Yet, IoT exists as a result of the availability of a central platform on which these devices can operate. Enter: Android. But, why has Android become the major driving force behind IoT? According to IoT market trends, most smart devices run on Google’s operating system, Android. Most people are familiar with smartphones, and subsequently familiar with the Android operating system. It is currently the world’s leading mobile device operating system edging out iOS. As of 2013, Android smart phones had outsold Apple’s iPhones 4 to 1.

Smartphones were only the beginning. The expanding demand for interconnected devices and Android is leading the charge as tech companies battle for the top. As such, the world of IoT is seemingly being curated specifically for Android.  Outlined below are three reasons why Android is at the forefront of IoT:

Android is a universal front end from which developers can work

Android has risen quickly as a software platform mostly because Google (the company behind it) chose to give it away to developers and device makers. The Linux-based software is open source, therefore allowing just about anyone to use its source code and therefore customize it for use in just about any gadget they can imagine. The number of devices that rely on Android as an operating system today are numerous. With such a large number of devices run on Android it is easy to see how Android acts as a front end for IoT. It is easy and cheap to develop devices for IoT making them even more affordable for consumers.

Apps drive IoT

A gadget is just a gadget. However, with the right app to and software to help it run and perform different tasks, it becomes much more. Apps are what make it possible to use IoT devices. Android is currently the world’s largest app platform. As of December 2016, Google Playstore was reported to host more than 2.6 million apps. It is not surprising that Android drives the IoT movement.

IoT is being built on Java

Many IoT devices are being built on Java. It therefore makes sense that Android is driving the IOT market. Android allows for Java to be applied in a way that makes sense as opposed to the use of embedded JAVA which requires dedicated devices.

To understand the application of Android in IoT, we must understand the IoT ecosystem and Android’s role in it. The following facets represent the composition of the Android IoT Ecosystem

→ The sensor

Sensors detect physical properties such as temperature and generate digital signals. Many hardware vendors rely on specific domains such as Linux, Android and Windows. The popularity and availability of Android makes it an easy winner in this area. The fact that Android is open source and can be tweaked for use in any device makes it a popular choice for device makers.

→ Data Transfer

There must be a component that supports the transfer of data from the sensor. The two simplest options available for this are MQTT and XMPP. Android supports both of these open source implementations. The libraries can be used on Windows, Linux and Android.

→ Device

There must a device or processor with an operating system that supports the components of the IoT ecosystem. This ought to be a small and portable device that doesn’t consume too much power but can provide continuous connectivity. In many cases, inexpensive Android devices are chosen for this. Android devices meet the requirements to support a wide variety of sensors. There are also various tutorials available to assist developers.

→ Program

There must be a program that receives the data and stores it. This could take the form a standard Linux Server. This server receives the data, decodes it and processes it. The data can be used for subsequent analysis. There is no doubt that Android is the major driving force behind IoT devices. 

The post 3 Reasons Android and Internet of Things (IoT) Partner Well Together appeared first on Charter Global.

Instant apps usually work through a URL and provide users with the same ease and immediacy they get while surfing the web. As such, they have become a universal android solution with quite a lot of advantages both to the developer and the end user.

Why Instant Apps? 

Here are some features that make up instant apps:

Easy Access to User Base

A lot of times, users get overwhelmed with the many apps being advertised on social media, websites, promotional links, and videos. So, they find it hard to install as many as they would have wanted to, due to memory space and bandwidth issues. Instant apps solve this problem, as all they need to do is just click and enjoy the app.

Ease with Sharing and Distribution

Sharing apps can be quite tasking as users usually have to download and install another application just to share the app. Instant apps eliminate this problem as the app can now be shared by just sharing the link.

The “Trial” Privilege

The natural instinct of most users would be to take a peek to see how the app looks, feels and works, and perhaps play around a bit before making a download decision. The instant version of the app gives this privilege for free to the user. Check the app, appreciate its look and feel, see how it functions, and then make the choice.

User Retention 

Apps that have a web version tend to have better retention rates than apps that do not. This is because in the end, only interested users get to download and keep the actual app.

Increase Feedback

Developers may now get their much-needed feedback, as users are able to provide feedback based on their experience with the instant app.

How Instant Apps Work

It’s simple: Google Play receives a request for a URL matching the instant app from a device and sends the necessary code files to the device. This enables the app to run in the device. All users need to do to use this feature is to enable Instant Apps from settings.

How do I enable the instant app feature? 

1. Go to the Phone Settings menu.
2. Scroll down to the Personal category and tap Google.
3. Under the Services category, select Instant Apps.
4. Tap the toggle on the top-right of the screen.
5. Read through the Terms of Service and select “Yes” in agreement

Supported Versions:

Instant apps work with Android devices above Lollipop 5.0 and API level 21

Everyday Advantages of Instant Apps:

Easy/Quick Feature Access:

Actions such as making payments have never been easier with instant apps.

Timely User Acquisition:

A new user who desperately needs a cab to get out from the rain doesn’t need to wait for the Uber app to download over their data plan. Using an Instant app makes it faster, and gets users what they need immediately.

Better E-commerce:

They give further information about a product faster than the regular app.

The post Android Instant Apps – What they are and how to use them on your phone appeared first on Charter Global.

In a nut shell, it was designed to be a stripped-down version of Android, aimed at nearly every type of internet-connected gadget you could imagine. However, Google announced Android Things would exclusively begin to focus on smart speakers and smart displays. That’s much more narrow than all Internet of Things devices, which Google had envisioned from the get go.

Plus, Google has recently began touting Google Assistant over Android Things for smart devices. Recently Google announced Google Assistant Connect, a way to add Assistant into all sorts of devices, from e-readers to appliances.

What Constitutes an Android Things?

The Android Things , in a nutshell , comes with a well- optimized OS that can work on any hardware platform and run on any low-powered devices, Google-certified back-end infrastructure ( hardware) , along with a system to ensure regular software and security update for the connected devices.

Android Things can be enabled on any device which you might have never imagined of. From the regular home appliances to highly critical equipment in manufacturing units, the android things can work with any device connected to internet and all the other places where the current IoT applications work.

So, what is Brillo then?

Android Things, the basis of the operating system, isn’t exactly new. It’s a rebrand. A few years ago, Google announced Brillo, an Android-based OS for smart devices and IoT gadgets, but it never did much with the OS. Android Things is basically a successor to Brillo. It’s also an update that allows development to be accomplished with “the same developer tools as standard Android”, whereas Brillo didn’t offer that.

Brillo didn’t catch on because developers likely found it difficult to jump in and work on a new product. Now, because they have access to the same familiar tools, the hope is they can quickly get up to speed.

What are the Benefits of Android Things?

For Google : Android Things has the potential to become an additional channel for data collection. This can enable Google to understand user-behavior better. Thus Google will be able to deliver more personalized and context-driven advertisements to its wide user base.

For businesses: Android Things might bring down the overall cost of IoT application development. This is because Android Things framework can serve as an application which can run on any hardware and businesses just need to build new applications on top of this. This will decrease the overhead cost and improve the productivity.

For Android Developers: In the current setup, the responsibility to provide regular security updates to the Android devices is with Google, rather than the developers themselves.

This means as and when a security patch is released for android, all the devices working on Android Things will immediately receive it. This will eliminate the delay in updating the smart devices.

Additionally, the developers can focus entirely on product development rather than bothering about security updates now and then.

Anything else we should know?

Don’t think of Android Things as Android or Wear OS, which we plainly see running on a phone or watch, respectively. Android Things is an OS that works in the background but isn’t visible. It allows smart devices to handle their own tasks rather than let servers do the processing. Because it is capable of more complex tasks, it’s ideal for complex smart devices like printers and locks, rather than basic power outlets.

Also, Android Things devices will be able to integrate with Android and iOS devices through Weave, a communications system that Google launched alongside Brillo. That protocol will also enable Android Things devices to have access to Google Assistant.

The post What are Android Things? appeared first on Charter Global.

The planned release of Android Q is making serious strides in the world of mobility. As per the International Computer Science Institute report, over 1,300 android apps scrape personal data regardless of permissions. App makers are using multiple workarounds to get the information they’re looking for from the user.

Google is reportedly fixing these issues with the full release in September, though presumably not in any planned Android Q beta beforehand.

Today’s blog post covers 10 new features in Android Q.

1) New Privacy Features

• Google claimed that nearly 50 features are coming to Android Q related to security and privacy.
• Some of the privacy-focused features include:
  • Access to clipboard data, Android apps can no longer access the Android operating system’s clipboard data unless they are in focus or running in the foreground.
  • MAC address randomization on by default
  • Removing easy access to network data
  • Non-ranked contact data
  • More control over location data

2) Security Enhancements

• Android Q introduces a number of security features.
  • Improves biometric authentication dialogues
    • We can now provide a hint that tells the system not to require user confirmation after the user has authenticated using an implicit biometric modality. For example, we could tell the system that no further confirmation should be required after a user has authenticated using authentication via facial recognition.
  • Improved fall back support for device credentials
    • We can now tell the system to allow a user to authenticate using their device PIN, pattern, or password if they cannot authenticate using their biometric input for some reason.
  • Run embedded DEX code
    • You can now tell the platform to run embedded DEX code directly from our app’s APK file. This option can help prevent an attack if an attacker ever managed to tamper with the locally compiled code on the device.
  • TLS 1.3 support
    • TLS 1.3 is a major revision to the TLS standard that includes performance benefits and enhanced security.
  • Bug Fixes

3) Project Mainline (Security updates in the background)

• With this new feature, users will get privacy and security patches through google play store.
• And the updates will be downloaded in the background while users continue to perform any activity on the device.

4) Foldable phone support

• One of the best native feature of Android Q is support for large screens and a foldable UI. This could be the leeway to development of dynamic and re-sizable apps that function in both multi-window modes and new aspect ratios.
• Content sharing is going to get a whole new meaning with a better multi-window functionality.
• With foldables, form factors can vary from super high long and thin screens all the way down to 1:1.
• Multi-Resume, multiple apps to be open and running in parallel.
• Support for foldables

5) Bubbles and seamless notifications

• Bubbles will give users an opportunity to view notifications as floating versions of apps that sits on the top of the content. When a notification is received, a small tiny circular notification will appear on our screen like a Facebook’s messenger chat head.
• App access: Users will have to approve each and every app that needs to use Bubbles as notification method.
• Sharing shortcuts

6) Dark theme

• There’s a system-wide dark mode coming to Android Q and it’s called Dark Theme.
• This theme was previously unavailable in older android versions, like the Pixel phone.
• The new theme will darken the interface, reducing strain on your eyes as well as saving battery life.

7) 5G support

• Unlike previous android versions, Google has also introduced various APIs in Android Q to make 5G technology supportable.
• Google bundled in 5G compatibility in Android Q. As soon as the 5G infrastructure is rolled out, Android Q will make use of the new technology if the phone is outfitted with the necessary components.

8) Live caption

• Android Q is also coming up with native support for captions, which will automatically add subtitles to videos, podcasts, and audio messages. These captions are in real time and system-wide so they aren’t limited to specific applications.
• Live Captions will enable real-time transcriptions of what’s being said on screen, regardless of the app you’re using. And this feature does not require an internet connection, meaning no wi fi is necessary.
• The new android phone design is optimal for the hearing impaired.

9) Gesture navigation

• The biggest change coming with Android Q is the entirely gesture based navigation system. This opt-in feature relies strictly on gestures for navigating the interface.
• Following are some of the navigation features
  • Removal of Home and Back buttons
  • Swipe down to open the Notification Screen.
  • Swipe up from where the Home button was to go back to the home screen.
  • Swipe up from mid-screen to open the app drawer.
  • Short swipe from either the left or right edge of the screen to go back.
  • Short swipe up (from the search bar) and release to open the app list.

10) Smart replies

• This functionality is no longer limited to Google’s messaging app and Gmail. Google has integrated a Smart Reply with the notification system of the Android Q. Unlike google assistant, users can operate this functionality for any messaging app like Facebook messenger, Viber, What’s App and Signal.
• This feature offers reply suggestions in the notification shade when we receive a message. For example, if someone sends us a message with an address or the name of a restaurant, Smart Reply will offer a link to the Google Maps app to help us start navigating to that exact locale.

Summary:

With all of these new features, it feels like Android Q will be the most technically strong Android OS compared to the previous versions of Android.

Although an official release date for the finalized build is still uncertain, Google has released five out of six expected beta releases up until this point.

The post Android 10 release date, new features, and everything you need to know appeared first on Charter Global.

The announcement stated that, “Android Studio 3.3 addresses over 200 user-reported bugs. This release also include official support for Navigation Editor, improved incremental Java compilation when using annotation processors, C++ code lint inspections, an updated new project wizard, and usability fixes for each of the performance profilers. In addition, saving snapshots on exit for the Android emulator is 8x faster.”

Project Marble

According to Google, they have addressed over 200+ user-reported bugs. So, Google has built an initiative called Project Marble that focused on solidifying the fundamental features and flows of the Integrated Development Environment. Furthermore, they have refined and polished the user-facing features, fixed user impacting bugs, and invested in infrastructure and tools. They also worked on reducing the number of crashes, hangs and memory leaks.

Navigation Editor

Navigation Editor is a visual editor allowing users to construct XML resources that support using the new Android Jetpack Navigation Component. The Navigation Editor provides a visual way for creating navigation of an app therefore simplifying the navigation between the screens and the content areas.

New Updates and Features

The Android Studio 3.3 has also brought in new IntelliJ Platform Update. The IntelliJ Platform Update features support for Java 11, new previews for the code editor, MacBook Touch Bar support, and enhanced version control integrations.

Also, the new Android Studio 3.3 features IDE User Feedback. This allows users to quickly share their experience whenever they are in the IDE.

The new release also highlights these developments:

-Bundled Kotlin 1.3.11

-Clang-Tidy Support for C++

-Update on Project Wizard, and

-Unused settings clean up and delete unused IDE Directories

Supported platform for the Android Studio 3.3 are: Windows 32-bit and 64-bit version (Windows 7/8/10), Linux (GNOME or KDI desktop), and Mac (Yosemite 10.10, up to High Sierra 10.13).

Charter Global

Enterprise demand for mobile app development has risen for the past few years. Charter Global can help you develop custom mobile apps to help your business. We have experts that can design your app that integrate with your existing systems. Contact us now.

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