Google kicked off their annual I/O developer conference today and really rose to the occasion, touching on just about every speculation and expectation we had for the event.  Running the gamut from Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to a new tablet, a connected home device and even a live demo of Google Glass by Sergey Brin himself, there’s little to complain about for Google I/O 2012.  They set out to at least address the looming questions circling Android and Google+, and showed just enough leg regarding long-term plans to synthesize their many projects.

Indeed, Google had a lot riding on today’s keynote, seeing as rivals Apple and Microsoft have both stepped up their games in an effort to attract more user interaction and own the entire mobile ecosystem all the way up the stack.  It’s only been a few weeks since Microsoft unveiled their own tablet, Smart Glass, the one{X} app and their cloud-driven goals for Windows 8 across handsets, Xbox and Kinect.  In the same time frame Apple’s revealed an updated iOS 6, available in a preview SDK for developers, and a slew of new devices.  The bar has been raised for Google, which, though dominating through Android’s mobile OS, truly needs a better integrated approach to unify the customer experience between hardware and software.

Today, Google addressed all of its immediate problems and more.

Google vs. iOS

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With 400 million Android devices in the wild, Google sees twelve of its devices activated every second of every day.  The spread of Android doesn’t seem to be slowing down, with 200% growth in Japan, South Korea and France over the past twelve months, and an even faster growth rate of 500% for Brazil, India, Thailand and Indonesia during the same time frame.  That’s caused a great deal of fragmentation for massive software update to be rolled out across carriers, factoring in hardware variations.  With the introduction of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (JB), Google hopes to change all of that.

Smooth like butta

Dubbed Project Butter, JB leverages triple buffering to offer more consistent rendering that’s smoother (like butter) overall, improving scrolling, paging and animations.  Android will now anticipate where on the screen your finger will be, with the addition of touch input to better take advantage of a device’s built-in power-saving capabilities without affecting touch sensitivity.  There’s also new tools for developers for collecting deeper data around device and app performance, pulling directly from the Linux kernel to better correlate things like touch screen lag and battery usage.

Home screen

The Home Screen panels have always been a major differentiating point between Android devices and iOS devices, and these have been improved for better widget management with auto-resizing and other features.  As far as text input goes, JB has refined dictionaries that learn intelligently over time.  Offline support for voice typing has also been added, along with improved support for Arabic and Hebrew, and 18 new input languages including Persian, Hindi and Thai.

Camera & connectivity

The camera’s improvements include faster reviewing with a slide view, which also incorporates a swipe/flick feature you’ll see regularly throughout JB.  If there’s a picture you don’t like, just flick it off the screen and it’s trashed (there’s an undo button for accidental or regretful swipes).

As far as connectivity goes, Android’s upping the ante on NFC capabilities, enabling more content sharing with more devices (like speakers) just by tapping.  WiFi and Bluetooth are supported as well.

Notifications expanded

The Notifications update is notable because of the customization developers can now integrate directly into this “message center.”  They’ve been made actionable, and can be expanded or collapsed to show/hide information and action items without having to open/launch separate apps.  For example, a missed call can be returned directly from your Notifications stream, and a call can be ended in a similar manner.  See an alert for an upcoming meeting?  Email attendees directly to let them know you’re running late (Google’s taken the liberty of including some standard messages to choose from as well).  If you see your brother’s shared a photo on Google+ the image is displayed directly in your Notifications tab, and similarly a news article from your Pulse stream will show images and headlines for recent stories.  Notifications will expand automatically as they bubble up to the top, but you can manually expand or collapse alerts at any point.  Done with a particular notification?  Flick it off the screen and it’s gone.

Google vs. Fragmentation

Fragmentation has been an ongoing problem for Google, as their Android OS updates take months to trickle down through OEMs, chipset makers, carriers and finally end users.  To address the issue Google’s making their Android 4.1 Jelly Bean preview SDK available immediately, and the PDK for hardware developers will be available 2.3 months before platform releases from here on.  That essentially offers a preemptive OS roll out that doubles as beta testing for developers and hardware makers, which means more prep time before an official OS update and a more evenly-spread roll out schedule to deliver updates to  end users.

Another perk is Smart Updates, which means Android app updates will now only update the portion of the app that’s new, shrinking an app update down to ⅓ of the original resources needed to push through a new version.  This is automatic (no extra work for the developer) and is supported on Gingerbread devices and higher.

Google vs. Malware & Privacy Issues

The Google Play store has been plagued with malware disguised as legitimate apps that end up stealing your data.  And even well-intentioned apps can leak data inadvertently, so Google’s now encrypting all apps, requiring a device-specific key to boost security around Android apps.

Google vs Siri

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It’s been rumored that Google’s been working on a Siri competitor for some time, improving on its existing capabilities around voice input and the universal search button.  Meanwhile the Google Play store’s been riddled with Siri-like copycats, all hoping to replicate the AI personal assistant on rival Android devices.

Today Google unveiled some improvements to Android search that look a lot like Siri, including updates to the Knowledge Graph launched last year, and the addition of voice interaction where the phone will speak back to you.  Google doesn’t have a clever name for this helpful personality, though I’m sure someone will come up with a useful nickname sooner or later.

If you recall, the Knowledge Graph aimed to bring you real answers instead of a mere list of search results.  It’s been fully integrated into Android’s mobile experience so you’ll get an answer, now spoken to you.  Google notes that JB’s voice search is overall improved, and understands natural language as well.  Want to access that full list of Google search results? Flick away the answer “screen” and you’ll find the familiar thread of blue links.

Google Now – creepy!

Other improvements to Google search include other “actions” and context surrounding your activity and queries.  It can be a little creepy and reminiscent of PlaceMe, which brought up all sorts of privacy questions regarding the relationship you have with your smartphone.  So the way Google Now works is by offering you the right information at the right time.  It leverages Search, Maps and Calendar to determine what you need and when.

For instance, Google Now knows when you commute to work and back, so it can offer data on your commute time, as well as a faster alternative route.  And if you’re waiting at the train station, Google Now will automatically offer you schedules, as well as when the next train will arrive.  When you’re walking down the street Google Now will incorporate Places to display nearby bars and restaurants, and while you’re sitting at a restaurant waiting to order, Google Now will tell you what that particular eatery is known for, amongst other things (think Zygat reviews, etc).

Another example demoed includes real time sports scores based on the teams you frequently search, and an alert that tells you there’s time to squeeze in a lunchtime workout before your flight, as it’s been delayed (because Google knows this is the time of day you typically head to the gym).

Google vs. Amazon Kindle Fire

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While the Amazon Kindle Fire is an Android-powered tablet, it’s been so stripped down that it hardly resembles other Android tablets on the market.  Designed as an Amazon storefront, the Kindle acts as an e-reader for books and magazines, a music and movie player and a store for digital and physical content alike (including a curated Android app store).  And the Fire’s ability to outsell most other Android tablets, nearly matching the iPad’s distribution, it became all the more evident that Amazon was slurping up consumer interest with little to show for Google’s own ecosystem.

Google’s hoping to regain some of that consumer commerce with some serious updates to the Google Play store.  More content’s been added, as well as the ability to purchase movies (available today).  There’s also magazines in Google Play, from publishing partners like Hearst, Conde Nast and others.  Several popular titles come with 14-day free trials.

Google vs. Microsoft

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Like Microsoft, Google’s taken the reigns on device distribution by launching its own piece of hardware, more specifically a tablet.  Google’s not shy about its development partner – the newly announced Nexus 7 tablet is being manufactured by Asus.  It’s optimized for Google Play (similar to the Kindle Fire’s Amazon storefront), and runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.  Not all the specs were given for the Nexus 7, but we know the important things:

• 1280×800 HD display
• Tegra 3 processor
• Quad-core CPU (basically 16 cores)
• Front-facing camera
• WiFi, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity
• Battery life of 9 hours for video playback and 300 hours for standby
• Weighs 340 grams

Google had three goals in mind when developing the Nexus 7: Google Play, beautiful app rendering and support for the next generation of Android apps and games.

That being said, the home screen acts as a media hub (for Google Play, of course), complete with recommendations for movies, music, books and magazines.  Articles are optimized for the Nexus 7 screen, and there’s certain interactive elements for any given content, such as the ability to view text only, drag up to expand text content or get further article details (i.e. images for workout moves), all without leaving the article or app.

Similar to Shazam the Nexus 7 can identify songs, providing a link to the Play store for purchase.

Maps has also been updated so you can read up on reviews and other information for a given venue, and view the interior (think Google Street Views for inside).

The Nexus 7 tablet will be available for purchase directly through the Google Play store for $199, and you’ll also get a $25 credit with purchase and a slew of free content to jump start your library.  The Nexus 7 will hit stores in July in the US, Australia and the UK first, with more countries to follow.

Google vs. Flipboard

Google Currents has also been updated to be even more aesthetic.  Built on the same technology as the new Magazines function, content is pulled straight from the web and is formatted for the Nexus 7.  It’s got Google Translations baked in, so all of your Currents content can be experienced in another language.

Google vs. Apple AirPlay, Xbox and PlayStation

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While we expected some new details on Android@home (last year’s debut has had little to show since), Google went in a very narrow direction at I/O this year, introducing the Nexus Q.  Resulting in two and-a-half years of research with Project Tungsten, the Nexus Q is a small, Android-powered computer that acts as a streaming device for all the media stored in your Google Play account.

Hook it up to your stereo and TV and you’ll be able to easily access movies and music, all streamed directly from the Nexus Q.  It’s cloud-connected, so it’s pulling directly from your account–not streaming through your phone or tablet.  What you can do with your handset, however, is control the Nexus Q.  Tell it which songs or playlists to play or pull up a movie on your TV.  The Nexus Q device itself is a little sphere with a lighted band around the middle, which will display different colors in rhythm with your music.  The visualizer will perform an even more colorful version on the TV.  To sync your device, just tap it to the sphere.

The Nexus Q is also social, so your Android friends can contribute songs to the queue or play a movie.  All coming from their respective Google Play accounts, of course.

Retailing at $299, the Nexus Q is also available directly from the Google Play store.  Expect shipments to start in July, while pre-orders begin today.

Google vs. Facebook

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One thing Google’s stuggled with in recent years is layering in social context to their search results.  And while Facebook has yet to demonstrate any search prowess for the web at large (or even their own platform apps, photos or events), they’ve proven the power of the social graph time and again.  Google’s answer has been Google+, their latest socially-oriented project that’s been getting the full force of Google’s resources and attention since launching a year ago.  Now there’s a native Google+ app on the Nexus 7 tablet (available soon for the iPad).

Google boasts an increase in engagement for Google+, moving up to 12 minutes per user/day from 9 minutes.  The boost is attributed to mobile adoption, and so this is where Google+ is focusing its efforts.  The stream has been updated to become more stylized, highlighting what’s important (more popular posts will appear larger in the stream).  You’ll also be able to tell who shared what with a little user icon floating over each post.  Of course, content can be +1’d, commented on and shared from the stream.

Events

Google’s also added Calendar integration so events become more social.  You can send out themed invites (some animated) from Google+, even to non-users.  The recipient will see whether or not they’re free on their own calendar, and can add it directly from the invite.  On the calendar view you’ll see a little event icon, which can be clicked to access the full Invite page, which holds updates from attendees, photos and a map.

Hoping to capture more data around Events, Google’s centralized photo sharing for a given event.  Based on your Calendar, time and location, Google knows you’re at a particular Event created on Google+.  You’ll be prompted to enter Party Mode, which automatically posts all new photos to a live stream connected to the event.  There’s a green icon that remains on your camera so you know you’re in Party Mode.  Attendees will also receive an email asking them to manually upload photos from other sources, like your SLR camera.

Photos can be streamed immediately with a live slideshow, which can often liven up an event.  Head to the Google+ Event page and you’ll be able to see all the photos in chronological order, and filter them by most popular, photos you’re tagged in, and photos taken by a given attendee.

While there’s likely a few more details planned for this portion of the keynote, it was at this time Google co-founder Sergey Brin crashed the stage for a bold, live demo of his Google Glass prototype.  See here for early details and here for the full review.  Click here for the full video of the demo.