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Google announced it is closing its Google Code open-source project hosting service and moving projects to GitHub. Google launched Google Code in 2006, but disabled new project creation on the site on March 12.
As of August 24 the site goes read-only and on January 25, 2016, the hosting service will be closed completely. Chris DiBona, director of open source at Google, explained that when the company first launched Google Code, the world of project hosting was limited.
Since then, better project hosting services such as GitHub and Bitbucket have been created and Google intends to use them.
Apple is opening its iOS 8 beta software update program to more users in an effort to help build better code. Under its new plan, Apple will allow participating iOS users to join up as a software tester and try out beta iOS updates before they become part of public code releases. The expanded beta testing program is to begin with the future release of iOS 8.3.
Microsoft is working to build iOS and Android app versions of its Cortana personal digital assistant software that could be ready for release next fall.
The company has been at work on an “advanced version” of Cortana that has been aided by research from an artificial intelligence project that Microsoft internally calls “Einstein.”
Stand-alone app versions of Cortana for iOS and Android will be available for smartphones and tablets sometime after Microsoft adds a new and improved version of the Cortana services into the upcoming Windows 10 operating system this fall, according to the article.
Qualcomm, best known for its low-power chips for mobile devices, is adding to its lineup of boards that are aimed at encouraging software and hardware development based on its silicon.
The chip maker later this year will release the DragonBoard 410c, a platform based on Qualcomm’s 64-bit Snapdragon 410 system-on-a-chip that officials hope will fuel the development of hardware prototypes and software for such solutions as embedded systems—such as robotics, cameras and set-top boxes—and Internet of things devices, including wearable technology.