How to detect an android device whether it supports google maps API

Question

I am currently developing an android application uses Google map API.

I am wondering do all android devices support map API, becuase this api is an optinal api and it is an add-on to the platform.

I am worried that my application won't be able to run on that device.

What I need to know is programatically detect wether the device support map API, and catch the exception and do something else.

Because, using map capability is only one of features of my application, I would like to let those devices that don't support map api can still download and run my application with out effecting other features of my app.

Any comment or suggestions are welcome

Answer 1

I have used following solution in addition to described

<uses-library android:name="com.google.android.maps" android:required="false"/>

in another answers:

public void mapClick(View view)
{
    try
    {
        // check if Google Maps is supported on given device
        Class.forName("com.google.android.maps.MapActivity");

        this.startActivity(new Intent(this, MyMapActivity.class));
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        e.printStackTrace();
        UIUtils.showAlert(this, R.string.google_maps_not_found);
    }
}

Answer 2

I needed to see if the library existed before attempting any calling, so I could fill the relevant preferences before-hand. Here's the code I came up with to check.

public static boolean hasSystemSharedLibraryInstalled(Context ctx,
        String libraryName) {
    boolean hasLibraryInstalled = false;
    if (!TextUtils.isEmpty(libraryName)) {
        String[] installedLibraries = ctx.getPackageManager()
                .getSystemSharedLibraryNames();
        if (installedLibraries != null) {
            for (String s : installedLibraries) {
                if (libraryName.equals(s)) {
                    hasLibraryInstalled = true;
                    break;
                }
            }
        }
    }
    return hasLibraryInstalled;
}

And then I check to see if com.google.android.maps is installed.