Google I/O 2015

Yesterday took place the opening keynote of Google I / O 2015 event for developers in the premises of Mountain View. It is traditionally at this conference that Google unveils projects for months or even years to come. No new product had been announced this time, but a lot of improvements to existing OS (Android and Android Wear), as well as some details on a new OS, for the connected home.

Android M



After major overhaul of the Android design with Lollipop announced last year, Google unveiled its new version of Android, simply called Android M for now. You can also download the Developer Preview for Nexus 6, 5, 9 and Player here (tag: http://developer.android.com/preview/download.html). It will be out this fall, and here are some of the main new features:

App permissions
No need to accept any access to your device when you download an application! You can give the permission only to features you want, and change them whenever you want. No more misuse of the camera or access to your location, it's up to you.

Web Experience




Today there are two ways to access the content of a link from an application: either the application has an in-app browser, allowing you to live a continuous experience but in which you can’t enjoy the features of your browser, or you need to open your browser, cutting the experience.
Google decided to remedy this by offering a version of Chrome built directly into applications, enabling developers to customize their own version of Chrome and smoother transition between the application and the browser.

App Links
Echoing the same idea as the Web Experience, App Links allows the user to easily switch from one application to another without displaying the unpleasant dialog box that prompts the user to open the link with their browser or with the dedicated application. Android M defaults to the dedicated application if the link is available on it, or to the browser if the link is not available on the application.

Mobile Payments
After several months of waiting, Google has finally officiallized Android Pay. In direct competition with Apple Pay, it took all that has already brought success to Apple Pay: contactless payment via NFC, confirmation by fingerprint. For now, this service is only available in the United States.

Fingerprint Support
The fingerprint precisely. Android M incorporates native fingerprint reader, compatible with all devices with a fingerprint sensor. Android smartphones to offer a fingerprint reader are still rare at the moment, but you can find several models, including Samsung and Motorola ones.

Power & Charging
During the conference, Google also introduced two new products for the management of the battery and charging devices. Doze can detect, via the accelerometer, if the device is used or not, in order to reduce the synchronization frequency, and improve autonomy. Specifically, if you leave your tablet or smartphone for two hours on a table, it will "sleep."

The USB Type-C, which is found on late-model Chromebook and MacBook will now be supported by Android to divide by three or four the time of charging devices. Currently, very few smartphones are equipped with USB Type-C but Google promises that many new models will soon arrive.

Google Now




Integrated directly into Android M, the new version of Google Now will accompany you even further. With a new tool "Now On Tap" Android's assistant will give you information about any content on the screen without you having to launch a search. Simply by pressing the "Home" button, and you'll be served.





Android Wear

No big news of Android Wear hand, if it is a reminder of the latest features available via the latest update. So we find the always-on mode, new gestures, recognition of emojis launcher and reworked launcher.


Internet of Things




As rumor announced, Google unveiled its OS dedicated to the Internet of Things. Called Brillo, he resumed the Android underpinnings and keeps only what is necessary to be as light as possible. Dedicated to connected objects, it will be accompanied by Weave, a language that will allow Brillo to communicate with all your other devices.





Developers

The developers have obviously not been forgotten in this year's Google I/O. The new version of Android Studio now allows to develop in C / C ++.
For iOS, Google now incorporates Cocoapods, which allows easier integration of Google services in iOS applications.
And if you are interested in the development of applications on Android, Google has published on Udacity, a MOOC website, complete courses on Android development. Theses courses will take you of 6 to 9 months for a cost of 200$ per month.


Virtual Reality

Concluding his keynote, Google presented a new version of its Cardboard, compatible with devices of 6 inches and with a dedicated iOS SDK. We also were treated to Google Expeditions, allowing entire classes to live through the same experience and Cardboard Jump, a "belt" of 16 GoPro for filming at 360 °.

The Android version of TapPublisher will be available soon, so we pay special attention to this OS. All features in Android M such as Android Pay will obviously be integrated into TapPublisher for Android.

Hervé