June 2015 Summaries

Google Fit has introduced several updates to enhance user experience and developer integration, including a new Android Wear watch face for tracking daily progress and additional data types in the Google Fit SDK. The app now calculates daily distance traveled and calories burned, accessible via the Recording and History APIs. New partnerships allow apps like LifeSum, Lose It!, and MyFitnessPal to contribute nutrition data, while Basis Peak and Sleep as Android provide sleep activity data. Additionally, fitness wearables and apps such as Endomondo, Garmin, and Xiaomi miBand integrate workout sessions and activity data into Google Fit. Developers can leverage this data with user permission, and apps like Runkeeper and Instaweather are utilizing Google Fit for enhanced user engagement and features. These updates aim to provide a comprehensive platform for tracking physical activity and health metrics.

At Google I/O 2015, Google introduced the new Google Cast Remote Display APIs for Android and iOS, facilitating the adaptation of graphically intensive apps and games for Google Cast receivers, using a dual display model that leverages the processing power of mobile devices to render visuals both locally and on a TV. To demonstrate the ease of this technology, Google engineers ported the Quake III Arena game engine to support Cast Remote Display, achieving a 720p resolution at 60 fps during a live demo without modifying the original game engine. The process involved converting existing Android source code, configuring the app with a Remote Display App ID, and using the MediaRouter for device discovery and connection without needing a separate Cast receiver app. The game was controlled using various input devices, including a USB game controller and mobile sensors, and the setup was completed in less than a day mainly by removing unnecessary UI code. The development was intended to showcase the potential and simplicity of integrating Cast Remote Display APIs into existing games, opening new possibilities for developers with the widespread adoption of Chromecast devices.

Google has enhanced its Calendar API, allowing users to attach Google Drive files to calendar events, thereby increasing the integration and utility of the platform. This new feature, announced by Google software engineer Iskander Akishev, facilitates the inclusion of documents such as meeting notes or booking confirmations directly in calendar events. Users can retrieve file information from Google Drive using the Drive API and then incorporate this data into a calendar event modification via the Calendar API. Once attached, these files are always visible as part of the event details, enhancing the functionality of Google Calendar for both personal and professional use. Additional guidance and support for using these features can be found in the Google Calendar API documentation and on StackOverflow.