Brillo, Google’s New OS for IoT, to launch at I/O 2015

May 25, 2015

 

Brillo, an OS for low-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices is being developed by Google and it will be launched at the upcoming I/O conference, which starts on 28 May.

The story was first reported by The Information (to read full article users will need to subscribe) which notes that Google’s Brillo OS will run on devices with 64 or 32 MB of RAM and that it will launch under the Android brand.

Another report on Fortune says that Google has confirmed that Brillo will not be part of the Nest division, even though the OS will work with Nest devices. Nest makes smart thermostats, etc for homes and was acquired by Google for $3.2 billion in January 2014.

As the report on Fortune, points out with these IoT devices such as smart locks, sensors, etc chipmakers provide what is called as Real-Time Operating System (RTOS). By launching Brillo, Google will be telling developers and IoT creators that they should be using their RTOS and thus Google will have more access “to memory and security,” says the Fortune report.

Of course, Google is not the only working on IoT devices. Samsung’s Tizen was supposed to be one such alternative although it has not got pushed for IoT as much and is instead restricted to Samsung’s television sets so far.

Then there’s Apple’s HomeKit, a system that lets users communicate with their smart bulbs, smoke alarms, via their iPhone. HomeKit is supported by manufacturers like Haier, Withings, Philips, iDevices, Belkin, Honeywell, and Kwikset, etc and users turn to their iPhone to control IoT enabled gadgets, light bulbs, etc offered by them.

Brillo is not the only thing new that Google will be offer at Google I/O this year. The company will also showcase Android M, the next level of Android OS for mobile with new privacy features that could restrict how many permissions an app gets on the mobile OS.

Android fans should also expect a new Google online photos service, which will allow for Facebook and Twitter sharing.

Source: The Indian Express