April 2015 Summaries

In April 2015, Google opened up the Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms add-ons to all developers, graduating them from the developer preview phase that began in 2014. Since their introduction, the developer community has created numerous features to enhance productivity for millions of users. Google has implemented several developer-friendly features, such as the ability to publish add-ons in the Google Apps Marketplace, bundle them with existing listings, utilize Apps Script triggers, and employ testing tools. Developers can also use standalone scripts, their own Google Developers console projects, and an iframe sandbox mode for faster UI. With these advancements, any developer can now publish an add-on, though all new add-ons will be reviewed for guideline adherence before appearing in the add-ons store. Google expresses enthusiasm for the potential new tools developers will create.

Google has announced the end of support for legacy authentication protocols including ClientLogin, OAuth 1.0 (3LO), AuthSub, and OpenID 2.0, initiating a shutdown process that requires users to migrate to OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect. The transition is essential as attempts to use the deprecated services will fail, prompting users to adopt the newer, more secure protocols which are also easier for developers to integrate. Google Sign-in, which is based on OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect, offers a streamlined interface for authentication and authorization across web, Android, and iOS platforms. The move underscores Google's focus on modern open standards to enhance account security and improve developer experience.

Google Cardboard has evolved from its humble beginnings as a simple VR viewer made of cardboard, velcro, and lenses, to a widely adopted platform with a diverse range of viewers and hundreds of apps available on Google Play. Google has launched the "Works with Google Cardboard" program to ensure compatibility between various VR viewers and apps, allowing users to enjoy a seamless VR experience. This program offers manufacturers a tool to configure viewers for optimal performance and provides a certification badge to indicate compatibility. Developers receive updated SDKs and design guidelines to improve app usability and address common VR design challenges. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of immersive audio, welcoming the Thrive Audio team to integrate ambisonic surround sound into VR experiences. Additionally, Google has acquired Tilt Brush, known for its innovative 3D painting capabilities, to further enhance VR offerings. These developments aim to foster creativity and collaboration in the VR community, making virtual reality more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

In 2015, Google Fit collaborated with companies like adidas, Polar, and Withings to launch a developer challenge encouraging the creation of innovative fitness apps that integrate with the Google Fit platform. The initiative led to a diverse range of applications, with twelve grand prize winners announced, each offering unique functionalities such as hydration reminders, workout tracking, and competitive fitness challenges. Notable apps include 7MinGym for quick home workouts, Aqualert for hydration tracking, and FitSquad for fitness competitions among friends. These apps, along with others like Jump Rope Wear Counter and Openrider, demonstrate the versatility of the Google Fit platform in enhancing users' fitness experiences. The winners and runners-up received prizes including fitness devices like the X_CELL and SPEED_CELL from adidas, an Android Wear device, and other trackers from Polar and Withings. This challenge highlighted the potential for developers to create powerful fitness tools by leveraging Google Fit's capabilities, allowing users to consolidate their fitness data in one platform.

Google's Realtime API enhances real-time collaboration capabilities similar to those in Google Docs, allowing developers to create collaborative applications easily. A notable feature is the new in-memory mode, which lets developers manipulate Realtime documents using the standard API without needing server connectivity or user authentication, making it ideal for applications where Google login is optional, as well as for testing and experimentation. The Realtime debug console offers developers tools to view, edit, and debug a Realtime model by executing a simple command in Chrome's JavaScript console. Additionally, the developer guides have been updated to cater to both new and advanced users, providing comprehensive learning resources.

Fun Propulsion Labs at Google has introduced updates and new releases for game developers, enhancing its open-source Android TV game, Pie Noon, with networked multi-screen features using the NearbyConnections API. This innovation allows up to four players with Android devices to engage in strategic multiplayer gameplay by interacting with an Android TV. Additionally, the team has launched Pindrop, a cross-platform C++ audio library that manages in-game sound, and Motive, an open-source animation system designed for simple yet effective procedural and spline-based motions. Both libraries are built on open-source technologies like SDL Mixer, FlatBuffers, and MathFu, with Pindrop focusing on sound prioritization and Motive enhancing animation performance with a small memory footprint. These tools are part of Fun Propulsion Labs’ commitment to advancing gaming experiences on Android and other platforms, offering developers new capabilities to create immersive and responsive games.

In April 2015, Google announced that its Santa Tracker, an interactive platform that allows users to follow Santa's journey and engage with various winter-themed games and activities, was made open source and available on GitHub. The Santa Tracker is available as both a web application and an Android app, the latter supporting devices running Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) and up, featuring a canvas-based graphical launcher and games built with technologies like JBox2D and OpenGL. The Android version also integrates with the App Indexing API for better user engagement through deep linking. For Android Wear, custom watch faces and notifications enhance the user experience. On the web, Santa Tracker utilizes Polymer and Web Animations API to package code into reusable components, optimize for mobile, and support responsive design and localization. By open-sourcing the project, Google aims to inspire developers to create their own innovative experiences.

Sun Surveyor is an iOS and Android app developed by Adam Ratana that leverages Google Maps APIs to aid photographers in capturing the perfect photo by visualizing the sun and moon's positions globally. By using augmented reality, the app overlays celestial paths on a camera's view, allowing photographers to plan their shots based on optimal natural lighting conditions. It employs multiple Google Maps APIs, including the Elevation and Time Zone APIs, and integrates the Google Maps SDK for iOS and Android, which includes Street View capabilities. This innovation not only assists photographers in orchestrating ideal shots but also aids businesses in optimizing solar panel alignment. The app has been downloaded nearly 500,000 times, transforming Ratana's photography hobby into a successful business.

In a 2015 update to Google Apps Script, seven new advanced services were introduced, enhancing the capabilities for developers working with Google APIs. These services include Admin SDK Groups Migration, Settings, License Manager, Reseller, Apps Activity, DoubleClick Campaigns, and Google+. These advanced services, similar to built-in services, require enabling before use and offer features like autocomplete and automatic authentication. A sample function demonstrates how to use the Apps Activity service to retrieve a list of users who have interacted with a specific Google Drive file, showcasing the ease with which developers can integrate and utilize these new services in their projects.

FlatBuffers 1.1 is an updated version of the open-source cross-platform serialization library, initially released in June 2014, designed to facilitate efficient data handling without the need for parsing or unpacking, thereby saving memory. Developed by Fun Propulsion Labs at Google, the library was primarily intended for high-performance C++ games but also finds broader application. The update introduces significant enhancements such as an overhauled Java API, out-of-the-box support for C# and Go, and an optional verifier for use in untrusted environments. It also includes .proto parsing to ease migration from Protocol Buffers, the ability for manual assignment of field IDs, and dictionary functionality using binary search on key fields. With contributions from over 28 developers, this release also addresses various bugs and improvements, making it a robust tool for developers.