android market « Gadgetsteria

Weather Channel getting all geeky, displaying barcode for Android app on TV during weather reports.
by Mike
Posted February 2nd, 2010 at 8:26 pm

It isn't too often we get to see more mainstream areas of the media get all geeky and forward thinking. Case in point: The Weather Channel and their new barcode ad/download aid for the Weather Channel app for Android. From here on out, the scanable barcode will be displayed 20 minutes after the hour, every hour during the hours below: Day Planner (Monday – Friday, 11am-2 pm) PM Edition (Mon-Fri, 4-7 pm) and WeatherCenter Late (Mon-Fri, 10pm -1am) Again, during these times when ...

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FireFox for Android coming as early as February?
by Mike
Posted January 28th, 2010 at 5:46 am

Say it isn't so?! FireFox Mobile (or Fennec as some prefer) could be out as early as February according to Camp-firefox.de. I don't have too many bones to pick with the stock web-kit browser other than it's lack of multi-touch out of the box as well as it's less than smooth scrolling. But as far as rendering and speed goes, it's isn't too bad. So why the excitement for another browser? More options is always a plus. Not to mention, after seeing the various early builds of Fennec on Nokia...

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Waze, the social GPS “geo-gaming” app gets holiday theme, foursquare support, and new languages.
by Mike
Posted December 17th, 2009 at 7:02 am

If you haven't checked out Waze yet, you don't know what you're missing. The simple "find all of the state license plates on your cross country trip" now pales in comparison to the scope and cool factor that Waze offers. What started as a simple social GPS app that allowed end users to upload road conditions among other things has grown into a GPS game of sorts -- enticing users to discover new paths to their destinations in order to collect the hidden presents on the map for the chance to win...

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Whoops. Android Market actually contains just over 16,000 apps
by Mike
Posted December 16th, 2009 at 3:06 pm

Well damn. Yesterday we mentioned the joyous occasion of the Android Market's journey into the 20,000+ app arena only to have Google of all people debunk that number before it was even a day old. 20,000 apps is still a target that hasn't been obtained. So hit the backspace button, delete it from your memory, and shake that etch-a-sketch mental note from your cortex. The *actual* tally of Android apps available in the Android Market is just touch over 16,000. Whoops. So who's right? An...

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Swipe for Android demoed on screen
by Mike
Posted December 15th, 2009 at 4:21 pm

If you haven't heard, the next up and coming touchscreen tech is Swipe. It is an alternative method to inputing -- in this case sliding -- text onto a touchscreen device. Instead of tap tap tappin' away, Swipe users can simply slide their finger from one letter to the next providing quick and fluid firing of words and thoughts. This innovative new mobile app was first seen and launched exclusively on the Samsung Omnia II. That phone in particular is nothing special -- at least to more ha...

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Android Market hits 20,000 apps!
by Mike
Posted December 15th, 2009 at 10:19 am

Apple may have surpassed the 6 digit mark when raw available apps are concerned, but a myriad of other factors make the Android platform and Android Market equally tempting. With 2009 rounding out rather favorably and 2010 already shaping up to be the year of several eye raising Android devices, the platform as a whole will only grow. If app counts are anything to go by, Android is in deed on the way up as today the Android Market finally moved passed 20,000 available apps for download. S...

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T-Mobile beginning roll out of carrier billing for Android smartphones. Completion date: December 30th.
by Mike
Posted December 10th, 2009 at 4:07 pm

If using a credit/debit card to purchase Android apps on your T-Mobile branded handset was beginning to become a bit much for you, take comfort in knowing that help is on the way. Starting today, T-Mobile USA is rolling out the carrier billing feature for Android smartphones allowing users to bill Android Market purchases to your cellphone bill instead of a credit/debit card. Much like Verizon is doing for the Moto Droid and HTC Eris, the OTA update will be rolled out slowly -- much slower th...

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Waze for Android and iPhone gets updated. “Road Goodies” brings Pac-Man like gaming and monetary rewards to driving.
by Mike
Posted November 25th, 2009 at 1:23 pm

Think what you will, but navigation apps are pretty much reaching the end of the "feature ladder". That is, there really isn't much else you can add to GPS/navigation apps or hardware that will make it any more beneficial. Sure you can find ways to connect the device to more aspects of our lives, but all in all, getting from point A to point B with some goodies in between is straightforward (figuratively). One part of navigation devices (especially software in mobile applications) that frustr...

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Android gaming hitting a setback? Developers investing less in platform?
by Mike
Posted November 20th, 2009 at 10:26 am

As much as I love Android, I will admit that it's far from perfect. There are some lag issues on even top notch hardware like the Droid and the bread and butter of the mobile world, the app scene, just isn't as matured as it is on the iPhone. At a an investor conference, Gameloft finance director Alexandre de Rochefort stated that Gameloft has significantly scaled back their Android development (as have other devs) due to one main issue -- money, highlighting the fact that the iPhone platform ...

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More Android Market details emerge
by Mike
Posted February 17th, 2009 at 11:23 am

Even though we've already talked about a the Android Market already, more has been let loose today. I'll get right to the meat of the story. Returns are allowed! Take that Apple! The buyer has 24 hours to "return" the app. So now don't feel so bad about clicking that "buy" button and wondering if you're really getting a good app or not. Purchased apps can be re-downloaded and re-installed as many times as you want. (Only seems fair seeing as how you paid for it) Upgrades ar...

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