Google I/O hardware giveaways (pictures)

Google gives developers at its annual I/O conference new gear to encourage them to write for the company's platforms. Here's a look at what each year's attendees have been given.

Android Wear was the big focus of 2014's I/O keynote, so it was fitting that the big giveaway showed that software off. Show attendees got to test out Samsung's Gear Live smartwatch a month before it becomes available to the general public.

Another of the watches sporting Android Wear, LG's G Watch, made it into giveaway bags in 2014.

Yep, cardboard. Also inside this year's I/O goodie bag was a little square of cardboard. Of course, it's not just any piece of cardboard. This came pre-cut and marked so it can easily be folded into a casing for a virtual reality headset (phone with VR capabilities not included).

This $1,449, top-of-the-line Chromebook model with LTE was given out to Google I/O attendees as part of this year's conference. It was the only thing given out, unlike years past.

The headless Chrome computer was given to Google I/O attendees on the second day of the 2012 conference.

Though not a new hardware product, the Galaxy Nexus phones given away at Google I/O did come with the latest 4.1 version of Android installed.

Google's first Nexus-branded 7-inch tablet was what everyone expected to get at Google I/O. And they did.

The Nexus Q media streamer was in the goodie bag at the 2012 Google I/O.

Finally, after the show was over, Google I/O attendees in 2011 were sent a Samsung Series 5 Chrome notebook.

2011 Google I/O attendees also got the Internet in their pocket: a Verizon 4G hotspot, with prepaid service.

As Android moved on to tablets, Google needed to get developers charged up for the new, bigger platform. Developers got this Samsung tablet at the conference.

In addition to the Nexus One (or the Motorola Droid, which some attendees received), Google also gave a second phone to 2010 conference attendees: The HTC Evo 4G.

Google sent the first Nexus phone to some developers ahead of the 2010 Google I/O conference. As third parties started to adopt Android and release their products that used it, Google kept the Nexus line as its "house brand" for mobile devices.

One of the early Android phones, the Google Ion (later called HTC Magic), dropped the physical keyboard of the G1, Google's first Android model.