August 27th, 2008
Suddenly, Android is hot again
After months of silence, the double-whammy of new software and hardware has gotten everyone talking about Android again.
Earlier this month Erick Schonfeld at TechCrunch was wondering if anybody cared about Android any more. Now TC is practically gushing over the mobile platform. What happened? Two things:
First, Google released a long awaited update to the Android software development kit. Developer Advocate Dan Morrill wrote:
The beta SDK that we’re releasing today is the first big step on the SDK’s road to compatibility with 1.0. Since this is a beta release, applications developed with it may not quite be compatible with devices running the final Android 1.0. However, the APIs are now pretty stable and we don’t expect any major changes. If you’re one of the many developers who were waiting for something a bit more mature, this might be a good time to take another look.
You’re probably wondering what’s actually new in the SDK. Well, you should read the Release Notes, the Change Overview and the API Delta Report for all the details.
Unfortunately the details released by Google were, shall we say, incomplete, but the good folks over on the Android discussion groups have been striving to fill in the gaps.
The second thing that happened is that news started to leak out about the new G1 phone from T-Mobile (formerly known as the HTC Dream). A shout-out goes to the folks over at AndroidGuys who broke the story. Rumor has it that the phone will be available for pre-sale in September and we might have it in our hot little hands by October. Of course, if a demo unit were to *happen* to be sent to a certain ZDNet blogger before then, that would be much appreciated (hint, hint). Hopefully current SunCom customers will be able to use it too.
According to the latest update, the T-Mobile G1 handset will pack a ton of features including:
- A slide-out QUERTY keyboard and trackball
- 3 megapixel camera
- Dedicated YouTube player
- SMS and MMS support
- 3G for fast Internet
- 3.17″ screen (480×320 resolution)
Two features which aren’t confirmed yet but everybody is assuming the G1 will have is GPS and a touch screen. Remember that this is just the first Android phone; because Android is an open platform any number of manufacturers will be free to create their own version.
New software… new hardware… Android is back, baby! (Now if they could just find someone to update that crappy OHA web site…)
[ Read: More about Android on Dev Connection ]
August 20th, 2008
Life without the Internet: Zapped off the grid
In my last article I described what it feels like to have your house struck by lightning. Luckily there were no injuries or structural damage (thanks for your kind words in the comments), but our gadgets and other electronics inside the house weren’t so lucky. This is their tale.
The first thing I noticed was that my computer wouldn’t come on. I thought that was odd, since it’s a laptop that works on battery power. A catalog of all the files I had neglected to back up flashed before my eyes. Materials for a book, family photographs, personal documents. Some of it I could recover, some I couldn’t. Lesson learned. I glanced over at the wireless router. It was completely dead. Cycling the power didn’t help. What else? I was about to find out… Read the rest of this entry »
August 18th, 2008
Surviving a lightning strike: Shock and awe
Swaddled in air-conditioned comfort, sipping a Diet Coke I hardly noticed the late afternoon thunderstorm that blew in last Friday. They’re a common occurrence in central North Carolina in the summer time; so I continued with my work secure in my technological web. In the background I could hear the kids watching another cartoon on the Tivo. Email flashed on the screen thanks to a high speed cable connection, which also brought VoIP telephone service. Entertainment, information, and contacts with friends and relatives through the Internet had so pervaded our lives that we had become spoiled by it, taking it for granted. That was about to change.
[ Don’t miss part 2: Life without the Internet: Zapped off the grid ]
What I’ll remember most is the sound. To call it “loud” is simply not an adequate description. The sound was a physical force, a sledgehammer to the chest and a blow to the very foundations of reality. There was light as well of course–the whole world turning white for an instant–but light I can deal with. There is no number on the decibel scale that can do justice to that sound. It was so sudden and unexpected. You’re supposed to see the lightning first, and then hear the thunder. 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3, count the seconds to tell how far away it is. Not this time. Impossibly, the sound seemed to happen before the flash. Time stopped. And then there was silence, and darkness. Read the rest of this entry »
August 15th, 2008
LWUIT vs. JavaFX Mobile
The light-weight user interface toolkit for Java ME (LWUIT) has been released as open source under the GPLv2+classpath exception license. LWUIT is a library that helps content developers in creating rich and consistent Java ME applications. LWUIT supports visual components, theming, transitions, animation, and more. Sounds similar to JavaFX doesn’t it? I asked Dave Hofert, group manager, Java platform marketing at Sun, to explain the differences.
According to Hofert, while both LWUIT and JavaFX enable creating a better and more compelling user interface for mobile and other devices, there are really two target audiences / handset profiles: Read the rest of this entry »
August 4th, 2008
The astounding $14million Ethernet extender
I was helping a friend find a good price on a powerline Ethernet extender like the one I bought a few months ago, and stumbled upon this bargain:
Luckily I found one cheaper here:
When I showed this to my friend his first comment was “For 1/5 of a mil you’d think they’d include shipping”. True, but at least there was no tax.
I don’t have any inside knowledge on how the shopping site gets its prices, but I suspect they’re using a method called “screen scraping“. In this method you just fetch every product web page and try to parse out the HTML to find where the number you want is located. This is fairly straightforward but it doesn’t always work, especially if the site you’re scraping changes its format. Also some sites don’t appreciate being used in this manner.
A better solution is to use a web service. Web services are sort of like web pages in that you access them with an “http://something” address. But instead of returning an HTML page they return the answer in a form that is easier for a computer program to understand, like XML or JSON. If the site you’re querying provides a web service then you can write a program (like a price comparison server) that calls the service and gets the result.
Here’s an example of a web service. When you click on this link, you will actually be calling a service from Google that translates the text “thank you” from one language to another, in this case English to French. Go ahead and click it; there’s no code that runs in your browser or anything dangerous. Here’s what I get:
{"responseData": {"translatedText":"merci"},
"responseDetails": null, "responseStatus": 200}
The answer comes back in a JSON format that can easily be loaded by Javascript, Java, or any other language. When web services first started out, most of them used a protocol called SOAP that wrapped both the request and the response in a standard XML “envelope”. This was very general, but also very cumbersome. Nowadays, many web services are “REST-ful”, meaning the query is encoded in a regular HTTP request (like the one in that link) and the results come back in a simple format.
You can see an example of code that uses web services in the downloadable examples from my upcoming book, Hello, Android. I wrote a program that prompts for some text, calls the service to translate it to another language, and then translates it back into your original language to see how it comes out. The examples are free; from the home page select the Code link, download the zip file, and open up the Translate project.
For more info on the Google Language API used in the example, including the terms of use, see their site.
[ Read: More programming tips on Dev Connection ]
July 29th, 2008
JavaFX Preview SDK to be released this week
Sun will release a preview version of the JavaFX Software Development Kit later this week,
fulfilling a pledge made at JavaOne this year. Joshua Marinacci writes:
I’m excited by what we’ve put together but also exhausted. We’ve done an incredible amount of work during the last year. Now I know what it was like in the early days of Java. Since JavaOne 2007 we’ve built (from scratch), a compiler for a new language with many non-trivial features, a GUI runtime with a new graphics and animation stack, new Netbeans plugins with code completion, utilities for graphic designers, a new kind of Javadocs (rewritten from the ground up), plus docs, samples, and demos. And that’s not even counting the many improvements that are going into JavaSE 6 update 10. Whew! It’s been a long year.
According to Simon Brocklehurst, a few features will not make the preview release but will be coming in version 1.0 due out later this year. These include: 3d vector graphics, the ON2 VP6 codec, streaming video, and local file system access. However all the basics are there including standard UI elements, regular and key frame animation, 2d graphics, and export from Adobe Illustrator to JavaFX.
That last piece is important to Sun if it wishes to compete against Adobe’s Flash and Flex products. People working on a particular rich internet application have different skill sets. Artists need a way to develop content, such as the skin of a video player, in a tool like Photoshop or Illustrator which is optimized for their creative talent. Then they need a way to pass that content to programmers to add the behavior behind the art. Flash has had this capability for years. Instead of trying to create artist tools from scratch, Sun will try to piggyback on top of the Adobe tools through exporters. The preview version will export from Illustrator, and the final 1.0 version will export from Photoshop.
Will JavaFX be enough to unseat Flash/Flex? At this point, I just don’t see it. Flex 3 is growing like gangbusters, and Adobe controls the whole tool chain. They have the workflow covered, and they have years of experience bridging the gap from designers to developers. More importantly, Adobe has earned the trust of those same designers and developers. It’s a shame, really, but after 10+ years of leaving Java applets to wither on the vine, it’s going to take many more years for Sun to prove that it understands rich internet applications and that it can deliver a compelling vision of the future. Tellingly, even the JavaFX home page doesn’t actually use JavaFX; it uses Ajax and Quicktime movies.
There are some niches, however, where JavaFX may flourish. In particular, consider environments like certain TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and mobile phones that already have Java running (sometimes as the only way to run programs). A scaled back JavaFX Mobile running on top of Java Mobile Edition (ME) will give JavaFX an instant base that can’t be ignored. It remains to be seen how much of the speed and functionality that we see on JavaFX Desktop will translate over to the mobile and embedded side, but Sun has a definite opportunity there.
July 24th, 2008
Google + Digg = ?
There’s a persistent rumor that crops up every few months about social news site Digg being acquired by ____ (insert company here). The latest, citing “multiple sources inside and outside Google”, says that Google will buy Digg for $200M. This is similar to a rumor in March that Digg was going to be acquired “soon” by Google or Microsoft or two other companies, according to “a source very close to the deal”. In 2006, it was Yahoo who was going to buy Digg for $30M, at least if you believed “two sources close to Yahoo”.
Whether the rumors turn out to be true this time or not, it’s a common pastime to imagine what the name of a merged company will be. Of course, it’s all but certain there would be no name change, and that each company or division would continue with its current name. But just for fun… what is your favorite?
Loading …July 20th, 2008
iCrash: Buggy apps tarnish iPhone 2.0 appeal
Installation problems, buggy applications, lack of trial versions, and a mediocre selection have dampened initial enthusiasm for Apple’s brand new iPhone App Store.
Not counting punishing server load when the store debuted last week, some users (like me) have encountered a series of obstacles to get apps to work at all. The first time I tried to install an application on my 8GB iPhone model after upgrading the firmware to 2.0 I got this error:
To fix this, you have to select Store > Authorize Computer… in iTunes, enter your Apple ID and password, and follow the instructions on the screen. If you don’t have an Apple account you have to create one, entering your credit card on the off chance that you may want to use a non-free application.
Once I had the authorization straight I got a bit further. Some apps installed OK, but on others I got odd errors like this:
Using the time-honored technique of “try, try again”, I was able to get several apps downloaded onto the phone. Whew, glad that was over with. Only one little problem: none of them worked. Not a single one, not even the copy of Super Monkey Ball that I paid $9.95 for.
July 16th, 2008
Beta version of Hello, Android book is out
Ever since Google and other members of the Open Handset Alliance announced the Android platform last November, I’ve been working on a book to help developers write programs for it. The book, called Hello, Android, is now available in Beta form at the Pragmatic Programmers web site. The current version is Beta 4.
There is a PDF version and a Paper version. By ordering both versions at the same time you can save $13.20. You’ll be able to download successive releases of the PDF as I add material, and you’ll have more input into what goes into the book. You’ll get new beta updates for free every 3-4 weeks, and then you’ll get the final PDF and a paper copy when the book is finished. Alternatively, the paper version only is available for pre-order from Amazon, O’Reilly, and other outlets.
From the introduction:
Getting started developing with Android is easy. You don’t even need access to an Android phone, just a computer where you can install the Android SDK and the phone emulator that comes with it. Within minutes, Hello, Android will get you creating your first working application: Android’s version of “Hello, World.” From there, you’ll build up a more substantial example: an Android Sudoku game. By gradually adding features to the game throughout the course of the book, you’ll learn about many aspects of Android programming including user interfaces, multimedia, and the Android life cycle.
If you’re a busy developer who’d rather be coding than reading about coding, this book is for you. To help you find what you need to know fast, each chapter ends with “Fast forward” section. These sections provide guidance for where you should go next when you need to read the book out of order.
A basic knowledge of programming in Java is assumed, and experience using the Eclipse Java development tools is helpful but not required. The final release date depends on Google’s release of Android version 1.0 and the availability of handsets from manufacturers.
For more information see:
July 11th, 2008
Apple iPhone 3G launch roundup
 |
| “I have an iPhone… and you don’t!” |
I decided (ok, my financial advisor, aka spouse, decided for me) to skip the iPhone 3G frenzy this morning and just sit back and watch the fun. For all you fellow “phone potatoes” out there, here’s a roundup of today’s excitement from around the world. And it won’t cost you an extra penny in data fees.
[ READ: More iPhone on ZDNet ]
- When you’re Robert Scoble, you don’t wait for an iPhone — Greg Sandoval
I was out in front of the Apple store near Union Square at 9 p.m. on Thursday evening standing in line for the iPhone 3G that makes its debut today. Robert Scoble (right) walks up at 7:15 a.m. on Friday, 45 minutes before the doors are scheduled to open and a fan lets him take cuts in line… - Apple’s iPhone 3G activation problems — Jason D. O’Grady
I’m not sure if it’s just a server load issue because of all the east coast Apple and AT&T stores opening, but here at the Apple Store at The Pier customers are being told that their phones can’t be activated and to take them home to activate. Rob and I popped upstairs to the coffee bar (thanks to free coupons from Apple) and connected to the free Wi-Fi network only to have the same problem. - Apple’s MobileMe experiences post-launch pain — Michael Krigsman
Apple’s new MobileMe web service experienced post-launch downtime yesterday, frustrating users who expected more… - The iPhone: Now with Microsoft ActiveSync support — Mary-Jo Foley
Microsoft’s been noticeably and characteristically mum about Apple’s iPhone 2.0 unveiling this week. But on July 11, the Redmondians did make sure to note that iPhones now include ActiveSync support for Exchange Server. - iPhone 3G poses barriers to business adoption — Natasha Lomas
For years, Apple has paid little attention to products for enterprise users. Now it’s pitching its new iPhone 3G as: “The best phone for business. Ever”. But has it got the package right? - Software update gives new life to the first iPhone — Kent German
Although Friday’s launch of the iPhone 3G is grabbing all the headlines, there’s no need to put the original iPhone out to pasture just yet. With the iPhone 2.0 software update, the first iPhone is getting another day in the sun, and it’s a nice toasty sunshine at that. - iPhone 3G battery, screen are user-replaceable, sort of — iPhoneAtlas
If you’re willing to void your warranty, perform relatively complex disassembly process and get your hands on a replacement, you can in fact insert a new battery in the iPhone 3G without worry of seriously damaging the device. - iPhone 3G review –Ryan Block
There are always things that could be improved, features to be added, fixes that should be applied — but from first to second gen, from year one to year two, Apple has proven itself a relentless upstart in the mobile space, and is showing no signs of slowing down. All those new features give the iPhone even more appeal than ever, but the price is what really seals the deal. - iPhone 3G international launch lineblog — Engadget
The iPhone 3G has landed — in New Zealand anyway. Let us tell you, it was an absolute madhouse. Everyone kept mentioning that for low-key Kiwis, this kind of thing was total pandemonium. - The Apple iPhone 3G and me — Claudine Beaumont
There’s been someone new in my life: the Apple iPhone 3G. I’m pleased to say that the relationship is blossoming. While everyone else had to wait until today to get their hands on the hottest gadget since?…?well, the last iPhone came out, I have been flirting shamelessly with it for the past three weeks… - iPhone OS 2.0 Unlocked — Jesus Diaz
The new iPhone OS 2.0 software has been unlocked and jailbroken. It was released just hours ago and it has already been cracked by the iPhone Dev Team. The first one took a couple of months, but this one was actually unlocked before Apple released it to the public. - O2: iPhone 3G orders reached 13,000 per second — Jonny Evans
U.K. cellular operator O2 has admitted that its online ordering system failed this week - on strength of orders reaching 13,000 per second at points on Monday morning… - Apple’s App Store launches with more than 500 apps — AppleInsider
Apple said Thursday that more than 500 native applications are now available on the iPhone’s App Store for use with the new iPhone 3G. Over 125 of those applications — or more than 25 percent — are being offered for free. According to Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, 90 percent of the remaining applications will cost just $9.99 or less. - iPhone App store; why do we need 10 tip calculators? — Matthew Miller
As I posted yesterday, I updated my first generation iPhone to the 2.0 firmware and started trying out 3rd party applications from the App Store. Since there are no trials available I had to pull the trigger on a couple applications I really wanted to try out and bought Super Monkey Ball and SplashMoney so far. Browsing through the iPhone App Store was fun, interesting, and a bit frustrating and I came away with a few impressions. - 500 iPhone Apps, but why these? — Jeff Smykil
Looking at what is available, we have to wonder how Apple picked the applications it did. There are many applications that are no-brainers, so how did the rest make the cut? We have talked to several developers, some with several apps that didn’t make the cut and have made some guesses as to what Apple’s process was… - iPhone app hands-on: Super monkey ball (with screenshots) — iPhoneAtlas
If you receive a call while playing Super Monkey Ball, play will be interrupted and you will be presented with the traditional “Answer” or “Decline” screen. If you decline the call, Super Monkey Ball will be automatically paused and you can immediately resume and return to play. If, however, you accept the call, Super Monkey Ball will restart and your previous game will be eliminated. - Best of the worst: the App Store’s hits and misses — Joshua Topolsky
We didn’t try all 500+ applications (fitness? puhlease), but we did handle quite a few, and we’ve rounded up the best and worst that we’ve seen so far for your viewing pleasure… - More iPhone on ZDNet
Ed Burnette has programmed everything from device drivers and compilers to video games and multi-user servers. He is currently writing enterprise software in a variety of languages including C, Ruby, Python, and Java. For disclosure of Ed's industry affiliations, click here.
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- Suddenly, Android is hot again
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