Will Google's 'Cross-Device' Development Kit Bring Android Apps to Non-Android Devices? (theverge.com) 20
Google is trying "to make it easier for developers to create Android apps that connect in some way across a range of devices," reports the Verge. Documentation for the software development kit says it will simplify development for "multi-device experiences."
"The Cross device SDK is open-source and will be available for different Android surfaces and non-Android ecosystem devices (Chrome OS, Windows, iOS)," explains the documentation, though the current developer preview only works with Android phones and tablets, according to the Verge.
But they report that Google's new SDK "contains the tools developers need to make their apps play nice across Android devices, and, eventually non-Android phones, tablets, TVs, cars, and more." The SDK is supposed to let developers do three key things with their apps: discover nearby devices, establish secure connections between devices, and host an app's experience across multiple devices. According to Google, its cross-device SDK uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ultra-wideband to deliver multi-device connectivity.... [I]t could let multiple users on separate devices choose items from a menu when creating a group food order, saving you from passing your phone around the room. It could also let you pick up where you left off in an article when swapping from your phone to a tablet, or even allow the passengers in a car to share a specific map location with the vehicle's navigation system.
It almost sounds like an expansion of Nearby Share, which enables users on Android to transfer files to devices that use Chrome OS and other Androids. In April, Esper's Mishaal Rahman spotted an upcoming Nearby Share update that could let you quickly share files across the devices that you're signed into Google with. Google also said during a CES 2022 keynote that it will bring Nearby Share to Windows devices later this year.
"This SDK abstracts away the intricacies involved with working with device discovery, authentication, and connection protocols," argues Google's blog post, "allowing you to focus on what matters most — building delightful user experiences and connecting these experiences across a variety of form factors and platforms."
"The Cross device SDK is open-source and will be available for different Android surfaces and non-Android ecosystem devices (Chrome OS, Windows, iOS)," explains the documentation, though the current developer preview only works with Android phones and tablets, according to the Verge.
But they report that Google's new SDK "contains the tools developers need to make their apps play nice across Android devices, and, eventually non-Android phones, tablets, TVs, cars, and more." The SDK is supposed to let developers do three key things with their apps: discover nearby devices, establish secure connections between devices, and host an app's experience across multiple devices. According to Google, its cross-device SDK uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ultra-wideband to deliver multi-device connectivity.... [I]t could let multiple users on separate devices choose items from a menu when creating a group food order, saving you from passing your phone around the room. It could also let you pick up where you left off in an article when swapping from your phone to a tablet, or even allow the passengers in a car to share a specific map location with the vehicle's navigation system.
It almost sounds like an expansion of Nearby Share, which enables users on Android to transfer files to devices that use Chrome OS and other Androids. In April, Esper's Mishaal Rahman spotted an upcoming Nearby Share update that could let you quickly share files across the devices that you're signed into Google with. Google also said during a CES 2022 keynote that it will bring Nearby Share to Windows devices later this year.
"This SDK abstracts away the intricacies involved with working with device discovery, authentication, and connection protocols," argues Google's blog post, "allowing you to focus on what matters most — building delightful user experiences and connecting these experiences across a variety of form factors and platforms."
Seems cool but... (Score:1)
I like the sound of the framework, but am a bit worried about the security of the whole thing given Google is developing it.
Would not like to find someday later that a hacker could initiate Venmo payments from phones in other peoples pockets because of this connection kit.
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Isn't HTML 5 already a cross platform API (Score:2)
That Google will not drop.
I suspect that the vast majority of "Aps" could run just as well as web pages. Can even run HTML5 off line.
Question: What actually are the useful things that HTML 5 still lacks for which you need an ap?
One is really CPU intensive stuff, but JavaScript has improved a lot and we also have the horrible Web ASM. But most are not CPU bound.
Re: Seems cool but... (Score:2)
No, but (Score:1)
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Last I checked you actually had to implement specific Google APIs to rape privacy. It wasn't some magic compiler flag automatically set by their SDKs.
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Actually, it's probably a default compiler flag! Good luck finding it to turn it off.
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We're not talking about Microsoft here. You can't just blindly Google bash and expect to be modded up without some reference to "don't be evil". Put a bit more effort in.
Seen this before (Score:1)
Aw, hell no! (Score:2)
The last thing we need is more bait-and-switch-ware (you know, the "it's free... but with in-app purchases for when you actually want to use it" kind) that transfers all your information and the kitchen sink over to Google.
Fuck fingers, mice still need help (Score:1)
We need a state-ful GUI markup language standard. Productivity apps are still done mostly with mice, but mice are being ignored. JS/DOM/CSS/HTML has made for bloated buggy GUI's for to damned long. Givvittup, we need a real GUI standard. Make Mice Great Again
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Correction: "too damned long"
I don't care (Score:2)
When I can easily bring non-Android apps onto to my phone running LineageOS, I'll be excited. But Android's proposed foray onto other platforms is simply invasive, just like kudzu, carp, and cancer. AFAIC the ability - and therefore the vulnerability - of running data-Hoovering Android apps on other platforms is a bug, not a feature.
A cross-platform development kit, you say? (Score:1)
Both Apple and Google got it wrong with apps. Microsoft also made the mistake of trying to force the "app universe" on the desktop. There is almost no reason to install an app on your phone. 99% of what I need I do with my phone's browser.
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Re: A cross-platform development kit, you say? (Score:2)
Yeah the app app get the app craze was infuriating, and so many websites would flat out refuse to show in your phone's browser and instead tell you to "get the app"
Over the years this has become less and less of an issue, but many sites still nag you to "get the app", but the site is at least useable through the browser. I very rarely see a flat out denial anymore.
How about bringing non Android apps (Score:2)
To Android devices. So many Android "productivity apps" are vastly inferior to what they had even in the Windows 95 days, and they are loaded down with ads and/or micropayments to get any real use out of them.