January 2018 Summaries

TensorFlow 1.5 has been released, introducing several new features aimed at enhancing user experience and performance. A notable addition is the Eager Execution preview, which allows for an imperative, define-by-run programming style, making TensorFlow operations executable directly in Python, thereby simplifying research and development processes. The update also includes a developer preview of TensorFlow Lite, designed for mobile and embedded devices, which enables low-latency execution of trained models on-device without the need for cloud processing. Additionally, TensorFlow 1.5 supports GPU acceleration updates with CUDA 9 and cuDNN 7 for improved performance on Windows and Linux. The documentation site has been updated to provide a more streamlined Getting Started flow, alongside various other enhancements such as updates to Accelerated Linear Algebra (XLA) and RunConfig.

Google Play Games Services C++ SDK version 3.0 has been released, requiring Android NDK r14 or greater and is compiled using the clang toolchain, which is recommended to ensure stable behavior. This update removes support for the armeabi ABI, recommending the use of armeabi-v7a instead, and includes bug fixes for the Nearby API and refinements in the Snapshots API. Developers can access the SDK and detailed release notes on the official Google page and find sample projects on GitHub to aid in implementation.

PageSpeed Insights, as announced by software engineers Mushan Yang and Xiangyu Luo, has been updated to incorporate real-world data from the Chrome User Experience Report, enhancing its recommendations for developers. This update aligns the optimization score with actual page performance and introduces several elements to the PSI report, including a Speed score based on First Contentful Paint (FCP) and DOM Content Loaded (DCL) metrics. Pages are categorized as Fast, Average, or Slow, with a new Optimization score assessing performance headroom while maintaining page appearance and functionality. The report also features sections on Page Load Distributions and Page Stats, which provide insights into page performance relative to the dataset, and Optimization Suggestions for best practices, which remain hidden for fast pages. For more information and feedback, developers are encouraged to visit the forums and include the URL being evaluated.

In early 2018, Google announced enhancements to the Google Assistant and Actions on Google at the Consumer Electronics Show, highlighting new developments for developers and users alike. The updates include a new web directory and an improved directory experience on phones, which provide greater visibility and ease of app sharing for users. Developers publishing their first app can join a community program offering benefits like Google Cloud credits and merchandise. The Google Assistant's availability is expanding across devices, with smart displays, new speakers, TVs, headphones, and Android Auto integration enhancing user interaction at home, on the go, and in vehicles. Additionally, Google is broadening its smart home capabilities by supporting more device types, including cameras and appliances like dishwashers and dryers, while streamlining the development process for smart home Actions. These advancements aim to make the Assistant more accessible, interactive, and useful across various contexts.

Google Data Studio, a free tool for creating interactive dashboards with data visualizations, introduces Community Connectors, which allow users to build custom connectors to any web-accessible data source using Google Apps Script. This feature enables businesses to provide tailored reporting solutions by letting users fetch data from various sources and create individualized dashboards with minimal development effort. Community Connectors can be shared or published in the Data Studio Community Connector gallery, reaching a broader audience and offering potential monetization opportunities. Developers benefit from Apps Script features like caching and authentication, and the process involves building, testing, deploying, and sharing connectors. Additionally, Data Studio encourages community collaboration by allowing developers to contribute to an open-source repository.