11 Tips for Mobile Software Development

More than 99 million smartphones shipped in just the first quarter of this year, says analyst firm IDC. Many of them are winding up in the hands of business users, including your employees and business partners. That trend means, sooner or later, you’ll have to develop smartphone apps. Here are 11 tips:

1. Track market shares.
It’s critical to keep up with trends in smartphone platforms, where the only constant is change. Sure, BlackBerry has long been synonymous with business, but it now lags both Android and Apple’s iOS in the race for market share, which affects what your company uses. In fact, Android is a case study in how quickly a platform’s fortunes can change: Between late 2009 and late 2010, Android’s market share grew 615 percent -- enough to leapfrog into first place, says analyst firm Canalys.

LG Optimus 3D: Tri-dual

LG Electronics (LG) today officially launched the long-awaited LG Optimus 3D, an innovative new smartphone featuring second generation dual core technology and an advanced "Tri-Dual" architecture. First unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in February, the LG Optimus 3D offers a full 3D experience -- recording, viewing, sharing -- in a smartphone form factor.

The LG Optimus 3D takes the smartphone experience into new territory with its Tri-Dual configuration -- dual-core, dual-channel and dual-memory -- which allows for improved performance when multi-tasking, enjoying a movie or playing graphicsintensive games. This LG smartphone is also a major step forward in the utilization of full 3D functionality in everyday life - users can record and immediately view content in 3D without the need for special glasses.

iPad + Kinnect = Augmented Reality

According to Apple this is the year of the iPhone 2, for many of us there is no doubt about it. However, the tablet is not the only technological character of our time, because it must share the stage with other products that are making a breakthrough regarding interactions with electronic devices. Augmented reality, the three dimensions and Kinect are other geek device working to be kings of the universe today. What if they all join in a single experiment?

Droid vs iOS

Technology history has always been full of constant friction between users of different platforms, programming languages​​, operating systems, etc. And mobile technology has no exception, and is currently users of iOS and Android keep a dispute "according to each" who owns the best and most popular mobile operating system at the time.

We can see those discussions on forums, social networks, websites, always favor some comments about the other carrying the stereotypes of each and making a mockery of the weaknesses of each operating system. But really what does it say the operating system you use you? This is what we try to solve the following graphics by Hunch.

Tim Cook Letter

Team:

I am looking forward to the amazing opportunity of serving as CEO of the most innovative company in the world. Joining Apple was the best decision I’ve ever made and it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to work for Apple and Steve for over 13 years. I share Steve’s optimism for Apple’s bright future.

Steve has been an incredible leader and mentor to me, as well as to the entire executive team and our amazing employees. We are really looking forward to Steve’s ongoing guidance and inspiration as our Chairman.

iPhone Evolution Infograph

How many iPhone have you had?? Well if you haven't known its characteristics, it is a good time reveal that hidden secret, realize why iPhone 4 blows away the quite old original iPhone.

All is explained within this infograph from Into Mobile

PSP Vita

Everything is pointing out that PSP vita will be released before the year ends, meanwhile we can read its confirmed tech specs that Sony announced in an interview.

Well, the data have come at last, there is no going back and unless you have the following technical data are accurate for PlayStation Vita when it lands in the Japanese market before the end of the year and shortly afterwards the rest of the globe. It seems that for once in this generation the price itself will be well below what it really delivers.

Motorola Mobility

Dear MOTODEV member,

Today, Google and Motorola Mobility have announced their intention to enter an agreement under which Google will acquire Motorola Mobility. This is a positive step in Motorola Mobility's evolution and exciting news for the Android ecosystem.

As you know, Motorola Mobility has played a leading role in the advancement of the Android platform globally. With Google, we plan to continue to build upon our 80-year history of technology innovation and take Motorola Mobility's cutting-edge products and solutions to the next level.

What can you expect to earn in the Valley??

Silicon Valley, the Mecca of technology companies, dream (often unattainable to many outside EUA) to any developer worth himself. Well, the infographic shows interesting facts about what's happening in this valley near San Francisco.

To begin to bring the piece highlighted on the title, the salaries of the superstars of the engineering of software in large enterprises: from Google's $180,000US to the modest Twitter's 125,000US pays... Whom was a brainiac!!

Android History Infographic

Although I love to Android, being a developer is very hard. Especially the issue of OS versions. Luckily a while now have settled down and only new versions of the systems will every 6 months minimum, respecting a development cycle much more mature.

The first version of Android (Android 1.0) was born in September 2008 and, like many analysts said, was still not cooked enough to be marketed. But we had to do it, Google wanted to show he had a mobile operating system that would reach a large number of users with integrated services.

Facial Recognition for PSP Vita

Many technologies will be embebed with the release of the new portable of Sony: the PSP Vita. They had made a technical presentation of what is to come with the from and rear cameras included on the device, both also capable of video conferencing.

But words are meaningless without a video to show how they will work:

PunkThis, ARM MicroComputer

The vast majority of us will have a free SATA port on a PC. If you are on a laptop, that might be something more complicated, but also viable. Why do I ask this? Because Android could you have a computer within your current team.

PunkThis is the name of a computer ARM is integrated into a SATA 2.5-inch bay. That is, it occupies the same as a hard drive of that size and includes an ARM processor 1 GHz (Texas Instruments OMAP DM3730), 512 MB ​​of RAM, WiFi, a couple of USB and a mini PCIe slot as standard connection for external storage. So, here is a small video of the strange device.

What an asnwer!!

This was the Question:

Does anybody know of a 1TB 2.5 Inch SATA 7200RPM HDD?

I currently have a 1TB 2.5inch 5400rpm in my MacBook Pro, but its extremely slow. So I was wondering if anybody knew of a 7200RPM/Faster version. Thanks.

And such an intelligent, well researched and experienced answer was:

FastPost: Apple Airplay

I watched this video and I realized of the capabilities of Airplay technology coming for the iOS 5, simple amazing.

I totally suggest to keep watching it until the end, I know that 10 minutes is a long time, but it worth it.

HP: TouchPad with WebOS

HP has decided to show us more of what you can make their new TouchPad Tablet, which runs the operating system WebOS. This new device will come to the U.S. on July 1st, so HP released a video showing some of "delices" under WebOS 3.0.

Stress their orderly reporting system, the ability to perform multiple tasks with a card-based method to switch between applications that are running. Remember that its specifications are:

Sony: PSP Vita

PlayStation Vita has undoubtedly been one of the highlights of E3, though they gave us the opportunity to meet it months ago as Sony NGP. A brief summary, we could say that this is a device with 5-inch OLED display, large but lightweight, 4-core processor, with all the buttons /triggers / sticks as usual (including a rear multi-touchpad), which will come in 2 versions: WiFi and WiFi + 3G, with a fairly tight price of 249 USD and 299 USD respectively.

All this is fine, but as is happening to the Xperia Play, would remain in alone if not for 3rd party upport. Thus, great songs have already been announced as Uncharted: Golden Abyss, an RPG called Ruin, ModNation Racers, LittleBigPlanet, and even Street Fighter x Tekken, this is the PSP Vita trailer:

iOS 5 for Developers

Many news came with the official announcement of the fifth iteration of one of the most advanced mobile operative systems: iOS (previously called iPhoneOS don't forget). Things like messaging, offline reading, cloud synchronization and notifications will be bundle along the september update, meanwhile, we, as developers must learn and relearn the APIs released, which Apple says are more than 1,500.

Of course, we will learn them by the time goes on, however, there is a list of the most noticeable to take note of:

Droid 3 or Milestone 3 for friends

From GSM Arena, I got information that Verizon released video tutorials for the Droid 3/Milestone 3 from Motorola. Verizon Wireless and Motorola did a great job in keeping the highly anticipated Motorola Droid 3 a well guarded secret. Until today at least. The upcoming Android handset showed itself completely in a series of tutorial videos and left nothing to our imagination, at least as far as looks are concerned.

The videos confirm the 8MP camera on the handset. It will be capable of recording 1080p videos as well. On the left side of the device, you get a microUSB and HDMI connectors much like another Droid by Motorola - the X2. The right side of the device will host two volume keys. There is no camera shutter button on the smartphone.

Sphero or trading control ways

iOS SDK allows programmers explode their imagination with many technologies and tools that are provided just out of the box. Now, I want to show you a simple toy called Sphero.

Also, with smarphones, the gameplay possibilities are endless, especially when you add another physical object such as a helicopter or a remote controlled car. Let me add one more to the list, a ball that we can control from the iOS device, be it the iPad or iPhone. Check this out:

C&P: Android Loves App Engine and the other way arround

This is a copy-paste (C&P) from a post called: Android Meet App Engine, App Engine Meet Android where new functionalities for the GPE (Google engine for Eclipse) comes within:

Imagine this: you’ve spent the past few months hammering away at the latest mobile game sensation, Mystified Birds, and you are one level away from complete mastery. And then it happens. In a fit of excitement you throw your hands up, and along with them your Nexus S, which settles nicely at the bottom of the pool you happen to be relaxing next to. The phone is rendered useless. Luckily, your insurance policy covers the replacing the device and the Android Market handles replacing your apps. Unluckily though, all of your Mystified Birds data went the way of your device, leaving you to start from scratch.

Noise cancellation

Have you ever wondered how the noise cancellation works?? Smart Phones like Google Nexus One, iPhone 4, among many includes the hardware necessary to implement such technology improving considerably the signal transfered to our receiver, unfortunately not always works the other way around.

Anyway, people from Chipworks discovered the function of a small chip along the A4 processor inside the iPhone 4, this one:

Tegra goes Desktop

We have seen many products with Nvidia Tegra 2 along many devices (smart phones and tablets) from different brands and companies. Now, this chip will be used to run onto a "Desktop" computer, the super compact Trim Slice:

Next Time, Take Security More Carefully

Valued PlayStation(R)Network/Qriocity Customer:

We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011,
certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account
information was compromised in connection with an illegal and
unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this
intrusion, we have:

1) Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;

Let's dance with Sorting Algoritms

Have you ever cracked your mind trying to understand sorting algoritms like the one of bubble, insert, shell or some others?? Ok, this is your lucky day to at least have fun watching some videos.

Sapientia University, in Romany, is responsible for this idea and production. The sort methods that are shown list the Bubble Sort (by Hungarian folk dance "Csángó"), the Shell Sort (by Hungarian folk dance "Székely), the Insert Sort (Hungarian dance only) and the Select Sort (by gypsy dance unspecified).

iOS & Android vs PSP & NDS

Interesting cake graphics presented by Flurry Analytics guys, which shows the incidence and growth of Android and IOS for the US gaming market.

First, below is the income share for games on portable devices, where Android and IOS have greatly increased their percentage of the pie at the expense of a PSP and (especially) Nintendo DS to be left behind.

Graphene: Next To Provide 1THz

Imagine that in 6 years or so, chips inside our mobiles (or the devices at that time) will have clock cycles of 1THz (1,000 GHz = 1,000,0000 MHz etc), in other words, enough power to serve half of the request made to Facebook just into our hands, could you??

Few years ago, there have been investigations about the use of graphene as a material for the creation of chips, processors and all kinds of electronic circuits. Until now it was known that this particular material, consisting of a monatomic mesh of carbon atoms, is able to withstand amazing transfer speeds, making it the ideal replacement for silicon.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 & 10

Through the CTIA Wireless in Orlando Samsung used that time to officially show the world the new tablets with Android Honeycomb: Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, names that refer to the size of their screens.

A very well design work and now, not only pure Honeycomb interface, but it brings an adapted version of his famous TouchWiz interface adapted to Tablet screen size and user interaction, but this is not interesting, what is are the specs:

ASLR

Mobile devices, as computers, time by time concern more about security. Due to unstoppable increase in processing power, classical encryption methods and security procedures are pushed until their protection limits until cracked, of course many other ways to improve known weaknesses are worked out, that's what I would like to talk you about.

ASLR, in other words, Address Space Layout Randomization, which is a security method to rearrange memory addresses at runtime for key data spaces: executables, library pointers, heap, stack, between the most importants pieces of code.

A5 Graphic Horsepower

Thanks to Anandtech, we can read some new features embebed with the new A5 ARM chip shipped with every iPad 2.

The GPU, which Apple is promising up to a 9x increase in performance, is an Imagination Technologies' PowerVR SGX 543MP2 with the following description from wikipedia:

PowerVR SGXMP chips are multi-core variants of the SGX series with some updates. It will be included in the Sony NGP (working title) portable gaming device with the MP4+ Model of the PowerVR SGX543, the only intended difference is the cores, where MP4+ denotes 4 cores with additional functionalities.

Havok goes for Android

Google and all the Open Headset Alliance are cooking everything they have on the frige to improve Android Experience. Now Videogames are going to expect a benefit with the use of this Physics engine. But, what's is the big deal with it??, a Physics Engine is:

Computer software that provides an approximate simulation of certain simple physical systems, such as rigid body dynamics (including collision detection), soft body dynamics, and fluid dynamics, of use in the domains of computer graphics, video games and film.

Android: Growing Stronger

Nielsen published a report about the sales US wide, this is a reported speech of it:

The battle for the hearts and minds of consumer smartphone owners continues to be a heated one according to data just released by The Nielsen Company. When it comes to consumer marketshare by operating system, Android (29%) appears to be pulling ahead of RIM Blackberry (27%) and Apple iOS (27%). But an analysis by manufacturer shows RIM and Apple to be the winners compared to other device makers since they are the only ones creating and selling smartphones with their respective operating systems. HTC follows with 12 percent of consumer smartphone owners having an HTC Android device and 7 percent owning an HTC device running a Microsoft OS. Ten percent of consumer smartphone owners had a Motorola Android device and one percent owned a Motorola device running a Microsoft OS.

iPad 2

Today was "The Day". New iPad 2, it is here. So that's how we can call Apple's redesigned tablet, for many waiting more than a year (me included). Not so good news for those who bought the first version because the iPad 2 leaves it as something historical. By the software side, no great improvements on the operating system is something that will cripple this release.

The Apple's iPad 2 retains the essence of the first model and adds features that were already needed in the last year tablet, including a new design, that makes it thinner and more manageable in hand, cameras (rear and front), also a new dual-core processor to fight against Android's tablets recently shown in the MWC 2011.

Well, let's make our table for the characteristics:

Macbook Pro Early 2011

The last few years, Apple has had an impressive advance as a whole, from Computers, Laptops, Cellphones, Tablets, an even accessories. Now they show the last iteration to the "Pro" series of their laptop branch, the MacBook Pro.

This is not a brand new product, or a renovated design, it is just a hardware update to complain with the lastest Intel Processors (Sandy Bridge) where many technical advances has been implemented into those 32nm chips: Up to 3.8 GHz (software overclock), Up to 8 MB shared L3, Intel Graphics sub-system, HyperThreading, etc.

Natural User Interface

Since I opened my Operative System horizons (first Linux then MacOS) I started to hate Windows and Micro$oft. Linux with its openness and MacOS with its beautifulness made me change all my opinions about what Windows had to offer to me as an user, later as programmer.

On the other hand, one product from Redmond have impressed me a little, the Kinect, due to its motion recognition, image processing and user interface interaction, but do not believe me, watch it yourself:

Android 3.0 SDK and Activations Since Begining

Android is such a promising Mobile Operative System, back guarded by the Open Handset Alliance (T-Mobile, Google, Motorola, Sony, between others) where the SDK of 3.0 Honeycomb will allow developers to create applications using the new API level and publish them in the Android Market.

As you developer can have of this release wil be:

• UI Builder ADT plugin improvements (improvements in zoom, design support, selection of sensitive action bars to manipulate properties of light, among others).

FastPost: From MagnaBox to Motion sensors

The only thing that I would like to add to this infograph is the tear down of touch screens, due to its introduction to the video games market: PSP 2 (NGP), Nintendo DS, iPod touch. Anyways, it is quite interesting to know the origins of the game controllers:

iPad as a Printing Money Machine

Or PMM for the friends. Cases like this had been seen with the Nintendo DS or de Wii, where the ideas behind those devices placed their companies ahead economically speaking (along few other aspects).

Everyone knows that Apple is doing so well lately, between Mac, OSX, iPhone, iPods and the last add on to the list, the iPad. However is difficult to believe in words, much better let's read an infograph with the summary of the PMM statement:

Qualcomm 1, 2 & 4 cores

After reading the news of Tegra 2 and TI Omap, now I will show you what is Qualcomm preparing for this and the next year. So the bet is multifaceted, with new models up to 2.5 Ghz per core and packaging four elements per chip. That would be the king of the jungle, the SnapDragon APQ8064.

Two LG Optimus Phones: 2X and 3D

Well well well, LG had shown that he likes of the power, with powerful phones and special characteristics for his coming products throughout this year.

LG Optimus 2X

I wrote about this phone the last year, where the most important characteristic was to become the first Dual Core processor smartphone on the market.

Talking about the operating system, LG should be careful to ensure an update soon to Android 2.3 because at the release will be shipped with Android 2.2, a step behind their rivals. And there is not a huge difference in the hardware design to risk stay behind few months away of Google.

PSP 2 vs Xperia Play

Both portable devices, both designed for entertain and both with the Play Station brand behind them. However they have such a different target market: gamers by one side, cellphone user by the other.

Ok, let's make a little table with the comparison of theirs specs:

Motorla Atrix

I want this Smartphone.

The sentence below is the only way that I could define this device, because of its impressive specs, the company that comes from or the phone - Netbook included capabilities. Well let's discuss its hardware machinery:

Xoom vs Galaxy Tab 10.1

Motorola vs Samsung, America vs Asia, a brief comparison between the two jewels dressed with HoneyComb Android 3.0. In terms of hardware are very similar, only some details of the dispute, but honestly the match is very close.

Here is a table (thanks to Gizmología) comparing all the specs of both:

Samsung Galaxy SII (2)

Samsung is taking very seriously the word Galaxy, with many products and options for varying type of consumers and markets: Galaxy S, Galaxy SL, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Tab 10.1 and so on.

As part of the presentation at the Mobile World Congress 2011, Samsung showed the sucessor of the original Galaxy with its really mind-killing name: Samsung Galaxy SII. This would not be a good post without specs to compare with:

Texas OMAP 5: Quite impressive

If you would ask me about three mobile processor makers I might answer with: Nvidia, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments.

Nvidia may be winning terrain with its Tegra 2 platform, nonetheless TI has quite good experience, I am talking about the OMAP processors. Many of the first Android devices generation (even prototypes) were working with this platform: Nokia N90, N91, N92, N95, N82, E61, E62, E63, E90, N800, N810 and N900 Internet Tablets; Motorola Droid, Droid X, and Droid 2; Palm Pre; Sony Ericsson Satio, Vivaz, Idou; Samsung Omnia HD, just to mention few of them.

LG G-Slate

To remember this tablet among many options out there, G-Slate promises to bring 3D to this mobile devices: 3D at the screen and 3D at the camera. The main issue is the need of 3D glasses in order to enjoy of that kind of content. Of course, Nvidia Tegra 2 provides the heart with its dual core ARM processor

One video talks more than thousands of images, how so for words... well here is one published officially from LG:

New Samsung's Family Member: Galaxy SL

Confirmed as the sucesor of the original Galaxy, here it comes, the "SL" version. Here we have few changes: Super Clear LCD, OMAP 3 Processor and better battery.

The design is almost the same, swelling a little with its 11mm and greater weight (133 grams), which is logical to make room for the 1650 mAh battery that promises up to 610 hours standby. For the operating system would it brings, we will have Android 2.2 Froyo with TouchWiz 3.0 interface, perhaps reserving for Gingerbread Samsung rumored Galaxy S2.

Marvel vs Capcom 3

Since a child, I always loved videogames. Right now I could be considered a hardcore gamer who critics everything about them, years of experience has delivered me there. Lately just few games make me feel anxious for play them and one of that list, with a wait of more than 10 years, is Marvel vs Capcom 3.

I know, this a blog for Mobile devices, however this time, specially this game, deserves the attention of everyone. Maybe I am highlighting my expectatives too far away but long time ago that I have not felt exited for a release of a game.

All of this was the result of the opening trailer, which of couse is here:

Sony Xperia Play

I simply don't like it, but to watch few videos, here are the review videos from Engadget:

Tegra 2/3D & Tegra 3/4

Lately, a little bit pronounced has been about the Nvidia's Tegra ARM family, where the most representative product for the first generation was the Microsoft Zune HD, also I had talked about the second generation with the LG Optimus X2, with the leading flag of being the first smartphone with a dual core processor (Tegra 2).

Of course, Nvidia will not sit down waiting for the profits of this chipset, as consequence this are theirs plans for the following generations of Tegra processors: