Posts Tagged: google

Internet / Mobile / Software Development — 3 Comments
4
Apr 10

Quake Powered By HTML5

HTML5 has recently received loads of attention. Will it be the way we will consume the future Internet? … I personally don’t know – and doubt anyone you ask can give you a firm and gospel answer. So rather then pretend that I know enough about it or preach about it’s destined capabilities, I thought I’d share what the engineers over at Google have done.

2 guys from the GWT (Google Web Toolkit) team Ray and Joel have ported quake 2 to run on the browser!  No it’s no April fools joke as I originally thought.

Specifically they have taken Jake2 which is a version of Quake 2 (opening sourced by ID Software) and compiled it into Javascript using GWT. The final results are impressive. They claimed to have achieved 25fps on a Macbook and 60fps! on a Linux notebook. The port includes sound, has local storage + multi-player between Mountain View HQ in the States and Sydney, Australia was also tested … in short freakin impressive!

So What?

It’s a milestone.

As one of the developers indicates in his own post -

“I hope that this port encourages some people to become even bolder and crazier in the types of Web Apps they’re trying to build, because if Quake2 is possible in Javascript using browser APIs, then even more amazing applications are waiting for you to develop, so get started!”

Both these guys have demonstrated to the Internet community (trolls included) that anything is really possible in the browser using HTML5. The significance is more important for applications rather then gaming. Today more and more applications are being released on the Internet with the power that was only ever previously experienced on desktops. With the shift to cloud computing and SaaS it’s an approach clearly here to stay.

For mobile application development this is equally significant. Right now device manufacturers, media and telecommunication companies are all scrambling around to build their own application ecosystem generally centered around using traditional desktop languages and wall gardening developers & consumers into a specific channel. e.g. Symbian, iPhone, Android, Black Berry.  With the use of HTML5 developers, consumers & companies don’t need to rely on distribution through a single ecosystem, nor do they tie themselves into web technologies such as Flash or Silverlight. They can develop for the biggest channel of them all – the browser.

If your keen to try the port yourself you can get it here.

Or check out the end result in this video.

Internet — 1 Comment
22
Mar 10

Google Pulls Out of China…be it in a round about way

After much speculation and months of tit for tat verbal jostling between Google and the Chinese government it seems Google has finally pulled the plug and pulled out of China….well in a fuzzy way…

Google.cn no longer behaves as a search portal, rather the system directs you to Google.co.hk where interest results are uncensored. Sneaky!

About time I say. The INTERNET. A vessel for FREE SPEECH.

“Google’s page reads (translated) “Welcome to Google Search in China’s new home.” It seems pretty clear that Google is happy with shutting down its China-based domain in favor of Hong Kong. It’s also highly likely that Chinese officials will scramble to block uncensored results from Google.com.hk via its Great Firewall. Google says that it’s currently monitoring “access issues,” and that it has set up an App Status Dashboard to show what’s currently accessible in mainland China and what’s not.”

So far though triggering a search for “Tiananmen Square” yields unfiltered results.

So Google is finally walking the walk after talking the it’s tough talk….pulling out of the worlds fastest growing internet market is by no means an easy descion. I have a renewed and reenforced respect for this mighty company.

Go Google.

Internet / Mobile — 1 Comment
10
Jan 10

Fords Appetite for Mobile 2.0

The Ford Motor Company has announced an increase in-car mobile internet services during CES 2010. With partnerships already in place with map supplier Mapquest, Internet radio provider Pandora, micro-blogging service Twitter and audio news service Stitcher this comes are no surprise. However whats really interesting is the announcement by Chief Executive Alan Mulally about a potential deal with Google.

Whilst’s details of any potential partnership were sketchy it has been reported to involve the use of Googles Android operating system and Fords ‘Sync’ service -already rolled out in it’s vehicle lineup. According to the LA Times, the lineup of Sync services cars are selling at twice the rate of those without.

It’s highly likely that Ford will introduce an Apple App Store type model where by developers could create car specific applications for use on it’s Sync platform. The opportunities are extreamly high. Imagine receiving driving instructions based on real time mashups of road demand, accidents & weather info…nice.

Now all said and done, the added services could actual pose a distraction to drivers in some circumstances, but Ford have introduced and progressively introducing safe guards such as voice commands rather then physical input and the disabling of WiFi whilst the car is out of ‘Park’ to stop drivers surfing the net.

Mobile internet services are not completely new to the Auto Industry. For instance, Fiat uses a systems called Blue&Me whilst, General Motors have a system called OnStar. Fords foray into this area means this behemoth of a player brings significant weight into the ever expanding mobile internet services space. With increases consumer awareness, larger developer interest, falling access costs and increasing speeds…they look likely to pull off a successful venture.