These gadgets are replacing the personal computer, increasing the demand for mobile apps for faster and smoother processes like shopping, funds transfers, and networking.
Approximately 97% of India’s smartphone market relies on Android technology, increasing the role and demand for android app developers.
Indeed, studies by Statista show that the mobile app sector is growing with a 50 billion increase in app downloads between 2016 and 2017; there were 149.3 billion and 197 billion downloads in 2016 and 2017 respectively, while forecasts expect this figure to rise to 352.9 billion by 2021.
Companies are now seeking the services of mobile app developers to make their apps more accessible and user friendly, leading to improved branding, ability to attract and retain customers, and sell more.
The increased focus on Android new technology comes from the volumes; Android has more than 2.6 million apps on play store with smartphone users downloading approximately 40 unique apps every month.
Therefore, companies seeking to remain competitive are using Android apps to gain exposure to their clients.
What can mobile app developers do to take advantage of this trend?
This article covers the top 10 Android latest technology that developers can use to make better, advanced, and on-demand applications. Let’s have a look at them.
Table of Contents
Kotlin
Kotlin is becoming famous among mobile app developers, with rankings for programming languages placing it at position 49 as of 2018. By September 2017, Kotlin’s adoption had grown by 7.54 percent while Java had declined to 46.23 percent.
Android app developers are embracing this statically typed and JVM-powered technology because it is faster to write, saving programmers and companies time and costs to craft Android apps.
Given Kotlin’s rising status, including Google’s elevating it to a first-class citizen among Android programming languages, this technology is set to replace Java as a tool for Android app development.
Kotlin compiles programming code to native binaries, eliminating the need for a virtual machine. Developers can also integrate it with JavaScript source code using Kotlin’s native standard library and compiler infrastructure.
This Android latest technology for developers comes with more advanced features created through Integrated Design Environments; hence, has better performance capabilities than Java.
If you have been using Java before, you will only need a Kotlin plugin to change files written in the former language to Kotlin in your IntelliJ or Android Studio.
Machine Learning
Machine learning (ML) is a subsection of artificial intelligence, a technology that enables Android apps to use existing programming techniques to automatically learn and improve from user experience.
The best platform for applying ML is in predictive applications, which determine what users would like to view or shop next. These apps use unstructured data like text or images, and a wide range of variables to solve problems.
As an Android app developer, you can start by designing a product (or getting product ideas from your clients), incorporating inference commands, and implementing pre-existing ML models.
The next step should be to retrain the program or create new ML-powered designs.
Companies can create AI-powered apps easily using Google guidelines like People + AI Guidebook, which comes with design patterns and protocols like barcode scanning and product-detection capabilities.
App developers can also use pre-trained programs like Google Cloud for applications using remote cloud services. Alternatively, they can create new models using tools like TensorFlow.
Google Assistant
The list of Android latest technology for developers in 2020 will be incomplete if we fail to appreciate Google Assistant and its capabilities.
This integration enables companies to incorporate the content and services available in their apps with the Google Assistant for faster access to goods or services provided.
App developers can use app actions to deep-link activities of interest from the Google Assistant into the mobile application.
Additionally, Android Slices can push the most important product or service features from the mobile app to the Google Assistant users, leading to improved customer engagement, lead generation, and better sales.
Companies are increasingly seeking to integrate Android latest technologies for app development with the Assistant because chatbots are becoming popular.
There is an improved adoption of smartphones, ML, and AI technologies, making it easier to predict consumer needs and meet them promptly.
Google Assistant’s market share stands at 51% in the AI sector, mainly because the technology is now integrated into smart speakers and assistant devices like Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
The Android AI Assistant is one of the leading Android new technology for developers, commanding an improved quality of eCommerce apps for suggestive shopping.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The integration of the IoT into Android mobile app development is on the rise as users adopt new technologies to manage devices like wireless earphones, and share photos, videos, chats, and artworks.
Android app developers are leveraging and facilitating this space by creating smart devices on existing hardware platforms like Raspberry Pi.
Some of the technology used for this purpose is the Android SDK and Android Studio, allowing for easy, remote access to displays and cameras.
Developers also connect apps with additional peripherals using APIs or Google services. These developments have enabled companies to push new products, services, and features to Android app users, including security updates.
According to Statista, the IoT market could hit $1.6 trillion by 2025, making Android app development a vital technology for industries like eCommerce, education, healthcare, and logistics.
Once the application is ready to launch or update, a code is sent to relevant devices using the Android Things Console.
This technology has tools to enable users to install and update the IoT features on supported hardware.
For instance, learning programs in the education sector have incorporated IoT functionalities like C-Pen, Nymi, and Edmodo for improved communication, information sharing, and collaboration between tutors, students, and parents.
Android Things 1.0 is a Google-supported operating system, which enhances the pre-existing Android Bluetooth APIs with more advanced features for better management of smart devices.
This technology enables app developers to control and track the process of implementing remote software updates using the Android Things Console.
MotionLayout
This Android latest technology for developers software manages app motion, widgets, and animation for Android version 4.0.
The MotionLayout is a part of the ConstraintLayout model with a rich collection of features, which Android app developers use to integrate layout transitions with complex motion.
This program defines inter-layout transitions, supports seekable transitions, and enables developers to animate any layout features. It also allows for instant inter-transition displays using functions like touch input.
Android app developers are adopting MotionLayout to develop animation interfaces for better user experience and understanding of apps’ functions.
Instant Apps
Instant apps enable users to try games and applications before installation. E-commerce and gaming companies are adopting this technology for improved user experience and customer attraction and retention.
For instance, the New York Times’ Crossword app has an instant version where users are allowed to play a game before installing.
This Android latest technology for developers ensures apps are created instantly with ease. As a developer, you can use the Android Studio to create an application from scratch or change the existing one.
You will need access to the same Android API, project, and source code for instant apps.
More tools for developing instant apps are also available on Google.
Instant app development can lead to higher installations, improved app discovery, and even more active users. Google Play’s Instant program has basic and advanced experiences.
The basic one enables users to access the instant experience using the ‘Try Now’ or ‘website banner’ button. At the same time, the advanced option allows users to start the program after launching a URL.
Multiplatform Development (Flutter)
This cross-platform technology was developed by Google to enable Android app developers to build an advanced native interface for both Android and iOS apps.
It is a cost-effective and easy way of creating two apps using Google’s Dart language. Dart carries almost similar commands as JavaScript, including in-built safety support.
Flutter has enhanced features for Android app developers, such as Hot Reloading and rich user interface capabilities like animation libraries, widgets, and layered adjustable architecture.
Developers can use platform APIs and native code to create more responsive apps in Flutter.
Software engineers are increasingly integrating this technology into the mobile application design process.
Apps like Reflectly, Google Ads, Hookie, Birch Finance, and Alibaba use the multiplatform development technique, making Flutter one of the latest trends in Android development.
Android Jetpack
Android Jetpack comprises guidelines, tools, and libraries, which developers use to develop advanced applications using simplified, routine tasks. Google’s package for using this program consists of the following four parts:
- Foundation. Developers can access and use advanced functionalities like Kotlin programming language and testing.
- Architecture. Comprises multiple tools for developing stable Android apps.
- Behavior. Developers use the components of this part to integrate Android app services like permission and push notifications.
- UI. Features like widgets ensure apps are mobile-friendly.
For faster and easier Android app development, software engineers are embracing the Android Jetpack, making it one of the latest technologies for developers in 2020.
Its new array of tools make it even the better choice for Android UI designs. Developers need less code and bug classes because Jetpack Compose can create all the features using the UI instructions fed into it.
Compose is also easy to adopt because it is compatible with existing codes, simplifying programming, and app maintenance.
Navigation Component
Navigation enables app users to move around various sections within the application to view content or features.
Android app developers use Android Jetpack tools to implement navigation, including functionalities like button clicks or navigation drawers.
The navigation graph comprises the navigation-related information, such as user destinations and possible paths that can be taken within the app.
The NavHost is an empty slot, which indicates the user’s destinations within the navigation graph, while the NavController helps in managing the NavHost’s app navigation.
The three parts of the navigation component are essential to Android app developers because they help them handle fragment transactions, predict and manage the user’s actions by default, and ensure deep linking.
The navigation component also provides developers with standard models for transitions, animations, and user interface designs. It ensures app creators adhere to preset principles, providing a consistent and predictable experience to users.
Android enterprise is a Google-led program whose goal is to enable employees to use Android apps and gadgets in the workplace.
It provides app developers with APIs and relevant tools to integrate android-powered functionalities into organizations’ enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions.
These capabilities enable employees to access ‘owned devices,’ and company-owned gadgets for dedicated services like hospital check-ins and knowledge worker platforms.
Although these deployment scenarios present multiple challenges for Android app developers, they also improve work teams’ performance and service delivery, causing Android Enterprise technology to be in high demand in 2020.
