December 2010 Summaries

In December 2010, Google announced a 20% robotics project that expanded the capabilities of Android devices to interact with robots, specifically the iRobot Create, LEGO MINDSTORMS, and VEX Pro, through cloud connectivity. This initiative involved enhancing the App Inventor for Android, contributing to the open-source Cellbots Java app, and improving the Cellbots Python libraries. Users can utilize App Inventor's cloud-based environment to program robotic controls and sensors, while the Cellbots Java application allows for diverse platform compatibility and control modes using the Android SDK. The Cellbots Python library aims to provide developers with flexible connectivity options and features for Android phones, facilitating robot interaction. This project encourages developers, hobbyists, and students to integrate Android phones with robotics, leveraging tools like OpenCV and the new Gingerbread APIs to explore innovative applications and share their outcomes with the Cellbots Google Group.

Google has introduced new Shopping APIs, consisting of Content and Search components, designed to enable retailers to upload and query product data efficiently across various Google platforms. These APIs aim to replace the deprecated Google Base Data API, which is set to be fully retired by June 1, 2011. The Content API allows retailers to upload product information for use in services like Google Product Search and Google Commerce Search, while the Search API facilitates the creation of innovative applications by Google Commerce Search customers, Google Affiliate Network publishers, and developers. A Migration Guide is available to assist developers in transitioning from the Base API, with further details accessible through the Google Merchant Center blog and related FAQs.

WebGL, a 3D graphics API for JavaScript based on OpenGL ES 2.0, is now enabled by default in Google Chrome's beta channel, marking a significant advancement towards 3D web applications. Developed through collaboration between major tech companies like Google, Mozilla, Apple, and Opera, as well as graphics hardware vendors, WebGL aims to standardize 3D web content. Despite limited existing content, the familiar API is expected to rapidly attract developers to create innovative applications. To showcase the potential of this technology, several 3D web apps, including Google's Body Browser and Dean McNamee's Nine Point Five earthquake map, have been developed and are available in the Chrome Experiments Gallery. The Chromium Team invites developers to submit their creative WebGL apps to highlight this cutting-edge technology.

In December 2010, Google donated the source code and intellectual property of two Java development tools, WindowBuilder and CodePro Profiler, to the open-source community via the Eclipse Foundation. WindowBuilder, a leading GUI designer for Java, and CodePro Profiler, a tool for identifying performance issues in Java applications, were previously commercial products acquired by Google from Instantiations. This donation, valued at over $5 million, aims to enhance the Eclipse ecosystem by making these tools freely available and encouraging community contributions. The donation received positive feedback from the developer community and the Eclipse Foundation, with commercial support for these tools being offered by companies like Genuitec and OnPositive. Both tools are set to become official Eclipse projects by mid-2011, expanding their accessibility and fostering innovation through open-source collaboration.

Apache-extras.org was launched on December 13, 2010, as a collaborative effort between Google and the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) to provide a dedicated hosting platform for ASF-related projects. This initiative aims to foster a sense of community and identity among ASF projects, similar to the earlier launch of eclipselabs.org. The platform is designed to enhance the visibility and community engagement of open source projects, supporting the ASF's philosophy that such projects are not just about code but are driven by vibrant communities. This launch acknowledges the influence of the ASF on the development of tools like Subversion, which shares a history and cultural synergy with ASF, and underscores the importance of community in sustaining open source initiatives. Through this partnership, Google seeks to offer more than infrastructure by creating an ecosystem where unofficial yet related projects can thrive under a unified banner, thereby contributing to the growth and sustainability of open source software.

Google Project Hosting announced a minor update to its user interface, focusing on maintaining simplicity while incorporating some modern design elements that align with the evolution of other Google products. Since its launch in 2006, the platform has prioritized a clean and fast interface, which has largely remained unchanged despite the addition of new features. The recent style updates, which include modifications like less aggressive use of rounded corners, aim to refresh the design without compromising its core simplicity. Users are encouraged to explore the changes on the project creation, project pages, and user profile pages, and provide feedback to help shape future developments.

Google announced enhancements to the Google Buzz API, making it easier to incorporate photos into Buzz posts by leveraging Picasa as a photo repository. These updates allow users to perform various actions such as creating, updating, and deleting albums or photos, as well as retrieving photo entries with ease using slightly altered URL structures similar to those used for activities. Public data can be accessed without authentication, but authenticated access requires an OAuth token with both Buzz and Photos API scopes. Users must update their OAuth tokens to accommodate these changes, and further information is available in the Google Buzz API documentation. These enhancements aim to enrich user experience in social applications, with Google encouraging feedback through its Developer Forum and suggesting the use of the APIs console for usage tracking.

Google Developer Day 2010 wrapped up with successful events in Munich, Moscow, and Prague, celebrating the global developer community's engagement and enthusiasm. In Tokyo, the largest Developer Day attracted 1,500 developers and showcased over 100 Android applications, reflecting Japan's significant role in app development and App Engine usage. Sao Paulo's event featured 1,300 attendees and included live demos of new Android voice features, while Munich's collaboration with the Technical University of Munich highlighted Germany's active Google Technology User Groups. Moscow's event streamlined its sessions for 1,300 developers and included discussions with government advisors, while Prague hosted nearly 1,000 developers, featuring local innovations like an internet TV station and QR hunting game. These events emphasized Google's commitment to fostering developer communities worldwide, offering interactive sessions, hackathons, and digital souvenirs to enhance engagement and collaboration.