 "Google Play Services update brings turn-based multiplayer gaming, improved battery life and more")
Google has updated its Google Play services to version 4.1 and the latest release has already started to roll out to users. The company has added some nifty changes, new features and improvements to the services. In a post on the Android Developers blog, the team wrote that once the rollout is completed, developers will be able to download the SDK using the Android SDK manager and get started with new APIs. The update is also bringing along an improved battery life for all users with Google Location Reporting turned on. Google has also enabled Play Games to support turn based multiplayer. This is an important new addition to Play Services and is definitely good news for both developers and users alike. The developers will be able to now go ahead and build asynchronous games to play with not just friends but also auto-matched players, with the game supporting two to eight players. When a player is taking his turn, his turn data is uploaded to Play Services and shared with other players automatically. The update will also provide an optional new “Connecting to Play Games” animation during sign in. Sounds neat. For Google Drive, this version brings along a developer preview for Google Drive API for Android. Developers can use it to read and write files easily, so they’re available across devices and on the web, as well as let users work offline with files. The changes are synced as soon as they’re online. Google Play Services 4.1 gets the Mobile Ads SDK to support DoubleClick for Publishers, DoubleClick Ad Exchange, and Search Ads for Mobile Apps. App developers can also use the new publisher-provided location API to provide Google with the location when requesting ads to make them more specific, thereby improving app monetisation. Finally, the blog also makes a reference to “an improved Google+ sharing experience” which includes better auto-complete and suggested recipients from Gmail contacts, device contacts and people on Google+. Essentially, auto-complete on Gmail will now show you contacts from Google+ and vice-versa. You will be able to send anyone an email if they’re on your Google+. Here’s you can opt out of this feature. The Google Play Services update is in a staged rollout phase and it may not hit your phones right away.
Intrigued by all things social, Nishtha will invariably tweet about you. When not tweeting or writing about the next viral video, you will hear her proclaiming her love to Metallica, James Hetfield, Opeth, Akerfeldt and all bands that go 'growl'. She also obsesses about ACP Pradyuman and South Park and you will always find her moving around with a book. Her focus is on all the happening stuff in the tech domain, and she won't hesitate to take a shot at some of the oddball devices that make their way to our labs.