2010: The Year Android Will Shake Its Money Maker
Monday, November 23, 2009
Mobile games publisher Gameloft might have thrown in the towel on Android, but that is a mistake. I certainly understand why they gave up on Android. Since launching in February of this year, our own Whitepages Caller ID app has become a top ten grossing Android application, and yet we’ve seen less than $54,000 in revenue. While our iPhone app download counts are in the millions, our Android app downloads are a mere 17 percent of this volume.
Despite our meager return on investment this year, I believe that the real potential for Android app developers lies in the New Year. Here’s why:
End-To-End Goodness
In addition to being an open platform that facilitates device innovation, Android offers choice and progress when it comes to the marketplace where consumers discover and download applications. While iTunes and The Official App Store are the only places consumers can download apps for their iPhone, Android’s open platform allows merchants like MobiHand and HanDango to set up storefronts, ultimately providing more purchasing options for consumers. Google’s focus on improving its the user experience in its own Android market will also continue to boost revenues for app developers. For example, when the recent 1.6 OS (Cupcake) upgrade provided a much needed facelift for the market, we saw an immediate 18 percent lift in sales for our paid Caller ID application.
Billing Options Get Greener
While Google still has a long way to go in terms of reaching as many consumers as iTunes does, with the power of “what’s hot” and capabilities like in-app purchases, they have begun to enlist an armada of players—including carriers with deep experience in integrated billing—to create better markets for the merchandising and sale of applications. In early November, T-Mobile announced that they will launch their own Android market with integrated carrier billing, giving consumers the ability to charge applications to their phone bill. Also on the Google market roadmap is the ability for publishers to offer subscription purchases.
Read full story:http://www.techcrunch.com
Despite our meager return on investment this year, I believe that the real potential for Android app developers lies in the New Year. Here’s why:
End-To-End Goodness
In addition to being an open platform that facilitates device innovation, Android offers choice and progress when it comes to the marketplace where consumers discover and download applications. While iTunes and The Official App Store are the only places consumers can download apps for their iPhone, Android’s open platform allows merchants like MobiHand and HanDango to set up storefronts, ultimately providing more purchasing options for consumers. Google’s focus on improving its the user experience in its own Android market will also continue to boost revenues for app developers. For example, when the recent 1.6 OS (Cupcake) upgrade provided a much needed facelift for the market, we saw an immediate 18 percent lift in sales for our paid Caller ID application.
Billing Options Get Greener
While Google still has a long way to go in terms of reaching as many consumers as iTunes does, with the power of “what’s hot” and capabilities like in-app purchases, they have begun to enlist an armada of players—including carriers with deep experience in integrated billing—to create better markets for the merchandising and sale of applications. In early November, T-Mobile announced that they will launch their own Android market with integrated carrier billing, giving consumers the ability to charge applications to their phone bill. Also on the Google market roadmap is the ability for publishers to offer subscription purchases.
Read full story:http://www.techcrunch.com
Labels: Android, Android applications, Android Market, Mobile games
Android Gets Its Own Everything Search Box
Sunday, October 11, 2009
We wrote about Google’s Quick Search Box (QSB) a few months ago when the product was officially launched. We found the Twitter plug-in particularly interesting because QSB was able to turn into a Twitter app that let you post Tweets from the search box itself. Now, Google is launching a version of QSB for the Android Phone which provides similar functionality from the phone’s home screen.
QSB on the Android aims to cut down on keystrokes by providing suggestions as you type and provides a single search box to let you search a variety pf content on your phone, including apps, contacts, and browser history, as well as content from the web, like personalized search suggestions, local business listings, stock quotes, weather, and flight status. And QSB is intuitive; the search box will pull up items that you search for and use most often.
On of the most compelling features of QSB for the Andoid is that third-party developers can include suggestions in search, letting outside information from any apps make into searchable content. So if the app is built with QSB support, QSB will index the content in the app and it will show up in the box. For example, you could search a Twitter app for Tweets.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that QSB for the Android has the ability to Tweet from the search box itself, but perhaps that plug-in will be added in the near future.
VIA: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/09/android-gets-its-own-everything-search-box/
QSB on the Android aims to cut down on keystrokes by providing suggestions as you type and provides a single search box to let you search a variety pf content on your phone, including apps, contacts, and browser history, as well as content from the web, like personalized search suggestions, local business listings, stock quotes, weather, and flight status. And QSB is intuitive; the search box will pull up items that you search for and use most often.
On of the most compelling features of QSB for the Andoid is that third-party developers can include suggestions in search, letting outside information from any apps make into searchable content. So if the app is built with QSB support, QSB will index the content in the app and it will show up in the box. For example, you could search a Twitter app for Tweets.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that QSB for the Android has the ability to Tweet from the search box itself, but perhaps that plug-in will be added in the near future.
VIA: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/10/09/android-gets-its-own-everything-search-box/
Labels: Android, Android 1.6, Android applications, Android Development Tools
Android Market Now More than 10,000 Android Apps!
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Following a tip from a Tweet by AndroLib.com, an Android App Market website (non-Google Website yet far better), reporting real-time stats that Google’s Android Market has more than 10,000 Android Apps.
At the time of this post, there were 10,072 to be exact; 64% of the apps are Free while 36% are Paid apps. According to that,the best resources for Android App Reviews, only reviewed about 2% of the Android Market apps… but I always say it’s about Quality and NOT Quantity. We’ve seen some really good and really crappy apps… even those that tried to pull the get-rich-on-an-idiot scheme by uploading $200 apps.
Recent outcry or better yet outrage on poor sales in the Android Market can make developers weary of the OS. Not to mention the numerous things wrong with the current state of the Android Market itself; but with a little time, Market corrections, more cellular carriers, improved SDK… Android can soon surpass other platforms as demonstrated in recent mobile operating system growth statistics.
Though nowhere near Apple’s one billionth iPhone app download by a teenager a few months ago… The Android Market shows strong potential as a mobile operating system and 3rd party software eco-system.
Source for story:http://www.androidtapp.com/android-market-now-more-than-10000-android-apps/
Image source:androlib.com
At the time of this post, there were 10,072 to be exact; 64% of the apps are Free while 36% are Paid apps. According to that,the best resources for Android App Reviews, only reviewed about 2% of the Android Market apps… but I always say it’s about Quality and NOT Quantity. We’ve seen some really good and really crappy apps… even those that tried to pull the get-rich-on-an-idiot scheme by uploading $200 apps.
Recent outcry or better yet outrage on poor sales in the Android Market can make developers weary of the OS. Not to mention the numerous things wrong with the current state of the Android Market itself; but with a little time, Market corrections, more cellular carriers, improved SDK… Android can soon surpass other platforms as demonstrated in recent mobile operating system growth statistics.
Though nowhere near Apple’s one billionth iPhone app download by a teenager a few months ago… The Android Market shows strong potential as a mobile operating system and 3rd party software eco-system.
Source for story:http://www.androidtapp.com/android-market-now-more-than-10000-android-apps/
Image source:androlib.com
Labels: Android, Android applications, Android Market, Android SDK, Android Software Programming
Some News from Android Market
Friday, September 04, 2009
I'm pleased to let you know about several updates to Android Market. First, we will soon introduce new features in Android Market for Android 1.6 that will improve the overall experience for users. As part of this change, developers will be able to provide screenshots, promotional icons and descriptions that will better show off applications and games.
We have also added four new sub-categories for applications: sports, health, themes, and comics. Developers can now choose these sub-categories for both new and existing applications via the publisher website. Finally, we have added seller support for developers in Italy. Italian developers can go to the publisher website to upload applications and target any of the countries where paid applications are currently available to users.
To take advantage of the upcoming Android Market refresh, we encourage you to visit the Android Market publisher website and upload additional marketing assets. Check out the video below for some of the highlights.
Android Developers Blog: Some News from Android Market: "Eric Chu"
We have also added four new sub-categories for applications: sports, health, themes, and comics. Developers can now choose these sub-categories for both new and existing applications via the publisher website. Finally, we have added seller support for developers in Italy. Italian developers can go to the publisher website to upload applications and target any of the countries where paid applications are currently available to users.To take advantage of the upcoming Android Market refresh, we encourage you to visit the Android Market publisher website and upload additional marketing assets. Check out the video below for some of the highlights.
Android Developers Blog: Some News from Android Market: "Eric Chu"
Labels: Android, Android applications, Android Market
Internet Media "Android Tablet" On September 15
Friday, August 21, 2009
Archos has announced that a 5-inch Internet media tablet loaded with Android will be unveiled on September 15th, According to The Inquirer. The tablet will have an HDMI out and comes with natively embedded OpenGL libraries. Archos has also announced its AppsLib application store for advanced Android devices targeted at super high-end non-smartphone devices. Archos has clearly framed its objectives by stating that :
However, the development guidelines describe just a single, 5-inch 800x480 pixel device with accelerometer, OpenGL 3D graphics support, and HDMI output pushing an oddball 1160x652 pixel resolution to your TV. Still there is room for other speculations like ; 500GB storage, 10-mm thickness, 7-hours of battery when playing video, voice and HSUPA data radio, and OMAP3440 processor -- unexpectedly announced (by TI!) for the tablet way back in February to be in place. The device has all the makings of a successful piece of hardware.
With this challenging endeavor, it would be worth watching whether or not the ARCHOS Android Internet Tablet and AppsLib will be successful in the already hot smartphone market. It will be interesting to watch the developing part with completely different implications.
- By High-End devices, we mean devices that are not only smartphones, but all kind of tablets, PDA, PNDs or picture-frames. Devices that will tomorrow provide the same kind of experience than a PC, mobility added.
AppsLib is a co-venture with ARCHOS. Our target is to be available on a large variety of device, from a lot of manufacturer. But we believe ARCHOS has got what it takes to become the future of Android devices.
However, the development guidelines describe just a single, 5-inch 800x480 pixel device with accelerometer, OpenGL 3D graphics support, and HDMI output pushing an oddball 1160x652 pixel resolution to your TV. Still there is room for other speculations like ; 500GB storage, 10-mm thickness, 7-hours of battery when playing video, voice and HSUPA data radio, and OMAP3440 processor -- unexpectedly announced (by TI!) for the tablet way back in February to be in place. The device has all the makings of a successful piece of hardware.
With this challenging endeavor, it would be worth watching whether or not the ARCHOS Android Internet Tablet and AppsLib will be successful in the already hot smartphone market. It will be interesting to watch the developing part with completely different implications.
Labels: Android, Android applications, Android Tablet, Smartphonesmarket
Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens
Today we're pleased to announce a new Google Labs application for Android-powered devices in the US called, Listen. Listen quickly finds podcasts and web audio relevant to your searches, lets you stream over-the-air or download for later, and subscribe to fresh content from your favorite feeds and searches. In short, Listen helps organize the world of audio information and makes it easily accessible anytime, anywhere. And if you agree with the Jimi Hendrix quote that is the title of this post, then Listen may actually make you wiser, too.
Listen lets you stay informed even while engaged in other activities. Our colleagues use Listen as a personal audio-magazine while exercising, commuting, gardening, cleaning, dressing, cooking, and more*.
Source Images:googlemobile.blogspot.com
Official Google Mobile Blog: "Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens."
Listen lets you stay informed even while engaged in other activities. Our colleagues use Listen as a personal audio-magazine while exercising, commuting, gardening, cleaning, dressing, cooking, and more*.
 |  |
Source Images:googlemobile.blogspot.com
Official Google Mobile Blog: "Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens."
Labels: Android, Android applications, Google, Google Apps Engine, Google News
Amazon Creates Shopping Application for Android
Friday, August 07, 2009
Amazon.com announced the release of its latest mobile shopping application, “Amazon App for Android”, which is available as a free download to a user’s device in Android Market.
The application includes the experimental Amazon Remembers feature that gives Android users two different ways to use their device camera to find and remember items available for sale on Amazon.com: they can either snap a photo of an item or scan a barcode, and then receive a product match.
Amazon Remembers is available on Amazon’s family of shopping applications, including the Amazon App for iPhone and iPod Touch, the Amazon App for BlackBerry, and now on the Amazon App for Android.
Using the Amazon App for Android, customers can snap a photo of a product or scan a barcode for a fun and easy way to build a list of photographs showing products they want to remember for later, make price comparisons across multiple merchants, and purchase products from Amazon.com and thousands of other retailers on the Amazon.com site.
Source For This: http://www.slashphone.com
Labels: Amazon, Android, Android applications
Android Enterprise App Support “as Soon as This Year”
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
You thought Exchange support was as a big deal for Android? Well, enterprise-grade applications are also in the pipes for a future release of Android, according to GoogleVP Andy Rubin. 
Of course, Google’s attitude remains somewhat laissez-faire, riding primarily on the hope that manufacturers will do what they will to the Android source code for their handsets.
If Android wants a reasonable chunk of the enterprise market, manufacturers will have to make exceptionally good use of tose tools, especially if RIM keeps getting special treatment from Google with things like with the BlackBerry Apps Connector. Rubin says we could start seeing enterprise Android apps as soon as this year, although it depends largely on what manufacturers do.
[via : http://www.intomobile.com]
Of course, Google’s attitude remains somewhat laissez-faire, riding primarily on the hope that manufacturers will do what they will to the Android source code for their handsets.
If Android wants a reasonable chunk of the enterprise market, manufacturers will have to make exceptionally good use of tose tools, especially if RIM keeps getting special treatment from Google with things like with the BlackBerry Apps Connector. Rubin says we could start seeing enterprise Android apps as soon as this year, although it depends largely on what manufacturers do.
[via : http://www.intomobile.com]
Labels: Android, Android applications, Android Phone, Android SDK, Android Software Programming
Android Sees Upgraded Google Maps
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
It seems that Android mobile phone users can now enjoy an upgraded version of Google Maps for their handsets. According to the Mountain View-based company, the new version comes with improvements for Latitude, as well as with a series of new features, among which we can mention the fact that users can now perform voice searches in Google Maps.
In addition, Google Maps now enables users to find locations without entering the exact address, as the new version allows them to enter only simple items, like “windsurfing,” for example. The voice recognition software seems to be the great thing here, as Google states that it supports English in a number of different accents, including American, British and Australian.
While this sounds rather great, it will be interesting to see how it will handle regional accents. According to the guys at Android Authority, some British regional accents might cause problems, as they are “more pronounced in their dissimilarities with other English accents when compared to cross national accents differences.”
Other new additions to the Google Maps include improvements to the transit walking directions, which is stated to be able to offer directions for walking or using public transport in up to 250 cities. According to the search giant, the walking directions in Google Maps include pedestrian-only pathways and similar shortcuts.
One of the greatest improvements that the new Google Maps brings forth consists of a series of enhancements for Latitude for Android. It seems that Latitude can now flawlessly update while running in the background. In addition, Latitude includes a new feature, called “Updates,” which enables users to chat with their contacts in a way similar to Twitter.
Another thing that should be added is that those who would like to enjoy the new Google Maps on their Android-powered mobile phone will have to download it manually directly from the Android Market, as it won't be automatically pushed to the handsets.
Source for this news : http://news.softpedia.com/news
In addition, Google Maps now enables users to find locations without entering the exact address, as the new version allows them to enter only simple items, like “windsurfing,” for example. The voice recognition software seems to be the great thing here, as Google states that it supports English in a number of different accents, including American, British and Australian.
While this sounds rather great, it will be interesting to see how it will handle regional accents. According to the guys at Android Authority, some British regional accents might cause problems, as they are “more pronounced in their dissimilarities with other English accents when compared to cross national accents differences.”
Other new additions to the Google Maps include improvements to the transit walking directions, which is stated to be able to offer directions for walking or using public transport in up to 250 cities. According to the search giant, the walking directions in Google Maps include pedestrian-only pathways and similar shortcuts.
One of the greatest improvements that the new Google Maps brings forth consists of a series of enhancements for Latitude for Android. It seems that Latitude can now flawlessly update while running in the background. In addition, Latitude includes a new feature, called “Updates,” which enables users to chat with their contacts in a way similar to Twitter.
Another thing that should be added is that those who would like to enjoy the new Google Maps on their Android-powered mobile phone will have to download it manually directly from the Android Market, as it won't be automatically pushed to the handsets.
Source for this news : http://news.softpedia.com/news
Labels: Android, Android applications, Google News
Google Android Will Grow 900 Percent in 2009, Analysts Say
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Google’s Android mobile OS is expected see a growth rate of 900 percent in 2009, Strategy Analytics is predicting in a new report. The Apple iPhone OS will follow behind it, as the second fastest-growing smartphone OS, and the RIM BlackBerry is also in good shape, as the second-largest overall smartphone OS in the U.S. in 2008.
Google’s Android operating system is expected to grow by 900 percent in 2009, encouraged by vendors, developers and operators, a May 11 report from research firm Strategy Analytics is predicting.
The report, “Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: 2008,” breaks down smartphone market growth by region and operating system.
“The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009,” wrote Tom Kang, the author of the report, in a statement.
Kang additionally expects the iPhone OS to grow 79 percent in 2009—outpaced only by Android, which is expanding from a lower user base.
Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics, also remarked in the statement that Android’s “relatively low-cost licensing model, its semi-open-source structure and Google’s support for cloud services have encouraged companies such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, T-Mobile, Vodafone and others to support the Android operating system. Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years.”
Despite the global economic climate, global smartphone shipments reached 152 million units in 2008, and Kang’s report states Asia Pacific is still the biggest market for smartphones, followed by North America and then Western Europe.
Core markets for Symbian have been sluggish Kang additionally writes, but the RIM BlackBerry has also seen success, pulling ahead of Microsoft Windows Mobile to become the second largest smartphone OS in 2008.
Source:http://www.eweek.com
Google’s Android operating system is expected to grow by 900 percent in 2009, encouraged by vendors, developers and operators, a May 11 report from research firm Strategy Analytics is predicting.
The report, “Global Smartphone Vendor Market Share by Region: 2008,” breaks down smartphone market growth by region and operating system.
“The Android mobile operating system from Google gained early traction in the United States in the second half of 2008 and it is gradually spreading its presence into Europe and Asia during 2009,” wrote Tom Kang, the author of the report, in a statement.
Kang additionally expects the iPhone OS to grow 79 percent in 2009—outpaced only by Android, which is expanding from a lower user base.
Neil Mawston, director at Strategy Analytics, also remarked in the statement that Android’s “relatively low-cost licensing model, its semi-open-source structure and Google’s support for cloud services have encouraged companies such as HTC, Motorola, Samsung, T-Mobile, Vodafone and others to support the Android operating system. Android is now in a good position to become a top-tier player in smartphones over the next two to three years.”
Despite the global economic climate, global smartphone shipments reached 152 million units in 2008, and Kang’s report states Asia Pacific is still the biggest market for smartphones, followed by North America and then Western Europe.
Core markets for Symbian have been sluggish Kang additionally writes, but the RIM BlackBerry has also seen success, pulling ahead of Microsoft Windows Mobile to become the second largest smartphone OS in 2008.
Source:http://www.eweek.com
Labels: Android, Android applications, Google’s Android operating system
Google Releases New Android 1.5 SDK
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Google has released Android 1.5 SDK on schedule. The new development kit offers developers to write programs for the Android update soon in the first quarter of May in some locations. It brings in the ability to run Android Virtual Devices inside an emulator for better modeling of real devices and other improvements for performance issues to make development easier.
New Android 1.5 is the first version of the SDK that will support add-ons, which let the Android SDK to give you access to the external Android libraries. Among the actual changes to Android in 1.5 that end users will see later are an on-screen soft keyboard, widgets in the home screen for a music player, search and other features, stereo Bluetooth support; and video recording and playback.
Some of the features of new released SDK are:-
i)Multiple versions of the Android platform are included (Android 1.1, Android 1.5). The tools are updated to let you deploy your application on any platform in the SDK, which helps you ensure forward-compatibility and, if applicable, backward-compatibility.
ii) Introduces Android Virtual Devices — (AVD) configurations of options that you run in the emulator to better model actual devices. Each AVD gets its own dedicated storage area, making it much easier to work with multiple emulators that are running concurrently.
iii) Support for SDK add-ons, which extend the Android SDK to give you access to one or more external Android libraries and/or a customized (but compliant) system image that can run in the emulator.
iv) The new Eclipse ADT plugin (version 0.9.0) offers new Wizards to let you create projects targeted for specific Android configurations, generate XML resources (such as layouts, animations, and menus), generate alternate layouts, and export and sign your application for publishing.
v) Improved JUnit support in ADT .
vi) Easier profiling of performance .
vii) Easier management of localized applications. You can now include or exclude locale resources when building your APK from a single Android project.
viii) A new tool called "android" replaces the activity creator script.
ix) For details about the Android platforms included in the SDK — including bug fixes, features, and API changes — please read the Version Notes documents available at left. For a list of Android platforms included in this release, see the Download page.
Points to be noted
1. The Android 1.5 library and system image do not include the Maps external library (com.google.android.maps). However, the Maps external library is available as part of the Google APIs add-on for the Android SDK
2. USB Drivers for Windows the Windows version of the Android SDK includes these USB drivers that you can install, to let you develop on the device:
a) USB driver for 32-bit XP and Vista .
b) USB driver for 64-bit Vista only .
Installation and Upgrade Notes
To migrate to the new SDK from an older version, tools and documentation are provided to assist you in that. No changes to the source code of an existing application should be needed, provided that your application is not using Android internal structures or APIs. Once the migration is over compile it using the platform matching the application's original API Level, and run it against the most current platform.
The SDK now gives you the capability to compile an application against any one of several system targets. There are two types of targets:
i) Targets that represent core Android platform versions.
ii) Targets that are SDK add-ons, which typically provide application access to one or more external libraries and/or a customized (but compliant) system image that can run in the emulator.
iii) Android lets you discover what targets and AVDs are available to use.
Resolved Issues and other Changes
i) Updated documentation for android.media.SoundPool.
ii) WebView objects no longer automatically save thumbnails. The capturePicture() method will need to be called manually.
iii) If your application uses the Sensor API and you are running it in the emulator on the Android 1.5 system image, you may experience problems. Your application may generate ANR messages or crash when using the sensors. The problem is being investigated.
iv) Android 1.5 will not include support for the Zilog Z80 processor architecture.
The 1.5 update will be available to users of the G1 from T-Mobile USA shortly after the SDK release. So to conclude, while very little of this is important to the end user, it's great news for the Android platform as a whole
New Android 1.5 is the first version of the SDK that will support add-ons, which let the Android SDK to give you access to the external Android libraries. Among the actual changes to Android in 1.5 that end users will see later are an on-screen soft keyboard, widgets in the home screen for a music player, search and other features, stereo Bluetooth support; and video recording and playback.
Some of the features of new released SDK are:-
i)Multiple versions of the Android platform are included (Android 1.1, Android 1.5). The tools are updated to let you deploy your application on any platform in the SDK, which helps you ensure forward-compatibility and, if applicable, backward-compatibility.
ii) Introduces Android Virtual Devices — (AVD) configurations of options that you run in the emulator to better model actual devices. Each AVD gets its own dedicated storage area, making it much easier to work with multiple emulators that are running concurrently.
iii) Support for SDK add-ons, which extend the Android SDK to give you access to one or more external Android libraries and/or a customized (but compliant) system image that can run in the emulator.
iv) The new Eclipse ADT plugin (version 0.9.0) offers new Wizards to let you create projects targeted for specific Android configurations, generate XML resources (such as layouts, animations, and menus), generate alternate layouts, and export and sign your application for publishing.
v) Improved JUnit support in ADT .
vi) Easier profiling of performance .
vii) Easier management of localized applications. You can now include or exclude locale resources when building your APK from a single Android project.
viii) A new tool called "android" replaces the activity creator script.
ix) For details about the Android platforms included in the SDK — including bug fixes, features, and API changes — please read the Version Notes documents available at left. For a list of Android platforms included in this release, see the Download page.
Points to be noted
1. The Android 1.5 library and system image do not include the Maps external library (com.google.android.maps). However, the Maps external library is available as part of the Google APIs add-on for the Android SDK
2. USB Drivers for Windows the Windows version of the Android SDK includes these USB drivers that you can install, to let you develop on the device:
a) USB driver for 32-bit XP and Vista .
b) USB driver for 64-bit Vista only .
Installation and Upgrade Notes
To migrate to the new SDK from an older version, tools and documentation are provided to assist you in that. No changes to the source code of an existing application should be needed, provided that your application is not using Android internal structures or APIs. Once the migration is over compile it using the platform matching the application's original API Level, and run it against the most current platform.
The SDK now gives you the capability to compile an application against any one of several system targets. There are two types of targets:
i) Targets that represent core Android platform versions.
ii) Targets that are SDK add-ons, which typically provide application access to one or more external libraries and/or a customized (but compliant) system image that can run in the emulator.
iii) Android lets you discover what targets and AVDs are available to use.
Resolved Issues and other Changes
i) Updated documentation for android.media.SoundPool.
ii) WebView objects no longer automatically save thumbnails. The capturePicture() method will need to be called manually.
iii) If your application uses the Sensor API and you are running it in the emulator on the Android 1.5 system image, you may experience problems. Your application may generate ANR messages or crash when using the sensors. The problem is being investigated.
iv) Android 1.5 will not include support for the Zilog Z80 processor architecture.
The 1.5 update will be available to users of the G1 from T-Mobile USA shortly after the SDK release. So to conclude, while very little of this is important to the end user, it's great news for the Android platform as a whole
Labels: Android, Android applications, Android SDK
Is Android the real Linux desktop threat to Windows
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Android is perceptive and user friendly on mobile hardware such as the HTC Dream. There is no doubt that Android in comparison to full blown operating systems like Windows and Mac OSX.
Though Android is gaining more popularity these days but a very big benefit of Windows mobile is its stiff incorporation with Exchange, and through that to Outlook on the Desktop. If android gets together with Google Apps, then it is the first real competitor to MS Exchange but for it is necessary that we can get our Desktops to Integrate with Google Apps.
Presently we're at the native Linux desktop and drifting towards the Android desktop. The question that comes into mind is that what would then bridge those two environments? It’s damn sure that whatever be the bridge, it will offer a second Linux sandbox which runs along with Android.
Whenever we make comparison between Android and Windows it is like making comparison between Google Apps to Microsoft Office. Starting from the mobile phones environment and running uphill, Android, backed by Google, is likely to be successful where other Linux distributions have failed. It is likely to harvest support from both device manufacturers and applications vendors.
It is well known that Android has a very particular architecture. It has its own libraries and non-X based GUI, which are not favorable to running standard Linux/X applications. Also its libc version (bionic) neglects certain POSIX features and due to which it is not fully compatible. For permitting native Linux apps to run, a second sandbox atmosphere is required that can co-operate with Android. Then Android would be the master environment so as to provide all the kernel, hardware drivers, and complete software stack that it already does. A separate set of non-kernel components would be provided by the co- Linux environment. The components would be like libraries, configuration and administrative files, applications, etc.
The main reason behind this trend is that, consumers and business users equally want something they can take on the road with them. In the era of hotspots and fast speed Internet, people are opting mobile computing instead of desktop computing is- low-power consumption mobile devices which favors lightweight operating systems.
Co-Linux would be a advantage for coming netbook platforms, where some users may want to chose from the accessible native Linux apps, including educational, gaming, just plain familiar, or otherwise. It would be really unruffled if the co-Linux environment itself could be bundled as an Android app. At A1 technology our developers are working hard on this so as to overcome the limitations faced till day.
Though Android is gaining more popularity these days but a very big benefit of Windows mobile is its stiff incorporation with Exchange, and through that to Outlook on the Desktop. If android gets together with Google Apps, then it is the first real competitor to MS Exchange but for it is necessary that we can get our Desktops to Integrate with Google Apps.
Presently we're at the native Linux desktop and drifting towards the Android desktop. The question that comes into mind is that what would then bridge those two environments? It’s damn sure that whatever be the bridge, it will offer a second Linux sandbox which runs along with Android.
Whenever we make comparison between Android and Windows it is like making comparison between Google Apps to Microsoft Office. Starting from the mobile phones environment and running uphill, Android, backed by Google, is likely to be successful where other Linux distributions have failed. It is likely to harvest support from both device manufacturers and applications vendors.
It is well known that Android has a very particular architecture. It has its own libraries and non-X based GUI, which are not favorable to running standard Linux/X applications. Also its libc version (bionic) neglects certain POSIX features and due to which it is not fully compatible. For permitting native Linux apps to run, a second sandbox atmosphere is required that can co-operate with Android. Then Android would be the master environment so as to provide all the kernel, hardware drivers, and complete software stack that it already does. A separate set of non-kernel components would be provided by the co- Linux environment. The components would be like libraries, configuration and administrative files, applications, etc.
The main reason behind this trend is that, consumers and business users equally want something they can take on the road with them. In the era of hotspots and fast speed Internet, people are opting mobile computing instead of desktop computing is- low-power consumption mobile devices which favors lightweight operating systems.
Co-Linux would be a advantage for coming netbook platforms, where some users may want to chose from the accessible native Linux apps, including educational, gaming, just plain familiar, or otherwise. It would be really unruffled if the co-Linux environment itself could be bundled as an Android app. At A1 technology our developers are working hard on this so as to overcome the limitations faced till day.
Labels: Android, Android applications, Android Software Programming
Paid Android Apps Banned On unlocked G1 phone
Friday, February 27, 2009
The sad information about HTC G1 phone users ,who are using the HTC G1 phone $400, unlocked version is that they can't run paid android applications from the Android.Mobile developers who purchased an unlocked HTC G1 phone from Google in Google's Android developer program costing $25 to join,discovered such thing this week.
Earlier to this HTC G1 phone device allows users to access a special folder where paid Android applications and copy protected android applications are stored for regular customers who may be interested in breaking the copy-protection on those applications.
Google is banning users of the HTC G1 phone unlocked version from viewing copy-protected android applications, including the paid apps.Google says it is blocking paid apps access on unlocked developer phones to prevent piracy of apps.
In order to minimize unauthorized copy of the applicationsNow google is not distributing copy protected applications to these phones .But Google said in a statement that these phones give developers of handset software full permissions to all aspects of the device.
This is a big problem for everyone who has a Dev phone.After this announcement, users of the unlocked phones reported on the forums that they could no longer access apps like Shazam and Calorie Counter, prompting the response from Google.
Earlier to this HTC G1 phone device allows users to access a special folder where paid Android applications and copy protected android applications are stored for regular customers who may be interested in breaking the copy-protection on those applications.
Google is banning users of the HTC G1 phone unlocked version from viewing copy-protected android applications, including the paid apps.Google says it is blocking paid apps access on unlocked developer phones to prevent piracy of apps.
In order to minimize unauthorized copy of the applicationsNow google is not distributing copy protected applications to these phones .But Google said in a statement that these phones give developers of handset software full permissions to all aspects of the device.
This is a big problem for everyone who has a Dev phone.After this announcement, users of the unlocked phones reported on the forums that they could no longer access apps like Shazam and Calorie Counter, prompting the response from Google.
Labels: Android applications
