Among these announcements was the launch of the Watch Face Format. This offers developers a new way to build watch faces for Wear OS smartwatches with a declarative XML format to design the appearance and behavior of watch faces.

According to Google, this means there is no need for the executable code involved in building a watch face, and there is also no code embedded in the watch face APK.  With this release, users can create analogue and digital watch faces, watch faces with complications, customizable watch faces, and more. 

Updates have also been made to Jetpack Compose, including the ability to bring Compose everywhere that the developer is building UI, whether that be on a phone, tablet, foldable device, watch, or TV. These changes are available in the May 2023 release and the most recent alpha versions of the Compose libraries.

Furthermore, the performance of Compose has been improved. The company stated that since October, modifiers have started to migrate to an improved system, and with this, text has seen a 22% performance gain that can be seen in the latest alpha release.

The alpha version of the UI framework for creating functional apps for Android TV Compose for TV has also been released. With this, apps can be built with less code, easier maintenance, and a modern Material 3 look. 

Next, Android Studio Hedgehog was launched in order to offer developers an AI powered conversational experience geared at heightened productivity. This offers improved tools when developing for multiple form factors, and helps to improve the quality of applications with new insights, debugging, and testing solutions.

Android for Cars also received updates intended to expand the reach developers have with users in the car.

Among these updates is the global rollout of Waze on the Google Play Store for all cars with Google built-in. Additional templates were also created for Android for Cars App Library in order to accelerate development time across several app categories, such as navigation.

This update also brings tools to port media apps across Android for Cars; new app categories for driving experiences; and video, gaming, and browsing in cars. 

Additionally, Google Play has been updated so that on top of the ability to tailor by country and pre-registration status, users can now customize listings for inactive users, so they have the chance to try out an app or game again.

Google also announced that custom store listing groups for Google Ads App campaign ad groups are set to be launched in the near future. This will allow for custom listings to be served to users coming from specific ads on AdMob and YouTube.

Next, Google Workspace adds Duet AI, combining all of Workspace’s generative AI features and allowing users to collaborate with AI so they can enhance their productivity. Duet AI is also coming to Google Cloud, enabling users to solve common work challenges with the AI collaborator.

There have also been several updates to Vertex AI, including three new foundation models that can be accessed through API, tuned through an AI in Generative AI Studio, or deployed to a data science notebook. 

Lastly, Google Cloud has launched the next-generation A3 GPU supercomputer. With this, Google Cloud offers users a complete range of GPU for the training and inference of machine learning models. 

For more information on these releases, visit the website. 

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It will raise the bar for quality, by promoting high-quality apps in the store. To facilitate this, it is introducing new quality thresholds for app developers to meet. Two new Core Vitals that will be measured are user-perceived crash rate, which is the percentage of users who have experienced at least one noticeable app crash, and user-perceived ANR rate, which is the percentage of users who have experienced at least one “Application Not Responding” (ANR) error. 

“Users expect great experiences on their devices, and developers who deliver on their expectations will achieve greater success on Google Play. While these updates were designed to help both users and developers to avoid the worst experiences, our long-term focus is to increase the number of great user experiences. To do this requires investment in other aspects of technical quality beyond crashes and ANRs, as well as investment in non-technical aspects of quality,” Lauren Mytton, group product manager for Google Play, wrote in a blog post. 

The company also plans to add the option for developers to use the new Promotional Content format (previously called LiveOps) when marketing their apps. Promotional Content will enable developers to embed events, content, and offers across the Google Play customer journey. 

Google is also going to add a new Churned-used Custom Store Listing that will allow app developers to reintroduce an app to a user who had previously uninstalled their app. 

It is also announcing a number of new security initiatives. First, it is launching new features in the Play Integrity API, such as customized API responses and new reporting capabilities. It will also soon introduce the ability to debug API responses from the app developer settings on any device. 

It is also expanding its communication and training on how to comply with Google Play policies, and expanding pilot programs on direct phone support and enforcement strike redemption.

Another upcoming update to Developers Previews will provide a privacy-friendly way of advertising. Google will work with developers over the next few years to jointly build out these capabilities.

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Beginning on November 1, 2022, existing apps that don’t target an API level that is within two years of the most recent major Android release won’t be available for download for users of devices that are running OS versions that are higher than the target API level. 

Google plans to continually adjust this requirement window in accordance with new Android releases. 

The reason behind these changes is that Google believes users running the latest devices expect to receive the full privacy and security protections from Android, but installing an older app without the latest security updates could make their devices vulnerable.

Google also stressed that the majority of apps already adhere to these upcoming guidelines. For those that don’t, it recommends reviewing the technical guide on meeting API level requirements, reading this Help Center article on the requirements, or requesting a six month extension to meet the requirement if needed.  

“This strengthened Target Level API policy is just one of the policy updates we announced today to expand user protections and improve user experiences on Google Play. We’ll continue to share updates about this important work that will help raise the bar for app privacy and security across the board, making Google Play and Android a safer place for everyone, Krish Vitaldevara, director of product management for Android, wrote in a blog post. 

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These changes are being introduced as three main updates: ranking and promotability changes, alerts for low quality apps, and device-specific ratings and reviews.

In the coming months, the team will be updating the featuring and ranking logic in Play on large screen devices. This works to prioritize high quality apps based on app quality guidelines. This update is intended to help users locate the apps that are best optimized for their device.

This update also brings a deeper investment in editorial content across Play to highlight apps that have been optimized for large screens.

The second update will change current alerts to users on large screens in order to help them manage their expectations for how apps will look and function after installation. This will help to let users know that certain apps may not work well on their large screen devices. 

The team is currently working to provide additional communications on this change with more information to come later this year.

Finally, users will soon be able to see ratings and reviews split by device in order to help them make more informed decisions regarding the apps they choose to install.

With this, the default rating displayed in Play will be that of the device type the user is using in order to provide a better sense of what the experience will be with that app on their device. To preview this update, click here to find a device type breakdown in Play Console. 

For more information on these new changes, see here. 

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Additionally, the team has a continuing investment in ML detection as well as enhanced app review processes geared at preventing apps with malicious content before anyone can install them. 

In 2022, the Android development team intends to continue along this path to ensure safety in Google Play. With this, in the upcoming Data safety section in an app’s Play Store listing, developers can share how their app collects, shares, and protects users data. This works to give everyone a clear and concise understanding of an app’s data safety practices so they can better determine if an app is right for them. 

The Data safety section is set to begin displaying in the Google Play store in late April and completed Data Safety Forms will be required for all app updates starting on July 20, 2022. 

The Android team also has a plan in place to protect developers’ apps from fraudulent activity with the new Play Integrity API. This API is now available to everyone and offers developers the ability to protect their apps and ensure their users have the experience that was originally intended.  

Another initiative Android has set forth is to help developers better navigate SDKs. The team will do this by sharing information such as an SDK’s adoption levels, retention rates, and the runtime permission it uses in order to help developers select the correct SDK for their business and users.

In addition, in 2022 Android is placing a heightened focus on responsible data collection and use. The development team has compiled the best tips on how to do this in the best practices guide. With this, the Android team has been communicating with developers about the best methods to mitigate risks from apps that leverage APIs in older Android OS versions. 

For more information on Android’s 2022 initiatives for Google Play, see here.

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The rollout will happen gradually over the next few weeks as access is slowly expanded to everyone. In order to submit your app information in Play Console, look for a new section called “Data safety” in App content and fill out your form. 

With this, users will see the Data safety summary in store listings. Each app profile will show what data an app collects or shares and highlight certain safety details. 

Developer portal for Teams now available 

Microsoft announced the general availability of the Developer Portal for Microsoft Teams. This will provide developers with a dedicated app management console that can register and configure Teams apps in a single location.

The developer portal will work as the user’s main tool to register, configure, distribute, and manage their Microsoft Teams apps. In addition, users can collaborate with team members on their apps, set up runtime environments, and more.

Some key features include:

• Registering your Teams app
• Testing and debugging your app
• Analyzing usage insights 
• And access to other important tools such as Scene Studio, Adaptive Cards editor, and Microsoft Identity Platform Management

Olive launches app store for healthcare

Olive announced the launch of The Library, a healthcare solution marketplace that provides developers, independent software vendors, system integrators, and other partners with a distribution channel to list, sell, and grow within Olive’s ecosystem.

The Library is initially launching with the following partners: 10-4.ai, Adaptrack, Advocatia, AMI Expeditionary Healthcare, Centric Consulting, ClosedLoop.ai, DARVIS, Drip7, Evergreen, Galen Healthcare Solutions, Grief Coach, Protenus, Ribbon Health, Rotera, Sequester, Syllable, Telespine, Valhalla Healthcare, and Welcome Home Health with more being added in the future.

Checkmarx releases Application Security Platform

Checkmarx today announced the launch of the Checkmarx Application Security Platform to help CISOs, AppSec teams, and developers address the security challenges they face. The platform integrates into any workflow or tool and delivers security with speed, scale, and flexibility.

The platform offers one-click scanning across many critical components of the application code, providing complete, accurate, and actionable intelligence in order to remediate vulnerabilities early in the development lifecycle. 

“With the Checkmarx Application Security Platform, we are enabling secure software development across the business, giving security and AppSec teams visibility into all aspects of application code. This new integrated solution replaces multiple complex point products with a single platform that delivers actionable, accurate results, allowing developers to code boldly and quickly without sacrificing security.” said Razi Sharir, chief product officer at Checkmarx. 

Eclipse Foundation achieves OpenChain ISO 5230 conformance 

The Eclipse Foundation today announced that its open source development and license management processes are OpenChain ISO 5230 conformant. This means that all Eclipse Foundation open source projects are developed under an ISO 5230 conformant program.

OpenChain ISO 5230 is a management standard for open source license compliance while the OpenChain Project maintains the international standard for open source license compliance. This allows for companies of varying sizes and sectors to adopt key requirements of an open source compliance program. 

“Open source is at the heart of many SAP solutions and our innovation strategies in segments such as Industry 4.0,” said Peter Giese, director of SAP Open Source Program Office at SAP. “Being able to both contribute to and consume Eclipse Foundation projects developed under OpenChain conformant processes simplifies and enhances the open source supply chain for us, our partners and customers.”

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Starting on July 22nd, developers can appeal for an extension through the Help Center. Android said it will review each request and get back to requests as soon as possible.

Additional details are available here. 

Sentry performance monitoring for iOS and Release Health for Python 

Sentry released its Performance Monitoring for iOS and Release Health for Python to give developers a deeper view into application health to deliver consistent, seamless product experiences. 

Developers can associate slow user experiences with the backend call that needs attention.

With Release Health for Python, they can surface user experience issues and pinpoint exactly where a release began to degrade in Python-based applications.

The new solution also offers metrics for version adoption, crash-free sessions, crash-free users and real-time crash reporting and run-time errors within a single view.

Sysdig to acquire Apolicy 

Sysdig announced its intent to acquire Apolicy for infrastructure as code security with auto-remediation.

Customers can now detect runtime drift and instantly map it back to the IaC configuration (source) file, and Sysdig’s solution will now consolidate alerts by identifying the production instances that are affected by the IaC error and prioritizing IaC fixes based on application context.

Customers can also now bridge the gap between developers, DevOps and security teams with a unified view of security requirements using policy as code, according to Sysdig in a post. 

Vertica 11 released

Vertica announced the Vertica 11 Analytics Platform, which includes major features and enhancements to delivering unified analytics and machine learning across multi-cloud and multi-regional deployments with self-service container workflows.

“In Vertica 11, we expanded Vertica in Eon Mode to the Azure cloud, delivered support for Docker containers and Kubernetes, extended our market lead in advanced analytics and machine learning including time series forecasting, and much more. The feature list goes on and on – Vertica 11 is truly the unified analytics platform with the fastest performance at unlimited scale,” said Colin Mahony, the senior vice president and general manager of Vertica at Micro Focus, the company behind the solution. 

With the latest release of VerticaPy, Vertica 11 now includes more in-database machine learning, connection, and data exploration capabilities. 

Additional details on the new version are available here. 

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The integrations include Google’s Video TV, video, subscription music, audio services as well as the new Entertainment Space. 

“Through these integrations, we enable new discovery and re-engagement opportunities for developers to accelerate their overall growth on Play and offer a service fee of 15% during the program term, all to help developers deliver premium experiences,” Purnima Kochikar, the vice president of Play Partnerships wrote in a blog post. 

New Relic launches Errors Inbox 

New Relic announced the release of Errors Inbox, which allows developers to proactively receive all error notifications in a single place.

The error tracking tool is included in New Relic’s Full Stack Observability license. 

The tool spots errors identified by APM, RUM (Browser), Mobile, and Serverless (AWS Lambda Function) monitors in New Relic.

Additional details are available here. 

OpenLogic by Perforce adds support for Rocky Linux and other CentOS alternatives

Perforce announced its new technical SLA-backed support offering for Rocky Linux.

The company also now offers SLA-backed support packages for fellow CentOS alternative AlmaLinux.

“For enterprise organizations, choosing the right operating system can impact everything from developer success to business bottom line,” said Rod Cope, the chief technology officer at Perforce Software. “For those who want the cost savings of an open-source Enterprise Linux distribution like Rocky Linux, having expert technical support at your disposal is critical to both short and long-term success.”

Fivetran acquires Teleport Data

Fivetran announced the acquisition of Teleport Data to improve reliability, performance and ease of use in the fast-growing database replication market.

With Fivetran Teleport Sync, database replication is now simple like snapshots, delivering performance that in some cases approaches the speed of log-based systems, while being much less intrusive — making access to data easier across the organization, according to the company. 

Additional benefits of Teleport Sync include less database overhead typically associated with logs, timestamp columns to indicate changes or primary keys on illogical tables and a code-free method to set up historical analysis. 

Additional details are available here.

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The new feature automatically captures errors and logs occurring in the user’s browser and allows dev teams to centralize those errors alongside server-side logs, according to the company.

“Customers struggle to extend their observability stack into their frontend web applications to monitor for client-side errors and collect critical debugging information,” said Peter Cho, the vice president of product, LogDNA. “LogDNA Browser Logger makes it quick and painless to find and fix issues that span between frontend and backend applications so developers can spend less time debugging and more time on value-adding tasks.”

Rust 1.5.2.0 released

The biggest change in Rust 1.52.0 version according to the developer behind the language is enhanced tooling support for Clippy. 

Previously, running ‘cargo check’ followed by ‘cargo clippy’ wouldn’t actually run Clippy, and the issue has since been fixed, meaning that users can get the expected behavior regardless of the order in which they run the commands. 

Additional details on the stabilized APIs in this release are available here.

Google Play to launch new safety section

Google’s newly added safety section will give transparency into how apps are using data. 

It now highlights whether the app has security practices like data encryption, whether it follows the Families policy, whether users have a choice in sharing it, if it’s verified by an independent third party and more. 

Developers will have to explain the type of data that is collected and stores and show how the data is used and the deadline for all new and existing apps to declare information will be in Q2 2022. 

Additional details are available here.

Zammo.ai releases no-code conversational AI solution

The Zammo conversational AI platform allows businesses to engage and transact with customers on voice assistants, interactive voice response telephony and popular chatbot channels. 

“Voice-enabled communication is better for everyone. Not only is it more efficient for the business, but it also makes information more accessible, creating a more inclusive society,” said Alex Farr, the CEO and founder of Zammo.ai. “Until now, the problem has been how to get businesses there. Zammo makes conversational AI a reality for all organizations.”

Zammo delivers operational efficiency in contact centers, as well as across marketing, sales, HR and customer service, according to the company. 

Huntress’ round of funding

Huntress raised $40 million to enable the company to expand its cybersecurity platform. 

The platform enables businesses to identify and eliminate attackers who bypassed preventative tools and are hiding within exposed IT environments. 

“Until small businesses and mid-market firms can improve their security posture, they’ll remain prime targets for attackers,” said Kyle Hanslovan, the founder and CEO at Huntress. “These growth-driven partnerships ensure we can continue challenging tomorrow’s attackers, by accelerating our roadmap and evolving to meet new and diverse threats. And, importantly, minority investments allow us to laser-focus on securing our partners without sacrificing the values which enable our team to defend the channel.” 

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According to Facebook, it currently has multiple teams throughout the company writing Rust code and even has a dedicated Rust team that is primarily responsible for the growth of Rust development inside the company as well as contributing to open source.

“We are joining the Rust Foundation to help contribute to, improve and grow this language that has become so valuable to us and developers around the world. We look forward to participating with the other foundation members and the Rust community to make Rust a mainstream language of choice for systems programming and beyond,” said Joel Marcey, the open-source ecosystem lead at Facebook, and now board director at the Rust Foundation.

Updated Google Play guidance

Google is pre-announcing a policy change for app metadata and introducing new guidelines on store listing preview assets.

The company introduced the policy change to display the app title, icon and developer name prominently on the store listing page.

Meanwhile, the preview asset changes focus on making sure that they accurately represent the app or game and if they provide enough information to help users decide whether to download.

mabl announces new native Jira integration

With the new Jira integration in support of Open DevOps from Atlassian, teams will be able to integrate automated testing and issue tracking into their DevOps pipeline.

“There’s no question that the flexibility, security, and scalability of the cloud enables a wide variety of new capabilities that supercharge agile software development,” said Izzy Azeri, co-founder at mabl. “Jira is one of the most popular tools among quality engineers, and this new native Jira integration ensures that high-velocity teams can continue to deliver high quality applications as they move workflows with Jira to the cloud.”

The enhanced integration provides the ability to easily collaborate on finding and fixing software bugs, improving visibility into issues, quickly triaging reported issues and re-running existing tests.

GCC 11.1 released

This GCC 11.1 release switches the default debugging format to DWARF 5 [1] on most targets and switches the default C++ language version to -std=gnu++17.

The release also improves C++20 language support, both on the compiler and library sides], adds experimental C++23 support, some C2X enhancements and various optimization enhancements.

Additional details are available here.

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