1page.title=Location and Maps
2excludeFromSuggestions=true
3@jd:body
4
5<div id="qv-wrapper">
6<div id="qv">
7
8<h2>In this document</h2>
9  <ol>
10    <li><a href="#location">Location Services</a></li>
11    <li><a href="#maps">Google Maps Android API</a></li>
12  </ol>
13
14</div>
15</div>
16<div class="note">
17<p>
18    <strong>Note:</strong> This is a guide to the <i>Android framework</i> location APIs in the
19    package {@link android.location}. The Google Location Services API, part of Google Play
20    Services, provides a more powerful, high-level framework that automates tasks such as
21    location provider choice and power management. Location Services also provides new
22    features such as activity detection that aren't available in the framework API. Developers who
23    are using the framework API, as well as developers who are just now adding location-awareness
24    to their apps, should strongly consider using the Location Services API.
25</p>
26<p>
27    To learn more about the Location Services API, see
28    <a href="{@docRoot}google/play-services/location.html">Google Location Services for Android</a>.
29</p>
30</div>
31<p>
32    Location and maps-based apps offer a compelling experience on mobile devices. You
33    can build these capabilities into your app using the classes of the {@link
34    android.location} package and the Google Maps Android API. The sections below provide
35    an introduction to how you can add the features.
36</p>
37
38<h2 id="location">Location Services</h2>
39
40<p>Android gives your applications access to the location services supported by
41the device through classes in the {@code android.location} package. The
42central component of the location framework is the
43{@link android.location.LocationManager} system service, which provides APIs to
44determine location and bearing of the underlying device (if available). </p>
45
46<p>As with other system services, you do not instantiate a {@link android.location.LocationManager}
47directly. Rather, you request an instance from the system by calling
48{@link android.content.Context#getSystemService(String)
49getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE)}. The method returns a handle to a new {@link
50android.location.LocationManager} instance.</p>
51
52<p>Once your application has a {@link android.location.LocationManager}, your application
53is able to do three things:</p>
54
55<ul>
56    <li>Query for the list of all {@link android.location.LocationProvider}s for the last known
57user location.</li>
58    <li>Register/unregister for periodic updates of the user's current location from a
59    location provider (specified either by criteria or name).</li>
60    <li>Register/unregister for a given {@link android.content.Intent} to be fired if the device
61comes within a given proximity (specified by radius in meters) of a given lat/long.</li>
62</ul>
63
64<p>For more information about acquiring the user location, read the <a
65href="{@docRoot}guide/topics/location/strategies.html">Location Strategies</a> guide.</p>
66
67
68
69<h2 id="maps">Google Maps Android API</h2>
70
71<p>With the
72<a href="http://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android/">Google Maps Android API</a>,
73you can add maps to your app that are based on Google
74Maps data. The API automatically handles access to Google Maps servers, data downloading,
75map display, and touch gestures on the map. You can also use API calls to add markers,
76polygons and overlays, and to change the user's view of a particular map area.</p>
77
78<p>The key class in the Google Maps Android API is
79<a href="{@docRoot}reference/com/google/android/gms/maps/MapView.html">{@code MapView}</a>.
80A <a href="{@docRoot}reference/com/google/android/gms/maps/MapView.html">{@code MapView}</a>
81displays a map with data obtained
82from the Google Maps service. When the
83<a href="{@docRoot}reference/com/google/android/gms/maps/MapView.html">{@code MapView}</a>
84has focus, it will capture
85keypresses and touch gestures to pan and zoom the map automatically, including
86handling network requests for additional maps tiles. It also provides all of the
87UI elements necessary for users to control the map. Your application can also
88use <a href="{@docRoot}reference/com/google/android/gms/maps/MapView.html">{@code MapView}</a>
89class methods to control the map programmatically and draw a
90number of overlays on top of the map. </p>
91
92<p>The Google Maps Android APIs are not included in the Android platform,
93but are available on any device
94with the Google Play Store running Android 2.2 or higher, through
95<a href="{@docRoot}google/play-services/index.html">Google Play services</a>.</p>
96
97<p>To integrate Google Maps into your app, you need to install the Google Play services
98libraries for your Android SDK. For more details, read about <a
99href="{@docRoot}google/play-services/maps.html">Google Play services</a>.</p>
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