FileScout presented at the BlackBerry Developer Conference Final 16 in San Francisco and they have since updated their application. The latest updates include:
Display of thumbnails in search result.
Thumbnail-Options: New Button to generate all thumbnails for all images on your device.
When resizing images to device resolution size you can now select to keep the aspect ratio of the original image.
UserDefined resolution (image resizing) can be now be max 9999 pixel [but it's recommended not use more then 1200px].
Support for DesktopManager Backup & Restore (FileScout settings).
A ‘[W]‘ in the Screen Title indicating that the background threads (required for Search and other extended features) are still running (after FileScout is started) – once the threads are completed the ‘[W]‘ will disappear.
Integration in the RIMs FileExplorer Application: a ‘Explore with FileScout’ MenuItem is added.
What’s fixed?
Search files in the current Directory only function fixed to be usable multiple times.
Potential OutOfMemeory Error during start of FileScout (when the thumbnail store is getting too large).
Accessing OS5 System Folder for Bold, Bold2, Storm and Storm2.
For all of you who are waiting to get a “fix” for the System folder on the Bold, Bold2, Storm and Strom2 on OS5.
RIM confirmed that they made the System folder in OS5.x read only.
FileScout (and all other 3′rd party applications) can only show the content of the System folder but can’t modify anything.
The BlackBerry Developer Conference is showing off an impressive use for the Storm2: a ball-shooting tank robot of destruction powered by the latest BlackBerry.
The robot connects by Bluetooth and conference attendees are invited to race around an obstacle course and compete for the fastest time. First prize gets a Storm2 and the robot, and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place all get a Storm2 as well.
So far at the BlackBerry Developer Conference we have seen 3 games for the BlackBerry Storm2 using OpenGL. The first, Need for Speed Sprint by EA, was by far the most impressive. The game uses 10 years and millions of dollars behind EA’s 3D mobile graphics engine and it looks amazing on the Storm2. The others are by Concrete and Sega. Concrete is releasing PBA Bowling for the Storm2 and they have leveraged OpenGL to provide a slick-looking 3D bowling experience. Lastly, Sega gave a quick preview of Super Monkey Ball, which wasn’t demoed on the Storm2, but we were told to expect it.
So what other rich 3D games and content can we expect from the Storm2? Currently, there isn’t much but everything we’re seeing here at Dev Con is telling us that early to mid 2010 is when we can expect to see development take off. The problem lies in that having only one device with OpenGL support may not be enough to convince smaller developers to make great games that use these new features. It’s really easy for a huge company such as EA to make a 3D OpenGL game for the Storm2, regardless of whether the revenue will justify it.
Smaller companies like IUGO, that make incredible iPhone games, aren’t taking advantage of OpenGL for the Storm2, because it’s hard to justify the development costs. The new tools that RIM have announced at the BlackBerry Developer Conference are going to generally help development, but in the end we need more devices supporting OpenGL to make it worth it.
If you’re a Storm2 user and you’re looking for more games that use the features of the device, some larger companies such as EA will be around to satisfy your immediate needs, but early to mid 2010 is when this device is going to get really good.
So this is the second day of the BlackBerry Developer Conference and it’s going really well so far. It’s impressive how RIM is responding to the surge of consumer subscribers and the majority of announcements we have seen are consumer-centric.
Since we have been talking consumer here at the Developer Conference, it’s impossible to not mention iPhone and competing platforms. With OpenGL support, multi-touch on the Storm2, as well as some new APIs that will help developers make more compelling content, there is a lot of pressure to not just “keep up with the Johnsons.” Click through for more about the BlackBerry Developer Conference
The BlackBerry Developer Challenge was narrowed down to the Final 16. The event takes 16 up and coming apps and helps them grow by giving the top apps investment.
The 16 finalists were:
1. Kik (awesome music app)
2. Sid Meier’s Civilizations (classic game)
3. Handmark’s AFP news app
4. David (a pragmatic app that tracks your wireless usage to help save you money)
5. Wicked Blogging App (WordPress for BlackBerry)
6. FileScout (advanced file manager for BlackBerry)
7. Expense Report Reader
8. Fierce Towers (tower defense)
9. Shozu (social networking platform for BlackBerry)
10. CBS News app (another news app by Handmark)
11. E-mobile software (an app similar to a theme)
12. Vision for YouTube
13. Astraware solitaire
14. Market Simplified (trading software)
15. 7Digitial Music Store 16. Unsynced Music Player (new music app api) Click through for more pics and info from the Developer Challenge Final 16
Here at the BlackBerry Developer Conference we got a sneak peek at the upcoming Xobni app for BlackBerry. The app features a ubiquitous search bar that is seamlessly integrated into your mail, contacts and social networks. The app gives you a great deal of data about each contact including basic contact information as well as updates from that contact’s social networks. The app will also show you possible connections from within these networks.
One of the most impressions features is the way Xobni organizes your contacts across all your email services. The Xobni demo showed how easy it is to take a common name, for which there could be tens of entries, and efficiently move between the Xobni app and your email. Also, for those names which could have multiple entries, Xobni uses a ranking system that means your most interacted with contacts are at the top.
Xobni isn’t currently available but it looks like they are very close to a launch. Stay tuned because this app looks great.
The BlackBerry Developer Conference kicked off with Jim Balsillie announcing a wide range of new tools available to BlackBerry developers that are going to redefine what we think of as a BlackBerry app.
The latest set of APIs available to BlackBerry developers are focused on making ad-supported apps easier to develop, and help to more easily monetize the developer’s hard work. The new BlackBerry Advertising Service will allow developers to integrate ads from networks such as Jumptap, Millennial Media, Navteq, 1020 Placecast, Quattro Wireless and Sympatico.ca. The Advertising Service and SDK will be available in the first half of 2010.
BlackBerry apps are going to get very consumer friendly, very fast as RIM keep making announcements about new features and services for developers that appeal to the consumer market.
Today, at the BlackBerry Developer Conference, RIM and Adobe announced that creative professionals and application developers will be able to use the Adobe Flash Platform and Adobe Creative Suite content development and authoring tools, to easily create rich content and application experiences for BlackBerry.
With Flash, OpenGL support and the new GUI builder, BlackBerry apps in 2010 are going to look very different than in 2009.
Today is the first day of the BlackBerry Developer Conference and Cortado are running fun competition they call “Apps Need Printing.” The challenge calls on developers to test Cortado’s new, Java-based CHAPI (Content Handling API, JSR-211) interface and submit suggestions for the best and most original use of printing within an application.
The deadline for submission for the “Apps need printing!” competition is December 9, 2009. In addition to originality, expected market opportunity will also be a factor when deciding the winners. First, second and third place winners will receive a Nintendo Wii as well as a Cortado marketing and partner package worth $5,000 USD.
By the end of the year, Cortado plans to provide BlackBerry users with its printing service for free. Providers of BlackBerry smartphone applications will also benefit from the service because they will be able to add the “Print” function to their own app at no cost.
Even if you’re not at the conference, this would be a great way to see what you’re missing. The guide gives you access to schedules, maps, and speaker bios for the conference.
Looking forward to meeting everyone at the conference!
