Google has introduced a new API for developers to take advantage of: the People API. The purpose of the People API is to simplify gathering information about a user's contacts once they have given permission. As Google points out in its announcement post, the People API essentially condenses the current process of tapping into two different APIs (Google + and Contacts) for the same information.
Previously, developers had to make multiple calls to the Google+ API for user profiles and the Contacts API for contacts. The new People API uses the newest protocols and technologies and will eventually replace the Contacts API which uses the GData protocol.
For example, if your user has contacts in her private contact list, a call to the API (if she provides consent to do so) will retrieve a list containing the contacts merged with any linked profiles.
In addition to streamlining the process of gathering contact data, Google says that the new People API exposes new data as well, such as addresses, birthdays and more. For the full details of the new API, you can check out Google's full blog post.
Reader comments
Android's new People API helps developers more easily tap into contact data
This is great...maybe Google can be the first to impress and finally give us the ability to add a Google Maps business/address/data directly to a new contact instead of copying and pasting info manually.
Wtf
Data_theNew_Greed
Who's this James Carroway guy? Looks suspicious! ;) ha
XDA: Shayneflashindaily
Cool, so there will be more apps for me to say "NO" when it begs me for my contacts.
"the new People API exposes new data as well"
oh ........... yaaaaayyyyy. *sarcasm*
The blog post has been removed? Any idea why?
Inb4 GOOGLE IS SPYING ON ME OMG CHEMTRAILS JET FUEL CAN'T MELT STEEL BEAMS
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