Maps and places in Android Developers
1This video helps U get started w/ Maps and places in Android Developers.
i. Here are some troubleshooting tips for when Google Play Services won't update:
- Check your internet connection and try again over a stable wifi or mobile data. Updates can't download without an internet connection.
- Make sure auto-updates are enabled for your apps. Go to the Play Store app - Settings - Auto-update apps and make sure it's toggled on.
- Check that you have enough storage space for the update. Google Play Services updates can be large and may need 100-200MB free. Delete unused apps/files to free up space.
- Try restarting your device. This will clear any pending updates and allow you to retry the download.
- Go to Settings - Apps & Notifications - See all apps - Google Play Services. Force stop the app, clear cache/data and try updating again.
- Check that your time/date is set correctly. Incorrect device time can prevent updates. Go to Settings - Date & Time and set to Automatic.
- As a last resort, uninstall all updates to Google Play Services. This resets it to the factory version so it can re-update. Just search "Google Play Services" in your apps list.
- Consider updating your Android OS, if an update is available. The latest OS may fix issues with updating Google apps.
If none of these solutions work, it could be an issue with your device firmware or Google Play Services app. For further troubleshooting, I'd recommend contacting Google Play support directly.
ii. There are a few ways organizations can restrict and control usage of the Google Maps application on Android Enterprise devices:
- Disable location services - The EMM administrator can disable location access for the Maps app through policy. This prevents maps/navigation features.
- Disable app installs - The administrator can block the Google Maps app from being installed on company-owned devices.
- Restrict account sign-in - Block users from signing into their personal Google account in Maps which provides access to location history, recommendations etc.
- App configuration policies - Configure the Maps app to point to a specific version of maps data or restrictions on directions/routing.
- Network restrictions - Block access to Google Maps servers via firewall policies so the app won't function without VPN.
- Android Enterprise fully managed devices - The entire device can be locked down, removing the Google Play Store and sideloading only approved apps.
- Block screenshot capture - Prevent users from taking screenshots within the Maps apps to stop data leakage.
- OEM App Lock - Leverage Samsung Knox, Zebra AppLock etc. to selectively block Maps app usage completely.
- Monitoring usage - Solutions like MDM can monitor and alert on abnormal Maps usage patterns.
The specific restrictions depend on the organization's security policies and compliance needs. The EMM provider should be able to implement appropriate measures to lock down Google Maps.
iii. Here are the key steps to implement Google Maps in an Android app:
1. Get a Google Maps API key
- Go to the Google Cloud Console and create a project. Enable the Maps SDK for Android and generate an API key.
2. Add permissions in AndroidManifest.xml
- Add the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION and INTERNET permissions.
3. Add dependency in Gradle
- Add the Google Maps Android API dependency in your app-level Gradle file.
4. Add MapView in layout
- Add a Fragment or View in XML layout and set the class to com.google.android.gms.maps.MapView
5. Load Google Map
- In your activity, get a reference to the MapView. Call getMapAsync() which returns a GoogleMap object when ready.
6. Customize map
- Use GoogleMap options like setMapType(), addMarker(), moveCamera() etc. to customize what's displayed.
7. Manage lifecycle
- Register onResume() and onPause() callbacks to properly initialize/destroy the map when activity pauses and resumes.
8. Handle permissions and configurations
- Check for location permissions at runtime. Handle various errors and limitations.
9. Add additional features
- Add functionality like search, navigation, geojson overlays, traffic view etc. using the Maps SDK.
That covers the basic implementation! Make sure to follow the Google Maps Platform guides for Android best practices and optimize the maps experience.
Learn more@ https://www.youtube.com/c/ITGuides/search?query=Android.