December 2015 Summaries

Front-end web developers often encounter challenges with asynchronous requests, such as fetching URLs or reading files, which can lead to complex code structures. Javascript Promises offer a solution by simplifying asynchronous code, transforming a web of callbacks and event handlers into more straightforward sequences like fetch(url).then(decodeJSON).then(addToPage). Promises are integral to many modern web standards, including the Fetch API and Service Worker, and are featured in a new online course developed by Google in collaboration with Udacity. This course, which can be completed in about a day, guides learners through building an "Exoplanet Explorer" app and serves as a prerequisite for the Senior Web Developer Nanodegree. Whether taken as part of the paid program or for free, the course aims to help developers write simpler and more reliable code by mastering Promises and utilizing the Fetch API, moving away from the older XMLHttpRequest method.

As mobile device usage surpasses desktop, app developers face the challenge of balancing monetization with user experience, according to insights from Mark Wolly, Head of Mobile Publisher Solutions at Google. Effective strategies include integrating ads that align with the app's user experience to ensure reliable revenue without disrupting engagement, such as placing ads in transitional app areas and avoiding interference with interactive content and navigation. Native ads are recommended for their ability to blend seamlessly with app content, thereby increasing user engagement and click-through rates, as demonstrated by eBay's successful use of Native Ads on DoubleClick. Additionally, the adoption of programmatic direct strategies can introduce apps to new advertiser budgets and simplify ad operations while maintaining high CPMs through premium creative formats. With mobile audiences growing significantly faster than desktop, the focus on app discoverability, user engagement, and quality optimization is crucial for effective monetization during peak seasons like the holiday period.

Enhancing app quality is critical for success, focusing on aspects such as speed, size, performance, and compatibility across devices. According to Dev Gogate, Mobile Solutions Consulting Manager at Google, users expect rapid app responses, and large app sizes can deter installations due to bandwidth and storage limitations, with Google and Apple imposing size restrictions. Tools like ProGuard and App Thinning help in optimizing code and reducing app size. Efficient resource usage is vital to prevent battery drain and maintain usability, with performance metrics and tests advised for improvements. Utilizing Cloud Test Lab can ensure broader device compatibility by testing apps on various Android models and settings, while A/B testing and phased rollouts provide valuable user feedback and insights before full app releases. These strategies help in refining app quality and securing a loyal user base.

In a competitive app market where 52% of applications lose half of their valuable users within three months, optimizing user engagement is crucial for success. During a mobile bootcamp, Jason Rosenblum, a Mobile Solutions Consultant at Google, provided insights on enhancing user retention through strategies such as refining the onboarding experience with A/B testing and leveraging cohort analysis to understand user behavior. He emphasizes the importance of tailoring analytics to align with business objectives, like tracking relevant metrics for a hotel booking app. Additionally, Rosenblum highlights the role of contextual notifications in reminding users of an app's value and re-engaging them, using tools like Google Cloud Messaging to manage notifications effectively. As smartphone users are spending more time on fewer apps, incorporating these strategies can help maintain user interest and retention.

Twitter collaborated with the Android team to effectively use the Doze feature in Android 6.0 Marshmallow to enhance notification performance by prioritizing different types of messages, such as setting Direct Messages to high priority, which allows them to wake the device from Doze mode. This approach was designed to balance user expectations for immediate notifications with the need to conserve battery life. Twitter's engineering team, led by Luke Millar, tested their messaging priorities using adb commands to simulate Doze on devices, ensuring their strategy worked effectively in real-world scenarios. Additionally, for larger payloads like Twitter Highlights, they transmitted metadata in notifications to trigger an app sync rather than sending the full content, optimizing performance and efficiency. For further details on implementing Google Cloud Messaging in standby environments, developers can refer to the comprehensive documentation available on the Google Developers site.

Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) is a robust technology facilitating reliable messaging to devices, with its usage having surged to 150 billion messages daily, alongside a 25% increase in applications to 750,000. The service now supports unlimited free topic messaging, enabling developers to segment users easily and send targeted messages; this feature is utilized by companies like Moovit and NPR to deliver real-time updates and personalized content to users, improving their respective transit and news services. Moovit leverages GCM to manage over 60,000 topics and provide localized transit updates, while NPR uses it for tailored news notifications, enhancing user engagement through personalized content delivery. To support these functionalities, Google has introduced new server APIs for effective management of message subscriptions, allowing developers to easily subscribe or unsubscribe devices and manage subscriptions as their apps scale, making the integration and maintenance of GCM more seamless for developers.

The blog post celebrates the 100th entry on the Google Apps Developers blog and discusses advanced development processes using Google Apps Script, particularly focusing on overcoming challenges related to source code management and collaboration. It introduces the "node-google-apps-script," a Node.js-based command-line interface that integrates with Google Drive API to manage Apps Script projects, allowing developers to work in their preferred editors and use standard development tools for tasks such as code syncing and style checking. The post highlights best practices for leveraging this tool, including using specific configurations for local development, building standalone test methods, and including dependencies for development and testing. It emphasizes the benefits of adopting these practices, such as improved collaboration, more controlled environments, and the ability to integrate unit testing methodologies, while still using the Apps Script editor for publishing and deployment tasks. Additionally, it provides resources and links for further exploration of Apps Script development.

As mobile usage surges, particularly during the holiday season, app developers are encouraged to optimize their strategies to capitalize on increased traffic, with mobile app installs expected to rise by 150% on Christmas Day compared to a typical December day. Given that over half of digital media time in the US is spent in apps, the article emphasizes the importance of engaging app audiences through effective promotion and optimization techniques. Cheney Tsai, a Mobile Solutions Consultant at Google, suggests leveraging word-of-mouth via App Invites, expanding cross-promotion across platforms, and employing SEO strategies like App Indexing to maximize visibility. Additionally, optimizing app store presentations and utilizing analytics to refine promotional campaigns are essential for standing out in a competitive market of over 3.1 million apps. Developers are also encouraged to actively engage with user feedback through platforms like the Google Play Developer Console to address concerns and improve user experience.

Google has enhanced the Classroom Share Button to include JavaScript callbacks and a new question post type, allowing developers to track user interactions more effectively. The supported callbacks, onsharestart and onsharecomplete, can be utilized for analytics, reporting, and improving user engagement by monitoring share frequencies and histories. These enhancements, compatible with all major browsers except Internet Explorer, provide opportunities for contextual help and A/B testing to optimize user experience. Developers can customize the share button's appearance while adhering to Google's branding guidelines and are encouraged to engage with the community on StackOverflow and report issues or requests via the Classroom API bug tracker.

Google has announced the launch of its new Developers Agency Program, aimed at supporting developer agencies worldwide by providing them with dedicated training, events, customized online resources, best practices, and developer support. This initiative is part of Google's broader effort to enhance the experience of developers and startups globally, complementing existing programs like Google Developer Groups, Women Techmakers, and Launchpad. Recognizing the pivotal role developer agencies play in the app economy, this program seeks to empower them to create high-quality applications using Google technologies. Initially, the program will be introduced in India, the UK, Southeast Asia, and the US, with plans to expand further in 2016. Additionally, Google will offer a directory on its website for clients to easily find trained agencies with Google resources, ensuring these agencies can deliver top-notch app experiences for their clients.

Google has announced the expansion of its Launchpad program with the introduction of the Launchpad Accelerator, aimed at providing comprehensive support to high-potential mobile startups in India, Brazil, and Indonesia. This new initiative offers a six-month program that includes hands-on support, training, and mentorship from Google professionals and world-class mentors, along with equity-free funding of up to $50,000 per startup. The program begins with a two-week intensive session in Mountain View, California, after which ongoing mentorship will be provided both locally and remotely. Startups will also benefit from Google service credits and free co-working space. Launchpad Accelerator is part of Google's broader efforts to support mobile app developers globally, having already impacted over 8,000 startups in more than 30 countries through various Launchpad activities. The program is set to expand to more countries, with applications being accepted for the next round starting mid-2016.

Google announced the new Calendar Resource API as part of the Admin SDK’s Directory API, allowing Google for Work customers to manage physical resources like conference rooms and printers more effectively. This API provides improvements over the previous GDATA Calendar Resource API, such as offering more granular control for Apps administrators. The new API enables end users to add physical resources to meetings as needed, enhancing the management capabilities within Google Apps for Work domains. Developers are encouraged to transition their applications to this updated API, with the deprecation of the existing API beginning in January 2016 and its sunset scheduled for January 2017.

Google announced the release of version 3 of the Google Drive API, which offers a leaner, faster, and more consistent interface aimed at simplifying integration for first-time developers. This update reduces the number of collections, removes duplication, and standardizes method and property names, with defaults optimized for efficiency. For instance, the files.list call now includes only frequently used fields by default, making it nearly six times faster than version 2. Although future versions will focus on new features, version 3 enhances performance and usability while continuing to support version 2, allowing existing applications to operate without requiring immediate upgrades. Developers interested in transitioning to version 3 can use the provided cheat sheet for migration guidance, and further resources are available in the developer documentation and on StackOverflow.

Fun Propulsion Labs, a team within Google focused on enhancing gaming on Android and other platforms, celebrated the holiday season in 2015 by releasing special holiday-themed versions of their open-source, cross-platform games, Pie Noon and Zooshi. These games, built with libraries for C++ developers, featured festive modes like Zooshi's Santa mode and Pie Noon's Snowdown, which could be accessed on Google Play and GitHub. This initiative highlighted the lab's ongoing commitment to fostering gaming development by providing tools and resources for developers while adding a seasonal twist to entertain users during the holidays.

Google Code-in (GCI) is an annual global competition aimed at pre-university students aged 13-17, providing them with the opportunity to learn and develop computer science skills by working on real software projects with guidance from mentors. Running for seven weeks, GCI allows students to choose from a diverse range of tasks offered by 14 open-source organizations, covering areas such as coding, documentation, quality assurance, and user interface design. The initiative is designed to inspire students to explore computer science beyond their initial encounters, such as the "hour of code," by engaging them in meaningful contributions to open-source projects in various fields, including healthcare, education, and technology. With beginner tasks available, the program encourages newcomers to find a coding community they enjoy, aiming for them to become active contributors in the future. Since its inception, over 2,200 students from 87 countries have participated, making it a significant event in promoting computer science education and open-source software development among young learners.

Google introduced the Google Cast Remote Display plugin for Unity, enabling developers to easily adapt their Unity games for display on TVs via Chromecast and other Google Cast devices. This plugin leverages the processing power and sensors of Android and iOS devices to render games on both the mobile device and a connected TV, thus enhancing the gaming experience with the powerful Unity engine. Notable games like "Monopoly Here & Now" and "Risk" have already utilized this technology to bring immersive, strategic gameplay to larger screens. Developers can integrate the plugin by downloading it from GitHub or the Unity Asset Store and follow guidelines to ensure a smooth multi-screen user experience. This release presents a significant opportunity for developers, given the widespread adoption of Chromecast, to reach a broader audience by enhancing their games for TV display.

Originally posted on Inside AdMob by Sean Meng, the article highlights the potential of using a hybrid monetization strategy combining in-app purchases (IAPs) and ads to maximize mobile game revenue. It points out that by 2017, a vast majority of app downloads would be free, emphasizing the importance for developers to create robust monetization models that cater to various user spending preferences. The white paper introduced in the article offers insights and best practices for implementing this strategy, noting that a combination of IAPs and ads could generate significantly more revenue than IAPs alone. The approach involves targeting users strategically to provide the right monetization opportunities, rather than merely bundling ads and IAPs. The article encourages developers to download the white paper to learn about effective hybrid monetization models and invites feedback on social media platforms.