Google has recently announced Google play services 6.5 which brings whole new set of APIs to the developers, but before we start talking about that let me first explain what Google Play Services are and as a developer how that matters to you.
Android is an open source software with different versions coming out, with every version there are certain APIs which are upgraded and made available for developers to implement in their application. So some apps require specified version to work, With Google Play Service Google makes set of APIs related to Popular Google services available to all the android versions from and above 2.2 that covers the most of android devices in the market. So Google Play Services runs in the background of your device through which different apps running on the device can make API calls to different Google Services.
The Services which are available in Google Play Services are as Follows
1. Google Maps - Implement Google Maps in your App.
2. Google Play In-App Billing - Accept payment through In-App Billing.
3. Google+ - Verify users with their google plus account.
4. Google Wallet Instant Buy - Fast checkout when you are selling any product through App.
5. Google Cloud Platform - Host the backend of your app on Google Cloud.
6. Google Analytics - Get the detailed view of your audience.
7. Google Cloud Messaging - Make use of push notification.
8. Google Mobile Ads - Earn money through Google mobile ads.
9 .Google Cloud Save - Save the progress of users over cloud.
This are the APIs which you could benefit from by using Google Play Services. The latest iteration or the update to Google Play services is the update 6.5 which rolled out on Dec 17th.
So Whats New In Google Play Services 6.5?
Maps -
You can set up Turn By Turn navigation to a selected marker.
Lite Mode brings the ability to add the bitmap image of the map.
The need to communicate with the server is no longer necessary.
New Toolbar lets you quickly open google maps and get the directions.
Wallet -
You can now accept donations through your app.
Donate with Google Button.
Drive -
Creating and updating custom properties.
Create Empty Files.
Check whether connected to the power source and WiFi.
Cancel Pending Uploads.
Fit -
Activity Segmentation, Enabling pauses and annotation of the time interval between workout session.
Google Play Services SDK -
Unbundled aar file, so as to enable devs to select the needed API.
Manage 16 bit method limit on Dex Files.
So over and all the Google Play Services Brings some of the much needed and thoughtful changes. Which would help you developers build better apps.