Image: Jack Wallen
It’s that point of yr once more. The present spherical of 365 days is coming to an in depth and all of the pundits polish their crystal balls to make predictions based mostly on one other yr of masking know-how. Sometimes we’re frighteningly proper, and generally we’re laughably unsuitable. Either means, it is enjoyable to prognosticate about the way forward for tech. This time round, I am taking over Android, and I imagine (as you may count on), there are large issues on the horizon for Google’s cell platform.
Let’s gaze into the future-verse and opine.SEE: Interview questions: Android developer (Tech Pro Research)It’s all about AIThis might be the most secure prediction one could make. Android Pie leaned closely on AI to make good on a promise to vastly enhance battery life. AI is doing its finest to assist us reply to our contacts and information us throughout the realm of Android Assistant. In these instances, the outcomes are fairly spectacular. Even so, it nonetheless seems like AI is usually an afterthought to finish customers.
I predict that 2019 will see AI lastly make that leap from charming whim to a must have piece of the Android puzzle. How? AI will begin turning into way more prevalent with user-facing apps to make them exponentially smarter and extra handy. So as an alternative of AI principally being occupied throughout the working system, it’s going to grow to be widespread, thus Android, as an entire, would be the platform for AI. AI will lastly attain that time the place it might probably efficiently (and usually) predict person habits and make interacting with apps way more environment friendly and clever. By the tip of 2019, we should always see indicators of what Android and AI collectively can actually grow to be.Chatbots
By the tip of 2019, nearly all of our cell communications with help and customer support might be within the type of AI-fueled chatbots. To take this one step farther, most customers will not have the slightest concept they’re speaking with a bot. That’s how far AI will progress within the coming yr. Of course, chatbots aren’t actually new, however they’re turning into extra prevalent. I look to see these helpful units discover their means into Android cell apps aplenty within the coming yr.Pure AndroidOne factor I imagine we’ll see is extra units working a pure Android expertise. The Android One challenge proved stripped down Android will not be solely doable however fascinating. Without provider and OEM bloatware (are you listening Verizon and Samsung?), Android is quicker, extra dependable, and much simpler for customers to configure and handle.My crystal ball says 2019 will see a proliferation of Android One units, which is able to assist lead the cost for extra customers demanding purer Android units. The large problem? Will the likes of Verizon and Samsung heed that decision? The tiniest portion of my frontal lobes believes each giants will begin to present cracks of their need to repeatedly load their units with ineffective bloat. The transfer might be gradual to achieve momentum, however I’ve religion that the driving power behind Android One will win out in the long run.SEE: Mobile machine computing coverage (Tech Pro Research)The notchAh, the dreaded notch—that portion of the display screen some customers like to hate and hate to like. My prediction, bolstered by the rumored Samsung Galaxy S10, is that we’ll see the primary Android machine that won’t solely get rid of the notch, however all the entrance face of the cellphone might be show. The digital camera might be tucked behind the show, the fingerprint reader might be constructed into the show, the audio system and mouthpiece might be positioned on the backside fringe of the machine, and the earpiece on the prime edge. This machine might be ridiculously costly and riddled with points, however it’ll show the idea and different producers will excellent the concept.Android market shareAccording to Statcounter.com, in the meanwhile, Android has a 72.35% world market share. At its peak this yr, it was 77.32%. The iOS platform, alternatively, is at 24.44% (its highest for 2018).In the US, these numbers replicate a distinct shift, with Android at 62.01% and iOS at 37.57%. Where Android noticed a slight world decline on the finish of 2018 and iOS a slight enhance, I imagine we’ll see the other within the United States market.By the tip of 2019, I predict that the US market share numbers will come near equalling the worldwide numbers. The spark for this shift might be stronger choices within the Android mid-range machine market and Apple persevering with to fail in that very same sector (whereas they proceed to focus a lot of their efforts on high-end units).Android QAs for the identify? Maybe Google will invent a brand new candy deal with known as the “Q” (in honor of one in every of Star Trek TNG’s finest dangerous guys). What we learn about Q may be very restricted. It ought to begin rolling out to some units (such because the Pixel 3) Q2 or Q3 of 2019. What will it function? It’s too early to inform, however my guess is that it will not be close to as main of an improve as was Pie. I do imagine the builders will increase the gesture-based navigation to make it not solely extra prevalent however extra intuitive. One chance is getting rid of the again button altogether and changing it with one thing like a two-finger swipe to the left. Clearly, AI might be on the coronary heart of Android Q, as will safety. But predicting an entire redesign can be foolhardy, as Android Pie has but to essentially achieve the momentum it deserves.One addition we’ll see in Q is help for the …Foldable phoneAnd from the workplace of “Do we really need this?” will come the primary foldable cellphone. Although the primary machine of its sort will launch in 2019, the know-how will not be perfected, and it is going to be met with lukewarm acceptance. However, with the idea lastly proved, producers will begin getting inventive with the concept and (by the tip of 2019) we’ll begin seeing some fascinating makes use of and designs for the foldable cellphone.SEE: 5G know-how: A enterprise chief’s information (Tech Pro Research)5G unitsThe solely units that can make use of a 5G community in 2019 might be Android. There might be no iOS machine on this much-anticipated community, and the one units powered by Android might be on the flagship stage. So if you wish to hop onto the most recent, best cell knowledge pipeline, you are going to pay a fairly hefty worth for entry.It’s going to be yrEven if none of my predictions come to fruition, I imagine 2019 might be yr for the Android ecosystem. With each iteration and every passing yr, the platform sees spectacular progress towards cell nirvana, and 2019 might be no exception.
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