BlackBerry's developer guru on its Android apps: Users hate them

　　BlackBerry's advice for getting love from "CrackBerry" nation: build a native app.
　　In an effort to augment its library, BlackBerry allowed developers to port over existing Android apps to run on BlackBerry 10 devices. While most of them work, they can't access major features on the device. BlackBerry users notice the difference.

　　"From a commercial perspective, users hate them," said Alec Saunders, head of developer relations at BlackBerry. "Our partners who have ported apps get dinged for them."
　　There's some momentum behind app development for BlackBerry 10, Saunders told CNET in an interview. Of the 120,000 BlackBerry 10 apps available -- a milestone announced earlier on Tuesday by CEO Thorsten Heins -- 50,000 were created over the last four months.
　　Developer support is crucial for getting a burgeoning platform off the ground. Both Apple's iOS and Android boast a wide library of apps, enhancing the perceived value of the products that run on those platforms. BlackBerry is late to the game, but rapidly gaining ground.
　　Porting over Android apps allows companies to quickly get on BlackBerry and test the waters. Saunders said it takes about 5 minutes to port one over -- as long as it can be ported. But it's not the ideal situation, he conceded.
　　Despite the push for native apps, the breakdown remains roughly the same. About 20 percent of its total catalog is made up of ported apps, with 80 percent native to BlackBerry 10.
　　Still, interest is on the rise. According to a study by Pivot, 47 percent of developers said last year that they were likely to develop on BlackBerry 10. The number is up to 88 percent now.
　　A Strategy Analytics found it the top-rated developer program in the industry.
　　"Developers are satisfied with what we're doing," Saunders said.
　　While the company has been focusing on filling its library up, it will begin to shift the focus to foster apps that are more innovative and can do more with the device, Saunders said. The company isn't likely to score any exclusive apps, but he said more developers are opting to build for its platform first.
　　Partly because BlackBerry 10 runs on code that virtually every programmer is familiar with.
　　"From what developers say, it is significantly easier," he said.

Will Google's subscription music service launch during IO?

　　Whoa o whoa, listen to the...Google streaming music?
　　We may soon be saying something along those lines sometime this week - and as early as tomorrow -according to several reports out today.
　　Sources speaking with The Verge say Google will unveil its own subscription music service(s) Wednesday as part of its IO developers conference.
　　Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment are on board with licensing deals for both YouTube and Google Play, the publication reported, and both Google vectors are said to be launching separate music subscription services.
　　iSpy Spotify
　　Such a tuney turn by Google has been rumored for several months, with most indicators pointing towards a Spotify-type rival that would offer on-demand, streaming content to PCs and mobile devices.
　　Apple has also been rumored to be developing what many have dubbed "iRadio," though the company has reportedly hit several snags along the music licensing route as it works to launch a Pandora-like service.
　　Google apparently already has a deal with Warner Music Group synched up in addition to Universal and Sony, something the Wall Street Journal today also backed up. According to that publication, Google's music scrips could debut during Google IO and would allow paying listeners access to "whole libraries of songs."
　　The Journal reported YouTube has separately been working to secure licenses from music labels to start a pay-to-view service for music videos. Audio-only songs are potentially also in the mix.
　　Though no one seems to know how much Google plans to charge for its offerings, the New York Times chimed in with news that it won't include a free tier.
　　YouTube's service sounds as though it's further back in the development cycle than Google Play's offering, but we have little time left before Google's IO keynote, where many of the question marks should be answered.

Reller stated the organization is likely to make it straightforward

　　A prepared Home windows 8 update to deal with problems and confusion with Microsoft's new functioning program might be created out there totally free this yr, the organization explained Tuesday.
　　Not charging extra for Windows 8.1 is according to the firm's practice of offering "decimal point" updates to working techniques without cost. However, when Microsoft Corp. announced the update last week, it did not say that it might be free. The corporation also hadn't disclosed the system's official title, leaving open up the chance that it would be a bigger update, maybe to Home windows 9. The update experienced been acknowledged just by its code identify, Blue.
　　Tami Reller, the internet marketing and monetary chief for Microsoft's Home windows small business, mentioned the corporate wishes to guarantee shoppers which they should buy Windows 8 now and nonetheless have the advantages of Windows 8.1 afterwards.
　　Microsoft overhauled its operating method while using the launch of Windows 8 in October. The modifications are meant to tackle the rising popularity of smartphones and tablet gadgets, which might be siphoning profits from desktops and laptops -- regular strongholds for Microsoft. The organization intended Windows eight to work with touch-screen controls common on cell gadgets, though also making it possible for persons to utilize mouse and keyboard instructions.
　　On the other hand, Windows eight has perplexed a great deal of users. Long gone is the common begin button that gave people rapid access to applications and settings. To alter configurations, persons will have to pull out a drawer of icons from the facet, making use of a special maneuver based on if the control is through touch or maybe a mouse. Home windows eight gives a completely new begin display crammed with tiles that website link to often utilised applications, but some applications get the job done only in the desktop method that resemble more mature variations of Home windows -- but with no start out button. Windows 8 will not enable people immediately begin in that desktop manner.

　　A single major analysis agency, Intercontinental Details Corp., mentioned Home windows eight contributed to some 14 % decline in throughout the world Computer product sales for the duration of the main a few months on the calendar year -- the biggest year-over-year drop ever.
　　Reller made available number of particulars about Home windows 8.one, but she reiterated that it'll be superior suited for smaller sized, less costly tablets with 7- and 8-inch display screen screens. That may allow for Windows 8 gadgets to compete with Apple's iPad Mini and similar-size tablets from Amazon.com Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Google Inc.
　　Reller stated the organization is likely to make it straightforward for consumers to have the update with the start off display screen. She mentioned the business also hopes some units may have Windows eight.one currently put in by the time the update is prepared. The company did not give a specific date, although the update is anticipated in time for your holiday year. Microsoft ideas to make a preview version accessible following month for anyone to download.

　　Microsoft claimed it's got marketed much more than a hundred million Windows 8 licenses so far. A lot of people are to Computer system makers these types of as Hewlett-Packard Co. and Dell Inc. to ship with new devices bought to individuals and firms. Microsoft also sold upgrades from past versions. Current costs start off at $120, however some customers experienced been eligible for $15 upgrades.
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Delaware fourth grader's drawing is finalist in Doodle 4 Google annual competition

A Delaware fourth grader is in the running to have her artwork featured on Google's search homepage.
Radio station WDEL-AM (http://bit.ly/18FgBuk) reports Bridget Sheridan is one of the finalists in the Doodle 4 Google annual contest. Bridget is a fourth grader at Caravel Academy in Bear.
This year's theme is "My Best Day Ever..." and Bridget's entry includes the word "Google" and two girls catching butterflies. The "o'' in the word Google becomes a net and the "l'' turns into a flower. Her entry is one of ten finalists in the fourth and fifth grade category. Internet users can vote for their favorite drawings online.
One overall winner will have his or her artwork featured on Google's homepage on May 23.

The full record of applications can be retrieved by logging

　　Been thinking about supplying up your Android mobile phone to get a Microsoft Home windows Telephone? Properly, you will find now an app for that. An application known as Swap to Home windows Phone popped up from the Google Engage in retail store on Wednesday. The publisher? Microsoft Company.
　　The application description reads, Are you wondering about switching to Home windows Mobile phone and wish a practical approach to migrate your application experiences in excess of? Seem no even more, Windows Telephone has an application for that!
　　Android end users who come about being interested by the other side can put in this application and it will report what portion in their device's Android applications are available as Home windows Cellular phone equivalents. The app then prompts the user to check in that has a Windows account to avoid wasting the record for the cloud.

　　The full record of applications can be retrieved by logging in together with the very same account on a Home windows Phone, but can't be seen while in the Android app. Although Microsoft has beefed up its app catalog, it nevertheless would not have vital Android and apple iphone apps like Instagram and Google Maps.
　　The Switch to Home windows Cell phone Android app has surfaced inside the very same week that Microsoft released a completely new advertisement spoofing Apple apple iphone and Samsung Galaxy phone users. While the 2 leaders struggle it out, even though, Microsoft's Home windows cell phone continues to vie for current market share. Android retains 70.1 percent with the market place, Apple's apple iphone 21 p.c, and Microsoft's Windows cell phone is down at 2.6 %, according to analyst business IDC's most recent numbers.
　　Regardless of the simple fact that feisty Android followers have knocked the ranking in the app down to 1.5 stars, the strategy sounds like it will be beneficial for anybody on the lookout to produce the running system leap. Apple's App Retailer, nevertheless, doesn't use a similar app from Microsoft. Microsoft did not quickly respond to ABC News?ˉ ask for for touch upon the apple iphone app availability.
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