The Internet of Things (IoT) brings computing to a whole new range of devices. By making ordinary objects "smart", it's making a change in how they interact with the surroundings and humans.
To put its name forward, Google is announcing two updates to its IoT developer platform.
The first is Android Things, an IoT platform that allows developers to build connected devices using Android's APIs and Google's cloud-based services. Leveraging the two, developers can at the same time stay secure with updates straight from Google.
By incorporating feedback from Brillo, its previous Android-based IoT operating system, Google also brought other tools to the arsenal like Android Studio, Android SDK, Google Cloud Platform and Google Play Services. Not just limited to that, Google is also working to add more supporting tools.
As for the hardware, Google recommends developers to use any solutions available to start building real products. The products include Intel Edison, NXP Pico, and Raspberry Pi 3.
The second update is Google in updating its Weave Platform, its IoT communication platform. Here, Google wants to make it easier to all types of IoT devices to connect to the cloud and interact with Google's services.
Weave provides all the cloud infrastructure so developers can focus on building their products without investing in cloud services. The update on Weave also includes a Device SDK for supported microcontrollers and a management console. The Weave Device SDK now supports schemas for things like light bulbs, smart plugs, switches and thermostats.
Coming up, Google will be adding more support to more device types as well as custom schemas, traits, mobile apps' API for both Android and iOS.
Additionally, Google is also working to merge Weave with Nest Weave to allow all classes of devices to connect with each other in a more reliable and secure way.
Google in announcing big updates to its Internet of Things platform is just the beginning of the IoT ecosystem the company wants developers to build with.
By updating them, Google is also giving the documentation and code samples so developers can take a glimpse of how they should work, saving them the learning time and curve. They can also join Google's IoT Developers Community on Google+ to get more updates about the subject.
With Android Things and the tools that are compatible with it, Google hopes that it can help developers to use and leverage its IoT platform space. Although there are alternatives available beside Google's offering, the company is leveraging its well-established brand to make itself more compelling that the rest.
And because Google's products can work side-by-side, Android Things that works alongside Weave, can also work with Google Assistant, for example.
Currently in Developer Preview, Google allows early developers to see how things work and test some of its early features and capabilities. The company is also bringing the infrastructure for securely pushing regular OS patches, security fixes, custom updates, as well as built-in Weave connectivity and more.
Google is also working with previous Brillo users to help the migrate their project to the platform.