Google plugs into the Android Platform for their App Store – their own Play Services lib that is closed source, propietery, obfuscated and required for any meaningful app.
1. Google Sign-In
Provides authentication services that allow users to sign in using their Google account.
**GoogleSignInActivity.java**
```java
import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.GoogleSignIn;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.GoogleSignInClient;
import com.google.android.gms.auth.GoogleSignInOptions;
public class GoogleSignInActivity extends Activity {
private static final String TAG = "GoogleSignInActivity";
private GoogleSignInClient mGoogleSignInClient;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
// Create a Google Sign-In client
GoogleSignInOptions options = new GoogleSignInOptions.Builder(GoogleSignInOptions.builder())
.requestId("id")
.requestEmail(true)
.build();
mGoogleSignInClient = GoogleSignIn.getClient(this, options);
// Start the sign-in flow
Intent intent = mGoogleSignInClient.getSignInIntent();
startActivityForResult(intent, 1);
}
@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int responseCode, Intent responseIntent) {
super.onActivityResult(requestCode, responseCode, responseIntent);
if (requestCode == 1) {
// Handle the sign-in result
GoogleSignInAccount account = mGoogleSignInClient.getSignedInAccount();
if (account!= null) {
// Account is signed in
System.out.println("Signed in: " + account.getDisplayName());
} else {
// Account is not signed in
System.out.println("Not signed in");
}
}
}
}
2. Google Maps and Location Services
This includes:
- Maps SDK, which adds maps and map-based interactions to apps.
- Fused Location Provider, offering a more efficient way to obtain device location data (using GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks).
- Geofencing API, which lets developers create virtual geographic boundaries that trigger events when the user enters or leaves specific areas.
- Activity Recognition API, which recognizes physical activities like walking, running, or biking.
import android.location.Location;
import android.location.LocationManager;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.Button;
import android.widget.TextView;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.CameraUpdateFactory;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.GoogleMap;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.OnMapReadyCallback;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.LatLng;
import com.google.android.gms.maps.model.MarkerOptions;
public class GoogleMapsActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements OnMapReadyCallback {
private GoogleMap mMap;
private LocationManager locationManager;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_google_maps);
Button button = findViewById(R.id.button);
button.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(View view) {
updateLocation();
}
});
locationManager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
if (locationManager.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER)) {
locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 1000, 10, new LocationListener() {
@Override
public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
updateMap(location);
}
@Override
public void onStatusChanged(String status, int accuracy) {
// Do nothing
}
@Override
public void onEnabled(boolean enabled) {
// Do nothing
}
});
}
mMap = ((GoogleMap) findViewById(R.id.map)).getMap();
mMap.setOnMapReadyCallback(this);
}
@Override
public void onMapReady(GoogleMap googleMap) {
mMap.addMarker(new MarkerOptions().position(new LatLng(37.7749, -122.4194)).title("San Francisco"));
}
private void updateMap(Location location) {
if (location!= null) {
LatLng latLng = new LatLng(location.getLatitude(), location.getLongitude());
mMap.moveCamera(CameraUpdateFactory.newLatLng(latLng));
}
}
private void updateLocation() {
Location location = locationManager.getLastKnownLocation(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);
if (location!= null) {
updateMap(location);
}
}
@Override
protected void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
locationManager.removeUpdates(this);
}
}
<com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView
android:id="@+id/map"
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="match_parent" />
<Button
android:id="@+id/button"
android:layout_width="wrap_content"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:text="Update Location" />
3. Firebase Integration
Integrates services like Analytics, Crashlytics, Cloud Messaging (for push notifications), Remote Config, and Firestore via Google Play Services.
dependencies {
implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-core:17.3.0'
implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging:22.1.0'
implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-crashlytics:22.1.0'
implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-analytics:22.1.0'
}
import com.google.firebase.messaging.FirebaseMessaging;
public class FcmHelper {
private static FirebaseMessaging mFirebaseMessaging;
public static void init() {
mFirebaseMessaging = FirebaseMessaging.getInstance(app);
}
public static void registerToken(String token) {
mFirebaseMessaging.subscribeToTopic(token);
}
public static void sendNotification(String token, String message) {
mFirebaseMessaging.send(message);
}
}
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private AnalyticsHelper analyticsHelper;
private CrashlyticsHelper crashlyticsHelper;
private FcmHelper fcmHelper;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
analyticsHelper = new AnalyticsHelper();
crashlyticsHelper = new CrashlyticsHelper();
fcmHelper = new FcmHelper();
// Initialize Firebase
analyticsHelper.init();
crashlyticsHelper.init();
fcmHelper.init();
// Log an event
analyticsHelper.logEvent("LAUNCH");
// Log a screen name
analyticsHelper.logScreenName("MainActivity");
// Report an exception
crashlyticsHelper.reportException(new Exception("Test exception"));
// Register for FCM tokens
fcmHelper.registerToken("your_fcm_token");
// Send a notification
fcmHelper.sendNotification("your_fcm_token", "Hello, world!");
}
}
4. Google Play Billing
This service provides in-app purchasing functionality, allowing users to make payments within apps through Google Play.
In your build.gradle file, add the following lines:
dependencies {
implementation 'com.android.billingclient:billing:4.3.0'
}
Initialize the BillingClient
In your MainActivity or any other activity, initialize the BillingClient:
import com.android.billingclient.api.BillingClient;
import com.android.billingclient.api.BillingClientSetupCallback;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private BillingClient mBillingClient;
private String mStoreId;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
mStoreId = "YOUR_STORE_ID_HERE"; // Replace with your store ID
setupBillingClient();
}
private void setupBillingClient() {
mBillingClient = BillingClient.newBuilder(this)
.setAppId("YOUR_APP_ID_HERE") // Replace with your app ID
.setStoreId(mStoreId)
.build();
mBillingClient.setBillingSetupCallback(new BillingClientSetupCallback() {
@Override
public void onBillingSetupFinished(BillingResult billingResult) {
if (billingResult.isSuccess()) {
Log.d("BillingClient", "Setup finished");
} else {
Log.d("BillingClient", "Setup failed: " + billingResult.getStatus());
}
}
}, null);
}
// Other methods...
}
Make a purchase
To make a purchase, you can use the purchaseItemAsync method:
mBillingClient.purchaseItemAsync(mStoreId, "YOUR_ITEM_ID_HERE", 1)
.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback() {
@Override
public void onResult(int result, String message) {
if (result == BillingClient.BillingResult.PURCHASE_ITEM_SUCCESS) {
Log.d("BillingClient", "Purchase successful");
} else if (result == BillingClient.BillingResult.PURCHASE_ITEM_FAILED) {
Log.d("BillingClient", "Purchase failed: " + message);
}
}
});
Get the purchase details
To get the purchase details, you can use the getPurchaseDetailsAsync method:
mBillingClient.getPurchaseDetailsAsync(mStoreId, "YOUR_ITEM_ID_HERE")
.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback() {
@Override
public void onResult(int result, PurchaseDetails details) {
if (result == BillingClient.BillingResult.PURCHASE_DETAILS_SUCCESS) {
Log.d("BillingClient", "Purchase details: " + details.getPurchaseToken());
} else if (result == BillingClient.BillingResult.PURCHASE_DETAILS_FAILED) {
Log.d("BillingClient", "Purchase details failed: " + details.getErrorMessage());
}
}
});
5. Google Cloud Messaging (GCM) / Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
Enables apps to send push notifications and data payloads to devices.
Add dependencies
In your build.gradle file, add the following dependencies:
dependencies {
implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging:22.0.1'
}
Initialize FCM in your Activity
In your MainActivity, initialize the FCM:
import android.app.NotificationChannel;
import android.app.NotificationManager;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;
import com.google.firebase.messaging.FirebaseMessaging;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
// Initialize FCM
FirebaseMessaging.getInstance().subscribeToTopic("your_topic");
}
@Override
protected void onResume() {
super.onResume();
// Register for FCM notifications
FirebaseMessaging.getInstance().getToken()
.addOnCompleteListener(new OnCompleteListener<String>() {
@Override
public void onComplete(@NonNull Task<String> task) {
if (!task.isSuccessful()) {
Log.w(TAG, "Failed to get token for FCM");
return;
}
// Get the token
String token = task.getResult();
Log.d(TAG, "FCM Token: " + token);
// Send the token to your server
}
});
}
@Override
protected void onDestroy() {
super.onDestroy();
// Unsubscribe from FCM topics when the activity is destroyed
FirebaseMessaging.getInstance().unsubscribeFromTopic("your_topic");
}
}
Create a notification channel
Create a notification channel in your MainActivity:
import android.os.Build;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
// Create a notification channel
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
NotificationChannel channel = new NotificationChannel("your_channel_id");
channel.setDescription("Your notification channel description");
// Register the channel
NotificationManager manager = (NotificationManager) getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
manager.createNotificationChannel(channel);
}
}
}
Send a notification
To send a notification, use the following code:
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.util.Log;
import com.google.firebase.messaging.FirebaseMessaging;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
// Send a notification
FirebaseMessaging.getInstance().send(new RemoteMessage.Builder()
.setTopic("your_topic")
.addData("message", "Hello, world!")
.build());
}
}6. Google Drive API
Facilitates integration with Google Drive for saving and retrieving files from cloud storage.
Add necessary dependencies
In your build.gradle file, add the following dependencies:
dependencies {
implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-drive:22.0.1'
}
Create a Google Drive API project
You will need a new project in the Google Cloud Console and enable the Google Drive API. Create credentials for your project, such as a service account key file.
Initialize the Google Drive API
In your Android activity, initialize the Google Drive API:
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveApi;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveFile;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveMetadata;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveServiceException;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
// Initialize the Google Drive API
DriveApi.initialize(this, "YOUR_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_FILE");
}
}
Create a new file
Create a new file using the Google Drive API:
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveApi;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveFile;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveMetadata;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveServiceException;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
// Initialize the Google Drive API
DriveApi.initialize(this, "YOUR_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_FILE");
// Create a new file
DriveFile driveFile = new DriveFile("example.txt");
try {
DriveApi.newDriveFile(this, driveFile).setMetadata(new DriveMetadata("example.txt")).execute();
} catch (DriveServiceException e) {
Log.e(TAG, "Error creating file: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
}
List files
List all the files in your Google Drive account:
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveApi;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveFile;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveMetadata;
import com.google.android.gms.drive.DriveServiceException;
public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
private static final String TAG = "MainActivity";
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
// Initialize the Google Drive API
DriveApi.initialize(this, "YOUR_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_KEY_FILE");
// List all files
DriveFile[] driveFiles = new DriveApi().files().list(this).execute();
for (DriveFile file : driveFiles) {
Log.d(TAG, "File: " + file.getName());
}
}
}7. Google Cast
Supports media streaming to Google Cast-enabled devices, such as Chromecast.
8. Google Fit
Integrates health and fitness data from wearables or apps into a centralized location for health monitoring and analysis.
9. Google Nearby
Provides APIs for communication between nearby devices, including location-based notifications and peer-to-peer connections.
10. Google Pay
Enables payment processing within apps using the Google Pay system, allowing users to make secure transactions.
11. AdMob
Allows developers to include in-app advertising through Google’s ad network.
12. SafetyNet
Offers various security-related services, including app attestation, reCAPTCHA, and device integrity checks to ensure the security of the app and device.
13. Google Analytics for Firebase
Allows developers to track user interactions within their apps, giving them insights into user behavior and app performance.
14. Wear OS Integration
Provides APIs for integrating with Wear OS devices, enabling apps to work with wearable technology.
15. Google Play Games Services
Facilitates features like leaderboards, achievements, multiplayer gaming, and other game-related functionalities.
Conclusion
Targeting any other App Store than Google’s may leave you without all of the above. This is one of the reasons WHY (besides the monetary side) – most app developers prefer first targeting the Apple App Platform