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Google Play Services

150-minute Android Course

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About this Course

Google Play Services are a suite of APIs that give developers access to Google’s extensive cloud services and access the user’s Google account for personalization on Android devices. Google Play Services comes pre-installed on user’s devices and auto-updates every 6 weeks providing the latest APIs on all devices accessing the Play Store. You’ll learn the code necessary to access APIs like Google+ to bring personalization to your user experience. You’ll learn common errors and how to handle devices that can’t access Play Services. When you’re done you’ll be able to add other services like Maps, Cast, or Ads to elevate your app above the competition.

What you'll learn

  • Add Google Play Services to your project
  • Add Maps, Cast, or Ads
  • Working within Google+

Adding Play Services to your App

The app you’re about to build allows you to share items you find on Etsy with your friends on Google+. It makes use of two APIs provided by Google and Etsy. To gain access to their API you need to register your app by visiting their site and following the directions. Here’s what it takes to make it happen:

Chevron 4 steps

Connecting to Play Services

With data ready to share now you can add in Google Play Services to your project. Play Services already reside on the device as part of the Google Play Store. Here’s how we can connect to them:

Chevron 6 steps

Interacting with Google+ APIs

Now that you’re connected with Google Play Services access the user’s Google+ account and allow them to share items with their friends:

Chevron 7 steps

Teacher

  • Jamie Huson

    Jamie Huson is a Android Developer and Teacher. He's built apps since 2009 as a freelancer, for agencies, in tiny startups, and most recently at Etsy. When not debugging he's hiking in the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest with his wife.

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