Development

Google released a preview version of an Android programming tool plug-in today to let developers write software for Google TV devices.

"With the upcoming OS update to Honeycomb, Google TV devices will be Android compatible," said Ambarish Kenghe, a Google TV product manager, in a blog post today. "That means developers can build great new Android apps for TV, optimize existing mobile or tablet apps for TV, and distribute those apps through Android Market."

Silicon Valley companies such as Google, Yahoo, Intel, and Apple have tried for years to marry the TV to the Internet, providing … Read more

Google is reportedly in a hurry to unfreeze Ice Cream Sandwich.

The company is hoping to take away a little heat from Apple by trying to roll out its next of version Android before the iPhone 5 debuts, says AppleInsider.

Dubbed Ice Cream Sandwich, the next flavor of Android was initially slated to appear toward the end of the year. But Google has apparently been working hard to push up the launch date, with the first devices aiming to reach consumers as early as October, according to Boy Genius Report.

Citing information from a "source with knowledge of Google'… Read more

According to a report from karthikk.net, developers who have sold UDID slots to other developers who are not officially enrolled in Apple's iOS Developer Program are finding their accounts on the brink of being banned.

When developers sign up for Apple's iOS Developer Program, they receive a limited number of UDID slots (the unique identifying number specific to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch). A subculture has formed where developers will sell their slots to users who would like to test the latest iOS releases without paying the larger fees of joining the official iOS Developer Program.… Read more

Google is launching a series of workshops designed to grab developers who can create high-quality Android apps.

Set up by the folks at Google's Android Developer Relations, the Android Developer Labs (ADLs) will try to show developers how they can optimize their apps for Android tablets, according to an Android developers blog.

Dubbed "Optimizing Honeycomb Tablet Applications," the ADLs will cover how to develop apps for the screen size and user interface of Honeycomb tablets and how to migrate apps from mobile phones to tablets.

The sessions are for experienced developers only, specifically those who have already … Read more

Apple and AT&T are both reportedly gearing up their employees for September, the month that the iPhone 5 is expected to launch, according to several reports.

Apple will be bumping up its staff in U.S. retail Apple stores early this fall, according to MacRumors. This follows prior reports of Apple looking to increase staffing in the U.K. from August through October as noted by SlashGear and other tech news sites.

Apple is also bringing back former employees to work part-time for holidays, product launches, and the back-to-school season, added MacRumors, citing a former employee who received … Read more

Apple has released a supplemental update to OS X 10.6.8, which fixes some of the outstanding issues that cropped up after the original 10.6.8 update. These include printers not working properly and going into a paused state when printing, and system audio not working properly when an HDMI or optical audio output is being used. In addition, the update includes the latest version of Apple's Migration Assistant software to ensure a smooth transition from a Snow Leopard Mac to a newly purchased one running Lion.

The supplemental update is about 10MB in size and should … Read more

Updated 3:50 p.m. PT to reflect Barnes & Noble updating its Nook iOS apps.

Apple has finally brought the hammer down on e-reader apps, enforcing its new in-app subscription rules that require app developers to strip out any links to external mechanisms for purchasing digital books or subscriptions.

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Canada-based Kobo have all updated their iOS e-reader apps, with Barnes & Noble temporarily removing its Nook for iPad app from the App Store and sending out a press release late in the afternoon saying it would soon update the app to offer the "… Read more

Apparently a batch of the 1TB Seagate hard drives that shipped with iMac systems between May and July of 2011 may fail under certain conditions, and as a precaution Apple has started up a replacement program for the affected iMac systems. The Macs will be either the 21.5-inch or 27-inch models, provided they have been configured with the 1TB drives; other drive configurations such as the 2TB or SSD options are not affected.

If you have purchased one of these iMac configurations, Apple will likely contact you regarding the drive replacement, provided you gave a valid e-mail address when … Read more

Google CEO Larry Page might soon face questioning related to his company's legal battle over Android and Java.

Oracle yesterday submitted a request to Judge Donna Ryu of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to depose the Google co-founder and CEO regarding his involvement in his company's acquisition of Android Inc. in 2005. Foss Patents, a blog focused on software patents, was first to report on the newly filed request.

"Mr. Page is Google's CEO, and he reportedly made the decision to acquire Android, Inc., and thereby develop and launch the … Read more