SDK

Google+ SDK for iOS now available, Google confirms

Google's social thing, Google+, may be lagging behind Facebook (250 million users versus Facebook's nearly one billion globally), but the search Goliath has no intention of sitting on the sidelines.

Earlier this week, it announced that the official Google+ client would hit the iPad very soon and today the company took to the blogs to announce the official software development kit for iOS and Android.

Francis Ma, product manager with Google+, wrote in a blog post that Google+ platform for mobile is available beginning today in early developer preview...

iOS 6 Beta lets you reorder Apple TV icons. Apps coming?

Earlier this morning we told you about a note by Apple pundit John Gruber who challenged BGR editor Jonathan Geller's false report that Apple would release a software development kit for the Apple TV at WWDC, effectively opening up the $99 set-top box to third-party apps.

The rumor never came to be and Gruber noted in his trademark style that “something big is going on with Apple TV in Cupertino” (but it’s still being cooked, if I may add). An interesting new video evidence released today by the Brazilian blog MacMagazine has strengthened the belief that third-party apps are likely coming to the Apple TV...

A major update to the Facebook SDK for iOS “coming soon”

The social networking behemoth Facebook just announced in a post over at its Facebook Developers blog that it is working on a major update to the Facebook SDK for iOS that will launch "soon".

The company also confirmed its acquisition of the Face.com startup that should result in a more accurate facial recognition when you upload and share your photos...

Apple TV SDK to launch at WWDC: apps finally coming to your telly

A new report published this morning claims that Apple will seed developers with a brand new Apple TV software development kit (SDK) as early as its annual developers conference which kicks off with a San Francisco keynote next Monday.

Conceivably, the goal of the SDK would be to foster growth of the third-party app ecosystem around the Apple TV, the $99 set-top box which remains closed to app developers (unless you jailbreak, that is)...

StyleTap Wrapper Brings Palm OS Apps to iOS

Palm fans haven't been the only ones to mourn the demise of the aged platform. Now the few developers who made it their job to create Palm OS apps have a lifeline, and it's a lifeline that could open up a brave new world of mobile app development for those who have been left behind.

StyleTap's new iOS Wrapper SDK allows developers to take their old Palm OS apps and make them ready for submission to Apple's App Store. Whether Apple sees fit to accept the submissions, though, is anybody's guess.

Hidden Panorama Mode Uncovered in the iOS Camera

Developer and hacker conradev has uncovered a hidden panorama mode in the iOS Camera app. By changing a key value in the iOS SDK, a Panorama mode is unlocked in the Camera app that lets iPhone users capture a panorama image by snapping photos continually from left to right.

While it's unclear as to why this feature is hidden in iOS, it can only be assumed that Apple will eventually release it to the public in due time.

appMobi Lets Developers Code HTML 5 Apps for Submitting to the App Store

Google's Chrome web-based app store received a new entry this week, and believe it or not, it does have a link to the world of iOS.

The newly released appMobi is a web app designed to help developers to code HTML 5 web apps, but it also packs a sucker punch that we didn't see coming. If after writing your HTML 5 app, you decide you'd like to submit it as a native iOS app to Apple's App Store, then appMobi will let you do that, too...

Retina Display iPad Referenced in iOS 5 SDK

After doing some sleuthing in the iOS 5 beta SDK, the folks at 9to5Mac have discovered graphics for the next generation iPad that are 2X the size of the iPad's current, 1024 x 768 resolution. These graphics are capable of fulfilling the requirement for Apple's 'Retina Display' that is currently used on the iPhone 4 and fourth generation iPod touch.

It was originally dismissed when 2X iPad graphics were discovered in the iOS 4 SDK, but 9to5Mac believes that this Retina Display-worthy resolution references the iPad 3's screen.

Next iPhone in Final Testing Stages for September Release

After the next generation iPhone was a no-show at Apple's WWDC conference last week, the previous reports of an iPhone release in September gained more credibility. Now, according to some Apple intelligence from 9to5Mac, the next iPhone has reached final testing stages (or "AP" stage) with high-level Apple and carrier executives.

All signs point towards Apple being on track for a September release of the next iPhone, but some problems with Verizon could restrict FaceTime over 3G on the carrier's CDMA network.

Third Party Widgets Coming to iOS 5, Thanks to Jailbreak

When the iOS 5 Notification Center was unveiled by Scott Forstall at WWDC, the possibility of third party widgets was also teased to developers. Although no public SDK for widgets was announced by Apple, the first, non-Apple widget has been successfully added to Notification Center, thanks to the RedSn0w tethered jailbreak that recently got updated for iOS 5.

Developer WillFour20 was able to dig into a jailbroken version of the iOS 5 SDK. He uncovered the ability to add his own widget, and he demonstrated it with the above: "Hello World." Thanks to this discovery, developers with jailbroken iDevices will be able to start developing and testing widgets for iOS 5...

iOS 5 Firmware Hints at Future iPhone and iPad Models

Since Apple unveiled iOS 5 at the WWDC keynote yesterday, developers have been diving into the software to discover the hidden secrets within. The latest development actually points towards future models of the iPhone and iPad.

As would be expected, there are code placeholders for the next gen iPhone, and there are also references for two future iPad models. Ladies and gentleman, start your rumor mills...

Apple Testing “iPhone 4S” With Developers, Device Will Have A5 Chip for Enhanced Gaming

Apple has already started testing prototype units of the next generation iPhone with "select" developers. We've already heard that the next iPhone will most likely sport Apple's powerful A5 processor, and 9to5Mac is reporting that the next iPhone will indeed boast the A5 chip.

The iPad 2 uses Apple's A5 processor, and Apple is bringing the A5 to the iPhone in order to improve gaming performance. Big-name gaming companies are already testing an A5-equipped iPhone "4S" to get ready for the new device's launch.