If you have followed our widget samples series, you should have a good idea of what the JIL/WAC APIs can do for you, and how to use them in your code. The samples have covered a selection of JIL features like using the accelerometer, playing audio files, getting and displaying maps and location, and using the PIM APIs to display contacts from the address book.

As well as JIL-specific topics, the samples have also covered more general topics like how to structure a widget, and how to create dynamic overlays and multi-page widgets.

If you have looked at the ...

This is the last of the widgets in our Widget Samples series. All but the simplest widgets are likely to benefit from using multiple pages. The Multipage sample implements a two-page, list-based widget that demonstrates basic page building and switching techniques.

On launch, the widget displays a Navigation list; selecting an item from the list builds and switches to an appropriate details list; a back button returns the user to the main page. It's a simple example, but the techniques are universally useful. You can reuse the sample code as a starting point for your own projects.

The screenshots ...

Are you developing a cool new mobile app? As a developer, you probably know how important it is to make sure that your app (native Android or widget) works properly and displays correctly not only in a simulator environment but also on real mobile handsets.

Well, the best news is that you can do this now via the “The Vodafone Handset Cloud” service. This service enables you to test your apps on REAL mobile handsets working in the Vodafone networks in Germany and in Italy.

Many current handsets are available, including the following that have just been added to the ...

Address Book sample widget

Our Widget Samples series continues with the Address Book sample widget, which demonstrates how to fetch and display address book entries from the phone's address book and launch actions from contact details. For example, selecting a phone number detail launches the phone dialler; selecting an email address detail launches the messaging editor.

The address book API is part of the JIL/WAC PIM API, which enables widgets to interact with the phone's on-board address book and calendar. For example, widgets can create new address book and calendar entries, search for and read existing entries ...

Audio sample widget

Our Widget Samples series continues with the Audio sample widget, which demonstrates just how easy it is to add sound capabilities to your JIL apps and games. Whether you want to create a dedicated audio player, or add sound effects to a game or app, the JIL/WAC audio API is simple and easy to use, and supports play, pause, resume, stop, and repeat play, for local and remote files.

Common audio formats are supported including MP3, for high quality audio playback, and WAV (useful for samples and effects). Depending on the phone, MP4 (i.e. AAC ...

We wanted to let you know that there has been a change regarding acceptance of applications with adult content for the Vodafone Shop. Unfortunately, until further notice these will now no longer be accepted for publication. If this changes in the future, we will post another update letting you know straight away.

We've been delighted to see the ever increasing momentum around the widget platform, which is highlighted by the announcement and formation of the Wholesale Application Community (WAC), enabling global market reach for your apps.

And to ensure we are providing the best market reach for your widgets we wanted to let you to know about some changes that are currently underway to our systems that will enable you to upload your widgets for publication through WAC. Whilst our systems are being updated there will be a number of changes regarding widget submission - these are:

• You will continue to be ...

Geolocation sample widget

The latest in our Widget Samples series is the Geolocation sample widget, which demonstrates how to use the JIL geolocation API.

Location-awareness can add a unique dimension to your mobile apps, enabling you to create presence-based services and include geotagging, mapping, and navigation functionality. The JIL geolocation API is easy to use, does exactly what it says, and makes it easy to give your apps that mobile edge. You can use this sample widget as a starting point for own widget projects.

The sample demonstrates:

• How to make a location request and handle the asynchronous result
• How ...

Yesterday 100+ developers from Germany, Holland, UK and Canada attended Mobile Unconference Dusseldorf, the Vodafone developer team were also there. Here are my thoughts about the event from a fog bound Dusseldorf airport lounge.

Although situated in Dusseldorf the event encouraged developers from Rotterdam to also attend, which was a nice touch. These developers were bused to the event in style, like rock stars, unfortunately a number of traffic jams meant they had a longer journey than expected, but all arrived happy to get the day started.

The event was run in a bar camp style that also included a ...