Google Play Services 9.8 launched with loads of new features, improvements

posted by Cosmin V. / Oct 25, 2016, 12:42 AM

Google Play Services 9.8 launched with loads of new features, improvements

The proprietary background services and API package for Android devices, Google Play Services has just received a major update that adds numerous features and enhancements that should make it even more useful to developers and Android users alike.

Since this is a major release, Google published a fairly long changelog that highlights some of the most important changes included in Google Play Services 9.8. It's important to note though that Google has decided to disable Nearby Notifications due to an issue that couldn't be addressed in time.

The good news is that this is just a temporary solution, so Google could enable the feature in the next update for Google Play Services.

Among the most interesting new features and improvements included in the update, we noticed the ability for users to fill in phone numbers associated with their account with a single tap in apps that use the Credentials API.

It's also worth mentioning that Fit now features a Goals API, which allows apps to read fitness goals created by users of the Google Fit application for Android devices.

Even though the Nearby Notifications has been temporarily disabled, the Nearby Messages feature has been enhanced with a new opt-in UI, as well as support for hands-free operation.

The Cast API has been improved with new features and improvements, along with Firebase. Many bug fixes and tweaks have been implemented as well, so make sure you check out the full changelog via the source link below.

source: Google

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5 Comments

1. Ezio2710

Posts: 548; Member since: Aug 22, 2015

get ready to sacrifice your RAM

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 3:24 AM 0

2. JC557

Posts: 1925; Member since: Dec 07, 2011

With a new wakelock problem I presume? Google is giant bike shedding piece of s**t company. Instead of trying to address the issues they just go on to give a canned response and bloat up the software in each update. It's pretty f**king lame that it auto updates and you cannot opt out and be stuck with whatever problems that may arise until the release a new version. The worst thing are the Google fanboys defending it and even being quite aggressive towards those experiencing issues.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 4:17 AM 1

3. JC557

Google Play Services essentially eating up the battery life of large capacity phones. They should really aim to be more efficient and I can see why people flock to iOS devices.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 4:18 AM 1

4. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

Agreed, it's not only the worst battery hogger, it's the worst privacy invader in android with loads of data-mining nodes. And what do you know, it's the only one you officially can't optimize in the settings, plus, using android's permission controls to block parts of it will result in apps continuously nagging you to allow those permissions even though they're clearly not needed (no problems when I block it via Privacy Guard or XPrivacy on my OnePlus One). Just more nodes waiting to get blocked on my OnePlus One.

posted on Oct 25, 2016, 7:02 AM 2

5. JC557

True, I turned off a lot of the stuff that phones home or mines yet it still does it unless I turn off stuff that renders the Google apps useless without. Body sensors for GMail? f**king hell google.