Google Play Services 4.1 Release
Article Summary
Google just dropped a game-changing update to Play Services that fundamentally shifts how mobile games handle multiplayer and how apps integrate with Drive. This isn't just another SDK update.
Google Play Services 4.1 introduces major new capabilities for Android developers, including asynchronous turn-based multiplayer for games supporting 2-8 players, a developer preview of the native Google Drive API for Android, and battery life improvements for location services. The update also brings full DoubleClick support to Mobile Ads and enhanced Google+ sharing.
Key Takeaways
- Turn-based multiplayer now supports 2-8 players with automatic turn data syncing
- New Drive API enables cross-device file sync with offline support
- Location-based ads improve monetization through publisher-provided location API
- Battery life improved for all users with Google Location Reporting enabled
- Enhanced Google+ sharing with better auto-complete from Gmail and device contacts
Google Play Services 4.1 delivers production-ready turn-based multiplayer and preview Drive integration, giving developers powerful new tools for engagement and cross-platform experiences.
About This Article
Android developers needed a standard way to add cloud storage to their apps. They also wanted offline access and the ability to sync data across multiple devices.
Google released a developer preview of the native Google Drive API for Android. It came with ready-made UI components like a file picker and save dialog, which made integration easier.
Users could now read and write files directly to Google Drive through Android apps. When they reconnected to the internet, files synced automatically. This removed the need to manually manage files across different devices.