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NASA, ESA and JAXA want to figure out COVID-19's environmental effects
NASA, the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are hosting a hackathon to figure out COVID-19's environmental effect.
Hulu hackathon leads to eye-tracking controls for Roku
Of the 40 project ideas that came out of Hulu's annual hackathon this summer, more than a quarter addressed the needs of users with disabilities. Today, Hulu shared some of those accessibility-focused concepts.
TwitchCon's Hackathon returns on October 27
TwitchCon 2018 is fast approaching, and the annual celebration of the streamer community will again hold a hackathon for developers to create fun and/or useful Twitch extensions using the platform's API tools. They'll have 24 hours to build their projects.
Air Force security hackathon leads to record payout
The US Air Force's second security hackathon has paid dividends... both for the military and the people finding holes in its defenses. HackerOne has revealed the results of the Hack the Air Force 2.0 challenge from the end of 2017, and it led to volunteers discovering 106 vulnerabilities across roughly 300 of the USAF's public websites. Those discoveries proved costly, however. The Air Force paid out a total of $103,883, including $12,500 for one bug -- the most money any federal bounty program has paid to date.
Honda hopes developers can help keep the LA Olympics moving
If you've ever been to Los Angeles, you've been in traffic. It's such an integral part of the LA experience that the running joke is that the city is nothing more than a giant parking lot. But the sprawling metropolis is trying to do better. It's expanding its subway system with a new line and seven stations by 2023 while the light rail expansion will connect the Crenshaw district with LAX. Still, the freeways and surface streets are crowded with four-wheeled chunks of metal and glass. That's where 16 teams of developers, the city of LA and Honda come in.
Moto Z hackathons create more interesting Mods than Motorola
The modular Moto Z was the tool of choice at the latest Motorola hackathon in San Francisco this past weekend. Developers and entrepreneurs took on the task of hacking the mobile phone with a variety of other hardware to come up with innovative add-ons. While available mods are thought of as too high-priced and non-essential, competitions like these show off some intriguing potential.
Facebook names its favorite in-house hackathon projects
Facebook is ending 2016 by naming its favorite projects and products that came out of all the hackathons its offices worldwide hosted this year. One is a richer, more robust Safety Check: a team tweaked the feature (which was itself the product of a hackathon) to allow people to embed more context, pictures and calls to actions within notifications. Another team created sort of an extension for it that gave people a way to offer and look for resources such as food and water in emergency situations.
Microsoft wants you to hack together a 'Halo 5' app
Sure, you've been making multiplayer levels with Halo 5: Guardians' Forge mode, but now Microsoft wants you to create something different for the game. Like a web app or something along those lines for the stats coming from its online gametypes. Last year near Halo 5's launch developer 343 Industries released an API in beta, and now it's added access to "raw match events endpoint" data that the studio says will offer a wealth of info on each kill from any match. That's including, but not limited to, Gamertag of the rival, weapon used in the kill, where it was in terms of the game's play clock and map coordinates for where it went down.
Coding marathon will help Cubans skirt internet restrictions
Cuba's government might be loosening its grip on internet access in the country, but non-profit group Roots of Hope isn't waiting around for that trickle of information to turn into a flood. It's holding a Code for Cuba hackathon to develop tools that help residents get things done while dodging online restrictions. The event, which kicks off April 25th at Facebook's headquarters, will give prizes to those with solutions that are not only effective, but deal with a tough Cuban reality where connections are slow, scarce and heavily censored.
Hacking the friendly skies: creating apps for wearables at 36,000 feet
Few activities are as taxing, time-consuming and mentally draining as air travel, and there are hundreds of thousands of travel-related apps to help us get from point A to point B with as little hassle as possible. But there's always room for improvement, especially now that wearables like Android Wear, the Pebble smartwatch and embedded sensors are growing in popularity. While it's already possible to scan boarding passes or receive flight notifications on smartwatches, there are surely other use cases that would ease the burden of flying. Wearable World, which teaches wearable-related startups the ins and outs of the business, partnered with American Airlines to create what it's billing as "the first in-air wearables hackathon." Teams were asked to come up with the best travel app for wearables, and the finalists got to jump on one of the airline's newest planes to polish their app and show it off to real-life passengers.
Google invites devs over for a Chromecast hackathon plus SDK show-and-tell, updates official app
Google has slowly trickled out more authorized commercial apps that can stream to its Chromecast dongle since launch (Hulu, Pandora, and most recently HBO Go) but what about homebrew? So far developers have been able to work with a preview Cast SDK (creating a few impressive demonstrations) but restrictions have prevented these apps from being released for widespread use. That will probably change next month, as Google has invited several developers including CyanogenMod / AirCast dev Koushik Dutta and Thomas Kjeldsen to a hackathon on December 7th and 8th in Mountain View. An opportunity to test drive the "upcoming release" of the Cast SDK is promised, plus an opportunity to talk with Google engineers about what it can do. While we wait to find out what devs will be officially allowed to create for the $35 dongle, the official Android Chromecast control app got an update tonight. The new version brings a lightly refreshed design with the side-tray style seen in many Google apps lately, and adjusted the display of time zone settings and the Chromecast MAC address to ease troubleshooting.
Facebook likes wearable technology, but the tech's not quite ready to like back
We've become accustomed to posts flooding our news feeds proclaiming that a friend has just completed a 5-mile run or taken their 3,000th step of the day, but that's not enough for Facebook. At a recent hackathon held at its headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., the company partnered up with Google, Jawbone, Fitbit, Recon and Pebble to see what a few handpicked developers could do to combine Facebook's services with their hardware. The goal? To create some new, novel and practical uses for wearable technology.
Google Glass developers will get their first crack at its SDK later this month
Developers seeking to create apps for Google's Glass headset have had limited options so far, but the company will break things wide open during a two-day hackathon -- like the ones held earlier this year to show off its Mirror API -- starting on the 19th. An invite sent out today describes a San Francisco event where a group of developers can test out the Glassware Development Kit. Until now, devs have been able to practice on the regular Android SDK, but after the GDK arrives they'll be properly equipped to build apps that work offline and have direct access to the hardware. All this comes just as the Glass program opens up to wider audiences, but we'll have to wait couple of more weeks to find out what else is in store. Can't make it to SF? No worries -- the invite promises "the announcement" will be recorded after the event, while office hours will also be available in NYC and LA next month.
GlassFrogger makes Glass wearers hop in real life to brave simulated streets (update: code and video)
Google may keep a tight lid on Glass development, but that hasn't stopped coders at the Breaking Glass Hackathon from building some clever wearable apps. Take the event's winning entry, GlassFrogger, as an example: the HTML5-based game recreates Frogger on Google's eyepiece by making players hop in the real world to cross virtual roads. It's a multi-platform title, too, with support for any device sporting a modern web browser. GlassFrogger is free to use today, but try to avoid playing while you're out on the street -- there's enough roadkill inside the game, thank you. Update: We've since been in touch with co-author Adam Singer, who has posted both source code and the GlassFrogger pitch; you can see his team demonstrating the game after the break.
Epson dangles $1,000 bounty to attract augmented reality apps
Epson's Moverio BT-100 is one of the more hackable headsets thanks to its Android control box, but few developers have given it a good look. The company may have an incentive for those coders -- it's holding its first-ever Moverio hackathon on August 24th and 25th. Those who visit Epson's Long Beach headquarters on those days can design and pitch an augmented reality concept in hopes of winning a either $1,000 grand prize or one of two $500 runner-up awards. Space is very limited at just 50 slots, so you'll want to sign up quickly if you're interested. Whether or not you can attend, the hackathon is good news for Moverio owners that could soon get more use out of their $699 eyewear.
Twitter reportedly working on location-based discovery tool
The next big Twitter feature? Finding out what your neighbor's talking about, 140 characters at a time, of course. According to All Things D, the service is working on exactly that, a location-based feature that was reportedly developed at a hack week held by the company earlier this month. Twitter, predictably, isn't commenting on the reportedly upcoming feature, but D has says that this information is coming from "multiple sources." No word on how close they all are to one another.
PBS shows how hacking is reclaiming its good name after a bad rap (video)
Hacking is still a loaded concept for many, often conjuring negative images of corporate espionage, fraudsters and prank-minded script kiddies. PBS' Off Book wants to remind us that hacking wasn't always seen this way -- and, thanks to modern developments, is mending its reputation. Its latest episode shows that hacking began simply as a desire to advance devices and software beyond their original roles, but was co-opted by a sometimes misunderstanding press that associated the word only with malicious intrusions. Today, hacking has regained more of its original meaning: hackathons, a resurgence of DIY culture and digital protests prove that hacks can improve our gadgets, our security and even our political landscape. We still have a long way to go before we completely escape movie stereotypes, but the mini-documentary may offer food for thought the next time you're installing a custom ROM or building your own VR helmet.
Google invites Glass pre-order holders to hackathons in New York, San Francisco
Google just hit our inbox with an email inviting folks who pre-ordered the Explorer Edition of Project Glass to two-day hackathons in San Francisco and New York, where they'll be the first group of developers -- not being paid by Page and Co. -- to collectively develop for Glass. Dubbed Glass Foundry, the events will introduce developers to Glass, set them up with access to the hardware and familiarize them with the API, called Mirror. Throughout the powwow, Google engineers will be on-hand to help out with development, and the second day will feature demos and "special guest judges." Hackers in San Francisco can look forward to the event on January 28th and 29th, while those in New York City can snag time with the device on February 1st and 2nd. Hit the jump for the full text of Mountain View's email.
11-year-old wins $20,000 at AT&T hackathon for creating app that discourages texting while driving
AT&T's already working on an app to keep folks from texting while driving, but earlier this month it gave folks at a Los Angeles hackathon the chance to develop their own solution. David Grau, a creative director and designer at an interactive agency, and 11-year-old Victoria Walker were awarded $20,000 by Big Blue to bring their smartphone application to the public. Dubbed Rode Dog, the prize-winning software allows friends and family to organize themselves into "packs" and monitor their text messaging habits. Watchful users can spot when a fellow group member is texting and initiate a barking noise on the offender's phone. Much like squawking seat belt systems, the app is designed to remind drivers of their wrongdoing and doesn't stop the ruckus until they acknowledge it. If you'd rather have a chicken or other animal grab your attention, the duo crafted an in-app shop that offers other wildlife sound sound effects. Rode Dog isn't expected to hit iOS, Android and Windows Phone until its fully polished, but you can sign up to receive word of its launch at the second source link below.
Geekend steps its game up with a 24-hour Hackathon, promises boost to nerd cred
For the past two years, all sorts of gadget, social media and design geeks have descended upon Savannah, GA. The goal is clear: to spend the weekend hearing from the nerds they look up to, including our pal Major Nelson, who spoke back in 2009. This year was no different -- and to make things even more interesting -- event organizers invited attendees to participate in the first ever Geekend Hackathon. Teams of up to four members, fueled by a copious supply of Mountain Dew and pizza, were given 24 hours to come up with the most innovative desktop, mobile or web application they could. There was just one catch: teams had to incorporate at least three out of five key words that were randomly assigned to them. The only other stipulation was that if the code used to create each app wasn't already available online, they had to place the open source that they developed in a web repository before the event. We were there to catch the results, which showcased a mixed bag of entertaining (and useful) applications. Projects ranging from an app tracking vegetable eating habits to one that uses image recognition to bring your favorite comics to a mobile device showed just what could be done in a day -- given enough caffeine, of course. Another allowed you to feed your urge to hug every cat, while a neighborhood advocacy community enabled concerned citizens to vote on issues in their area. Rounding out the field was a field trip database for teachers to share ideas on sites to take their students for the best experience. Two winners -- judge's choice and people's choice -- received a super geeky trophy (pictured above) and a major boost to their street...er online cred. If you're yearning to find out more about this year's happenings, hit the coverage link below and start booking your trip for next year. [Gallery credit: Geekend] %Gallery-139340%
