collection
• Create playlists and store them on your device for offline playing
• Launching in beta - invitation only to US users
• Store up to 20,000 songs
• Free (at least while in beta)
• First invites go out to all those attending Google I/O
• Updated music app is on the market NOW - for Android 2.2 and above

New Guidelines for Android Devices

• Partnership to ensure timely updates to new android devices
• Founding partners: Verizon, HTC, Samsung, Sprint, Sony Ericsson, LG, T-mobile, Vodafone, Motorola, AT&T
• All future devices from these partners will be updated for at least 18 months, hardware permitting

Android Open Accessories

• Platform to build accessories for Android devices
• Helps integrate devices, making them compatible with all android devices
• Taking Android beyond Phones and Tablets, android support everywhere, such as the example they used whereby an android phone was connected to an exercise bike
• Supports Honeycomb and Gingerbread
• Supports USB, will support Bluetooth in the future
• Reference Hardware and Software for Android Accessory Development Kit (ADK) available today
• Google created a giant tilting labyrinth as an example - controlled by tilting an android device
• No approval process or NDA required!

Android at Home

• New Wireless communication protocol
• Android devices can communicate with potentially every appliance in your home
• Android Tablet can, for example, turn lights on and off remotely
• Google Partnering with various "industry players" to create a vast array of appliances for your home
• "Project tungsten" android 'Hub' - Android@home devices you can place around your house, such as a speaker system to play music with, or an NFC device that can add music to your music beta collection just be tapping a cd against it

Android Market Announcements tomorrow.

Plus, everyone in attendance got a brand spankin' new Galaxy Tab 10.1.