Portland startups, open source, and tech news, jobs, and events #pdx
Introducing PDX Reporter, a new Android app designed to report problems directly to the city of Portland, Oregon, quickly and easily.
Portland has declared itself an open city. It has worked hard to champion open source, open its data, and look for new and interesting ways to get more involved in the open source software community.
But to report a problem to the City with a mobile app? Well, that took an iPhone—a notably proprietary system. That was, until now. Introducing PDX Reporter, a new Android app designed to report problems directly to the city, quickly and easily. Read More
The City of Portland is ready to test an app for the open source Android operating system. Got an Android device? Want to help the City test its app? Right this way.
[HTML1]Remember back when the City of Portland launched an iPhone app? Remember one of the first questions out of the gates? That’s right. When was the City going to offer apps on other platforms?
Well, the City of Portland has been working on those other platforms and devices. And now, they’re ready to test an app for the open source Android operating system. (Or maybe not so “open.”) Got an Android device? Want to help the City test its app? Right this way. Read More
[HTML3]According to Wired Magazine, mobile devices need custom maps. According to me, Portland is the de facto hub of mobile development and it’s not too shabby when it comes to geolocation geekery either.
No, it’s not a non-sequitur. You see, the maps built on MapBox described in the article? The Development Seed ones? Under the hood of that iPad pursuit is good old Portland mobile geolocation ingenuity, thanks to Justin Miller. Read More
One company may have a solution to help decrease the number of people texting behind the wheel–and in so doing make the roads safer. That company is Portland’s own TextNoMore.
Now, we all know—or should know—that the habit of texting while driving is less than safe. Actually, it’s dangerous. Some studies say it’s as dangerous as driving drunk—perhaps moreso. And yet, millions of people do it every single day. Because we’re a little addicted to the whole texting thing. Even though it’s illegal.
Now, given that we live in a rewards-based, give-me-a-cookie-for-doing-what-I-should-be-doing-anyway society, one company may have a solution to help decrease the number of people texting behind the wheel–and in so doing make the roads safer. That company is Portland’s own TextNoMore. Read More
Thanks to a new partnership between Portland’s Urban Airship and wireless provider Verizon where Verizon will promote Urban Airship push notifications services and AirDrop to the Verizon Developer Community.
[HTML1]I know I’m overstating the obvious when I say that, in the mobile market, things are a wee bit fragmented. You’ve got the platforms—like iOS, Android, and MeeGo, you’ve got providers—like AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, you’ve got handset manufacturers—like HTC, Motorola, and RIM… the list goes on and on. And amidst this swirl sits a bevy of developers, just trying to build cool stuff for mobile. And the the tool makers trying to help those developers. If only there could be some crossover. To simplify things.
Well, now there is. Thanks to a new partnership between Portland’s Urban Airship and wireless provider Verizon where Verizon will promote Urban Airship push notifications services and AirDrop to the Verizon Developer Community. Read More
That’s why Portland-based ActiveTrak works to protect them with their GadgetTrak Mobile security software. And now, even more folks have access to that protection. You see, a beta of GadgetTrak is being added to handsets at 2,300 independent wireless retailers.
When it comes to technology, sometimes the most important devices are also the easiest to lose. Take mobile phones. Small, compact, loaded with data, and easy to move, they’re often the target for some of those more nefarious types.
That’s why Portland-based ActiveTrak works to protect them with their GadgetTrak Mobile security software. And now, even more folks have access to that protection. You see, a beta of GadgetTrak is being added to handsets at 2,300 independent wireless retailers. Read More
While we all find a great deal of satisfaction and entertainment in mucking with technology day in and day out, every once in awhile, it’s nice to actually do something with it. Yes, yes. Even if it’s that shiny new mobile technology.
So tonight, Mobile Portland will be discussing not only something to do with technology but something very worthwhile—the use of mobile technology for education. Read More
Today, Portland-based Small Society and Urban Airship announced the release of the Democratic National Committee iPhone/iPad app.
[HTML4]Now as many of you know, a good chunk of the development team for original political iPhone app—the Obama iPhone app—lived right here in Portland. And the positive reception that app and its developers received is likely one of the reasons that Portland continues to prosper as a hub for mobile development.
But clearly Portland mobile folks still have a little politics in their veins. You see, now some of the Obama app folks have teamed up with some other Portland mobile folks. And they’ve come up with yet another awesome app. This time for a much larger entity than a single candidate or campaign. Today, Portland-based Small Society and Urban Airship announced the release of the Democratic National Committee iPhone/iPad app. Read More
This week, Cami Kaos and I talk about Jive Software’s new CEO, Dawn Foster joining MeeGo, Open Source Bridge call for proposals, you’ve got Twitter in your Yahoo!, and ngmoco raising $25 million.
Hey lookie there! It’s Thursday. And that means it’s time for another episode of memePDX. I mean, so you’ve got a little company during lunch. What’s more? It’s episode 26, which means we’ve reached a half a year of content. Yay for milestones!
This week, Cami Kaos and I talk about Jive Software’s new CEO, Dawn Foster joining MeeGo, Open Source Bridge call for proposals, you’ve got Twitter in your Yahoo!, and ngmoco raising $25 million. Read More
Dawn Foster known for her work with Legion of Tech, BarCamp Portland, Ignite Portland, Shizzow, and community management will be joining Intel as the MeeGo as Community Manager.
You may remember some news last week that Intel had agreed to partner with Nokia to merge their two Linux-based open source mobile platforms—Moblin and Maemo, respectively—in the hopes of combining their efforts instead of working in parallel. The project was dubbed MeeGo. And I was intrigued. It’s kind of a startup of sorts. And it’s definitely open source-y. And mobile. And part of the Mobilin team is here in the Portland area. So it seemed like something I should follow.
But one of the consistent comments I heard about the deal? “They’re going to need a strong developer community.” Yeah, you think? Read More