Google’s been showing keen interest in developing markets. Testimony to that is the release of the Android One program, where Google works with manufacturers to ship affordable, yet properly supported Android smartphones. The program currently has three makers in Google’s kitty; this includes Micromax, Spice and Karbonn, all of which call India their home. Until very recently, Android One was an exclusive program to the Indian market.
Expanding its portfolio in emerging markets is Google, with the addition of its latest: Android SDKs (Software Development Kits) on DVD. The reason behind the rather-obsolete-sounding idea is simple; Google wants people even in the lesser-connected regions to make apps for its open-source Android OS. This means that it’ll have to find a way to get its SDKs to up and coming app developers; and a very simple solution to that problem could be shipping the software on DVD rather than having it available internet only.
To get hold of the the Android SDK on DVD, you only have to get in touch with your local Google Developer Group, often abbreviated to GDG. If you aren’t sure if there’s one in your locality, head over to the GDG Directory to find out. Once you’ve registered, you’ll be shipped a pack containing a set of DVDs with 30GB worth of data, including YouTube videos and information documents, besides the SDK itself. For those wishing to know what exactly it’ll have, here it is: the complete Android website for offline use, Material Design documents, I/O Dev Bytes Series, Google Udacity course videos, Web Fundamentals documentation, Google Cloud Platform documents, and lastly, videos on Android, Design and Cloud from Google’s YouTube channel.
Now, that could suck a lot of your bandwidth, and if you don’t have a stable internet connection, consider the offline availability a boon. It is indeed heartening to see Google take efforts to connect the entire planet regardless of how well/poorly connected some regions may be. Thanks to a well spread network of Google Developer Groups, it shouldn’t be very difficult for people in almost any country to get their hands on the Android SDK now.