Google and MediaTek Announce GMS Express – Delivering Pre-Certified Android...

Google and MediaTek Announce GMS Express – Delivering Pre-Certified Android... xda-developers Nov 1, 2017 8:00 PM • by Doug Lynch Google and MediaTek Announce GMS Express – Delivering Pre-Certified Android Builds to Device Makers There's a ton of work that goes into building an Android smartphone. After designing the hardware, ordering components, and then manufacturing the product, companies then have to work on getting Android up and running as well. Not only that, but if they want their product to be competitive then they need to put the device through Google's compatibility certification tests in order to ship Google's apps on their device. However, this process can take up to 3 months to complete. To allow partners to ship new devices more quickly, Google, in partnership with MediaTek, is announcing a new project called GMS Express that reduces the certification process from 3 months down to potentially 4 weeks. Since Android is open source, it can be modified and built to run on all sorts of different hardware configurations. However, this can lead to inconsistencies with how Android behaves from one device to another, thus Google sets up certain requirements to make sure that basic APIs and hardware function consistently across all Android devices. To enforce these requirements, Google leverages its suite of Google apps including the Google Play Store (bundled as part of Google Mobile Services) to force companies to abide by their rules. If an Android build on a device doesn't pass Google's certification process, then they aren't allowed to ship their devices with most popular Google apps pre-installed. As mentioned, this certification process can take up to 3 months to complete and this means time, manpower resources, and money for each smartphone, tablet, and smartwatch that gets put up for sale. For big companies like Samsung, this is likely just a minor annoyance but this can be a huge barrier for some smaller startup companies that want to get into the market. With GMS Express, Google wants to reduce the certification time down to 4 weeks. SoC manufacturers like MediaTek will provide Android device manufacturers pre-tested, pre-certified, and fully compliant builds of Android. Devices built in this way will still need to go through a final certification process since the code will likely be changed to add in more features. But it will be incredibly convenient for OEMs that are trying to get an Android device to market quickly. Google has announced that dozens of brands have already joined GMS Express. Press Release MediaTek collaborates with Google and its GMS Express program to Deliver Certified Android Software, Mobile Services to Device Makers MediaTek offers pre-certified and CTS-compliant Android builds with Google Mobile Services to ensure quality Android experiences & get devices to market faster SAN DIEGO, USA and HSINCHU, Taiwan – November 1, 2017 – MediaTek Inc. today announced that it is the first System-on-Chip (SoC) partner for GMS Express, a program designed to provide approved Android software solutions, including GoogleTM Mobile Services (GMS) and Google Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) certification, to device makers. As GMS Express's first SoC partner, MediaTek can help device makers get to market more cost effectively and faster and ensure high-quality, consistent consumer experiences with AndroidTM applications and devices. Under the new program, MediaTek provides device makers with a pre-tested, pre-certified, and fully compliant build of Android and GMS. For the past several months, MediaTek has already worked with several of its customers in connection with GMS Express. In fact, dozens of brands have already joined the GMS Express program. "MediaTek is focused on making great technology available to everyone. This program supports the entire Android community and ensures that from the program's OEM participants and their devices within the program, only pre-tested and certified Android builds appear in the marketplace to give consumers confidence they have a secure, first-class Android experience," said TL Lee, General Manager of MediaTek's wireless business. "Being the first SoC company endorsed for GMS Express reinforces MediaTek as a full hardware and software solutions provider to help brands improve time to market and user experiences with Android devices." MediaTek customers – Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM's) and Original Design Manufacturers (ODM's) – can reduce the typical compatibility certification process from three months to four weeks. They also receive frequent security patches to reduce risks of device hacking. MediaTek's support of GMS Express is seamless because of its smartphone design expertise and experience working with the large, global Android customer base. MediaTek chipsets power more than 1.5 billion devices a year across a broad range of products including smartphones, TVs, voice assisted devices, routers and more. "Android has enabled a healthy ecosystem of diverse OEM manufacturers who deliver compelling devices at all price points throughout the world," said Jim Kolotouros, VP, Global Android Partnerships at Google. "We are excited by MediaTek's leadership in connection with the GMS Express program, and enabling the OEM ecosystem to develop high quality devices more quickly, more cheaply, and more easily." MediaTek, the first SoC provider to support Google's GMS Express program, has been a market innovator since the company first entered the mobile market with a mission to improve time-to-market and mobile ecosystem efficiency more than 20 years ago. The GMS Express program is the latest example of MediaTek's commitment to serving as a total pipeline solution provider, including SOC hardware, turnkey solutions, and certification support. Android Advices Oct 31, 2017 4:15 PM • by Pavan Kumar B.C Asus Zenfone 4 Pro, Zenfone 4 and Zenfone 4 Max Launched in the US Asus has added another set of smartphones in its Zenfone 4 series and this Taiwanese company has launched them in the US. The list of devices includes Zenfone 4 Pro, Zenfone 4 and Zenfone 4 Max which will be the siblings of the 5.5-inch Zenfone 4 Max launched last month, These handsets come with different specifications which are mentioned below accordingly. Zenfone 4 Pro The Zenfone 4 Pro will come with a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED display and will have a 3600mAh battery on the back to power the handset. Under the hood, there is a Snapdragon 835 SoC coupled with 6GB of RAM. This device will come with the dual rear camera setup with a 12MP main camera with 1/2.55" sensor along with a 16MP secondary camera with 2x fixed optical zoom. There is a 8MP selfie camera with 1.4-micrometer pixel size and f/1.9 aperture size. Out of the box, it will run on Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system and is expected to get further updates as well. The handset is up for pre-orders at Amazon, B&H, Best Buy, Newegg and the companies official website. The device will start shipping from 6th of November and will be available for $599 in Black color. Zenfone 4 Like the Zenfone 4 Pro, this smartphone also features a 5.5" 1080p display but here an IPS LCD panel is used.to power the handset, there is a Snapdragon 630 SoC coupled with 4GB of RAM, It will come out of the box with Android 7.1.1 Nougat and has a 3,300mAh battery to power the handset. This device also sports a dual rear camera setup sporting a 12MP camera with f/1.8 aperture size for the main camera while the secondary camera comes with 120-degree wide angle lens. There is a 8MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calling. The onboard storage is 64GB which can be extended further with a microSD card slot. This handset is priced at $399 and will be available in Midnight Black and Moonlight White color variants. Zenfone 4 Max 5.2" We have already seen the 5.5" Zenfone 4 Max but this one sports a 5.2inch display with 720p resolution. Under the hood, there is a Snapdragon 425 SoC coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. There is the 13MP + 5MP dual camera setup on the rear which it will be accompanied with 8MP selfie camera. It will come out of the box with Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. The device will be sporting a 4100 mAh battery and is priced at $169 and will be available only in the Black color variant. The smartphone will be released on 3rd of November and will be available for pre-order via Amazon, B&H, Best Buy and Newegg. Are you planning to get any of these devices? Comment in the section below and stay tuned for more! Source This email has been sent by Froze ONE (isnanmm0@gmail.com). It is the potion result of 'Tech: Topic watch' from the dashboard 'Personal Dashboard', tab 'Tech > Android'. Unsubscribe © Netvibes 2005-2017 | Terms of service | Privacy Policy Find Netvibes also on: Facebook Twitter Google+ Flickr

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