April 2016 Summaries

In the rapidly evolving smartphone market, there is a significant demand for free apps, with less than 1% of apps being paid for at the point of download, prompting developers to explore sustainable business models through in-app advertising. The newly released ebook, "The No-nonsense Guide to In-App Ads," addresses this trend by offering a detailed introduction to in-app advertising, helping developers integrate digital ads into their app strategies effectively. It covers foundational concepts such as eCPM, fill rate, demand, and inventory, as well as practical insights on how businesses generate revenue from advertising, the mechanics of Pay Per Click advertising, and the role of ad networks in app monetization. The guide aims to assist developers in selecting the appropriate ad networks for their apps while providing a pleasant user experience, and it urges readers to stay updated with AdMob for additional app monetization tips.

Google announced the deprecation of the OAuth 1.0 protocol, emphasizing a transition to the more secure and less complex OAuth 2.0 standard, with OAuth 1.0 (2LO) set to shut down on October 20, 2016. This move follows the earlier discontinuation of OAuth 1.0 (3LO) in April 2015, and aims to enhance security and simplify integration for developers by adopting modern open standards. Organizations are encouraged to migrate their applications to OAuth 2.0 service accounts with domain-wide delegation to prevent service disruptions, as failure to do so before the deadline could result in connectivity issues with Google services, including sign-in capabilities. Developers seeking assistance with the migration process are advised to use Stack Overflow under the "google-oauth" tag for technical support.

Google I/O 2016 promises an expanded experience with over 100 technical talks now available for planning, offering insights into optimizing app performance, creating accessible user experiences, and building Progressive Web Apps using Firebase Hosting. This year’s event has been extended to a third day to accommodate more sessions in larger venues, structured across 14 tracks such as Android and the Mobile Web. For those unable to attend in person, over 200 I/O Extended events worldwide and multiple live stream channels will allow remote participation, with all sessions available on YouTube post-event. The event will also feature Codelabs for hands-on learning with support from Googlers, and additional talks will be announced closer to the event, including some directly following the keynote.

Virtual Art Sessions is a Chrome Experiment that allows users to experience the creative process of six renowned artists using Tilt Brush, a virtual reality painting app. This project offers a browser-based exploration of the artists’ techniques and perspectives, showcasing their unique approaches to creating 3D art in virtual reality. It employs Google Chrome’s V8 Javascript engine, WebM video, and WebGL to deliver high-performance, real-time rendering of complex data, including point cloud and 3D geometry, to display the artists and their works in 360°. The experiment, which highlights the innovative blend of virtual and physical realities, invites users to explore the possibilities of virtual reality art through a detailed and interactive online platform.

Android Development Patterns, initiated by Joanna Smith and Ian Lake, is a resource aimed at guiding developers through the myriad of APIs available within the Android framework and support libraries. The initiative helps developers not only understand how to utilize an API but also aids in the crucial decision-making process of selecting the appropriate APIs for their projects. This guidance is essential given the vast flexibility and choice that can complicate development. Resources such as YouTube videos, blog posts, and content on the Google Developers Medium page are available to further explore these patterns.

Solar Simulator is an innovative app developed by three graduate students from San Francisco State University, designed to offer users a virtual experience of the solar system through Project Tango's capabilities. Utilizing Unity SDK, the app provides 3D models of the planets, showcasing their relative sizes and distances, while leveraging Project Tango’s motion-tracking API to enhance user interaction and comprehension of spatial relationships in space. This educational tool allows users to virtually walk through the solar system, fostering a better understanding of astronomical concepts, and even offers the possibility of creating a custom solar system at home. The app was demonstrated at the California Academy of Sciences’ NightLife event and is available for download on the Project Tango Development Kit, highlighting its potential as both an educational and entertaining resource.

Eddystone, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon format by Google, has been enhanced with the introduction of Ephemeral IDs (EID) to improve privacy and security by controlling access to beacon signals. Eddystone-EID allows for secure and private exchanges of information by using a periodically changing AES-encrypted identifier, making it accessible only to clients with authorized resolution services. This feature is implemented through the Proximity Beacon API and the Nearby API for Android and iOS, offering protection against various attacks and enabling features like proximity awareness and device authentication. The new Eddystone format also supports a wider beacon ecosystem with the addition of Beacon Tools for provisioning and registering beacons, and a common configuration protocol known as Eddystone GATT service, fostering an open environment for developers. Over 25 manufacturers now support Eddystone-EID, with applications spanning from secure luggage tracking by Samsonite to enhanced visitor experiences in museums like K11 in Hong Kong, and live sports events with Monumental Sports in Washington, DC.

In an episode of "Coffee with a Googler," Laurence Moroney, a Developer Advocate, interviews Ian Lake about the new features in Android N, focusing on enhancements to Doze for better power savings and improvements over Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The conversation highlights the introduction of multi-window support in Android N, addressing the necessary preparations for optimal integration. The video also covers updates to the notification system in Android N, with further information available on the Android developer website.