Google Inc.'s Android is the world's most popular operating
system for smartphones. This week, Google will make a renewed push
for developers to work with other flavors of Android, for wearable
devices, Internet-connected TVs, cars and virtual reality.
Google's annual I/O conference begins Thursday amid intense
competition for developer attention. Apple Inc.'s developer
conference kicks off June 8.
In April, Microsoft Corp. said it would make it easy for
developers to modify their Android and Apple mobile apps to run on
Windows smartphones, PCs, tablets or Xbox consoles. Facebook Inc.
opened its Messenger service to outside developers in March.
"The last platform transition from PCs to phones enabled Apple
to become the largest company on the planet. Who is going to
benefit the most from the next one?" said Ben Schachter, an analyst
at Macquarie.
He said Google needs "more traction" with developers in areas
beyond phones and tablets.
Developers will be reluctant to build apps if Google can't
attract users for its new platforms and devices. Without lots of
apps, platforms tend to wither. Developers lost interest in
Google's Glass wearable computer after sales lagged amid concerns
about the device's high price, poor battery life and a privacy
backlash.
Android Wear, a broader operating system for wearable devices
that was a big focus at last year's I/O conference, has had mixed
results so far. The success of the I/O developer conference will
likely be measured over the long term by how many developers
eventually use Google's new platforms.
At I/O, Google plans to release an early version of its latest
Android operating system, currently known as M. There will be new
permissions that give users more control over information they
share with Google and developers from apps and games, moving closer
to Apple's more conservative, user-friendly approach, according to
two people familiar with the matter. Fingerprint-reading
capabilities for Android devices may be added, also following
Apple's lead, according to a BuzzFeed report.
Many sessions at the two-day conference focus on extending
Android into the home, through Android TV, game development for
bigger TV screens, wearables and virtual reality. The living room,
where Android-based Internet-connected TVs and set-top boxes are
morphing into mini-gaming consoles, will be featured in 10
sessions.
Hardware manufacturers including Samsung Electronics Co., LG
Electronics Inc. and Asustek Computer Inc. have churned out
smartwatches that run Android Wear, but sales have been lackluster.
Through May 19, research firm Canalys said more than one million
Android Wear watches shipped since they went on sale last year. By
comparison, the firm estimates Apple will ship 20 million Apple
Watches this year.
A search for Android Wear apps in the Google Play app store this
week turned up 221. By contrast, there are more than 5,000 apps for
the Apple Watch, according to App Annie, which tracks such
things.
Toronto-based software firm Normative Design is developing an
undisclosed Apple Watch app for a client, but isn't working on any
Android Wear apps, according to founder Matthew Milan.
When Apple launches a new product, it is a single device that
works well with Apple's operating system and comes with support for
developers, Mr. Milan said. Android devices are made by different
companies and may not include all the features needed to support an
app, meaning fewer users will access the app, he said.
Normative is working on an Android mobile-payments project for a
client, but it will work only on the Samsung Galaxy S6 phone
initially. The reason: Security requirements vary because Android
phones often have different chipsets and other hardware, Mr. Milan
said.
"Android devices have different hardware and the OS is often
different," Mr. Milan said. "It's more variable and it makes it
harder to address a broad market."
Write to Alistair Barr at alistair.barr@wsj.com
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