The Intel Developer Forum in Shenzen has just come to a close and I’m trawling through some interesting slides that were presented in the sessions. There’s a few articles queued-up but here’s one related to Android that is stimulating my thoughts about the future and battling with a very positive attitude I have about Windows following day 1 of BUILD.

Intel have set up a new Android-on-Intel site at 01.org and the latest AOSP build, 4.4 KitKat, is available for download.

First, here’s the relevant part of the IDF day 2 press release:

Intel’s broadening focus on Android includes a new, comprehensive device developer program that will be rolled out over the next few months. As part of the program, a device developer resource portal is available today as a one-stop shop for all Intel resources, including source code, documents and specs for Android on IA. Intel Build Tool Suite for Android will also be available in the coming months to automate the configuration and customization of Intel firmware and operating system images for new devices. Local resources such as builder training events, local support teams for developers and academic programs to train tomorrow’s designers are offered through the program.
Intel also released Android KitKat 4.4 with a 64-bit kernel optimized for IA. With this release, the company ported, validated and tested the Android Open Source code on IA, taking on the work that developers typically would need to do on their own. This release will provide the ecosystem with 64-bit kernel support for development of next-generation devices. Fisher said Intel will regularly make Android code for IA available as part of the company’s effort to speed up the device development process and improve quality.

As you can see, Intel are increasing efforts to court device and product manufacturers and to encourage them to put Android on the i86 platform.  From Baytrail to Core-based PCs there’s some interesting possibilities out there.

The latest download available is Android (open source project) 4.4 which has been built for two specific pieces of hardware. The Dell XPS 12 and the Intel NUC (*1)  which means there’s not much flexibility for us tinkerers but as time moves on, the builds will improve and become more generic so we’ll be able to start hacking together our own dual-boot systems. I’m particularly looking forward to a Baytrail-T build that could go on the 8-inch Windows tablets and the resulting community that would build around that considering the number of 8-inch Windows tablet sold recently.

A company that’s already doing this is  iConsole.tv  We spoke to Christopher Price about Android on Intel back at MWC and I came away thinking that gaming could be a great reason to boot into Android.  I contacted Chris again today and he had some interesting comments about the Android build:

“The Android-IA build is strictly for developers. Really this is about giving the community (startups and big companies alike) the tools to build the next generation of Android platforms and services for users on Intel processors. Ordinary people really shouldn’t use it – it lacks most of the user functionality that makes Android enjoyable. It’s big news, but it’ll be a few months before it trickles into tangible stuff for geeks and ordinary people alike.”

Having downloaded Android 4.2 and run it up as a live USB image on my Ultrabook here I can confirm it’s sparse. Naturally the Google service layer is missing but it would have been nice to see an alternative store installed. Maybe Microsoft/Nokia can give Intel a hand with the service layer through the Nokia-X project. It sure would be interesting to see a competitor to Google in the Android space although seeing as Android is a trademark of Google, that would probably result in the Open Handset Alliance exploding!

https://01.org/android-ia/downloads/2014/android-4.4.2r1-ia0

(*1) Does anyone know what the “NUC with Intel Centrino N2840” is? It’s mentioned on the download page. I assume they mean the Celeron N2820 NUC available for $140 shown on the right? I’m ordering one for testing here as soon as it’s available.

.NET, Adobe AIR (Flex, action script), C++ and C are already supported as development platforms for Intel’s AppUp and we’ve already seen people porting their existing air apps over. I’m sure that we’re going to see similar activity, along with fresh development work following the new announcement that a Java SDK has now been added to AppUp. That should please the 9 million Java developers! [ref]

Remember, AppUp is the application ecosystem (develop, monetize, storefront) for Intel netbooks and future MeeGo products on the Intel platforms so in terms of potential it’s building quickly. It’s also key in a significant, possibly critical, part of Intel’s strategy to move into handheld devices, cars and TVs along with MeeGo. It’s no surprise that a lot of work is going into it.

From the announcement:

Continuing the port of choice approach for AppUp, the AppUp developer program has now added a Java SDK, extending the value of the program to millions of Java developers. With the addition of this SDK the program now supports Java, .NET, Adobe AIR, C++ & C development environments. Java developers can download the SDK and start submitting applications to AppUp today. Adding Java as development language for AppUp provides more choice for developers and allows for the benefits of Java to be used to get apps distributed and monetized to consumers.

So are there any developers feeling left out now?

More importantly, are there any developers itching to get involved when Android, Chrome, Symbian and iOS offer a rather significant advantage in terms of installed user base and monetization opportunities?

I spoke to Java consultant Niall Lynch [Agent: Version1] about the opportunity…

This is good news, and will leverage the skills of the large Java developer community who would be keen to develop on any new platform available. It opens up huge opportunities for developers to consider new types of devices when developing applications. Obviously Android application developers should jump at this development. It’s also good news to see that companies as large as Intel believe in Java as there appears to be a lack of direction from various quarters about the future of Java.

Android devs, is there an easy porting opportunity here?

We’ve got a day off from the chaos of IFA today while we participate in the Intel Developers Day in Berlin.(Facebook page)  We’re hearing about Atom, Meego, AppUp and other elements of the ecosystem. We’re also trying our best to stream it out via MeetMobility. Check out Meetmobility Live for the current stream. Some will be  in German and we’re at risk from bandwidth limitations.

WeTab is also here:

Intel are going to make my Mifi giveaway (coming up this week) look a little cheap! Read on…

Intel have just announced that the SDK for the Intel Atom Developer Program has reached Beta stage and along with the announcement comes information about how you can now start testing and submitting applications to their program. In order to get things moving, Intel are offering some big big prizes. How about a Smart Car or a $20K vacation? There are 100 netbooks on offer too!

Here’s a quick summary of what’s happening.

• The beta version of the Intel Atom Developer Program Software Development Kit for both Microsoft* Windows (C and C++) and Moblin (C) is now available. The features of the beta SDK include authorization, crash reporting, a consumer store client emulator for testing, license management and revenue management.
• Now that the beta SDK is available, developers can complete the required steps to submit their applications and developer components for validation to be sold through Intel OEM partner app stores starting in 2010.
• Submit early. Win big! Applications submitted by December 21, 2009 are eligible for big incentives.
• Enter the Intel Atom Developer Challenge by February 2, 2010. The first 100 validated applications will receive a tricked out netbook, and the talented developers with the most innovative application & elegant application design will win all-expense-paid “rock star treatment inch trip to GDC 2010!

You developers get all the perks. Where’s my old Kernighan and Ritchie book?

More information on the latest news and a ton of information links are available on the information page that has just gone live at Intel.