Google launches Android Things enabling developers with all-in-one platform to build IoT devices

Google is rebranding Project Brillo, Google's Android-based Internet of Things initiative with "Android Things," a platform for developing applications and services based upon Internet of Things.

The tech behemoth has launched a developer preview of Android Things, which will run on the Raspberry Pi 3, Intel Edison, and NXP Pico hardware platforms.

"Now any Android developer can quickly build a smart device using Android APIs and Google services while staying highly secure with updates direct from Google. We incorporated the feedback from Project Brillo to include familiar tools such as Android Studio, the Android Software Development Kit (SDK), Google Play Services, and Google Cloud Platform," said Google in a blog post.

Android Things will give developers a comprehensive, all-in-one platform to work, design and develop new IoT devices using the popular OS as a starting point.

Noticeably, Google will update Android Things devices "direct from Google." The post says that the updating capability will be available for the developer preview in the coming months. This feature will also allow developers to send out their own updates to their devices.

Google is also merging Weave and Nest Weave. The company will be releasing a public device SDK for the Weave communication protocol, along with a management console and access to the Google Assistant.

“We’re also working towards merging Weave and Nest Weave to enable all classes of devices to connect with each other in a secure and reliable way. So whether you started with Google Weave or Nest Weave, there is a path forward in the ecosystem,” the company added.

Coming to the Project Brillo and why it failed. Brillo was Google’s attempt at making a platform focused at IoT. "Brillo was to create a much more lightweight version of Android for developers," a company spokesperson told Mashable. "When we granted early access to external partners, we realised that most people developing for smart devices didn’t really have a need for a lightweight version of Android, they wanted the full Android developer experience and signature features. Especially for connected devices throughout the world, security should be a major priority in building for this community"

Google hopes that Android Things will be able to succeed where Brillo failed.