New Version of Skype
Recently, there is a version of Skype in Android. In this version, the interface is completely re-built! They used the tab layout, they are "Recent","Favorites" and "People". Moreover, the contact list will be your home screen for Skype, rather than old "Main Menu" style. That is more similar with more than IM problem. That is easier to contact the people in your contact. But I had some friends to use Skype as a softphone. They said that is harder to use. Personally, I like the new layout more, that is easier to use. The most of time, I call the people in my skype contact list.
By the way, I found the new version is more stable, but skype is still eating a lot of battery! I found next version can improve this.
Mobile skin is a "must"
I built a lot of websites, I will recommend to all of my clients for choose a responsive template(i.e. the template has a mobile skin). Nowadays, a lot of people use Tablet and Smart phone to browse Internet. Even some of my friends are very rare to open their computer. They like to sit in their living room and use their phone to browse online. If you have not a mobile skin for your website, I believe you will lose 30% visitors. Moreover, most all modern browser support HTML 5. HTML5 can supports different screen size, that is easy to build a responsive template! Thus, I highly recommend you have a mobile skin for your website!
Win Phone 8 theme in Android.
The one of great feature in Android is able to change the launcher. I can change the look and feels of the OS. Recently, I downloaded the Launcher8. That converts my Galaxy s3 into a Win Phone 8. The home screen looks 98% with Windows Phone 8. All things are presented in the big tiles style. Moreover, the apps are presented in a big list. That sounds easier to use than the TouchWiz, the pagination style. That is cool! I highly recommend you to try it.
Chrome Book in JB-HiFi
Yesterday, I did a "window shopping" at JB-HiFi. I found the chromebook finally arrived in Australia. That looks similar with Netbook and the price is similar with a netbook too, around $300.
That is not very attractive to myself. If you need a device is portable and just for surfing internet. I will choose a tablet, they are more portable than this. If I need a device is good enough to do some work,I will use an ultrabook, they are with a "real keyboard".
If I buy a chromebook, it has to drop the price around $100. In this case, that is more attractive than a tablet.
Microsoft Bizspark Developer Camp - Windows/Windows Phone 8
Today, I went to the Microsoft Brisbane Office. This is for attending Microsoft Bizspark Developer Camp - Windows/Windows Phone 8.
The meeting was great! We learnt Windows Azure, PhoneGap and developing Windows Store Apps. A ton of useful content. The most impression content was about Windows Azure Mobile Service. That is all around cloud-based restful service. You can use the restful service to modify the cloud data. Moreover, it has access control and corn job. That is quite good. The most important feature is push notification, it supports their push notification service, ios and google too!
Besides the technologies, they have some opportunities to share our experiences on development of Windows 8 and Windows Phone Apps. There is a QUT student who developed a Windows Phone App. This app is listed as the Top 10 app. He got under spot lights. He is developing a paid version, he believe this app can earn some money. That is interesting. It sounds like there are some successful stories in Windows 8 / Windows Phone 8 apps world.
After this meeting, I will spend sometime to learn Windows 8 Apps Development. This area sounds matured and a good area to exploring.