Google IO 2015: the biggest news from Google's mega conference

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Google IO 2015 is a wrap! The company introduced a bunch of stuff during its two-and-a-half-hour Day 1 keynote, where it announced Android M, iOS support for Google Cardboard, a new Google Photos service and much more.

For those unable to attend, read on for all biggest news from the day's keynote and more TechRadar coverage:

 

Meet Android M and all the good stuff it brings

 

The newest version of Android made its highly anticipated debut during the keynote. We were treated to a preview of Android M, learning about the improvements it's bringing to the Android ecosystem. Google focused on fixing bugs and adding app permissions with the new build. Apps will ask permission the first time you use a feature, and you don't have to agree to permissions that don't make sense to you.

 

You can also look at individual features, like the mic, and see which apps have permission to use them. Chrome custom tabs for developers are also on the way.

Power is a big focus of the new OS, and with that, USB-C support is coming to Android M devices to ensure faster charging. A feature called Doze will help with energy management as well.

 

There's also a new feature called Now on Tap, allowing users to pull up information at any time on their mobile device, no matter where they are or what they're doing. Reminder cards will also pop up to help users as they navigate through their day.

 

Android M is coming to the Nexus 5, 6, 9 and Nexus Player in Q3 2015. A developer preview is available today.

 

Android Pay arrives, so you can forget Google Wallet

 

Android Pay, new for Android M, was detailed further during the keynote. The new mobile payment service will work at 700,000 stories, including Macy's and McDonald's, and supports fingerprint payments. Users will be able to press their phone screens to authorize a payment, and Google said it's working to standardize fingerprint payments across Android devices. Android Pay will be available on Android M devices, but it goes all the way down to Android KitKat, too.

 

Google Photos arrives with free, unlimited storage

 

The rumors proved true: Google has a new photo service called, creatively, Google Photos. Spun-off from Google+, the service offers better organization, letting users pull up photos from years ago and share any and all on social networks. It's quick, helping users find images organized by collections. It uses machine-learning to help organize pictures.

 

Search is intelligent, letting users find photos from an event like a sports game, and a single tap and slide gesture lets them select multiple photos at once. Social sharing is a breeze, Google claimed.

Best of all, Google Photos offers free unlimited storage at 16MP and 1080p video. It's available on Android, iOS and web starting today

 

Offline Google Maps are coming this year

 

Always wanted to use your Maps while not connected to a network or Wi-Fi? Now you can, a capability especially crucial for regions of the globe with unreliable connectivity. Voice turn-by-turn directions will work offline, as will reviews and open hours information.