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Google I/O 2016: Daydream, Home and other big takeaways (pictures)

In Mountain View, California, Google held its annual developers conference where it announced its Daydream VR platform, updates to Android N and two new chatting services.

Lynn La
Lynn La covers mobile reviews and news. She previously wrote for The Sacramento Bee, Macworld and The Global Post.
Lynn La
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Google CEO starts the show

Google CEO Sundar Pichai kicks off the conference at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, to a crowd of 7,000 attendees.

For a rundown of everything Google announced today, check out our full coverage here.

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Queiroz introduces Google Home

Mario Queiroz from Google's Chromecast team, introduces Google Home, an always-listening digital assistant that is the company's answer to the Amazon Echo.

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Google's Amazon Echo competitor

Users can customize the look of the Google Home's bottom speaker. The device also works as a Wi-Fi speaker, control center for IoT devices, and a media streamer.

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Say hello to Allo

Google's Erik Kay announces Google Allo, a messaging service and an alternative to Facebook's standalone Messaging app.

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Shouting IMs and sending photos

In addition to changing text sizes within each IM, Allo enables users to send and notate photos.

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A new video chatting app

Within the same vein as Allo is Duo, Google's video chatting app that can compete with Apple Facetime and Skype.

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Saying hello to the girls

Duo gives a video preview (called "Knock Knock") of who is calling before you pick up (left). On the right is an active call on Duo.

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Name that Android!

For the first time ever, Google is letting the masses submit possible names for the next version of its mobile operating system, which is known for now as Android N.

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Burke on updates to Android N

VP of engineering at Android Dave Burke outlines updates to Google's mobile OS, Android N. In addition to security enhancements, N will feature split-screen display, direct reply in notifications and more emojis.

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Bavor introduces Daydream

Clay Bavor, lead of Google's VR team, takes the stage to introduce Daydream.

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Google's VR standard

Daydream is a hardware and software VR platform to guide Android phone manufacturers to create VR headsets.

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A reference design from Google

Google's reference design for a Daydream VR headset and an accompanying remote.

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Singleton announcing Android Wear 2.0

David Singleton, head of Android Wear, outlines updates to Google's operating system for wearables, Android Wear 2.0.

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Apps you don't have, instantly

Ellie Powers, lead product manager at Google, announces Android Instant Apps, which lets users access content from other apps without the need to download and install the particular app.

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Pichai closes it out

Pichai closes out the show after detailing Google's involvement with machine learning and AI.

For a rundown of everything Google announced today, check out our full coverage here.

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