The annual developers conference and showcase of all things Google starts on Wednesday. Like previous years, the opening keynote address will likely include several announcements about Google initiatives. Here's what to look for at Google I/O 2014.

Wearables and Android Wear

The No. 1 most expected topic from Google's keynote will be the company's work on wearable devices, especially smartwatches. Ahead of the expected fall unveiling of Apple's iWatch, Google and its hardware partners will likely try to get a head start, beginning with Google I/O.


While LG and Motorola are expected to show off, or at least tease, new smartwatches, the biggest focus will be on Android Wear, the software platform specifically made for wearables that Google previewed a few months ago. At that time, Google announced a few design prerogatives it was focusing on, including putting the most useful information up front right when you need it, providing simple, straight answers to spoken questions, health and fitness monitoring, and useful compatibility with the ecosystem of Android devices and other aspects of the "multiscreen" world.

On top of LG and Motorola, Samsung is rumored to unveil an Android Wear device as well, according to IGN. But the company has been focusing on its own Tizen mobile OS for wearables like the Gear smartwatch line, so that remains speculative. Another speculative notion is that Google Fit, the company's rumored set of fitness and health tracking apps, might be announced as a direct rival to the recently unveiled Apple Healthkit app suite. We'll see.

HTC Nexus 9 Tablet, With an Android Update?

Last year at Google I/O, Google didn't feature a big Android update, but it did roll out Android 4.4 KitKat later in the year. But while KitKat featured an impressive design that cleared away the OS's large storage footprint and promised to run smoother on older devices, from a UI and features perspective, KitKat was incremental.

There's a good possibility that a new Android OS will be announced, if not fully fleshed out, at Google I/O, since it's been two years since a big change. If the rumored new Android system, codenamed Lollipop, according to Read/Write, does debut, it'll most likely be with a new device.

Since the Nexus 5 was released last year, it wouldn't make sense for Google to have a new "Nexus 6" smartphone on deck, but there are rumors that a new 8.9-inch HTC-built Nexus tablet -- either called the Nexus 8, in keeping with the incremental numeric naming scheme, or the Nexus 9, in keeping with Google naming devices after the screen size -- could be the center of the show. Rumors have even fleshed out details on the specs of the device, which is expected to have a 2048 x 1440p display, a 64-bit Tegra K1 chip, front-facing stereo speakers, and an odd 4:3 aspect ratio.

Speaking of Nexus rumors, the HTC Nexus 9 -- codenamed "Volantis" -- could be the last in the official "Nexus" line, since it's widely believed Google is moving towards "Android Silver" devices, a series of pure Android hardware partnerships much like the Google Play Editions that have sporadically been released over the past couple of years. Don't expect any Android Silver devices to make an appearance yet though.

Even if the rumored Android Lollipop and Nexus 9 aren't ready for primetime yet, expect a big emphasis on little Android updates, especially for developers. Tools for better communication and interfunctionality between apps on Android, for example, will likely be announced, along with updates to Google Now capabilities, the Google Camera app, possible 64-bit processor support, a new runtime for Android called "Android RunTime," and a focus on consistency and functionality across the Android spectrum, including Android Wear.

Nest Smart Home and Android Automotive

Speaking of functionality across the Google ecosystem, the recent acquisition by Google and Nest Labs of smarthome camera maker Dropcam hints at an emphasis on automating the home (as well as collecting ever increasing amounts of user data) through Nest. Expect at least some hints at what Google is planning this week, along with in-depth developer tools through the newly announced Nest API.

Google recently unveiled its self-driving car prototype, which looks more like a CarPod than a proper car, but there's more that Google is planning with respect to your commute than the far-flung futuristic robocars. Google announced the Open Automotive Alliance earlier this year to compete with Apple in bringing mobile computing to your dashboard, and more information on developments in the Android-powered smart infotainment system could be on the way.

Android TV Release?

While Google unveiled the Chromecast HDMI streaming TV dongle last year, rumors earlier this year pointed to a new set-top streaming box that is less technically complicated than the multi-device-streaming Chromecast, featuring all-in-one consumer-friendly functionality. The possible replacement for the failed Google TV experiment has been dubbed "Android TV" by The Verge, which first leaked screenshots of the home entertainment OS.

Much like Apple TV, Amazon's Fire TV, and other set-top boxes, Android TV is expected to use a boxy home screen with support for Pandora, Hulu, Netflix, and, of course, YouTube and Google Play, right out of the box. According to Ars Technica, the connected home entertainment box will also heavily feature gaming -- much like Amazon's recently released Fire TV. Android already supports USB and Bluetooth gaming controllers, so this wouldn't be a stretch for Google.

Previous reports, back when it was being speculatively called the "Nexus TV," alleged its release date would be in the first half of 2014, which would align with Google I/O. GigaOm seems to think it will be announced this week, but with nothing slated in the Google I/O schedule related to the living room, it's likely to be keynote or bust.

Bots, the Cloud, Project Tango, Project Ara, Google Glass, and More

Just from the Google I/O schedule, we know there are several sessions that will feature other Google products and projects in the company's long list of initiatives. Developing for Google Glass, redesigning Google Maps, the expansion of Google Play, new Android development tools, "robotics in a new world," a session on Projects Tango and Ara, and a big emphasis on Cloud integration are all obvious points of emphasis during the conference. But as smaller developer sessions, these might not be the focus of any revolutionary keynote announcements.

Still, with so much going on with Google, there's always room for surprises, so check back with Latin Post Tech for more coverage, including a livestream and featured developments, and follow us on Twitter for all things tech.