Android 2.0 support officially added to SDK
Google's gone ahead and uncorked the bubbly to celebrate the launch of Android 2.0 "Eclair" today ahead of Verizon's big reveal tomorrow, bundling its announcements into two very important sections: SDK support, meaning devs can go ahead and start targeting the new bits, and a comprehensive list of changes in the latest version. Here are the major changes us lay folk are going to care about:
Support for multiple Google and Exchange accounts Third-party "sync adapters" allow apps to tie in to the phone's sync services Quick contact menus for fast access to specific key pieces of contact information Unified email inbox (yes!) SMS and MMS search Text message auto-delete after a user-defined thread size is reached Significantly improved camera controls with white balance, macro, effects, and more Improved keyboard layout, dictionary, and algorithm based on multi-touch support Double-tap zoom in browser, support for HTML5 Bluetooth 2.1 support with addition of OPP and PBAP profiles "Better" graphics hardware acceleration Needless to say, we're extremely excited about the changes Google's made here -- and on top of the Droid, we can only hope this action is coming to legacy devices on the double. We'll find out soon enough (hopefully).
engadget
It’s Official. Google Wave to Get Its Own App Store (with potentially more than just apps)
While I wasnt 100% sure when I first wrote about Google Wave. I saw the potential Wave had and its ability to be one of the next big players to incorporate an App Economy and look what we find out, Wave will now have its own App Store. While most of us were aware of the Wave API and the potential for developers to build and charge for their applications, Google’s intentions to build a app store was not so concrete. With an app store specifically for Google Wave however, the potential for something as great, if not greater then than the iPhone App Store is a distinct possibility. Already, independent software developers have built and tested Wave applications that handle such tasks as teleconferencing, videoconferencing, and multiplayer gaming, but while the Apple App Store sells software only for the iPhone and Touch, a Wave marketplace could stock in-Wave applications, along with desktop applications, browser extensions and a world of devices, from laptops, phones, tablets and more with built in Wave support.
HTC Releases Hero Source Code
HTC has released the Hero Android source code on their developer site.
Apple In App Purchase
Apple has recently lifted one of the many restrictions placed on App developers (enjoy it, it doesn’t happen all the time). Now, developers have the ability to insert in-app purchases in free versions of apps. Now, not only will you be annoyed by the in-app advertising, but also the the developer begging you to pay for the premium version. This means we are going to see a very significant change in the App Store, no longer are there going to be lite version of games, but all games will be free and coded with the ability to unlock the rest of the game with an in app purchase. This is a big move and one that developers have been waiting for... In all honesty, I actually think this is a good idea and will save people enormous amounts of time fiddling around in the app store looking for the right app. With a simple click of a button, you can purchase a brand new app. Now, of course, for people who are compulsive buyers, this could be a big problem.
AT&T now allowing iPhone VoIP calls over 3G
AT&T's restrictive network policies might have been behind some of the more notable iPhone app rejections in the past, but at least one major class of applications just got the green light, as Ma Bell just eased the restriction on iPhone VoIP calls over 3G. We can only assume this is the result of the FCC's renewed push for net neutrality and AT&T's argument that it's doesn't need new regulations to remain open, but -- what does this mean for you? Well, Skype on the road, for starters, but we're guessing a flood of interesting new VoIP apps will hit just as soon as devs can get their apps updated and submitted. We'll see how pushing all this more data affects AT&T's network going forward -- we're totally starting a SlingPlayer petition drive if things don't totally blow up. Courtesy of Engadget
Samsung selects PocketGear to power its Mobile Widget Store
We already know that Samsung (along with every other maker of phones on the planet) is set to launch its own app store for its line of smart phones and feature phones. We first learned about the new Samsung Widget Store in August. Today Samsung has unveiled more details on the Widget Store.
Samsung has announced that it has chosen PocketGear to power its Widget Store and that the widgets will be able to run across all Samsung TouchWiz mobile phones. Different types of apps will be offered including those for Facebook, Twitter, Fox Sports, and more.
Samsung says that the PocketGear Fuel Platform is an end-to-end solution allowing Samsung to source widgets and applications from partner developers and provide consumers easy access to the apps. The PocketGear platform has already delivered $2.5 billion in mobile content and applications to over 2,000 mobile and other Internet devices reports Samsung. Developers can use the Samsung Widget SDK to develop and submit their widgets to be offered to consumers.
Palm Doesn't Want You To Buy Too Many Apps
There have been mentions of odd limits on how many apps you can install on your Palm Pre. Now there are whispers that Palm is ignoring this issue entirely. What gives, Palm? Don't want to profit from app sales?
The talk began with an innocent forum inquiry:
I can't recall how many built in applications there are but I have 100 applications installed on my Pre - total.
Starting a week ago, I noticed I was no longer able to install applications (through either the App Catalog or by using fileCoaster). Per the recommendation offered by both the App Catalog and fileCoaster, I began deleting applications.
It seems, no matter how many I delete, I am still unable to install new ones. I've reset/rebooted without any change.
I am wondering - is this a permanent limitation? I can't imagine being limited like this - are there any planned work-arounds?
None of the inquiries such as that one, calls to Palm for help, or complaints seemed to have an effect though. The issue persisted, became more apparent to those who started to more apps, yet Palm remained silent. Now users at PreCentral are claiming that Palm's customer support actually denies the existence of issues relating to limits of how many applications can be installed on a Pre. Sure, they're right about there being no limit — if you use homebrew apps.
Homebrew apps aren't exactly helping Palm's App Catalog though, nor are they resulting in anything resembling profit. So why on earth are they not figuring out how to let users use apps that they buy?
From what I can make of various forum postings, users are speculating that the dreaded "Sorry, not enough memory" is related to some messed up memory partitioning, but who knows. With all the work Palm is putting into resolving iTunes syncing troubles, can't they spare a moment to resolve their own OS issues? And you know...profit?
Palm throws the doors open: review-free app distribution over the web, open source developers can hop in for free
Well, things just got interesting. The very evening of the App Catalog's launch of paid apps, Palm has made a very different kind of announcement: it's going to let developers skip out on the App Catalog if they so choose. Devs will be able to submit an app to Palm, who will turn around and give them a URL for open distribution of the app over the web -- without a review process getting in the way! The App Catalog will still exist for those who want to use it of course, with a $50 entrance fee to get an app inside -- and we're guessing it'll remain the only way to distribute paid apps -- but the new URL distribution should decentralize things just a little bit. In other good news, Palm will be dropping the $99 annual developer fee for folks building open source apps, and hopefully that free ride applies to App Catalog entry as well, though now there's web distribution to make it less of a sticking point. Palm's also going to open up its analytic data to developers, and even is giving away Pres and Touchstones to the audience members of the little shindig privy to this announcement -- clearly the company is making a strong play for developers, and who doesn't like to be loved?
Palm pulls paid apps due to major bug allowing free app downloads
After mere hours of App Catalog-stravaganza, the paid apps have been removed for the time being by Palm due to a major flaw in purchase verification. From what we've gathered from the seedy underbelly of the internet, an exploit involving building your own dummy application with the same name as a paid application allowed folks to download a free "update" to these falsified shells and score for-purchase apps galore without dropping a cent. Whether or not this was the only exploit afoot we're not sure, but it sounds like plenty of folks found ways to nab apps for free because Palm has clamped down hard on distribution for the time being. Optimistically, the company claims it should have the Catalog back up by tomorrow morning, but if the failure is really as severe as it sounds, we won't be holding our breath.
Update: And... they're back
Google Voice to Be Supported on Verizon’s Android Phones
President and CEO of Verizon Wireless said in today’s webcast about his company’s deal with Google that Google Voice will be supported on the upcoming Verizon Android phones. “A device is open or it is not. This is an open device,” McAdam said. “Google Voice will be coming to market with the first device.”
Openness was a big part of the announcement, where Google CEO Eric Schmidt also commented on the new partnership, revealing that Verizon and Google() first started talking about working together on mobile devices 18 months ago.
The details of the first Android() phones on the Verizon network were not revealed, but two devices are planned for release by the end of year — with the announcement coming in the next few weeks. More devices will follow next year, according to Verizon.
Verizon’s remarks regarding Google Voice are important in the wake of the Apple-Google controversy, which ended up with its very own FCC query.
Verizon customers, are you excited by the potential for Android devices on your network?
Blackberry App World More Expensive Than iPhone, Android App Stores
Software programs for Blackberry devices are considerably more expensive than comparable apps for competing devices/platforms.
In fact, the average price for apps is more than three times higher than the one for similar apps in the App Store and Android Market, which is sort of unbelievable. There’s not a single category where the average price of an app is lower than its equivalent on the latter two application storefronts, and the more serious, business-related tools are definitely much more expensive. Just look at the difference in fees for apps in such categories as Finance, Productivity, Reference, News, Utility/Tools and particularly, Navigation/Travel in the chart below.
Research In Motion has traditionally targeted more of a business audience with its product line, but is that enough of an explanation why developers are pricing their mobile software programs so much higher than their equivalents on the competing platforms? Or are Blackberry users simply more willing (and able) to pay for apps? If so, than the higher pricing is merely a result of simple relation between offer and demand. Either way, the difference in pricing is quite clear.
iPhone's Flash Apps: Let the Games Begin
At the MAX 2009 Conference, Adobe previewed Flash Professional CS5 and announced that the new release will let Flash developers export their files as iPhone apps. The significance of this announcement is that development time for thousands of Flash-based gaming and music companies will be cut significantly. In the past, developers have had to create separate iPhone apps and web-based tools. While this is not the Flash plugin for Safari that many have asked for, the closed-beta version of Flash Professional CS5 eliminates the need for separate iPhone development. In other words, developers avoid building their applications twice.
Lumosity, a learning games community with more than 1 million members and a Flash-based iPhone portal, is particularly excited to see the CS5 announcement. Said resident game designer Ben Ketz, "We release new products every month. This is an interesting solution that Adobe's decided to pursue, and so far it looks like the transition will be smooth. Our development time will depend on whether these applications actually look and feel like native apps."
Courtesy of ReadwriteWeb
Step-by-Step Installation of CyanogenMod's "Legal" 4.1.99 Android ROM
Custom ROM builder Cyanogen has delivered an unofficial firmware with speed enhancements, system and app backups to SD cards, and a few other great tweaks—without the copied Google apps that caused a cease and desist last time around. It's definitely a bit more tricky to install this time around—you'll need to install Recovery Flasher for root access, then install an HTC developer's build, then install CyanogenROM, and finally run two quick terminal commands.
Luckily, the Simple Help blog has a step by step, screenshot-stuffed walkthrough of the install process for a G1 phone, and commenters suggest it can be pulled off just as easily on a MyTouch3G (holding Menu to bring up a soft keyboard when needed). As always, back up your phone before blazing forward, and know that you're in murky territory when it comes to warranties and tech support. That said, tell us what you like, and any tips you've got, about this build in the comments.
How To: Install Homebrew On Palm Pre 1.2.1
WebOS 1.2(.1) is here, and yes: It broke homebrew. Amazingly, it only took devs about two days to bounce back. Here's how to bring hundreds of free apps, tweaks and themes to your Pre, without flashing your firmware.
Why Homebrew?
Paid apps are due in the official App Catalog any day now—actually they're running a little late—meaning that the app selection is probably about to get a lot wider, and basically better. But webOS development is limited in scope, and App Catalog applications will never be able to theme your device, access 3D APIs that aren't in the MojoSDK, change your homescreen layout, or add an onscreen keyboard.
Pre homebrew is as much about adding apps that Palm has been so slow to approve as it is tweaking your handset. Think of it like jailbreaking an iPhone, except that it's easier to do, and the benefits are much, much greater.
What You Need
The only app you'll need to run on your computer is a Java app, so it's completely cross-platform. This guide should work for Windows, Mac or Linux.
1. WebOS Quick Install:
This is the desktop program that effectively opens up your Pre for business. It's got quite a bit of power on its own, but one of its greatest talents is the ability to install package managers like Preware, which make installing homebrew apps to your Pre, from your Pre super-easy.
2. WebOSDoctor ROM (Sprint, Bell): This is just a restoration ROM for webOS, which WebOS Quick Install needs to work. It should be saved into the same directory as WebOS Quick Install, then left alone.
3. Java SE 6: Make sure you've got Java 1.6, or SE 6, so you can run these apps properly.
And one trick:
4. Dev Mode: Switching your Pre to dev mode is either sort of fun or sort of tedious, depending on your capacity for nostalgia.
All you have to do is type "upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart" on the keypad. That'll open a search query that'll uncover a new app on your Pre called "DeveloperMode." Run it, and it'll switch your phone into, you guessed it, developer mode.
5. Plug your Pre into your computer. When prompted for connection type, select "Just Charge"
6. Open WebOS Quick Install, making sure that the WebOSDoctor ROM is in the same directory as the Quick Install JAR.
7. When you reopen WebOS Quick Install, you'll be prompted to choose which kind of device you want to access. Choose "USB Device," which'll install the drivers necessary to crack into a physical Pre, not just an emulator.
8. Follow the driver installation prompts through to completion.
9. Open WebOS Quick Install again. You should see the app's home screen. Click on the bottom button in the right panel, as indicated here:
10. Select "WebOS-Internals Feed (all)" from the download list. Select both "Package Manager Service" and "Preware" from the resulting list. These will enable you to download and apply the tweaks and apps you want.
11. After download, they will be added to the previously empty list in the app's homescreen, where you should highlight both, then click "Install"
Getting the Most Out Of Homebrew
Now that you're set up and ready to go, it's time to do stuff. Launch the Preware app on your Pre—at first load, it takes a while to sync up with all the repositories, so be patient—and explore the 200+ apps included by default. (You can add other repositories on your own, but most of the good stuff is already here.)
The "Package Manager Service" installation doesn't just enable downloads through Preware—it enables a whole range of WebOS Quick Install tweaks, which you can access through the Tools ->Tweaks menu. WebOS Quick Install may prompt you to install a few patches; just go along with it, it'll only take a second.
Once you're in the panel, you'll see a wealth of useful tweaks, from a 4-icon-wide app launcher, to a browser ad-blocker, to a user agent string changer, so your Pre asks for snazzier iPhone mobile pages instead of standard mobile fare. Generally, each tweak will restart your Pre.
Themes are managed either through Preware, which has a selection of over 200 that you can install with a single button press, or through the WebOS Quick Install menu, at Tools -> Themer. To install a new theme from WebOS Quick Install, you'll have to manually download from an external site, which you'll be directed to automatically. Once you've downloaded the theme, it's just a matter of loading it into the app. Preware is probably your best bet for this, though there isn't really a way to find out if a theme is any good without actually trying it.
As for that onscreen keyboard? You can install that through WebOS Quick Install: It's in the same place you found Preware, in the "WebOS-Internals Feed (all)" section of the package downloader. A word of warning: It's only officially supported up to WebOS 1.2.0, so you might be best advised to wait a few days until the developers have worked out any bugs with 1.2.1.
Anyway, the Pre Homebrew community is rich and fast-moving, so I'll let you all take it from here.
courtesy of Gizmodo.
Palm WebOS 1.2.1 now available, 'fixes' iTunes media sync
Palm just announced the availability of its 1.2.1 update to WebOS for the Palm Pre. It fixes Exchange mail syncing issues experienced by some users, which is nice, but for everyone else it re-enables media sync with iTunes 9.0.1.
Windows Marketplace Goes Live for Windows Mobile 6.5 Phones
If you have a Windows Mobile 6.5 phone you can now download applications in the Windows Marketplace. The Marketplace now allows users to download one of 20,000 Windows Mobile applications directly from their phones. It’s nice to see Microsoft hurrying things up a little, especially when you know that over 30 smartphones running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 should be launched before the end of the year.
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