developers

What could Apple have up its sleeve for WWDC?

Apple will likely unveil a new lineup of Macs at its upcoming WWDC, but one analyst thinks the bigger news will be in the software arena.

The iPhone maker is expected to announce iOS 6 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off June 11, says Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu. Apple announced iOS 5 at last year's WWDC, though the OS didn't reach the market until October.

A new Maps app also has the analyst and other Apple watchers buzzing. Based on industry checks, Wu sees a new in-house Maps app replacing the current Google Maps … Read more

Google announces in-app subscriptions for Android apps

Google today announced a new feature for Android applications offered through the Google Play store. Available immediately for Android developers, in-app subscriptions will allow users to pay for monthly or annual subscriptions directly inside of apps. And as detailed by Google, the feature is set to auto-renew by default with transactions managed by the Google Play store.

In addition to adding a new level of convenience, the move opens the door to added revenue streams and even new types of content through Google Play. Looking forward, today's announcement could entice magazines and news journals to offer subscriptions to consumers … Read more

Leap Motion: 3D hands-free motion control, unbound

Hands-free motion control, a technology pioneered by Nintendo's Wii and later improved upon by Microsoft's Kinect, just took a very big leap forward. Industries from gaming to surgery to architecture, engineering, and design may never be the same.

With the unveiling today of its Leap 3D motion control system, a San Francisco startup called Leap Motion has, well, leapfrogged the state of the art in this young field, giving users the ability to control what's on their computers with hundredth of a millimeter accuracy and introducing touch-free gestures like pinch-to-zoom.

Leap, which comprises both a small USB … Read more

Apple OKs Dropbox adjustments, accessing apps accepted

Dropbox has confirmed that the latest update to its developer SDK complies with Apple's policies that strictly forbid apps to send users to external sites to buy products if an in-app option is not also available.

Previously Dropbox had included a link to purchase extra storage space on its servers, which sent users to the Dropbox Web site to complete the transaction. That method cuts Apple (and its 30 percent revenue share) out of the process.

Dropbox had temporarily removed its "Make account" feature (the one that included the ability to buy more storage directly through Dropbox) … Read more

At AngelList hackathon, demand is for talent-poaching tools

SAN FRANCISCO--If there's one thing that technology investors would like to have an easier time doing, it's poaching highly skilled engineering talent.

That much was clear at the AngelList Hackathon, an event held here today at the offices of AngelList, a company built around connecting early-stage startups with investors. But unlike many hackathons, during which entrepreneurs build new products meant for the world at large, these hackers were showing off new tools aimed solely at the large AngelList community of startups seeking funding.

In about 90 minutes, AngelList team members showed off 10 tools all meant to add … Read more

Netflix may be looking to revive another cult TV show

Fans of the late sci-fi series "Jericho" could see the show popping up on Netflix if all of the myriad details can be ironed out.

The online video company has reportedly been speaking with CBS, the show's former network and production arm, about reviving the series, said TV Guide. CNET News is published by CBS Interactive, a unit of CBS.

A Netflix spokesman declined to offer any information, telling CNET that the company does not comment on rumors or speculation.

However, TV Guide reported that preliminary talks between Netflix and the network have already begun. CBS President … Read more

Developer tool maker Atlassian readies for IPO

With 460 full-time employees worldwide, 18,000 customers, and plans for an initial public offering on the horizon, Atlassian's revenue has grown from $17 million in 2007 to more than $100 million five years later.

Possibly more interesting is that the company doesn't have salespeople, was founded in Australia instead of Silicon Valley, and largely saw this enormous growth selling behind-the-firewall tools to development teams.

Let me put this out there upfront: developer tools are boring. And yet, you talk to Atlassian execs and its customers, and it seems to be a big lovefest for the company and … Read more

RIM guarantees $10,000 to BlackBerry 10 devs in first year

Research In Motion is putting its money where its mouth is, when it comes to developers.

The company is guaranteeing that developers will generate at least $10,000 in sales of BlackBerry 10 apps in the first year -- or it will pay the difference, according to The Verge.

It's a risky -- and potentially costly -- bet that the company is reportedly making, as it attempts to stir up developer interest in the new platform. A lack of developer support has been a key weakness in the past, and RIM is looking to rectify the issue with BlackBerry … Read more

How Nvidia can accelerate the graphics in your apps

If you want to create some pretty apps, look to Nvidia.

The company, best known for its graphics processors in PCs and laptops, has during the past year branched out into the mobile world with its ARM-based Tegra processor, specifically designed for mobile devices such as phones and tablets. The company has quickly gone from an outsider to a niche player, serving high-end devices.

Its Tegra 3 quad-core processor is found in a handful of top-tier products, including the Asus Transformer Prime, the first tablet with Google's Ice Cream Sandwich variant, as well as international versions of HTC's … Read more