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As it happenedended1463598020

Google I/O 2016: Search giant reveals latest products, including Google Home, Android N and virtual reality technologies – as it happened

Google is going to unveil its plan to take over your house and your phone – and then your reality

Andrew Griffin
Wednesday 18 May 2016 13:52 BST
Comments

Google has held its biggest event of the year, showing off everything that it's going to release through 2016. The general public and developers will get their first glimpse at the products and technology that's going to rule our lives – via our phone, home, car, computer and everything else.

Some of what will be announced has already leaked, and others have been spoiled by Google themselves in advance of the event. Those include rumours about a new device for the home and new technology for your phone, as well as Google's update to Android Pay that now allows it to be used in the UK.

But the main event is still set to be packed with surprises, including the first details of Google's own virtual reality headset and new phone technology. We'll be following along with all the developments live.

Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load.

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30 seconds to go! And everything's in place.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 17:59
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And we're go! A strange music thing is happening where people appear to be playing strings that are stretched across the auditorium. There's keyboards and other musical instruments on the stage too...

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:01
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This is very chill indeed. (Not sure what it says about the products.)

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:02
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Sundar Pichai is on stage and we are go! We're hearing a lot of puff initially – lots of people watching, lots of places watching.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:06
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First clues about what might be coming. People expect to use their phone and see "groceries arrive at their front door" – we'll probably be getting something to help with that later.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:08
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Interesting little fact: 1 in 5 Google searches in the US are now coming via voice searches.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:09
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There's a demo video, and Google Home looks very smart indeed. People are changing their dinner reservations, changing their lighting, checking on packages that are being delivered.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:28
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A child just asked where the nearest star system was, and Google told him; then he asked to "show it on the TV", and it came on screen.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:28
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It's impressive stuff, if it works as it claims: Google Home looks a lot smarter than Amazon's Echo, which was already amazingly smart.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:29
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It's coming "later this year" and the company will have "more to share soon". It's showing it off now so that developers can get everything ready before it comes out.

Andrew Griffin18 May 2016 18:30

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