Introducing Native Driver for Android; iPhone (iOS) Version Coming Soon!

NativeDriver is an implementation of the WebDriver API which drives the UI of a native application rather than a web application. Matt DeVore, Google's Engineering Productivity Team announced that the Android version is now available for download.

Introducing Native Driver for Android; iPhone (iOS) Version Coming Soon!

Backlink: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DTWB/~3/ZtfR_V0BV_o/

Comment on Why “Web vs. Native” Isn’t a Black-and-White Battle by John

The main reason that local apps still win over web apps is that most web apps still have to download all their elements to work because devices offline casches are too small. This really sucks when you have poor signal. I dont mind if I have to wait 30 or 40 seconds for a facebook update, but I do care if it takes that long just to log in. The benifit of a small portable device is lost if you spend you life waiting for the apps to load and work. I like apps liek tripit - whcih most of the complicated stuff is done on a web page, ut the iOS app is fast, caches the data, and shows you what you need quickly, even if it has no net connection - perfect when trying to find your flight number before you check in, or the hotel booking reservation numbers etc. This would suck as web only.

Comment on Why “Web vs. Native” Isn’t a Black-and-White Battle by John

Backlink: http://gigaom.com/mobile/why-web-vs-native-isnt-a-black-and-white-battle/#comment-626717

Google Finally Releases A Native Android App For Google Docs (GOOG)

Google has introduced an Android app that will let users access and edit documents stored in Google Docs.

The app -- which is not available on any other platform -- could help Google leverage Android's popularity to sell its online services to businesses. Earlier this month, Google added several other services that connect the platforms, including an Android contacts lookup app that works with Gmail.

It also shows how Google is hedging its bets when it comes to the "native vs. Web" debate for mobile apps. Previously, the only way to edit Google Docs (and spreadsheets) was through a mobile browser-based interface. But native apps tend to offer a better experience for users, and a lot of new companies building mobile services are focusing on native apps first.

The new app lets you search for documents across multiple Google accounts or open them directly from Gmail, then edit them right on the screen and share them with other Google contacts.

However, editing only works with Google Docs-formatted files. Users can view Office documents and PDF files by uploading them to Google Docs first -- but won't be able to edit them unless they convert them.

The app also lets you take pictures of text and automatically convert them into a Google document using optical-character recognition.

More info about the app, including a QR code that lets you download it directly to your Android phone, is available on Google's enterprise blog.

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See Also:

• New Google Apps Customers Will Have To Pay If They Have More Than 10 Users
• THE APPLE INVESTOR: Apple Could Survive On Its Current Cash Until 2018 Without Generating Any Revenue
• Googlers Get Paid To Play With Legos

Google Finally Releases A Native Android App For Google Docs (GOOG)

Backlink: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/alleyinsider/silicon_alley_insider/~3/xGR8SXws26g/new-android-app-lets-you-edit-google-docs-2011-4

Native VHD Boot: A Walkthrough Guide of Common Scenarios

Microsoft published a guide that describes the functionality and usability of native VHD boot, which's a feature in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Native VHD boot enables IT professionals to use a single disk format to service virtual machines and physical client computers.