February 2020 Summaries

In response to global conversations on climate change, DevFest, community-led developer events hosted by Google Developer Groups, has initiated three environmentally-focused technological solutions. The first, Blockchain for Biodiversity, emerged from a DevFest in Brazil's rainforest, aiming to use blockchain to track and promote eco-friendly products, thereby fostering a greener economy. The second, the ECHO Marine Station, developed in collaboration with the Italian Coast Guard during DevFest Mediterranean, is a solar-powered marine vehicle designed to monitor marine environments and manage pollution through innovative software and hardware. Lastly, the Doctor's Eyes for Plants initiative from DevFest MienTrung in Vietnam employs TensorFlow and neural networks to detect plant diseases, potentially enhancing agricultural efficiency and sustainability. These initiatives highlight the potential for technology to address environmental challenges effectively.

Announced by Dave Smith, a Developer Advocate, improvements to the review process for smart home Actions aim to enhance transparency and reduce approval times by better synchronizing the policy and certification review phases. Previously, developers experienced confusion due to a lack of visibility into these two distinct review stages, leading to misunderstandings about the approval status of their Actions. To address this, a new view in the Release section of the Actions console now offers detailed status updates for both policy and certification reviews, providing developers with a clearer understanding of their submission's readiness for production. Additionally, updates to the console user interface allow developers to directly see any issues requiring attention, further streamlining the process. These changes reflect internal efforts to ensure quicker advancement of submissions through the review process, ultimately benefiting the Actions on Google developer community.

Glass Enterprise Edition 2, available since May 2019, is now accessible for developers through direct purchase from hardware resellers like CDW, Mobile Advance, and SHI, marking a significant step in its adoption across industries such as logistics, manufacturing, and field services. This hands-free device, built on Android, offers developers ease of use and integration with existing enterprise services and APIs. Enterprises using Glass have reported increased efficiency, improved quality, and reduced costs. Google has also released open-source applications and code samples to assist developers in creating new enterprise solutions, underscoring its commitment to shaping the future of work through innovative technology.