Google Maps v2
On March 3, 2013, Google introduced their new Google Map API v2, thus deprecating the previous version (Google Maps API v1). Since Google will not issue any more API keys for the earlier version, it is recommended that every new application should use the new version. Some of the main reasons are performance improvement and the ability to have more than one map view into an application.
While Chapter 10, Worldwide Marco Polo, covers the coding aspect, it is essential to have an API key in order to use the new map module. The API key can easily be obtained on Google's Android developer website at http://bit.ly/10kkTsU.