Google Maps at Google I/O

In the Keynote presentation at Google I/O today Google announced three new location API's for the Google Maps Android API v2.

1. Fused Location Provider

The Fused Location Provider is an improved location detection service for Android. As well as improved location detection the Fused Location Provider is more power efficient and uses less than 1% of the device's battery per hour

2. Geofencing

Geofences allow your apps to detect when users enter or exit defined zones on a map. The Geofencing API will allow up to 100 geofences per app. 

3. Activity Recognition

The Activity Recognition API uses the phone's accelerometer to automatically detect whether users are walking, driving or cycling. I assume developers will use this in activity tracking apps, for example to track bike rides and provide user statistics on average speed, distance travelled etc.