The Android Scripting Environment (ASE) will make Android development easier and more accessible for a number of developers who don't want to build a full application. The ASE allows developers to develop directly on the Android powered device without the need for a separate computer using Android's development environment. Scripts can be run interactively in a terminal, started as a long running service, or started via Locale. Python, Lua and BeanShell are currently supported, and we're planning to add Ruby and JavaScript support, as well. The ASE scripts...

During Google's I/O developer conference last week, T.V. Raman, a research scientist at Google, showcased an adaptive, circular interface for phones that provides audio and tactile feedback. "We are building a user interface that goes over and beyond the screen," says Raman. Often, eyes-free interfaces are employed for blind users, but Raman, who himself is blind, assures that these interfaces have much broader implications. "This is not just about the blind user," he says. "This is about how to use these devices if you're not in a position to look at the...

The Android 1.5 update will bring widget support to the Android platform's home screen. The recently announced Android 1.5 SDK includes the AppWidget framework that enables Android developers to write widgets that can be dropped onto the home screen. One exciting new feature in the Android 1.5 SDK is the AppWidget framework which allows developers to write "widgets" that people can drop onto their home screen and interact with. Widgets can provide a quick glimpse into full-featured apps, such as showing upcoming calendar events, or viewing details about a...

The Google Android dev team have announced the release of an 'early look' at the next version of the Android platform. The new version 1.5 is based on the Cupcake branch of the open source operating system and promises lots of improvements over the current version. Version 1.5 introduces APIs for features such as soft keyboards, home screen widgets, live folders, and speech recognition. Along with support for video recording, Bluetooth tweaks, and better integration with many of Google's online services. The user interface will also see improvements for a...

A member of the Android Team has revealed to Venture Beat that during the development of the Android G1,  Google were warned by Apple not to incorporate multi-touch technology into the device. Whilst it has been made clear that the G1's hardware and Android are capable of handling multi-touch functionality, it has long since been a topic of discussion as to why this functionality was never implemented. The source also comments that due to the overwhelming amount of Apple patents a legal battle would not have been advised. It is also likely that Google were...

There has been a lot of buzz on the internet recently about Android's Cupcake development branch, and just when current G1 owners can expect to see some of the features on their handsets. Whilst we aren't any closer to knowing an exact update time frame, IntoMobile.com have managed to uncover some information on the kind of new functionality we can expect to see from future 'over the air' Android updates. Here's a rundown of what is currently being worked on: New Local Setting Page - Gives you option to pick different locales and pick different text inputs. New...

Android developer Luke Hutch has managed to enable multi-touch functionality on his T-Mobile G1 without having to recompile the Android kernal. By using specially developed Android applications and a change to just one classfile, Luke demonstrates full multi-touch scaling and panning on his T-Mobile G1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enAinQizxyM Multi-touch on the G1 has been a source of much discussion since the release of the handset, with Google and HTC claiming that the G1 was only ever intended to be a single-touch device. Hardware limitations,...

Android Central (via Gizmodo) brings us the latest in a long — long — line of… er… iPhone inspired smartphones. This one, however, will be running the Google mobile OS: The OPhone is 1mm bigger than the original iPhone, has a dedicated camera button, 5MP camera, flash, microSD slot and 3.5mm headphone jack. Yeah. Sounds pretty flippin’ sweet to us too.Source: The iPhone Blog

28-Dec-2008 Make it through the post-apocalyptic wasteland... Bought FALLOUT 3? Getting it for Christmas? Either way, Making your way through this massive post-apocalyptic wasteland isn't an enviable task, as there's a vast assortment of vile creatures ready to rip your limbs off. And with over 50 hours of travelling in front of you, we reckon you'd best go out there equipped Source: Computer and Video Games UK

Open Source Software is about more than just the Linux operating system, and 2008 brought advances in the form of OpenOffice.org, IBM Lotus Symphony, Firefox and Android. But Linux is still the heart of the FOSS movement, and this year brought key developments in the operating system as well.Source: LXer