May 2016 Summaries

Firebase has expanded its capabilities with the introduction of Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) and Firebase Notifications (FN), as announced at Google I/O. While Google will continue supporting Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) on Android, iOS, and the Web, new client-side features will be exclusive to the FCM SDKs, prompting developers to upgrade for enhanced functionalities. FCM maintains all functionalities of GCM, such as addressing single devices or groups, and simplifies client development by eliminating the need for custom registration or subscription logic. On the server side, updates to endpoints and protocols ensure backward compatibility without breaking changes. Firebase's cross-platform capabilities are being further leveraged, making FCM a natural progression for the platform, and the new Firebase Notifications console allows for direct message sending to apps without requiring a messaging server. Migration guides from GCM to FCM for both Android and iOS are available, integrating these updates into Firebase's unified mobile platform strategy.

In a conversation with Laurence Moroney, Developer Advocate, Ankur Kotwal shares insights into working with Google Maps and Geo APIs, drawing from his extensive experience with these tools. The discussion explores how developers can start building mapping applications and effectively utilize Google’s supporting web services. Ankur also highlights his involvement in the Santa Tracker application, sharing entertaining anecdotes about the challenges faced during its development and the unique dynamic with a particularly demanding project manager. This dialogue offers both technical guidance and personal stories, aimed at inspiring developers interested in Google’s mapping technologies.

Project Tango, an augmented reality (AR) initiative, enables users to integrate virtual objects into the physical world, ranging from furniture to dinosaurs. A tutorial is provided for creating a virtual cat using Project Tango's depth APIs, which interact with real-world geometry. The process involves setting up a Unity project, importing the Tango SDK, and utilizing the Tango Manager and AR Camera, alongside the Tango Point Cloud prefab, to detect surfaces for virtual object placement. By creating a UI Controller and a C# script named KittyUIController.cs, developers can manage touch events to place a virtual cat in the AR environment. The tutorial emphasizes using the FindPlane function from the Tango Support Library to locate planes for placing virtual objects accurately. Developers are encouraged to enhance their AR applications' performance by following additional coding practices and resources available on GitHub and past Project Tango presentations.

WhatsApp, one of the world's most popular messaging apps, collaborated with Google Drive to provide users with a seamless way to back up and restore their messages and media when switching devices. This integration aims to prevent data loss during phone upgrades or replacements by allowing users to store their data in Google Drive securely. To handle the scale of over a billion users, the integration focused on incremental data backups and optimizing server-side storage and network calls. The partnership utilized the Google Drive API to ensure the backup process is as effortless and reliable as WhatsApp itself, requiring minimal user input. This collaboration not only enhances user experience by ensuring data safety but also demonstrates the scalability and developer accessibility of the Google Drive API, encouraging further integration projects.

Google Classroom has expanded its API capabilities to enable deeper integrations, offering new coursework endpoints that allow developers to access assignments, grades, and workflows, thereby streamlining tasks such as grade syncing with reporting systems. This advancement empowers learning tools to focus on content creation while utilizing Classroom for assignment management, and it facilitates seamless integration of course materials and resources into Google Drive. The updated API also enhances the management of course folders, groups, and materials, aiming to improve file storage and sharing permissions. As Google continues to develop these capabilities, updates will be communicated through the developer forum and issue tracker, encouraging developers to engage with the platform and share their innovations on social media using the #withClassroom hashtag.

Daydream Labs, a Google VR initiative, is dedicated to exploring the potential of virtual reality and sharing its findings with the broader community. Since its inception, the lab has conducted over 60 app experiments to test various use cases and interaction designs, building two new app prototypes weekly. These experiments, such as a virtual drum kit using HTC Vive controllers and a playful typing interface with drumsticks, have yielded surprising insights, demonstrating that typing with drumsticks can be faster and more enjoyable than using a laser pointer. The team emphasizes the experimental nature of their work, acknowledging that not all attempts are successful, but each provides valuable learning opportunities. As an ongoing project, Daydream Labs plans to continue sharing their discoveries through blog posts and presentations at events like Google I/O.

The mobile web has evolved to deliver exceptional experiences on smaller screens, driven by innovations like Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). These technologies enhance speed, engagement, and user retention, making the mobile web more accessible and efficient. AMP significantly reduces load times and data usage, while PWAs offer seamless offline capabilities and enhanced user interactions through features like service workers and the Credential Management API. Successful implementations by companies such as AliExpress and BaBe highlight the potential for increased user engagement and conversion rates, demonstrating the benefits of investing in these technologies. The text encourages developers to adopt these advancements to improve their mobile web offerings and stay updated with ongoing developments through resources like Google I/O sessions and YouTube channel updates.

At the 2016 Google I/O, Google expanded its virtual reality offerings with the announcement of Daydream, a platform designed to deliver high-quality mobile VR experiences on Android smartphones, alongside earlier initiatives like Google Cardboard, Jump, and Expeditions. The Jump platform, which simplifies VR video production, is being utilized by prominent media companies such as Paramount Pictures and The New York Times, with new partnerships aiming to enhance camera accessibility and quality, including a collaboration with IMAX for a high-end camera. The Expeditions program, which has allowed over a million students to embark on virtual reality field trips, is set to expand with contributions from the Associated Press and Getty Images. Daydream aims to support a variety of VR devices and is working with smartphone manufacturers to create Daydream-ready phones that offer advanced VR capabilities. This platform also includes a reference design for a VR headset and controller, and it supports development with tools like the Google VR SDK and popular game engines, promising a robust ecosystem for VR content creation.

Google I/O 2016, held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre with over 7,000 attendees and millions more via live stream, celebrated a decade of developer events with announcements focused on Android, iOS, and mobile web development, as well as advancements in machine learning and mobile virtual reality. Key highlights included the substantial expansion of Firebase into a comprehensive suite offering new features like mobile analytics, growth tools, and crash reporting to aid developers in building, growing, and monetizing apps. Android N Developer Preview 3 and Android Wear 2.0 showcased updates focused on performance, productivity, and security, while other significant announcements included Android VR, Android Studio 2.2 Preview, Google Play services 9.0, and Progressive Web Apps. The event also introduced Android Instant Apps for seamless app access, Universal App Campaigns for app promotion, and the Awareness API for context-aware applications, alongside future-oriented sessions covering topics like Daydream VR, Chromebooks, and enhancements to the mobile web experience.

Google has introduced new APIs and features to enhance data integration and workflow efficiency across different applications, reducing repetitive tasks like copying and pasting data between apps. The new Google Sheets API allows developers to programmatically access features such as charts and pivot tables, facilitating seamless data flow and collaboration between apps like Anaplan, Asana, and Salesforce. Similarly, the Google Slides API enables developers to automate the creation and updating of presentations, with integrations being developed by companies like Conga and Trello. Additionally, the Classroom API offers new coursework endpoints to sync data for educational tools, while a new feature allows users to embed linked charts from Sheets into Docs or Slides, ensuring that updates in source data reflect automatically in presentations or documents. These advancements aim to streamline workflows and maintain data accuracy across Google's productivity suite.

Firebase has undergone a significant transformation to become a comprehensive app development platform for Android, iOS, and mobile web applications, expanding its suite of tools to aid in faster development, improved app quality, user engagement, and monetization. Key additions include Firebase Analytics, a new user and event-centric analytics product offering cross-network attribution and integration with other Firebase features; Firebase Cloud Messaging for scalable push notifications; Firebase Storage for secure file handling; and Firebase Remote Config for dynamic app customization. The platform also introduces Firebase Test Lab and Crash Reporting to enhance app quality, along with growth tools like Firebase Notifications, Dynamic Links, and App Indexing to boost user engagement and retention. The integration with AdMob facilitates app monetization, while a new console and documentation site streamline app management and integration with Google Cloud. Firebase offers free usage for many features, alongside simplified pricing for paid products, maintaining its core principles of developer experience, cross-platform support, and tight integration with other Google services.

Google and the MIT Media Lab's Scratch Team have collaborated to create Scratch Blocks, a new set of graphical programming blocks intended to enhance coding experiences for young learners. Launched as an open-source developer preview, Scratch Blocks leverages Google's Blockly technology and aims to provide high-quality programming tools for children globally. This initiative builds on the success of Scratch, which since 2007 has enabled over 11 million young people to create and share millions of digital projects. The new Scratch Blocks introduce an icon-based horizontal grammar optimized for small screens, alongside plans to support the existing vertical, text-based grammar of Scratch. The prototype can control devices like LEGO WeDo 2.0 via Bluetooth, and improvements to Blockly include a native Android version and enhanced web performance, with an iOS version forthcoming. Scratch Blocks will be showcased at the Google I/O conference, highlighting its potential to empower users to explore and create.

Google I/O 2016 is set to kick off on May 18th at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, focusing on themes such as app development, business growth, and exploring new platforms. Attendees can enhance their experience by using the dedicated Android and iOS apps to plan schedules, navigate the venue, and stay updated. Badge pick-up is available on May 17th, and participants are encouraged to arrive early for pre-assigned seating. The event includes opportunities to interact with Google engineers, attend sessions, and participate in Code Labs and Office Hours. Evening events, such as a concert and party, provide entertainment and networking opportunities. Remote participants can engage with the conference through live streams, I/O Extended events, and social media interactions using the #io16request hashtag.

Launchpad Accelerator has announced its second class, featuring 24 startups from emerging markets such as Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Mexico, focusing on late-stage tech companies. The program, led by Roy Glasberg, offers a unique approach by providing intensive mentorship, Google resources, and equity-free funding to address each startup's specific challenges through a "patient diagnostic" process. The second cohort will begin with a two-week bootcamp at Google HQ, where startups will receive targeted mentoring from Google product teams and the global Launchpad network over a six-month period. Alumni from the first class, like UpBeat Games and NestAway, have experienced significant growth and success, attributing their achievements to the guidance and optimizations suggested by the Accelerator mentors. Participants are encouraged to maintain an open mind and strive for excellence, as the program aims to help them build world-class products and scale their startups effectively.

In May 2016, developers and open source enthusiasts gathered in Austin, Texas, for the O'Reilly Media's annual open source conference, OSCON, and the Community Leadership Summit (CLS) that preceded it. The event, which ran from May 14-19, featured ten Googlers hosting sessions on various topics, including web development, machine learning, devops, astronomy, and open source. Notably, the conference included sessions on Kubernetes, machine learning with TensorFlow, and open source lessons from the TODO Group. Attendees could also participate in a Kubernetes hackathon and discussions on projects like PANOPTES and containerizing Minecraft. Google offered discounts for registration and free entry to some sessions, encouraging participation from students, educators, and open source program participants.