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Microsoft has discussed buying code giant GitHub (updated)
GitHub is practically a household name among developers looking to store, share and discuss code, but it's not in a great position when it's floundering in a bid to replace its outgoing CEO. And it appears that Microsoft might seize this opportunity. Sources talking to Business Insider and CNBC have heard that Microsoft held talks with GitHub in the past few weeks that started with a joint marketing deal, only to blossom into talks of an investment or a full-fledged acquisition.
Foursquare puts check-in data to greater use in apps like Snapchat
Foursquare might not be as big as it was in its heyday, but it has a clever strategy for remaining important: it's making itself indispensable to the apps you use every day. On top of its recent Tinder Places deal, it's becoming the main point-of-interest provider for Mapbox, whose location info powers apps like Snapchat, Instacart and Lonely Planet. Even if you've never touched Foursquare or Swarm, you'll likely be using some of their data when you swing by a restaurant or hotel.
Twitter delays the shutdown of legacy notification APIs until August
Last year, Twitter announced that it would be replacing its Site Streams, User Streams and Direct Message endpoints with its new Account Activity API -- a move that some noted would impact features like push notifications and automatic refresh in third-party apps like Tweetbot, Twitterrific, Talon and Tweetings. Initially, those legacy services were scheduled to be retired in June, but due to outcry over a lack of necessary migration time, Twitter decided to delay the deprecation date. Today, Twitter announced that the Account Activity API is now available to all developers and the legacy services will be retired on August 16th.
How Google's 'Material Theming' will change your Android experience
This week, Google announced a new set of tools called Material Theming that helps developers implement the Material theme across apps, including mobile and web. App-makers can choose from a variety of components and design transitions and Google even uses AI to make everything look coherent. Like the WYSIWYG HTML editors of yore, Material Theming makes it easier for developers to design apps their way while sticking to Google's design paradigm.
Microsoft 365 now includes machine learning tools
Today at Microsoft's annual developer conference, the company announced a slew of new tools for its Microsoft 365 suite, which combines Windows 10, Office 365 and its Enterprise Mobility + Security package. Among the additions is Windows Machine Learning, a new platform that will help developers create machine learning models in the intelligent cloud and then put them into use.
Apple warns Mac users that 32-bit apps will soon stop working
Starting tomorrow, you'll see an alert box when you open a 32-bit app in MacOS 10.13.4. The one-time-per-app warning is designed to encourage users -- and developers -- to update their apps before Apple's full transition to 64-bit. It's not clear when the complete switch will happen, but when it does, all support for the legacy architecture will cease and apps that haven't been updated will stop working.
Amazon wants developers to build more Echo Button games
When Amazon launched Echo Buttons last year -- the Bluetooth devices that bring a new dimension to games on Alexa -- the general consensus was that they were a cute addition to the ecosystem, but probably weren't going to add anything significant to the Alexa experience. However, Amazon has now opened up a beta version of the Gadgets Skill API for the hardware, suggesting that it wants developers to take the accessory's capabilities further.
Alexa's DVR controls will finally let you record a show
For all the recent talk of using Alexa to control DVRs, there's been a conspicuous inability to record to a DVR using the voice assistant. That won't be a problem for much longer: Amazon has bolstered Alexa's Voice Skill programming kit with recording features. Tell the AI helper to record a favorite show or sports extravaganza and you'll capture the show without having to touch a remote or your smartphone. You'll have to wait for TV and set-top providers to take advantage of this, but DirecTV, Dish, TiVo and Verizon are already lining up to provide support "soon."
Twitch brings polls, leaderboards and other Extensions to mobile
Since launching six months ago, Twitch Extensions have seen more than 1.5 billion interactions on desktop. From today, they're available on mobile, so viewers can enjoy leader boards, polls, match histories and more, wherever you watch your streams. Not every Extension is mobile-ready just yet -- it's up to developers to decide whether to make theirs mobile-compatible, but you can bet most of them will. However, some Extensions that are already good to go include all-in-one Streamlabs Loyalty, Music, Polls and Games, plus Schedule and World of Warcraft Armory. Make sure your Twitch app is at version 6.0 or higher to take advantage of the update.
Google makes Pixel 2's driving awareness available to Android apps
If you have a Pixel 2, you might have appreciated its Driving Do-Not-Disturb feature -- it can automatically minimize distractions while telling the difference between a stop at the intersection and the end of your ride. That intelligence hasn't really been available beyond Google's walls, however, and the company is fixing that problem. It's releasing a Transition programming kit that makes this contextual awareness available to all Android apps. The framework combines location, motion detection and other sensor data to gauge what you're doing without killing your phone's battery.
Apple’s 2018 WWDC keynote happens June 4th
Apple has announced the dates for its annual developer conference, WWDC. The event is scheduled for June 4th through 8th and like last year, it will take place in San Jose's McEnery Convention Center. We're sure to see previews of upcoming iOS, MacOS, WatchOS and tvOS versions and rumor has it we may even get to see some new hardware like possibly a long-overdue MacBook Air update and a new iPad. Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program members have until March 22nd to register through the WWDC website for a chance to buy tickets.
Microsoft is helping developers make cloud-connected games
Microsoft has acquired PlayFab, a game development startup that offloads the burdens associated with cloud-connected gaming for developers, allowing them to focus squarely on creating games. The terms of the deal haven't been disclosed, but Microsoft will integrate PlayFab's tools into its Azure cloud service, presumably in a bid to take on Amazon Web Services, which launched a similar set of tools two years ago.
'Half-Life 3' fan venture 'Project Borealis' is taking shape
The team behind Half-Life's fan-made third instalment, Project Borealis, have been busy. In an update posted to Reddit, the developers revealed some of the progress they've made in their first few months of real pre-production, sharing screenshots of concept art, links to music samples and a few clues on the game's plot structure. But while it's no secret that the game is based on Marc Laidlaw's Epistle 3 tale, the team is adamant it's not going to leak any spoilers on the story "beyond what was originally laid out by Marc".
Google enables third-party Assistant devices in Japan and the UK
The Assistant SDK is the key to enabling Google's AI helper in third-party devices. It's a big deal, then, that it's now available in more corners of the world. Google has expanded the developer toolkit's support to several new countries, including Australia, Canada (both English and French), Germany, Japan and the UK. While Assistant-enabled devices have certainly been available in other countries, this makes it easier for hardware companies in those countries to get the ball rolling and cater to local audiences. On top of this, the SDK itself is becoming more powerful.
Apple will allow apps built from templates
Apple has revised its App Store guidelines to allow apps built using templates and other app-generation services. The decision -- a one-eighty on its previous policy that banned such apps in the name of preserving quality -- is supposed to make it easier for small businesses and non-profits to offer their own apps without the expense or expertise of building their own. But it's Apple, so there are of course some caveats.
Android apps must have 64-bit support by August 2019
Android has supported 64-bit apps ever since Lollipop arrived in 2015, but they haven't been necessary. Now, however, Google is laying down the law... or rather, it will. As of August 2019, Android apps will have to support 64-bit code. They won't have to ditch 32-bit compatibility, but they can't cling exclusively to the past, either. There will eventually be Android devices that will only support 64-bit code, Google noted, so it's important that developers make the leap.
Microsoft offers developers a preview of its quantum computing kit
Developers hoping to get on the quantum computer train early can now get started with Microsoft's Quantum Development Kit, a free preview version of which was released today. The kit, which was first announced at Microsoft's Ignite conference in September, includes the Q# programming language, a quantum computing simulator that can simulate 30 logical qubits of power and a companion collection of documentation, libraries and sample programs that will help developers get a better foothold on the complex science behind quantum computing.
Amazon's AI camera helps developers harness image recognition
Far from the stuff of science fiction, artificial intelligence is becoming just another tool for developers to build the next big thing. It's built in to Photoshop to help you knock out backgrounds, Google is using AI to figure out if you have a person peeping on your phone and Microsoft uses the technology to teach you Chinese. As Amazon's Jeff Barr says, "I think it is safe to say, with the number of practical applications for machine learning, including computer vision and deep learning, that we've turned the corner" towards practical applications for AI. To that end, Amazon has announced AWS DeepLens, a new video camera that runs deep learning models right on the device.
Facebook's new community tools help you become a mentor
Facebook is once again hosting a Social Good Forum, and that means a new suite of tools and updates to help communities. To start, there's a Mentorship and Support feature that helps mentors and would-be learners connect with each other to step through guided nonprofit programs. Also, the social network is eliminating fees for donations to nonprofits -- you can be sure that every bit of money you contribute will go to those that need it.
Third-party Alexa skills can now use notifications
Your phone gets notifications, so why can't your smart speaker? Amazon is doing something about it.. and thankfully, it's not as bothersome as it could be. The company is trotting out a developer preview of notifications in Alexa skills. If you opt in, third-party skills can push notifications to your Alexa-equipped devices (such as an Echo speaker or your phone) that will trigger both a sound and an on-device alert (whether an LED light or on-screen display. This doesn't mean you're going to be peppered with unwanted speech, though: your notifications accumulate, and you'll only hear what they are when you ask Alexa to read them.
