Android Instant Apps: real apps, without the installation
Now it easier for users to discover and use your apps. So what if your app was just a tap away? What if users didn’t have to install it at all? Google introduced Android Instant Apps. Whether someone discovers your app from search, social media, messaging or other deep links, they’ll be able to experience a fast and powerful native Android app without needing to stop and install your app first or reauthenticate. Best of all, Android Instant Apps is compatible with all Android devices running Jellybean or higher (4.1+) with Google Play services. Android Instant Apps functionality is an upgrade to your existing Android app, not a new, separate app; you can sign-up to request early access to the documentation.
Android Wear 2.0: UI changes and standalone apps
This is the most significant Android Wear update since its launch two years ago: Android Wear 2.0. Google evolved the platform to improve key watch experiences: watch faces, messaging, and fitness. A number of UI changes and design guidelines will make your apps more consistent, intuitive, and beautiful. With Android Wear 2.0, apps can be standalone and have direct network access to the cloud via a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular connection. Since your app won’t have to rely on the Data Layer APIs, it can continue to offer full functionality even if the paired phone is far away or turned off. You can read about all of the new features available in today’s preview here.
Android Studio 2.2 Preview: a new layout designer, constraint layout, and much more
Android Studio is the quickest way to get up and running with Android N and all our new platform features. Android Studio 2.2 next big update to the IDE is designed to help developers code faster with smart new tooling features built in. One of the headline features is Google’s rewritten layout designer with the new constraint layout. In addition to helping you get out of XML to do your layouts visually, the new tools help you easily design for Android’s many great devices. Once you’re happy with a layout, it does all the hard work to automatically calculate constraints for you, so your UIs will resize automatically on different screen sizes. Here’s an overview of more of what’s new in 2.2 Preview:
- Speed: New layout designer and constraint layout, Espresso test recording and even faster builds
- Smarts: APK analyzer, Layout inspector, expanded Android code analysis and IntelliJ 2016.1
- Platform Support: Enhanced Jack compiler / Java 8 support, Expanded C++ support with CMake and NDK-Build, Firebase support and enhanced accessibility
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| New Layout Editor and Constraint Layout in Android Studio 2.2 Preview |
This is just a small taste of some of the new updates for Android, announced at Google I/O.
