16
May
android-studio

[Google I/O] 53-Minute Android Developer Tools Session Video Shows Everything You Want To Know About Android Studio IDE

Posted by in Android OS, Development, News

Yesterday Google launched an early access preview of Android Studio, an integrated development environment (IDE) for Android based on IntelliJ IDEA. This one-stop shop for coding, compiling, and testing includes all the standard Android SDK tools, plus build support, quick fixes, tools to catch major coding flaws, and a preview window. The Android Developer Tools session at Google I/O went into massive detail on the new project. The 53-minute session is embedded below, in case you couldn't make it.

One of the cooler features of Android Studio is the multitalented preview window, which shows your code running on mock-ups of most of the standard Nexus devices in a real-time layout.

08
May
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For Developers: AIDE Evolves To v2.0, Allows You To Go Native Like A Pro

Posted by in Development, News

Holy cow! If you write Android apps, you need to look over here right now. You've probably heard of AIDE, a complete development environment that runs on and builds for Android. While it was pretty impressive before, you won't believe what the appfour GmbH team has in store now. Just today, version 2.0 of the Android IDE was pushed to the Play Store with support for building native apps with C/C++, quick previews of XML layouts, and a cleaner and even more Holo-themed interface, along with major enhancements to Git.

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These days, it seems like everybody can create basic Java-based applications on any old Android device thanks to tools like Tasker App Factory or any number of IDEs and compilers; but nobody even mentions building high performance native apps and games.

03
May
2013-05-03_12h19_08

Reddit Gets Its Own Google Glass App, Sets Record For Most Brilliant Stupid Idea

Posted by in Applications, News

When we talk about Google Glass, we have a lot to be hopeful for and a lot to be worried about. Some of those worries might be a little less than rational. Like the fear that you'll potentially be monitored all the time, which is totally different from how it is now. So, for all the Glass skeptics out there, allow me to do you a favor and replace some less rational fears with some that are more reasonable: if Google Glass becomes popular, everyone is going to start looking at cat pictures on their glasses, no one will watch where they're going, and society will collectively walk into poles, open sewer holes, and each other.

01
May
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Google Updates Platform Distribution Numbers – Gingerbread Down To 38.5%, Jelly Bean Up To 28.4%

Posted by in Android OS, Development, Google, News

As usual Google has updated monthly platform distribution numbers for Android in its developer dashboard. The numbers, based on devices accessing the Play Store over the last 14 days (ending May 1st), tell developers which versions of Android are most prevalent, and which are on the decline.

This month, as last month, we're seeing a decline in Gingerbread and a rise in Jelly Bean. Gingerbread has dropped from 39.8% to 38.5%, a 1.3% drop for those keeping tally at home. Jelly Bean, meanwhile, has seen a slightly more substantial shift, rising 3.4% from 25% to 28.4%.

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Elsewhere, the ebb and flow of version numbers is more or less expected.

30
Apr
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Paranoid Android Says Hello To Halo – 'This Is How You Do Multi Windowing On Android'

Posted by in Android OS, Development, News

After some teasing, Paranoid Android has unveiled (in a lovely promo image) their plan for multi-window functionality on Android, which they promise to "get right," – Halo.

The premise is simple, yet extremely ambitious in scope – allow apps to give you notifications right on top of your screen, which allow you to pop into that app without leaving the one you're in (no matter what it is), take care of business, and resume your experience uninterrupted. The general concept, which rejects the notion of a distracting notification shade, and shuns implementations like "whacky s-multiwindow,"  is no doubt inspired by Facebook's admittedly awesome Chat Heads functionality, perhaps the most compelling feature of its new Home app.

30
Apr
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Full Google I/O 2013 Agenda Goes Live - 120+ Sessions And Labs, But Only A Single Keynote This Time Around

Posted by in Development, Google, News

Google just updated the sold out I/O 2013 conference website with the full schedule developers have been dying to see for months, ever since the initial announcement back in February. During the three days in mid-May (May 15-17), the company's engineers will host over 120 talks on such topics as:

  • Android
  • Chrome & Apps
  • Google+
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Maps
  • YouTube
  • Glass
  • Ads
  • Wallet
  • Knowledge & Structured Data
  • and other tech subjects

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On day 3, developers will also be able to participate in Code Labs on the topics of Android, Google+, Chrome & Apps, Google Cloud Platform, and YouTube.

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The full agenda of everything (not just code labs and tech talks) that's going to be happening is live as well.

30
Apr
nexusae0_1_thumb44

HTC Releases One Kernel Sources For U.S. (Sprint, T-Mobile), Asian, And European Variants

Posted by in Development, HTC, News, One

HTCdev just finalized a fairly timely release of kernel sources for several carrier-specific and unbranded variants of the HTC One. The list of newly covered models includes:

  • U.S.: Sprint and T-Mobile
  • Asia: Taiwan and Hong Kong (CHT)
  • Europe: unbranded European version, Italy (TIM), France (Bouygues), and Germany (O2).

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Of course, the Canadian and Developer Edition had their own releases earlier this month.

Among US carriers, only AT&T and Cincinnati Bell are still unaccounted for, but likely to make their own appearances shortly. You can pick up your copy of the source code at HTC's developer portal.

Source: HTC Dev

27
Apr
Facebook-Matrix

[For Developers] Facebook Open Sources Its Internal Android Build Tool 'Buck' Which Runs Faster Than Ant

Posted by in Development, News

This post is very developer-centric. If you don't write software or you aren't trying to fall asleep, turn back now. You have been warned.

When most of us think about Facebook, open source software probably isn't the first thing that jumps to mind. As it turns out, the social media titan has quite a few public contributions that we rarely hear about. Since Facebook went native, Android development has become a high priority within the company. Among the many pleasant results of this shift, some of the internal tools may find their way into the public domain. One such project is Buck, an alternative build system similar to Ant, but designed to be faster and more modular.

22
Apr
android blueprint

Graphic Designers: Bookmark This Great Cheatsheet For Holo Visuals And Resources

Posted by in Development, News

I spent the better part of four years before the keyboard as a graphic designer, but when it comes to programming and development, I don't know Java from a small Indonesian island. If you're a designer who's been tasked with creating the visual elements for an Android app, you need to check out Peter Nohejl's Android cheatsheet for Graphic designers. It's got pretty much everything you'll need when preparing visual assets, plus bonus help when preparing promotional materials for the Play Store.

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In addition to basic dimensions, DPI settings, standard colors and the like, there's some great information about why you need to prepare certain files and templates in certain ways.

11
Apr
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[Updated] CyanogenMod 10.1 M3 Releases Are Fresh Out Of The Oven, Get 'Em While They're Hot

Posted by in News

It's that time again! Earlier this morning, the latest M-Series releases from CyanogenMod began rolling out. At the time of this post, no official list has been posted of devices that will receive the M3 blessing, but new builds will be rolling out as they are ready. This will be the first M release pre-loaded with Koush's Superuser app.

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Update: We're hearing reports of the SIII builds causing some issues (bootlooping, etc.), so if you plan on flashing it, tread carefully.

Supported Devices (so far):

  • Google Nexus 4
  • Google Galaxy Nexus (gsm, Verizon, Sprint)
  • Google Nexus S
  • Google Nexus S 4G
  • Google Nexus 7 (wifi and 3g)
  • Google Nexus Q
  • Samsung Galaxy Note (AT&T, T-Mobile US)
  • Samsung Galaxy S III (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile US, Verizon, Metro PCS)
  • Samsung Galaxy S II (G, T-Mobile US, AT&T LTE)
  • Samsung Epic 4G
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1"
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7" (wifi and 3g)
  • HTC One X
  • Hardkernel ODROID-U2
  • LG Nitro HD / Optimus LTE
  • LG Optimus LTE (SKT)
  • LG Optimus L9
  • LG Spectrum
  • Acer Iconia A700

If you already have an older version of CM running on your device, go to Settings -> About phone -> CyanogenMod updates -> Check for Updates.

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