Google has finally released the schedule for its Google I/O event, which is just over a month away.
There's only one keynote address in this year's event, only accounting for two hours of the entire event, which is said to be much different from last year's schedule.
According to Google, this year's I/O event is focused on helping developers "design, develop and distribute," bringing about discussions on topics ranging from design techniques and principles to the latest developer's implementations and tools. Observers also say the event looks focused on developing and producing better and more apps as well as sessions on wearable technology and gaming.
Gaming looks big at this year's I/O event with about two very interesting sessions on it. One is Google Play Games: A Developers Perspective, which appears to be a session chock-full of insights from the biggies in the gaming community. The other is The Next Five Billion Gamers, which is a discussion on gaming in the developing markets around the world.
Discussion on wearable devices is no surprise, really. Think about Google Glass wearables missing out in the scene - that would be a huge surprise. In the line-up are sessions on best practices in the wearable technology, how to get developers interested in wearables and apps for wearable users.
Very noticeable is how Google+ seems to be missing in the event, as in no mere mention whatsoever, and how it seems to be referred to as Google Identity now, according to initial observations. It was actually reported earlier that the company would be distancing itself from the social media platform, and this year's even schedule apparently confirms the reports. That's an interesting twist in the upcoming event, too.
Eight Android-specific events were also seen, but there could be more as the schedule reveals how Google seems to be at work on various cross-platform concepts and offerings that somehow would refer to Android.
Recall that the new scheme in selecting participants for this year, which is through random selection, created a stir among interested parties, as opposed to previous years when people scramble through registration. General public tickets cost $900, while academics and students tickets is $300.
Google I/O event starts on June 25 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. The Moscone Center can only accommodate around 6,000 people. As is the case in previous I/O events, the Center is expected to be jam-packed again. View the full schedule here.
