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All posts tagged "apps"


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Google Renames Android Market to Play Store

Posted by Craig Horlacher in "Android News" @ 11:30 AM

http://www.androidcentral.com/googl...books-and-video

"Google's content portal for Android apps, music, books and video content has been consolidated under a new name -- Google Play."

If you haven't gotten the update you probably will very soon. Google is pushing out a new version of the Market called the Play Store. They are also replacing your current Books, Music, and Movies apps with Play Books, Play Music, and Play Movies. I think this move makes a lot of sense rather than educating people that they can use the Android Market on the web with their Windows PC to buy books, music, and video. It's a good time to check for deals too. There are apps for $0.49 and lots of other discounts as well.

Here is one thing to watch out for if you have a Motorola device. This update will cause your Market link at the top right of your app drawer to stop working. Hopefully Motorola will fix this soon on many of their devices. It's not a huge deal since you can still launch the new store using the Play Store icon but it's annoying.


Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Google Docs App Updates Once Again!

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Android Software" @ 06:00 AM

http://googledocs.blogspot.com/2011...d-now-with.html

I've recently switched my to-do list to a Google Doc, and the Docs app keeps getting better. The newest version incorporates Web Clipboard, and other improvements. A great app to interface with a great service!


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Google's Newest Market Update Adds Several New Features

Posted by Karey Westfall in "Android Software" @ 03:00 PM

http://androinica.com/2011/08/new-a...android-phones/

"It seems like Google is constantly working on its suite of Android apps."

Google is staying on top of apps - they just released an update for the Android Market bringing it to version 3.1.3. The newest version is packed with new features, including the +1 button for market apps and new security features. Check out all the new features, then let us know if you like the update!


Friday, July 29, 2011

Sprint Listens to Consumers; Cuts Back on Bloatware

Posted by Karey Westfall in "Android Mobile Operators" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/19/...-to-scale-back/

"If you've ever wondered what companies take your advice (read: complaints) to heart, here's yet another one that is: Sprint. Recently, HTC received oodles of praise from a minuscule-but-passionate group of folks who appreciate the company's stance on unlocking its bootloaders..."

For a long time, many companies have included trial or special versions of programs on their phones. But consumers have spoken up about not wanting them and Sprint has listened. It is the latest company to reduce the number of installed bloatware on it's new phones. And as a added bonus, Sprint is moving to making any pre-installed programs user removable so you can get rid of anything that may come with your new phone. Do you think it's a good idea to sell phones without the extras or do you like them as a way to "preview" new programs that you may not have known about?


Friday, July 15, 2011

Top 25 Android Apps ZDNet Thinks You Should Use

Posted by Jason Lee in "Android Software" @ 08:00 AM

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/top-2...-the-best/37363

"The Android Market may not have as many apps as the iPhone App Store yet, but there are still enough to be overwhelmed, and it's growing at a breakneck pace. To help you sort through them all, here's my list of the best apps I've found on Android."

While I don't agree with all of their choices it's nice to see what apps others use and consider the best of the best. There are a lot of Android apps out there and many that kinda do the same thing. It can be very difficult to choose which one is right for you. I use quite a few of the apps on the list. What about you guys? What are some of your favorite apps? Your best of the best.


Monday, May 30, 2011

Do the Math! Two Top Ten Lists Equal Twenty Awesomely Productive Android Apps

Posted by Karey Westfall in "Android Software" @ 06:00 AM

Who doesn't love a "Top 10" list? Here are 10 Android apps that will make your life a little more productive. Included are some favorites - Dropbox, Evernote and Google Docs, but other lesser know awesome apps are included too so check it out! And if you are super productive (you know, from those previous 10 productive Android apps) and are motivated enough, here are 10 more Android apps that are worth rooting your phone to get. Enjoy!


Thursday, May 19, 2011

AT&T Confirms: Sideloading For All Future Phones

Posted by Jason Lee in "Android News" @ 11:00 AM

http://www.androidcentral.com/att-j...still-attending

"When we broke the news that AT&T is pushing updates to older Android devices to finally enable sideloading, and with the Infuse 4G being its first phone to sideload out of the box, we naturally assumed AT&T will continue to leave its future phones open."

About those flying pigs... your're gonna need a heftier umbrella. AT&T has confirmed to developers that, in addition to a few older phones, all future phones will ship with sideloading enabled. This is great news indeed. This will allow for all AT&T customers to make full use of the Amazon Appstore and other out of market apps. Maybe some day I won't be afraid to purchase an AT&T phone... maybe.


Saturday, May 7, 2011

AT&T Android Device Allows For Installation Of Non-Market Apps: Watch Out For Flying Pigs

Posted by Jason Lee in "Android Mobile Operators" @ 09:00 PM

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2011/05...on-market-apps/

"Hey, whatdy'a know: Mr. FedEx-Guy (or "Tom", as we've come to know him) just dropped by with a shiny new Samsung Infuse 4G in tow. As we do with any Android-powered AT&T device, the very first thing we did was check to see if AT&T screwed up again. Surprise! They've finally done Android right!"

Wow.... Just wow. I never thought I'd see the day where AT&T loosened it's leash any what so ever on it's mobile customers. But here it is, folks. It looks like starting with the Samsung Infuse 4G all new AT&T (and hopefully the older ones too) will be able to install apps from unknown sources. Oh you know, things like apps from something like the Amazon Appstore! I think it's time for a ticker tape parade! Now if we could just do something about all the crapware....


Thursday, April 28, 2011

Evernote Update Adds Lots of New and Useful Features

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 08:00 AM

http://lifehacker.com/#!5793596/eve...tion-on-android

"Android: Note-taking and universal capture app Evernote's released an update for its popular Android client, and it's a big one: they've improved a ton of features like searching and notebook organization, as well as added a bunch of sharing features."

I love Evernote and have been an avid user for several years; I even subscribe to the pro version, not because I need the extra storage and upload limits, but because I want to support their efforts. The latest version of the application adds many compelling new features and highlights one of the things that I like about Evernote; they are continually working on making their products better all the while not adding superfluous features that detract from the core of what they do. If you are an Evernote user, make sure you are updated to the latest version of the Android app. If you're not an Evernote user, now is the time to check them out.

Tags: apps, evernote

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Google Docs FINALLY Gets An Android App

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 11:00 AM

http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/20...cs-app-for.html

"And my favorite feature: Using the app and your phone's camera, you can turn photos with text into editable Google documents with the power of optical character recognition (OCR). Just create a new ‘Document from Photo' or select the camera icon from the widget, and your converted document will appear in your documents list shortly after you snap the picture."

As far as I'm concerned, Docs and Gmail are Google's two killer web apps, so it's always surprised me that they didn't have a native Docs app for Android. That changes today! Google has just released an app with a ton of features that satisfy the most avid Docs users. One of the most exciting features is the one described in the quote above from the Google Mobile blog. Imagine taking a picture of a document with your phone and then being able to edit it within Docs.

What are you waiting for? Get thee to the Android Market and download. Then let us know in the forum what you think.


Thursday, April 7, 2011

Pandora and Other Smartphone Apps Under Investigation for Privacy Concerns

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 07:00 AM

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/...martphone-apps/

"Apps collecting users' information without their knowledge may not be anything new, but it's not everyday we see things rise to the level of Federal Grand Jury investigation. That happened today, however, with Federal prosecutors in New Jersey launching a probe to determine whether smartphone apps have been collecting personal information like an individual's location without being suitably up front about it."

I could go on a rant about this, but suffice to say that the idea of the government being concerned over our privacy is almost laughable. Not to mention the fact that I'm sure they must have something better to do than to investigate apps. Face it, your information is out there for those who want to find it, already, and slapping a couple of warning labels on some smartphone apps isn't going to matter to most users.

Tags: privacy, apps, pandora

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Still Only 50 Native Apps for Honeycomb

Posted by Craig Horlacher in "Android Talk" @ 05:00 AM

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...tm_campaign=rss

"50 apps is a pretty small number, and the actual total may be even smaller. The official Android online market, as well as other online message forums for Android enthusiasts, place the number of Xoom apps somewhere close to 50."

Ars Technica has a right up about the fact that after one month of the Xoom being released there are still only 50 native apps available for Honeycomb. It's a good write up with some good points but I disagree with the overall theme. The fact is, while most apps may not be optimized for Honeycomb many of those will work from my understanding. Also, you still have a large screen for viewing photos, videos, web pages, documents, and books. Besides that Android has the huge advantage of having Widgets which means you can actually view data from more than one services/source/app at a time. To me this is something every tablet needs. What good is a big screen if you can only ever look at one thing at a time. I can not imagine being without that ability on my phone. Anyway, check out the article and let me know what you think! Does the lack of native apps bother you with the Xoom if you have one? If you don't have one, is the lack of native apps keeping you from buying one? On a side note I finally got to try out a friends Xoom a few days ago and thought it was great! I was actually surprised because of all the bad things I had read about it. Another friend has ordered one and I can completely understand why! I love the size, the interface, and nothing crashed when I was playing with it. Before I thought I would want a 7" tablet because I don't like the size of the iPad but to me, the Xoom felt great in hand.


Saturday, March 26, 2011

The RIM Playbook Will Run Android Apps

Posted by Craig Horlacher in "Android Software" @ 10:00 AM

http://www.mediabistro.com/thinkmob..._medium=twitter

"After some speculation, RIM has formally announced that their tablet, the Blackberry Playbook, will run Android apps. The inclusion of support for Android apps is huge because it means RIM’s new tablet will ship with the ability to run hundreds of thousands of apps."

Now if you follow the "read" link for all the info you'll see that what it actually will do is run RIM approved apps within an Android "app player" of some kind. This also means you will not have direct access to the Android Market. Android developers that want their app to be available for the Playbook will need to do some work to repackage their app, submit it to the BlackBerry App World, and wait for approval. I think it's smart for RIM to do this but only time will tell if developers will do the work needed to make their app available for the Playbook. I think a lot of eyes will be on the Playbook as well as the HP Touchpad (running WebOS) as so many people have been disappointed by current Android offerings. Also, I know I'm not the only one who thinks iOS is terrible on a phone and even worse on a tablet. The Playbook has some great hardware with 1GB of RAM, dual core processor, 3MP front camera, and 5MP rear camera. It does have a 7" screen which some people may think it too small, for me I think the 10" would be too big. The question is will it work well and will people buy it? What do you think?


Friday, March 25, 2011

Nook Color To Get Flash And Android Apps In April?

Posted by Jason Lee in "Android Slates/Tablets & Accessories" @ 03:30 PM

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...20046909-1.html

"While plenty of people have "rooted" their Nook Colors with custom firmware that allows them to access the Android Market and download applications, most Nook Color buyers have stuck with the official firmware that came with the device."

This is definitely one of those, "it's about time" things. Given that the Nook has always ran a custom version of Android and the Nook Color has been hacked six ways to Sunday, further proving the device capable of such feats. This move only makes sense and can only bring more customers their way. Though it doesn't look like it will be stock Android or even the official Android Market, it will still be nice to have a bit more of the power of this device unlocked. Any Nook Color owners out there (who haven't hacked their device) excited about this news? Or maybe a better question... Are there any of you who haven't already hacked your Nooks? ;)


Monday, March 21, 2011

HBO True Bloods Will Have Big Love for This New App

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 05:00 AM

http://androinica.com/2011/03/hbo-android-app/

"It's not TV. It's HBO...on Android. The official HBO Android app is the Market, and with it comes plenty of ways to follow your favorite programs. No, you won't be watching full episodes of True Blood or Big Love, but you will have options for learning more about the original programming and special broadcasts on HBO."

If you watch a lot of HBO this may be a great app for you. Keep up with your favorite shows, find out when they're on next, check out photo gallerys, or read up on the latest episode, all from your Android device. If you're a big HBO fan, this might deserve a place on your device.

Is this something you would download and use regularly? Should other networks try this out, too? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

Tags: television, apps, hbo

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Amazon App Store Comes On Tuesday

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Android News" @ 08:00 AM

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011...-store-tuesday/

"Retail giant Amazon is preparing to launch its own app store on the Android platform on Tuesday, March 22, a trusted source told Wired.com. First leaked in September, Amazon’s Android app store will be a curated market, meaning Amazon reviewers will determine which apps are allowed inside, similar to Apple’s iTunes App Store. That’s a contrast to Google’s “anything goes” policy for apps that appear in the Android Marketplace."

Curated marketplace is an interesting concept for Android, and I'm curious to see if this is flocked to by users looking for "better" apps. Although I suspect survival of the fittest works well in the normal Marketplace. An interesting experiment set to launch by Amazon this week.


Friday, March 18, 2011

Roundup of the Best Sports Apps

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 12:00 PM

http://lifehacker.com/#!5782923/the...pps-for-android

"March Madness is here, spring training is afoot, and fantasy players of all sports are honing their picks. It's high time we trained our Androids to deliver score updates, offer better sports news, and facilitate fantasy trades from grocery lines."

Lifehacker has a great roundup of the best sport apps for your Android device. If you're looking for a new way to keep up with March Madness, Spring Training, or your fantasy teams, this is a great place to start.

How about you? What sports apps are "home runs" for your device? Which ones are a "swing-and-a-miss"? Let us know in the forums!

Tags: sports, apps

Thursday, March 17, 2011

AutomateIt for Android Does What it Says

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 05:00 AM

http://lifehacker.com/#!5782502/aut...automation-tool

"Using triggers and actions, you can save your battery from itself, make setting up your phone in your car far more convenient, and otherwise nit-pick things you wish your phone could do."

If Tasker is a bit too fussy (and expensive) for you, maybe AutomateIt will work better for you. All you need to do is set up a trigger which will launch an action and your in business. Easy automation of tasks like notifying you of events like loss of Wi-Fi signal, SMS-based triggers, battery-level triggers, and so on. It looks easy and useful and is free in the Market and works wherever you find our favorite little green guy.

I use Toggle Settings which has both a free and paid version, but I'd like to hear what you like to use? One of the above or something I haven't mentioned? Let us know at the "Discuss" link.


Monday, March 14, 2011

Angry Birds Paid Editions to Launch Exclusively in Amazon's App Store

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 09:00 AM

http://androinica.com/2011/03/angry...mazon-app-stor/


"Angry Birds Rio is coming to Android soon, but not the Android Market. The next installment of one of the best Android games will launch exclusively in the Amazon Appstore . . . . Exactly when that launch takes place is unknown. Amazon says only that the Amazon Appstore will open “very soon.” Considering that the Angry Birds Rio animated movie hits theaters April 15, I’m guessing early April would be great for a movie tie-in promotion."

This is quite a coup for the Amazon Appstore. Angry Birds is one of the most popular apps out there, with over 100 million downloads on all platforms and 30 million on Android, alone. This also hints at a possible release date for the Appstore itself, which has been a source of speculation for some weeks now.
According to an update to the linked article, it looks like we'll also be seeing paid versions of the original Angry Birds and Angry Birds Seasons in addition to the new Rio edition, all exclusive to the Appstore. Does this mean that Android users will finally have access to the Mighty Eagle enhancement, as well? It will be interesting to see what the conversion rate is for users switching to the paid version of the currently free, ad-support versions of the first two games.
So, two bits of exciting news here; a new Angry Birds app and the Amazon Appstore launching soon. Are you excited about this? What will a competitor to the Android Market mean for Android users? Is this proof of the fragmentation of the Android world, or proof of its openness? Will you hardcore Angry Birds users be updating to the paid version of the app? Let us know at the "Discuss" link.


UPDATE: An update on Rovio's Twitter account says that the Rio edition will be launching on March 22nd. It looks like we won't have much longer to wait for the Amazon Appstore.


Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Success Story: Android Profits Beat iOS for One Developer

Posted by Kevin Jackson in "Android Software" @ 03:00 PM

http://blogs.computerworld.com/1794..._ios_app_profit

"Traditionally, Apple has been viewed as the top dog when it comes to pure app dollars; love it or hate it, the company's App Store generates plenty of dough and thus plenty of income for third-party programmers. Even so, Android is increasingly becoming a prominent part of the equation for many well-known developers -- and for some, it's actually starting to surpass Apple by a significant margin.

Today, we hear one such developer's story."

It's interesting to speculate what the cause of this difference may be. The CEO of Spacetime (the focus of the article) thinks that it could be due to the fact that there are fewer apps in the Android store. I wonder if it could have to do with the application in question, too. Pocket Legends is a 3D MMO, and while Apple has positioned the Touch, in particular, as a mobile gaming platform, this game seems like it would fit the perceived demographic of Android devices better than iOS devices.

Any other developers out there with similar experiences? Is the Android Market good to you, or do you prefer Apple's store? Is this a sign of great things to come or just an outlier in the world of Android development? Let us know at the "Discuss" link.


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