December 2014 - New release of Google Maps Android API

[Mark McDonald (Google)]

Hi, folks.

A new version of the Google Maps Android API v2 is now available with some big changes!

New Features

• The API offers a new lite mode. When lite mode is enabled, the API serves a bitmap image instead of a fully-interactive map. Lite mode supports all of the map types and a subset of the functionality supplied by the full API. Markers and shapes are drawn on top of the static image client-side, so you still have full control over them. A lite-mode map is useful when you want to display a number of small maps, or a map that is too small to offer meaningful interactivity.

• A new map toolbar is available in both lite mode and full mode, and is enabled by default in both modes for apps that are recompiled against the new client library. Tapping on the toolbar opens the Google Maps mobile app, giving users quick access to directions and turn-by-turn navigation to the selected marker. In lite mode the toolbar is static, whereas in full mode it slides in when the user taps a marker.

• The API supports a new onMapReady() callback which you can set by calling MapView.getMapAsync() or MapFragment.getMapAsync(). The onMapReady() method is called when the map is ready to be used, and provides a non-null instance of GoogleMap. This means that you no longer need to check for a non-null map before using the map. See the guide to adding a map.

• Similarly, you can now use StreetViewPanoramaView.getStreetViewPanoramaAsync() orStreetViewPanoramaFragment.getStreetViewPanoramaAsync() to get a ready-to-use Street View panorama. See the documentation.

Resolved Issues

• GoogleMap.CancelableCallback() now behaves correctly when animating/moving the camera. (Issue 5208)
• The visible region's LatLngBounds are now calculated correctly in landscape mode. (Issue 5285)
• A marker performance regression is fixed. (Issue 7174)
• The problem with arrowhead shapes in triangulating convex quadrilaterals is fixed. (Issue 6197 - the initial problem reported is now fixed)

Notes

• getMap() is deprecated in favour of the new getMapAsync(), described above. Similarly, getStreetViewPanorama() is deprecated in favor of the new getStreetViewPanoramaAsync().
• For apps that are recompiled against the new client library, the map's zoom controls are disabled by default. Up to this release, they have been enabled by default. You can still enable and disable them by callingUiSettings.setZoomControlsEnabled().

See here for past release notes: 
https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/releases 

The API is distributed as part of the Google Play SDK. To start using the latest version, install the upgrade from the Android SDK Manager.

The latest Gradle dependency string can be found at
http://gradleplease.appspot.com/

Please continue filing your bugs and feature requests in the issue tracker (https://code.google.com/p/gmaps-api-issues/). Additionally, if you have technical question, head over to Stack Overflow and tag your question with both “android” and “google-maps”. 

Mark McDonald
Google Maps Developer Platform