Google Maps Android API allows users of your application to explore maps available through a Google service. The new Maps version 2 offers more functionalities such as 3D maps, indoor and satellite maps, efficient caching and drawing using vector-based technology, and animated transitions through the map.

Let's import the sample project to examine its most important classes. Navigate to File | Import Project, search for the sample project in your SDK installation folder, and select the project root directory, /google_play_services/samples/maps/. Continue by clicking on Next in the successive dialogs, and then click on the Finish button to open the sample project in a new window. Now we have the Google Play services project and the maps sample project loaded in a new window in Android Studio.

Open the BasicMapDemoActivity class under the maps project under src/main/java/. The com.google.android.gms.maps package contains the Google Maps Android API classes. The GoogleMap...