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Google releases improved Cardboard SDK and adds Street View
Google announced today that its Cardboard VR app is now available in 100 countries for both iOS and Android. The company also stated that the app's software development kit has been improved. According to the Google Developer's Blog, the new SDK now features better drift control thanks to "a major overhaul of the sensor fusion algorithms that integrate the signals from the gyroscope and accelerometer." This should diminish the amount of "drift" wherein the displayed images continue to move even after your head has stopped turning.
Microsoft has iOS devs building the 'bridge' for Windows 10 apps
It's no secret -- even with its fast start, Microsoft needs more apps on Windows 10, across PCs, tablets and phones. Many of the most popular ones are already built for Android, iOS or even older versions of Windows, but supporting another platform can be tricky. To solve that problem, in April Microsoft announced "Windows Bridge" tools to make it easy for those developers to reuse already written code in new Windows apps. Now it's ready to live up to that promise, and is releasing an early look at the bridge for iOS today. More importantly, it's even opening up the source code (Github) for the Bridge tool itself so the people who will use it can help make it better. If you'd rather use apps than make them, then this doesn't necessarily mean you'll see ported over iPad or Android apps simply running on your PC, just that developers won't have to change so much of the stuff in the background to make them work.
Microsoft bets on Facebook for Windows 10 apps
Microsoft and Facebook have always been strange bedfellows, but Windows 10 will fully embrace the social app. Redmond's new SDK tool will help developers create universal apps with Facebook integration for Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 -- including authorization, likes, dialogs, the Graph and other functionality. As a user, that means you're more likely to see Facebook features turn up in Windows 10 apps as soon as they're released, whether using a tablet, phone or PC.
Amazon's Fling is its version of AirPlay and Google Cast
If you've been hoping for an AirPlay or Cast-like tool to beam content to your Amazon streaming gadgets, you'll soon be in luck. The company revealed its Fling feature this week, a tool that will allow developers to include a way to control media from a mobile device on your Fire TV. Right now, the software will let you send video, audio and still images from an Android or iOS device to the set-top box (or dongle, we'd surmise) for viewing. Devs can also employ "two-way communication" between the Fire TV and a phone or tablet to "engaging second screen experiences."
Microsoft wants third-party apps for its fitness tracker
Microsoft Band users might get to enjoy a lot more third-party apps in the near future. Redmond has released the full Band SDK, giving developers power to create fully functional apps for the fitness tracker. The company already launched a preview version back in February, which allowed devs to create tiles that send glanceable notifications to the wearable. However, that only gave them access to sensors and other basic features. According to the general manager of Microsoft's personal devices division, Zulfi Alam, the newer SDK lets developers take advantage of all the device's features/functions and comes with the ability to:
Someone please put Netflix on Samsung's Android printers
We don't live in an age of products; we live in an age of platforms, which means that even dumb objects like printers need their own app stores. This is why Samsung is now offering a development kit for people to craft applications for its range of Android-running multifunction printers. The idea, as far as the company's David SW Song is concerned, is to let people do "productive work" while they wait for their documents. Suggestions include building apps to correct errors in documents without having to walk back to your PC, or automatically request fresh toner when levels are low. Of course, we're just hoping that someone sneakily ports Netflix so that we can binge on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt while pretending to solve a PC Load Letter issue.
Amazon's Echo wireless speaker will soon run custom apps
Amazon's voice-savvy Echo speaker is only handy for a few tasks right now, but it's about to become much more flexible. The online giant is now taking sign-ups for a beta developer kit that will let people create apps for the gadget. There aren't many details as to what coders can do with the Echo, but it won't be surprising if they'll let you ask new questions, play games or take control of apps on your mobile devices. Just be patient if you aren't a programmer -- there's no mention of when a regular developer kit will be available, and it'll likely take a while after that before you're using speaker-friendly software.
Microsoft will let anyone be an Xbox One app developer
We know that Windows 10's universal apps are coming to Xbox One, but there hasn't been much said about when or how this will happen, until now. The Verge reports that Microsoft will open up Xbox One app development in a big way over the coming months. A new app development program will apparently be detailed at Microsoft's Build conference this April, after which the company will release an SDK preview and allow anyone to turn their retail Xbox Ones into developer kits to start making apps. The move will make it easy for devs already making universal Windows apps to port them over to Xbox One, as they'll be able to beta test the apps on any retail console at minimal cost.
Twitter goes on the road (and offers prizes) to get more apps
Twitter is determined to put its frameworks into as many of your apps as it can, and it's going to great lengths (in some cases, literally) to make sure that happens. The social network has unveiled Flock, a worldwide tour that will show developers how to put tweets into their apps through Twitter's Fabric programming kits. The campaign will start in Los Angeles on January 21st, but it'll eventually spread to other US cities and major international hubs like Bangalore, London, São Paulo and Tokyo. If you're curious enough to attend, you'll get to talk to Twitter engineers and developer evangelists that might just solve your problems with everything from ads to Digits sign-ins.
Xbox One SDK leak opens the door for homebrew apps
Want to build an Xbox One game without registering as a developer? You may soon be able to, thanks to a leak of the Xbox One developer SDK by a hacking group called H4LT. It cites noble reasons for posting the software, namely to allow greater "creativity and research... towards homebrew applications" on the console. The leak, however, doesn't mean you can start cooking up official Xbox One apps, because you'd need to be accepted into Microsoft's ID@Xbox publishing program and clear other hurdles. Still, it'll let curious types poke around the SDK or possibly check for weaknesses, giving Microsoft another holiday headache.
Developers can now write apps for Apple Watch (updated)
Been jonesing to create your own Apple Watch software? It's time to get cracking. As promised, Apple has released WatchKit, the toolbox you need to develop apps for this next-gen wristwear. The utility (tied into the iOS 8.2 beta SDK) lets you take advantage of most of what the Apple Watch can do, including pressure-aware touch, notifications and glanceable info. You won't get to publish your apps until next year, but you can start experimenting today. Update: Not surprisingly, early adopters are learning new things about the Apple Watch through WatchKit. Steve Troughton-Smith, for example, has discovered that the two Apple Watch models use different screen resolutions; the 38mm version displays at 272 x 340, while the larger 42mm model uses 312 x 390. Also, a lot of the processing for these early apps happens on your iPhone; they're just projecting an interface to your wrist. You'll have to wait until sometime in 2015 for truly native titles.
Microsoft releases new Office 365 APIs and SDK tools for iOS developers
Microsoft has released a new series of tools for developers looking to improve integration between their apps and the company's Office 365 service. For iOS users and developers, the main point of interest will be the new 365 APIs for mail, files, calendar, and contacts. There is currently more than 400 petabytes of data stored via Office 365, and these news tools will allow developers to access that information from their own apps. These API's will provide better options for connecting apps to users who need to use Office 365. Microsoft hopes to see travel reservation apps that connect to your 365 calendar and sales automation apps that integrate with your mail and files to save and send receipts. The company is also launching an iOS SDK with support for Objective-C and, in the near future, Swift. This marks the first time there has been a iOS SDK for Office 365.
It costs $50 to plug an Xbox One Kinect into your PC
What's stopping you from creating the first killer Kinect 2.0 hack? Well, now that Microsoft's released the do-all sensor's SDK to the public for free you don't have many more excuses. The software development kit is available without any fees and what's more, you can now put any finished apps up for sale on the Windows Store as well. Just like that! To help developers along even further, Redmond is releasing an adapter that makes the Xbox One Kinect play nicely with a Windows 8 PC. Meaning, they won't have to use a hack to create a hack (or buy a redundant Windows Kinect). The $50 USB 3.0 dongle not only brings price parity between the two previously separate cameras, but it's another instance of Microsoft reversing a previous hardline policy to better suit its customers too. Now, get out there and get cracking -- the hardware giant already has a head start on you. Update: Developer Ubi Interactive, known for large-screen gesture control installations, has posted a trio of brief, new videos demoing some fresh uses for the Kinect 2.0. We've embedded them below.
Google gives you the tools to build apps for Android 5.0 Lollipop
The official Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade for your phone may be weeks away, but Google has delivered all the ingredients for you to make Lollipop-ready apps. The search firm has released both the finished Lollipop developer kit and a fresh batch of stripped-down Android test releases for Nexus 5 and 7 devices. There's also a new round of Material Design guidelines and assets to make sure apps look at home in Google's flatter aesthetic. This won't help much if you just want to try all the whiz-bang features, but you'll definitely want to hit the source links if you're a software creator.
Qualcomm offers developer support for virtual reality and digital eyewear
Smartwatches may be the most popular wearable products right now, but facewear is certainly on the up and up. Devices like Samsung's Gear VR and the Epson Moverio glasses are either already on the market or will be coming in the very near future, but what good are these devices if developers have limited access to them? Qualcomm's working on a solution of its own by releasing a developer kit for digital eyewear, and companies like Samsung, Epson and others are on board. The new platform, called the Vuforia SDK for Digital Eyewear, is supposed to aid developers in building hybrid virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) apps that are capable of recognizing objects and images that are within your field of view; the company hopes this ability to lay interactive 3D content over the rest of the world will result in handy apps for gaming, education and shopping. The kit will be available this fall as a beta that will only be available to a small group of developers, and the company hasn't specified when it'll be open to everyone else.
Yes, Apple's smartwatch should run third-party apps
Tipsters have been seemingly eager to shed light on every single facet of Apple's long-rumored smartwatch, but one obvious question hasn't really received a clear answer: will it run third-party apps? If you ask 9to5Mac, the answer is "yes." Its sources claim that the iOS-based wristwear will not only support third-party software, but already has a developer kit to make sure there are plenty of titles ready for the reported launch early next year. There isn't much word about what these apps can do, although they'll supposedly make good use of iOS 8 features like Handoff and widgets to quickly transfer info between the watch and its companion iPhone.
Qualcomm's universal AllPlay streaming now works with Spotify
Qualcomm's AllPlay is supposed to deliver a world of simple, universal media streaming, and it just came a lot closer to realizing that vision by both landing a raft of new partners and widening its app program. You can now stream to AllPlay devices using several additional music services, including Spotify; if you want to blast that new album on every system in the house, you can. Appropriately, both Fon's Gramofon media hub and Monster's SoundStage speakers will now take your AllPlay tunes.
Saints Row 4 SDK released, chaos expected to ensue
Developer Volition announced at PAX Prime that they have released the official software development kit (SDK) for Saints Row 4 on PC, allowing enthusiasts of virtual sandbox mayhem with the technical know-how to create ... pretty much whatever they want. This can only end well. Although Saints Row 4 was released in August of last year, Volition is keeping up support for the game with two projects, both due on January 27, 2015: Saints Row 4: Re-elected will port the base game and all the DLC released so far to Xbox One and PS4, while Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell is a standalone expansion that sends players literally into the bowels of Hell. [Image: Deep Silver]
You can now build Oculus Rift VR apps for the Mac
Now that the new Oculus Rift is in customers' hands, the Facebook-owned VR company has been working even harder on things like its SDK. With the latest release, version 0.4.1, the SDK now officially supports OS X computers. In other words, this means Oculus Rift owners can start using their Mac desktop or laptop to take a trip down virtual reality lane -- aka build/test applications. Oculus' SDK release notes do point out that Macs currently don't include a display driver, but that "it always works in Extend Desktop mode." You'll find all the nitty-gritty details at the source link below, and don't forget to let us know in the comments about how your experience on the Mac is going.
SDK brings new apps to FiftyThree's Pencil stylus
FiftyThree introduced the Pencil a while back. It's an advanced stylus for iOS devices with a pressure-sensitive rubber tip, an eraser on the end, a USB charging port and a direct bluetooth connection that adds amazing features to connected apps. Up until now, the only app that the Pencil really worked with was FiftyThree's Paper. The SDK that came out today allows any app to harness the power of this unique stylus. The SDK also means that apps can be created to do things other than drawing and painting. Touch classifiers open up interaction possibilities beyond simple multi-touch, adding the pencil and eraser tips to the available touch types. Apps can also take advantage of the Kiss-to-Pair feature found in Paper, allowing instant bluetooth connections just by holding the tip to a point on the screen. Palm rejection is improved, and with iOS8, additional input is available from the Pencil. You can determine whether the Pencil is using the tip or the broad edge, and vary the response based on pressure as well. Some of the new apps being released in conjunction with the new SDK are impressive. Procreate, a sketching and painting app for iPad, will have Pencil integration with its three key features: paint, smudge and erase, combining them into one easy-to-use tool. Noteshelf, a note-taking app for iPad, will allow use of the Pencil for note taking, taking advantage of its superior palm rejection technology for easy handwriting and erasing of notes. Squiggle, a very clever music app for iPhone and iPad, will add a new dimension using the Pencil that allows you to quickly draw strings and pluck them with your finger, and quickly cut them using the eraser. I own the Pencil and really enjoy using it with Paper. I'm anxious to see it incorporated into more of my favorite apps, and curious to see what applications that aren't necessarily drawing-based find innovative uses for it. If you're a developer interested in incorporating the SDK, head to the SDK page and click "Request Access" for more info!
