Hasta La Gadget!

Ford is serious about allowing developers to create applications designed specifically to run inside Ford automobiles. Early last year we talked briefly about the Ford OpenXC platform when it was first announced and entered beta. At CES 2013, Ford has announced its first software developer program and the automaker has now announced that its OpenXC platform is out of beta.

At CES 2013 Ford launched its developer program offering up a Sync AppLink API allowing developers to create smartphone applications that can be controlled from inside the car using voice commands. While that AppLink API is specifically for Ford vehicles, OpenXC is an open source hardware and software platform developed by Ford Research and Innovation.

Ford says that the goal of the OpenXC platform is to allow the open-source hacker community to explore what can be done with vehicle data. The OpenXC kit includes a vehicle interface module that is based on the popular Arduino platform. Developers can use the vehicle interface module for reading data from the vehicle’s internal communications network.

Ford says that the module offers hackers real-time access to vehicle details such as vehicle sensors, GPS receivers, and vehicle speed. The hardware module is designed to connect to a smartphone or tablet allowing developers to write applications for those devices that can interface with and receive vehicle data. Ford points out that the system provides read only data and is designed to keep everything isolated from the vehicle control systems.

Ford OpenXC platform exits beta is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
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It’s been a few months since we heard anything new about Google Glass — fortunately, IEEE Spectrum has managed to get a few questions answered by the project’s lead, Babak Parviz. While noting that Google Now could be “very compelling” on the new hardware, he stopped short of saying that it would make an outing on the headset. There will, however, be a cloud-based API, which Parviz hopes will help to maintain a consistent user experience — it’s already been used to build both the email and calendar functions on Glass. Perhaps more importantly, when asked whether Google Glass would display advertising to its users, the project lead said that there were no plans for ads on the device. Google’s keeping it vague with a precise feature list, but hardware-wise, Parviz says that the team is aiming for the headwear to last a full day on a single charge, with work still underway on head gestures — still likely to be the least subtle input option alongside the (now patented) trackpad and voice commands. He added that the product is still on track to ship to those early ‘explorers’ early this year — we’re already polishing our glass block in anticipation.

Filed under: Wearables, Google

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Via: PhoneArena

Source: IEEE Spectrum

If Amazon has its way, Google Maps on your Kindle Fire won’t be the default option for much longer. Back in September, the online retail giant introduced a beta version of its Amazon Maps API to see if it could go the Apple route by fleshing out its own maps platform. Now it’s ready to take the API out of beta after several months of testing and a lot of developer interest — Hipmunk, Evernote, Trulia and Zillow have already integrated it into their Kindle Fire apps. The API currently features interactive maps and customized overlays, and is now a part of the Amazon Mobile App SDK. It’s early days yet for the mapping service and we’re sure it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the one from Mountain View, but this does mean a further step toward differentiation from the Big Goog. Let’s just hope this turns out better than iOS6 Maps and no one comes to regret it.

Filed under: Amazon

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Source: Amazon Mobile App Distribution Blog

In its never-ending quest to dominate the global mapping scene, Google has just rolled out a new pair of APIs designed to help organizations build their own location-enabled applications. The first is Google Maps Tracks API, which gives developers the ability to concoct apps that can store, display and analyze GPS data on a map. In other words, those in need of a geofencing program — fleet managers and the like — need look no further. Secondly, there’s the Google Maps Geolocation API, which “enables an application or device to determine its own location without the use of GPS by looking up the locations of nearby WiFi access points and cell towers.” It’s pretty clear that enterprises are the target here, but it seems like only a matter of time before consumer-facing location apps tap into ’em. After all, the world needs more indoor mall apps. Fact.

Filed under: GPS, Google

Google introduces Maps Tracks and Geolocation APIs, awaits your next location-enabled application originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While you might use Firefox to access your social media of choice already, preliminary support for a new API has been introduced that could integrate key features into the browser itself. The aptly named Social API, will allow developers to embed services into the browser directly, letting you interact with friends and stay updated without having to open new windows, or keep hopping into different tabs. There’s no solid info just yet on how this will manifest itself, or how issues such as security and privacy might be addressed, but with testing beginning soon, we’re expecting the curtain to lift on the finer details soon. Interested developers can head to the source, for the other billion, you’ll just have to wait.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile

Firefox introduces preliminary support for Social API, brings your networks into the browser originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 10:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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