android

Mobile companies chasing Apple's App Store

Apple's popular App Store has proven that selling mobile applications for smartphones is a hot business, but can all these copycat application stores expect to find the same success as the App Store?

Companies, such as Nokia, Google, LG Electronics, Research In Motion and Microsoft are hoping they can. Since the Apple App Store came on the scene a year ago, these companies have each announced plans for their own application stores.

LG Electronics, the third largest mobile handset maker in the world, is the latest to announce its store. On Tuesday, the South Korean device maker announced it … Read more

iTunes not cutting it for podcasts? Try Mediafly for iPhone (it's free)

Ever since the mobile version of iTunes allowed podcast downloads, there's been reason to rejoice - on-the-fly podcast accessibility is better than ever, but it's still not great for managing subscriptions. For a limited time, Mediafly will be free for download for the iPhone and iPod Touch through the Apple App Store. Mediafly gives users access to video and audio podcasts across the internet. It also allows for downloads for offline listening on subways, a plus for big-city living. And it also accesses Digital City, so what's not to like?

Users can seamlessly create content channels via … Read more

Intel eyes Google, but Microsoft is mainstay

Intel is endorsing Google's future Chrome operating system, but the chipmaker is being cautious as it already has a successful strategy supplying chips for Windows-based mobile devices.

Last week, makers of processors based on the ARM design, such as Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, were quick to cheer the news of Google's Chrome, which is slated to first appear on Netbooks in 2010.

"We're thrilled about the news that Google just issued," Ramesh Iyer, TI's head of worldwide business development for mobile computing, said last week. "You can see how simple the user interface … Read more

Imeem updates Android app and launches VIP service

Imeem, a social networking service centered around music, released an update to its free Android app this month and a new VIP service.

With the update, users can now add a widget to their desktop that includes play, pause, and skip controls. What's more, tapping the song title will now launch the full application.

Imeem is also encouraging mobile users to sign up for a new VIP subscription service that will offer expanded storage space. While a free account lets you store only 100 songs in the clouds, the VIP service raises the limit to 1,000 songs with … Read more

Comfort zones: Windows vs. Linux

Where's your comfort zone? Windows, Mac, Linux? An unintellectual, emotional attachment to an operating environment often determines what consumers buy and may determine whether Google Chrome can ultimately compete with Windows.

In the consumer laptop space, specifically Netbooks, there isn't much hope for a Linux-based operating system like Google Chrome in the near term. So, first the bad news.

Market researcher iSuppli released a report Friday that I agree with. It begins with the usual, saying that Google's Linux-based Chrome operating system sets the stage for a battle of the Titans (Google versus Microsoft). But what it … Read more

Google sees separate paths for Android, Chrome OS

SAN FRANCISCO--Among the many questions raised in the wake of Google's announcement of Chrome OS is exactly how the project fits in with Google's Android mobile operating system.

Essentially, nothing has changed, said Google's Andy Rubin at a press conference Friday morning highlighting Google and T-Mobile's partnership on the launch of the new MyTouch 3G smartphone. "You need different technology for different products," Rubin said, explaining that Google's approach to product development means that projects that might overlap aren't necessarily scuttled to protect the one that got there first.

Android is first … Read more

Create a simple to-do list on Android home screen

Many people use sticky notes at home and work to act as simple reminders. Their ease of use and high visibility make them perfect for creating a daily task list, keeping a shopping list for the grocery store, or taking important notes. Sticky Note for Android provides the same basic functionality with some extra helpful features.

Developed by Bratag, Sticky Note works by placing a small widget anywhere on your home screen. The widget looks exactly like a real note that is pinned to your desktop. Tap the note once and it expands to full-screen mode to display all the … Read more

How Does The Pre's Size Stack up?

For those that haven't had the chance to pick up a Pre and really see its size first hand, this is for you. In the pictures below from left to right you will see the Apache, (Sprint - WM 6.5) G1, (T-Mobile - Android) Touch Pro, (Sprint - WM 6.5) Diamond, (Alltel - WM 6.5 recently added) And finally the phone we all know and love, the Palm Pre. (Sprint - WebOs)… Read more

Concept Android phone features OLED buttons

Here's a concept phone based on the Google Android OS. Designed by Tryi Yeh from Taiwan, the Google-G0 is a touch-screen phone with a slider.

There doesn't appear to be a keyboard under it, but sliding it does reveal a camera at the back and large buttons in front. These buttons appear to be little OLED screens that change symbols according to what you are doing on the phone at any point in time, not unlike the expensive Optimus Maximus keyboard from Art Lebedev. There's even a docking station with a huge screen for use at home. … Read more

LiveAndroid software gains functions

The developers of the LiveAndroid project have released the second alpha version of their software, which allows users to try out Google's mobile operating system without having to install it on a handset.

LiveAndroid, a project based in Beijing, released its first alpha, or prototype, in May. Version 0.2, released on Monday, added major functions such as a mouse-controlled cursor, keyboard functionality and Ethernet connectivity. Other functions, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and audio, remain to be added, according to the developers.

In a Twitter update, the developers said a version running from a USB memory stick may also … Read more