Alan North
Google’s annual I/O developer conference is coming up on May 20—and all signs point to it being a big one.
It’s where we typically learn everything new coming to Android, Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence assistant, and all of the company’s other platforms, from Wear OS to Android Auto. But this week, Google announced a virtual event called The Android Show: I/O Edition, which takes place a week earlier, on May 13 at 10 am Pacific (1 pm ET). A teaser video showed Google’s Sameer Samat, president of the Android ecosystem, getting ready on camera and announcing the show.
The Android Show will likely explore all the new features coming to Android 16, the next version of Google’s mobile operating system. However, this break from the traditional process of announcing all the latest in Android at I/O suggests that the conference on May 20 will be jam-packed with news in other areas and services.
Last year, Android took a backseat to Gemini-related capabilities as pressure mounted for Google to show its answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This year, we’ll likely see features related to personal context in Gemini—the assistant’s ability to understand you through past conversations and your connected Google services like Gmail and Calendar. It’s also widely expected that we’ll learn more about Google’s Android XR, and maybe get an update on the company’s upcoming smart glasses.
Rad Power Bikes Debuts a New RadRunner Lineup
Photograph: Rad Power
The direct-to-consumer company Rad Power Bikes, which more or less created the entire DTC electric bike category and dominated it for years, has struggled recently, from layoffs and lawsuits to the recent quiet exit of its new CEO and an onslaught of tariffs. In this chaotic environment, the company has announced three new updates to its best-selling ebikes: the RadRunner, the RadRunner Plus, and the new RadRunner Max.
The RadRunner and RadRunner Plus are the company’s two popular utility bikes (I see a half-dozen every day while biking around Portland, Oregon) and upgrades to the line will include safety features like Rad Power’s Safe Shield, which debuted last year (the cells in the battery are now encapsulated, like in a car, to make it safer in the unlikely event of a battery fire). They will also include other upgrades, like passcode protection and IPX6 weather protection.
The most exciting launch is the RadRunner Max, now the high-end RadRunner model, which is a Class 3 electric bike. It’s pedal-assist only, with a top speed of 28 mph. It has 60 miles of range and works with Apple’s Find My network, so you can track if it’s stolen, no AirTag needed. A new digital key unlocks the bike as you approach, and radar features alert you when cars or other bikes approach. The company also debuted a new range extender compatible with all three models. The RadRunner is available for $1,499, and the RadRunner Plus is $1,799. You can preorder the RadRunner Max for $2,299 and the Range Extender for $249 for delivery in early May. —Adrienne So
Yale’s Latest Lock Has a New Kind of Z-Wave
Photograph: Yale
Yale, known for its smart locks (and regular locks, too), has announced a new version of its Assure Lock 2 tied to a deep partnership with home security brand ADT. It brings a new kind of Z-Wave technology into play.
