June 2010 Summaries

Google Developer Day 2010 is scheduled to take place in various cities, starting on September 28 in Tokyo, Japan, followed by events in Sao Paulo, Munich, Moscow, and Prague. These events will feature technical sessions on mobile and web technologies such as Android, Chrome, Google Web Toolkit, and App Engine, providing opportunities for developers to engage with the Google team and fellow developers. In addition to these main events, Google will also be hosting DevFest tours across Asia, Europe, and Latin America, along with community-run Google Technology User Group meetups. Although registration details are not yet available, interested participants are encouraged to save the dates and use the designated hashtags for online discussions.

In a blog post commemorating Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's 110th birthday, the Google Chart Tools team draws inspiration from "The Little Prince" and its famous "Drawing Number One" to discuss enhancements to their Image Chart API. They reflect on the story's theme of childlike perception versus adult interpretation, paralleling this with their work on visual storytelling tools. The team explains how they have expanded the API's capabilities to include drawing TeX formulas and plotting mathematical functions, allowing for the embedding of one chart within another, which can be applied to various chart types. This innovation aims to enrich users’ storytelling options on the web, while they encourage users to explore these advancements by viewing the charts via URL-based requests to the Image Chart server. The post is a creative tribute that ties the whimsical insight of the story to the technical challenges of data visualization.

HTML5Rocks.com, launched by Google, serves as a comprehensive developer resource dedicated to HTML5, designed to help developers understand and utilize various aspects of HTML5, including both established and emerging features. The site is structured into four main sections: an interactive presentation showcasing HTML5 features through an HTML5-written slide deck with inline examples, the HTML5 Playground, which is a sandbox for experimenting with live code samples, tutorials that initially cover nine different areas and will expand based on user feedback, and a curated selection of tools and resources from the online community. This initiative aims to facilitate the practical application of HTML5 in real-world web development and invites developer feedback for continuous improvement through social media channels.

In June 2010, Google introduced an Interactive Transcript feature on YouTube, allowing users to quickly navigate through the full text of owner-captioned videos, facilitating the search for specific content like API mentions. This feature was particularly beneficial for developer videos, especially during events like Google I/O, where the company aimed to caption videos within 24 hours using new auto-caption and auto-timing features. Google employed four distinct captioning methods, ranging from real-time transcription with auto-timing to traditional captioning, to ensure accuracy and efficiency. While auto-timing offered speed, it occasionally struggled with variable mic quality and frequent speaker changes, and traditional methods ensured precise timing but required more resources. The company encouraged user feedback to enhance caption quality, reflecting their commitment to accessibility and precision in technical presentations.

In June 2010, Google Storage for Developers expanded its sharing capabilities by introducing support for group sharing, allowing users to share data with groups of Google account holders, in addition to individual accounts. This enhancement provides users with greater flexibility and control over data sharing, enabling them to share information with entire departments or mailing lists, maintain consistent access controls aligned with team membership, and manage user access more efficiently by modifying group memberships instead of individual access control lists. The new feature integrates with Google Groups and allows authentication through Google Storage credentials or an authenticated browser session. Additionally, the GSUtil command-line tool was updated to facilitate group sharing, and the Google Storage team encouraged feedback from users on their forum to continue improving the service.

JavaScript libraries, while enabling developers to achieve more with less code, often lead to bloated applications due to the need to support various browsers, including outdated ones like IE6. This results in unnecessary code being shipped to modern browsers, a problem exacerbated by the rapid adoption of HTML5 and EcmaScript5, which include features previously only available through library code. To address this, compilers like JSMin, Dojo, YUI, Closure, and Caja aim to eliminate unnecessary code by optimizing it based on the context in which it will run. The JavaScript Knowledge Base (JSKB) on browserscope.org plays a crucial role by collecting and providing information about browser capabilities using JavaScript snippets, allowing compilers to remove redundant code for specific browsers. The recently released Caja Web Tools utilizes JSKB to optimize code by focusing on feature tests rather than version tests, and it encourages other JavaScript compilers to adopt similar techniques to produce more efficient code.

Google announced a DevFest tour to bring the excitement of its technologies to cities around the world following the Google I/O event in San Francisco, which many were unable to attend. The tour will visit cities such as Sydney, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, Buenos Aires, and Santiago, allowing local developer communities to engage with Google technologies and the Googlers who work on them. The events, which require early registration due to limited space, aim to foster interaction and discussion about current and potential uses of Google technologies. The tour represents an opportunity for international speakers, many of whom are visiting these cities for the first time, to connect with developers and explore how these communities are utilizing, or planning to utilize, Google's offerings.

Google has introduced a new feature in its Page Speed tool that focuses on analyzing the performance of ads and trackers on web pages. This enhancement allows developers to evaluate how these elements impact page speed and provides specific suggestions for optimization. By using this tool, both web developers and ad or tracker providers can identify which components are slowing down their pages and make necessary improvements. For example, when ads were analyzed separately on a sample page, the overall performance score improved significantly, highlighting the importance of optimizing ads for better page speed. The tool encourages users to try out these features and share their experiences to further enhance web performance.

Google Code is seeking feedback from developers to enhance their experience in using Google's APIs and developer products, as announced by Jocelyn Becker and the Google Code developer experience team on June 9, 2010. They encourage developers to participate in a survey, promising it will take only a few minutes to complete, and in return, participants have the opportunity to win a limited edition t-shirt. The survey is available until midnight PST on Friday, June 11, 2010, offering developers a chance to influence the resources and information provided on the Google Code platform.

Google I/O 2011 is scheduled to take place on May 10-11, 2011, at Moscone West in San Francisco, and attendees are encouraged to mark their calendars for this prominent event. The announcement, made by Christine Tsai from the Google I/O Team, highlights plans to keep potential participants informed about registration details through platforms like the Google Code Blog, Twitter, and Buzz. As the current Google I/O has just concluded, anticipation is already building for next year's edition, which promises to offer valuable insights and experiences for developers and tech enthusiasts alike.

In June 2010, Google celebrated the first anniversary of Google Wave at the Google I/O conference, introducing new features and open-source components, including a significant update to the rich text editor. The event offered insights into Wave's applications within enterprises and provided developers with the opportunity to engage through demos and discussions. Highlights included information on running a Wave server using open-source demos, building sophisticated robots with version 2 of the Robots API, and using APIs outside of Google Wave for integrations and notifications. Developers could also explore the new media/attachments API for creating and retrieving attachments and view enterprise applications like SAP Streamwork. The conference emphasized collaborative extension building, with demos such as ProcessWave, and featured a fireside chat addressing Google Wave's integrations and future developments. Attendees and online viewers were encouraged to watch session videos and engage with the team through forums for further questions.

At Google I/O 2010, the Geo API team showcased a variety of new features and APIs designed to enhance geospatial applications and meet the requests of the Maps API community. Highlights included the launch of the Latitude API and a preview of the Places API Web Service, which were demonstrated through practical applications such as Booyah's geo-social gaming app. The event also introduced the Styled Maps feature for customizing Google map tiles, the new Directions Web Service, and tips for integrating large datasets in 3D via the Google Earth API and KML. The conference emphasized the efficiency and versatility of the Maps API v3 for both desktop and mobile platforms, marking its transition as the default version, and explored the use of cloud computing for geospatial data through the Maps Data API. The sessions encouraged developer engagement and provided insights into the development of cross-platform geospatial applications, inviting participants to stay connected through various online platforms.

At Google I/O 2010, a significant focus was placed on Google APIs, which play a vital role in the company's developer products. The event saw the introduction of several new APIs, including the Google Buzz API, Google Font API, Google BigQuery API, and Google Prediction API, among others, while sessions provided insights on utilizing existing ones like Google Analytics and YouTube APIs. Video presentations from the event covered a range of topics, such as integrating Google products into websites, exploring Google PowerMeter, creating dynamic web charts, building real-time web applications with App Engine and Feed API, and best practices for YouTube API uploads. The conference also featured discussions on the infrastructure and development of Google's APIs, as well as strategies for monetizing Android and iPhone apps. Attendees were encouraged to explore the available session videos and slides, which highlight Google's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration with developers.

Google hosted a hackfest and reception at RailsConf 2010, aimed at engaging the Rails community with its developer and enterprise products introduced at Google I/O. The event took place at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel and included activities such as integrating Rails apps into Google Apps Marketplace, setting up Duby or JRuby on App Engine, and discussing the Chrome Web Store. Experts like Steven Bazyl, Ryan Brown, John Woodell, David Masover, and Seth Ladd were present to guide participants through various integration processes and technologies, including OpenID, OAuth, Google Data APIs, and the benefits of the Chrome Web Store for app distribution and monetization. Attendees were encouraged to participate in surveys concerning HTML5 and the Chrome Web Store, with incentives like t-shirts offered for their feedback. Additionally, participants who registered by June 8th could request a Google Storage account for use during the hackfest, providing them access to Google's scalable and secure cloud storage service. The event promised to be an exciting opportunity for developers to network, learn, and innovate with Google's tools and technologies.

At the I/O 2010 event, Google released a series of videos from its Tech Talks and Fireside Chats, which covered a diverse range of topics from new programming languages to venture capital discussions. The Tech Talks featured presentations on the Go programming language by Rob Pike and Russ Cox, the Closure Library by Nathan Naze, and performance optimization using Page Speed by Richard Rabbat and Bryan McQuade, alongside sessions on SEO, user experience design, and engineering leadership. A notable first was a venture capital panel discussing trends like non-technical startup founders and platform openness. Fireside Chats offered insights from Google teams on their products, with a focus on audience Q&A, and included teams such as Android, Google Chrome, and Google Wave. These sessions are available on YouTube, with more video releases scheduled, including content from the Geo, Google APIs, and Google Wave tracks.

Google I/O 2010 featured significant discussions on the social web, highlighting open standards like ActivityStreams, PubSubHubbub, OAuth, Salmon, and Webfinger, which are foundational for creating a more open and social online environment. The event included 16 companies such as eBay, LinkedIn, and Yahoo! in the Developer Sandbox, and nine sessions that delved into various social topics, including the emergence of Google Buzz API. Key sessions explored topics like real-time data streaming, building social applications, and the future trajectory of the social web, with experts sharing insights on privacy and technological advancements. Notable presentations included Chris Chabot's introduction to the Google Buzz API, Brett Slatkin's session on PubSubHubbub, and Chris Messina's narrative on the open and social web, while the discussions aimed to foster innovation and collaboration in enhancing web interactivity.

During Google I/O 2010, the Google Chrome team made several key announcements and conducted sessions highlighting advancements in the web platform, particularly around HTML5 and native web applications. Sundar Pichai introduced the WebM Project, aiming to provide a free, high-quality video codec for the web, supported by Mozilla, Opera, and Adobe, while announcing the upcoming launch of the Chrome Web Store to enhance the discoverability of web applications. The sessions covered topics such as programming the web with native code, developing Chrome extensions, and building web apps for the Chrome Web Store, along with updates on HTML5 features and the introduction of Google Chrome's Developer Tools. Additionally, the event showcased WebM video playback and provided insights into Google Chrome Frame, which enables HTML5 capabilities and faster JavaScript performance for Internet Explorer users. Videos and slides from each session were made available online for those unable to attend in person.

At Google I/O 2010, there was a significant emphasis on developing software for businesses, focusing on building and selling apps in the Marketplace, customizing Google's apps, and creating internal apps. The event featured notable announcements such as the launch of Gmail contextual gadgets, enhancements to Google Apps Script, Google App Engine for Business, and a partnership with VMware. Google Wave was made available in Google Apps, and Exchange support was introduced in Android 2.2. More than a dozen technical sessions catered to the enterprise sector, with over 20 vendors showcasing their products in the Enterprise Developer Sandbox. Sessions covered topics like automating business processes with Google Apps Script, selling cloud apps in the Google Apps Marketplace, and creating Gmail contextual gadgets. Google also shared insights on running corporate applications on App Engine and strategies for converting free users to paying customers in a Freemium model. Videos of these sessions were made available, highlighting the strides made by the enterprise developer community.

At Google I/O 2010, Android's significant presence was emphasized through a comprehensive array of activities, including a keynote dedicated to Android's new features in release 2.2 "Froyo," various in-depth sessions, a Developer Sandbox, and a display of over 50 Android devices. The event featured numerous sessions covering diverse topics such as beginner guides, game development, UI widgets like ListView, targeting a wide range of Android devices, developing REST client applications, and enhancing app performance with a JIT Compiler for Dalvik VM. In addition to technical sessions, there were fireside chats with Android handset manufacturers and engineers, office hours with Android experts, and displays of Android devices, which highlighted the vibrant and engaged Android developer community. The event offered a platform for sharing best practices and insights, catering to both novice and experienced developers, and was marked by high attendance and enthusiasm, demonstrating the growing interest in Android development.

At Google I/O 2010, the event highlighted the significant advancements in web technology, focusing on HTML5's capabilities and the surge in Android applications and devices. A major announcement was the partnership between Google and VMware, enabling developers to use Spring Roo and GWT for building cloud-portable enterprise web apps. The GWT team released version 2.1 M1, featuring VMware integration, Data Presentation Widgets, and an MVP Framework. The event included several deep-dive sessions on optimizing GWT applications, such as using the Speed Tracer for latency measurement and GWT Compiler for faster app performance. Noteworthy presentations covered topics like GWT's integration with HTML5 Web Workers and UI enhancements with UiBinder, ClientBundle, and Layout Panels. Additionally, speakers discussed testing best practices and architectural strategies for GWT applications, while showcasing innovative demonstrations like running Quake II in the browser using HTML5 features. The sessions aimed to equip developers with knowledge and tools to enhance their web app development, supported by video resources available on the GWT I/O 2010 YouTube playlist.

An Apps Script hackathon was scheduled to take place in New York on June 24, 2010, offering an opportunity for participants to learn about Google Apps Script and interact with the Apps Script team. The event was designed to run from 2 pm to 8 pm, featuring a session where the basics of Apps Script would be covered, followed by a hands-on coding experience where attendees could either follow along with a guided script-building exercise or work on their own projects with assistance from experts. Participants were encouraged to bring their laptops, ideas, enthusiasm, and a basic understanding of JavaScript, with food, power, and support available throughout the event. Jan Kleinert from Google Developer Programs shared these details and invited interested individuals to RSVP for the hackathon.

The App Engine team's participation in Google I/O 2010 included significant announcements and presentations, most notably the introduction of App Engine for Business and its Business Admin Console, as well as collaborations with VMWare to integrate development tools like SpringSource and Google Web Toolkit for easier application deployment on the platform. The event also saw the release of App Engine SDK version 1.3.4, featuring a new bulkloader and experimental support for OpenID and OAuth, along with enhancements to the Blobstore API. Throughout the conference, various sessions covered topics such as RPC instrumentation with Appstats, corporate application migration to App Engine, batch data processing using Mapper, data migration with the Bulk Loader, and performance optimization in Java for App Engine. These sessions, aimed at providing deep insights and practical strategies for developers, are now available as videos for those who could not attend, highlighting the community's engagement and the team's eagerness to witness innovative use of App Engine in the future.