Though they’ve not been given a lot of notice, would-be software and hardware developers have been invited to attend an event in San Francisco this Friday night to learn more about creating Friends for the modular LG G5. This will mark the fourth annual LG developer event, to be held on April 15, where attendees will meet with LG execs and engineers to learn more about the LG G5 and its modular development system.
LG will be launching a marketplace alongside the event to allow G5 owners to purchase any compatible products from third parties. It’s an interesting idea, but we find ourselves wondering how many hardware / software developers will throw their effort at a platform that supports just the one handset. I’d like to hope it will be a few — there’s quite a bit of potential here — but with just one target platform, sadly, I think it might not be as vibrant as LG would like.
The one accessory I’d really like to see is an expanded battery, not just the kind included in the LG Cam Plus module, but a full on, external 2,000 mAh battery that clips over the back of the phone. Not as exciting as some others, but definitely very cool. Another useful module, that probably wouldn’t require a great deal of engineering, would be a professional microphone / dictation setup, with stereo microphone and built in deadcat. A projector perhaps?
There’s a number of ideas that would be really cool, but LG has to get developers across the line to want to develop them. I suspect, without a greater incentive than just ‘being involved’, they might not find too many willing participants — the financial risk may simply be too high.
You can catch the full release below if you’re interested in that kind of thing.
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SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) has opened up the new LG G5, inviting developers to reimagine the possibilities for the modular design smartphone and companion devices. At its fourth annual LG Developer Event, hosted on April 15 in San Francisco, attendees will learn how they can develop apps and hardware compatible with the award winning LG G5. In advance of the event, LG has also launched its new software development kit (SDK) and hardware development kit (HDK).
To help developers monetize the LG G5 companion devices they create, LG will soon be launching a new market place (WWW.LGFriends.com) as well. The online destination will further support developers, allowing them to sell their compatible products and content directly to consumers.
“The potential of the industry changing LG G5 and the concept of Friends are limitless. Now we want to give everyone a chance to apply their talent and imagination in developing their own apps and Friends for the LG G5,” said Dr. Ramchan Woo, Vice President, Smartphone Product Planning at LG Electronics. “We believe that by giving developers the same tools that inspired us from LG G5’s inception, we’re going to see innovations ranging from toys to medical tools to things we haven’t even thought of ourselves.”
The Friday evening event will be emceed by Mario Tapia – mobile industry pundit – and will include keynote presentations from LG executives involved in LG G5’s product development, SDK and HDK partners, technical demonstrations and breakout sessions. Developers will also learn how to create their own camera control apps for the new LG 360 CAM and LG 360 VR viewer and also learn more about Google’s Open Spherical Camera API.
Registration is now open on a first-come, first-serve basis. Marshmallow fans and Android developers rejoice – those in attendance will receive a sweet, picture-perfect surprise. To register and learn more about the event and LG’s Developer Program, please visit: developer.lge.com.[/showhide]
Professional recording set up would make this a must purchase.
Hmm, why go in with LG, and give them both control and a slice of the profits, for only part of the mobile phone space? The only time that makes sense is when you physically plug into into the phone – but even then, it’s limited. Bigger batteries are fine, but I’d assume LG have something on that line in the wings – and general backup batteries are already out there. Project Tangoish 3D sensing is good, but again, why not USB based? Maybe a credit/debit card reader? But again. LG need to really open their interfaces, and take their… Read more »