X

Strolling the streets of Google Village at SXSW (photos)

This week, like most of the Silicon Valley digerati, Google packed up and moved to Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest Interactive festival, where they re-created a tiny version of the Googleplex.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
sxsw-google-village-0980.jpg
1 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Google Village at SXSW

This week, like most of the Silicon Valley digerati, Google packed up and moved to Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest Interactive festival, where they re-created a tiny version of the Googleplex.

Renting out a series of houses and bars, Google turned one neighborhood in Austin into a mini Google festival. Rainey Street in Austin became a festival within the festival, with street musicians and food trucks gravitating to the area along with thousands of SXSW attendees who came to see Google's view of the future.
sxsw-google-village-0993.jpg
2 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Pedal powered margaritas

Pedal-powered margaritas are served out back at the Android House, where a stage welcomed speakers including comedians Sara Benincasa and Bobcat Goldthwait and musician Billy Corgan for one-on-one conversations throughout the weekend.
sxsw-google-village-0983.jpg
3 of 12 James Martin/CNET

A giant Android stands guard out

A giant Android stands guard out in front of the Android House in the Google Village at the SXSX Interactive festival in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.
sxsw-google-village-0990.jpg
4 of 12 James Martin/CNET

An Android cell phone charging station

An Android cell phone charging station in the lounge area at Google's Android House in Austin.
sxsw-google-village-0989.jpg
5 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Android yourself

Transforming houses in Google Village into techno teach-ins, at the Android House Google showed off some of the features of Google Play and Google Books.
sxsw-google-village-1010.jpg
6 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Lego Mindstorms Hackathon

At the Developer House, competitiors tinker with Lego in preparation for the Lego Mindstorms Hackathon on Sunday afternoon.
sxsw-google-village-1003.jpg
7 of 12 James Martin/CNET

The house that Google built

In addition to the robotics hacking going on at the Developer House, throughout the SXSW Interactive weekend, Google offered talks and programs on developing for Google TV platforms, HTML5, Google App Engine, and Google+ APIs.
sxsw-google-village-1014.jpg
8 of 12 James Martin/CNET

The Lego Mindstorms course

Digging through piles of bricks, teams are engineering robots who can run this course, scoring points for Speed, Style, and Creativity.
sxsw-google-village-1002.jpg
9 of 12 James Martin/CNET

When it rains, it pours

After raining nearly all day Friday and Saturday, when the sun came out Sunday, everyone was ready to enjoy it. Here SXSW attendees relax on the front porch of the Google Developer House.
sxsw-google-village-1019.jpg
10 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Google Maps House

One of Google's mapping cars is parked in front of the Google Maps House, which offered free food and drinks and live music showcases.
sxsw-google-village-1032.jpg
11 of 12 James Martin/CNET

A game of Google Maps pinball on the deck of the Maps House

A game of Google Maps themed pinball on the deck of the Maps House in Google Village.
sxsw-google-village-1038.jpg
12 of 12 James Martin/CNET

You are here!

A Google Maps place marker shows the entrance to Rainey Street in Austin Texas, where this past weekend, Google set up shop to showcase some of their latest work as part of the South by Southwest Interactive festival.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos