Tag: developers

Android Nanodegree : Google Announces a New Course For Young App Developers

If you’re looking for a course in coding apps, Google and Tata Trusts may have the answer for you. The two names have come together to launch an Android Nanodegree in partnership with Udaycity. The course aims at letting developers work on their skills from anywhere in the country on a phone, laptop or tablet. Google and Tata Trusts will also offer a 1,000 scholarships for students as part of the programme.

Rajan Anandan, VP & Managing Director of Google South East Asia and India said at the launch event of the initiative, “With the launch of this program we want to bridge the gap by providing India’s developer community an easy access to learn and build high quality apps for the world. Today, only 2% of apps built in India feature in the top 1000 apps globally and our goal is to raise this to 10% in next three years. We’re pleased to announce, that Google along with Tata Trusts will offer 500 free scholarships each to developers for Android Developer Nanodegree program.”

The Udacity Android Nanodegree program is open for enrollment right now. The program takes an average of 6-9 months and costs Rs. 9,800 per month with Udacity refunding 50 percent of the tuition upon completion. Google will also host a career summit for thirty of the top graduates from the Android Nanodegree program in Bangalore by end of this year. Scholarships for the Android Nanodegree are available immediately. For more information click here.

September 21, 2015
Amazon Launches Live App Testing for Android and Fire Devices

Amazon recently launched a new developer tool called Live App Testing. The new tool basically allows the developers to distribute your apps in the Amazon Appstore to a pre-defined set of testers for the purpose of gathering feedback, improving quality, increasing stability and optimizing the experience before their app goes live for everyone to download. This testing apps feature can also take advantage of Amazon’s full suite of developer services, including in-app purchases, in a production environment.

Live App Testing creates a version of your app that is only distributed to select testers, which are invited by manually adding email addresses. Testers receive an invite via email with instructions to download the test app and begin testing against Amazon’s production environment (the full suite of Amazon services including in-app purchasing) on any Android or Fire device. Amazon ensures that only the set of testers you defined are the ones that can test your app. Once your app is running, you can either end your test, or promote your test to an upcoming version that has fixes and finishing touches in place.

What’s interesting is that Amazon is supporting Android devices, well it only further intrudes Google’s enclave, though it is not clear how far the support extends. It’s also worth emphasizing that this isn’t just for Kindle Fire devices: the tool offers support for all Amazon’s Fire devices, including the Fire TV and Fire phone.

“In house testing with side-loaded apps is great for isolating and fixing bugs, but it’s not enough. To be certain that your customers are getting the experience you want them to have, you have to test your app against a production environment,” said Amazon’s Paul Cutsinger.

Live App Testing isn’t meant as a replacement for in-house testing via side-loaded apps. Once you’re done isolating and fixing all the bugs you can, Live App Testing lets you test your app “in the real world” without having to handle setting up the whole test system.

The new testing service is one of many developer tools Amazon has rolled out in recent months. It also offers an A/B testing service, Amazon Maps, as well as APIs for in-app purchases, mobile ads, mobile Amazon Associates, device messaging, GameCircle (game data syncing), and login with Amazon. Earlier this year, Apple also acquired TestFlight, a popular mobile app testing service

August 14, 2014
Investors Gives $75 Million To Oculus Rift Makers For Finishing Consumer Model

Ever since its launch the Oculus Rift has always been one of the most talked about product for the future of Gaming Gadgets. The wearable gaming tech is still in the hands of developers which does not allow everyone to get a hands-on experience with it.

This might change soon, as Andreessen Horowitz, an investment firm known for funding companies like Jawbone, Facebook Twitter and Skype has funded the makers of Oculus Rift with $75 Million. With this investment, Mark Andreessen, owner of Andreessen Horowitz will join Oculus Rift as a member in the companies Board of directors. Mark said in a statement:

We believe Oculus will not only alter the gaming landscape, but will redefine fundamental human experiences in areas like film, education, architecture and design”, ‘We’re incredibly excited to help them change the world.”

This funding might help Oculus Rift to bring the consumer variant of the gaming wearable soon for everyone. Furthermore, company’s CEO Brendan Iribe said in a statement:

This additional infusion of capital, as well as the leadership and experience of Marc Andreessen, will help us take the final steps toward our ultimate goal: making virtual reality something consumers everywhere can enjoy.”

December 13, 2013
Google Now Selling Accessories to Explorer Edition Owners For Google Glass

While Google Glass is still away from people, the developers have been trying new ways to use it and enhance its usability. So, the Glass was available to the developers way back and now Google has also started selling out accessories for the wearable device.

The option in the store are, a visor like protection for the Glass or may be your eye which is priced at $75, also what is listed is an ear-bud for $50 but is not available as it says out of stock. This can be great for developers as these accessories might come handy for them for researches before Google makes Glass Public. However, this step from the company hints the public availability of the Glass soon.

October 31, 2013
Apple Set To Restore Developer Services This Week

Apple’s developer portal went down without warning mid-July, the victim of a minor hack the company took very, very seriously.

While few, if any, sensitive information was compromised, Apple took down the developer portal to rework the security backend and plug the hole. Today, the company has confirmed that most of the important developer tools will be returned to users this week.

Developers with accounts set to expire during the downtime have been extended for the same period, so any apps about to be removed due to non-payment will remain in the App Store for a little while longer.

“We plan to reinstate most of the remaining services this week: Xcode automatic configuration as well as access to license agreements, TSIs, program enrollments, and renewals in Member Center,” Apple said in an e-mail that went out to developers Monday morning.

Following the breach, Apple promised that it would be performing an “overhaul” of its developer systems, including security updates and a rebuilding of the company’s database. In its initial status updates on the security breach Apple promised that no “sensitive” information had been accessed, but as always we recommend a password change and two-factor authentication for any registered Apple developer whose information may be at risk.

August 6, 2013
Report : Microsoft Paying Devs $100,000 To Develop For Windows Phone

Sources close to Microsoft have confirmed that the tech giant is determined to prop up its Windows Phone 8 App Store, and it’s willing to bust out the big boy checkbook to do it. According to Business Insider, Microsoft has offered several top tier developers upwards of $100,000 to bring key apps to its mobile platform.

This is on top of offers to pay $100 per app, up to $2000, if developers publish an app before the end of this month.

The payment aims to entice developers to create apps for Windows Phone 8 as Microsoft play catch up to other app stores for Apple, Android, and BlackBerry.

Windows Phone chief marketing office Thom Gruhler told Bloomberg that Microsoft currently has around 145,000 apps and games in the Windows Store, although versions of Pinterest and Instagram are still missing for Windows Phone.

Although Windows Phone 8 is missing these two particularly popular apps, Gruhler explains that the store does still contain 48 of the 50 most-downloaded apps across all platforms.

While some may argue bribing developers is cheating, this is exactly the level of support we expect Microsoft to provide for the ecosystem, and of course Google and Blackberry both used the same strategy in their early years.

Last year, Google announced that Google Play had 600,000 apps, matching Apple’s App Store.

June 17, 2013
No CyanogenMOD For Galaxy S4, Devs Say Not Worth The Trouble

Recently, a member of the team that oversees CyanogenMOD on Samsung devices came out against building the software for the Galaxy S4. Citing many ongoing issues with the Galaxy S3 and Note 2 — specifically on Exynos hardware — longtime member XpLoDWilD spoke for Team Hacksung (whether authorized to or not) on his and others’ intentions for Samsung’s upcoming flagship.

Nobody at Team Hacksung (the team behind Galaxy S2, Note, S3, Note2, G Tabs… official CM ports) plans to buy it, neither develop for it. There are two variants which will be a pain to maintain, [and] the bugs we have on the S3 will probably be there on S4, too (camera), and we all know Samsung ability to release sources while staying in line with mainline. Yes Qualcomm releases sources, but Exynos sources we had were far from [working on] actual Galaxy products. I’m pretty sure the same will happen for this one.

That’s a uniform “no” from us.

Other established developers are taking a similar stance when it comes to the Galaxy S4, citing technical issues as well as Samsung’s history of not playing nice with independent devs. In other words, if you are hoping for a refined custom ROM experience on the GS4, you are out of luck for the time being.

Mainly from Samsung’s proclivity to keep essential drivers close to their chest, the members would rather focus on winnable battles. Essentially, they’re saying, Nexus devices are the only ones that will continue to work flawlessly on AOSP-based software.

The issue then gained momentum when Ricardo Cerqueira and Keyan Mobli, respected Android developers and members of CyanogenMOD’s sprawling community, pushed back against Android Central’s declarative title. Says Mobli: “Because of the open source nature of CyanogenMod, one developer saying no means there is just room for other developers to say yes. Saying that the Galaxy S4 won’t be supported by CyanogenMod is a bit premature. In other words, we currently don’t have anyone willing to work on it, but I am sure someone will step up.”

Cerqueira made a similar point: “Dear Android Central. Very few people have the authority to speak for CM as a whole, and none of them were asked about this. Individuals’ opinions are not, and can not, be portrayed as the project’s.”

The official word from CyanogenMOD was even more direct:

Let’s start with the simplest form of this: CyanogenMod does not pre-announce support or lack of support for devices. Ever. Even for the Nexus 4, we did not announce support until a nightly build was available. Further, any announcement regarding the ‘dropping’ of device support will be communicated via this Google+ page, Twitter, Facebook, our blog, or a combination of those; it will not be something buried in a forum post.

This morning, a comment from a CM collaborator on XDA was taken to be as an ‘absolute’ in regards to support of the S4. He offered the opinion of four TeamHacksung maintainers, their frustrations and lack of interest in supporting the S4. What’s seemingly lost on those reading this is that his comments as an individual do not speak for CyanogenMod as an organization.

As for the team’s stance on the S4, there isn’t one at this time, and most definitely won’t be one before the device is sold at retail.

– The CyanogenMod Team

[MobileSyrup, Android Central, XDA Developers]

March 20, 2013
iOS 6 Beta 3 Seeded to Developers

Three weeks ago iOS 6 Beta 2 arrived, now apple is pushing out Beta 3 of the worldly OS to the developers and those with Developer accounts. This version of iOS6 inches closer with a lot of bug fixes and multiple tweaks that will now finally hit the end user.

SInce Apple has already closed down access for in-eligible downloads, its best to wait for the final build to arrive.

July 17, 2012
Apple Starts seeding iOS 6 Beta 2 to Devs

While everyone waits the arrival of the next big OS for your iDevice, Apple is working hard to get it ready. The company has pushed out Beta 2 to the developers for testing, there are no special additions the primarily focus is on the bug fixes leading the software closer to a final release. There are still other betas expected before the final release comes out, So, hold on to your horses.

Those who have active developer accounts can download the latest betas from their accounts now.

[9to5 Mac]

June 26, 2012
Apple App Store gets 650,000 apps, $5 Billion payed to Devs

Apple’s WWDC Event has just kicked off and Tim Cook has just announced that the Apple App Store has hit 650,000 apps and over $5 billion have been payed out to App Developers. 225,000 of these apps are specific to the iPad. Customers have downloaded 30 billion of the apps since they became an option four years ago.

Apple also wants its developers to know that they are taken care of.

More developing ….

June 11, 2012
WindowBreak Project wants a single universal unlock tool for Windows Phone Devices

Windows Phone developer Jaxbot is back, after a long time, to modding and developing for Windows Phone 7.5 Devices. His new Project WindowBreak seeks a universal unlock tool for all / any Windows Phone 7-7.5 devices. This just means a possibility of jailbreak, which can be unlocked using this tool. Jaxbot has already demonstrated this process on Samsung devices in his video below. He wants to get the app running for othe manufacturers including Nokia and HTC.

[xda-developers]

[WindowBreak]

December 28, 2011
HP is ready to make WebOS open source, we want to reverse engineer

HP decided to make WebOS, the controversial OS, open source to serve the community. The iGyaan team has decided to go the reverse engineering way. People have been putting Android on HP Touchpads (including us) we have decided to port WebOS as a build to go on Android devices as a second boot OS. Of course we are not the only ones who have though of this and there are others out there who will be doing it. We aim to contribute a good chunk of our time in either developing or helping develop a build that could go on Tablets and smartphones that support the OS.

Here is the original memo from HP CEO and read the press release below.

[box style=”rounded” border=”full”]

From: CEO – Meg Whitman
Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 2:03 PM
Subject: webOS to be contributed to the open source community

Meg Whitman
CEO

TO/ All Employees

SUBJECT/ webOS to be contributed to the open source community

Today, we announced that HP will contribute our webOS software to the open source community and support its development going forward. We believe that this is the best way to ensure the benefits of webOS are accessible to the largest possible ecosystem.

Since we announced the discontinuation of our webOS devices last August, the executive team has been working to determine the best path forward for this highly respected software. We looked at all the options in the market today and we see a clear need for a platform that is both open and has a single integrated stack.

webOS is the only platform designed from the ground up to be mobile, cloud-connected, and scalable. By providing webOS to the open source community and other hardware vendors we have the potential to fundamentally change the landscape.

HP engineers, partners, other developers and hardware manufacturers will be able to contribute to the development of webOS. Together, we have an opportunity to make it the foundation of a new generation of devices, applications and services to address the rapidly evolving demands of both consumers and enterprises.

I would like to thank the webOS team for continuing your efforts under very difficult circumstances during these last couple of months. Your dedication is very much appreciated.

This is a very positive move for the development of our people, our software and HP overall.

We strongly believe that the best days for webOS are still ahead.

Best,

Meg

[/box]

[toggle title_open=”Press Release” title_closed=”Press Release” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]HP to Contribute webOS to Open Source
HP to enable creativity of the community to accelerate the next-generation web-centric platform
PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2011 – HP today announced it will contribute the webOS software to the open source community.

HP plans to continue to be active in the development and support of webOS. By combining the innovative webOS platform with the development power of the open source community, there is the opportunity to significantly improve applications and web services for the next generation of devices.

webOS offers a number of benefits to the entire ecosystem of web applications. For developers, applications can be easily built using standard web technologies. In addition, its single integrated stack offers multiplatform portability. For device manufacturers, it provides a single web-centric platform to run across multiple devices. As a result, the end user benefits from a fast, immersive user experience.

“webOS is the only platform designed from the ground up to be mobile, cloud-connected and scalable,” said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. “By contributing this innovation, HP unleashes the creativity of the open source community to advance a new generation of applications and devices.”

HP will make the underlying code of webOS available under an open source license. Developers, partners, HP engineers and other hardware manufacturers can deliver ongoing enhancements and new versions into the marketplace.

HP will engage the open source community to help define the charter of the open source project under a set of operating principles:

– The goal of the project is to accelerate the open development of the
webOS platform
– HP will be an active participant and investor in the project
– Good, transparent and inclusive governance to avoid fragmentation
– Software will be provided as a pure open source project

HP also will contribute ENYO, the application framework for webOS, to the community in the near future along with a plan for the remaining components of the user space.

Beginning today, developers and customers are invited to provide input and suggestions at http://developer.palm.com/blog/.[/toggle]

December 14, 2011
Eric Schmidt says ‘Android will be bigger than iOS’

Speaking at Le Web in Paris Google CEO, spoke about why Apps were first written for iOS and then ported over to Android. The response was one that would not surprise any Android user, Schmidt claims ” In about 6 months its going to be the other way round.” He predicts that the new OS Ice Cream Sandwich will remove the device fragmentation and lead people closer to the OS, making it a preferred choice of developers.

[Engadget]

[Le Web (YouTube)]

December 8, 2011
Apple Seeds iOS 5.1 Beta to devs, New Product ID reveals next iPad

Apple has started seeding the next beta of iOS 5 to developers, the iOS 5.1 is meant to bring some major fixes to the OS. Many are also hoping for a fix to the major battery drain faced in the current version of the OS.

But thats not the only news surrounding this release, a new product iD has been found in the release dubbed “iPad 2,4”, which is hinting at the next generation of the iPad said to be coming in the next couple months. Rumors have been pointing at Retina/ high res display along with better cameras. The chipset may or may not be bumped up to the next revision. The product iD only increases chances for something like this showing up in the near future.

November 29, 2011
RIM releases BBM SDK for WebWorks, Allows integration with Apps

RIM at their DEVcon forgot to mention that they will be releasing the SDK for their social instant messenger to the developer world, for integration within apps and notifications. The service will allow apps to initiate chats and incorporate BBM statuses, avatars and personal messages. The SDK will also allow “application-to-application background communication,” file transfers over the protocol and sharing apps between users.

This may change the outlook of blackberry devices, even though their future now looks bleek to us.

October 27, 2011