Google has begun rolling out its version 4.1 update to Google Play services to Android device users, and there are several goodies in the update for both device users and app developers. Perhaps most notably, Google claims this update will improve your battery life if you have Google Location Reporting enabled– a big plus for all users.
If you use Google Drive, you’ll now be able to edit Drive documents offline, which is great news for frequently disconnected notebook users and people on limited data plans. And if you’re a mobile gamer, you’ll now be able to take turns while playing with up to seven other players.
Finally, it’s now easier to share content with Google+ users, with better auto-complete and suggested recipients from Gmail contacts, device contacts, and people on Google+.
New developer services
Of interest to developers, the Google Play services 4.1 update also improves mobile ads and Google+ sharing, and it includes a developer preview of the new Google Drive API for Android. You can use the API to easily read and write files in Google Drive so they’re available across devices, on the web, and now also offline. The API also includes common UI components including a file picker and save dialog.
Once the version 4.1 rollout is completed, you can download the SDK using the Android SDK manager and get started with the new APIs.
Since Play Games now supports turn-based multiplayer gaming, developers can build asynchronous games to play with friends and auto-matched players, supporting two to eight players per game. When players take turns, their turn data is uploaded to Play Services and shared with other players automatically.
Google is also providing an optional new “Connecting to Play Games” transition animation during sign-in, before the permission dialog appears. Google says that this helps contextualize the permission dialog, especially in games that ask for sign in on game start.
With version 4.1, the Google Mobile Ads SDK now supports DoubleClick for Publishers, DoubleClick Ad Exchange, and Search Ads for Mobile Apps. You can also use a new publisher-provided location API to provide Google with the location when requesting ads. Google claims that location-based ads can improve app monetization.
To learn more about Google Play services and available APIs, visit “Google Services” on the Android Developers website.
