Android Studio IDE, Software Updates, AS05 - Kapil Sharma

                                                     https://youtu.be/rskjvc6NcMA

Google Location Services API - Kapil Sharma

Google Location Services API:  

Author(Danny) - http://goo.gl/d55bpz

Package “android.location”

The package “android.location” has been available since Android was first introduced, and it gives us access to location services. These services allow applications to obtain periodic updates of the device’s geographical location.

The package provides two means of acquiring location data:

• LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER: Determines location using satellites. Depending on the conditions, this provider may take a while to return a location fix.
  
• LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER: Determines location based on availability of nearby cell towers and WiFi access points. This is faster than GPS_PROVIDER.
  

When you are looking for user location you have to play with these providers and their availability. Ideally you obtain the first location using NETWORK_PROVIDER, which might not be as accurate, but is much faster. You might then make an attempt to increase accuracy by listening for a better location fix using the GPS_PROVIDER.

Google Location Services API

Google Location Services API, also known as FusedLocationProviderApi, is Google’s recommended way of getting a user’s location. It provides the best accuracy based on our needs. Some of the advantages of using this API over the previous one are:

• Simplicity: Unlike the previous API, you no longer have to deal with multiple providers. Instead, you specify high-level needs, such as “high accuracy” or “low power”, and it will take a suitable approach.
  
• Availability: Gives your app immediate access to the best, most recent known location. Usually this information is readily available, you just have to ask for it.
  
• Power-efficiency: Minimizes your application’s usage of power.
  
• Versatility: Meets a wide range of needs, from foreground uses - needing highly accurate location data, to background uses - requiring only periodic location updates with negligible power impact.
  
  Requesting Permission, Configuring AndroidManifest.xml
  Androids have specific security features that would prevent any arbitrary application from requesting a precise user location. To solve this, we need to edit “AndroidManifest.xml” and add the permission we require for this application:
  
  

  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
  

  While we are at it, we should also define the version of Google Play Services we are using for this application:
  

  <meta-data android:name="com.google.android.gms.version"
             android:value="@integer/google_play_services_version" />
  

  Checking for Google Play Services Availability: 

  Before accessing features provided by Google Play Services, we must check if the device has Google Play Services installed, and that the version is the one we intend to use (6.5.87).

  private boolean checkGooglePlayServices(){
   int checkGooglePlayServices = GooglePlayServicesUtil
    .isGooglePlayServicesAvailable(mContext);
   if (checkGooglePlayServices != ConnectionResult.SUCCESS) {
    /*
    * Google Play Services is missing or update is required
    *  return code could be
    * SUCCESS,
    * SERVICE_MISSING, SERVICE_VERSION_UPDATE_REQUIRED,
    * SERVICE_DISABLED, SERVICE_INVALID.
    */
    GooglePlayServicesUtil.getErrorDialog(checkGooglePlayServices,
    mContext, REQUEST_CODE_RECOVER_PLAY_SERVICES).show();
  
    return false;
   }
  
   return true;
  }
  

  This method will check for Google Play Services, and in case the device doesn’t have it installed (it’s rare, but I’ve seen such cases), it will open a dialog with the corresponding error and invite the user to install/update Google Play Services from the Google Play Store.
  
  

  Accessing Google APIs

  To access Google APIs, we just need to perform one more step: create an instance of GoogleApiClient. The Google API Client provides a common entry point to all the Google Play services, and manages the network connection between the user’s device and each Google service.
  Github Source: https://github.com/dtrejogo/google-location-services-api
  

Original Source: http://www.toptal.com/android/android-developers-guide-to-google-location-services-api

Android Marshmallow - Kapil Sharma

New: API 23

• Android Platform Change:
  • Final Permissions User Interface — we updated the permissions user interface and enhanced some of the permissions behavior.

• API Change:
  • Updates to the Fingerprint API — which enables better error reporting, better fingerprint enrollment experience, plus enumeration support for greater reliability.

http://android-developers.blogspot.in/2015/08/m-developer-preview-3-final-sdk.html

Developer Preview 3: 
Build: MPA44G
Hardware support: Nexus 5, 6, 9, Player
Emulator support: x86 & ARM 32/64-bit
Google Play services: 7.8
Key Changes: Permission changes

Install an Image to a Device: 

In order to use a device image for testing, you must install it on a compatible device. Follow the instructions below to install a system image:

1. Download and uncompress one of the system image packages listed here.
2. Backup any data you want to preserve from the device.
3. Follow the instructions at developers.google.com/android to flash the image onto your device.

Set Up the Preview SDK: http://developer.android.com/preview/setup-sdk.html

Android M Preview 3 Developer Docs: 

http://developer.android.com/preview/download.html#top

Android CBT (Class 001) - Kapil Sharma

Android Prerequisite:

1.) Android SDK (Latest) 
2.) ADT (Android Debugging Tool)
3.) Eclipse IDE or Android Studio
4.) JDK, JRE (Latest)

Links for downloading of the following:

Android SDK: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

ADT: http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/index.html?pkg=adt

Android studio: https://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/studio.html

Eclipse IDE: https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

JDK/JRE: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7-downloads-1880260.html

Note: In case of any issues, please add your comments, will update it with the right solution ASAP. 

Android L Release: Developer Preview Build Installation - Kapil Sharma

Steps for installation of Android L on Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 series devices: 

Step 1: First download the relevant Android L OS file from Google site. (http://developer.android.com/preview/setup-sdk.html)

Step 2: Than open developer options on your Nexus device. These options are hidden. 
So go to Settings > About device and then tap on the build number 7 times. 
Once you have done that, you will find developer options in your Settings menu.

Step 3: Open developer options and make sure USB Debugging is ticked.

Step 4: Check if your computer has the relevant drivers required for Nexus devices. 
If not, download the drivers from here and install. 
(http://developer.android.com/sdk/win-usb.html)

Step 5: Make sure you have ADB and Fastboot Installed. For this, follow the steps from here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2317790)

Step 6: Connect your device to computer and open ADB (it will open in a command window). Type adb reboot bootloader. Your phone will go into recovery mode. 
Check the screen and see that for Bootloader status it shows unlocked.

Step 7: Most likely your device will have the locked bootloader. 
To unlock it, type fastboot oem unlock. Then follow instructions on your phone screen. 
This will unlock bootloader as well as do a factory reset of the device.

Step 8: Disconnect and reconnect your device to PC. 
You may have to go into settings again, reveal developer options and select USB debugging.

Step 9: Unzip the Android L file you had downloaded. Create a new folder with an easy to type name like Android and put all the files in it. Then put this folder into Minimal ADB and Fastboot Folder which is in your computer's program folder.

Step 10: Hold SHIFT key and right click on the Minimal ADB and Fastboot folder. 
From the menu, select "Open Command Window here".

Step 11: With your device connected, type adb reboot bootloader.

Step 12: Navigate (use CD to change directories) to the folder where Android L files are stored.

Step 13: Type flash-all in the command window.

Step 14: If you have done everything right, Android L will be installed on your device. 
It will take up to max 15 minutes though. 

Warning: This is an developer preview build this may contain bugs and leads to device crashes.