Google's Sundar Pichai wants to reveal Android 'L' tomorrow

Google IO 2014 kicks off tomorrow and as the company's big, annual developer conference we can expect some exciting announcements including the next version of Android.

In a long form Bloomberg Businessweek profile on Sundar Pichai, the Android chief said he plans to preview the "L" release of Android at the conference tomorrow, June 25.

The move would be a significant shift towards greater transparency when the search company has classically withheld its annual operating system updates until fall.

In an interview Pichai said he wants "the world to understand what [Google is] doing sooner." More importantly, Pichai remarked that manufactures complained the latest versions of Android have always been revealed too late for device makers to implement.

Up until now Nexus devices were often the only smartphones to get the latest software first. With this year's early preview we could see the latest versions of Android land on all retail devices sooner.

Goodbye Google TV

Alongside with an early look at Android "L," Google IO may include an introduction to Android TV. Leaked earlier on April 6 the new entertainment platform purportedly will include Netflix, YouTube, and other video streaming service apps arranged in easy to navigate cards similar to the Apple TV set top box.

To help prevent repeating the same mistakes that plagued Google TV into obsolescence, Pichai has supposedly brought everyone working on the TV software into one team within Android to create a single, consistent experience.

Given the search company's recent success with Chromecast, Google should have an easier time to attract content providers. Additionally it should have a cache of streaming apps that already work with the new entertainment platform.

Don't forget Android Wear

In a brief mention Pichai said he would announce new manufacturing partners and devices utilizing Google's wearable platform, Android Wear.

Health tracking was on the Android point man's tongue, which means we will likely see fitness trackers and biosensor-equipped wearable computers.

• Google's wearable line up could include the Motorola Moto 360 and LG G Watch

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