Mobile Development
Three Obscure ‘Sort Of’ Mobile Technologies
Early in the year, I outlined trends on the mobile frontier of machine-to-machine (M2M) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Developments in new microcontrollers, digital radios, “everywhere” connectivity and cloud-based applications are sweeping through the consumer markets, at incredible speed. Obscure new technologies that work in concert with mobile devices are also just begging to be (re)discovered and applied by the inquisitive developer. Here are some worth noting. RDBS On M2M Devices Recently, I talked to Bellevue, Wash.-based ITTIA about its… continue…
Mobile Game Landscape Gets More Complicated
Despite all the hype surrounding mobile games — and all the money companies are investing in efforts to push them — the business model to support them hasn’t yet made itself evident. You’d think that would give some running room to independent developers who’ve got a clever approach to attracting, keeping and making money off of players. But that’s more easily said than done, especially when the industry’s leaders are putting a lot of effort into remaking themselves. Part of… continue…
Android 4.2’s Most Promising Features
Android 4.2’s here with a spate of welcome improvements for users and developers alike. Here’s my list of the most important. Multiple-User Support for Tablets Now users can customize their home screen, widgets and apps. Seamless switching enables a quick change for multiple users of the same device. This feature is made possible by the creation of a dedicated user space on the SD card where Google Play helps determine which APKs need to be downloaded. If an app is… continue…
How Unity3D Became a Game-Development Beast
How Unity3D Become a Game-Development Beast (via slashdot) In the early 2000s, three young programmers without much money gathered in a basement and started coding what would become one of the most widely used pieces of software in the video game industry. “Nobody really remembers how we survived in that period except we probably didn’t eat much,” said… continue…
How Small Tablets Could Complicate Big Data
How Small Tablets Could Complicate Big Data (via slashdot) Tablets are outpacing the “traditional” PC market by a wide margin, according to new estimates from IDC. In addition, the research firm believes that smaller tablets—i.e., those with screens less than eight inches in diameter—are becoming more popular than the larger devices that helped establish… continue…
Harnessing the Power of Mobile Devices in Business
Harnessing the Power of Mobile Devices in Business (via slashdot) So many consumers have adopted better, faster smartphones and the latest tablets that business leaders are compelled to adopt enterprise mobility as the next big thing in the evolution of business technology. Most companies have invested heavily in enterprise technology and infrastructure that still… continue…
Get Ready for the Next Wireless Revolution
If you’re a developer, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the hardware side of mobile, because I think we’re on the cusp of an even bigger revolution. Today’s external devices that cable-connect to your mobile are just an interim step. A whole range of new devices is coming that will add power to your smartphone — wirelessly. The Potential’s Visible Just last week, I got both a Square and a PayPal reader. These are those little dongles that… continue…
JavaScript Is Eating the World
JavaScript Is Eating the World (via slashdot) With due apologies to Marc Andreessen, I believe that a very specific type of software is eating the world, namely, JavaScript. There are several trends and technologies that are coalescing at the same time to make Jeff Atwood’s famous “law”—any application that can be written in JavaScript… continue…
How Android Helps Avoid Awkward Social Questions
Iceland’s population is part of a rather close family tree, which can make for some awkward social situations. While most people are likely to know whether they’re first cousins, there are always surprises, i.e., attending a family event and running into someone they’d hooked up with at some point in once-blissful ignorance. But now there’s a solution: An app. Specifically, the Islendiga-App. Cat explains.
BlackBerry Unveils 4-Year Women’s STEM Scholarship
BlackBerry rolled out a “BlackBerry Scholars Program,” which the company describes as a first step in a global initiative to encourage more women to pursue STEM careers. The announcement was made at the BlackBerry Live event in Orlando, by Alicia Keys, who’s the company’s global creative director when she’s not in concert and recording albums. The program will provide full, four-year scholarships to “outstanding women” interested in technology careers, particularly in mobile. Says BlackBerry: “This scholarship program is the first… continue…
C.S. Magor
Cat Miller
Dale Reynolds
David Brumbaugh
Dawn Kawamoto
Don Willmott
Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson
Gayle Laakmann McDowell
Lekan Oguntoyinbo
Leslie Stevens-Huffman
M Noivad
Mark Feffer
nick kolakowski
Stephen Lahanas
Susan Hall
