Google recently launched the developer preview of Android Things – a new OS for IoT devices. The company has combined it with Weave which is a communication platform for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Experts of the field are considering the launch of OS as a crucial step taken by Google towards its IoT strategy.
Indeed Android Things has started to create buzz in IoT device market. Android app developers too are excited as they will have a new horizon to sell their skills to companies and individuals.
But as it’s a new OS, all – users, developers and businesses – must know following things about the Google Android Things.
#1. Android Things isn’t originally a new OS but the rebranding of Google Brillo which Google announced in 2015. The core of Brillo was Android but the experiences related to development and deployments were vitally different from Android and so from Android app development.
#2. The primary development environment for Brillo was C++ while Android Things board Java and Android app developers.
#3. There is toolkit for developers to target IoT devices. Developers can use the toolkit to target IoT devices.
#4. Android Studio – Integrated Development Environment for Android app development also supports IoT development through Android Things. The lifecycle of IoT application development is as same as of mobile app development.
#5. This new IoT OS provides support to a subset of the original Android SDK but does not support those APIs which require user input or authentication credentials like AdMob, Maps, Search, and Sign-In.
#6. Android Things will also support OTA updates just like Android OS does. Developers would be able to push Google-provided updates and custom updates by using the OTA infrastructure.
#7. The recommended boards are Raspberry Pi 3, Intel Edison and NXP Pico for starting the prototyping and development. Google will add support to other boards when the OS will be launched for general uses.
#8. Android Things provide integration support to Google Cloud Platform component like Firebase. This will help developers utilize a number of cloud services for the purposes of storage, state management and messaging.
#9. Android Things will come integrated with Weave which is a communication platform for Internet of Things devices. Android Things is integrated with Weave, the communication platform for IoT devices. The cloud service of Weave – Weave Server handles things like device registration, command propagation, storing of states, and integration with Google services like the Google Assistant. Weave SDK will be embedded in the devices for local and remote communication.
#10. Nest Weave, which is a protocol used by Nest device, will be a subset of Weave. They both are based on Thread, IPV8 networking protocol that was initially designed for creating local wireless mesh networks.
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