Honeycomb 3.1 features:
– USB device functionality
– Scrolling task manager with resizable widgets
– Coming to GoogleTV this summer, and so is the Android Market

Ice Cream Sandwich: (no version number?)
– One OS that works everywhere, state-of-the-art UI (does this mean no more device-specific?)
** End of fragmentation, easier updating.
– All Open Source (really? I mean, REALLY-really?)
– 3D using head tracking + facial recognition + XOOM camera

Android Market upgrades
– Top App charts (Popular)
– Editor’s Choice (Curated by Google)
– Top Developers (The hottest app devs)
– Related Apps (Based on previous purchases)
– Trending Apps (Keep up with what’s popular at that exact moment)

Movies on Android Market:
– Movies can be rented/purchased, then streamed to any Android device
** “Thousands of movie titles, $1.99 each” (HD = $4.99)
** That’s cool, sure, but isn’t Netflix $8/mo for unlimited streaming, and has mobile apps?
– Demo shows rental purchased on web app, then instantly available in XOOM’s app.
– Includes “pinning” to allow movies to sync in the background for offline viewing.

Android Open Accessory:
– A new API that auto-installs necessary apps when a peripheral or device needs them.
– “Completely open” – no NDA, no fees, no approval required. ADK available now!
– Based on Arduino

New distribution of software updates:
– All devices on big list of carriers will receive guaranteed updates for 18 months (if device can handle them).

Google Music:
– Sync over the cloud, no need for wires.
** That sounds stupid. People have thousands of gigs of music, would take HOURS to upload and re-sync.
** Endadget says, “It’s like Dropbox, for music.”
– No word on final pricing, but the service will not be free.
– Also features an auto-playlister of some sort called Instant Mix.

Chrome OS:
– File manager (complete with contextual app buttons, depending on available app installs)
– Integrated media player with full screen mode
– Offline versions of Gmail, Calendar, Docs, etc.
– Now available on devices intended for puchase! Made by Samsung and Acer
– Also the “Chromebox” which is intended for business environments. Not much other info…

Google TV:
– New interface using Honeycomb looks more like Android, less like TV.
– Multi-screen apps are going to be pushed in a big way.
** Example: Poker games, with a central display of the table, and personal devices for hands.

SWAG:
Galaxy TAB 10.1” given out to attendees.
Chromebooks given to all attendees.

Skype acquired by Microsoft
–Announcement
–Confirmation
–Fears & Hopes
–Coming to MS platforms
–5 Big Takeaways–Security vulnerability on Skype for Mac

MS Not paying US taxes for the $8.5Bill purchase?
“Of Microsoft’s nearly $50.2 billion in cash and liquid investments, about $42 billion is held in foreign subsidiaries and would otherwise be subject to a tax hit if the money were brought back to the U.S. Ballmer said it is appropriate to use overseas cash because Skype is headquartered in Luxembourg.”

Chris’s thoughts:
-Xbox 360 integration might finally bring Video calling to the TV in an easy way?
-Crazy VR possibilities with Kinect?
-What does this mean for Skype on Linux? (and Mac?)
-Will skype be built into Windows Phone 7 to compete with facetime and GoogleTalk?

Google I/O:
“This Is My Next” coverage: https://live.thisismynext.com/Event/Google_IO_2011
Gizmodo coverage: https://gizmodo.com/5800397/live-from-google-io
Engadget coverage: https://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/live-from-google-i-o-2011s-opening-keynote/

Best of Picks – DAY 1:

Vizio Tablet
The device has an IR blaster built in to the top, and it can function as a universal remote.

T-Mobile
Not much specific to this gadget to talk about, but the article includes a bunch of videos of Android 3.0 (aka Honeycomb) in action.

Motorola XOOM
Chris thinks that this is THE tablet to watch in the coming months, as the top competitor with the infamous iPad.
GREAT specs, but no price point listed.  Assuming it’ll be pricey, though.

Motorola Atrix
This nifty gadget is pretty much a phone that comes with a netbook-type peripheral that converts the entire phone into a laptop-style interface!

Samsung DualView
A second LCD on the FRONT of the camera!  GENIUS!
Could this be the end of duck-lips and dirty mirror shots?  Or will this create a renaissance in the world of half-naked teenagers sending dirty pics to one another?

Next Gen MS Surface
Finally eliminating the cameras and bulky under-carriage, the Surface has lifted itself up into the current generation of touch technology!
Especially impressive is the “Pixel Sense” technology that they use inside their screen that, “Turns every pixel into a camera” making the unit able to read words and sense all ten (or twenty!) input points separately.