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Uber embeds itself in United, OpenTable and other major apps
Uber, the on-demand car startup that's apparently twice as valuable as SpaceX, apparently isn't satisfied with just one paltry mobile app. That's why it finally did what many Silicon Valley prognosticators thought it would: it launched a free API (application programming interface, if you were curious) to coax developers into baking Uber features into their apps. The company's ultimate goal? To quietly invade the rest of your mobile world so you can't help but flag down a black town car with your smartphone someday.
Get the most out of Netflix with these tools -- while you still can
We've heard your complaint: you can't find anything to watch on Netflix. Despite all the A/B testing, app updates and data Netflix is measuring behind the scenes, the way it presents the library makes it nearly impossible to see everything that's available to watch, and sometimes you want to do the choosing instead of letting an algorithm or hired gun do the work. The good news is there are a ton of different ways to sort through the pile -- or ditch sorting for the bliss of random selection -- but the bad news is that some of them will be going away soon (more on that in a minute). If you're not already taking advantage of third party tools like InstantWatcher to dive deep into the catalog, we're here to explain why you should be.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for July 7, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Google Fit is Android's answer to exercise and health tracking
Google Fit is Google's new health initiative. It's a service that'll track all your health metrics -- sleep, steps, etc. -- and it's built into the next version of Android. But what does that mean? Well, it means that Google's Android platform is getting the same kind of life-metric tracking that Apple's iOS users are getting in iOS 8 with HealthKit. More importantly, it means that the health devices you're already using will play nice with the myriad Android devices out there. It also means that all your health data ends up in one place, in one app, rather than spread across a variety of software applications. Which app you use, however, is up to you.
Netflix is shutting down its API, but helpers like InstantWatcher aren't going away
Over a year ago, Netflix announced it was no longer issuing keys to its public API platform, cutting off any potential new developers from joining. That's the service that allowed third-party developers to build apps that gave you different ways to browse and access its library of movies. Today, Netflix's VP of Edge Engineering announced in a blog post that the API will go away entirely as of November 14th. Not all is lost however, as a "small set" of developers have been approved for private access, and the list includes helpful sites and apps like InstantWatcher, FeedFliks, Can I Stream It?, NextGuide, Flixster, Fanhattan, Yidio and Instant Watch Browser for Netflix. Not familiar with them? If you use Netflix, you should be, since they make it easy to browse movies by year, rating, or even what others have recently queued. Of course, some of our other favorite sites like AllFlicks aren't on the approved list, and we've contacted them to find out their fate. [Image credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Apple will let you log into other apps with Touch ID
Guess what folks! With iOS 8, Touch ID will finally be useful for something besides unlocking your phone and buying apps. During the big keynote at WWDC 2014, Apple announced the debut of an API for Touch ID. That means other apps will be able to use the fingerprint scanner on your iPhone for authentication. Your actual fingerprint data is still stored securely on the hardware, and is never actually exposed to developers. That means you could quickly and easily order a bombproof case for your precious phone just by holding your thumb across the home button and never worry that a bug in the Amazon app could expose your fingerprint to nefarious actors. That should relieve some of the pain associated with keeping all your various accounts secure -- which, as you've been told countless times, should all have unique passwords with a mixture of letters, numbers and special characters. Android users may have in-app access to LastPass, but simply scanning your thumbprint seems that much easier.
Amazon Fire TV games work with other Bluetooth controllers
Amazon just revealed its $99 Fire TV game and video streaming device today, and unveiled a $40 Bluetooth game pad to go along with it. As it turns out, developers appear to have the option to make their Amazon Fire TV games compatible with other controllers. "I don't have the full data set, if any is the right term. Generally speaking, it's a Bluetooth controller," Mike Frazzini, VP of Amazon Games told Engadget today when asked about the Fire TV's controller support. "And the same thing vice-versa. Third-party controllers can work on Fire TV as well." According to a mandatory configuration file for all Amazon Fire TV game developers listed on Amazon's site, developers must note if the app "supports a game controller, either the Amazon Fire game controller or a Bluetooth game controller from another manufacturer." While Amazon doesn't confirm official Fire TV support with the game pads, other Bluetooth controllers like Nintendo's Wii Remote and Sony's DualShock 4 could feasibly work with some games if developers so choose. Likewise, while the Amazon Fire TV supports up to seven Bluetooth game controllers simultaneously, software development kit documentation notes that "only four of those controllers are assigned to player numbers." This seemingly caps local multiplayer gaming on Amazon Fire TV at four players at a given moment, which may not be an issue since gaming is more or less a "bonus" for the streaming device.
Spotify shifting focus to web and mobile, ends desktop Apps program
Spotify's been busy lately, what with its new iOS SDK and recent purchase of Echo Nest. As it further shifts its focus toward mobile and the web, the company will stop accepting submissions for its App Finder platform. For those who aren't familiar, Spotify launched an API in 2011 that allowed developers to publish apps inside the desktop client. Moving forward, the streaming giant plans to release several new mobile SDKs and expand its web API with additional features over the next few months. So users should still have access to their favorite Pitchfork lists, just on more devices. But what about apps that have already been published? Spotify says as long as they're using the latest API 1.x framework, they'll remain available. It's important to note, however, that they will only receive critical updates from this point on.
Microsoft aims to power up PC and mobile games with DirectX 12
The time for teasing is over. Today at GDC, Microsoft pulled back the curtain on DirectX 12, a shiny new edition of its venerable graphics APIs that some lucky developers can start mucking around with later this year. Microsoft Graphics Development Manager Anuj Gosalia talked up a storm out in SF: he noted that DX12 would (among other things) yield performance boosts across all of Microsoft's platforms, including Xbox One and Windows Phone.
Microsoft's OneNote goes completely free, launches for Macs
Honestly, we're a little surprised that it took this long for OneNote to land on OS X -- Microsoft's powerful tool for taking and organizing notes has been around for a decade now. Oddly it came to iOS and Android before finally finding a home in the Mac version of the Office suite of products. With its launch on Apple desktops, OneNote is also going completely gratis. The new Mac version is available for free in the App Store and the Windows edition is becoming a free download as well. The Metro-fied version designed for Windows 8 has been free for sometime now, but the full desktop version of OneNote 2013 was a paid part of the Office productivity suite. Premium features, like SharePoint support and Outlook integration still require you to cough up some cash, however.
Google Drive dev tools promise better and more powerful apps (video)
If you're an Android user, there's little doubt that you're familiar with Google Drive, Mountain View's preferred cloud storage service that competes with the Dropboxes, SkyDrives and iClouds of the world. Of course, Drive can also be used by developers to build better apps, and today Google has rolled out a new Drive Android API to make devs' jobs even easier -- and provide us all with better app experiences. The main attraction is a feature called transparent offline syncing, which, for users, means that cloud storage is treated the same way as local storage.
Code hints that Google may bake fitness sensor support into Android
KitKat brought pedometer functions to Android, but that's not necessarily enough for smartphone owners who want to track their fitness routines. Google may be aware of that desire for more athletic info, though. Google Operating System has discovered code (shown below) for a future "Fitness API" that would supply apps with activity data from an Android device's sensors. We don't know much more than that, however. There aren't any clues as to when (or if) the API would be ready, and it's uncertain whether the software is tied to either a new OS revision or a Google Play Services update. Still, don't be surprised if your favorite Android fitness app becomes much more sophisticated in the near future.
Google's Ingress to become a platform for other augmented reality games
Eventually, Google's Niantic Labs will have to wind down Ingress' storyline. However, that won't be the end of the developer's augmented reality efforts. Niantic tells The Verge that it's working on programming kits that would let aspiring coders build their own games with chat layers, location info and (if necessary) in-game ads. Jut don't expect to write your own title any time soon. Niantic doesn't yet know when the tools will be ready, and their availability may depend on the kind of flexibility that the team wants to offer. If the developer plays its cards right, though, Ingress fans will have a lot more to look forward to than just the beta's end or iOS support.
Pinterest's APIs let developers embed pins directly on their websites (updated)
A lot of people use Pinterest to keep track of stuff they'd like to buy, places they want to go and food they want to eat, but there's always been separation between Pinterest and the actual sources of those desires -- you only had the option to click a Pinterest button on a site to pin the content in question to your board of choice. No longer. Pinterest has taken another step to strengthen its partnerships with third-party websites with the release of its APIs today. The tools allow web developers to embed recent, trending and most-clicked pins (that update regularly according to what folks are pinning), and even implement a Pinterest search surface that surfaces pins of items from your domain surface custom search results on their pages, too. Folks will also now be able to pin stuff directly from websites, so as to not interrupt the retail experience with a detour to Pinterest proper. To illustrate these newly bestowed powers, Pinterest has partnered up with a slew of well-known sites, including Zappos, Target, Walmart, BuzzFeed, and Better Homes And Garden -- and if you'd like the full list and further description of how to use the new APIs, hit the source below. Update: Our earlier version of this story mistakenly indicated that the new APIs enabled searching Pinterest on third party sites. In fact, the APIs only allow devs to create a custom keyword search and embed those search results on a webpage.
Twitter's custom timelines let you dump your obsessions into one organized stream
Where does Carson Daily obsess over news articles about The Voice? Prior to Twitter's new custom timelines feature, he likely had some kind of scrapbook at home. Now, thankfully, he can put them all in one handy stream, delivered directly over Twitter's platform. The feature lets you handpick the tweets by way of TweetDeck, and the microblogging service is also opening up a beta version of an API that will let developers automate the process. TweetDeck users should be seeing the manual version over the next several days.
Skype changes its mind: accessories and call recording will keep working
Changes to Skype's platform meant several features -- support for third party apps, call recording and compatibility with some hardware accessories -- were slated to disappear next month. Now, the team has revealed that he last two have received something of a reprieve, at least until Redmond determines "alternative options or retire(s) the current solution." Third party apps, unfortunately, are still on the chopping block -- if you want to use Trillian or other chat clients for instant messaging, you're out of luck. [Image credit: Rusty Sheriff/Flickr]
Skype explains why third-party apps and accessories will die in December
The latest message that pops up when you open Skype on your desktop could have dire consequences if you're using third-party apps and accessories with the VoIP service. Come December, Microsoft is scrapping the current programming language in favor of something a little more mobile device-friendly. The next version of Skype is being built with an eye toward improving call quality and making instant messaging on your not-computer more, well, instant. The downside is that accessories and apps using the nine year-old API's features will either lose some functionality or stop working completely. Can you hear that? It's the collective fist-shaking of anyone who uses an unofficial add-on for recording podcasts or interviews.
Dish Hopper DVRs open up to home automation control, we wonder what's next
Back in July Dish Network announced plans to open its Hopper DVR platform to mobile app developers, and today at CEDIA we saw the results of that initiative. Thanks to SDK access that can mirror the functionality of Dish's own Explorer iPad app, home automation systems like Control4 can now directly access the DVRs. That means users with those systems (or others, we saw demos of integration with a few other systems although they haven't been officially announced yet) can control their DVR with the same controls used to adjust their lighting, security and other services. So far, access is limited to simple remote control commands over IP while everything gets certified and secured, but eventually it will include full two-way communication, including guide data and more. While that's enough to make anyone who orders or builds custom systems drool, what could it mean for the rest of us? We'll have to wait and see, but if Control4 can build in access, we can certainly imagine what the Xbox One, Google TV, Samsung's Smart TV or any other rumored devices (*cough*) might be able to offer. We'll probably have to wait until CES to hear more on that front, but we did get a quick preview of a feature in testing that's coming to all Hopper DVRs: HDMI-CEC control. The ability to send and receive commands is something we've wanted on cable / satellite set-top boxes for some time, and Dish Network may well be the first to make it happen.
Nest Learning Thermostat to get its own API
Nest has announced that it will be releasing an API for its Nest Learning Thermostat. The new API was first announced at the CEDIA Expo in Denver, Colo., and later confirmed in a blog posting on Nest's site: What if Auto-Away could turn off your lights? What if your dryer knew not to run when energy prices were high? What if your robot vacuum knew when you were gone and cleaned up before you got home? Starting today, we're looking for partners to bring this vision to life. The Nest Developer Program will offer a real-time web API for the Nest Learning Thermostat in early 2014. The API is not only launching so other apps can integrate with the Nest thermostat, but also so the device can talk to other smart home systems, such as those that control lighting. Developers who want to get in on the API can register their interest here.
Nest unveils web app developer program, teams up with Control4
Despite its internet connection, Nest's Learning Thermostat has been a closed device so far -- you've had to rely on Nest for new features and software. The company is opening up its platform with the announcement of a developer program. Programmers will soon get to build web apps that link the thermostat to other devices and services, such as home automation equipment. Nest won't start the program until early 2014, but it's already partnering with Control4; eventually, all of Control4's apps and remotes will commandeer Nest hardware. If you're interested in growing the ecosystem, you'll find more details at the source link.
