Google talks developer tools during keynote session

June 26, 2014

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During Google’s keynote session that got Google I/O 2014 off to a roaring start, the attention grabbing news for many people was the preview of the L Developer Edition or the release of new wearable devices or maybe even the announcement of Android Auto. For developers though, some key bits of information came later during the session when Google introduced some new tools that would help those developers generate a positive revenue stream. Speaking of that, Google indicated developers have been paid over $5 Billion since last year’s Google I/O, which was 2.5 times the amount from the prior year.

One of the “tools” Google is making available for developers is actually a company that they acquired, Appurify. The startup company helps developers automate the testing and optimization of their apps. One key component and why Google probably pursued their acquisition is the fact that their tools work across platforms and even on web sites. This means developers can streamline testing on not only different versions of Android, but the iOS platform as well and as Android L rolls out, including the web services framework, web platforms can also be tested.

For developers looking to capitalize on the growing health and fitness device and app craze, Google is releasing a set of APIs for their Google Fit Platform. A preview SDK will be available in a few weeks which will enable developers to build apps that can blend data from multiple apps and share fitness activity.

Google is also releasing new tools for their Google Play Games framework, like the ability to save games with bookmarks and capture screenshots via a new app called Quest. The Game Profile will be changed to incorporate information about the games you play to deliver a more personalized experience.

Finally, Google announced Direct Carrier Billing is being released as a new payment option for Android powered tablets.