apps

Google Mobile App for BlackBerry: First Look

Google's Mobile App for BlackBerry picks up two new features in version 3.3 that are all but guaranteed to make your search results more reliable. Also, see what the voice search app has in store for our British friends over the pond. Check it out in this First Look video.

Java makes Google App Engine more mainstream

Corrected at 11:53 a.m. PDT. See below for details.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--In a case of converging technologies, Google App Engine took several steps toward the mainstream on its first birthday Tuesday at the same time that the concept of cloud computing in general is becoming more accepted.

Cloud computing presents applications as Internet-accessible services rather than software that runs on corporate servers or people's own PCs. It can mean anything from raw computing services that can be bolted together, as in the case of Amazon Web Services, to finished products such as the Picnik photo-editing site or SalesForce.com customer-management service. Google App Engine is an intermediate level, offering a general-purpose foundation.

Thus far, App Engine had been limited to Web applications written in the Python programming language favored internally at Google but not as much elsewhere. But on Tuesday, the top-requested App Engine feature, support for Java programs, arrived--albeit only in a preview form initially available only to the first 10,000 developers who sign up.

"It's the language of the enterprise," said Ryan Nichols, leader of product management and marketing at Appirio, a 140-person start-up that builds software for clients who want cloud computing applications. "It allows us to have a different level of conversation with our customers."

Google announced the Java support and a handful of other new App Engine features on its blog and at a Campfire One event for developers at its headquarters here. As with the regular App Engine service, use within certain limits is free, but developers must pay for heavy-duty App Engine use.

… Read more

Google adding Java support to App Engine

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Google announced Tuesday it's adding support for Java to App Engine, its service for running software on Google's own computing infrastructure.

Today, Google offers only applications written in Python, a language that's popular among the search giant's engineers but not as widely used in the outside world. Java, though, is commonplace among organizations' server software, and Java support was the top-requested feature for Google App Engine.

"I'm really excited to give you an early preview of Java language support on App Engine," Graham Spencer, a Google engineering director, said at … Read more

Explore iPhone app bundles

This how-to for Mac users will help you get a little bit more out of the apps you've purchased for your iPhone or iPod Touch. We'll look at exploring what Apple calls "application bundles," showing you how to extract content from them for your personal use.

You could use the media in personal projects, school projects (such as essays), your personal blog where you review apps, or possibly to make ringtones for your iPhone. (Keep in mind, however, that media you find may or may not be copyrighted. Make sure to follow copyright laws for your … Read more

VeriSign VIP Access for Mobile authentication tokens for iPhone (review)

VeriSign has released VIP (VeriSign Identity Protection) Access for Mobile ( iTunes Link), a free app that lets you supplement typical user Web site log-ins with an extra, cryptographically strong ID confirmation. Popular sites such as eBay, AOL, GEICO, and PayPal all support the app, which is currently only available for the iPhone.

What is VIP Access for Mobile?

VIP Access for Mobile works by creating credentials tied to your iPhone. These credentials are based on your phone number and confirmed via SMS messaging. After your number is confirmed, the app generates a unique, six-digit token that changes every 30 seconds … Read more

Foxden runs multiple Web apps in one tab

Sites like Netvibes, My Yahoo, and iGoogle are great for organizing multiple feeds and widgets on a single page, but what about if you want to get your hands on full Web pages? New Firefox tool Foxden does just that, letting you set up a framed page that renders separate Web pages within the same space. This doesn't work on all sites, especially ones that like as much screen real estate as possible; but for some it's a handy way to consolidate pages you want to keep open without filling up your available tab space.

To set it … Read more

New PSP to take on iPhone this Christmas?

Thanks to a chatty developer, we recently heard and relayed rumors that the next-generation PSP will have a sliding screen. Well, a second mystery developer, who's allegedly "working with the new hardware," has upped the ante: he or she claims Sony's next-gen portable gaming console will actually have a sliding touch screen along with the much-requested, dual-analog thumbsticks.

This all comes from Pocket Gamer, which doesn't name its "insider" source but says, "The new handheld will arrive before Christmas and will be far more similar to the iPhone than the current device.&… Read more

Buzz Out Loud 945: Born to be WILB

Turns out surfing Facebook at work has a name and it's good for your productivity. A study shows that 20 percent of your time spent Workplace Internet Leisure Browsing (WILB) will improve your output. Texas also says hasta la vista to Vista, and AT&T tries to block movies on its wireless network.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 945

Google reported sniffing at Twitter, but to what end? http://blog.wired.com/business/2009/04/google-reported.html http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/04/02/sources-google-in-late-stage-talks-to-buy-twitter/ http://www.appscout.com/2009/04/google_incorporating_twitter_f.php http://kara.allthingsd.com/20090403/sorry-to-get-you-all-a-twitter-but-google-is-not-in-late-stage-talks-to-acquire-the-hot-microblogging-service/… Read more

iPhone apps gateway to full-strength software?

With Friday's announcement of an update to Tiffen's popular photo app for the iPhone/iPod Touch, Photo fx, I started wondering how many people use a developer's iPhone app, eventually pick up the full-size software package? (If one exists that is.)

For example, Tiffen's little $2.99 app (or free for those who currently own the last version) now features "the ability to apply multiple filters without saving, image cropping in portrait or landscape mode, option to save camera images separately at full resolution, filters with presets, display all presets when filter is selected, maximum … Read more