After a developer preview phase with over 100,000 SDK downloads, Google has released Android Things 1.0 with long-term support for production devices.
Android Things is Google’s IoT platform aimed to allow developers to write IoT applications similarly to how they write mobile apps.
According to Dave Smith, developer advocate for IoT at Google, developer feedback and engagement has been critical to reach version 1.0, with over 10,000 developers providing feedback through the issue tracker, at workshop events, and through the Google+ community.
Besides Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and NXP i.MX7D devices that were already supported in developer previews, Things 1.0 adds support for new system-on-modules (SoMs) based on the NXP i.MX8M, Qualcomm SDA212, Qualcomm SDA624, and MediaTek MT8516. These modules are certified for production use with guaranteed support for three years, making it easier to bring prototypes to market.
A new interface to configure hardware peripherals is included in Android Things Console, enabling build-time control of available peripheral I/O connections and device properties such as GPIO resistors and I2C bus speed.
A core tenet of Android Things is keeping devices secure over time. A fundamental part of that is providing:
- timely software updates over-the-air (OTA);
- stability fixes;
- security patches on production hardware platforms.
Android Things is ready for production. Google has worked hard to bring some products built on Android Things to market. These include smart speakers from LG and iHome, and smart displays from Lenovo, LG, and JBL, which showcase powerful capabilities like Google Assistant and Google Cast. These products are expected to hit the shelves by the end of summer. Also, some startups are using Android Things to prototype innovative ideas. Some examples are:
- Byteflies: Docking station that securely transmits wearable health data to the cloud;
- Mirego: Network of large photo displays driven by public photo booths in downtown Montreal.
To know more about Android Things 1.0 take a look at the release notes, and head over to Android Things Console. Also on the Android developer site you can find details about the platform, as well as kits, sample code and community projects.