This book completely covers the Android Google Maps API, which helps users to integrate the Google Map functionalities with their Android applications. This book also has real-time examples, which makes the learning process simpler and smoother.
Chapter 1, Setting Up the Development Environment, shows you how to install Android Studio and Eclipse IDE; configure Android SDK; create an Android virtual device in Windows, Mac, and Linux; and download the Google Play services.
Chapter 2, Configuring an API Key and Creating Our First Map Application, explains you how to obtain an API key from Google Cloud Console. It also helps you create your first Map application.
Chapter 3, Working with Different Map Types, helps you learn about the different map types, such as hybrid, terrain, and indoor as well as the lite mode.
Chapter 4, Adding Information to Maps, helps you understand how to add markers, overlays, and information windows to the map.
Chapter 5, Interacting with a Map, explains how to add custom controls, toolbars, gestures, and events to the map.
Chapter 6, Working with Custom Views, helps you change different camera views and animate the camera. It also helps you with map padding.
Chapter 7, Working with Location Data, helps you learn how to work with real-time location data (GPS data) and integrate it with an Android application.
Chapter 8, Knowing about the Street View, explains you how to add Street View to the map and use custom location in it.
Chapter 9, Google Maps Intents, explains you how to complete certain tasks using the native Google Maps application and Google Maps Intents.
Chapter 10, Creating a Custom Map Application, helps you create a real-time full fledged Android application using the map concepts learned in the previous chapters.
Appendix, Answers to Self-test Questions, covers the answers to all the self-test questions that appear at the end of every chapter.
To practice the code you need a perfectly working PC or Mac with the OS of your choice. The important software required is Android Studio or Eclipse with ADT plugin. It is recommended to use Android Studio over Eclipse as the support for Eclipse may end anytime in future. It is also recommended to have a physical Android device for testing apps as it is faster than the virtual device.
If you are an Android developer and want to integrate maps into your application, then this book is definitely for you. This book is intended for novice Android application developers who would like to get up and running with map-rich applications using Google Maps. Some basic development experience would be helpful, but it's not essential.
In this book, you will find a number of text styles that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles and an explanation of their meaning.
Code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles are shown as follows: "Now, extract the downloaded ZIP package and run the eclipse.exe executable."
A block of code is set as follows:
dependencies {
compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services:7.5.0'
compile 'com.android.support:appcompat-v7:21.0.3'
}When we wish to draw your attention to a particular part of a code block, the relevant lines or items are set in bold:
if(db.getMarkerCount() > 0){
List<Marker> markerList = db.getAllMarkers();
for (int i = 0; i < db.getMarkerCount(); i++) {
Marker mkr = markerList.get(i);Any command-line input or output is written as follows:
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 sudo apt-get update
New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, for example, in menus or dialog boxes, appear in the text like this: "Now, check the Developer Tools box and select Next."
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