'Net Features : developer

Android Releases Jelly Bean Source Code to Developers

Michael Garrity — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Not too long ago, Google released the Android Jelly Bean raw source code for its Android Open Source Project. This makes it possible for developers to work on updates and releases for tablet and smartphone apps far more easily, and it also provides greater support and more features to the Jelly Bean operating system.

Developers should have a greater array of customization options, as well as the ability to add a greater number of features to their Jelly Bean applications, because its compatible devices and their binaries are already prepared to work with the source code.

The full, latest version of Jelly Bean is available for use; the first device to utilize the OS is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus HSPA+. This version is reported to have new features and faster, more efficient app updates, on top of being easier to use. It also offers resizable app widgets, improved speeds, better notifications, extended Android Beam Bluetooth capabilities, and more.

Following this release, Australia-based mobile app development company Smarter Apps announced that it would be bringing in a set of feature-rich products and services to its clients that are interested in developing for Jelly Bean.

Developers Access US Census Data

Pete Prestipino — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Census Bureau has released an Application Programming Interface (API) for developers to make use of demographic, social-economic, and housing statistics.

The API lets developers customize statistics into Web or mobile apps from the 2012 Census (which includes detailed statistics on population, age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, household relationship and owner/renter status, for a variety of geographic areas down to the level of census tracts and blocks) and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey (which includes detailed statistics on a rich assortment of topics (education, income, employment, commuting, occupation, housing characteristics and more) down to the level of census tracts and block groups.)

Developers will be able to use the API in a variety of ways including showing commuting patterns, or displaying the latest numbers on owners and renters in specific neighborhoods. One Web apps that has already been created (more are available within the Bureau’s app gallery) is an Age Finder which shows the count of the population for a single year of age or a customized age range by sex, race for states, counties and places),

“We hope to see many apps grow out of the Census API, as this opens up our statistics beyond traditional uses,” Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. “The API gives data developers in research, business and government the means to customize our statistics into an app that their audiences and customers need.”

Walgreens Opens Developer Portal

Pete Prestipino — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:18:00 GMT

Drugstore chain Walgreens is taking the the lead amongst its competitors - at least when it comes to embracing the mobile Web.

Walgreens introduced a developer portal that will allow software developers to integrate their applications with Walgreens QuickPrints SDK (software development ). The QuickPrints service allows mobile users to print photos from their phone to any Walgreens store.

The QuickPrints SDK has already been adopted by GroupShot, Kicksend, Pic Stitch, Pinweel, and StillShot, and will partner in the coming weeks with digital photo editing platform Aviary.

"Today's social media giants have demonstrated the power of APIs for creating a massive choice of apps around a business, and now APIs are becoming imperative for any business to thrive in the digital economy," said Chet Kapoor, Apigee CEO. "Walgreens is proving to be a leading technology innovator, aggressively embracing the mobile market to enhance the pharmacy experience for customers."