There’s a vast number of ‘best practices’ and even more ‘developer hardware’ on the planet to help you build a killer application for the IoT (Internet of Things). All claiming to be the best, most lucrative, versatile, powerful, and amusing — in “one package”. Elektor too has presented a wildly diverse range of boards, tools, and edu-ware covering IoT product development from the Ground up (and C below under 'Products').

Now, Google is releasing a developer preview of their Android Things, a new operating system that is said to make it easier for developers to code for IoT. The new OS contains feedback from Google's previous Android-based IoT OS, Brillo. Android Things will still have tools for Android Studio, the Android SDK, Google Play Services and Google Cloud Platform -- with updates to all the software.

Added to the mix is Weave. This should make it easier for all types of devices to connect to the cloud and interact with services like the Google Assistant, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Belkin WeMo, LiFX, Honeywell, Wink, TP-Link and First Alert.

You can also start making devices with dev kits from Intel Edison, NXP Pico and Raspberry Pi 3 for which system images can be downloaded.

Android Things consists essentially of Android Studio and the Android SDK. It is clearly for developers already familiar with the Android framework and wishing to getting additional devices synced together for a more cohesive IoT network. Where ‘cohesive’ is suspicious with Google is involved.