GOOGLE has announced new features for online games, maps and search, a new music-streaming service and enhancements to its Google Plus social network, including tools for editing and sharing photos.
The announcements were made at the company's sixth annual I/O conference for software developers which offers a chance for the company to showcase its latest services.
The audience of about 6,000 people included engineers and entrepreneurs who develop applications and other features that can make smartphones and tablets more appealing.
Reporters from around the world were also on hand, giving Google a chance to generate more hoopla about its latest innovations.
Android already has been activated on 900 million devices made by Samsung Electronics, HTC and other manufacturers. Android devices are the chief rivals to Apple's iPhones and iPads. Android has helped Google make more money because its search engine and other services, including maps, are usually built into the devices. That tie-in drives more visitors to Google and gives the Mountain View, California, company more opportunities to sell ads.
The keynote lasted about three and a half hours. The conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco goes through until Friday.
Here's a running account of the event, presented in reverse chronological order. All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) in the US.
Presenters included CEO Larry Page; Vic Gundotra, Google's senior vice president for engineering; Sundar Pichai, Google's senior vice president for apps and Chrome; Hugo Barra, vice president for product management for Android; Ellie Powers, a product manager at Google; Brian McClendon, a vice president who oversees Google Maps; and Daniel Graf, director of Google Maps.
12:30 p.m.
Page complains about how laws haven't kept up with the pace of technology. He says trying to create a Google Health service for keeping track of medical records hasn't been easy because of regulations.
He also says it's necessary to start earlier to get girls and young women interested in technology. And he says smartphones need to become more affordable in poorer countries.
Page closes the keynote with a remark about being able to use his phone for just about everything he needs to run the company. He says it's remarkable to think of what can happen when more people can have such access.
As Page walks off the stage, Google announces that Billy Idol is the featured performer at Wednesday's after-hours party.
