Zinio Reader: FRONT SIDE

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Android, Android, Everywhere

Google officially wants to be everywhere—or at least it wants Android to be everywhere. At the Google I/O 2011 conference last month, the company outlined a vision for global platform domination, which includes a new cloud-based music service, a new movie rental service, Android for the home, reference designs for new Android hardware, and even, yes, Android light bulbs. Prepare to get bombed by Google Android.

Google's anticipated music service—still in beta and without a lot of major label support—puts all your music in the cloud, and as Google repeatedly reminded us, doesn't require any docking or wires to play the music wherever you want to. Google also introduced a movie service that works with new apps on the Motorola Xoom tablet and Android phones.

Still, the most announcement was the Android-everywhere portion. Google is now ready to send its mobile operating system well beyond phones and tablets. The plan is that it will show up in everything from speakers and exercise bikes to light bulbs. These Android-enabled devices will of course work with Android phones and tablets.

Android as an embeddable operating system is also becoming a reality as Google introduced hardware reference designs that should help Android power all sorts of crazy ideas. Google demonstrated the power of this hardware and the Android platform with a tablet-controlled maze (one that was breadbox-size and one that was large enough for a bowling ball to roll on).

Interestingly, Google said it wants Android, specifically Android Ice Cream Sandwich (or 4.0) to be one OS for all devices, but did not explain how this affects its other operating system: Chrome.

—Lance Ulanoff

Sent from my iPad