Google has announced the availability of Google Play Services 4.4, which is being rolled out to most Android devices beginning this week.
Play Services 4.4 includes several new APIs, including a Google Maps’ Street View feature. With the API, developers will be able to embed Street View imagery and 360-degree functionality into their own apps. The Maps API was also updated with new tools for indoor views of large public buildings, such as malls and shopping centers. Play Services 4.4 adds a new Location API that can detect if the device in hand is moving at walking or running speeds. Google thinks this will be beneficial to fitness apps.
Google has updated the Games API and altered the user interface for sending gift/invite requests, which now allow the user to select multiple Game Gifts recipients. Play Services introduces a new advertising API that lets developers display in-app promo ads, which enables users to purchase advertised items directly. Last, Google updated APIs for Google Wallet. Developers can now use the Instant Buy API to embed the Pay With Google button into their apps more easily, and the Wallet Fragment API makes it easy to integrate Google Wallet Instant Buy with an existing app.
Google Play Services are compatible with devices running Android 2.3 Gingerbread and up. The update will be rolled out gradually over the new few weeks.
