Android L and Google Play Services focus on security

At Google I/O 2014, Google's Sundar Pichai, gave us some updates on Google Play Services and what's in store in the forthcoming Android L release. As it stands currently, 93% of Android users are running on the latest version of Google Play Services, with updates pushed every six weeks allowing for faster iterations than a typical OS release cycle. There's also a renewed focus on security in the next release of Android.

After reiterating Google's policing of scanning apps – even sideloaded ones – for malware, Pichai confirmed Factory Reset Protection for Android L – the so called kill switch.

Beyond security, Google is creating new foundation principals for Google Play Services for a seamless experience, voice enabled, contextually aware and across devices but remaining mobile first.

The Google I/O 2014 keynote continues so be sure to come join us in the liveblog!

Richard Devine