What’s in the New Google Play Services 5.0 Announced at Google IO

Thursday, June 26, 2014

At Google I/O a new version of Google Play services was revealed that brings new capabilities and the latest optimizations to devices across the Android ecosystem.

Here is what Google says about the New Google Play Services 5.0:

Services for Android wearables: Apps can more easily communicate and sync with code running on Android wearables through an automatically synchronized, persistent data store and a reliable messaging interface.

Play Games services: Build the gaming experience with Quests, which allow event-based challenges for players to complete for rewards, Saved Games (a snapshot API allow synchronization of game data along with a cover-image and description), and Game Profile (providing experience points for players).

App Indexing API: Surface deep content in native mobile apps on Google search and drive additional user engagement.

Google Cast: Use media tracks to enable closed-caption support for Chromecast.

Drive: Sort query results, create offline folders, and select any mime type in the file picker by default.

Wallet: Build a "Save to Wallet" button for offers directly into an app; use geo-fenced in-store notifications to prompt the user to show and scan digital cards. Split tender allows payment to be split between Wallet Balance and a credit/debit card in Google Wallet.

Analytics: Get insights into the full user journey and understand how different user acquisition campaigns are performing with Enhanced Ecommerce, providing the ability to measure product impressions, product clicks, and more.

Mobile Ads: Use improved in-app purchase ads and integrations for the Play store in-app purchase API client.

Dynamic Security Provider: Offers an alternative to the platform's secure networking APIs that can be updated more frequently, for faster delivery of security patches.

The rollout of Google Play services 5.0 will take several days.