LiquidFun Physics Engine

Google are announcing the open-source release of LiquidFun, a new C++ 2D physics library that makes it easier for developers to add realistic physics to their games.

Based on Box2D, LiquidFun features particle-based fluid simulation. Game developers can use it for new game mechanics and add realistic physics to game play. Designers can use the library to create beautiful fluid interactive experiences.

The video clip below shows a circular body falling into a viscous fluid using LiquidFun.



The LiquidFun library is written in C++, so any platform that has a C++ compiler can benefit from it. To help with this, Google have provided a method to build the LiquidFun library, example applications, and unit tests for Android, Linux, OSX and Windows.

Learn more about the LiquidFun physics engine at http://google.github.io/liquidfun/

More tools for Android game developers

Google are adding more tools to Android game developers, such as:

• The open-source release of LiquidFun, a new C++ 2D physics library that makes it easier for developers to add realistic physics to their games.
• Google Play Games plug-in for Unity, cross-platform game engine from Unity Technologies. Game developers can now more easily integrate game services.
• New game categories are coming to the Play Store in February 2014, such as Simulation, Role Playing, and Educational.

source: Android Developers Blog

New UI features and design guidelines for Android 4.4 KitKat

Android Design in Action: New in Android 4.4

What's New in Android 4.4

DevBytes: What's New in Android 4.4

KitKat has been optimized to run on a much broader range of devices, with special focus on the millions of entry-level devices that have as little as 512MB RAM. To help, new APIs have been created, better tools, and better documentation to let you create apps that perform well on all devices.

Check out this video summary of some of the most significant developer features in the latest Android release, including new ways to make your apps beautiful, NFC Host Card Emulation, a printing framework, the storage access framework, low-power step detector and step counter sensors, and more!

Be sure to get the full Android 4.4 API Overview
http://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-4.4.html

And take a look at related DevBytes videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWz5rJ2EKKc-2quE-o0enpILZF3nBZg_K

Google Play Services 4.0

Google are launching Google Play services 4.0, includes the Google Mobile Ads SDK, and offers improvements to geofencing, Google+, and Google Wallet Instant Buy APIs. And dropping support for Froyo from this release of the Google Play services SDK.

source: Android Developers Blog

Android 4.4 (KitKat) includes a new WebView component based on the Chromium

Android 4.4 (KitKat) includes a new WebView component based on the Chromium open source project. The new WebView includes an updated version of the V8 JavaScript engine and support for modern web standards that were missing in the old WebView. It also shares the same rendering engine as Chrome for Android, so rendering should be much more consistent between the WebView and Chrome.

If you're a web developer looking to start developing a WebView-based Android application, see Getting Started: WebView-based Applications for Web Developers.

Source: https://developers.google.com/chrome/mobile/docs/webview/overview

Android Studio Canary Build 0.2.13 released

Android Studio Canary Build 0.2.13 released. Visit: http://tools.android.com/download/studio/canary/latest

It's the first release in the Canary Channel for Android Studio, which delivers updates on a roughly weekly basis.

Android Studio 0.2.11 Released

Download and Read more: Android Studio 0.2.11 Released.

Android Studio 0.2.10 Released

Read it more: http://tools.android.com/recent/androidstudio0210released

Android SDK and ADT Plugin updated 22.2.1

To update Android SDK in Eclipse, select Window ->Android SDK Manager:

Update Eclipse ADT Plugin, select Help -> Check for Updates:

Android Studio 0.2.9 Released

Read more: Android Studio 0.2.9 Released

Android Studio 0.2.8 Released

Source: Android Tools Project Site - Android Studio 0.2.8 Released

Sony releases Camera Remote API (beta)

With Sony Camera Remote API (beta), developers can create smartphone apps to control Sony cameras

• Develop your own applications to control camera or get captured image and create Photo Uploader, Time Lapse Control Software, or other novel ideas for applications using the latest and greatest Sony cameras.
• Start Today with the easy to learn and use, JSON based Application Programming Interface (API).
• Since the API is platform agnostic, you can develop for your choice of operating systems like Android™, iOS™, Windows™ or others.

Visit: http://camera.developer.sony.com/

Press release: Sony to release API for using mobile devices as Wi-Fi remote controls for Sony cameras

Android Studio 0.2.7 Released

Read more about Android Studio 0.2.7 Released

Bluetooth Low Energy API in Android 4.3

With Android 4.3 comes the Bluetooth Low Energy API. In this DevBytes Fred Chung gives a brief overview of the technology, and how Android supports it at the platform level.

Android 4.3 announced and Developer Tools updated

Android 4.3 of Jelly Bean announced, includes great new features for users and developers. Android 4.3 powers the new Nexus 7 tablet and it’s rolling out now as an update to Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ devices across the world.

For developers, Android 4.3 includes the latest performance enhancements to keep your apps fast, smooth, and efficient, together with new APIs and capabilities to use in your apps.

Know more: http://android-developers.blogspot.hk/2013/07/android-43-and-updated-developer-tools.html

Android Studio 0.2.1 Released with Gradle fix

Visit http://tools.android.com/recent/androidstudio021released

Android Studio upgrade 0.2.0

download updated Android Studio and installation instruction: http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/studio.html