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Google Updates Play Services To 4.0

Google announced the release of Google Play Services version 4.0 today, which includes the Google Mobile Ads SDK and improvements to Google+, geofencing, and Google Wallet Instant Buy APIs. This time ...
Google Updates Play Services To 4.0
Written by Chris Crum
  • Google announced the release of Google Play Services version 4.0 today, which includes the Google Mobile Ads SDK and improvements to Google+, geofencing, and Google Wallet Instant Buy APIs.

    This time around, they’re dropping support for Froyo. Froyo devices will not be able to utilize the new APIs.

    “If you’re using AdMob to monetize your apps, the new Google Mobile Ads SDK in Google Play services helps provide seamless improvements to your users,” says Google in a blog post. “For example, bug fixes get pushed automatically to users without you having to do anything. Check out the post on the Google Ads Developer Blog for more details.”

    “The Maps and Geofencing APIs that launched in Google Play services 3.1 have been updated to improve overall battery efficiency and responsiveness,” Google adds. “You can save power by requesting larger latency values for notifications alerting your app to users entering or exiting geofences, or request that entry alerts are sent only after a user stays within a geofence for a specified period of time. Setting generous dwell times helps to eliminate unwanted notifications when a user passes near a geofence or their location is seen to move across a boundary.”

    Apps that use Google+ sign-in will be updated with a new consent dialog and Wallet Instant Buy APIs are available for all to try within a sandbox. These include a new API that streamlines the buy-flow and reduces integration time, according to Google. Instant Buy also includes new Wallet Objects.

    Finally, there’s a new anonymous identifier for ads, to be used instead of Android ID. More on the update here.

    Google, of course, also detailed KitKat today. Here’s what developers need to know.

    Google Play Services 4.0 is still in the process of rolling out to Android devices.

    Image: Google

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