Pune GTUG

Android Reference Implementation - Droid Twit

2011-06-12T04:20:00.000-07:00

In order to learn Android, we have created an Android application. This android application will help us get actual hands on experience in all the aspects of Android Development. The way we have developed this application is to thing of the design first, implement and keep refactoring the design, until the application gets better. Ofcourse we try to use the best practices mentioned on the Android.

We call this application as Droid Twit application, which is the reference implementation of Twitter on Android.

The application is developed in two parts

1. Small samples to understand a particular android feature or api

2. Integration of the feature or api in the Droid Twit application

The above approach helps developers to learn android

We have created an OpenSource Project

Please note this application is still under development, so please bear with us

Introduction

This is an Implement of Android Twitter client. This is a reference implementation showcasing how to use all the components of Android to create a Twitter client.

Rohit Ghatol and Saurabh Gangarde are the lead developers of this project. Both of them work for QuickOffice and Synerzip Softech.

This Reference Implementation is build to train developers in Pune for one of the TechNext Technical Talks.

Tutorial

The tutorial on how to build a twitter client is available at DroidTwitTutorial

Hello World Tutorial

Source Code

http://code.google.com/p/droidtwit/source/browse/#svn%2Ftrunk%2Ftutorials%2FHelloWorld

Video Tutorial

Part 1

Part 2

List Activity and Async Task Tutorial

Tutorial for List Activity and Async Task

Source Code

http://code.google.com/p/droidtwit/source/browse/#svn%2Ftrunk%2Ftutorials%2FListActivity

Video Tutorial

Features

The Android Client uses

Alarm Manager to repeatedly fetch tweets from Twitter
There is a back ground service for fetching twits and storing it in database
There is use of OAuth for authentication
Notification Manager is used for notifying users about newer twits
Battery Drain is monitored and Twitter Service is closed to help save battery, and when battery is charged then again Twitter Service is started. (Yet to be implemented- Coming soon)
In UI side we use shapes and drawable states for background and button images

Download Demo APK

Disclaimer: Since the application is under development and not gone through entire QA cycle, there could be some crashes in the application. We are striving hard to get you a stable version soon. Meanwhile please focus on the application architecture.

Please Download our apk from http://droidtwit.googlecode.com/files/DroidTwit.apk and try it.

Demo Video

Screenshots

Architectural Diagrams

Proposed Architecture

Screen Flow

Overall Architecture

Note Phone Boot Receiver, Low Battery Receiver and Alarm Receiver are all Android BroadCast? Receiver.

OAuth Authentication

First Time Launch

Activity Asking Service to fetch tweets

Alarm Manager Triggering Service every n minutes

When Phone Boots, Broadcast Receiver registers Alarm Manager and Battery BroadCast? Receiver

Battery BroadCast? Receiver controls Alarm Manager

Keyboard mapping for Android Emulator (on Windows)

2010-11-30T09:02:00.000-08:00

Its easier to work with keyboard than mouse and hence every software provides keyboard short cuts for doing same action which is possible using pointing device. Android emulators also provides these short cuts. I gathered this information, here is the list

Emulator Action	Keyboard (Windows Platform)
Home	HOME key
Menu	Page Up, F2
Lock	F4, F7
Launch browser	F5
Trackball mode	F6, DELETE
Back	ESCAPE
Changing selection	Arrow keys
Select	ENTER key
Activate 3G	F8
Increase Ringer volume	Ctrl F5
Decrease Ringer volume	Ctrl F6
Change orientation	Ctrl F11, Ctrl F12
Run emulator in full screen	Alt + ENTER

Adding Aspect to Android

2010-11-11T03:03:00.000-08:00

Programming AspectJ with Android

AspectJ is the defacto choice for AOP program. So far I did not see any one trying AOP concept in Android. However, I did read one blog mentioning, it should be possible, hence I tried it.

AspectJ puts in pointcut across code and can execute advices around those pointcuts. The beautify of this is once you compile your java source, you add these pointcuts and advices to your program by injecting them in the byte code (of already generated class files).

Knowing this I knew aspectJ can be used in Android, as dex relies on .class files.

Stage 1- Let Java compile java to .class files

Stage 2- Let AspectJ compiler inject point cuts and advices to the .class files

Stage 3- Let Dex take these new class files and create .dex file.

There you should have AspectJ working for Android applications.

Case Study: Inject Tracing code to existing Android source.

Given the case that we have an existing android project, we want to trace the call graph of each thread (showing depth) and we also want to show the cumulative time for each method.

Step 1: Create an HelloWorld Android Project

Step 2: Add some code, so we can show some call graph

Run the program and you will see this on your android emulator

Also on the DDMS Log you will see

What we want to achieve?

We want to show the call graph for this flow. We know that the flow is this way

At the same time we would like to print the commutative time each method took

We would like to print this call graph by using AOP concepts. We would like to define pointcuts around all methods of all classes in package "com.test" and print these statements there.

Step 3: Add aspectjrt.jar to classpath of android

Step 4: Add Aspect file - Trace.aj

Following is the cut down version of the same Trace.aj file. See the inline comments

Step 5 - Compile using AspectJ

As we mentioned above we want to

1. Compile java to .class files using javac

2. Inject pointcuts and advices in .class files using aspectj compile

3. Compile these injected .class files into .dex file

For this we will use ant.

Here is the ant build.xml which I used to put aspectj compilation step between compile->dex target

Here is a snippet of my build.xml around compile and dex targets

Here is the complete build.xml for your reference

Run on command prompt or through eclipse

$> ant install

You should see following output for ant

Step 6 - Run the APK which has aspectj integrated into it (after ant install)

The log looks like as follows, just as we wanted.

Source Code

1. DOWNLOAD ANDROID PROJECT ZIP

2. CHECKOUT FROM code.google.com

Cheers,

Rohit Ghatol

Latest Android Presentation at PICT

2010-10-02T03:14:00.000-07:00

AlternativeTo - Application Posted on Market

2010-09-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

AlternativeTo is an Android client for the web service AlternativeTo.

AlternativeTo provides alternatives to popular softwares. Find out what are top alternatives for your favorite Browser or Antivirus.

Update 1 (10th September 2010):

- Added Filter by Platform and Filter by License

- Added capability to open website

I recently upload this application on Android Market. My intension is to figure out

1. Typical problems faced when writing android clients for web services or replicating web applications

2. Create Design Patterns and hopefully an Android Library to help write Android Clients

3. Share the same at Pune GTUG :)

Please visit AlternativeTo website for more details - http://alternativeto.net

Introduction to HTML 5

2010-03-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Introduction to HTML 5

History of HTML
Path to HTML 5
5 Key strengths of HTML 5 - Canvas/SVG, Geo, Offline Cache an databases, Video and Web Worker
Code Samples
How to leverage existing Java Developers to build next gen applications on HTML 5

Speaker - Rohit Ghatol (Linkedin Profile)

Venue - SICSR, Atur Center, 7th floor, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune

Maps Link is - http://maps.google.co.in/maps?hl=en&q=SICSR+Pune&ie=UTF8&hq=SICSR&hnear=Pune,+Maharashtra&ll=18.533572,73.840742&spn=0.022542,0.038581&z=15

Time - 4:30 p.m to 6:30 p.m

Seminar on Google Wave (Intro, Gadgets and Robots) on 6th Feb 2010 at Karve Nagar

2010-01-20T04:40:00.000-08:00

Google Wave is a new model for communication and collaboration on the web, coming later this year.
Here's a preview of just some of the aspects of this new tool.

What is a wave?

A wave is equal parts conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.
A wave is shared. Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when.
A wave is live. With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.

Seminar Topics

- Introduction to Google Wave
- Building Extensions to Google Wave
- Building Gadgets - Walk through of building a Gadget
- Building Robots - Walk through of building a Java based Robot
- Using GWT (Google Web Toolkit) and EXT GWT to create polished Gadgets

Presentation on Google Wave

Date - 6th Feb 2010 - 5:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m
Venue - Synerzip Softech - L5 (Terrace)
Dnyanvatsal Commercial Complex,
Opposite Vanadevi mandir,
Karve Nagar,
Pune, India 411052
Tel: 91-9923085006

Android Jumpstart - Win HTC Hero Phone

2009-11-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

PUNE Google Technology User Group

Pune GTUG presents Android Jumpstart Seminar. A seminar where we would get people excited, thrilled and ready on Android Platform

The Objective about this seminar is as follows

Introduce Android
Introduce the building blocks and architecture
Talk on Building an Application on Android comprising of all the building blocks

Lucky draw winner wins an HTC Hero phone from our esteemed sponsors Quick Office and Synerzip

Date and Time

21^st November 2009, Saturday morning 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m

Venue

The Orbett Hotel - 1238/2, Apte Road, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune – 411004

Click here for Location on Google Maps

Registration

Registration is at the Venue. No preregistration of the event. There are no fees

Schedule

10:00 a.m to 10:30 a.m – Registration
10:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m – Seminar
12:30 p.m to 2:00 p.m
Talk from QuickOffice + Synerzip for exciting Android Opportunities
Lucky Draw to give away HTC Hero Phone

Event is sponsored by Quick Office and Synerzip.

Here is the Presentation we will use for the Seminar

Seminar on Google Wave - Building Gadgets and Robots

2009-09-01T23:52:00.000-07:00

Seminar Topics
- Introduction to Google Wave
- Building Extensions to Google Wave
- Building Gadgets - Walk through of building a Gadget
- Building Robots - Walk through of building a Java based Robot

Presentation on Google Wave

Date - 12th September 2009 - 4:00 p.m to 7: p.m
Venue - Synerzip Softech - L1 (Ground floor)
Dnyanvatsal Commercial Complex,
Opposite Vanadevi mandir,
Karve Nagar,
Pune, India 411052
Tel: 91-9923085006

Advanced Android Features - GodSpeed

2009-07-31T06:19:00.000-07:00

Why one has to use a Handler in Android?

2009-07-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

Following is inferred from the documentation about a Handler

The handler is used to schedule a runnable on the message queue of the thread that created the handler. it is mostly used to schedule UI updates on the UI thread

The one think I could not understand why I can't use any thread to update UI.

I did some experiment for the same.

Here I tried to update a TextView after every 1 second for 50 seconds using a normal thread and it failed. I got an exception

package org.punegtug.sample;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Handler;
import android.os.Message;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class HandlerTest extends Activity {
private TextView textView = null;
private int index = 0;

/** Called when the activity is first created. */
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

setContentView(R.layout.main);
textView = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView);
textView.setText("index="+index);
}

/*
* (non-Javadoc)
*
* @see android.app.Activity#onPause()
*/
@Override
protected void onPause() {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
super.onPause();
}

/*
* (non-Javadoc)
*
* @see android.app.Activity#onResume()
*/
@Override
protected void onResume() {

Runnable runnable = new Runnable() {

@Override
public void run() {
index = 0;
while (index < 50) {

//Tried to access text from UI component textView
String text= textView.getText().toString();

//Directly tried to update UI in this thread
textView.setText("index="+index++);

try {
// do what you want to do before sleeping
Thread.currentThread().sleep(1000);// sleep for 1000 ms
// do what you want to do after sleeptig
} catch (InterruptedException ie) {
// If this thread was intrrupted by nother thread
}

}

}

};
Thread thread = new Thread(runnable);
thread.start();

}

}

But the following code with Handler worked

t android.app.Activity;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Handler;
import android.os.Message;
import android.widget.TextView;

public class HandlerTest extends Activity {
private TextView textView = null;
private int index = 0;

/** Called when the activity is first created. */
@Override
public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

setContentView(R.layout.main);
textView = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView);
textView.setText("index="+index);
}

/*
* (non-Javadoc)
*
* @see android.app.Activity#onPause()
*/
@Override
protected void onPause() {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
super.onPause();
}

/*
* (non-Javadoc)
*
* @see android.app.Activity#onResume()
*/
@Override
protected void onResume() {
final Handler handler = new Handler(new Handler.Callback() {

@Override
public boolean handleMessage(Message msg) {
textView.setText("index="+index++);
return false;
}
});
Runnable runnable = new Runnable() {

@Override
public void run() {
index = 0;
while (index < 50) {

//Tried to access text from UI component textView
String text= textView.getText().toString();

//Indirectly tried to update UI in this thread
handler.sendEmptyMessage(0);

try {
// do what you want to do before sleeping
Thread.currentThread().sleep(1000);// sleep for 1000 ms
// do what you want to do after sleeptig
} catch (InterruptedException ie) {
// If this thread was intrrupted by nother thread
}

}

}

};
Thread thread = new Thread(runnable);
thread.start();

}

}

So I could, one can not update a UI component in any other thread than UI thread. However, getting values from existing UI components in any thread (e.g textView.getText()) works fine.

Hence we need to use Handler.

Soon, I will send a post about Looper.

Google Visualization API and Code Playground Discussion

2009-06-16T22:14:00.000-07:00

Let's talk on Google Visualization API this saturday (20th of June 2009). I will also introduce you to Google Code Playground, an excellent tool to try the Google's javascript based APIs

With Google Visualization APIs you can do the following thing
1. Pull data from datasources like Google Spreadsheet or your own PHP or Java Servlet DataSource
2. Pull Data in SQL fashion with Select Queries and Where clauses
3. Render the data in
a. Data Table
b. Various Charts and Graphs
c. Any third party visualization libraries

With Google Code Playground any one can learn in hours Google's javascript based APIs like
1. Google Maps
2. Google Search
3. Google Translation
etc

Come and join us this saturday at
Venue
Dnyanvatsal Commercial Complex, Floor 5
Survey No. 23, Plot No. 189,
Karve Nagar,
Pune, India 411052
Contact no. - 9923085006
See on Google Map
http://www.synerzip.com

Between
4:00 p.m to 6:00 p.m, Saturday, 20th June 2009

Photos from "Getting Started with Android" on 6th of June 2009

2009-06-08T02:41:00.001-07:00

Android - Introductory Session

2009-05-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Getting Started with Android - 6th June 2009 - 4:00 p.m

Pune GTUG would be meeting on 6th June 2009 at 4:00 p.m at the below mentioned venue for the topic "Introduction to Android".

Venue
Dnyanvatsal Commercial Complex
Survey No. 23, Plot No. 189,
Karve Nagar,
Pune, India 411052
Contact no. - 9923085006
See on Google Map
http://www.synerzip.com

Agenda for this meet is as follows

Brief History of Android
Android Phones
Android Experiments
What is Android?
What’s in new SDK
Android Architecture in detail
Application Fundamentals
User Interface
Resources and Assets
Data Storage
Content Providers
Security and Permissions
Developing Android Applications In Eclipse, with ADT
First Android Application
Further Reading

Speaker Bio - Sushrut Bidwai

Writing a book on Android (near future)
Leading a team of 15+ programmers in Nasik.
Works mainly on Java centric technologies and that too specifically on Google centric like GWT, Android, GAE for Java.
Provide information content to fellow developers through our blogs like androidcompetencycenter.com .
Worked with Persistent Systems and YagnaIQ (Pune based startup) at the start of career.
Rest of the things can be found on http://sushrutbidwai.com/about

If you have any issues feel free to write to pune-gtug mailing list.

We're changing !

2009-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Recently there have been some great progress in Pune GTUG. To mention a few of them are here.

A new domain name

Yes, we got our own domain name as http://www.punegtug.org. This means more freedom and our wider & better existance on the web.

A fresh look

We are working on a fresh look and feel of the site, that would match perfectly with our ideas.

Expect More events and meets

We are constantly looking forward to organize more and more meets, sessions and workshops. So, you should expect more of them in coming days.

Our email

If you have any knowledge that you would like to share on the Pune GTUG platform, here is our email id info@punegtug.org. Suggestions and your thoughts are most welcome.

There are couple of more things on the roadmap, but it's too early to release them :-)
So, till then just wait for the surprise.

Back to Basics - Cross Site Scripting - How web 2.0 mashups really work?

2009-05-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

Cross Site Scripting the term may not be familiar to many of us. Instead let me explain this in a lay man's terms - Web 2.0 mashups.

Web 2.0 mashups - Making the browser connect to various sources (rss, webservices) on the internet and cook up a usable application out of all these sources. A Web 2.0 mashup is typically a html page with some javascript which make all this happen.

A simple example of a mashup could be using a feed from craigslist (or any rent/sell house site) and map the listings on a map (say google map). The services which are used in this example are rss feed from the source, reverse geo lookup (address to co ordinate converstion service from google map) and google map itself. All done in a html page without the need of any server.

Now that we know about Web 2.0 mashups we should now move on to Cross Site Scripting.

Firstly lets understand what is the main hurdle in cross site scripting. Its called as Single Origin policy, if a page is loaded from xyz.com and tries to send a ajax request to abc.com, the browser does not allow it. This is not a bug but a feature, for security reasons.

If this is so, how can any one use google services directly from the webpage which are not hosted on google.com. The answer is simple JSONP. You should know about JSON before you proceed ahead.

Even though the browser restricts sending ajax requests to other domains, it allows javascripts (even at runtime) from other domains in the html code.

Lets take a very simple example, one of the services http://www.freehoroscope.com/json gives out a JSON string like this

[

{"date":"12/12/2008",

"Aries":"The day looks good for you....",

"...","...",

"Cancer","You will meet some one special today....",

".....","....",

"Sagitarius","Career front there would be good news for you...."

}

]

Now a javascript eval() function could instantly convert this text into a javascript object and this object can be used to create daily horoscope html.

The problem is I am serving my site from xyz.com and I can't send ajax request to http://www.freehoroscope.com/json.

Solution is instead of ajax request, I embed a javascript (using dom operations) in my html code at run time

(div.innerHTML="<s cript src="' http://www.freehoroscope.com/jsonp?callback"="printHoro'>").

Notice I am calling a slightly different url - http://www.freehoroscope.com/jsonp (notice the extra p at the end)

Lets see what this url gives out the following javascript -

--------------------------------------------------------------

var data=[

{"date":"12/12/2008",

"Aries":"The day looks good for you....",

"...","...",

"Cancer","You will meet some one special today....",

".....","....",

"Sagitarius","Career front there would be good news for you...."

}

];

printHoro(data);

--------------------------------------------------------------

Its quite similar to the json response just that the response is put in a variable and the function is added at the end. Notice the function name is the same as what we passed in the query string (The server put this callback name into the javascript it throws out).

What happens now is once the javascript is loaded, it creates a variable data and calls the javascript function printHoro. In short you will have to add the printHoro function which will actually be your call back function to render the horoscope

function printHoro(data){

document.getElementById("date").innerHTML=data[0].date;

document.getElementById("aries").innerHTML=data[0].Aries;

....

}

< / sc ript>

If you have any questions on this mail it to pune-gtug.googlegroups.com

Pics from Pune-GTUG Sessions

2009-05-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

The most recent session conducted by Pranav Prakash on Google App Engine

Great Session on Google App Engine at Pune-GTUG this saturday :)

2009-05-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

We had a blast at Pune GTUG Meet this Saturday. Almost 22-25 people turned up, we hardly had a place to hit every one.

Thanks to Pranav for taking the execellent presentation on Google App Engine. Special thanks to Navin Kabra to make the session live, with all the insights he provided.

Here is the presentation from the session used by Pranav.

Google App Engine - Getting Started

2009-05-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

Google App Engine - Getting Start

Pune GTUG meets this Saturday (16th of May) to discuss Google App Engine

Agenda Topics

1. Little talk about Cloud Computing

2. Getting Started with Google App Engine Python

3. Live Examples on Google App Engine

4. Question and Answer

5. Introduction to Google App Engine Java (if time permits)

Speaker: Pranav Prakash

Date : Saturday 16th of May 2009 at 4:00 p.m

Venue:

Enrolment form for Pune GTUG Meet

2009-05-01T07:56:00.001-07:00

Getting Started with Gadgets and OpenSocial - 18th April 2009 Pune GTUG meet

2009-04-18T00:22:00.000-07:00

In the Pune GTUG meet scheduled on 18th of April 2009, we will be talking about "Getting Started with Gadgets and OpenSocial".

Here are the agenda topics

1. Very short introduction to Gadgets and OpenSocial

2. Getting Started with Gadgets

- Basic Anotomoy of a Gadget

- Initialization of Gadget code

- Understanding Views in Gadget

- Making Ajax Requests from gadgets (Cross site) using gadgets.io.makeRequest

- Making Ajax Posts from gadgets (Cross site) using gadgets.io.makeRequest

3. Getting Started with OpenSocial

- Sending Gifts to friends example

- Introducing the Gifts RestFul Application built on Java Google App Engine

- Walk through OpenSocial Code of sending gifts to friends. Getting list of gifts sent to friends. Getting list of gifts received from friends

- Walk through Activity Stream - Sending updates or Bragging about sending gifts to your friends.

Here are the sample code which we will discuss in this session.

1. Anatomy of a Gadget - Gadget Version 1

2. Initialization of a Gadget - Gadget Version 2

3. Understanding Views in a Gadget - Gadget Version 3

4. Making Ajax calls from Gadget - Gadget Version 4

5. Making Ajax posts from Gadget - Gadget Version 5

6. OpenSocial Sending Gifts to friends- Complete example of OpenSocial Gadget - OpenSocial Version 1

Also for those who are interested in building applications using Java on Google App Engine can refer to OpenSocialGifts app that i built for Google App Engine (Java) here - http://code.google.com/p/opensocial-java-appengine-gifts/

This application is running live here - http://3.latest.opensocialgifts.appspot.com/

"Getting Started with OpenSocial" meet moved to 18th of April

2009-04-10T04:33:00.000-07:00

Getting Started with OpenSocial - 18th April 2009 - 3:00 p.m

We are changing the date for "Getting Started with OpenSocial" to 18th of April.

Pune GTUG would be meeting on 18th April 2009 at 3:00 p.m at the below mentioned venue for the topic "Getting Started with OpenSocial".

Dnyanvatsal Commercial Complex
Survey No. 23, Plot No. 189,
Karve Nagar,
Pune, India 411052
Contact no. - 9923085006
See on Google Map
http://www.synerzip.com

Agenda for this meet is as follows

1. General overview of OpenSocial (But participates are expected to read about OpenSocial)
2. Getting started with a simple Gadget
3. Getting started with a simple OpenSocial Application
4. Overview of RestFul APIs for Server side OpenSocial Applications

OSDE - OpenSocial Development Environment

2009-04-06T16:31:00.000-07:00

Enriching you site with Google Web Search Results, Map Search Result, Video Search Results etc

2009-03-27T23:41:00.000-07:00

This presentation tells how to use Google Ajax Search API to enrich you site with

1. Web Search Results

2. Image Search Results

3. Video Search Results

4. Map Search Results

and various other search results and Wizards.

Please down this example zip before going through the presentation

You can also refer to the old blog posts on this blog

OpenSocial Presentation for Students (Given at PICT Concepts event)

2009-03-27T23:39:00.001-07:00

This presentation was given at PICT Concepts 2009 Event by Pune-GTUG.

The main audience were Engineering Students at this Event.

Follow Pune GTUG on twitter

2009-03-25T03:49:00.000-07:00

GTUG Meet -11 April-2009 : 3:00 p.m - Getting Started with OpenSocial

2009-03-25T02:28:00.000-07:00

Getting Started with OpenSocial - 11th April 2009 - 3:00 p.m

Pune GTUG would be meeting on 11th April 2009 at 3:00 p.m at the below mentioned venue for the topic "Getting Started with OpenSocial".

Dnyanvatsal Commercial Complex
Survey No. 23, Plot No. 189,
Karve Nagar,
Pune, India 411052
Contact no. - 9923085006
See on Google Map
http://www.synerzip.com

Agenda for this meet is as follows

1. General overview of OpenSocial (But participates are expected to read about OpenSocial)
2. Getting started with a simple Gadget
3. Getting started with a simple OpenSocial Application
4. Overview of RestFul APIs for Server side OpenSocial Applications

GTUG Meet -28-March-2009 : 3:00 p.m - Enriching your site with Google Maps search, News, Blog Feed, Video Search, Video Bar, Book Bar, Book Search

2009-03-25T02:22:00.000-07:00

GTUG meeting to discuss - Enriching your site with Google Maps search, News, Blog Feed, Video Search, Video Bar, Book Bar, Book Search

Pune GTUG is meeting this Saturday (28th March 2009) at 3:00 p.m at the following venue

Dnyanvatsal Commercial Complex
Survey No. 23, Plot No. 189,
Karve Nagar,
Pune, India 411052
Contact no. - 9923085006
See on Google Map
http://www.synerzip.com

Agenda for the Meet
1. General Overview of enriching your site or blog with more live data

2. What all options are available
- Searches
- Web
- Picture
- Video
- Local
- Feeds
- News
- Blogs
- Richer Wizards

3. How to add these to your site or blog or company's web site

Survey Result

2009-03-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

The Survey Result is out. Following are the most popular topics of the survey result

1. Overview of Google Technologies
2. OpenSocial - Building OpenSocial Apps
3. Enriching your site with Google Maps search, News, Blog Feed, Video Search, Video Bar, Book Bar, Book Search

One of this would be topic of our next GTUG meet. The mostly likely one seems to be
Overview of Google Technologies
or
Enriching your site with Google Maps search, News, Blog Feed, Video Search, Video Bar, Book Bar, Book Search

as these topics cover more breadth then depth.

Look out for my next post which will announce the venue and date. Btw we now have a permanent venue available for Pune GTUG meetings, so we can meet more often and regularly

Topics for next GTUG Meet

2009-03-05T00:42:00.000-08:00

Google Chrome - Interesting ...

2008-09-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Google Chrome (BETA) for Windows

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.

One box for everything
Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages.

Thumbnails of your top sites
Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab.

Shortcuts for your apps
Get desktop shortcuts to launch your favorite web applications.

Some other interesting features -

Task manager for websites - Also Google claims that if one of the TABs crashes then it won't crash the browser, other tabs will be still alive. (I am yet to experience this)
Visual Browser History - This is a feature Chrome borrowed from Google Desktop / Google Web History. Type Ctrl+H to open your browser history and search for a term.
Reopen webpages you closed by mistake - Firefox 3 has this "Undo Closed Tab" option in the menu while you can open closed tabs in Opera via the Ctrl+Z shortcut. To re-open a closed tab in Google Chrome, just hit Ctrl+T and you’ll see an option that says "Recently closed tabs" - click the one you closed by accident.
Separate Profiles for safer browsing - for more read http://www.labnol.org/software/create-family-profiles-in-google-chrome/4394/
Very good context menus - Context menus live up to their name ... they are really relevant.

and many more ....

Try it yourself.

If you ask me, I feel Chrome has miles to go before it sweeps other browsers, atleast it needs some fast progress in plugins which I am sure will happen. Till then it's just a novice browser and its too early to compare it with Mozilla. Atleast I rely on my mozilla plugins heavily.

Link to download Chrome - http://www.google.com/chrome/eula.html?hl=en
Happy browsing ...

GWT In Depth Seminar on 23rd August 2008 at Synerzip Softech

2008-08-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

Listen and Learn - Google Video Tutorials

2008-04-02T22:12:00.000-07:00

Want to learn how to use Google Web Toolkit or Google Maps or Gadgets. Simply choose the technology and see Google Developers explain you right from the concept behind a technology to as deep as code examples.

Visit http://code.google.com/videos/

Digging Deeper into GWT

2008-02-29T23:13:00.000-08:00

Download this Presentation from Pune-GTUG Google Group

Google Sites

2008-02-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Google Sites Launched

After more than a year since the JotSpot acquisition, Google finally launched a service that uses JotSpot's technology: Google Sites. The new service is a part of Google Apps and allows you to create web sites collaboratively. "People can work together on a Site to add file attachments, information from other Google applications (like Google Docs, Google Calendar, YouTube and Picasa), and new free-form content. Creating a site together is as easy as editing a document, and you always control who has access, whether it's just yourself, your team, or your whole organization," explains Google.

Google offers templates, a rich-text editor, 10GB of storage for each Google Apps account and integration with other Google services so you can embed gadgets, calendars, spreadsheets, presentations, photo slideshows and videos. You can invite people to collaborate or just view a site and you can also publish the site so that anyone can view it.

VentureBeat likes the new service. "Creating a new site with Google Sites is very easy. (...) You can start out by creating a front page for your site and from there decide whether to add more standard pages" or use one of the built-in templates: dashboard, blog, file cabinet, list.

Webware notices that Google doesn't offer too many features. "As is typical for Google productivity applications when they first launch, the functionality inside Sites is on the spare side, but the collaboration features are clear, easy to use, and well-chosen. This is a capable workgroup wiki, and even in this early stage its integration with the Docs and Apps suites makes it an excellent collaboration tool."

Here are three examples of Google Sites: a company intranet, a ski club site and a team project.

The video shows how easy is to create a simple site:

The new service is enabled by default for all the new Google Apps accounts, but administrators need to enable it explicitly for the existing accounts.

Labels: Hosted, Video

Ajax using Java - Digging Deeper Into GWT

2008-02-26T20:29:00.000-08:00

(Under Indic Threads Pune)

The session at the last Java meet gave an overview of Google Technologies and APIs. In continuation with that theme, the session this month delves deep into GWT territory. Rohit Ghatol speaks about "Ajax using Java - Digging Deeper Into GWT".

Session Abstract :

* GWT Architectural Overview

* GWT Benefits

* Basic App - Code & Demo

* Advanced App - Code & Demo (App Controlled by a backend)

* Design principles when working with Ajax UI

o Covering MVC to the fullest extend

o Covering DTOs with the RPC Services of GWT

* Introduction to must use open source libraries with GWT

o MyGWT

o GWT-DND

Speaker
Bio- Rohit Ghatol has
been a Software Professional for about 6 years. He currently plays a
role of Project Manager at Synerzip Softech. He has a BE Computer
Engineering Degree from PICT Pune. His main interests lies in keeping
abreast with what's new in the Technology world. He has also been
involved in taking training on Java technologies like Hibernate, Java
Server Faces, Struts, Google Web Toolkit , Grails and many such topics.
Founder "Pune Google Technology User Group"

Date and Time:

Saturday, 1st March 2008

6.00 pm - 7.30 pm: Ajax using Java - Digging Deeper into the Google Web Toolkit (GWT)

Venue:

Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR),

7th floor, Atur Center, Model Colony, Pune

Directions - Map -
Google Map

* Entry is free of cost. Entry on first come first served basis.

InDepth GWT (Google Web Toolkit) Seminar on 1st of March with Indic Threads

2008-02-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

We are thinking about having an in depth Google Web Toolkit Seminar on 1st of March with Indic Threads Pune.(This is still in tentative stage, but I wanted to share this early with all of the members.)

Ajax using Java - Digging Deeper (using GWT)

Architectural Overview
Undeniable Benefits
Actual Coding Demo of basic sample
Actual Coding Demo of advanced complex app (Controlled by a backend)
Design principles when working with Ajax UI

Covering MVC to the fullest extend
Inshort Covering DTOs with the RPC Services of GWT

Introduction Must use open source libraries with GWT

MyGWT
GWT-DND

The Seminar is expected to be of 90 minutes, to do justice to the topic. Please feel free to forward this post to any one interested.

I would post the complete details of the seminar when they are communicated to me.

Pune GTUG Presentations from CSI Meet held on 16th of Feb 2008

2008-02-24T22:03:00.000-08:00

Download source

Source coming soon.....

Orkut calling for open social Apps....

2008-02-15T11:01:00.000-08:00

In case you are not aware, open social APIs from Google is a way to create social networking applications not only for Orkut for the set of social network container under open social. Orkut is one of these containers, and of course India's favorite one too :)

The good thing is this API has been released for a while, several tutorials and guidelines have also been published for the same.

Now the time has come when Orkut is calling the developer community to post quality social networking apps (for orkut container).

Open social is a way to reach millions of user and more important communities of interest, so what are we waiting for lets start making open social applications for orkut and submit them, they could very well be listed in application directory of Orkut।

See the original post from Google - Original Blog Post

Orkut is looking for a few good apps...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 1:57:00 AM

Posted by Arne Roomann-Kurrik, Developer Programs

In case you missed it, Orkut has started accepting submissions for inclusion into its application directory. The directory will go live for Orkut's user-facing launch, coming up at the end of February. If you've got an OpenSocial application that you would like listed, please fill out this form. (If you've already submitted your application, don't worry, we still have your information)

Orkut wants as many high quality applications available at launch as possible, but malware, adware, and gadgets that don't meet the Orkut terms of service are going to be filtered out through a review process. We want to make sure the user experience is great!

The review process for the directory will occur right up until and through launch. If you submit before Saturday, February 16th, the Orkut team will be able to give you direct feedback on your application, allowing you time to make any needed changes. If you submit on or after the 16th, reviews will be on a first come, first served basis: the team will try to cover as many submissions as possible, but cannot guarantee that your application will be reviewed for the initial list.

After launch, applications will be added to the directory daily so there'll still be plenty of opportunities to get your applications reviewed and listed, even if you don't get in during the first round.

In order to be accepted into the directory, submitted applications must:

Function correctly. No 404s or broken links.
Be social OR self-expressive.
Not reveal personal data, like email (which is not delivered by the API).
Follow the Orkut terms of service. No violent or illegal content, nudity, or hate speech.

Developers are encouraged to make their applications look polished. Using standard colors, fonts, and elements, as well as setting metadata such as icon and description will go a long way. If you're looking for more ways to spruce up your application to be more successful, then the OpenSocial best practices article should give you some ideas.

Keep in mind that the linked article lists suggestions, not requirements. The review process is not intended to act as "social application fashion police" - your application will not be judged based on its purpose or intended audience. If you write something polished, there's a good chance it'll get in, so surprise us with your creativity! We're looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Good luck and happy coding!

See the following blog post for more details.

Pune Google Technology User Group Info

2008-02-11T04:49:00.001-08:00

Talk on Google Technologies (with programming) and Android Platform on 16th Feb under CSI Meet

2008-02-07T04:50:00.001-08:00

The main topics to be covered here would be

Web 2.0 with Google Technologies – Rohit Ghatol

What all Google Technologies are present?
Why this sudden availability of so many online APIs on the web?
This would include Demos using Google Technologies.
Also includes programming Demos on Google Maps, Google Ajax Search API and advanced usage of Google SpreadSheet.

Mobile Application Development using Java (Android Platform) – Vishwesh Jirgale

What was before Android in the mobile platform world?
Why Android has arrived?
Architecture of Android
Some Demos (may be programming) on Android

Kindly make your presence felt for this meet.

Read more about "Google Technology User Group" at http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2008/02/google-technology-use...

Date : 16th February

Time: 5 pm

Venue: Dewang Mehta Auditorium, Persistent Systems (Bhageraath building), Senapati Bapat Road, Pune

Session On Web 2.0 using Google Technologies at Java + Google Meet

2008-01-18T20:15:00.000-08:00

The expert session for the next IndicThreads Java meet is about "Using
Google technologies and APIs for Web 2.0 development". Google technologies like Maps, Searches and Docs are very popular. However
realizing that the innovation in Web 2.0 has to come from communities on the web, Google is now empowering them with tools and APIs to build their own innovative yet practical applications.

One can now combine and build applications using maps, gadgets, customized search, feeds,spreadsheets and mashup editors, and not to forget Google Gears.
This session will look at using various Google technologies and APIs
for Google Mapplets, Local Searches, Google Base, Searches, Open Social
and even Google Docs (mainly about building applications with
SpreadSheet). This topic ends with introducing the Pune Google
Technology User Group.

Speaker Bio-

Rohit Ghatol has been a Software Professional for about 6 years. He currently plays a role of Project Manager at Synerzip Softech. He has a BE Computer
Engineering Degree from PICT Pune. His main interests lies in keeping
abreast with what's new in the Technology world. He has also been
involved in taking training on Java technologies like Hibernate, Java Server Faces, Struts, Google Web Toolkit , Grails and many such topics. Lastly, he has initiated a group in Pune namely "Pune Google Technology User Group" with the prime focus to educate people about what is
possible in the Web 2.0 world with the help of Google Technologies.

Date and Time:

Saturday, 2nd Feb 2008

6.00 pm - 7.00 pm:
Using Google technologies and APIs for Web 2.0 development

Venue:

Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR),

7th floor, Atur Center, Model Colony, Pune

Directions - Map

* Entry is free of cost. Entry on first come first served basis.

Ajax Search API Video

2008-01-16T04:50:00.000-08:00

Please feel free to see the latest video edition. This video talks about what is Google Ajax Search API, and how it can help us

See Google Ajax Search API Video

Talks on Pune GTUG on 2nd Feb with Indic Threads and 9th of Feb with CSI Pune

2008-01-15T02:05:00.000-08:00

Pune GTUG is planning to present following topics on 2nd Feb with Indic Threads and 9th Feb with CSI Pune. The exact details about the time and venue will be provided to you shortly.

Topics-
1. Introduction to various Google Technologies and How to build on top of them using Google APIs
2. Introduction to Android Platform for mobile. What was before Android, Why need for Android came up and How Android helps the mobile community. This may be combined with some showcase demos.

Pune GTUG Calendar - Browse to the month of Feb

Note these are the tentative dates, they may be subjected to change.

Steps for promoting Google Technologies

2007-12-17T23:24:00.000-08:00

Our intension is simple, facilitate the developer community in Pune, to use Google Technology to build pratical applications for their own communities.
We have simple 3 Step process to do so
1. Educate
2. Collaborate
3. Innovate

Educate -
We are at this step at the time this blog is written. We are trying to educate the developer community in pune about various Google Technologies. The general approach here is to keep putting blogs and tutorials to let the community know about new and upcoming Google Technologies. Also, there would be a meet for pune developer community to present Google Technologies at all the levels, from conceptual to actual hands on

Collaborate
In this step, the community more or less know names and short description of various Google Technologies. They have a picture, of where what will fit in. Now they start collaborating on the Google Group, in meets and via various other channels, to get the answers to their queries. People would themselves will follow what's new on Google Technology front and discuss whether they could be best used.

Innovate
The last step and the goal of GTUG. Help the developer community to actually launch applications, apply radical concepts to these applications. Make the applications they launched popular over GTUG. Present the whole concept and idea behind these applications and how they would help the web community.
This is where we would see the bright minds come together and actually drive the web community. This is the ultimate goal.

Check out Google Charts API

2007-12-15T11:17:00.000-08:00

The Google Chart API lets you dynamically generate charts.

The Google Chart API returns a PNG-format image in response to a URL. Several types of image can be generated: line, bar, and pie charts for example. For each image type you can specify attributes such as size, colors, and labels.
Check out how to use the new Google Charts API here - http://code.google.com/apis/chart/

Check out the following samples. You can right click on the images and see that the graph data is embedded in its URL itself.
Check them out !!

ANDROID DEVELOPER CHALLENGE !!! TIME TO WAKE UP

2007-11-17T09:01:00.000-08:00

Cool apps that surprise and delight mobile users, built by developers like you, will be a huge part of the Android vision. To support you in your efforts, Google has launched the Android Developer Challenge, which will provide $10 million in awards -- no strings attached -- for great mobile apps built on the Android platform.

How It Works

The award money will be distributed equally between two Android Developer Challenges:
Android Developer Challenge I: We will accept submissions from January 2 through March 3, 2008
Android Developer Challenge II: This part will launch after the first handsets built on the platform become available in the second half of 2008
In the Android Developer Challenge I, the 50 most promising entries received by March 3 will each receive a $25,000 award to fund further development. Those selected will then be eligible for even greater recognition via ten $275,000 awards and ten $100,000 awards.

Build Your Favorite Mobile Application

We welcome all types of applications but are looking to reward innovative, useful apps that make use of Android's capabilities to deliver a better mobile experience. Here are some suggested areas of focus to get you started:

Social networking

Media consumption, management, editing, or sharing, e.g., photos

Productivity and collaboration such as email, IM, calendar, etc.

Gaming

News and information

Rethinking of traditional user interfaces

Use of mash-up functionality

Use of location-based services

Humanitarian benefits

Applications in service of global economic development

Whatever you're excited about!

So lets gear up and come up with ideas.

Getting Started
Download the SDK

Build your applications
Submit your applications (between January 2 and March 3, 2008). A submission form will be available on this page starting on January 2, 2008.

More Information
Android Developer Challenge FAQ
Subscribe to the Android Developer Blog for updates on the Android Developer Challenge
Discuss the challenge with others
Learn more about the Open Handset Alliance

Pune GTUG's Mashup Launched

2007-11-16T13:03:00.000-08:00

A Mashup has been created for Pune GTUG. The Mashup right has following features

1. Pulling the Pune GTUG Blog
2. Pulling threads from Pune GTUG Google Group
3. Map showing GTUGS all across the world
4. A Calendar Event Listing for Pune GTUG
5. A List of Ideas against a particular Google Technology

Note- I recommend using FireFox, the mashup does not seem to be working well with IE.

In future many more things would be added, and members of Pune GTUG Google Group will also be made members to this mashup.
Very soon, I also plan to release a Google Presentation about what is a Mashup and how to create the simplest of Mashups.

Here is the link for the mashup - http://pune-gtug.googlemashups.com/

Pune-GTUG now uses Ajax Search API

2007-11-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

A Search Bar has been added to Pune-GTUG blog. It allows user to carry out customized search right inside the blog.

The Search results are categorized across
1- Pune-GTUG Blog Site Only
2- Pune-GTUG Google Group Only (Currently broken)
3- Code.Google.com Site only

Google Base

2007-11-15T02:40:00.000-08:00

Watch the following presentation on Google Base:-

Google Ajax Search and Ajax Feeds

2007-11-12T05:16:00.000-08:00

Existing Search Paradigm
The concept of Search page and a Feeds aggregrator is not old, most of us are much aware of it. However, the fact remains internet is a growing store of information, and as each day passes more and more information is added. Being good news, this is also a bad news, because reaching the right kind of information becomes difficult.

We all have been using Google's search engine for doing our searches and narrowing down to the information we need. Also some of us would already be we aware of Google's Feed Aggregator to aggregate the feeds we are interested in.

Existing Search capabilities already available
The following has been used by many users but is not so userful for people interested in the conference.

New Scenario - Getting your visitor to right content
Having said that, now think about a scenario, in which you wish to invite number fo people to Google's Technology Conference in lets say New Jersey. A number of people who have never been to New Jersey would come the very first time. I as a organizer would have enough knowledge about New Jersey, where the Venue, and what to expect near the venue. This is a place where Google Ajax Search and Feed APIs are the most appropriate to be used.

Example- Ajax Search Blogspot

Dynamic Content
The organizer can typically put a blog for the conference. But instead of keeping the blogs static in which user can only read information, Ajax Search and Feed APIs can be used to make it more powerful and intutive to the user.

For example, search bar can be put on the right side of the blog allowing user to search right there. A Video Search bar can be provided to allow user to search for vidoes. A Map Search with a map can be shown in the right side, with some keyword (links) put below, to show nearest accomodations, coffee shop. User can click on these to get more information. User can also do he own LOCAL search to find what he/she wishes to find near the conference.
A Video Bar could be provided in the same page on the left side to may be show what happened last year in the conference.

The whole idea is to get the user access the right kind of information, painlessly. Since the conference blog has an intend, the search options provided to the users too have the same intend is to help people interested in attending the conference.

Try it out
Visit http://ajaxsearch.blogspot.com to see the Ajax search in Action, see how easy you can reach the information which you intend to reach.

Technical Capabilities of Ajax Search
The following searches are possible
1. Local Search
2. Typical Web Search
3. Video Search
4. Blog Search
5. News Search
6. Image Search
7. Book Search

Watch the Video Presentation
Watch the Complete Video about the same at You Tube

Industry Leaders Announce Open Platform for Mobile Devices

2007-11-07T02:09:00.000-08:00

Android™ will deliver a complete set of software for mobile devices: an operating system, middleware and key mobile applications. On November 12, we will release an early look at the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) to allow developers to build rich mobile applications.

Open

Android was built from the ground-up to enable developers to create compelling mobile applications that take full advantage of all a handset has to offer. It is built to be truly open. For example, an application could call upon any of the phone's core functionality such as making calls, sending text messages, or using the camera, allowing developers to create richer and more cohesive experiences for users. Android is built on the open Linux Kernel. Furthermore, it utilizes a custom virtual machine that has been designed to optimize memory and hardware resources in a mobile environment. Android will be open source; it can be liberally extended to incorporate new cutting edge technologies as they emerge. The platform will continue to evolve as the developer community works together to build innovative mobile applications.

All applications are created equal

Android does not differentiate between the phone's core applications and third-party applications. They can all be built to have equal access to a phone's capabilities providing users with a broad spectrum of applications and services. With devices built on the Android Platform, users will be able to fully tailor the phone to their interests. They can swap out the phone's homescreen, the style of the dialer, or any of the applications. They can even instruct their phones to use their favorite photo viewing application to handle the viewing of all photos.

Breaking down application boundaries

Android breaks down the barriers to building new and innovative applications. For example, a developer can combine information from the web with data on an individual's mobile phone -- such as the user's contacts, calendar, or geographic location -- to provide a more relevant user experience. With Android, a developer could build an application that enables users to view the location of their friends and be alerted when they are in the vicinity giving them a chance to connect.

Fast & easy application development

Android provides access to a wide range of useful libraries and tools that can be used to build rich applications. For example, Android enables developers to obtain the location of the device, and allows devices to communicate with one another enabling rich peer-to-peer social applications. In addition, Android includes a full set of tools that have been built from the ground up alongside the platform providing developers with high productivity and deep insight into their applications.

Look for video

For further reading

Google Gadgets and Mapplets Made Easy

2007-11-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

We all have been using Google Gadgets on iGoogle and most of us love them (atleast I do alot). I was always curious on how to build my own one day and recently I tried doing so with success. Here is a video which will make it very easy for you to get started with Google Gadgets.

Enjoy the session!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once you know Google Gadgets moving towards Google Mapplets (Application which run in side Google Maps) is the next step. Google Mapplets open a lot of possibilities with Google Maps, instead of Google Maps being just a navigable map, it transforms it into powerful practical applications.

Imagine being able to search the real estate on various parameters right on the map, also get the directions to that place from your places. The possibilities are limitless.

Here is another Video session which will really make it very easy to catch on Google Mapplets. I suggest you try Google Gadgets (using above video) before actually trying your hands on this.

Go ahead and Enjoy!!

Grease the Gears by Krishna

2007-11-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

Use Google Gears & Grease Monkey for a better web experience.

Here is an example.
Now, Google Reader works with Gears and is available offline... well,
not the entire application is offline... The Search feature is gone,
when you switch to offline-mode...

http://rau1.com/blog/2007/06/11/google-reader-gears-search-english
is a greasemonkey script that enables you to search your data in
offline mode. Of course this search may not be as intelligent as
Google Search, but it is something.

But, this is only the beginning. What synergy can be produced by
mixing Google Gears and GreaseMonkey? GreaseMonkey provides a hook to
write 'your' own javascript code on top of the application, and Google
Gears provides a Database to store 'your' data. A SDK in your browser
to customize any website!

You can keep track of information you want as a history in the cache
and retrieve them when you visit that site again. What you want to
store - is left to your necessity & imagination!!!

If you find any interesting use, do let me know.

Cheers,
Krishna
http://vicevoice.blogspot.com/2007/11/grease-gears.html

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Everyone,
To explain the concept of GreaseMonkey working along side Google Gears, I have created a ScreenCase.
Krishna, Please review the video and let me know it it requires any change.

Thanks a lot Krishna for this information.

Click on the link below to see the Video.

Read What Chris (Google Developer Advocate) has to say about Pune GTUG

2007-10-31T10:56:00.000-07:00

The Idea of Pune GTUG came up during a discussion with Chris (Google Developer Advocate) over lunch at Indic thread conference 2007. Since then, Chris has been guiding me on how to go about a GTUG.

He is very supportive on the idea of Pune GTUG. Once we are able to really set this Group rolling, I am sure we would get the needed support and help from him.
Thanks Chris for your ideas and support, they are most welcome

Read what Chris Schalk has to say about Pune GTUG.
http://groups.google.co.in/group/pune-gtug/browse_thread/thread/235350ce1fa8d45

Chris is also part of Google API Team.

Idea behind Pune GTUG

2007-10-31T04:56:00.001-07:00

I and many others would agree that Google has a critical share for unleashing the power of Web technologies. Almost all of us are daily Googlers (People who are hooked to Google). We rely heavily on Google for our day to day needs.

This was the first step where Google helped web users with data, and Google played a big role for getting the right kind of data user expected. The next step is here, Google has been working hard to empower people to create pratical applications on top of google technologies. This is the time of Web 2.0, when people would be able to convert data to practical live applications. Google Technologies will enable people to do so.

Many of us already rely on Google Maps for number of things. The idea is to learn to leverage Google's Technology towards practical solutions. These solutions can be put in any one of us, and that also looks like Google's target, empowering the developer community.

The aim behind Pune GTUG is to find like minded people who are interested in learning about Google's Technology and also bringing newer solutions to everyone's desktop using these technologies.

If you are interested in knowing and learning about Google's Technology, Join this group. If you are not a hands on person, but still like to contribute ideas about practical solutions, Join this group.

I already had word with some of the people in Google, who are ready to facilitate Pune GTUG once it becomes active. We could very well have Seminars and Presentations and Conferences held in Pune about Google Technology. For these events some of the key minds behind Google's Technology would join to guide the community and also to get feedback from it.

So what are you waiting for!
Lets transform the Web!!

Join Pune GTUG, be a part of revolution!

Read this article

Idea behind Pune Google Technology User Group

Upcoming Libraries for GWT (Google Web Toolkit)

2007-10-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

The following video talks about a number of open source library built on top of GWT to ease out development in GWT. These area as follows
1. MyGWT- A Profession looking, ready to use Widget library inspired by ExtJs. Special thanks to Darell for this framework.
2. GWT Incubator - A library put by GWT Developers and community itself. They have some advanced widgets like a Grid (ScrollTable), a must see toolkit.
3. GWT DND- A Library dedicated to Drag and Drop support for GWT. A must see one, it has around 13 very good examples of different ways of Drag and Drop. You think of some thing in drag and drop and this library has it. Thanks to Allen for this library.
4. Chronoscope from Timepedia- A up coming Time Machine on top of GWT. Excellent framework when it comes to visualization of Time Series data. Has some of the same things you see on Google finance, but it can be developed using GWT. Not totally complete yet, the first beta is yet to come and so is the IE support for GWT. But never the less, a Library to watch out for.

See the Video below (The Video will start when it reaches 11%)

Learning about Google My Maps

2007-10-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

The following Video talks about how to go about Google My Maps. Google My Maps is actually the simplest way to put your content on a Map. No APIs knowledge required just go on the Map and start drawing your content. The things covered in this video are
1. How to create MyMap?
2. How to add Place Holder? How to add rich information to these placeholders?
3. How to draw path ways, routes using line tool?
4. How to represent an area using the shape tool?
5. How to use the existing contents and application already available with Google Maps?

See the video below (The Video will start when it reaches 11%)

Getting Started with GWT Development Environment

2007-10-27T13:27:00.000-07:00

This Video is good for any one new to GWT. It walks you step by step through the process of going about, when you first download GWT. It covers
1. Installation
2. Project Creation for Eclipse and Ant
3. Creation of Skeleton application
4. Import of the Skeleton application in Eclipse
5. How to run the application from command line?
6. How to run and debug the application from Eclipse?
7. Brief introduction about the files used when developing GWT apps.
8. Lastly a bit about the Java to Javascript compilation

See the Video below (The Video will start when it reaches 11%)

GUG- Google (APIs) User Group Blog Started

2007-10-27T07:54:00.001-07:00

We are very excited to start Google (APIs) User Group Blog.

With the advent of APIs released from Google in all sorts of direction, it is growing need to keep ourselves updated about these APIs.

The areas of update which I am talking about spans from
- Knowing how to use these APIs
- To more importantly what kinds of solutions can be created out of them

You can yourself see the large number of APIs below and looks like they will keep flooding

http://code.google.com/apis