Android Market

Software
December 8, 2011
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Logitech deploys Google TV update to Revue

By on December 8, 2011 at 12:00 AM.

Logitech deploys Google TV update to Revue

Logitech on Wednesday announced that it’s rolling out the latest Google TV software to its Revue Google TV product. “Some of the key developments include more entertainment choices such as access to Android Market; faster and more comprehensive search and browse capabilities; a simplified user interface, and improvements to the Logitech Media Player,” Logitech’s vice president and general manager of the digital home group, Ashish Arora explained. The Revue has largely been considered a failure for Logitech. The company’s CEO Guerrino De Luca recently remarked that the product was a “mistake” that “cost [Logitech] dearly” and that his company will not introduce a follow-up device until it is clear that Google has worked out all of the kinks in its product. More →

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mobile
December 6, 2011
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Android Market surpasses 10 billion app downloads; Google kicks off $0.10 app sale

By on December 6, 2011 at 2:05 PM.

Android Market surpasses 10 billion app downloads; Google kicks off $0.10 app sale

Google officially announced on Tuesday that there have now been more than 10 billion apps downloaded from the Android Market. As of July there had been 6 billion total application downloads, which means the Android Market is seeing incredibly fast growth. Google confirmed that its app store now has a growth rate of one billion app downloads per month and it wants to celebrate the success with Android smartphone owners. For the next 10 days, Google will offer several applications each day for just $0.10 a piece. Beginning Tuesday, Asphalt 6 HD, Color & Draw for Kids, Endomondo Sports Tracker Pro, Fieldrunners HD, Great Little War Game, Minecraft, Paper Camera, Sketchbook Mobile, Soundhound Infinity and Swiftkey X are each available for just $0.10. More →

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mobile
November 4, 2011
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Google Offers for Android now available

By on November 4, 2011 at 7:01 AM.

Google Offers for Android now available

Google launched its Google Offers for Android application on Thursday, a new app that allows users to search and find local deals. The application is free and allows you to purchase any deal, such as “$15 for $25 to spend on outdoor gear at REI” (today’s special) right from your smartphone. Users can personalize the offers by visiting http://www.google.com/offers from a phone or a computer, too. For example, we have Google Offers set to alert us of any deals in uptown New York City so that we can be alerted of new coupons for local restaurants. Google Offers is live in the Android Market now. More →

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mobile
October 25, 2011
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Android said to have overtaken Apple in global mobile app downloads

By on October 25, 2011 at 8:40 AM.

Android said to have overtaken Apple in global mobile app downloads

Applications downloaded to Android devices in the second quarter surpassed the number apps downloaded from Apple’s iOS App Store. New data from market research and intelligence firm ABI Research shows that Android overtook iOS by a substantial margin in the June quarter, having been responsible for 44% of mobile app downloads around the world compared to iOS at 31%. ”Android’s open source strategy is the main factor for its success,” said ABI researcher Lim Shiyang in a statement. “Being a free platform has expanded the Android device install base, which in turn has driven growth in the number of third party multi-platform and mobile operator app stores. These conditions alone explain why Android is the new leader in the mobile application market.” ABI notes that the shift can be partially attributed to Android’s rapid growth during the second quarter. Shipments of iOS devices grew just 9% between April and June compared to 15% in the first quarter, while global shipments of Android devices grew 36% in the June quarter compared to 20% a quarter earlier. Global application downloads this year are expected to reach 29 billion compared to just 9 billion in 2010. ABI’s full press release follows below. More →

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mobile
October 21, 2011
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Android Market surpasses 500,000 published apps

By on October 21, 2011 at 8:30 PM.

Android Market surpasses 500,000 published apps

The total number of published applications in Google’s Android Market climbed past the half-million mark in September. According to data from mobile app market intelligence firm research2guidance, the Android Market surpassed 500,000 published apps last month, but over 37% of submissions have been removed over time for a variety of reasons. Apple’s App Store has had over 600,000 successful submissions to date according to the firm, while 24% of apps have been removed. “Although Apple regularly cleans up its store from inappropriate or outdated content, its active application share still exceeds that of Android,” research2guidance noted in a press release. “It is likely that the more rigid application submission requirements prevent developers from publishing multiple trial or low quality applications whereas publishers in the Android Market place a lot of market testing, trials, demo and malware content.” Research2guidance’s full press release follows below. More →

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mobile
September 7, 2011
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Bigger isn’t always better: Nokia Ovi Store apps downloaded 160% more than iOS apps

By on September 7, 2011 at 2:30 PM.

Bigger isn’t always better: Nokia Ovi Store apps downloaded 160% more than iOS apps

Apple’s iOS App Store is the world’s most popular on-device mobile app portal by leaps and bounds, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best opportunity for developers according to Berlin, Germany-based market research firm research2guidance. Apple has a wide lead over competitors in terms of overall downloads and the number of applications in its App Store, but individual apps seemingly have a greater chance of success in rival offerings from Nokia, Microsoft and RIM. ”The ‘average app’ has a better chance to generate downloads on ‘non-hyped’ platforms,” the firm said in a press release on Wednesday. In the second quarter of 2011, the average application in Nokia’s Ovi Store generated 160% more daily downloads than the average iOS app in Apple’s App Store. Individual apps were downloaded from Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace 80% more often each day than from the App Store on average, and apps in RIM’s BlackBerry App World generated 43% more daily downloads than Apple’s offering. Software titles in Google’s Android Market were downloaded 5% less often each day compared to the iOS App Store, and Apple had HP’s webOS App Catalog beat by 95% last quarter. Research2guidance’s full press release follows below along with a chart outlining the firm’s second-quarter data.
More →

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mobile
August 18, 2011
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Most Android apps sit idle, top-50 apps make up 61% of all usage, Nielsen finds

By on August 18, 2011 at 7:00 AM.

Most Android apps sit idle, top-50 apps make up 61% of all usage, Nielsen finds

Nielsen on Thursday ushered in a new era of mobile device usage reporting brought about by customer metering software installed on thousands of iOS and Android devices around the U.S. Rather than relying on survey results as is typical in the industry, Nielsen is now able to directly measure consumer behavior with its metering software — installed on consumers’ devices with their approval, of course — and report extremely accurate data. This first report examines Android owners’ usage of apps and the mobile Web, and finds that time spent using apps is roughly double time spent browsing the mobile Web. More interestingly, Nielsen found that the top-10 apps in the Android Market account for a whopping 43% of app usage on Android devices. “Despite the hundreds of thousands of apps available for Android, a very small proportion of apps make up the vast majority of time spent,” writes Don Kellogg, Director of Telecom Research & Insights, on Nielsen’s blog. The top-50 apps in the Market account for 61% of all usage, which means the overwhelming bulk of Android apps account for just 39% of app usage. Kellogg continued, “With 250,000+ Android apps available at the time of this writing, that means the remaining 249,950+ apps have to compete for the remaining 39 percent of the pie.” More →

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mobile
July 1, 2011
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Skype for Android updated with video calling support [video]

By on July 1, 2011 at 1:00 AM.

Skype for Android updated with video calling support [video]

Skype announced on Wednesday that its Android application now supports video calling on select devices. The application is particularly attractive because it allows mobile users to connect with other users on Mac, Windows, TV, iOS, or other Android devices. Skype says the app was built with a complete new redesign, too, which includes a new main menu, easier contact navigation, quick access to your profile, and more. There’s even a new “mood” message box that allows you to show what you’re up to or how you’re feeling. Skype for Android requires Android 2.3 and above, as well as a front-facing camera for video chat. It currently supports the HTC Desire S, the Sony Ericsson Xperia neo, the Sony Ericsson Xperia pro, and the Google Nexus S. Skype says it also has plans to roll out support for additional handsets in the near future. Hit the jump for a video demo of the new client in action. More →

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General
June 25, 2011
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Android 3.1-powered Google TV 2.0 and ‘Fishtank’ developer program detailed

By on June 25, 2011 at 10:05 AM.

Android 3.1-powered Google TV 2.0 and ‘Fishtank’ developer program detailed

The original Google TV products were met by lukewarm reviews at best, and according to Geek.com, the search giant is hard at work on its new Google TV 2.0 product. Developers have been joining Google’s new “Fishtank” program to get early access to tools that will allow them to create compelling new content for Google’s next attempt at entering our living rooms. Google TV 2.0 runs a barebones version of Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) and there are reportedly only 50 developers partaking in the initial Fishtank program. Fishtank includes an Intel CE4100 reference platform with a beta version of Google TV 2.0 preloaded, and a wireless keyboard. Intel’s Sodaville SoC, part of the CE4100 reference platform, also includes support for 3D gaming and Flash. Geek.com noticed a new “dual-view” feature that allows users to watch TV and use the OS at the same time; and the user interface has the same glowing-blue Tron-like effects as the tablet version of Honeycomb. Developers are said to be up in arms over the “Live TV” application on Google TV 2.0 — many want to interact with the TV interface directly, but Google isn’t allowing that just yet. Will it be enough for Google to tackle Apple TV? We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, another shot of the box and a couple of UI images can be seen after the break. More →

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mobile
June 24, 2011
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Hulu Plus launches for six Android phones as company is put up for sale

By on June 24, 2011 at 2:45 AM.

Hulu Plus launches for six Android phones as company is put up for sale

Hulu announced on Thursday that its Hulu Plus application is now available on select Android smartphones. The service costs $7.99 per month and allows users to browse and play Hulu Plus content directly on their smartphones. It’s currently only available for the Motorola Atrix, Motorola DROID X, Motorola DROID 2, HTC Inspire 4G, Nexus S, and Nexus One, but Hulu says it will add more devices throughout the year. New users can sign up for a free 1-week trial to give the service a whirl, and the app is available in the Android Market now. In other news, Hulu is also reportedly up for sale. The company has hired Morgan Stanley and Guggenheim Partners to assist with possible deals, and Yahoo is said to have already expressed interest in bidding on the streaming video firm. More →

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mobile
June 16, 2011
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T-Mobile intros ‘More for Me’ daily deals Android app

By on June 16, 2011 at 6:56 AM.

T-Mobile intros ‘More for Me’ daily deals Android app

T-Mobile introduced a new Android application on Wednesday called “More for Me.” The app offers T-Mobile customers with phones running Android 1.6 or later, daily deals based upon their preferences, location, and interests. Discounts are provided by sites such as LivingSocial, which is available in more than 260 markets, but there are also exclusive discounts from T-Mobile or its partners. T-Mobile customers simply need to install the T-Mobile More for Me app from the Android Market to get started. Read on for the full press release. More →

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mobile
June 16, 2011
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Starbucks Android app launches for mobile payments

By on June 16, 2011 at 12:48 AM.

Starbucks Android app launches for mobile payments

Are you Android users jealous of all of your friends using their iPhones to buy frappuccinos? Take a sigh of relief — on Wednesday Starbucks launched its Android application that will allow you to walk into one of 6,800 Starbucks or 1,000 Target locations and buy your choice of coffee without having to reach for your wallet. When you’ve made your selection, all you have to do is hold your phone up so that the barista can scan a special barcode presented on your phone’s screen. The best part? You can refill your Starbucks card directly from the app itself. It’s available for free in the Android Market now for devices running Android 2.1 or newer. More →

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mobile
June 15, 2011
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Sony’s Music Unlimited service now available for Android

By on June 15, 2011 at 11:37 PM.

Sony’s Music Unlimited service now available for Android

Sony’s Music Unlimited service powered by Qriocity is now available for Android smartphones. The service originally made its debut in Europe back in December 2010 and launched in the United States this past January. The Music Unlimited for Android app comes with a 30-day free trial, granting users access to more than 7 million songs that can be synced from a PC. After the 30-day trial users will have to plop down $3.99 or $9.99 per month for the basic or full blown premium services, respectively. As you may assume, the service requires that you create a Qriocity account, or use an existing account. That has us a bit wary to give the app a whirl ourselves, given Sony’s recent massive security breach — although, to its credit, the firm did say that it’s ramping up security its measures. Music Unlimited is available for phones running Android 2.1 to 2.3.3 from the Android Market now. More →

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