Have a killer app idea for smartphones but just don't know how to write one? App Inventor for Android is here to end your woes! Using graphical programming-like blocks, you can create your own apps for Android without knowing how to do programming. It's basically a visual design tool for Android apps.
Google has come out with blocks for just about everything that you can do with an Android phone - from GPS to Twitter. Combine them according to your imagination and you might just hit it off with a killer app. This is probably Google's attempt to wrestle the smartphone app market share from Apple. Having such a simplified way of creating apps would certainly spur more people to develop apps for Android. Even kids should be able to figure out to write an Android app with the App Inventor. Once they get familiarized with Android, that may very well be their platform of choice in the future...
Apple has just released iOS 4.0.1 to address the signal reception problem. This is somewhat in relation to the antenna death-grip problem on the iPhone 4.0. What Apple claimed this software update would do is "The iOS 4.0.1 Software Update improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 3G. The real signal strength remains the same, but the bars on iPhone will indicate it more precisely." Another thing that this update would fix is the Exchange bug which is affecting mostly enterprise users.
Steve Jobs, who came back early from his Hawaiian vacation announced that Apple would give away free bumper case to help fix the antenna death grip problem until Sept 30. Those who bought bumper cases earlier to fix this issue would be refunded. For customers that are still unhappy about the bumper case fix, Apple will fully refund them within 30 days of purchase provided that the iPhone 4.0 is undamaged (of course!).
Meanwhile, we can expect that Apple's engineers are working their butts off to get a more permanent fix out. It's probably a combination of hardware and software problem. On another note, Jobs also mentioned that they are tracking some problems with the proximity sensor and that the next update would fix that. Not sure what that problem is, but if you know, do let us know!
Despite the antenna death grip problem that has recently plagued Apple's new iPhone 4.0, Jobs still insists that "the data supports the fact that iPhone 4 is the best smartphone in the world."
Would you still agree with Steve on this fact?
Meanwhile, these are the videos from the press conference in 4 parts:
Google has just announced an interesting new project that collects and summarizes the experiences of thousands of people around the world in a single day. Anything and everything from the ordinary routine to extraordinary moments to the most unpredictable turn of events can be filmed. It's a time capsule of one day on earth through the perspective of thousands on24th July 2010.
This project will be edited into a feature documentary film by Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland, Touching the VoidandOne Day in September) and executive-produced by Ridley Scott (Gladiator,Black Hawk Down,Thelma & Louise,Blade RunnerandRobin Hood).
Should your footage make it through to the public release, you'll be credited as a co-director and could be in the running to be chosen to attend the premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Here are the steps from the Google blog on how to take part in this historical event: 1. Visit the “Life in a Day” channel and learn more about the project. Be sure to read through the steps you need to take to participate and the guidelines for creating your video(s). Also check out some of the sample videos for inspirational ideas.
2. On July 24, capture your day on camera.
3. Upload your footage to the “Life in a Day” channel any time before July 31.
Regardless of whether your footage makes it into the final film, your video(s) will live on on the “Life in a Day” channelas a time capsule that will tell future generations what it was like to be alive on July 24, 2010.
What was the URL of that website that you liked just now? Can't really remember? But you remember some keywords from there? No problem!
Just type any keyword that you recall on the Safari's URL bar and some predictive URL results (based on your history, bookmarks and search engine) will be shown. Just tap on the URL that you like. See below for what I mean:
How would you rate the accuracy of the predictive URL results?
If you thought cut, copy and paste was nice, this new feature of replacing text would certainly be a much welcomed addition. In the same way that you cut, copy and paste, tap on the text that you are interested in and release. The text would be highlighted and some options would appear to you. The familiar ones are of course cut and copy - the new one is replace.
Click on replace and select one of the recommended words to replace your current one and you are done! Simple!
Now that we have cut, copy, paste and replace, what do you think would be a nice new feature to add in the future?
