April 2011 Summaries

In an April 29, 2011, blog post, Scott Knaster highlights two significant events: the final launch preparations for the Space Shuttle Endeavour and a new feature in Google Chrome. Endeavour's mission, the penultimate one for the US Space Shuttle program, offers a unique opportunity for the public to engage by submitting video questions to the crew via YouTube, with answers provided live. Meanwhile, Google Chrome has introduced a voice input feature for Google Translate, enabling users to practice and listen to translations in various languages, thanks to the HTML speech input API. This feature represents an advancement in utilizing HTML5 and open web technologies, as showcased on the Chrome Experiments site. Additionally, there's a curious note about this space mission involving squids, prompting readers to explore further details on a linked page.

Google I/O 2011 is set to host an exciting array of events and activities, including the I/O Live feature that connects developers worldwide via a Google Earth mashup and the hashtag #io2011. The After Hours party on May 10 will showcase the theme "Infinite Playground," featuring innovative technological displays from organizations like Gadgetoff and Maker Faire, alongside a live performance by Jane’s Addiction, who will play a mix of classics and preview their upcoming album. Renowned DJs Mark Farina and Miguel Migs will also perform, with music visuals by Sexyvisuals. The event will be livestreamed, including keynotes and sessions, offering a comprehensive digital experience for those unable to attend in person.

Simperium, co-founded by Mike Johnston and Fred Cheng, developed Simplenote to address limitations in the original iPhone Notes app, evolving it into a robust note-taking service that synchronizes data across devices, web, and third-party apps. Initially created as a learning exercise, Simplenote's backend now handles millions of requests daily and manages extensive data volumes, leveraging Google App Engine to ensure scalability and ease of deployment. This cloud platform has been instrumental in allowing rapid iteration and integration of new features, such as Markdown support, while maintaining core functionalities like syncing, essential for user attraction and retention. Despite initial concerns about potentially outgrowing App Engine, its adaptability has kept pace with Simperium's expanding needs, powering not only the Simplenote API used by third-party applications but also auxiliary systems like payment processing with Stripe and Dropbox integration. As Simperium evolves with a more comprehensive architecture aimed at third-party use, the versatility of Google App Engine remains a cornerstone of its operations, demonstrating its reliability and capacity to support innovative internal systems that integrate with services like Twitter, Amazon Web Services, and HipChat.

ShortForm, as described by Lead Developer Jereme Monteau, is an innovative entertainment platform that enables users to engage with curated video channels as viewers or video jockeys (VJs). By leveraging YouTube Data APIs, ShortForm allows users to subscribe to channels, enjoy continuous video streams, and easily import their YouTube favorites and uploads, enhancing the VJ experience. The platform seamlessly integrates with YouTube's JavaScript API and is currently testing optimizations for Android tablets. ShortForm has developed an embeddable widget inspired by YouTube's iframe syntax, allowing users to embed channels across the web. As part of its involvement in Google I/O's Developer Sandbox, ShortForm invites Sandbox companies to submit product pitches and demos for a dedicated channel, with popular videos highlighted in a press release and featured on ShortForm's homepage. Monteau, a seasoned developer and founding member, shares his excitement over these advancements while also anticipating personal milestones.

Google I/O, scheduled for May 10-11, 2011, has unveiled its complete session lineup, allowing attendees to plan their visit with detailed session descriptions and speaker information available on the I/O website. Highlights include two special sessions at the end of Day 1: Ignite, a series of five-minute speed presentations capturing geek culture with topics such as the Brain API and the Tiger Mom myth, and the Google Ventures Meetup, which facilitates VC speed dating-like interactions between attendees and members of the Google Ventures team and portfolio companies. Additionally, Google engineers will host Office Hours to answer questions about various Google products and technologies, covering areas like Android, Chrome, and YouTube, among others. Attendees are encouraged to follow @googleio for real-time updates and information during the event.

In April 2011, Google announced the selection of 1,116 students for the Google Summer of Code program, where they will collaborate with 175 organizations. During the community bonding period, students will connect with their mentors, study documentation, and integrate into their respective communities via platforms like IRC before commencing their coding projects in late May. This initiative aims to foster an enriching and productive summer experience as students engage in open-source software development. Interested parties can find more information about the participating organizations and key dates on the program's website.

Clarke's Third Law, which suggests that advanced technology can appear magical, is exemplified by software innovations such as word processors and search engines. The Google Prediction API, as discussed in a previous blog post, is a modern example of this concept, utilizing machine learning to analyze data, identify patterns, and make predictions, such as determining the language of phrases or assessing the sentiment of comments. Additionally, the blog post highlights a presentation by Paul Irish from the Google Developer Relations Team, offering insights on optimizing HTML5 and CSS3 performance, including hardware acceleration techniques. The post concludes with a recommendation for a video showcasing the intriguing interaction between a wasp and an ant competing for food.

Google's release of version 1.2 of the Prediction API simplifies the integration of advanced machine learning algorithms into applications by providing a RESTful web service for developers. This updated version introduces features like automatic data type detection, score normalization, and a paid usage tier, along with improved usage monitoring and faster signup through the APIs Console. The API can process numeric data and unstructured text to produce hundreds of discrete categories or continuous values, and it integrates seamlessly with platforms such as Google App Engine, web and desktop apps, and command line. The Prediction API enables various intelligent features like product recommendations, content filtering, homepage customization, sentiment analysis, and message routing, thereby enhancing the functionality and user experience of applications. Users interested in utilizing the API can join the preview group by enabling the Prediction API in the APIs Console and signing up for a Google Storage account, with the team welcoming feedback and suggestions through their discussion group.

Android for Good at Google I/O 2011 is an initiative encouraging attendees to donate their unused, unlocked Android devices to support various humanitarian projects worldwide. Originating from a Google engineer's vision to leverage technology for societal benefit, the program has successfully distributed devices to initiatives such as Grameem's AppLab in Uganda, Save the Elephants in Kenya, and the UNHCR in Central Africa. At the event, attendees are invited to drop off eligible devices at a designated booth, emphasizing that while these gadgets may be outdated for some, they hold significant potential to impact lives positively in developing regions. This initiative aligns with Google's broader commitment to using technology for social good.

Google I/O 2011 is set to showcase its Developer Sandbox, featuring 128 partners across 10 product tracks, providing attendees with real-life case studies and hands-on experiences with developers using Google technologies. Participants can engage through I/O Live by submitting and voting on questions using Google Moderator, with popular questions leading to video interviews with Sandbox partners. These interviews will be posted online the following day. The event encourages global participation, whether in person in San Francisco or remotely, and features contributions from guest bloggers from Sandbox companies on the Google Code Blog. Dusty Reid and Christine Songco, key organizers of the event, manage various aspects of Google I/O, with Christine also balancing her responsibilities with her interests in travel, scuba diving, and snowboarding.

On April 18, 2011, Jenny Ramaswamy from Google's Creative Lab discussed how most Americans, after filing their taxes, are left wondering about the allocation of their tax dollars. To address this curiosity, Google launched the Data Viz Challenge, a five-week competition encouraging developers to create visualizations of federal income tax dollar spending. The contest attracted over 40 creative entries, ranging from simple receipt-like formats to complex cityscape renderings. The winning entry, "Where Did My Tax Dollars Go?" by Anil Kandangath, was praised for its information-rich yet elegantly designed visualization that maintained a clear overview of tax dollar expenditure. This initiative, in collaboration with partners like Eyebeam and Whatwepayfor.com, aimed to make complex government spending data more accessible and engaging for taxpayers, adding an element of fun to the otherwise mundane task of tax filing.

In April 2011, Google announced the beta release of its Google APIs Client Library for Python, indicating its readiness for developers to build production applications and provide feedback on its stability and features. This announcement followed the launch of several tools, such as the Google APIs Explorer and Console, designed to facilitate API exploration and management directly from browsers. The release is part of a broader effort to enhance API usage through client libraries in various programming languages, with plans for additional languages forthcoming. Google encouraged developers to engage with the new client libraries through sessions like "Introduction to Google APIs" at I/O Bootcamp and "Life of a Google API Developer" at Google I/O, offering opportunities for face-to-face interaction with the library developers.

Scott Knaster, from Google Developer Relations, shares updates and highlights from the Google Code Blog, noting a particularly light posting week as the author community focused on other work. Among the updates, new features for the goo.gl URL shortener make copying newly created short URLs easier, and a Chrome extension simplifies short URL creation. Additionally, Google Docs now includes pagination, enhancing the writing and printing of documents like user guides and school papers. Knaster also reflects on the ongoing recovery efforts in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami, encouraging support through posted messages. He concludes by mentioning a creative wedding invitation hack he found particularly interesting, which included a paper record and player.

Scott Knaster from Google Developer Relations introduces the concept of "Fridaygram," a light-hearted blog post series intended for Fridays to offer a more relaxed tone compared to typical content. This series will not be a weekly fixture but will be published on select Fridays, featuring a recap of the week's posts, interesting curated links, or new topics for tech enthusiasts to explore over the weekend. This particular Fridaygram discusses the excitement around I/O Live, highlighting the livestream of keynotes and sessions on Android and Chrome with real-time captions. Additionally, it mentions the winners of the Last Call for Google I/O contest and a test suite for web-based rich text editors, concluding with a playful tip to search for "tilt" on a mobile browser for a fun effect.

Google I/O 2011 aims to reach a wider audience by offering I/O Live, a platform that allows global access to the event for those unable to attend in person. After the event sold out in just 59 minutes, Google decided to bring the excitement of the Moscone Center to everyone via www.google.com/io on May 10-11. I/O Live will feature livestream video feeds, including the keynotes and sessions from Android and Chrome, with real-time captions and machine-translated subtitles for international developers. The platform will also provide real-time announcements, allow users to submit questions to Sandbox developers, and post HD video recordings of sessions not livestreamed within 24 hours. This initiative marks Google's largest I/O event yet, enhancing accessibility and participation for developers worldwide.

In April 2011, Google I/O announced the winners of its "Last Call for Google I/O" contest, which challenged developers to create innovative applications across various Google technologies in a short timeframe, often less than 24 hours. The competition covered multiple categories, including Android, Chrome, Games, YouTube, Apps, Accessibility, Commerce, Geo, Google Web Toolkit (GWT), and App Engine, with each category being judged by experts in the respective fields. The submissions were praised for their creativity, technical prowess, and the ability to effectively use new APIs and technologies, with standout entries including interactive doodles, games, and applications that demonstrated cross-browser compatibility and accessibility. Winners received passes to the sold-out Google I/O event, and their work was highlighted for its potential to inspire further innovation within the developer community.

Roland Steiner from the Chrome Team has introduced a new test suite for rich text editing as part of the browserscope framework to address inconsistencies in how JavaScript APIs are implemented across different browsers. While many web applications allow users to enhance plain text with various formatting commands, the execution and resulting HTML structures often vary between browsers. The test suite aims to document and standardize these differences by capturing the implementation of commands and APIs across various initial HTML content and containers, with over 1,000 tests already included. The initiative encourages feedback from the community, including web developers and users who have experienced issues with bugs and incompatibilities, to develop a common set of editing functions that can serve both browser implementers and developers. Feedback and suggestions are welcomed via the browserscope mailing list.

Monica Tran, a member of Google's Developer Marketing team, shares her excitement for the upcoming Google I/O 2011 event, highlighting new sessions focused on future web technologies. As the event approaches, several engaging activities like the Last Call for Google I/O contest and I/O Extended viewing parties are planned worldwide. The event promises an array of new speakers and sessions designed to equip participants with skills to innovate and lead in the evolving internet landscape. Google I/O will take place on May 10-11, with live streaming and recorded videos available for those unable to attend in person. Despite the current website construction issues, efforts are underway to resolve them promptly.