At CES in January, GM announced that it is releasing an SDK so that developers can create apps specifically for its vehicles. In fact, there is going to be a 4G-supported app store built into that in-dash screen, allowing you to browse and buy apps from right behind the steering wheel. Of course, they don’t recommend you do this while driving, but you know that inevitably some people will try.

The goal isn’t so much to extend existing apps into the cars as much as it is to build apps that are specific for cars. It’s not about having Angry Birds on there. As Phil Abram, GM Chief Infotainment Officer said, “GM may approve applications that stem from vehicle ownership. For example, customers can choose to download applications that assist them in driving more safely or in a more fuel efficient manner, possibly decreasing the costs of vehicle ownership.” Of course, we can expect the usual suite of weather, music, news and navigation apps too.

The built-in 4G also ensures that you can keep downloading and using these apps even when you’re not tethering off your phone or in the presence of a Wi-Fi hotspot. They have a deal with AT&T for this purpose.

[Source]

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When a typical new video game console hits the market, you can usually expect to spend several hundred dollars to buy it. You might even remember the frenzy surrounding the PS3 launch with systems going for up to $2,000 on eBay. The Ouya is not that kind of video game console. It’s only $100.

The unassuming silver box will be powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor. There is 1GB of RAM to go along with 8GB of flash storage, HDMI, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a wireless controller that looks similar to that of the OnLive console or the Xbox 360 controller. Those specs make it sound like a pretty decent smartphone or tablet, but this is meant to be a home gaming console.

Perhaps the even bigger kicker is that there is an open SDK where they promise to provide digitally-delivered titles for free. I imagine the marketplace will start with a handful of freeware titles and free-to-try games, but it has to open up to paid games eventually. In any case, the Ouya is only $100 and it’ll be interesting to see how it fares in an environment where we’ve grown accustomed to Android games on the go. Does this spell eventual doom for the Wii U, PS4, and Xbox 720?

[ Uncrate via Kickstarter ]

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The oft-rumored Sony PlayStation Phone just got another tick in the “probably going to happen” column. Now that Android 2.3 Gingerbread is all official with the Nexus S, developers have also started to get their hands on the Gingerbread SDK. Rolling through that, they’ve discovered what appear to be Sony-style gaming controls.

When looking at the portion about input key options, you’ll find fields for A, B, C, L1, L2, Mode, R1, R2, Select, Start, ThumbL, ThumbR, X, Y, and Z. The L1/L2 and R1/R2 pairs are certainly in line with the controllers that you’d find on the PlayStation 3, and the ThumbL and ThumbR seem to indicate dual thumb analog sticks, again like the PS3. There’s no mention of square, triangle and circle, of course, but the A/B/C and X/Y/Z combinations could easily substitute for that.

This is very much notable for a couple of reasons. First, it offers even more confirmation that the Sony PlayStation Phone is real and it’s definitely on the way. Second, it means that the PSPhone will have “better” controls than its regular PSP counterpart, finally getting dual analog sticks and four shoulder buttons… or at least the possibility of four shoulder buttons in some hardware incarnation.

Will the PlayStation Phone help to elevate the Android platform into the same kind of mobile gaming viability of iOS? With real controls like these, it just might. I just hope the hardware is better than the XPERIA X10 to say the least.

[SlashGear via Android Community]

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