Google Launches New App Development Software Kit

 

Google has released a new cross-device software development kit (SDK) that enables developers to create apps that run on both Android and non-Android devices. The cross-device software is now available as a developer preview for Android phones and tablets, and will be available later for Android surfaces and non-Android operating systems.


Users can also share the current state of an app with the same app on another device and launch the app on a secondary device without having to keep the app running in the background. According to the company, the initial release includes a set of rich APIs focused on the core functions of device discovery, secure connections, and multi-device sessions. You can use device discovery to find nearby devices, authorise peer-to-peer communication, and launch the target application on receiving devices.

 

Secure connections allow authorised devices to share encrypted, low-latency bidirectional data. Multi-device sessions allow you to transfer or extend the user experience of an application across multiple devices. "With this SDK, you can focus on what matters most: creating delightful user experiences and connecting these experiences across a wide range of form factors and platforms," Google said. The software also supports task handoff, which allows the user to begin a task on one device and easily continue on another. "Additionally, apps will not have to declare or request run - time authorizations for connectivity protocols, and the user can allow apps to link to only the device they choose," the company said.