Google-backed Scvngr, the location-based service that sets challenges for its users (such as Guess the Missing Vowels perhaps?), has been hard at work in San Francisco setting up a game and tourist trek for the Google I/O annual developer conference, which starts on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, journalists have been hard at work on the challenge of guessing what Google might announce – with cars, televisions and frozen yoghurt providing big clues as to its Android ambitions.
GM gave the game away to some extent on Tuesday. It announced improvements to its Android app for its Volt electric car, coming in the autumn. Users will be able to locate their car with their Android phones and send navigation instructions to its OnStar service. GM is demonstrating the technology at I/O.
On Thursday, the much anticipated Android for TV announcement is expected. Paul Otellini, Intel chief executive, and/or Eric Kim, head of its Digital Home division are expected to join Google executives on stage. Sony executives are also in town, as is Jerry Quindlen, chief executive of Logitech – the creator of the remote for the new Sony/Google/Intel smart TV.
Google developers are also anticipating the first official demonstration of the 2.2 version of the Android operating system, codenamed Froyo after the frozen dessert. It will be the first Android operating system to run Adobe’s long-awaited 10.1 version of Flash, according to reports.
As for Scvngr, the company announced it would be launching a consumer version last week. Up to now, it has been limited to businesses, local authorities, institutions and conferences – like Google I/O.
Compared to Foursquare and others, where the core idea is checking in to locations, Scvngr focuses on creating challenges at locations and allowing its users to build their own. Its commercial business model is software-as-a-service where an authority such as the city of Philadelphia will buy credits to build challenges for all the tourist spots in the city.
Challenges can be taking pictures, scanning QR codes, solving riddles and completing other tasks. Points from each challenge unlock badges and help users climb a social leaderboard.
The consumer version – an Android and iPhone app – will allow users to create their own challenges.
“One of the key founding principles was to make building on Scvngr so drop dead simple that it’s the equivalent of updating your Facebook status or Tweeting,” Seth Priebatsch, Scvngr chief executive, told me.
Scvngr raised $750,000 from the Highland Capital VC firm at the beginning of 2009 and $4m from Google Ventures in second-round funding in December.
