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Android Number One in the United States
Call it what you will, but it is getting harder and harder to dispute the fact that Android is now king of the Smartphone market in North America. Android powered phones outsold both RIM and iPhone devices, earning a staggering 33% of the total market share in the second quarter of this year. By contrast, BlackBerry devices totaled 28% of units sold and the iPhone came in third with 22%. The best selling Android devices were Motorola Droid, HTC Droid Incredible, HTC EVO 4G, HTC Hero and HTC Droid Eris. Going hand in hand with the Android in terms of success is HTC which is quickly becoming the most exciting and innovative Smartphone manufacturer on the planet. The iPhone is still the most popular phone as far as media hype is concerned and remains the strongest brand…
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New Version of Facebook Available for Android
Facebook has announced a new update for its Android application. The new Facebook on Android will feature several changes that were made in order for users to spend more time enjoying the social platform and less time pressing, clicking and waiting. One example of a friendlier version of Facebook is that it is now easier to add new friends, as well as following links posted by others. Also, the much coveted Facebook events is now present for the first time on Android. Facebook will now offer a photo reel so users can quickly see all of the new images that have been uploaded by their friends. The only drawback to all of this is that people will be wasting even more of their lives on Facebook. I have to admit that I have been using the social service a little more than…
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New Version of Facebook Available for Android
Facebook has announced a new update for its Android application. The new Facebook on Android will feature several changes that were made in order for users to spend more time enjoying the social platform and less time pressing, clicking and waiting. One example of a friendlier version of Facebook is that it is now easier to add new friends, as well as following links posted by others. Also, the much coveted Facebook events is now present for the first time on Android. Facebook will now offer a photo reel so users can quickly see all of the new images that have been uploaded by their friends. The only drawback to all of this is that people will be wasting even more of their lives on Facebook. I have to admit that I have been using the social service a little more than…
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Android Market to Offer Phone Billing
In an effort to make the Android Market more flexible and payment friendly, Google has decided to add new payment options. Android customers are currently forced to use their credit card with Google Checkout in order to purchase applications. The new payment option, set to come into effect in 30 days, will allow users to charge their phone bill instead of using a credit card. At this time, only T-Mobile users enjoy this option. While Google is offering the phone billing option to one and all, it remains to be seen if all carriers take Google up on their offer. On the surface, no carrier should oppose such an idea, but there are obviously pitfalls when it comes to legal arrangements and revenue sharing agreements. It is unclear if this service will be available only in…
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Time.com App Available for Android
Time Magazine has released a new application for the Android platform. Time.com has released an application for other mobile platforms in the past, including the iPhone and BlackBerry. The Time app will feature numerous video clips, articles, podcasts and other goodies that fans of the magazine have come to enjoy throughout the years. The usual social integration is available for Android users, in addition to widget options that are exclusive to the operating system. Not all Android users are pleased with the addition of Time.com on the Android Market. Critics have accused Time of becoming a big business media projector and a platform for world politicians to spread their propaganda. Regardless of whether or not you read Time Magazine, the addition of this application…
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Motorola i1 Available July 25th
Starting July 25th, Sprint customers will be able to purchase the new Android powered Motorola i1. The device will reportedly retail for $200, along with the ever popular (scoff scoff) two year contract. The Motorola i1 will come brandishing a 5MP camera, GPS, Bluetooth, Google Talk and other standard services and tools. The phone runs on an older operating system, the Android 1.5, which shouldn’t be too surprising considering that it is a bargain device. We have become used to Android phones being top of the line when it comes to hardware, but there is a huge market out there for the average and low end phones. Google and Motorola are looking to tap into that market, as they and other mobile service providers realize that in many ways, the mainstream public is a better…
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Nook Now Available for the Android
An eReader application called Nook from Barnes & Noble is now available for the Android. Nook is a free download from the Android Market which gives users access to over one million eBooks. In addition to this massive collection, Nook also has a very nifty feature called LendMe which allows users to share eBooks with other Nook user. The limit is 14 days per book, per user. This features is fantastic, not only from a marketing perspective, but also from the school of thought that teaches us that books should be shared by all and that reading is not a privilege, but rather a right. Nook also includes the ePub feature, which means it can be used on multiple platforms, including PCs. The application also includes an eBook reader which can be customized to the taste of the…
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Droid X Sold Out in America
Amidst all of the iPhone 4 drama, we have overlooked the amazing success of the Droid X. Since its release in mid-July, the Droid X has sold out in all Verizon and Best Buy locations in the United States. Those wishing to wait for the Droid X to become available again, will get their chance on the 23rd of this month. One of the reasons some industry experts believe that Verizon does not need the iPhone 4 in order to compete with AT&T in the smartphone market, is the carrier’s deepening integration with Android powered devices. Aside from the might Apple App Store, the Droid X is technically superior to the iPhone 4. The success of the Droid X cannot automatically be related to the problems Apple has encountered with the new iPhone, but there maybe a slight shift in the…
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Microsoft Gets Aggressive with Applications
Looks like Microsoft is serious about competing in the app market with the likes of the App Store and the Android Market. The software giant has recently announced that they are offering new tools and service for app developers in order to attract a greater interest. "We are investing a lot to attract developers big and small to Windows Phone 7 to let them understand what the opportunity is and provide as many resources as we can to help them be successful on our platform," said Todd Brix, a bigwig over at Microsoft. Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft will also be offering guaranteed financial incentives to developers. The size of the bribe is unclear at this time. All of these initiatives indicate that Microsoft has not given up on the mobile market just…
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Android to Surpass 10,000 Applications
When the mobile community hears something about a new milestone, (not the operating system) it is usually attached to the Apple App Store. Every month a new statistic comes out that further cements Apple as the undisputed king of mobile applications. That is why it is so refreshing to hear about other companies and developers reaching their own impressive milestones. The Android Market is set to hit 100,000 applications sometime this month. Currently, the Android Market has over 90,000 applications and the rate of new apps indicates that there will be over 100,000 by the end of the month. Apple proponents will be quick to counter that the Android Market isn’t really reaching a milestone because many of the applications available are free. That is a completely irrelevant…
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