Google has released updated Android L builds for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 incorporating support for its health-tracking platform, Google Fit and has also released the SDK for the platform to help developers build health and fitness apps.
The updated version of the Android L build, said to be a minor update, bumps the version from LPV79 to LPV81C. The updated Android L builds feature a refreshed interface design – something that Google dubs as the new “Material Design.”
The new build also brings with it upgraded Chrome browser and Google has ditched the Dalvik runtime and has introduced ART for 64-bit allowing apps to run faster. Further, Android devices will now be able to address more RAM than 32-bit devices originally supported.
Currently the updated is only available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 devices, but we expect Google to release factory builds for other handsets soon.
Google Fit SDK has also been released allowing developers to start building health and fitness apps. Google is providing three sets of APIs aimed to address specific developer needs – sensor API, recording API and history API.
Google’s new Fit framework uses sensors present on Android devices and those present on connected accessories to collect health-related data to be used in apps. The platform can also monitor things such as physical activity, food intake, heart rate and breathing among other things.
