In this talk, Akira Matsuda presents the new features of Ruby 2.0, demonstrating how these enhancements can significantly improve coding practices and application performance. With Ruby 2.0 set for release in a few months, he emphasizes the importance of adaptation and learning to make full use of its capabilities.

Key Points Discussed:
- Refinements: This feature introduces a safer way to monkey patch classes without affecting instances globally. Using the refine and using keywords, developers can define methods that remain localized within specific scopes, ensuring better encapsulation and reducing potential conflicts.
- Module#prepend: Akira explains how this feature allows developers to enhance existing methods without using the traditional alias method chain, which is prone to conflicts. By prepending modules, multiple behaviors can be stacked together neatly, promoting better code architecture.
- Enumerator::Lazy: This feature provides a way to handle large datasets efficiently. By deferring computation until explicitly required (e.g., using methods like lazy), developers can manage memory use effectively and improve the performance of their code.
- Keyword Arguments: The introduction of keyword arguments simplifies method calls and enhances readability and usability, eliminating the need for hacky workarounds required by previous versions.

Examples Illustrating Key Features:
- For Refinements, Akira demonstrates a testing library that uses the new syntax to avoid global scope pollution while maintaining clean code practices.
- Module#prepend is illustrated with a method enhancement in Active Record, showcasing a clearer and more maintainable alternative to the previously complex alias chains.
- The use of Enumerator::Lazy is demonstrated in a script simulating Unix's 'wc' command, showcasing how to work with file lines lazily to minimize memory usage.
- Lastly, Akira emphasizes how keyword arguments alleviate complexity in function definitions, particularly when handling options within libraries.

Conclusions and Takeaways:
- Ruby 2.0 promises to be backward compatible while introducing valuable new features.
- It is encouraged to transition to Ruby 2.0, especially since older versions are being phased out.
- Overall, the time to prepare for Ruby 2.0 is now, and embracing these features can lead to cleaner, more efficient code and improved developer experiences.

In summary, Matsuda's presentation highlights a transformative step in Ruby's evolution, inviting developers to leverage its enhancement for robust application development.