Android L developers with a Google Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 got a nice little update last week aimed at promoting Google's approach to health: Google Fit. Here's a quick look at what it brings.

For starters, last week's Android L preview update doesn't bring much else -- those who aren't developers won't notice anything except a build change from LPV79 to LPV81C. Also, remember that the update only applies to the Google Nexus 5 smartphone and the 2013 Wi-Fi version of the Nexus 7 tablet, although coders have ported it over unofficially to other devices.

Google Fit is, as Google describes it, "An open platform that lets users control their fitness data. Google Fit lets developers build smarter apps and manufacturers focus on creating amazing devices."

What this basically means is that Android users in the future will have an array of fitness-based apps and devices with integration among all of them, and the search giant has announced it is partnering with companies like Adidas, Nike, HTC, and Motorola to create Google Fit gadgets. 

For developers, there are three new sets of APIs that will aid them in creating the kind of content and hardware Google envisions:

1. Sensors API provides high-level access to sensors from the device and wearables-so with one API your app can talk to sensors, whether on an Android device or a wearable. So if you're making a running app, you could register it to receive updates from a connected heart rate monitor every five seconds during a user's run and give immediate feedback to the runner on the display.

2. Recording API allows apps to register for battery-efficient, cloud-synced background collection of fitness data. For example, a running app could ask to store a user's location so it can map the run later. Once it registers for these data types, collection is done by Fit in the background with no further work needed by the app.

3. History API allows operations on data like read, insert, and delete. When an exerciser finishes a run, the running app can query the History API for all locations during the run and show a map.

The cloud services aren't up and running yet, so for now the data access is through local storage. Eventually, however, users will be able to monitor their health routines through a variety of devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, PCs, and televisions.

Google Fit will compete against the similar Apple Health Kit and Samsung's S Health platforms.

Android L is currently in a preview stage and is slated for a fall release.

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