Google is attempting to make it simpler for developers to build Android applications that link to a variety of devices. Google says in a blog post that it is unveiling a new cross-device software development kit (SDK) that offers the tools developers need to make their applications work across Android devices and, ultimately, non-Android phones, tablets, TVs, vehicles, and other devices.
The SDK is designed to let developers accomplish three things with their applications: discover nearby devices, create secure connections between devices, and host an app’s experience across several devices. According to Google, their cross-device SDK provides multi-device communication through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and ultra-wideband.
Google offers many use cases for its cross-device SDK on its documentation website, and it seems to be useful in a variety of circumstances. For example, while generating a group meal order, it may allow numerous users on different devices to pick things from a menu, sparing you from passing your phone around the room. It may also enable you to continue reading an article after switching from your phone to a tablet or allow passengers in a car to share a particular map point with the vehicle’s navigation system.
It almost seems like an extension of Nearby Share, which allows Android users to transmit files to Chrome OS and other Android devices. In April, Esper’s Mishaal Rahman discovered an impending Nearby Share upgrade that might allow you to rapidly share files across all of your Google-enabled devices. Google also said at a CES 2022 keynote that Nearby Share would be available on Windows devices later this year.
The cross-device toolkit is presently in development preview and only works with Android phones and tablets for the time being. Google ultimately hopes to provide support for “other Android surfaces and non-Android OSs,” such as iOS and Windows, but no date has been set. Because the technology is still in its early stages, we are unlikely to see applications that bridge the connection gap between iOS and Android devices very soon. However, it will be fascinating to watch how developers utilise the new capabilities to begin with, and if it will make using certain applications more easy.
