HTC’s Vive VR headsets are now with developers

And the development phase for HTC’s virtual reality headset goes into full swing. The Valve and HTC-made Vive has finally started making its way to developers. The developer kits are being shipped to the likes of movie studios and game developers with key components like two Lighthouse base stations, which is the mounted hardware the Vive needs to locate and track users in a room; two wireless Steam VR handheld controllers; cables; and “everything else needed to get started.”

Although it is a bit worrying when it comes to the timeframe these developer kits started to arrive to the developers. HTC Vive was touted with a late 2015 release so with half of the year done, there isn’t that much time left to ship the apps. All we can do now is wait and see.

Source: ReadWrite.com

Google now reviews apps before they’re put up on Play Store

As a US$7 billion-plus market, it’s no wonder Google is policing apps now with a new review and rating system. Much like what Apple does when it comes to the App Store, Google now reviews apps before they get put up on the Play Store to make sure no malware or any bad apps get put up. The search giant is also introducing a new rating system to help developers better target the users they want as well as help parents police children when it comes to apps that they can or can’t use. Google has partnered with several independent bodies to help rate ads. They’re working with the likes of ESRB, USK, PEGI, the Australian Classification Board, and ClassInd. Countries not covered by those rating boards will get a generic age-based rating.

Developers are going to be asked to answer content rating questionnaires. If they don’t choose to comply, they might be banned from certain regions or from specific users. Beginning in May, all new apps and updates will have to go through the questionnaire before they can get published.

Source: Android Developers

Facebook opens registration for F8 developer conference

It’s almost that time of the year again. Facebook is opening registration for its F8 developer’s conference. The event will be happening on March 25 and 26 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. The social network touts this as its biggest conference yet and would have every Facebook product and company (Instagram, Parse, Messenger, and WhatsApp). Oculus’ Chief Scientist Michael Abrash will be giving the talk on the opening day. There will be over 40 sessions and attendees will even get to try the Oculus Rift Crescent Bay prototype and the Gear VR. You can find out more details below. If you can’t be in San Francisco then, they will stream the keynote and other sessions live on F8 site.

Source: Facebook F8

Apple opens Apple Watch app development starting today

Apple just opened up the WatchKit development platform to allow developers to get on board with creating apps for Apple Watch starting today. Apple Watch is expected to come in Spring of 2015 but Apple wants a robust app ecosystem for the wearable from day one.

The iOS 8.2 SDK beta including WatchKit is available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com/watchkit. The WatchKit site includes programming guides, human interface guidelines, templates and more. Starting later next year, developers will be able to create fully native apps for Apple Watch. 

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