Microsoft guides Flutter developers on building Surface Duo apps

Microsoft has released a guide on how to build apps for the dual-screen Surface Duo using the Flutter SDK.

The company's flagship developer event, BUILD, begins tomorrow. Like many events this year, it will be entirely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year's event is likely to be a big one, and it seems Redmond is preparing developers early.

Flutter will require little introduction for many of you; but, for the rest, it's Google's UI toolkit for building native...

By | 18 May 2020 | Android

Attention app developers: Android is no longer second fiddle

For a long time the app world was the iOS user’s oyster - all of the best apps were designed for them. In fact, within the US, smartphones and the apps market were essentially synonymous with the iPhone and the App Store. Throughout the rest of the world users preferred Androids, and by 2015 they accounted for 80% of smartphone shipments.

It was only a matter of time before this sleeping giant awakened here on our shores. There are lots of reasons to assume that Android will no...

By | 13 May 2020 | Android

Google and Apple will block location access while using contact-tracing API

A contact-tracing API being developed by Google and Apple will block location access to prevent misuse.

The API, called ExposureNotification, is being provided to national health agencies to build contact-tracing functionality into their apps. It's hoped that contact-tracing apps will help societies to safely return to some degree of normality.

An initial version of the API was released last week. This week, new resources – including demo code and example UI assets –...

By | 5 May 2020 | Android

Study: Half of Americans don’t trust contact-tracing apps

A new study has found that half of Americans wouldn't trust a COVID-19 contact-tracing app.

Contact-tracing apps are being hailed as key to returning to some degree of normality. The apps use Bluetooth to keep track of everyone an individual passes in order to notify that circle if a COVID-19 diagnosis is made so they can isolate and get tested before spreading the virus further.

Naturally, there are concerns about the amount of data such apps could take about their...

By | 30 April 2020 | Android

Apple and Google improve contact-tracing solution following criticisms

Apple and Google have sought to improve their COVID-19 contact-tracing plans following criticisms from governments.

Contact-tracing apps are being hailed as key to returning to some degree of normality. The apps use Bluetooth to keep track of everyone an individual passes in order to notify that circle if a COVID-19 diagnosis is made so they can isolate and get tested before spreading the virus further.

Naturally, however, many governments are wary about putting the data...

By | 27 April 2020 | Android

Epic Games gives up fight against Google over Play Store cut

Epic Games has given up its fight against the large cut taken by Google for publishing games on the Play Store.

In a statement, Epic explained their decision:

"Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party...

By | 22 April 2020 | Android

Google and Apple’s COVID-19 contact-tracing tech is too private for the UK

Contact-tracing technology being developed by Google and Apple appears to be too private for the UK's health service.

While contact-tracing may face delays in the EU due to the bloc's strict regulations; it may not work at all in the UK because of the NHS' demands. 

British health secretary Matt Hancock recently hinted the NHS would use Google and Apple's technology and said:

“All data will be handled according to the highest ethical and security...

By | 20 April 2020 | Android

The EU’s strict rules may delay coronavirus contact-tracing apps

Contact-tracing apps helping to fight the coronavirus pandemic may be delayed in the EU due to the bloc's strict regulations.

With daily new infections, hospitalisations, and deaths beginning to decline in many countries, the conversation is now switching to how lockdown measures can be eased without causing a deadly resurgence. Contact-tracing apps are expected to be key in helping people return to some degree of normality.

Contact-tracing apps anonymously log all the...

By | 17 April 2020 | Android

Google and Apple will deploy COVID-19 contact-tracing as lockdowns begin lifting

Google and Apple have partnered up to develop interoperable contact-tracing that will deploy to Android and iOS devices over the coming months.

With the COVID-19 pandemic appearing to decline in many countries, or at least plateau, the conversation is now shifting towards how lockdowns can be safely lifted to avoid a “second wave” of the killer virus.

Contact-tracing apps log all the people a person passes in the street using Bluetooth. If that person is diagnosed...

By | 14 April 2020 | Android

I/O, uh-oh: Google’s in-person developer event is cancelled

Google is the latest company to cancel the in-person portion of its biggest annual event on the calendar.

This year's I/O will be streaming-only after Google decided the risk of coronavirus spreading to its employees, developers, and the wider public is too great.

"Due to concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19), and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and other health authorities, we have decided to cancel the physical Google I/O event," a...

By | 4 March 2020 | Android