Google Play game developers and players alike are getting a quartet of
game-changing additions today: real-time multiplayer, leaderboards,
cloud saves and achievements. And that's not all -- the latter three
services will function cross-platform between Android, iOS and the web.
The whole initiative is called -- unsurprisingly
-- "Google Play Game Services," and it's available today in a
smattering of games. Unlike Apple's Game Center application, what
Google's offering is backend support for developers rather than a
standalone application. Think of it more like OpenFeint
than Game Center -- you can sign in using your Google+ login in-game,
and that login will track your identity (including leaderboard scores,
achievements and saves) across various games and devices.
With its $9.99/month service, the tech powerhouse makes its first move into a space already occupied by the likes of Pandora, Spotify, and possibly, Apple.
Google launched a music streaming service Wednesday, taking its first stab at the growing industry with a new service linked to Google Play for Android.
The Google Play Education store will allow schools to search for content by subject matter and grade level and provide content that has been recommended by other educators.
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Google I/O event previews Mercedes' integration of Google services
The annual Google I/O developers conference is going on this week in San Francisco, California, featuring in-depth sessions that showcase the latest and greatest from Google in the way of products and technology. One of the things being highlighted this year is Mercedes-Benz's integration of Google's services.
Using a current SL model
,
Mercedes-Benz will show a Drive Kit Plus system which uses a smartphone
and custom app which enables seamless integration of the smartphone
with the car's infotainment system. Essentially, this makes it easier to
use your smartphone with your vehicle's on-board features such as
navigation and streaming music.