• android,  google,  google play

    Google Play: App Ecosystem or Security Risk?

    February 19, 2013 /

    Just saw this over on AppleInsider:

    “[A story run by Australia’s News.com.au] outlined a recent policy shift at the Google Play online software and media store run for Android users, which now forwards developers the personal information of buyers, including their neighborhood and email address. The sharing of customers’ data is not outlined in either Google Play’s Terms of Service or in the company’s privacy statement.”

    Um, it’s stories like this that make me glad I don’t use a Google Android phone as my day-to-day device.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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  • android,  emulator,  google,  mac os x,  windows 8

    Run Android Apps on Windows 8, Surface

    February 15, 2013 /

    Software developer BlueStacks has created an “app player” for Windows and Mac OS X that allows you to run Android phone apps on your Microsoft Surface, Windows PC (beta) and Mac OS X (beta) computers.

    Their “layer cake” emulation module is the glue that holds everything together.

    “Over 5 million people around the world use top apps like Angry Birds Space, Kik Messenger, Where’s My Water and more on their laptops with BlueStacks. It took 10 engineers two years to build the complex “LayerCake” technology that enables this to happen – but you get to experience it free while in beta. You can download App Player now at BlueStacks.com.”

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbE5Vz2QiCY]

    Download App Player from BlueStacks.com.

    [Via BGR.com…]
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  • amazon,  android,  app st,  apple,  ea games,  games,  google,  ios

    Real Racing 3 Will Be Free, Multi-platform on Feb 28

    February 11, 2013 /

    Electronic Arts will be launching Real Racing 3 for free on February 28 for Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones and tablets as well as in the Amazon App Store.

    From the Firemonkeys Forums:

    “Today we announced Real Racing 3 will be free. And yes, Real Racing 3 was designed from the ground up to be a free to play experience. We are so excited about this game and wanted it to be accessible to everyone so we didn’t want there to be any barriers to entry. This accessibility is also what drives the awesome new Time Shifted Multiplayer feature, in that you can play competitive multiplayer with anyone any time, and they don’t need to be online with you at the same time.” 

    “At launch we have 46 licensed vehicles covering 3 classes, a 22 car grid, real world tracks, 8 varied event types and 900+ events. This means hundreds of hours of gameplay for free making this one of the most expansive games ever on mobile. We plan to continue to add more free and exciting content with every update.”

    Bloomberg has this to add:

    “Electronic Arts will appeal to a wider audience of casual players by making the “Real Racing 3” multiplayer game free, said Nick Earl, the company’s senior vice president for mobile and social game development.” 

    “Electronic Arts Inc. will offer free downloads of its newest “Real Racing” title as the second- largest U.S. video-game publisher works to draw the increasing number of gamers using mobile devices.”

    The draw, I think, for this game, is the offline multiplayer mode that will allow you to race against your friends at different times.  Might be worth a test drive.  I’m not a big racing game fan, even though I own both Real Racing HD and Real Racing 2 HD.  (I bought them when they were on sale in the iOS App Store.)

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  • android,  chrome,  google

    How To Access Hidden Full Screen Web Browsing In Chrome Beta For Android

    February 5, 2013 /

    When Google announced that it would begin offering a Chrome for Android Beta Channel, we knew that Google would be updating the app regularly and also add new features for users to test. One of the new feature, however, is not official and is well hidden by the Chrome Beta for Android. That feature would be full screen Web browsing and here’s how to enable it.

    [Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]

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  • android,  apple,  google,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  microsoft,  office,  office mobile

    Microsoft Office Mobile Coming to iOS, Android Early 2013

    November 7, 2012 /

    The Verge is running a breaking story that Microsoft will be releasing versions of the new Microsoft Mobile suite for Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Google Android devices in early 2013.

    “Microsoft’s Office for iPad, iPhone, and Android is a reality. Although Office Mobile has been rumored and reportedly spotted in the wild, Microsoft has remained persistently quiet about its plans for the product. The Verge has learned through several sources close to Microsoft’s plans that the company will release Office versions for Android and iOS in early 2013.”

    [Via The Verge.com…]

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  • android,  editorial,  google,  hp,  smartphones,  web os

    HP’s “Bender” Smartphone Prototype

    September 18, 2012 /

    Last Friday many mobile new websites, including BGR.com, reported that HP has aspirations to build another line of smartphones.

    Today, BGR ran another story indicating that not only are plans underway to develop a new line of smartphones, that a test device, code named “Bender”, has already been created and is being tested.  The kicker?  The prototype device is said to be running Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating system.

    Huh?  After HP ingloriously put Palm webOS, Palm’s hardware, and people out to pasture HP is trying to jump start things again with an Android phone?  I’m sure this is very frustrating for WebOS’s fans.  HP said that they wanted to get out of the smartphone business when they shutdown production of the Pre3, Veer, and TouchPad – the last three webOS devices – and then making webOS open source.

    Then a year later, things are going gang busters again?  This seems totally inefficient to have a smartphone and mobile OS division up and running, shuttering things, and then rebuilding a hardware and software team to, essentially, re-inventing the wheel with a new hardware platform and Android ICS.

    To be fair, I can see why HP decided to go with Android over their in-house webOS hardware and software software assets.  Android, and Apple’s iOS, have gobbled up an insane amount of marketshare in the mobile space.  webOS, even in it’s hay day, back in 2009 when the original Palm Pre launched on Sprint, never achieved a significant foothold.  When I chose to switch from the Sprint Palm Pre to the iPhone 4S in 2011, webOS was below 2% marketshare.  If you are trying to become relevant in the smartphone space, you need an option that will draw customers, developers, and carriers to your platform.  webOS isn’t that platform.  Just ask Nokia, Research in Motion (RIM), and Microsoft about their efforts to increase their smartphone marketshare.

    But, seriously? This seems like a gigantic waste of time, money, staff resources, and momentum.  Apple, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, and RIM have all realized that they need to control the customer experience “end-to-end” from the hardware and software, to the online software store, and ultimately, the customer experience.  This tight integration has propelled Apple and Google to amazing heights and others are trying to replicate it.  Palm, with webOS and their webOS device line up, offered the kind of solution that HP is trying to fabricate with Android and new hardware.

    If I was an HP shareholder, I would be furious at the opportunity costs associated with tearing everything down, and then, essentially, outsourcing the software development to Google, and ultimately, putting Google in the driver’s seat for the software development of HP’s new ‘gotta do it’ smartphone strategy.

    At the end of the day, the only thing that is clear for me, is that I won’t be replacing my iPhone 4S with a new HP smartphone.  I’ve made my peace with webOS and will remember Palm fondly.

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  • android,  games,  ios,  mac os x,  rovio,  windows

    Rovio Bad Piggies “Launches” Sept 27

    September 18, 2012 /

    Rovio announced today that their next game, “Bad Piggies” will launch for iOS, Android, Mac OS X, and Windows on September 27.

    “Bad Piggies” is based on Rovio’s Angry Birds universe, but is not an Angry Birds game.  Think of Bad Piggies as what Amazing Alex should have been, and cross it with Angry Birds.  Check out the linked to video for a preview of what the game play is expected to be like – Bad Piggies Game Play Trailer.

    [Image via BGR.com…]

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  • android,  att,  google,  pantech

    Pantech Flex Smartphone Coming to AT&T Wireless Sept 16

    September 5, 2012 /

    Pantech has been hard at work developing their latest Google Android smartphone offering, the Flex.

    The ‘hook’ for the Flex is that in addition to being an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the phone will offer a custom User Interface (UI) overlay called “Easy Experience”.  The intent of Easy Experience is to minimize the complexities of the Android home screen and application launcher ‘drawer’ that can be overwhelming or confusing for some customers.

    On the Flex website, Pantech says the new smartphone as has “an intuitive interface with enhanced usability and efficiency: it’s easy to toggle back and forth from Easy Experience to Standard Experience.”

    Some other key features of the Pantech Flex include:

    • Easy Experience: for people wanting a simple, straightforward view of their phones’ features Simplifying everything without sacrificing anything
    • One home screen with quick access to key features: Phone, Camera, Messages, and Menu
    • Large, easy-to-read text and buttons
    • Shortcut icons with access to: Web, Quick Contacts, App Shortcuts
    • Easy navigation with limited scrolling
    • Uncomplicated setup process
    • Keep benefits of smartphone technology

    For now, it looks like the phone is going to be sold in the United States on AT&T, however, Verizon Wireless is also listed on the “Where to Buy” page which suggests that the phone will available on the nation’s two largest carrier networks.

    There always seems like there is an endless supply of Android smartphones coming to market with a dizzying array of features that cover the range from novice to ‘hackers’ who love to ‘root’ and tinker with their phones.  I thought that this phone has a clean and simple hardware and software design that it can be a good first smartphone for people upgrading from ‘feature phones’.

    The Pantech Flex is expected to go on sale at AT&T Wireless on September 16 for $49.99 with a new 2-year service agreement.  For more information, visit the Pantech Flex website.

    [Via BGR.com…]

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  • amazon,  android,  fire,  google,  kindle,  tablet

    Amazon Kindle Event Next Week

    September 1, 2012 /

    This coming week, Amazon is expected to host a media event next week at which many have speculated will unveil the next generation Kindle tablet.

    Amazon flamed the “Fires”, sorry obligatory pun was necessary, when it published a press release on Thursday (8/30/12) stating that the current model Fire has sold out.

    ““We’re grateful to the millions of customers who have made Kindle Fire the most successful product launch in the history of Amazon,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. “This has been a big year for digital products on Amazon—all of the top 10 sellers on Amazon.com since Kindle Fire launched just less than a year ago are digital products. Kindle Fire is sold out, but we have an exciting roadmap ahead—we will continue to offer our customers the best hardware, the best prices, the best customer service, the best cross-platform interoperability, and the best content ecosystem.””

    So it took Amazon nine months to sell out of their Kindle Fire.  I guess that isn’t too bad.  While boasting “over 10,000 5-star customer reviews” and having “captured 22% of tablet sales in the U.S.,” Amazon continues to keep sales numbers to themselves.

    Regardless, the Kindle Fire is likely the best selling Google Android-powered tablet on the market today.  But it may not stay that way for long.  Google has recently started shipping their own 7-inch Android tablet, the Nexus 7 to rave reviews.  And Apple, not wanting to lose any sales opportunities, is rumored to be launching a new 7-inch “iPad Mini” in October, just in time to ruin Google’s and Amazon’s holiday sales numbers.

    While we don’t know if Amazon will be unveiling one or two new Kindles next week, what does seem pretty clear at this point is that the online mega retailer won’t be releasing a 10-inch iPad competitor.  AppleInsider.com writes:

    “While a larger Kindle Fire may still be in the works, the source says Amazon is sticking with the 7-inch form factor and will announce two new models next week, including a slightly reworked version of the existing tablet. The decision is thought to be a defensive move in response to a growing small form factor tablet market, with new devices like Google’s Nexus 7 offering stiff competition to Amazon’s device.”

    We’ll have an update on Amazon’s new Kindle offerings next week.

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  • android,  apple,  galaxy s,  google,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  samsung,  t-mobile

    Android and iOS – It’s a Personal Preference

    August 26, 2012 /

    I’ve been thinking a lot about devices running Google’s Android operating system lately.

    My long time readers shouldn’t worry, I’m not planning a defection any time soon.  I’m still an Apple fan boy and I still very much love using Small, Medium, and Large; more commonly referred to as my iPhone 4S, iPad 3 (ok, ok, ‘the new iPad’, sheesh!!), and my 17-inch MacBook Pro.

    So what’s with all of this Android mind share then?  It just seems that everywhere I look, there is an Android powered something or someone is asking me about whether to get a Samsung or an iPhone. And then there are the technology blogs, newspapers, magazines, podcasts, and all the rest that are talking about Android. Oh, and let’s not forget the little spat between Apple and Samsung that is going on right now.

    But the truth is, and by ‘truth’ I’m really talking about my ‘opinion’ here, is that copied or not, there are a number of interesting things going on with mobile devices running Google’s mobile OS.

    A good friend was over last night with his Samsung Galaxy S II and was talking about all the things that he does with it: file sharing, document and email printing, game playing, interfacing with the computers at work, and yes, the obligatory email and web surfing.  Granted, that he is what many of you would call a ‘computer geek’ and did ‘root’ his phone, still, the enthusiasm was there.

    About a week ago, a co-worker was asking me about whether or not to get an iPhone 4S or a Samsung Galaxy S III.  Connie has an iPad 2, and while she didn’t specifically say, I’m willing to bet that her high school age or older children both have iPod touches or iPhones too.  The query came from a desire to have the ‘best’ phone.  Since we were sitting in a conference room helping ourselves to a free pizza lunch, the other people in the room chimed in on the conversation.  After about a 10 minute discussion, we all agreed that the phone from Samsung was a good phone, that there was an ability to reuse applications from the iPad on the iPhone, but at the end of the day, it came down to costs and not features or vendor lock-in.  She had American Express card reward points to use and they were offering a free AT&T Samsung Galaxy S III.  Not amount of marketing and jockeying for customer mind share can complete with ‘free.’

    And there was an article I was reading about the Samsung Galaxy Note for T-Mobile.  Anyone else seeing a trend developing here?  Anyway, I was intrigued about the Note.  The device is massive.  It measures in at 5.78 x 3.26 x 0.37 inches.  (Not that I’m thinking about it, the Galaxy S III is almost just as big at 5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 inches.)

    The interesting thing about this device is that it’s what I’d call a ‘tween’ device.  It fits in between a smartphone and a 7-inch tablet like the Google Nexus 7.  Who knows if that category of device will take off or not.  I’m sure many people will want to use a device that size, but the question is are there enough people to make it a viable market or not.  Will have to stay tuned to find out.

    The market has spoken and by and large, it’s a two horse race: Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.  The device you pick is your choice to make.  For me, iOS will be my mobile OS of choice.  There are a lot of good things happening with Android, and it is just as powerful and functional as iOS.

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