Today’s topics include Google showcasing enterprise-friendly features in Android P, and Microsoft introducing SharePoint Spaces featuring mixed reality.
Android P, the next version of Google’s mobile operating system announced in March and currently in beta, will have several features for bolstering its usability in enterprise environments. The goal is to give mobile device administrators more management flexibility while giving users of personally owned devices more options for quickly switching between personal and on-the-job use.
Not only does Android P include a new dedicated work apps tab in the Android app launcher to make it easier to identify work applications, but work apps will also be identified by a distinctive blue briefcase badge. Google has also introduced a switch in Android P that makes it easier for users to disconnect from work mode when they are away from the office.
Another feature allows users to sign out of a device to make it ready for use by other employees with different profiles and permissions. Android P also updates the so-called kiosk mode in the operating system.
On May 21, during the SharePoint Conference North America event in Las Vegas, Microsoft unveiled SharePoint Spaces, a new way of interacting with content stored in the company’s SharePoint enterprise collaboration platform.
According to Jeff Teper, corporate vice president for OneDrive, SharePoint and Office, “SharePoint mainstreams mixed reality, empowering everyone to create visually compelling spaces that are available to anyone, on any device.”
So far, Microsoft appears focused on a handful of workplace scenarios for SharePoint Spaces, including product development and training. It can also be used as a recruiting and onboarding tool, allowing new hires to explore a company’s organizational structure using 3D visuals.