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

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

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

Developers can now access Twitter’s useful ‘Hide Replies’ feature

Twitter has opened up “Hide Replies” to enable third-party app developers to integrate this welcome new feature into their own software.

Hide Replies was rolled out worldwide last November but, as so many of the social network’s features initially, it was limited to Twitter’s own app.

The feature allows users to hide specific replies to their conversations. While these can be unhidden if other users choose, it helps to filter out online trolls aiming to...

By | 27 February 2020 | API

SoundCloud repairs API-related security snafus after Checkmarx research

Online audio distribution platform and music sharing website SoundCloud has fixed several security vulnerabilities affecting its API that could have otherwise resulted in hackers taking over accounts, launching denial of service attacks, and exploiting the service.

All weaknesses were found in an investigation conducted by the Checkmarx Security Research team to study the state of API security in leading...

By | 12 February 2020 | API

Raspberry Pi 4 is now OpenGL ES 3.1 conformant, Vulkan incoming

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B has passed Khronos’ test suite meaning it is now conformant with the not-quite-latest OpenGL ES version.

The Pi 4 Model B was launched last June packing a Broadcom BCM2711 SoC with a Videocore VI GPU supporting the OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics API.

As of earlier this month, the Pi 4 Model B was added to Khronos’ list of devices officially compliant with OpenGL ES 3.1.

OpenGL ES is a popular API helping developers to render 2D and 3D graphics....

By | 3 February 2020 | API