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Google Updates Internet of Things Platform

Updates are designed to help developers build smart devices using Android APIs and Google services and connect them to the cloud.

Written By

Sue Walsh

Dec 15, 2016

Google announced today that they have made two major updates to their IoT developer platform, both designed to make creating IoT products easier.

The first is a Developer Preview of Android Things, which is a full-featured tool for building IoT products with the Android OS baked in, the company stated in their announcement. A developer can now build a smart device using Android APIs and Google services and that device will be highly secure and get direct updates from Google.

Google developed Android Things based on the feedback they received about Project Brillo and consider it an improvement.

“Brillo was to create a much more lightweight version of Android for developers,” a Google rep told Mashable. “When we granted early access to external partners, we realized that most people developing for smart devices didn’t really have a need for a lightweight version of Android … they wanted the full Android developer experience and signature features. Especially for connected devices throughout the world, security should be a major priority in building for this community.”

The preview incorporates Android Studio, the Android SDK, Google Play Services and Google Cloud. The company said they plan to provide even more updates in the coming months focusing on security, built in Weave connectivity, and more. Turnkey hardware available for use with Android Things includes the Raspberry Pi 3, Intel Edison and NXP Pico.

Google said they are also updating the Weave platform. The updates are designed to make it easier for all types of IoT devices to connect to the cloud and interact with tools like Google Assistant. Philips Hue smart lights and Samsung SmartThings already use the platform, and the company said other major brands like Belkin, Honeywell and First Alert are currently working on implementing it.

Weave’s SDK supports smart building devices like lights, thermostats, smart plugs and switches, and Google says they plan to add support for even more types of IoT devices and a mobile app API for Android and iOS. They are also working on merging Weave and Nest Weave.

Interested developers can visit the Android Things, Weave, and Google Cloud Platform sites for documentation and code samples.

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Sue Walsh

Sue Walsh is News Writer for RTInsights, and a freelance writer and social media manager living in New York City. Her specialties include tech, security and e-commerce. You can follow her on Twitter at @girlfridaygeek.