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Here's how the latest Windows 11 update is better for developers
Although the latest Windows 11 update packs lots of consumer-facing features, Microsoft has loads in store for developers too.
Yesterday, Microsoft started testing Windows 11 version 23H2, and it contains only one feature: replacing Teams Chat integration with Teams (free). This is because all the other capabilities that were initially planned for this version of Windows 11 are rolling out already with the September 26 fall update. These include Copilot in Windows, a new backup experience, better security, accessibility enhancements, and lots more. The update also packs some new developer-focused features which Microsoft has now detailed in a dedicated blog post.
Access powerful workstations in the cloud through Microsoft Dev Box, now generally available
Microsoft Dev Box offers cloud-powered workstations with up to 32 vCPU, 128GB RAM, and 2TB of storage for $629/month.
Although Microsoft already offers Windows PCs powered by the cloud through multiple solutions including Windows 365, these workstations do not usually cater to specialized use-cases and have long deployment times. One scenario that Microsoft felt that it had been missing for several years is offering powerful cloud-based workstations to developers, pre-configured and ready for building applications. To tackle this problem, the Redmond tech firm announced Microsoft Dev Box in May 2022, and now, the solution is generally available.
Google announces official Android RISC-V support
Google has officially announced its support for the RISC-V architecture, an alternative ISA without licensing fees.
Android, the operating system developed by Google, currently supports a couple of different instruction set architectures (ISAs), such as Arm and x86. Most devices that use Android, including smartphones, tablets, TVs, and smartwatches, use Arm-based chipsets. Intel stopped producing CPUs for phones, and support for MIPS was removed in NDK revision 17. However, one ISA that has a lot of chatter is Reduced Instruction Set Computer V, RISC-V, which is a free and open ISA. Anyone is free to design chips based on it without paying any licensing or royalty fees, and Google announced official support for it at the company's keynote that took place during the RISC-V Summit.
Here are the new Android Q features that Google announced
We've already talked a lot about the new features coming to Android Q, but Google has shared some details about the big ones in this beta.
People were expecting the first Android Q Beta to launch this week and Google has delivered (a bit later than anticipated). Contrary to previous years, Google is not starting with a "Developer Preview." This is being called Android Q Beta 1. We've already talked a lot about the new features coming to Android Q, but Google has shared some details about the big ones in this beta.
Apps shared via Google Files Go, SHAREIt, and Xender will be verified by Google Play
An application's authenticity (is it from Google Play Store?) will be verified by the metadata built into P2P sharing applications like Files Go.
Google has worked on a way to keep those users secure who love side-loading applications. Back in June, they started to automatically add security metadata to any app uploaded to the Google Play Store so that they can be verified as originating from Google Play when shared elsewhere. This helps users by having their side-loaded apps receive updates from Google Play as if they installed it from the Play Store, and helps developers by better tracking these users for support. But this security measure had one big catch: It only worked when the device was online and in contact with the Google Play Store. Since Google implemented the feature to help users in countries with limited data plans and connectivity, this needed to be fixed.
Google announces improvements to App Bundles, Instant Apps, and app management tools
At Playtime 2018, Google announced a new features in Google Play including improvements to App Bundles, Instant Apps, app management tools, and more.
Each year, Google hosts an invitation-only event called Playtime. Google invites selected developers of apps and games from the Play Store to the event to share the latest features and tips to improve their apps. At this year's event, Google announced updates to the Android App Bundle, Google Play Instant, and the Google Play Console.
How to Locally Capture a System Trace on Android Pie
systrace is a powerful tool that collects timing information from processes running on Android. Here's how to capture a system trace on Android Pie.
Tracing is an invaluable tool that enables developers to understand the impact that various changes have on a system and can provide clues to identify the root cause of problems.
Google Photos Library API now available, lets you integrate Photos with your app
Google is opening a program that will allow developers to tap into the awesomeness of Google Photos for their own apps with a new Library API.
Google Photos is one of the company's best products. It works extremely well, is easy to use, and has very powerful features. The service has only gotten better over time. Now, Google is opening a program that will allow developers to tap into the awesomeness of Google Photos for their own apps.
Developers can now publish Instant Apps without a website
Are you a developer and interested in Instant Apps? Well, we're happy to let you know that starting today, you don't need a website to create one.
Google announced Instant Apps back in May of 2016 during Google I/O. For those of you that don't know, Instant Apps don't require installing on your device. You just have to tap on the 'Try Now" button and it will open instantly. This is great for media or other kinds of small apps. Even game developers can use this feature to let users try their games before actually installing them. The concept is cool, and lots of developers have adopted it already.
Google's support library for developers, AndroidX, is available on AOSP
AndroidX, which is a redesigned support library for developers, is now open-source and available on Android Open Soure Project (AOSP).
Google announced AndroidX as a part of Android Jetpack at Google I/O 2018. This redesign of the Android Support Library helps developers build apps with wide compatibility on different versions of Android. Google decided to make AndroidX open-source. It's available on Android Open-Source Project (a.k.a. AOSP) starting today.
Developers are facing huge drop in new installs after Play Store algorithm changes
Developers of Android apps and games are reporting huge drops in new installs after Google quietly tweaks the Play Store's search and discovery algorithm.
Some Android app and game developers are panicking because their daily installation rates have plummeted in the past week. These developers have noticed new downloads slow down by up to 90%. The affected developers quickly realized they were not alone in these changes to their day-to-day app installation rate with multiple threads on Reddit, a post on the Unity forums, and even a Gamasutra community blog post popping up to help spread the word that something was amiss. Clearly, something is wrong here, and some indie developers are concerned that their livelihood may be at stake. So what's going on?
Snap Kit SDK Lets Developers Integrate Snapchat's Features onto Their Platform
Snap Inc. has released the Snap Kit SDK, that allows developers to integrate some of Snapchat's best features onto their platform. Read on to know more!
Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat, has introduced Snap Kit: a set of developer tools that allows developers to integrate some of Snapchat's best features across the developer's app, and also makes it easy for users to share moments from these apps with the Snapchat community.
How to enter Developer Mode on Chrome OS tablets
You can tinker with the Chrome OS system like you do on your Android device. It can be achieved by entering Developer Mode. To put it in other words, there is a way to 'root' your Chrome OS device. Here's how.
As you already know, Chrome OS is an operating system by Google originally designed for laptops. It's built to be simplistic and productive, so it may look like there are not many customization options available. That's actually not true. After entering Developer Mode on Chrome OS tablets or laptops, you'll have the same privileges as root users have on Android. You'll be able to modify the system, flash another OS, and more. In this tutorial, I will show you exactly how you can enter Developer Mode.
LinkedIn now offers courses to prepare for the Google Android Developer Certification exam
Google and LinkedIn have announced a partnership that should be very useful to the Android Developer community. The two companies are teaming up to offer training courses for the Google Android Developer Certification exam.
Google and LinkedIn have announced a partnership that should be very useful to the Android Developer community. The two companies are teaming up to offer training courses for the Google Android Developer Certification exam. This exam is commonly used in developer job openings. The program will offer 19 different courses with 48 hours of content on the LinkedIn Learning platform.
IFTTT Is Now Offering A Free Way For Developers To Publish Applets
The IFTTT is now offering a free way of publishing the applets. Developers can use the free tier to share their best projects.
Over the last few years, IFTTT has become known for its ever-growing automation that allows users to create and use "applets" linking independent services together. Anyone can create their own applets for personal use (we at XDA love IFTTT for integrating with Slack). IFTTT is also available for Android and iOS devices with many device-specific triggers available.
The Sorry State of Android Fragmentation: An Example to Understand Developers' Plight
The average Android user has probably long since stopped caring about Android's "fragmentation problem." But the issue is still haunting developers.
Fragmentation has been a contentious issue in Android quite literally since the mobile operating system was announced.