Showing posts with label API. Show all posts
Showing posts with label API. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Devs: RIM Adds Wi-Fi Geolocation Service for Location-Aware Apps

wi-fi-geolocation

RIM improved their location services that they offer devs this month with the addition of Wi-Fi geolocation. Originally devs had to use GPS to find your location and then RIM added the ability to get your location from cell phone towers (Cell Site Geolocation) a year ago. Now devs can also get your location based on the Wi-Fi network you are connected to. RIM collected this information anonymously from BlackBerry users to enable the feature worldwide.

Wi-Fi geolocation nicely compliments the GPS and cell tower location services and should help devs get a quick location on OS 6.0+ devices. Check out more details about the service and API’s on RIM’s devblog. Some apps may already be setup to use this service as Ebscer points out on Twitter if they are using the Optimal Geolocation mode.

More on BerryReview

Monday, September 19, 2011

Devs: BlackBerry Payment Service v1.5 Released

payment-service-21

RIM just released v1.5 of their Payment Service SDK which is an update to the original that launched in January. This SDK allows devs to perform in app purchases through App World. This new v1.5 allows for auto renewing subscriptions for apps and in application digital goods. In other words think of subscribing to the New York Times through their app. RIM claims the API is similar though it adds the ability to check for the status of a subscription and the ability to cancel subscriptions.

BlackBerry Payment Service manages the subscription renewals automatically and sends out renewal reminders and receipts to users. The only catch is that users need the latest App World 3.0 to work. Subscriptions are offered with 7-day or 30-day renewal periods. There is also the ability to discount the initial trial subscription. This is what BBM Music is using for subscriptions. Devs can read more in the documentation here and download the SDK or more on the DevBlog.

More on BerryReview

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

10 BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 Powered Apps – Developers Sound Off!

 BBM Social Platform

The team at RIM has rounded up some of the many new and long time titles in App World that are now making use of the new BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 and its new Social Platform SDK APIs. This list is in no way extensive and some of the apps are still rolling out but its a good place to start. It includes some of the apps we have already mentioned on BerryReview and including the upcoming augmented reality Wikitude BlackBerry OS 7 app. Personally I am checking out Backgammon King when I have time today. I have always wanted to play Backgammon with friends instead of random strangers.

Each app below has an accompanying message from the developer explaining what they thought of BBM 6 and the social platform it is packing. Its great to see such a positive response from BlackBerry developers from games to business app developers.

Backgammon King (App World) – One of Magmic’s top games is now social. If you want to play against a friend , challenge a BBM contact to a friendly  game or send an invite to download and start the fun.


“Players have always been able to play Backgammon King against real opponents but playing against your friends took a lot of time and effort,” said Troy Johnson, Director Strategic Initiatives, Magmic. “Your BBM contacts are your friends and BBM 6 is making it incredibly easy to share Backgammon King with them and invite them to play in real-time. The ease of access to our product, the ease of sharing and the ease of player engagement are each major breakthroughs. Combine those attributes of BBM 6 with Magmics’ industry leading in-game chat design and you have an incredibly entertaining experience. Trash talking your best friend over a game of backgammon has never been easier and more fun. It’s no exaggeration to say, for Backgammon King, BBM 6 is a real game changer.”

“Players have always been able to play Backgammon King against real opponents but playing against your friends took a lot of time and effort,” said Troy Johnson, Director Strategic Initiatives, Magmic. “Your BBM contacts are your friends and BBM 6 is making it incredibly easy to share Backgammon King with them and invite them to play in real-time. The ease of access to our product, the ease of sharing and the ease of player engagement are each major breakthroughs. Combine those attributes of BBM 6 with Magmics’ industry leading in-game chat design and you have an incredibly entertaining experience. Trash talking your best friend over a game of backgammon has never been easier and more fun. It’s no exaggeration to say, for Backgammon King, BBM 6 is a real game changer.”

Foursquare (App World) – Foursquare is all about helping you find new ways to explore the city. Earn points and unlock badges, profiles and status updates over BBM.

"RIM is a fantastic partner. We’re thrilled to be working with them to provide a better experience to millions of foursquare users around the world by integrating foursquare with BBM," said Holger Luedorf, VP of Mobile and Partnerships for foursquare.

Huffington Post (App World) – The Huffington Post, a leader in implementing social features to reach and interact with its network of readers and bloggers, depends on the BBM Social Platform to continue to reach its audiences, even when they are on the go.

“The Huffington Post, a leader in implementing social features to reach and interact with its network of readers and bloggers, integrates the BlackBerry Social Platform to create a place where our users can continue to engage in up-to-the-minute news stories, blogs, and analysis,” said Paul Berry, CTO of the Huffington Post Media Group.    “As a BBM connected app, we make it simple for our readers to easily share and discuss the news. BBM 6 allows The Huffington Post to continue to reach its audience in a new way when they are on the go, and without having to compromise on the quality of their experience."

Jingu (App World) – Jingu is an application for BBM only and it is focused on enriching the BBM communication experience and the BBM community with the addition of social chat, photo sharing, avatars, and more.

“Jingu users are engaging with BlackBerry Messenger in an exciting new way,” said Pankaj Gogia, Founder, Jingu Apps. “With BBM 6, ease of use is greatly enhanced with capabilities like updating your BBM profile picture directly from within the application. Jingu is dedicated to creating social networking applications built on the BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform that
leverage the new capabilities of BBM 6 and bring enriched and vastly immersive experiences to end users.”

Pocket Ants (App World) – You are the king of the ANTS- feeding, burning, fighting, and racing your ants. Now with BBM you can invite all your friends to rule an ant colony too.

"One of the keys to viral game sales is to allow users to easily invite their friends to join them in playing the games they love,” said Keith Pichelman, CEO, Concrete Software. “Integrating BBM into Pocket Ants has allowed the game to do just that."

Poynt (App World) – Find businesses, people, restaurants, movies, events and weather info. Going out for dinner with friends? Find a great spot and share it.

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t immediately react to the ‘chime’ of BBM,” said Margaret Glover-Campbell, VP Marketing & PR of Poynt Corporation. “Being able to leverage BBM 6 to share search results provides a tremendous advantage to our BlackBerry smartphone user base who can now easily and quickly coordinate their social activities. The ability to share the app download directly within BBM is also exciting for us, given the immediacy and viral nature of the platform. From a development perspective, we see tremendous possibilities for future integration around connecting people while they’re on the go.”

PowWow Study (App World) – PowWow uses BBM integration to provide real time social event coordination. Connected BBM 6 users are directly invited and notified of events that are created using Powwow. With PowWow the latest information is made available.

“PowWow uses BBM 6 integration to enable real time social event coordination,” said Kathryn Lahrs, Founder, Lahrs Apps. “Users are directly invited and notified of events that are created with our application. With PowWow, the latest information is available and BBM chats can quickly be started if any further communication is desired. Through BBM 6 PowWow users can share their location information, which is displayed in BlackBerry Maps. There is also an option to check your contact’s availability directly from their calendars and to create an event with this information; this is a very useful tool in event planning and saves time in the process.”

ScoreMobile (App World) – Up-to-the-minute sports scores, players, stats, betting odds and more. You can invite BBM friends into the app to chat about the latest sports banter, share scores and more.

“Following sports is inherently social – fans are extremely passionate, and like to trash talk, comment, and generally share their opinions on whatever they’re watching,” says Dale Fallon, VP Digital Products, Score Media. “By integrating BBM 6 functionality right into the ScoreMobile experience, we enable our users to enjoy the game with their friends even when they’re not together. In a nutshell, BBM 6 integration allows sports fans to be social without having to leave the ScoreMobile app.”

Telmap Navigator (App World) – Telmap is a mobile location companion which now integrates with BBM to bring significantly enriched communication and interactions with users’ real-time locations.

“Telmap, a global location-based services leader, is very focused on serving all users’ needs by constantly enriching and optimizing their on-the-go experiences,” said Motti Kushnir, Telmap Chief Marketing Officer. “The integration between BBM 6 and the Telmap Mobile Location Companion significantly enriches conversations and interactions through BBM with users’ real-time locations. Telmap views this integration as an important pillar of our vision to provide a richer, more comprehensive experience to our users. We work hard to integrate our application with popular and useful platforms like BBM, to ensure added value to users who can now add location information to their interactions with friends."

Unvired (App World) – Unvired Workflow by SAP allows users to take action on the workflow documents directly from their BB. The BBM integration allows sharing of screen shots/pictures with colleagues during collaboration.

“Unvired Workflow for SAP enables approval of SAP workflow requests directly from the BlackBerry smartphone. Unvired leverages the BlackBerry message list and BBM to provide a familiar BlackBerry user experience,” said Srinivasan Subramanian, CEO, Indience InfoSystems Pvt Ltd. “The BBM platform has been smartly integrated to enable employees to collaborate seamlessly. If the user has some queries while approving the workflow, they can BBM their colleague or Manager, transfer a screenshot of the workflow item and clarify. They can then approve or reject the workflow request. The BBM chat can also be emailed to maintain an audit trail. The BBM integration with Unvired ensures quick turnaround and collaboration between employees, not just for workflow but other usages like checking discounts for a customer, escalating a customer grievance and much more.”

Wikitude (Not Available Yet – BlackBerry OS 7) – Wikitude allows you to experience your BBM in a new way. By using the camera, simply pan around your mobile to contacts in Augmented Reality. You may even find new friends in your vicinity – a truly engaging and immersive experience.

"BBM 6 is the underlying mobile social network making Wikitude on the BlackBerry platform a very unique experience. An augmented reality (AR) browser with millions of interesting places is already a very compelling and new proposition, but bringing it to life with millions of people who can chat, meet and share in an AR environment has the potential to revolutionize how we interact with one another. With BBM 6 and Wikitude preloaded on upcoming BlackBerry smartphones our AR browser will be truly going social for the very first time," says Andy Gstoll, CMO of Wikitude.

More on BerryReview

Friday, July 15, 2011

Rumor: RIM Working on BBM Social Platform Music App

BBM Music App

I am really hoping RIM blows things out of the park with the BBM social platform and their 1st party apps and helps developers do the same. In that vein BBSync heard from one of their sources that RIM is working on a BBM Social Platform Music app that will make use of that API called BBM Music. I think that is a brilliant move especially after their moves into Amazon MP3 store and BlackBerry Radio.

The app is supposed to be a stand alone app but tie in to BBM nice and tight. What do you think of such an app? I know quite a few people who already use BBM to share what music they are listening to. I am hoping the BBM Social Platform allows devs like Slacker and Pandora to do the same.

More on BerryReview

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Developer Webcast Series: Integrating BBM Social Platform, One step at a Time

bbm-invite-1 bbm-invite-2

With the impending release of BBM 6 and the promotion of the BlackBerry Social Platform for Java out of Beta things are heating up for developers. RIM is offering developers an easy way to increase the stickiness and social aspects of their app by using the prolific BBM platform. In this vein RIM is running a new series of webinars on how developers can integrate the BBM Social Platform into their app one step at a time. Its a three part series and you can get some background and tips from their announcement post.

bbm-invite-3bbm-invite-4

Here are the dates and times for the webinars:

Integrating with the BBM Social Platform, One Step at a Time
Step 1: Viral Distribution and the BBM Contact List
Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST
Register at: webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=98450433

Integrating with the BBM Social Platform, One Step at a Time
Step 2: User Profile and Custom Profile Box
Date: Thursday, July 21, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST
Register at: webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=69648378

Integrating with the BBM Social Platform, One Step at a Time
Step 3: BBM Chat and Embedding Chat within your App
Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST
Register at: webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=87217347

Or simply register for all at this link

More on BerryReview

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

S4BB Photo Booth Adds BlackBerry Messenger 6 Social Platform Support

screenshot_2

S4BB released Photo Booth a bit ago and I was impressed with the app. It lets you easily take 4 pictures in a row sort of like photo booths at amusement parks. They just updated their app to include a awesome new features that integrates with BlackBerry Messenger 6 and its new Social Platform SDK and API. The app now lets you send the pictures after you are done to a friend on BBM. You just need to make sure they also have the app installed from what I can tell and have BBM 6 installed.

You can pick up Photo Booth in the store at this link for $2.99 on sale from $4.99

More on BerryReview

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

FileScout Updated With BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform Integration

FileScout

Now that BBM Social Platform is coming out of Beta we are seeing more and more apps implement it. I am waiting for games to use it but for now apps like the venerable FileScout are adding support. You could always send multiple files using FileScout but now you can also send the files over BBM. Right now you can only send files one at a time this way but hopefully that will change with future BBM SDK builds.

Here is the change log:

You can pick up the new version of FileScout in App World for $4.99 with a 30 day free trial

More on BerryReview

Thursday, June 30, 2011

BlackBerry OS 7 Will Let Any App Post to Twitter, Facebook, & More

Send to API Send to API2

One of the things I have really liked in BlackBerry native apps starting with BlackBerry OS 5 has been the tight integration between them. With BlackBerry 6 and the Twitter, Facebook, BBM, and other add-on apps RIM really perfected the ability to share between the services. In BlackBerry 7 they are finally opening up this API to third party developers. This API has been slightly shadowed by the sexier NFC, OpenGL, and Compass features of BlackBerry 7 but in my opinion it is one of the most useful API additions. I was really surprised when Apple mentioned this as a flagship “magical” feature of iOS 5 when it is something RIM has done for awhile with their built in apps and is on track to open up to 3rd party devs with BlackBerry 7.

Send to API3 Send to API4

In case you don’t know what I mean by this feature here is a brief explanation. Say you are in the Facebook BlackBerry app and want to share a wall post on Twitter. You simply hit the menu button and select “Share” and it will let you share it on many of the communication platforms on your BlackBerry including: email, SMS, BBM, BBM groups, PIM, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Say you get a funny email and want to share it on Twitter. You just go to the email hit the menu button and select “Forward as” and choose one of the networks mentioned above. Same for the camera, memopad, tasks, and many other apps. RIM has been a bit inconsistent about the wording but I love the functionality. The thing is until now those cross communication features were only available to RIM developed apps. That is thankfully changing in BlackBerry 7.

In BlackBerry 7 RIM is exposing a new “Send Menu API” that will allow any signed app to take advantage of this channel. That means apps like BerryReader, Games, screenshot apps, and more will all be able to tap into your Facebook, Twitter, and other networks without having to setup their own solution. It will simply be able to use that built in menu to send a tweet or wall post.

I am really hoping that RIM finds a way to bring this API to BlackBerry 6 devices but I know they usually do not bring features into older OS’s. Still I think it will make a big difference in how social BlackBerry apps can be!

If you want to read more about the API just check out the BlackBerry 7 API docs and search for net.rim.blackberry.api.sendmenu

More on BerryReview

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

RIM Makes BBM Social SDK Updates Official for Java and WebWorks

webworks PlayBook Torch

We told you yesterday about this update but it seems like RIM has finally gotten around to announcing it. RIM has made the new BBM Social SDK 1.0 for Java official so you can now submit apps to App World with these features. They have also made the BBM Social SDK for WebWorks available in public beta so it does not look like you will be able to submit those apps but you can get started developing them.

The catch is that RIM will not make apps using the BBM Social API available for sale until BBM 6 is publicly available outside of App World. This is because BBM 6 is required for the SDK and APIs to work. RIM is saying that apps submitted and approved by July 8th will be available when BBM 6 launches. That means BBM 6 is right around the corner!

Check out more details about the announcement on RIM’s devblog including download links:

More details from RIM’s announcement:

Today Research In Motion (RIM) announced the global availability of the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry Java final version and the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry WebWorks™ first public beta version. The BBM Social Platform SDK is the toolset which enables developers to build a new class of super apps that leverage the power of the BBM social interactions. BBM has over 45 million active users world-wide and is growing at over 2 million active users per month.

The SDKs give Java and web developers access to new APIs that enable them to deeply integrate BBM social interactions in their apps, providing better differentiation. They can also leverage a powerful paradigm for app monetization through the viral distribution channel represented by the conversations of 45 million BBM users. They can build highly socially engaging apps including multimedia, gaming, location-based services (LBS), VoIP, video and commerce that now bring users’ friends, families, and colleagues into those experiences. Within those apps, not only can users connect and chat with BBM contacts but they can also share application achievements and content in real time.

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry Java

The final version of the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for Blackberry Java adds a few changes and refinements to the platform since the last beta refresh in the spring of this year. These additions further equip BlackBerry to be the mobile platform of choice for delivering social applications and experiences. Below are a few of the APIs new in this release that enable developers to deliver engaging and interactive social experiences:

· The ability for an application to receive invitations from other users who are not on their contact list.

· Contact picker UI changed to improve the selection of multiple contacts and for initiating a multi-user chat.

· The ability to send a join invitation to a user who does not have the app installed. 

· A new API to determine whether the app is running on the test platform or production platform.

Developers can already get started and download the final version of the BBM Social Platform  SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry Java now available from BlackBerry Developer Zone  at http://us.blackberry.com/developers/blackberrymessenger/ to create the new build for their apps. BBM 6 will support apps using the BBM Social Platform.

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry WebWorks

At its first public beta the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) Social Platform SDK 1.0 for BlackBerry WebWorks adds full support to the BlackBerry WebWorks platform and brings the amazing features of the BBM Social Platform to web developers. Now they can add social features to their web application through the following APIs:

· access and update fields in the user’s BBM profile such as status, avatar and personal message

· create their own custom areas within the user’s BBM profile for promoting recent application activity or storing trophies and achievements

· initiate BBM chats with friends

· initiate BBM file transfers

· share applications virally with friends in their contact list

· initiate application-to-application background communication through BBM for sending and receiving application data, such as game moves, or alternatively, leverage this communication channel for enabling in-app chat

The beta version for BlackBerry WebWorks can be downloaded from the BlackBerry Developer Zone at http://us.blackberry.com/developers/blackberrymessenger/

More on BerryReview

Use the New BlackBerry 7 APIs in Your App & RIM May Promote it for You

App World of Possibilities

RIM sent an email to developers this week letting them know about a cool opportunity they are offering. The new BlackBerry 7 OS offers quite a few new APIs for devs. RIM is trying to get developers to jump on the OS 7 bandwagon early by offering up the possibility that your “app could be featured in a variety of BlackBerry marketing activities” if you submit your app using the new BlackBerry 7 API’s by July 31st. Here are the possible opportunities:

The apps must be submitted to App World by July 31st to be considered and it seems like RIM is specifically targeting the NFC, Augmented Reality, and OpenGL APIs. RIM is holding their “What you need to know to develop for BlackBerry 7 webinar” today so dial in to that if you want to learn more.

For reference, here is a list of some of the new APIs available in BlackBerry 7 from our previous coverage:

And a few others…

More on BerryReview

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform SDK Quietly Updated – Adds WebWorks Support

BBM social SDK

I am sure an announcement is coming shortly but RIM has updated their BlackBerry Messenger Social Platform SDK beta today. This new update also adds support for WebWorks developers which is VERY nice to see. So far the release notes are available in 7 different languages (no English version yet) so let me know if you can translate them. On the other hand they do have the BBM Social Platform guide for WebWorks developers in English.

You can download both from BlackBerry. Let me know if you see it officially drop!

More on BerryReview

Thursday, June 23, 2011

BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for the PlayBook Tablet OS Updated to v2.1

webworks-delta 

RIM has updated their BlackBerry WebWorks SDK for the BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet OS just got a nice update today to v2.1. This update adds some more feature parity with the AIR APIs available along with adding the BlackBerry In App Payment API. That is interesting since the In App Payment API is not available to smartphone WebWorks developers. RIM has also opened more of the APIs to be called using AJAX.

The new API’s available in the WebWorks 2.1 SDK include:

  • Camera API for taking pictures/video taping from within the WebWorks applications with the PlayBook’s powerful dual HD cameras
  • Microphone API which developers can use to activate the capability to record audio with the PlayBook’s microphone
  • Identity API provides applications with the ability to retrieve information about the BlackBerry PlayBook PIN
  • File IO API which gives developers the possibility to read, copy and write files onto the Tablet OS file system.
  • File Properties API
  • Home Screen Category
  • App Securities Permissions

RIM has updated the API Reference Guide for the new SDK. So what are you waiting for? Download the latest WebWorks SDK for Tablet OS. You can read some more details about the announcement on RIM’s devblog.

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Saturday, June 4, 2011

Pretzil Cross Platform Social Network Passes 850,000 Users & 10 Million App Checkins

Pretzil Cross Platform Social Network Passes 850,000 Users & 10 Million App Checkins

Everyone loves a good check-in app but the majority of them let you check-in to locations, specific activities, music, food, etc. What about an app/service that let’s you check-in to an app? That’s exactly what Pretzil is. Where users are checking in to a location using Foursquare (as an example) the same users can check-in to the Foursquare application with Pretzil and earn points for level of activity, socialize with others, discover new content and get rewarded. The Pretzil team announced they’ve passed 850,000 users and 10 million app checkins! From their announcement:

Pretzil is announcing that it has passed 850,000 users and 10 million app checkins on its platform. Pretzil is the first truly cross-platform social network that allows users to checkin to the apps they love whether it be on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and others.

Pretzil is also an entirely gamified platform where users get rewarded for participating. Checking in to an app earns you points that can be redeemed for virtual goods. This feature is very popular among Pretzil users and growing rapidly in what it offers as rewards.

Of the 10 million app checkins, over 40% of Pretzil users are sharing their location. This enables Pretzil to feed the real-time web with trending data across the 214 countries represented in Pretzil’s user base. It also allows Pretzil to answer the question: “what apps are popular around me?”.

Pretzil will be expanding its database of apps that users can checkin to, as well as a mobile suite to allow for more immediate checkins and app recommendations. Currently, Pretzil has raised $300,000 in angel funding and is entering a Series A round of investment.

Congrats to Pretzil! This startup began in October 2010 and so far it looks like they’re off to a great start. For interested developers, they also offer an API that you can use to integrate Pretzil within your app. For more info or to sign up and see which apps are available to check-in to, head on over to pretzil.com.

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