Tech Titan Tim Bray Joins Team Android, Promptly States Intentions
ZDNet is reporting that the man who helped create XML, Tim Bray, has joined team Android as a “developer advocate.” Bray himself made the announcement recently on his own blog. Bray, who is as well known as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates in some circles, will be the new public face of Android. He is looking to help Android, along with the Big G, overcome marketing and legal challenges from Apple. Bray will certainly be a welcome addition to the team. In his own blog posting, Bray wrote this: “Apple apparently thinks you can have the benefits of the Internet while at the same time controlling what programs can be run and what parts of the stack can be accessed and what developers can say to each other. I think they’re wrong and see this job as a chance to help prove it.” Can’t wait to see more Tim Bray quotes. Looks like the Google Vs. Apple rivalry is about to get even more interesting. Source: ZDNet Might We Suggest… Android On Lockdown: AT&T Removes Best Parts of Android from Backflip Well folks, if you haven’t heard by now, AT&T’s first Android Handset, the Motorola Backflip, has been locked down and crippled. In doing this, AT&T has not only removed Google search, bu…
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Tech Titan Tim Bray Joins Team Android, Promptly States Intentions
Report Shows Droid Beats iPhone 1M Benchmark
Did you know that it took the iPhone only 74 days to reach 1 million units sold? Oh you’ve heard that, huh? Well, did you know that the Motorola Droid moved more units in the same time frame? Yeah, you probably didn’t expect that. Frankly, neither did we. The latest report from Flurry shows the Droid pushing 1.05 million handsets in the first 74 days of release, eclipsing the number set by Apple. There are a number of contributing factors as to how this is possible and Flurry points them out. For starters, the iPhone had to contend with the general perception that handsets were for more than just making and receiving phone calls. Until the iPhone came out, most consumers viewed smart phones as something for business users or technically proficient users. A few years later, smart phones are quickly replacing feature phones for users who are coming out of contract. The general public knows that you can have an easy-to-use phone that’s both fun and highly functional. The Droid also benefited from being released in the middle of the busiest buying season of the year while the iPhone was dropped in the middle of the year. It doesn’t hurt to have a $100 million ad campaign blitzing consumers from all angles either. Another reason for the Droid’s success is the carrier it’s paired with. Verizon is the largest provider in the US with over 90 million subscribers while AT&T was at just around 68 million customers when the iPhone was released. For a couple of years now, people have been looking for the iPhone killer. Verizon and Motorola jumped all over that and sold the Droid as exactly that – the most capable phone in the world, on the biggest network. As great as this figure is for Android, that number could be higher. One thing that’s not pointed out in the report is how consumers have a considerably better selection of smart phones to choose from. Were there not other Android phones or the evolved BlackBerry lanscape, the Droid would look just that much better. Looking at the super phone that is the Nexus One over its first 90 days, one would get the sense that it’s a monumental failure. After moving 135,000 units, it’s only a fraction of the figures set by the Droid and iPhone. However, there are a few things to consider. First, advertising is done via web, primarily through Google AdWords. Secondly, the means by which one purchases the phone is vastly different than anything before it. There’s no stopping by your local T-Mobile to pick one of these up. Speaking of the carrier, they’re in a distant fourth place with just over 33 million subscribers. While we can’t point to any one of these as the reason behind such a relatively small number, nonetheless they are contributing factors. Over time, we can likely expect two things: As the Google store evolves and adds more handsets and carriers into the mix, the general awareness will help new devices get added exposure. On the other hand, it will be harder and harder to beat the 1M benchmark set by Droid. More choice in phones and providers will spread market share out amongst everyone. Might We Suggest… Have Keyboard, Will Travel: Android Phones Capable of Using USB Keyboard.
Image Credit: Andrew de Quincey
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Report Shows Droid Beats iPhone 1M Benchmark
BlackBerry Users Pine for Android
A recent Crowd Science study indicates that BlackBerry users have wandering eyes and are considering other platforms for their next handset. Roughly 1/3rd of BlackBerry owners would switch to an Android phone, specifically the Nexus One. According to Crowd Science CEO John Martin, this indicates a restlessness with the current brand and allure of other platforms. On the other hand, Android users are very loyal to their handsets. Roughly 90% of those surveyed planned to stay with green robot-powered phones. The survey also found (PDF) that Android users tend to be younger and less affluent than iPhone and Blackberry users. We’ve heard similar things from other reports as well. We say, hook ‘em young anyways. With a 90% loyalty rate, that sounds like life long Android owners. For more on the survey, including additional results and the details on how things were conducted, head to the Crowd Science blog . Might We Suggest… Future Smart Phone Buyers Considering Android Over Palm, Windows Mobile, and Blackberry A new survey from ChangeWave research indicates that future smart phone buyers are considering Android than that of Palm, Windows, and Blackberry. Only three months ago, Android was last place in …
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BlackBerry Users Pine for Android
Inventor of Cellphone Dumps IPhone, Embraces Android
It turns out that Martin Cooper, the man who invented the cell phone, is the proud owner of a Motorola Droid! In a story which aired on C-SPAN, Martin discussed the politics of cellphones, as well as his current device. He went on to state that he used to have an iPhone, but gave it to his grandson for a birthday gift. Can anyone guess his biggest use for the Droid? Tweeting! Check out the video below to see a portion of the interview! Source: GoodDroidBadDroid Image Source: Android Central Might We Suggest… Android and Apple: A ‘Cord’ial Encounter During a subway ride to work, I was smacked in the face with an abominable, sacrilegious image that rocked me to my core. To my right sat a young man playing with his Motorola Droid. But this was no o…
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Inventor of Cellphone Dumps IPhone, Embraces Android
Android Guys App is in the Market
Get it while it’s hot! That’s right, we’re serving up fresh and hot Android Guys News and Podcasts right on your phone! We understand your need to get Android gossip, news, and reviews and we’re more than enthusiastic to give it to you. Now available for download on the Android Market and on SlideME.org is the Official Android Guys App. Coming in two versions we have the ad-supported version for free, and the ad-free PRO version for $0.99 as well. Official feature list for the app is as follows: Read Daily News from Android Guys Read comments on all news articles Share articles with friends Listen to the most current and older Android Guys Podcasts Weekly Polls from Android Guys Staff Application Picks, linking you directly to the Market Changeable themes and backgrounds, 3 currently available. Homescreen Widget to view the day’s top articles (PRO version only) Download FREE Version! Grab yours now and become part of our great community. In addition to all these fun things I do suggest you read our End User License Agreement and General Public License that the application is being released under. Please be kind and rewind rate it on the market! For sexy screenshots, see below. Courtesy of Android Guys Projects, LLC Matthew Patience – Lead Developer Raphael Savina – Visual Design and Graphics Stephen Lopez – Themes Download PRO Version (99¢) Might We Suggest… Official Android Guys App… Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger It seems only right that we give our loyal readers the first look into the “oh-so-close-to-being-done” Official Android Guys App. Besides some unknown random errors you will fall head over heels for …
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Android Guys App is in the Market
comScore: Android Continues Rapid Gains in Market Share
The latest comScore report is out today and is details various trends in the mobile industry here in the United States. Guess what? Android is doing well. In the time from October ‘09 to January ‘10, the platform picked up 4.3% market share from its rivals in Windows Mobile, Palm, RIM, and Apple. RIM added 1.7% to their total and now sit with 43% market share, well ahead of everyone else. Ironically (or not), Android picked up almost the same percentage that Microsoft lost (-4%) with Window Mobile. In terms of hardware manufacturers, Motorola ended up on top with 22.9% of mobile subscribers with LG following at 21.7% and Samsung with 21.1% of the market. Might We Suggest… WMC 2010 Round Up: Day Two For this second day at Mobile World Congress here is an overview of some of the Android devices presented on the show by manufacturers (not in any special order). Rather than giving again details of t…
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comScore: Android Continues Rapid Gains in Market Share
Ikan Wireless Kitchen Appliance Revolutionizes In-Home Grocery Shopping.
The Jetsons kitchen of the future is upon us with SnS Design’s Ikan kitchen appliance. Either that, or we’re looking at quite possibly the most expensive and glorified grocery app yet. With its 7-inch touch screen, WiFi integration, and voice input capability, the device builds a shopping list from items you scan or input before disposing of them. Oh, and it runs Android. Simply place this on the counter or mount it near the trash can and add +50 productivity point to your life! Once recorded, the items are sent to your mobile phone or directly to an online grocery retailer’s shopping cart, providing they support Ikan. Schedule your list to be sent to you on preset days so you can be ready to knock out your shopping on the way home from work! With the kitchen appliance, users can include their own branded retailer apps and view specials, recipes, promotions, and more from etc. right from their kitchen or Android phone. The biggest obstacle I see with a device like this is price. At $400 a pop , I can imagine a bunch of people turned away simply because of the sticker. Even at half that cost, I have a hard time imagining myself “getting my money’s worth” out of it. However, if SnS Design were to send me one to change my mind, I’d love the opportunity. So what’s your take on the Ikan? Glorified shopping app? Does it scratch a real itch for you? Leave a comment below. Might We Suggest… Have Keyboard, Will Travel: Android Phones Capable of Using USB Keyboard.
Image Credit: Andrew de Quincey
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Ikan Wireless Kitchen Appliance Revolutionizes In-Home Grocery Shopping.
Geek Up Your Sofa with Android Pillows!
Etsy seller Craftsquatch may have just bitten off more than they can chew with their made to order Android pillows. These 12″x12″ squares are made with fleece and stuffed with polyester and run $19.99 a piece. Order a few for yourself and hold onto them as you wait for your phone to get updated from Android 1.6 to 2.1. If you’d like to pick one of these up, head over to Etsy ! Might We Suggest… Must Have Geek Goodies – 3″ Vinyl Android Figures Well, I know what I’m going to have decorating my desk and office as soon as possible. Check out the Android mini collectibles from Dyzplastic and Andrew Bell. Kicking of with a set of 12 design…
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Geek Up Your Sofa with Android Pillows!
Verizon Shows Us How Skype Mobile Works [VIDEO]
Verizon recently announced that they’ve worked out an exclusive deal to offer Skype Mobile on their Android handsets. Starting this month, the Droid, Droid Eris, and Devour handsets will come loaded with the “new” feature that allows for calls anywhere in the world without using minutes. Since neither Skype nor Skype Mobile are technically new, we’d understand if you already know how the respective services work. However, there’s a large segment of the population who have yet to learn of Voice over IP (VoIP). Verizon has taken to a cute little YouTube video to show us how their exclusive agreement stands to benefit current and potential Android users on the nation’s largest network. Never one to resist taking a dig at the iPhone, Verizon reminds us that “these phones can run more than one app at a time”. Might We Suggest… Verizon Details Skype Partnership Verizon and Skype made their joint announcement this afternoon in Barcelona and it stands to benefit millions of subscribers, including those with Android handsets. Starting in March, Droid, Devour an…
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Verizon Shows Us How Skype Mobile Works [VIDEO]
G1 Powered “TruckBot”
Wired recently published a post on two techie guys who decided to create a robot integrated with Android. Dubbed ‘TruckBot’ the robot could prove to be more than just gimmick. While we’ve seen a handful of robots that were controlled using Android phones as remotes, this is the first we’ve encountered with a phone (G1) that acts as the brains. Built with roughly $30 in parts, the team put assembled their creation in a local tech workshop in Menlo Park, California. Rather than purchasing a pre-packaged Oomlout kit for $175, the duo opted to use a collection of pieces and parts that included cardboard, wires, and strap ties in addition to breadboards and breakbout boards. Currently, TruckBot can only roll around on tabletops and use the internal compass to head in a specified direction. However, with a little bit of time and tweaking, a robot like this could be more practical than most think. If they were to use all of the hardware and software of an Android handset, they could program future TruckBots to avoid obstacles, pinpoint its location, and recognize faces and voices! To read the full profile on TruckBot, head to http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/03/android-robot/#ixzz0hbsRt05f Might We Suggest… Android On Lockdown: AT&T Removes Best Parts of Android from Backflip Well folks, if you haven’t heard by now, AT&T’s first Android Handset, the Motorola Backflip, has been locked down and crippled. In doing this, AT&T has not only removed Google search, bu…
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G1 Powered “TruckBot”
