Set your calendar reminders to March 13. That's the date Google will open registration to its I/O developer conference held May 15-17 in San Francisco, and tickets will likely sell out quickly.
Google co-founder Sergey Brin showed off Google Glass at the 2012 Google I/O conference.
(Credit:
Stephen Shankland/CNET Networks)
In December, Google announced that it had moved up its annual developer conference by a month. The confab that assembles more than 5,000 developers will take place in San Francisco on May 15-17 this year. Previous Google I/Os had been held in June. The company has posted the registration date and details on its developer Web site and on the Google+ page dedicated to developers.
Google said it will keep registration open until tickets are sold out. But based on demand from previous years, the company predicts that tickets will sell out quickly. The price of the ticket is $900 for general attendees and $300 for academic attendees. Those looking to register need to have a Google+ account and a Google Wallet buyer account.
Why is Google I/O such a hot ticket? The company uses the Google I/O conference as an opportunity to make big announcements. In 2012, it showed off the next version of Android version 4.1 Jellybean. It also debuted Google Now, the Nexus 7 tablet, and Google Glass. But the new products and announcements are only part of the appeal of Google I/O.
Every year Google also gives away hundreds of dollars worth of free equipment to every attendee, making the $900 entrance fee a valuable investment for gadget lovers. Last year, Google gave away the Nexus 7 tablet running the new Jellybean software,the latest Samsung Chromebook hardware, and the ill-fated Nexus Q home entertainment accessory.
Of course, attendees will be anxiously awaiting this year's announcements and giveaways, but many are also likely intrigued to see if Google can top the theatrics of last year's death-defying skydive stunt that offered a live demonstration of Google Glass. During one of the keynote events, Google co-founder Sergey Brin took the stage and showed a live video of a team of skydivers who were jumping out of a plane and landing on top of San Francisco's Moscone Center. The whole experience was streamed live from the Google Glasses that the skydivers were wearing.
Google is keeping mum on this year's announcements and hasn't said yet if it's planning another surprise stunt. We hopes to get press passes again this year to cover all the news. So even if you aren't able to get a ticket to the show, you will find all the details about new products and other announcements and demonstrations right here.