This year’s Google I/O might be heavily focused on Android but Google isn’t putting all its egg in just one basket. Apart from Android for your TV, your wrist, your car and your phone, the search giant is also prepping something related to one of the most talked about technologies in development today – virtual reality.

Shortly before ending the company’s keynote, Google’s head of Android and Chrome Sundar Pichai announced that all attendees of the event will be receiving a cardboard package with undisclosed contents. As it turns out, the package is actually a prototype of the company’s VR aspirations that is made from, well cardboard.

The box contains a template made from cardboard that folds and flips into a DIY paper VR headset called Google Cardboard. The headset is hold together with pieces of rubber bands, magnets and strip of Velcro. There’s also an NFC card that allows the contraption to connect with your handset and two lenses that slides into place to provide users with that VR experience.

The box also has links in the form of QR codes printed on it that directs the developer to the location of its experimental SDK and libraries. The VR headset works with a select number of devices including the Nexus 4 and 5, the Moto X, Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and S5 and even the Samsung Galaxy Nexus from a few years ago.

The design of the headset and its functionality is similar to how the rumoured Samsung Oculus Rift competitor will look like, which could possibly explain why a Google would provide support for a Samsung Nexus phone from three years ago.

Nonetheless, the biggest implication of Google Cardboard is that Google was able to show that VR technology can still be implemented even on a tight budget.

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After introducing the L Developer Preview of Android, Android Wear and Auto, Google has also unveiled Android for our living rooms, which is fittingly called Android TV.

Just like the other versions of Android discussed during the event, Android TV is designed to bring the usability of the Android operating system to other devices. As such, the platform still features Google’s new Material Design, which is most prominent when a user is viewing cards on top of live TV.

Android TV is also bringing improved search functionality with full support for voice search. Moreover, the platform is fully compatible with other Android platforms. For instance, consumers are able to use an Android Wear smartwatch as a remote control for Android TV while games from Google Play will be playable on the user’s TV.

Google is also giving Android TV a cast feature similar to the Chromecast. This means that content from an Android smartphone and tablet can be conveniently displayed on TV allowing users to share content more freely.

And speaking of Chromecast, the TV streaming dongle will also be getting some upgrades today. For starters, users can now cast content through the cloud, eliminating the need to get all casters under one network. Also, Google wants users to use their TV even when not watching any shows or movies by enabling a feature called Backdrop that displays beautiful curated images when the TV is not in use.

The Chromecast update will also allow TVs to mirror the contents of an Android smartphone.

The SDK for Android TV should now be available at Google Developers website today while products running on the platform are expected to ship in the coming months.

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As we’ve mentioned in our previous posts, part of Google’s thrust for this year’s I/O developer conference is for users to bring the Android experience to other screens, and that includes the screen on your car.

Today, the search company introduced its answer to Apple’s CarPlay – Android Auto. In essence the platform strives to improve three major components in the in-car environment namely: communication, music and navigation while considering the driver and the passengers’ safety.

With Android Auto, drivers will still be able to control certain functions of the car and a connected smartphone without having to take his eyes off the road. This is made possible thanks to platform’s simple glanceable user interface coupled with voice-enabled functions. For instance, a driver can easily make phone calls, make searches or play audio tracks by giving voice orders to the car.

And speaking of audio tracks, Android Auto is also working with different audio content providers including Spotify, Pandora, Songza and iHeart Radio to name a few. And of course, there will be heavy integration with Google Maps.

Just like Android Wear and the L Developer Preview, Android Auto will utilize Google’s new design language – Material Design. Google has also announced that cars with Android Auto should roll out before the end of the year starting from a few members of the Open Automotive Alliance (around 40 members).

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Aside from the L Developer Preview, Android Wear was one of the most awaited announcements at Google I/O. The wearable platform was first announced last March but since then, has remained behind the shadows with the exception of a few leaks from LG and Motorola. Today, Google is lifting the curtains off Android Wear and showcasing its features as well as the hardware that it will power for the world to see.

In terms of software and user interface, Android Wear conforms to what previous leaks and video teasers have suggested. Navigation is done through horizontal and vertical swipes from the screen, and certain actions can be activated using voice control. And just like the L Developer preview, Android Wear will also utilize

Users will be able to gain access to music controls, set alarms and view notifications straight from the smartwatch’s display. Devices with fitness sensors will also allow Android Wear to collect user stats which can later be integrated with Google Fit.

In the hardware department, Google introduced two Android Wear smartwatches from LG and Samsung.

The LG G Watch comes with a 1.65-inch IPS LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 280 x 280 pixels. The watch will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 chipset with 4GB of ROM and 512MB of RAM. LG has packed a 400mAh battery into the G Watch and gives it IP67 certification.

The device boasts 9-axis sensors (which includes a gyro-sensor, accelerometer and compass) to track your movements and connects to a smartphone using Bluetooth 4.0. The straps are standard 22mm bands which are interchangeable with those already available on the market.

The G Watch will be offered starting today at the Google Play Store for $229 in either white gold or titan black.

On the other hand, Samsung’s Gear Live features a slightly smaller display at 1.63-inches of the Super AMOLED variety with a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. There’s a 1.2GHz processor on the device as well as 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage.

The device also has IP67 certification just like the G Watch and supports Bluetooth 4.0 and 22mm straps. However, the battery is slightly smaller at 300mAh battery. In terms of sensors, the Gear Live carries the same set of sensors as its Tizen-running brothers – the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo.

The Samsung Gear Live is now available for pre-order on Google Play store for $199 in either black or wine red colour options.

Meanwhile, the Motorola Moto 360 won't be available until the next coming months, but it was also showcased in the event as a demo device.

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Google’s annual developer conference Google I/O kicked off a few hours ago and this year, the event was all about Android and how the company has managed to put it to almost everything consumers use with a screen.

The search giant has started the event by announcing the future of the mobile operating system. Dubbed as Android L, the mobile OS boasts over 5000 new APIs according to the company’s head honcho for Android and Chrome Sindar Pichai. These new APIs will bring about changes mainly in two sections of Android – Interface and Performance.

In terms of interface, Google is planning to unify the user experience on all of its platforms by introducing a new design language called Material Design. At first glance, it looks like Google has managed to get the best of both worlds by employing a design language that mixes the simplicity and minimalist look of Windows Phone coupled with great animation found on iOS.

But in a nutshell, Material Design employs the use of shadows and improved animations to give consumers a sense of depth and perspective. With the new design philosophy, users will be able to see certain elements of the UI move as if they are placed on different levels like a stack of cards, see button presses as ripples on the screen and see notifications as floating cards over an active app.

Aside from interface, the L Developer preview also comes with improvements in performance. For starters, this upcoming version of Android will run exclusively on ART runtime instead of Dalvik, which should give a boost in performance to future droid smart devices.

The OS will also have better battery performance in the future thanks to the so-called Project Volta, which monitors which apps and OS components are consuming the most power thru a feature called Battery Historian and then manages these apps through a Job Scheduler API in order to save more energy.

Android L will also provide support for 64-bit hardware and enable better graphics thru its extension pack (supports Unreal engine 4) for graphics that should allow future Android handsets to compete with gaming consoles and PCs in terms of graphics quality.

Moreover, the L Developer Preview showcases how the company is trying to get Android as productive as possible. The preview will comes with a new feature called Android for Work that is based on Samsung’s Knox software that will enable consumers to use just one phone for both work and personal purposes at the same time keeping data between the two separate and secure.

Then there’s Google Fit, which basically works in unison with fitness tracker hardware to provide a complete picture of a user’s fitness. Hardware partners for Google Fit include Nike, Adidas, LG, Polar, HTC and Intel to name a few.

Finally, there’s Android One, a new initiative at Google that hopes to provide quality handsets to developing markets. It’s basically a cheaper version of the Nexus program that will provide affordable smartphones to countries like India. And just like the Nexus and GPE programs, Android One handsets will be able to receive timely OS updates straight from Google.

At present, the search giant has already partnered with three manufacturers in India for Android One, namely: Micromax, Karbon and Spice.

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