Skip to main content

Android Things is Google’s rebranded IoT OS, lets Android devs easily build smart devices

Launched last year with only a few devices shown off at CES 2016, Brillo (Google’s stripped down version of Android for powering IoT devices) is being rebranded as Android Things. The new platform is launching a preview today, with its key feature being familiarity to existing Android developers.

Android Things is a comprehensive solution to build smart, connected devices with Android. Incorporating feedback from Project Brillo, Google claims that any Android developer can quickly build a smart device using Android APIs and Google services, with familiar tools like Android Studio, Google Play Services, and the Google Cloud Platform.

Developers can start developing with Android Things on real products, like the Intel Edison, NXP Pico, and Raspberry Pi 3. As its name suggests, Android Things will allow for large production runs featuring custom designs, while continuing to use the same Board Support Package (BSP) from Google.

The Developer Preview will be updated in the coming months with a platform for pushing regular OS patches, security fixes, and your own updates, as well as built-in Weave connectivity and more.

Devices will continue to communicate via Weave, which is also getting updated for easier connecting to the cloud and interaction with services like the Google Assistant. Following a Nest restructuring that saw the division’s platform developers join Google’s Internet of Things team, Weave and Nest Weave will be merged to allow for easier connectivity. More succesful than Brillo, Weave is already used in devices like the Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

Author

Avatar for Abner Li Abner Li

Editor-in-chief. Interested in the minutiae of Google and Alphabet. Tips/talk: abner@9to5g.com