Google I/O: Android M Previewed And Inbox App Released Along With Gmail Stats

At Google I/O, the tech giant’s annual developer conference, Google showed off the new features of its upcoming Android M operating system, a new email app called Inbox, and statistics that solidify Gmail’s dominance over email. Google I/O draws in thousands of Google enthusiasts, technology journalists, and software developers.

The major highlight of today’s two-day Google I/O conference included a preview of Android M, an upgrade that’ll be released sometime in Fall, 2015. The letter M serves as a placeholder for a version name that’ll be unveiled when the app is formally released, TechCrunch reports.

In an upcoming update to Google Now, called Google on Tap, Android’s native virtual assistant will be capable of analyzing text on your device’s messages and apps, and then following up with helpful info. For instance, when reading about a movie, you could hold down on the home button and information from the internet would be brought up about the film. This information includes a starred review, a trailer from YouTube, and where you can purchase tickets. This is but one example, as the new Google on Tap can be also used to bring up relevant information on topics like music, TechCrunch wrote.

Apple has been in the mobile payments market for months with Apple Pay: allowing you to conveniently make payments at partnered retailers (like Whole Foods) with an iPhone 6. But Google also wants in on mobile payments, which is why they showcased Android Pay at Google I/O. To get the payment system in your hands, Google has partnered with T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon, who’ve agreed to install Android Pay on their smartphones. Android Pay will be compatible with any devices that are NFC enabled and running Android KitKat and above.

Additionally, Google’s latest email app for mobile, Inbox, which was previously available by invite-only, can now be downloaded by the general public, TechCrunch reports. Inbox offers an ‘Undo Send’ feature, so you can recall a sent email — useful if you realize a mistake in your email (who hasn’t been there?). But you’ll only have up to 10 seconds to recall the message, so think quick. Inbox aims to compete with Microsoft’s Outlook app, which has received critical acclaim from email fanatics and tech journalists alike.

Fans also learned more about user activity on Gmail for the first time since Google I/O 2012. Google reported in 2012 that Gmail had 425 million active users, and now they claim their email client has more than doubled at 900 million. Gmail’s user growth easily makes its the largest email service on Earth.

The Google I/O conference will conclude on May 29 — so stay tuned for more coverage. Watch the Google I/O keynote address below.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]