SberDevices, a company in the Sber ecosystem, is actively launching smart devices with Salyut virtual assistants and entertainment services on board. Applications for assistants are created on the SmartMarket platform. Any developer can join it, create a new one or port a ready-made application made with third-party tools, and then place it on the marketplace for free.
There are several types of applications or smartups, as the company calls them, to choose from. Among them are Native Apps — familiar Android apps enriched with the capabilities of Salyut virtual assistants and Sber smart devices. Native Apps includes a variety of Android apps, including daily life apps and games. We understand how easy it is to develop Native Apps and what are their prospects.
Reason 1: Availability and ease of porting applications
To create a Native App on the SmartMarket platform, it is enough to port the finished Android application in the form of an APK file. The developer needs to add support for voice or gesture control to the previously created application by connecting separate libraries. You can implement support for both at the same time, but this is not appropriate in all programs and not on all devices – some do not have a camera required for gestures.
In addition, there is a detailed instruction in Russian for porting Android applications. Thanks to it, you can create a Native App in a few clicks. In order for the user to be able to communicate with the smartphone by voice, a script is needed – this is what distinguishes Native Apps from ordinary Android applications that do not support the capabilities of Sber devices. For creating scenarios, SmartMarket has a set of flexible tools that can be found in SmartMarket Studio:
- SmartApp Graph is a visual constructor that does not require programming skills;
- SmartApp Code is a more flexible tool for writing code.
The main advantage of these tools is their simplicity, because they are easy to learn. Both of them have detailed documentation, and SmartApp Code allows you to write in popular JavaScript.
When the project is already completely ready and tested on real devices through the usual ADB, it can be sent for moderation and then published in the SmartMarket application catalog. This can be done in the same SmartMarket Studio. The studio allows you to upload all the necessary files, screenshots and product description, and then immediately send it for moderation. You won’t have to wait long for the application to be published: if it meets all the requirements, it will easily pass the test within three days, after which it will become available to all users of the platform. At this stage, SmartMarket moderators test the product and check it for compliance with the general requirements for smartups. If a discrepancy is found, the moderators will give comments explaining how to correct the errors.
Reason 2. Easy integration of virtual assistants, gesture recognition system and other components of SberDevices
The advantage of a Native App over a regular Android app lies precisely in the ability to interact with it using gestures and voice control. To do this, you need to add a pre-prepared script to the project, and then link it to the program.
On devices with a built-in camera, Native Apps can respond to user gestures. For example, the application can switch content with a wave of the hand or stop it if it detects the appropriate palm gesture. And with the help of voice, users will be able to open the application from the main screen and immediately launch certain actions in it. For example, “out of the box” Sber devices are able to start music with the “Salute, turn on jazz” command. You can come up with something similar for your own projects.
All features are tied to ready-made open source libraries. Each of them expands the functionality of the program.
There are several types of libraries to implement different functions:
- the Messaging library is used to link the application with the voice script;
- SmartPay allows you to connect the acceptance and processing of payments;
- Mic&Camera State is responsible for transferring the state of input devices.
This is not the whole list, a powerful set of libraries provides maximum integration of the application with the device.
Reason 3. The platform is rapidly gaining popularity, there is a chance to occupy a niche and gain users
The SmartMarket platform was launched relatively recently, in September 2020, and therefore software developers have every chance to create a popular smart app. Convenient and simple development tools, documentation and fast moderation allow you to create a smartup in the shortest possible time and gain a large audience.
Reason 4. Popularity and development prospects of SmartMarket
One of the main advantages of the platform is a huge potential audience. More than 100 million users use the Sber ecosystem. There are many owners of smart devices among them, for which applications are created. Over time, the audience will only grow.
The range of Sber smart devices is wide, and therefore users will be able to choose the device that they need: from the affordable SberBox TV media set-top box for watching movies and TV, to the SberPortal smart display with built-in premium acoustics and a camera.
All services from the Sber ecosystem are integrated into each device, which turn a smart device into an “entertainment combine”. In addition to access to popular films and series, it is possible to listen to music with synchronized text, play serious games through the SberPlay streaming service, play sports or order groceries by paying for purchases using the SmartPay payment service.
The main feature is Salyut’s virtual assistants. There are three assistants to choose from: Sber, Joy or Athena. All of them can be interacted with by voice, gestures, tap, remote and gamepad. Assistants can do a lot: not only quickly give a news report or weather forecast, but also, for example, instantly order food from the Delivery Club or book a table in a restaurant. They also know how to control the smart home system, simplifying the process of turning on the light to one voice command, or they can carry on a conversation.
Reason 5: The prospect of app monetization
On the SmartMarket platform, developers can not only gain an audience, but also benefit from hosting their applications. So, in the near future, Native Apps monetization through advertising will become available.
In-app purchases are provided by the SmartPay payment service with a simple and clear setup that is easily integrated into the application. It provides a process for accepting payments, allowing you to release applications with paid content now.
Source: Trash Box
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