Google has launched a new cross-device software development kit (SDK) that allows developers to create apps that work on both Android and other devices.
Google has launched a new cross-device software development kit (SDK) that allows developers to create apps that work on both Android and other devices.
The cross-device software, compatible up to Android 8, is now available in a developer version for Android phones and tablets, and will arrive later for Android platforms and non-Android operating systems.
Users can also share the current app state with the same app on another device and run the app on the secondary device without having to keep the app running in the background.
The first version includes a set of rich APIs focused on core features of device discovery, secure connections and multi-device sessions, the company said.
Using device discovery, you can locate nearby devices, authorize peer-to-peer communication, and launch a target application on receiving devices.
Secure connections enable encrypted two-way data sharing with low latency between authorized devices.
Cross-device sessions allow the application’s user experience to be transferred or extended to multiple devices.
“This SDK allows you to focus on what matters most – creating great user experiences and connecting those experiences across forms and platforms,” Google said.
The software also allows task handoff, where a user starts a task on one device and can easily continue on another device.
“Additionally, apps will not have to declare or require runtime permissions for connection protocols, and the user can only allow apps to connect to the device they’ve chosen,” the company said.