Apps, Apps, Apps, is the current trend in the mobile phone industry. This app-driven economy has even pushed the Android Market beyond the 80,000 app threshold according to recent comments from Android godfather Andy Rubin. That’s up from the 70,000 reported in July. In an uncoordinated but related piece of news, Nielsen announced today that games rank high on the totem of what users seek in app stores and markets. Nielsen surveyed more than 4,000 people and found that games are the category of apps most likely to be downloaded in the past 30 days. About 6 out of 10 smartphone users have acquired a game recently, beating out the 5 out of 10 to have downloaded a Weather application (Android specific numbers were not released but will most likely be available when Nielsen publishes the full report). Nielsen also reports some obvious figures, such as the most popular Android apps being Google Maps and Facebook, but it also shows something interesting about the average number of apps downloaded by each user. In December 2009, the average Android user downloaded 22 apps; that number has since increased to 25. That trend held true among all platforms as the average smartphone user has 27 apps, up from 22 last December. A quick scan at AppBrain shows that I have 67 apps installed, but 10 of those are strictly for review purposes. This sort of reminds me of the point I and several other people have made previously; it’s good to see Android get however many thousand apps but that’s probably 79,943 more than you’re going to need.
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Dinner’s over and you just spent $80 entertaining potential clients. You could wait until getting home before submitting the bill to an expense report, or you could just take out your Android phone and take care of things right away. ProOnGo Expense is an Android app designed for professionals on the go. (See what they did there?) ProOnGo is an easy solution for people who need to track expenses on their phone. Users can enter in the details of each meal, product, or expansible purchase and have it stored in the application. ProOnGo will track details for amount, purchase time, descriptions, categories, and the client associated with the expense. It can then snap a photo of a receipt and have it track the expenses online (pro account required). Data stored on ProOnGo is accessible in multiple ways. Expenses can be exported Excel, QuickBooks, an online account, or emailed to a supervisor or client. Using this feature requires a paid ProOnGo account that costs $0.99 per month. For $2.99, users can scan up to 30 receipts or business cards; $4.99 will get up to 50 receipts/cards. There’s no point in using ProOnGo Expense unless you’re willing to sign-up for one of these accounts. Exporting is available only to pro customers and that’s that the entire point of using ProOnGo. However, if you work at a job where you can submit expense reports, $0.99-$4.99 should be manageable. ProOnGo is ideal for people who want to immediately track expenses to ensure prompt submission and storage. KEY FEATURES Track expenses by entering information or photographing receipts Export to email, Excel, or QuickBooks CONS Pretty useless unless purchasing a pro account App: ProOnGo Price: Free Website: http://www.proongo.com
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Huawei today officially announced the IDEOS, an entry-level phone that the company claims will make the smartphone industry question what exactly it means to be entry-level. The IDEOS will be a $100-$200 phone depending on the markets in which it is released. It will run Android 2.2 (Froyo) and have access to the Android Market. “We are proud to have already achieved our goal from early 2010 of developing a US$150 smartphone with an excellent user experience,” Kevin Tao, CEO of Huawei Device, said in the announcement. “The IDEOS is an affordable option, designed to lower barriers to entry to allow easy mobile Internet access,” Huawei also took the time to announce three more Android devices. The U8800 runs Froyo, have a 3.8-inch screen, access to HSPA+ network, and the ability to act as a mobile hotspot. The U8500 will have a 3.2-inch screen, Android 2.1, and HSDPA/WiFi access. The U8300 is another entry-level phone with Android 2.1, QWERTY physical keyboard, and is designed for young people who love social networks.
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Guns n’ Glory is a tower defense game that requires adaptive strategy as well as shooting. Players control bandits who kill settlers on foot, horseback, in wagons, and in gold-carrying trailers. Some bandits are more effective at stopping certain types of settlers, so finding the right balance is important since letting too many travelers escape will attract the law. In addition to being one of the rare tower defense games where players assume the role of the bad guys, Guns n Glory also has the benefit of not having stationary towers. Bandits are set up along various points of each map and often must be moved in order to keep pace with the waves of settlers. There are three types of bandits – gun wielding cowboys, dynamite-throwing Mexicans, and arrow-shooting Indians (the dialogue is kind of stereotypically offensive, by the way). As the game progresses, players can also acquire cannons, train-mounted machine guns, and upgrades for better attacks. I like Guns n’ Glory for its fun style of gameplay but it is somewhat limited because the game persistently force closes on some phones (an update released today should address most errors). However, Guns n’ Glory still lacks the ability to easily move through large maps or set varying degrees of difficulty. Thankfully, the makers promise updates that will include new maps, so gameplay is less likely to become stale. Download the free version of Guns n’ Glory and put it through the ringer for a day or two. Then purchase the ad-free version for 2.99 Euro if it you like it. Install this app KEY FEATURES Relatively unique tower defense game Fun style of play CONS Lacks difficulty settings for each level Moving across maps sometimes problematic App: Guns n’ Glory Price: Free w/ Ads, €2.99 ad-free Website : http://www.handy-games.com/
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Well, with a ton of Android tablets being announced this week at IFA you didn’t think that Toshiba would let Samsung steal all of the Android tablet limelight, did you? It appears that the electronics manufacturer is going in head-first with Android as well with the new Toshiba Folio 100 that should be making it to the European market in Q4. The tablet has all of the specs that you would expect in a "high performance" Android tablet. It boasts a 1024
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Motorola has been the most diverse member of the Open Handset Alliance, delivering Android phones in a variety of form factors. The latest design features a bite-sized phone with a 2.8 inch screen and a keyboard that doesn’t need to slide out. There’s something you don’t see everyday. The Motorola Charm, available for T-Mobile USA, just arrived at my door step, and I’ll be putting it through its paces over the next week. Along the way, I’ll be testing out the device’s keyboard, how apps perform on the QVGA resolution, and attempting to see how successful Motorola is at bringing another phone design to Android. Below is an unboxing video of the Motorola Charm. Take a quick look at the video for size impressions of the phone and box contents. After seeing these early thoughts, then let me know what you want to know about the device. Drop a line in the comments section and I’ll try to answer it in the full review set to come later this month.
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Android fans are always on the go, and that often means having a safe but accessible set-up when driving from Point A to Point B. Arkon sells a line of universal car mounts that provide such an experience. Arkon’s smartphone mounts fit a variety of devices, ranging from the HTC Desire, EVO, and Incredible, to the Motorola Droid, Droid 2, and Droid X (full list of phones supported available here). I tested three Arkon products for phones that are set-up in a variety of ways: Friction Dash Mount, Windshield Mount, and a Removable Air Vent Mount. Each is made of light but secure material. They all feature cushioned edges that prevent the phone from moving or being scratched. The Arkon Friction Dash Mount retails for $19.95 and a little on the hefty side depending on your vehicle. This may not be the best solution depending on your car; I found it difficult to install and remain in place because of my oddly shaped dash. The mount cannot be installed over where the airbag deploys, so setting this up was troublesome. However, I can attest to the quality of the Windshield and Air Vent mounts. The Windshield mount is much easier installing and feels more likely to work long-term. The hinge is easy to turn and comes with an optional adhesive to stay on the dashboard. Not bad for $19.95. The Air Vent mount, which costs $14.95, has practically the same holder. In fact, the main holding portion of each product tested is practically the same; the differences come into play in the mechanism used to mount each to the car. The Arkon line of products is stable, and easy to secure or remove your phone from the mount. Each mount is adjustable to rotate between portrait/landscape or into a better viewing position for navigation, music playing, or storage when driving. Each is reasonably priced and there are a variety of options. Visit Arkon.com to browse the full line. Here are a few photos and a quick video sample.
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Google Voice has been very much embraced by U.S. Android fans. Widgets have been embraced even more so by said fans. Now, there’s a cross-section between the two. After playing around the leaked G2 ROM on a Nexus One, a writer for DroidDog managed to spot a new widget for Google Voice. The widget looks to contain shortcuts for placing calls, sending text messages, and monitoring your account balance for international calls. Another screenshot from the device shows that there’s both an Inbox widget and one specifically for changing Voice settings. According to the writer, Voice will be among several Google apps that will be pre-loaded onto the device. I look forward to seeing this also get pushed out to current Voice users because I love shortcuts more than you know. [ DroidDog ]
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Some apps have excellent features, but sport interfaces that appear to be inspired by the good ol’ Windows 3.1 from 1992. Then there are apps that look great, but hardly provide any functionality. With its stylish, retro UI, the recording app Recordoid certainly got the look right, but what about the features? Recordoid is styled after an old analog tape deck and since what you see essentially is what you get, the app is commendably easy to use. There are four self-explanatory buttons at the bottom of the screen: record , pause , play and settings . The rest of the main interface is mostly eye-candy. There’s a picture of a compact cassette above the buttons, and it starts spinning when you press record. A large counter is also present at the top that shows the length of your recordings. The audio the app produces is usually crisp and clear, and the sound quality is particularly good if you activate the WAV format in the settings instead of the default 3GP. Support for the MP3 format in various bitrates is unfortunately not available at the moment. Distortion may occur if you record really loud sounds, but for the most part the audio quality is fine. Ideally, there would be an option to modify the sensitivity of the microphone, or at least a feature that automatically adjusted the input level when recording. You can easily add notes to your recordings, share them via email, Bluetooth and MMS, save and view recording locations on a map and assign recordings as ringtones. A homescreen widget comes bundled with the app that lets you quickly make a new track. A commenter on the Market pointed out that Recordoid is one of the few recording apps that keeps recording even when the screen is turned off, which is a nice touch. While Recordoid may not offer a whole lot more functionality than the Android Voice Recorder app, Recordoid’s stylish interface makes it much more fun to use. And with the homescreen widget, recording is a breeze. The Lite version of the app can regrettably only record three minutes at a time, but that’s mostly enough. The full version can be purchased via the developer’s website. KEY FEATURES Stylish interface Easy-to-use Fine audio quality Geo-tag, share and add notes CONS No MP3 support The app can’t be launched from the widget Three minute recording limit in Lite version App: Recordoid Lite Price: Free Website: http://www.somyac.com/recordoid/recordoid.html
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If you’ve ever enjoyed the text message notification pop-up feature in apps like Handcent or SMS Popup and wished that something similar would come along for e-mail, the time has arrived. Gmail Popup is a £0.69 Android app that shows incoming messages. Yes, you could just as easily swipe down the notifications menu and tap the icon to launch the Gmail app, but there’s no need for this app if that’s all you want. Gmail Popup is designed specifically for people who want to see headlines for all of their messages immediately. When a new message comes in, Gmail Popup displays a quick glimpse of what’s new. Users can then mark a message as read or delete based on settings. The app is good if you want a notification, but won’t hit the mark if you need more features. The app can delete or mark a message read, but not actually launch that particular message (you can go to Inbox, however). Worse yet, only one setting can be done at the time; there’s no option to delete Message A and then mark Message B as read. It’s not the best solution, but it’s available if you seek a pop-up version for email. KEY FEATURES Shows latest Gmail messages in pop-up Delete messages or mark them as read Launch Gmail inbox from app CONS Cannot launch particular message Users must choose between deleting and app or marking it read, but cannot do both on the fly Download the trial app before purchasing
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False starts be damned, the Droid Incredible upgrade to Froyo is on its way today. An update was rumored to begin last week but things never panned out; however, the Verizon Support staff has confirmed that the Incredible update is beginning August 27, 2010. Looking at my calendar, that just happens to be today. I’m sure you’ve stopped reading by now and ran to your phone to check if the update has been sent, but you may not be among the first batch of users to get the update. Keep in mind that not everyone will get the update today, so don’t fret if you see an update notice over the next two weeks. The update will bring 720p video recording, which should make for better quality videos that you’ll be able to play at a larger resolution. Today’s over-the-air update also adds required support for cool Froyo features like Chrome/Firefox to Phone and Adobe Flash 10.1. When you grow tired of those features, as if, also look out for better Exchange support and numerous changes to the Sense UI. [ Verizon Twitter ] Thanks, Cody!
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So you watched the HTC Desire with envy wishing that you could hold it in your hands? Now you can since the HTC Desire is on sale today for U.S. Cellular. The Desire is available beginning today for $199.95 after 70 mail-in rebate with two-year contract. If you live in an area served by U.S. Cellular, you can purchase the phone today at your local retailer or UsCellular.com . You’re probably going to like the phone, too. Just yesterday we posted a review of the Desire and found it to be a quality device. Read the full review here and decide if it’s what your heart desires. (Sorry, I’ve resisted saying that for months).
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Task and time management service Remember the Milk just made its iPhone application free. While the Remember the Milk mobile app previously required a $25 annual fee for a Pro account, RTM is now free with some limited functionality (users can sync manually only once a day and don’t get push notifications). Why can’t Android users get in on that deal? Well, they just might . In response to a user’s question about Android being able to use the app for free, RTM support team member Andrew Conkling replied that it was under consideration. But before the company extends the same deal to Android, it first needs to see how the change affects sales among iPhone users. Remember the Milk believes opening up the iPhone app will expose the service to more people, who may decide to upgrade. A Pro account will still be required to have unlimited auto-syncing, Smart auto-sync, and push notification. If this proves to be a good business strategy for RTM, we could see the Android version adopt a similar model. [ Remember the Milk , Twitter ]
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Logitech will be among the first companies to deliver a Google TV set-top box this fall, and it wants to make sure that you know. The first part of that strategy was to announce the hunt for an evangelist who will help promote the product. Great idea. The second half of that strategy? Not so much. The theme of Logitech’s viral campaign is that your TV is lonely and misses you. People spend so much time on their cool phones, video games, and the Interwebs that they neglect the device that used to keep them entertained for hours on end. So to convey that message, Logitech is showing off a few creepy videos that make you realize just how much TV needs some QT time…and how much marijuana its creative people must have taken to think this up. Just kidding, of course. This is way weirder than anything someone on weed would write. Here are some of Logitech’s videos. And all jokes aside, they got us talking about Revue, so maybe Logitech is on to something after all. [ YouTube ] via AAM
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In the latest edition of Android Apps Alert , we highlighted an SMS Backup+, an app that can create backup of SMS messages to the user’s GMail account. In the event that someone accidentally deletes a message or has to wipe his or her phone, SMS Backup+ can restore the messages when necessary. Then I realized something I should have spotted from the beginning: SMS Backup+ can be a great tool for reading your SMS messages online. Being able to read text messages on the desktop is one of my favorite features of Google Voice, so it’s great to be able to browse the archives of my default phone number. SMS Backup+ stores text messages under an “SMS” label in Gmail, so I can set the app to auto-backup incoming messages and then read that label to view new messages. Here’s how to set it up. Download SMS Backup+ from the Android Market Connect it to your Google account. (The app uses XOAuth to grant access and can be disabled later if you no longer use the app) Check the box marked “Auto backup” From then on, all of your incoming messages should be added to your Gmail account automatically. There is a delay of a few minutes for synchronization, so don’t use this as your primary notification system for time-sensitive issues. However, it’s great if you just need to search for something or get a notification of message if you don’t have your phone next to you. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about losing your text messages if something goes wrong with your phone. Keep in mind that you must Enable IMAP in Gmail for this to work.
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The beta application for Beejive is going out to more users right now. Though it was originally intended for only 400 people, Beejive has since expanded that testing group to include more Android users who previously requested access to the instant messaging app. Beejive is a multi-platform instant messaging application that allows people to keep in touch with friends no matter what method they choose (provided you also have an account registered with that service). Rather than require downloading multiple chat apps for AIM, Facebook, MSN, et al., Beejive integrates all of your chat accounts into one convenient place. The Android beta attracted quite a bit of attention, so I figured that you all might want to at least know what it looks like. The app supports sending voice notes, sending files, sending to the Android “share” function, and sending instant messages, of course. There’s a whole lot of sending going on. UPDATE: I assumed this was a closed beta but the download link is being passed around like a a cigarette, so Download and enjoy . Here’s a tutorial for how to install an APK if you’ve never done it.
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Gameloft makes incredible games, but not a lot of people know that because the company has decided against distributing its newer high-quality games in the Android Market. Further complicating matters is the bad will that the company earned when customers discovered that games purchased through the company were only available to install one time on one device, with no exceptions (Gameloft has since reversed this policy and allows multiple installs on one device). In what looks like an effort to earn back some good will and remind gamers that it has some of the best titles they’re going to see, Gameloft has instituted a “Try before you buy” program. Anyone with a capable device, the benchmark is typically a 1 GHz processor, can navigate to Gameloft.com and their phone will be redirected to a page listing titles available for trial. You can also visit www.gameloft.com/android-hd-games on your computer. There are 11 games to test, ranging from high-intensity first-person shooters to expansive adventure games like Hero of Sparta and Gangstar. View the full list of games at the Gameloft site. The following phones are supported: HTC Incredible, HTC Desire, HTC EVO 4G, Google Nexus One, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Samsung Vibrant, Samsung Galaxy S, Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid X, Motorola Motoroi, Motorola Milestone and coming soon to the Samsung Epic 4G and the Motorola Droid 2. It would probably much easier for Gameloft to just distribute these apps in the Android Market but the company has made a conscious decision to sell its wares directly to consumers. This will at least make it easier for people interested in the games but hesitant to fork over cash without the protections afforded to them in the Market.
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Shelves is an application that is quite new on the Market, and it’s designed to let you manage your various collections straight from your Android device, such as movies, video games, books, gadgets and albums. Depending on whether or not you are the type that likes to keep track of what you own, this may sound like a useful tool to have, but how well does such an application work on a phone? That’s what we’re going to try and find out. The main screen of Shelves consists of icons that represent the nine available collection categories, and the number of items in each collection is displayed in parentheses. There are two tabs at the top that let you switch between the category view and a list of items that are out on loan (if any). When you tap on a category, the app shows virtual shelves which you can put items on through web searches, by scanning barcodes or by entering details manually. You can also import items from other sources, such as Delicious Library – a media cataloguing application for Mac OS X. Shelves lets you search your collections for items, and you can also apply a filter provided that you have added tags. Longpressing an item will let you rate it, tag it, view/buy it online or delete it. You can also indicate that you have lent an item to somebody, and you then get to select a person from your contacts and enter when the item is supposed to be returned. Another neat feature is the live folders that you can add to your homescreen that lists the items in a specific category. So far so good, but how well does all this actually work? Even though I applaud the concept and some aspects of Shelves are great, such as the interface, it also leaves much to be desired in its current state. For starters, the app often has trouble finding scanned items online along with a few other bugs here and there, and it would have saved a lot of time if Shelves had inserted tags automatically. Shelves shows a synopsis and some basic info for movies that you have added to your collection, but it would have been nice with more facts such as genre and cast members as well. I’m personally a huge movie buff, and whenever I hear of a new film that intrigues me, I make sure I get to see it eventually. I also keep a list of movies that I want to watch again, and I can see myself using Shelves for that purpose. For managing larger collections, however, desktop software such as Movie Collector is far more superior and convenient to use. On the other hand, Shelves is likely a lot more useful for those who have a Mac with Delicious Library installed, since its items can be imported into the app. As one user said in a Market comment: “not yet perfect but best app of its kind”, and that sums it up pretty nicely. KEY FEATURES Lets you manage 9 different collections Live folder support Can import info from Delicious Library Scans barcodes (requires the app Barcode Scanner) CONS Trouble getting results for scanned barcodes A few bugs here and there Doesn’t add tags automatically App: Shelves Price: Free Website: http://www.shelvesforandroid.com/
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It seems that Dell has taken their “good ol’ time” getting any phones into the US market, but as of today they have two available now on AT&T. The Dell Aero is available now for a mere $99.99 on two-year contract or $299.99 without it (AT&T only). The Aero hosts a 624Mghz Marvell Processor, a 5MP camera w/ LED flash, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3.5″ capacitive touchscreen, and Android 1.5 (considered to be upgradeable). The Aero has a decent form factor and has a custom user interface on top of the stock Android OS. The Aero also includes stereo headphones, a Micro USB adapter, and a 2GB MicroSD card. If you aren’t blown away it’s for good reason. Most people have been pretty down on the Aero, mostly because of it’s lackluster features. There really is no reason for the Aero to be $99 on contract; a phone that is this “entry-level” should be free on contract especially when you can pruchase an iPhone 3G for the same price. With only Android 1.6, a slower processor, and a UI that has been reported to be clunky, it makes me wonder what Dell is up to. Dell hasn’t really made the right impression in the US with the expensive Streak and they are definitely not hitting the right note with the Aero. Watch the price drop on the Aero in a matter of months. Via [ Dell.com ]
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ShootMe is a great app if you’re trying to take screenshots on your rooted Android phone. Shake the phone, take a picture, and mount your SD card to transfer it onto the computer. That’s simple enough, but there’s another way to take screenshots without ever leaving the browser. PicMe is a screen grabber developed by Johan Cloetens, the same person who developed ShootMe. The difference is that when PicMe launches, users see a URL that they can visit to see the latest snapshot of their phone. The website displays a screenshot of the user’s phone directly on the web, allowing them to Right-click > “Save As” the image and not have to mount their SD card or send to the cloud. A bonus to PicMe is that it can actually control the phone from the web. In the “Live” view on your PicMe website, users can click on icons to launch apps, open the settings menu, or even get a delayed look of the camera sent directly to the web. The functionality and practicality of this feature is rather limited, but it’s fun to play around with for now and could develop into something special. Your phone must be rooted in order for PicMe to work. Install this app.
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