Google tipped us off early this morning, aside from the leaks we saw previously, that Google Maps might be getting some love at this year’s I/O.  A preview build of the new Maps was shown on iOS and Android. It featured a new slimmed down look with a search bar that took you into a revamped reviews section that has a 5 star scale instead of the previous 4. Google Offers was also worked into this same space to make finding food and deals easy. 

The update for Google Music which includes a new UI, their new All Access streaming service, and Listen Now feature is live! Once you update, don’t forget to check out All Access with the 30-day free trial. 

Google Search received an update moments ago during the Google I/O keynote, and it includes a number of new cards for Google Now. You’ll now be able to set reminders, see upcoming releases for your favorite media types (books, music albums, movies, tv shows, and video games), and view real time public transit updates. 

During today’s Google I/O keynote, Google and Vic Gundotra announced Hangouts, their new messaging service (previously codenamed Babel). It works across platforms, meaning it works on Chrome, Android, and iOS. It also utilizes cross-device notifications, which allows you to check one device and have the notifications on others clear away. This is the unified chat that has been rumored for weeks now.

The service should go live some time today.

Update:  Hangouts in live in Google Play!  

We have heard rumors up until this point, but today during their keynote, Google made their new streaming music service official. Google Play  Music “All Access” gives users the ability to search through Google’s huge amount of songs and the ability to play them instantly. An all new UI allows you to swipe away songs if you don’t want them and the ability to make radio stations instantly based on one song. The price of this new streaming service is $9.99 per month, but everyone gets a 30 free trial. If you are an early adopter and sign up before June 30 however, your price is only $7.99.

The I/O keynote is still going on, come and join us!

Update:  The service is now live! Get to it here. 

Google, on stage during the I/O keynote, just announced that they will sell a Samsung Galaxy S4 directly through Google Play with an unlocked bootloader, stock Android experience, LTE support, connectivity on AT&T and T-Mobile, with a “Nexus experience,” and as a device that will receive updates promptly.

The device will launch June 26 on Google Play for $649.

If you wanted the Galaxy S4 as the clean phone you always envisioned, this is your chance to get it. 

We’re at the Google I/O keynote and Google just announced their new Google Play game services which include cloud save, achievements, and leaderboards. They also announced that it will be cross platform, so that iOS users can take advantage. As if those new, awesome features weren’t enough, Google+ sign-in has been integrated into this service and once games are installed with this API you can invite friends from your circles on G+ and they will receive notifications to join directly into your game. We’ll be sure to keep you updated as we learn more about this new awesome service.

If you are not there already, join us in our liveblog to watch the event!

Google dove right into Android during their day one keynote at I/O 2013 today. Starting off with a bang, Google announced that Android has now reached the 900 million activation mark as of today. Last year’s number that Google gave us was 400 million and we have seen it steadily increase since then.