Hasta La Gadget!

Dropbox has just overhauled its Dropbox Chooser feature to allow developers to implement even more features into their web apps. The new Dropbox Chooser now allows developers to implement the multi-select and built-in uploads features into their APIs. The multi-select feature allows users who use the developer’s app to accept multiple files from Dropbox all at once. The built-in uploads option allows users to upload files, either through drag-n-drop or by browsing their folders, directly from their computer to their Dropbox account. Their files will be available immediately through the developer’s web apps.

Another new change to Chooser is the change to its user interface. It now features an improved design that shows off stylish new threads, making the user interface much more friendly. The best part is that developers aren’t required to adjust their codes to implement the new design, or any future designs, because new designs will be updated automatically in their web apps.

Dropbox Chooser allows developers to integrate Dropbox directly into their web apps, and with ease. All the developer needs to do is add a few lines of HTML. Previously, Chooser didn’t have many options to choose. It was limited to basic Dropbox features including searching through files, browsing through photo galleries, and sharing files. These new features are a welcomed addition, and Dropbox says that there will be “a lot more coming soon!”

Dropbox has been on a roll with adding new features to its service. It had recently rebranded its Dropbox for Teams service to Dropbox for Businesses, and had implemented a single sign-on feature that syncs with a business’s central identity provider, making it easier for businesses to consolidate their logins. Dropbox and Yahoo Mail have also collaborated, bringing Dropbox’s cloud storage features to the email provider. Dropbox is stepping up its game in order to improve its user experience, and attain its goal of having a user base of at least 150 million active users.

Dropbox revamps its Chooser feature to include multi-select and built-in uploads is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Just a few weeks ago we were lucky enough to have heard about the expansion for the Android-based app HD Widgets’ expansion pack called Colourform – now it’s out for all! Straight out of Beta you’re now working with the fully functional Colourform theme pack for HD Widgets containing a massive amount of features and options you’re absolutely going to love. And it’ll only cost you a buck!

When we switch from phone to phone here on SlashGear (and over on Android Community where the video you’re about to see comes from), it’s rare that we’ll find an app that absolutely must pop up on all review units. HD Widgets is certainly one of them. With the Colourform theme pack, things have suddenly gotten a whole lot more appealing to the modernists in us.

Back when HTC first revealed their monstrously lovely candy-coated weather widgets with Sense a few years ago, we came to realize what was possible aesthetically in the Android universe. Here with HD Widgets, we’ve got a 3rd-party developer (cloud.tv) that’s essentially perfected the art. You’ll not only be working with these widgets on your home screens in your standard Android experience, you’ll be able to place them on your lock screens with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, too!

As far as Colourform goes – you’ve got a brand new set of over 50 new Ice Cream Sandwich / Jelly Bean-style widgets that’ll look just as nice on your smartphone as they will on your tablet. You can choose custom colors for backgrounds, text, separators, and each little bit of the clock, too! You’ve got flat panels, textures, 3D effects, and flatness galore!

Above: HD Widgets 3.0 (currently on version 3.9.3, with even more greatness!)

Just so you’re aware, you WILL NEED HD WIDGETS for this new expansion pack to function. You can download HD Widgets from the Google Play app store today and make it roll with or without Colourform – your choice! Your Colourform (HDW theme pack) download will be just the ticket you need to go fully Bauhaus on your smartphone or tablet of tomorrow – make it work!

Colourform HD Widgets expansion blossoms with spectrum of beauty is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset is becoming more of an actual reality now. The company announced today that developer kits of the Oculus Rift are now shipping out to developers. In fact, the company says that units actually started shipping out Wednesday, so some developers may have already gotten theirs.

It feels like yesterday when we were hearing about the prototype of the VR headset, and after an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign back in August, the Oculus Rift has made headlines all other the internet. The company even made an appearance at CES, where it showed off the VR technology to attendees.

The company says they shipped over 10,000 developer kits, so we should be seeing quite a surge in support for the VR headset before it officially ships out to Kickstarter backers and the general public. The first game, however, to receive official support for the VR headset is Valve’s Team Fortress 2.

Furthermore, with dev units shipping out, Oculus has opened up its developer portal on its website. There you’ll find everything you need to get started creating content for the VR headset. In the meantime, if you’re not a developer, you get the honor of waiting it out before the public will have the chance to receive their own units.

Oculus Rift development kits now shipping is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft’s BUILD developer conference was held in October last year, but it looks like the company is moving the event to accomodate the warmer weather. Microsoft has announced that BUILD 2013 will take place June 26-28 in San Francisco, California. If you’re a developer interested in attending, mark your calendars now.

We attended Microsoft’s BUILD 2012 conference and the company announced a lot of great stuff, including the official launch of Windows Phone 8. Microsoft also took that time to announce a handful of big new apps that came to Windows 8. Of course, tons of new apps have released since then, but this was back when Windows 8 came right off the assembly line.

Registration for BUILD 2013 will open on April 2, so be sure to mark your calendars for that day as well, since tickets will go quickly. Specifically, last year’s conference sold out in about an hour, so be sure to get your clicking reflexes up to shape before signing up — Microsoft’s expecting a large crowd for this one.

As for what we’ll see from Microsoft during the conference, they say that they’ll be showing off some new things that they’ve been working on for Windows, as well as Azure, Visual Studio, and lots more. We may even hear more about Windows Blue that we’ve been hearing so much about as of late.

Microsoft BUILD 2013 set for June 26-28 in San Francisco is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Nokia’s Asha line of less-expensive smartphones, not developed on Microsoft’s Windows Phone but Nokia’s own proprietary OS, is getting a new boost of attention today. The company is unveiling a new (and free) premium developer program for Asha developers. Modelled on a premium program started for Lumia developers last year, those participating will get extra developer resources, credits towards promoting finished apps in Nokia’s app storefront or via advertising in other apps, and a free device, so that they can boost numbers in the Nokia Store for content made for the Asha line of phones. Nokia tells me that there are now 130,000 apps, ringtones and wallpapers for Asha in the Store already, without breaking out the number of apps compared to other content.

Not only will this help to boost the number of apps in the Nokia store, but it furthers the idea of Asha as the “other” smartphone line being pushed by Nokia — and not just another high-end feature phone. As IHS analyst Ian Fogg noted after seeing the news: “Nokia builds the case for Asha to be considered a smartphone.”

Nokia says that for developers to be considered, there are some criteria to be met. For “stage-one productivity membership” (this includes extra developer support, the free device and expanded remote access), a developer need to have at least two apps built for any mobile platform and currently in any mobile store (not just those run by Nokia itself). For “stage-two” membership (this includes the promotional options of either app store placements or $500 worth of advertising), the developers need to agree to develop and publish at least one app for the Nokia Store to work on an Asha device.

The Lumia premium developer program, Nokia says, has proven to be its most successful developer program ever.

But if Nokia’s Lumia line is considered its “flagship” fleet of smartphones, then the Asha devices are the company’s ever-essential workhorses.

In Nokia’s Q4 results that it reported in January, the company announced 9.3 million Asha devices sold, more than twice the number of Lumia devices (at 4.4 million). While Nokia has been working hard to create Lumia handsets that are stretching ever further into the low cost segment — the most recent being the $180 520 handset unveiled at the Mobile World Congress this year — Asha devices were already there, with devices going for under $100 already unveiled last year.

This fact makes the Asha and ever-more important link in the chain that Nokia has to be careful not to break as it tries to bring its vast population of users in emerging markets on to Nokia smart devices, rather losing them to the rival Android ecosystem as led by Samsung, Huawei and dozens of other handset makers. Samsung in particular has approached the market with an aggressive device strategy across virtually every mobile handset price point (and feature set).

The developer program and its stated purpose to create apps for Asha devices is very much part of that strategy. As Apple has very conclusively proven both with the iPhone and iPad tablet, one of the biggest draws to a particular piece of hardware is the software that you will be able to use on it.

The idea, of course, are for those apps to be quality as well as in quantity. “We want to reward apps that really engage the user,” Kenny Mathers, director of developer programs and monetisation at Nokia, said in a statement. “We’ll be looking for high-quality graphics and user interface, plus great user reviews, with a minimum rating of four stars from at least 25 Nokia Store user reviews.”