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Google winds down support for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
If you're still hanging on to a phone running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, you might want to budget for an upgrade. Google has warned developers that it's deprecating support for Ice Cream Sandwich in upcoming versions of Play Services, the framework that gives Android apps and devices access to key features without requiring full-fledged operating system updates. Existing developer kit elements will continue to work, and individual components may continue to support the OS going forward, but "many" newer toolkit iterations will require at least Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
Google rolls out Instant Tethering for your Android devices
The latest version of Google Play Services comes with a feature that can ensure all your devices are always online. Austrian journalist Andreas Proschofsky has posted a screenshot on his Google+ account showing a new feature called "Instant Tethering." So long as you use one Google account for all your devices, you can program them to automatically create a hotspot connection to a phone with mobile data. Unfortunately, this is a limited rollout, so you might not be able to see the option even if you've already updated your phone or tablet.
Google readying tap-to-pay for Android Wear smartwatches
Google may finally be ready to bring tap-to-pay to Android Wear, judging by evidence discovered in the Google Play Services version 10.0 by Android Police. Text prompt strings with messages like "Try holding your watch to the terminal again" make it fairly clear that Google is in the late stages of testing the feature. If you have a compatible Android Wear watch (one with an NFC chip), it will let you touch your watch to an NFC-equipped retail terminal to pay for goods.
Android will now automatically send your location to 999 operators
When you call 999, operators need to know exactly where an emergency is before they can dispatch the required service. That information can be difficult to share if you're in unfamiliar surroundings but a new update coming to Android will take all of the guesswork out of locating where you are. It's called the Emergency Location Service and it uses available WiFi connections, GPS and mobile masts to pinpoint your location and share it with an operator while you're speaking with them.
Trusted Voice unlock is rolling out to some Android users
When the latest version of Google's Android app arrived last week, there was a hint that a new method for unlocking a device was on the way. Well, it seems the wait is over... for some. Android Police reports that a handful of folks are seeing the newfangled Trusted Voice feature in the Smart Lock settings menu. The tool allows you to access your device when it recognizes you saying "OK Google," joining Trusted Face, pattern and PIN as options for keeping that trusty handset locked down. Of course, when you select the verbal method, you'll be warned that, like the facial recognition feature, Trusted Voice is less secure than a swipe pattern or numeric PIN. If you're not seeing the option yet, sit tight (no dice on my second-gen Moto X). It appears to be rolling out slowly, so it should hit your device soon enough.
Google app update lets Android users add nicknames for contacts
If you've got someone in your contacts list who's a real jerk, Google now lets you call them by saying just that. Thanks to an update to the Google app on Android, you can give those folks nicknames. The feature was already live for some, but it seems to be available for everyone now (just showed up for me). This means when you say "Call Jerk Face," or use something other term of endearment, your phone will dial them automatically. Upon further examination of the APK, the folks at Android Police discovered Mountain View is progressing towards the Trusted Voice feature that surfaced a few versions ago. That Smart Lock tool will seemingly allow you to unlock a device with a spoken phrase. There's also mention of something called Seamless Hotword, but for now, the name is about the only detail we've seen. If you're not sporting the latest version yet, it's available for download over at Google Play. The more adventurous can snag the APK right here.
Get ready for Android Wear's first round of apps
If you've pre-ordered an Android Wear watch and want to have everything ready for the very moment you slap that device on your wrist, Google is more than happy to help; the company has posted everything you'll need on day one. To start, you can both grab the official Android Wear app (needed to link up) and look out for the automatic Google Play Services 5.0 upgrade that adds the underlying Wear framework. After that, you'll want to check out Google Play's new dedicated app section that highlights early titles with Wear support, including third-party tools like Allthecooks, Delta, Lyft, Runkeeper, Evernote and IFTTT. These apps aren't going to make your wristwear arrive any sooner, but getting yourself ready could make the wait a little more bearable.
Google Wallet on Android now juggles all your internet accounts
As good as Google Wallet might be for payments, you've so far been locked into using one Google account; that's not so hot if a family member needs to borrow your phone to send some cash. That won't be an issue after today, since Google has updated Wallet's Android app with a tweaked interface that lets you use multiple Google accounts. You'll also get shipment updates for orders from distant retailers.
Google deems Android ready for more Chromecast apps, lets the floodgates open
With Google's latest update to Play Services, it shouldn't be long before the Chromecast section of its app store gets a little more lively. Now that the Android SDK has support for the HDMI dongle baked in, developers can add the functionality to virtually any app they want, at-will. Google opened access to the streaming stick's inner workings earlier this month, but, as Phandroid tells it, the search giant asked devs to hold onto their releases until the public's phones and tablets had the framework, too. Now that it's out, swaths of cast-capable apps could start hitting the Play store relatively quickly. It may have taken longer than some expected, but Google's plan to embed the casting tech across an array of devices has finally come to fruition -- and the users stand to reap the rewards.
Google update paves the way for more multiplayer games in the Play Store
Google's latest update to Play Services should keep its mobile OS developers busy for a bit, particularly if they're making games. Android's SDK now has asynchronous multiplayer baked in, the kind of turn-based system that makes playing Words With Friends with distant pals possible. The update also features a developer preview of the new Google Drive API, better auto-complete options when sharing to Google+, and fixes the battery-draining bug that affected some Android 4.4 KitKat devices. Thrilling updates? Not quite, but it's good to see Google investing in its budding games services.
Google Play Services 3.2 adds location-based features, easier G+ sharing
Android developers keen on integrating more core OS functionality into their apps will be glad to know that the latest update to Google Play Services has arrived. Version 3.2 of the software offers a number of location-based services that devs can incorporate into their apps, such as a low-power option when requesting updates, support for hardware-based GPS geofencing and a "Snapshot" feature that removes the need for a constantly interactive map. The update also makes it easier to incorporate content sharing with G+, adds a compass mode in the Photo Sphere viewer, promises a more efficient InstantBuy implementation and better performance in general. Those interested in tinkering with the new and improved Play Services can download an updated Google APIs emulator image through the Android SDK Manager right now.
Google Play Game Services services to support iOS
This morning at Google I/O the company announced that Google Play is coming to iOS. No, not the Android store, but Google Play Game Services -- a new group of application programming interfaces (APIs) the company is releasing to developers today. The APIs allows gamers to pick up their games across platforms, meaning if someone is playing a game on an Android phone and it dies, their game state is uploaded to the cloud allowing them to pick up where they left off on an iPhone. In addition to cloud save, the new API includes support for achievements and leaderboards. These features will also be worked into its Google+ social network, allowing players to compare stats with their friends. In addition Google+ users will be able to use their Circles in the social network to find friends for online gaming. You can watch the announcement below.
Google Cloud Messaging now part of Google Play Services
More goodies for devs here at I/O: Google just announced that Google Cloud Messaging -- the push-notification system that debuted last year -- is now a part of its Google Play Services, and it will get three new features, to boot. These include "persistent connections," which should help push out messages quickly, upstream messaging for sending data from your app to your servers and -- most importantly -- synced notifications across devices. This means that if you dismiss an alert on your phone, it will similarly hit the dust on your slate. Mountain View recently announced that Cloud Messaging will now integrate with all versions of Chrome and Chrome OS, so today's news is a (very big) cherry on top. %Gallery-188425%
Google Play spruced up in new release, Services app nabs new syncing options
On the eve of Google I/O, Page and Co. have seen fit to polish the Google Play app with a fresh release. Version 4.1.6 of the mobile OS market brings colorful section buttons and improved spacing for "open" and "install" on application pages, along with a new layout for the wishlist feature that displays apps in rows of three. As for Google Play Services, it's received new syncing options for "App Data" and "People Details." Presumably they could relate to contacts, Google+ or even Mountain View's incoming gaming service, but something tells us we'll find out exactly what they do tomorrow. If your handset hasn't received the updated storefront just yet, follow the adjacent source link to install it by hand.
Google APK source code offers glimpse of possible Android game framework
Android may be improving its reputation as a gaming platform, but there isn't a consistent, official service that can tie everything together -- Google has no parallel to Xbox Live or Game Center. That might be changing, if Android Police's snooping around the Google Play Services component of the MyGlass app is any indication. A seemingly innocuous "games" folder includes what appears to be a Google Play Services gaming framework: achievements, in-game chats, rankings and invitation-capable multiplayer lurk inside. None of these are accessible to regular users, though, so it's unclear whether the references represent a glimpse into an upcoming gaming strategy or just an instance of developers leaving in code that's normally destined for the scrap heap. We're hoping there are some proper answers at Google I/O.
