October 2013 Summaries

Google Play Services 4.0, launched on October 31, 2013, introduces several new features and improvements, including the integration of the Google Mobile Ads SDK and enhancements to geofencing, Google+, and Google Wallet Instant Buy APIs. The update marks the end of support for Android 2.2 (Froyo), in line with the move to support more advanced APIs on devices running Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or newer. The Google Mobile Ads SDK now automatically pushes bug fixes to users using AdMob, while the Maps and Geofencing APIs are updated for better battery efficiency and responsiveness. Additionally, Google+ Sign-In features a simplified consent dialog, and Google Wallet Instant Buy APIs are available for testing in a sandbox environment, offering a streamlined buy-flow and the ability to award loyalty points for purchases. A new anonymous advertising identifier is introduced, allowing users greater control over their data and the ability to opt out of interest-based ads.

Google Cloud SQL, a fully managed MySQL service on the Google Cloud Platform, now supports native MySQL connections, enhancing its accessibility and compatibility with various applications. This development embraces open standards and expands users' choice of tools and architectures by utilizing the MySQL Wire Protocol, which allows seamless access to Cloud SQL databases from nearly any application worldwide. Key features include low-latency connections from Google Compute Engine and Google App Engine applications, compatibility with tools like MySQL Workbench and Toad, and the use of standard drivers such as Connector/J and Connector/ODBC. The native connectivity feature also facilitates replication to external databases and offers flexibility in managing and deploying cloud databases. This capability is exemplified by Genoo, a SaaS provider, which successfully migrated its database to Cloud SQL without service disruption, demonstrating the practicality and efficiency of the new feature.

In October 2013, Google introduced the Google Cloud Console as a successor to the Google APIs Console, initially launched in 2010, to enhance the management of over 60 Google APIs. The new Cloud Console features a revamped visual design, tightly integrates with Google Cloud Platform services, and facilitates the management of end-to-end application deployments. It offers a hierarchical navigation system and a simplified process for obtaining API credentials, allowing developers to register their applications and access necessary credentials more efficiently. Users have the option to experience the new interface or revert to the previous version, with Google inviting feedback from developers to improve the platform. Akshay Kannan, a product manager at Google Cloud, emphasizes creating an integrated and user-friendly experience for developers.

Google Analytics has introduced the ability to access AdSense data through its Core Reporting API, allowing website publishers to gain deeper insights into their ad performance and optimize ad spaces for better returns. This integration, a highly requested feature, adds eight new AdSense metrics to the API, enabling streamlined analysis and the automation of reporting processes. Publishers can now answer crucial business questions, such as identifying the most profitable pages and understanding traffic sources that contribute to ad revenue. The API also facilitates the integration of data from multiple sites into single dashboards, enhancing the utility of CRM tools and corporate reporting. To assist users in leveraging these new capabilities, Google provides tools like the Magic Script for automating data imports into spreadsheets and the Google Analytics superProxy for simplifying authorization.

In the GDL Weekly post from October 28, 2013, Louis Gray, a Program Manager at Google Developers Live, highlights various topics and resources available on the platform, including discussions on SQL vs. NoSQL, OAuth token troubleshooting, and the limitations of GZIP for web compression. The post also mentions interactive sessions like Root Access, which explore the interplay of skill and luck in startups, and features content on Platform as a Service with App.net and Android. Viewers are encouraged to subscribe to Google Developers on YouTube to stay updated with live events and sessions, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the Google Developers community.

In a 2013 post on the Google Developers Blog, Scott Knaster highlights the expanding communication possibilities offered by the web, alongside the challenges of maintaining free expression in the face of censorship. The post discusses a Google Ideas summit on "Conflict in a Connected World," which resulted in tools like the Digital Attack Map and Project Shield to help combat online censorship. It also introduces a groundbreaking disk developed by the University of Twente, designed to preserve data for up to a million years using silicon nitride and tungsten. Additionally, Google launched Google Media Tools, aimed at assisting journalists and news organizations in collecting and visualizing data, and it encourages both professionals and enthusiasts to leverage these resources for better storytelling. The post underscores the idea that while Google creates tools, users are empowered to develop their own, celebrating the dynamic nature of the web.

CardDAV, an open standard for accessing contact information across the web, has introduced several enhancements to improve user experience, as announced by Tech Lead Hakson Teh. These new features include high-resolution contact photos for full-screen display on devices like iPhones, Sync-Collections for better battery life by minimizing data exchange, and POST support to reduce data usage when creating new contacts. For Google Apps users, there is also the capability to search the domain’s Global Address List. Most of these improvements are available for Apple iOS 7 devices that synchronize with Google Contacts, and additional details can be found in the Developer’s Guide.

Google Developers Weekly, hosted by Louis Gray, a Program Manager for Google Developers Live, provides a comprehensive recap of the latest news, tips, and advice for developers across various Google platforms. The weekly highlight reel includes discussions and insights from the Developer Relations team, covering topics like the myth of the hockey stick growth curve, becoming a Go programmer, streaming data into BigQuery, and utilizing the YouTube Analytics API. Other subjects include performance insights from TimesOpen, the Wallet Objects API, fundraising strategies, and integrating Apps Script with Eclipse. To stay updated, viewers are encouraged to subscribe to Google Developers on YouTube or visit the Google Developers Live website, where the videos are readily accessible.

The Google Cultural Institute has expanded its online collection by adding over 5,000 new works primarily focused on clothing, fashion, and design, featuring items such as royal jewels and African ceremonial dress, as well as artworks from museums in China and children's art from Norway. In a separate fascinating development, a 570 kg meteorite fragment, considered one of the top 10 largest ever found, was recovered from Lake Chebarkul in central Russia following its dramatic crossing over the region earlier that year. Additionally, a compelling story intertwining humanity and technology is highlighted, beginning with a lost boy on a train and unfolding in unexpected ways, embodying the diverse and engaging content regularly shared in the Fridaygram series.

Apps Script, originally a tool for extending Google Apps, has evolved into a widely-used programming platform, prompting developers to seek more advanced features like a full-featured IDE and integration with external version-control systems. Meeting these demands, Google introduced support for Apps Script in the Google Plugin for Eclipse, enabling developers to sync their Apps Script files with Google Drive, edit them offline in Eclipse with autocomplete, and manage them using version-control systems like GitHub. The plugin stores scripts locally, allowing seamless synchronization with Google Drive whenever online and enhancing the developer experience by utilizing the public Google Drive SDK for file syncing. This update is part of efforts to improve the functionality and usability of Apps Script projects in cloud-based environments.

Google Cloud Platform introduced the Mobile Backend Starter for iOS to simplify server-side development for iOS developers by providing tools that eliminate the need to write server-side code. This initiative allows developers to store and share data in the cloud, send push notifications, and authenticate users with Google Accounts, using Objective-C client libraries. Mobile developer Ryan Harter successfully utilized this starter to increase his app's user base, demonstrating its efficiency and flexibility in extending backend logic. The Mobile Backend Starter is built on Google App Engine, supporting numerous concurrent users for free, and is open-source, allowing for customization and exploration. Developers can quickly set up the backend on App Engine, download the iOS client, and run samples on physical devices, benefiting from integrated push notification services. The platform also supports Android with specific backend management for platform-specific messaging services.

Google is dedicated to fostering the next generation of open-source software developers through its Google Summer of Code and Google Code-in initiatives. Since 2005, these programs have engaged over 10,000 students in collaboration with more than 440 open-source projects, producing substantial contributions to the software community. Google Summer of Code, aimed at university students, pairs participants with open-source organizations to work on projects during their academic breaks, with 2014 marking its 10th anniversary. Meanwhile, Google Code-in targets younger students aged 13-17, offering a seven-week contest that introduces them to various aspects of open-source development beyond coding, such as documentation, outreach, and user interface design. Both programs emphasize the importance and growing influence of open-source software globally, offering unique opportunities for students to gain real-world experience and potentially make significant impacts in the tech industry.

The blog post discusses a series of computing heritage videos celebrating global computing pioneers, highlighting a new addition featuring Heinz Zemanek and his team from the Vienna University of Technology, who built the Mailüfterl, one of the first fully transistorized computers, using donated materials. It humorously notes nature's power in technological contexts, citing an incident where jellyfish clogged a Swedish nuclear plant's cooling system. Additionally, it introduces Google Web Designer, a free tool for creating animated web graphics that work across devices, and suggests exploring the Mailüfterl emulator online while enjoying traditional Viennese cuisine for an authentic experience.

AbbyPutinski.com is a creative project by San Francisco illustrator Abby Putinski and her husband Adam, utilizing Google Maps with a unique twist to showcase Abby's favorite places in the city through an artistic lens. The site combines Abby's illustrative design style with technical development using the Google Maps API and Ember.js to create a visually engaging map experience. By employing the Styled Maps Wizard, Abby minimized colors and de-emphasized roads and landmarks to achieve a simple, flat map appearance, while custom overlays and animations enhance the user journey. The project exemplifies the collaborative synergy between design and development, allowing for a fully customized map experience that reflects Abby's artistic vision. This innovative approach highlights the flexibility of the Google Maps API in transforming a traditional map into an interactive and personalized exploration tool.

Version 1.4.0 of the Google+ iOS SDK introduces two significant features: an in-app share box and ID token support, catering to developers' frequent requests. The in-app share box enables users to share content, including images and videos, directly from iOS apps to their Google+ circles, offering a more seamless integration than the previous browser-based method, which can be updated with a simple code modification. Additionally, the update provides ID token support, allowing developers to securely verify user identities with application servers. For further details or to download the SDK, developers are directed to the Google+ Developers site.

Google announced a set of new APIs designed to simplify the management of Google Analytics for large companies with multiple websites and users. These APIs aim to streamline the setup and configuration processes, allowing IT teams to handle tasks programmatically and focus more on data analysis and insights. Key features include Account Setup and Configuration APIs, which help manage Properties, Profiles, and Goals more efficiently, and User Permissions APIs, which reduce the complexity of managing user access by enabling synchronization with corporate directory services like LDAP. While the Account Setup and Configuration APIs are currently in closed beta, the User Permissions APIs are publicly available. This development provides new opportunities for developers, IT teams, and Google Analytics users to enhance their analytics capabilities.

Udacity, in partnership with Google, has translated a significant portion of its web development curriculum into Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese to break language barriers and reach a broader global audience, particularly in Latin America. This initiative focuses on courses like CS253 (Web Development), CS255 (HTML5 Game Development), and the upcoming CS256 (Mobile Web Development), with fully translated subtitles available to empower developers in emerging markets with high-quality, localized training content. The translations aim to address the challenges faced by many Latin American students who lack access to English language education, providing them with valuable resources to improve their technical skills. The project has been well-received, as evidenced by testimonials from students like Edwin Rodolfo Maldonado Perez, highlighting its potential to inspire talented developers in the region.

Google Cloud Platform has launched a new Google+ Community aimed at fostering interaction among developers and Google representatives, as announced by Alex Maier, the Community Manager. This platform is designed to facilitate the sharing of information about Google Cloud Platform developer programs and events, as well as to support peer assistance and collaboration among developers. It encourages contributions from bloggers, podcasters, and public speakers by allowing them to share relevant content, such as articles, tutorials, and event links, within the community. The initiative aims to strengthen the community by providing a space for exchanging ideas and resources, with plans for further development and engagement.