Back to the Future Hover Board

Saw an awesome article on Engadget this morning about an artist who has actually recreated the hover board from Back to the Future (specifically II and then also in III), and it actually hovers!

This really made my morning, a bit like when I found out about WOPR being for sale (War Games computer... how about a game of chess)

HOVERBOARD - NILS GUADAGNIN from nils guadagnin on Vimeo.

Full article is here

Further FroYo

I have just read that some Nexus-Ones have had an overnight update and are now sporting the very latest in Fro-Yo! I guess thats one of the perks of being Google's flagship (and only) mobile..

Android Fro-Yo Released

As expected, Google have now released Android 2.2 (named FroYo) at their I/O conference this week. I havent had a chance to download it and have a run with it yet, but I plan to do so either tomorow or some time in the coming week. There is quite a nice rundown of updates here


In other Google news, you may have noticed that the homepage icon is currently a playable(!!) adaptation of Pac-man (including authentic sounds) to note Pac-Mans 30th anniversary.

I plan to have some serious time working on my latest android app tomorow, so hopefully expect some updates soon..

Google I/O Conference Kicks Off

Google I/O is starting in LA today and there has been for some time been speculation as to what is expected to be being announced.

The update to Android to 2.2 is inevitable, with the giant "fro-yo" taken pride of place outside the Google HQ for a while (for those who haven't seen Google's previous Android updates check here..)

Today they announced some new updates to Chrome, including a Chrome app-store; in a similar vein to the Android (or apple) app stores for mobiles, but for your browser. The idea is users will be able to download apps for their browser (as long as they are using Chrome) just like you can on your mobile.

The big news expected for tomorrow is the announcement of a new Google, web-enabled TV platform - so we'll keep our eyes peeled for that!

Google Spoof

The Onion News Network have done a pretty funny take on GooglePhone's "Whisper Targeted Ads" which is worth watching for a laugh..



New Google Phone Service Whispers Targeted Ads Directly Into Users' Ears

Chuck returns to the UK!

Some awesome news that I have been waiting on for some time has finally been confirmed today.. Chuck Season 3 is returning to the airwaves in the UK this month!

Virgin1 (available on Freeview) has carried both the first two seasons of the show and is currently re-showing the second series during the day, culminating with the season 2 finale on the 31st, with the first episode kicking off that same evening.


For those who haven't caught the first two seasons, it comes highly recommended; the basic premise being a tech-support nerd accidentally downloads a computers worth of government secrets in to his head as part of a secret goverment project.

Confirmation of the show has come in the form of RadioTimes listing

hackers

I read a great article today about the "Conficker" worm... its a worm that has been around a few years now and a crack squad has been set up to try and take it on.. you can read it here

updates from Twitter

Unfortunately, as you may have all read recently, Twitter are going on a bit of a spree putting us poor hardworking developers out of business.. well, actually, not really.. they are just starting to plug holes, in an attempt to make Twitter a more rounded, fuller product - which is a smart move.

The downside is of course, as they are announcing official android, blackberry and undoubtedly other official Twitter mobile apps, it makes my twitter app in the making fairly redundant.

That said, I was primarily developing it to brush up on my android knowledge, and was only ever going to release it as a free app, so will probably still release it anyway.


I am currently working on a little quiz game at the moment, so keep your eyes peeled for that one!

Tablet computing

So the I-Pad is finally available to pre-order in the UK, with an expected arrival date of the 28th May.

It seems to have taken off better than i had expected in all honesty, as apparently early sales have outdone the equivalent early sales of the i-phone.


I read recently about a £130,000 I-pad that is available at the moment.


Also in older news, i read quite a nice rundown of alternatives for those who are keen to get involved in tablet computing but dont want to buy an i-pad. The one that looks the nicest to me is the WeTab (formally named WePad in that list) from Germany, it looks slick and running a fairly nice spec and Android to boot I may have to have a closer look

HTC Desire pricing update

the Desire has now hit all the major mobile providers in the UK, and unfortunately the price has gone up..

most providers seem to be in the £25/30 a month range now to get the phone reasonably. I spoke to T-Mobile yesterday, as there prices have now also seen a big jump and apparently the reason is that too many people were taking out the contracts at £10/month and paying a fairly meager sum to purchase the phone ( i think it was originally priced at £60-100 on the £10 contract) and then just sticking the device on ebay..


On a similar note, Google's Nexus One device will shortly be hitting our stores here in the UK, although i think it will be similarly priced, so the wise money would probably still be on the Desire.