July 2020 Summaries

Google's Developer Student Clubs (DSC) engage university students worldwide to solve local community problems using Google's technologies, culminating in the annual DSC Solution Challenge. This year, ten standout projects were selected, showcasing innovative solutions across various fields, such as healthcare, education, and community support. The projects leverage technologies like machine learning, Google Cloud, and Flutter, demonstrating the participants' creativity and technical prowess. Notable entries include FreeSpeak, a virtual coaching tool from Germany, CoronaAI, a COVID-19 data examination tool from the US, and Tulibot from Indonesia, which aids communication for the hearing impaired. These projects not only address pressing local issues but also highlight the collaborative and educational spirit fostered by the DSC community. The virtual Solution Challenge Demo Day on August 26th will provide a platform for these talented students to present their solutions in detail, further inspiring others to harness technology for social good.

Coral's summer updates reveal significant enhancements and new partnerships aimed at advancing IoT and machine learning capabilities on their devices. The open-source release of the Edge TPU runtime on GitHub now allows for broader platform compatibility, including ARMv7 and RISC-V, and facilitates integration into customized build pipelines. Windows drivers for Mini PCIe and M.2 accelerators have been introduced, enabling prototyping and production on the Microsoft platform. The ML software stack has seen updates like the Model Pipelining API and new embedding extractor models for EfficientNet, enhancing on-device backpropagation and classification retraining capabilities. Coral's collaboration with balena supports AI deployment at the edge, streamlining fleet management and security for ML-enabled devices. Additionally, the release of the BodyPix model expands real-time, privacy-conscious segmentation capabilities, demonstrated through applications like Smart Social Distancing. The new Mendel Linux (5.0 Eagle) release also offers stability and compatibility improvements, further supporting development on Coral's Dev Board and SoM.

Google announced the discontinuation of support for JSON-RPC and Global HTTP Batch endpoints due to a shift toward a more distributed, high-performance architecture that no longer supports these global endpoints. Originally scheduled for March 25, 2019, the deprecation was extended to August 12, 2020, to accommodate affected customers who may not have received prior notifications. The change requires developers to migrate from these deprecated features, with specific guidance provided for various programming languages, including updates to Google API Client Libraries to work with REST client libraries instead. Furthermore, Google scheduled periodic error injections from February to August 2020 as part of the transition process to help developers identify dependencies on the deprecated features and ensure a smooth migration. Developers are advised to switch to non-global HTTP batch endpoints, update client libraries to supported versions, and ensure their code does not explicitly reference the deprecated global endpoints.

Google has introduced the G Suite Add-ons UI Design Kit on Figma, aiming to simplify the design process for creating seamless integrations between software platforms and G Suite. The kit provides a comprehensive set of components and templates for the card-based interface of G Suite Add-ons, allowing developers to easily drag-and-drop elements to craft unique designs without starting from scratch. This tool not only saves time but also helps developers focus on optimizing user experiences by providing clear guidelines and best practices. Early feedback from partners like Zapier highlights its effectiveness in streamlining the integration process, making it easier to navigate the design limitations and possibilities within G Suite's UI. The UI Design Kit supports the creation of intuitive and powerful user experiences, ultimately aiding users and admins in performing tasks efficiently across workplace applications without leaving G Suite.

Google's technical writing courses, Technical Writing One and Technical Writing Two, are designed to demystify the process of writing clear and effective documentation for software engineers and product managers. These courses, introduced in 2015 and made publicly available in February 2020, aim to make the task of technical writing less daunting by providing practical guidance on audience engagement, sentence structure, and the use of active voice. Technical Writing One focuses on the basics, such as thinking about the audience and constructing clear sentences, while Technical Writing Two delves into more advanced skills like organizing large document sets and creating tutorials. The courses are structured to include self-study materials and facilitator-led live classes with exercises and peer feedback, making them suitable for both individual learning and organizational training. As remote work becomes more prevalent, the importance of well-crafted documentation has increased, empowering engineers to work more independently and effectively.

Google Nest is enhancing its smart home ecosystem by introducing new features and tools to improve user experience and developer engagement, as announced at the "Hey Google" Smart Home Virtual Summit. With the rising use of smart devices during extended home stays, Google is focusing on entertainment device support, making APIs public for developers to integrate with Smart TV, set-top boxes, and game consoles. Android 11 introduces a dedicated space for Smart Home controls, allowing users quick access and customization, while local execution with the Local Home SDK improves device reliability and latency. The company is also simplifying integration processes with OAuth-based App Flip and enhancing developer tools with robust monitoring, logging, and analytics through Google Cloud Platform. Furthermore, Google is transitioning from the Works with Nest to the Works with Google Assistant program, aiming to ensure privacy and data security, and expanding routines with occupancy detection and customizable experiences. These efforts reflect Google's commitment to deeper in-home integrations and broader developer collaboration.

Google has introduced OAuth-based App Flip, a feature designed to enhance the mobile account linking experience by allowing users to link their accounts to Google more seamlessly, without needing to re-enter credentials if they are already logged into your app on their device. This functionality aims to reduce drop-offs during the account linking process, facilitating easier integration of smart devices with Google Assistant and smart home ecosystems. Available for all Smart Home Actions and in beta for Conversational Actions, App Flip initiates an automatic transition from the Google Assistant or Google Home app to the user's app, requesting an authorization code from the server once users consent to link accounts. Developers can implement this feature by enabling their apps to accept deep links that facilitate connection with Google, and testing tools are available for both Android and iOS platforms to ensure proper integration.

In July 2020, a new set of Smart Home Entertainment Device (SHED) types and traits was announced to enhance smart home media and gaming device functionality. This release builds upon the initial set from April, which included devices like TVs and media traits such as AppSelector and Volume. The newly introduced device types include audio-video receivers, streaming boxes, streaming sticks, soundbars, streaming soundbars, and speakers, along with a new trait called Channel. These enhancements require the integration of activityState and playbackState reporting via the ReportState API, improving interoperability and user experience across devices. The announcement encourages developers to implement these features and participate in the "Hey Google" Smart Home Virtual Summit for further learning, inviting feedback through the issue tracker and community engagement via social media.

In a virtual fireside chat with Checkout.com CTO Riaz Bordie, the discussion centered around strategies for merchants and developers to future-proof payment systems in a world impacted by COVID-19. Bordie highlighted the polarizing effects of the pandemic on businesses, with some experiencing a decline in online traffic while others face a surge. For those with dwindling traffic, optimizing transaction approval ratios and ensuring infrastructure resilience are crucial, whereas merchants with increased traffic must prepare for potential fraud spikes and operational challenges. Bordie emphasized the importance of a unified API and acquiring licenses to enhance payment flow visibility and scalability. He also pointed to emerging trends such as AI/ML-driven fraud detection, the growing necessity of diverse local payment methods, and the shift toward embedded infrastructure for enhanced control and efficiency. From a consumer perspective, the pandemic is accelerating the adoption of contactless payments, with digital wallets becoming integral to daily transactions, especially in regions traditionally reliant on cash, indicating a permanent shift in payment behaviors.