Lee Graham's Digital Home

Day 1, the big news was the Chrome Web App Store.

Day 2, it was all about the little green dude... Android! The Android OS seems to have finally matured past the point of playing catch up with Apple's iPhone and now seems to be setting its own agenda.

Android 2.2 (FroYo) Developer's Note:

1. Speed - faster VM & JIT compiler 2x-5x faster apps
2. Enterprise - 20 new features including Exchange support
3. Data Backup API
4. Cloud-to-Device Messaging API
5. Tethering and wireless hotspot
6. A better Browser:
   • V8 video. 
   • The Android browsers dusted the iPad browser hands down in decoding JavaScript. 
   • Eventually web apps will be able to access the device hardware such as the camera & accelerometer. 
   • Flash Player 10.1 support within the Browser. 
7. Android Market - Search can search within apps and removable storage. 
8. Apps on SD. 
9. Application can be set to auto-update. 
10. A stack trace reporting feature for developers to better help with debugging. 
11. Android Market account tied to devices. 
12. Devices will be able to download application OTA (Over-The-Air) directly from your computer. 
13. Music is now purchasable on the Android Market!
14. Non-DRMed music purchased on iTunes will be able to play on your Android device.
15. AdSense for Mobile Ads - Google's counter Apple's iAds I'm sure. Expandable ad formats within apps which can use maps and the click-to-call feature.

CNET's Stephen Shankland: "Basically, Google is working to reproduce iTunes abilities with just a browser, no iTunes." 

Google TV: TV meets web. Web meets TV.

Imagine your computer, mobile phone and TV viewing experiences all being blurred together. This is exactly what Google is doing! Its a fact a large quantity of people spend hours of time watching YouTube on their computers and mobiles, now imagine watching that on your 1080p HD TV. Lets take it one step further, how about watching that YouTube clip and then sharing it with your buddy from your TV. Its no longer a dream, its coming later this year (Fall 2010) to a BestBuy near you. 

What you need to know about Google TV:

• Running the Android OS + Chrome Browser
• Will be integrated with with Sony TVs that are coming out.
• Will be available as a standalone box (thanks to Logitech) and will work with your current TV. Will require a keyboard & pointing device. 
• Better searchability of the program you like. 
• More interactivity with your favorite programs. 
• Allows your to record future episodes of your favorite shows and ties directly to Amazon Video so you can purchase previous episodes. 
• Access to Android Apps! You will be able to login to your Android Market account, buy an app on your phone or computer & have it automatically downloaded to your Google TV.
• You can watch YouTube directly on your Google TV.
• Will be able to interact with Facebook, Pandora, Flickr, etc...
• NOTE: your Android phone can be used as a remote control.
• You will be able to login to your Android Market account, buy an app & have it automatically to your Google TV.
  
• Watch & listen to your podcasts directly on you Google TV. Podcast via Google Listen (http://listen.googlelabs.com/). 
  
• Notably: the NBA.com has create a Google TV site that allows for more interactivity while you consume sport. This is the future!
  

Google TV Developer's Note:

• Developers will be able to build both Android apps as well as Web apps and access them on Google TV.
• Google TV currently runs on Android 2.1 & has the Google Chrome browser & Flash Player 10.1.
• The SDK will be released early 2011.
• Best part... its all OPEN SOURCE! This will happen late 2011.

Adobe AIR for Android Developer's Note: its nice having a little green guy and Google as friends! 

1. You can develop Android apps using AIR for Android which is now in beta (developer access only). SIGN UP HERE!
2. As a Flash Developer, you can develop Flash Apps and content (720p & 1080p videos) for Google TV. READ MORE HERE...
3. AIR for Android will work on Google TV eventually. Top priority is optimizing AIR for Android on mobiles.
4. General tips for designing websites to work on Google TV

Today, much to my delight, Adobe has launched a classy advertising campaign, "We HEART Choice" to counter Steve Jobs' missive, "Thoughts on Flash". The message is simple, Adobe still likes Apple, they want to set the record straight, and they just want to let developers to choose what tools they want to build with.

Anyone that it out of the loop can grab all of the details that have led up to this point by read, Apple's CEO Entered an Insanity Plea as the Reason for Banning Flash on the iPhone

Lets first take a look at "The Truth about Flash"...

Read the entire article "The Truth about Flash"...

The Co-Founders of Adobe wrote a nice letter about the internet and openness...

They really have a fabulous point...

"If the web fragments into closed systems, if companies put content and applications behind walls, some indeed may thrive — but their success will come at the expense of the very creativity and innovation that has made the Internet a revolutionary force."

Read the entire letter "Our thoughts on open markets"...

Future of Flash...

Flash is not only available on the computer, but shortly it will available on Android mobiles & tablets and TVs as well. I'm a part of both beta testing for AIR for Android and Flash Player 10.1 for Android and its really exciting to see a mobile device handle Flash & Adobe AIR apps so well!

Check out a few exciting videos about FP 10.1 & AIR for Android:

• Adobe demonstrates Flash and Air on Android tablet
• Great AIR for Android Example – Easy and Speedy
• A breath of fresh AIR: AIR on Android
• Flash Works On Touch-Based Devices (Video)
• Android Apps developers are starting to create with Flash CS5 & Adobe AIR for Android