Android
Verizon Wireless + Google = Love?
Verizon Wireless and Google announced today that they will be working together to co develop several phones to take advantage of VZW’s 3G network as well as the Google Android platform.
I’m quite thrilled about this, I’ve been waiting for something neat to come out that doesn’t run on the AT&T network — around [...]
Google Unveils Quick Search Box for Android
The latest version of the Android SDK (version 1.6) was released earlier this week and one of more significant features included in the update is the Quick Search Box (QSB). The search feature would allow users to search both the device and the web.
For developers, it will provide the opportunity for quicker access to content inside applications. Developers can provide search suggestions to help applications be found by users.
If you are an Android developer, you’ll want to head over to the Android blog to get all the coding goodness you’ll need to get included in the Quick Search Box feature. Note that coding up your app for QSB will not automatically get your app included in the new feature.
Second Android Phone Unveiled at Mobile World Congress
The second phone using Google’s Android mobile operating system has been unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Like the G1, this one is manufactured by HTC. Dubbed the “HTC Magic,” the phone will be made available by Vodafone in UK, Germany, Spain and France. It will also be made available in Italy, but with non-exclusive carrier rights.
The Magic has no keyboard (whereas the G1 does have one), meaning typing will occur on the touchscreen only. It boasts a 3.2 inch screen and trackball.
The first Android phone, G1, was first released by T-mobile in the US last November.
Microsoft Unveils Mobile App Marketplace, My Phone, Windows Mobile 6.5
When covering search news, the lines are increasingly getting a bit blurred. Google, the search mammoth, does much more than “just” search. Yahoo’s best performing properties are its portal pages. Microsoft started out in software.
Google launched a mobile platform Android, which competes with Microsoft competitor Apple, who of course has seen great success with the iPhone.
The iPhone has truly advanced adoption of the mobile web – and mobile search. But Microsoft was in the game before Apple or Google with Windows Mobile. There have been app markets for Windows Mobile for years, something that is largely unknown, save for the early mobile adopters.
Microsoft, of course, will not just sit by and watch the Google/Apple dominance occur. Instead, they are revamping their game. Today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft announced a new marketplace for Windows Mobile apps. There are over 20,000 apps that have beend eveloped over the years. The marketplace will make them easier to find.
Microsoft also introduced the newest version of Windows Mobile, which is 6.5. Last but not least they annouced My Phone, which enables PC/phone syncing.
Incidentally, Google announced its mobile syncing feature last week. They also opened the Android mobile app marketplace to paid apps.
Many mobile apps are all about helping users find what they need or want. You guessed it – SEARCH. And with projections for mobile web traffic showing skyrocketing increases by 2013, new players may appear on the scene. Anyone who has wondered who can catch or beat Google may want to watch this space carefully.
Google Releases Mobile Book Search for iPhone and Android
Google has launched a mobile version of its book search for iPhone and Android devices. Browse to books.google.com/m to check it out. iPhone users note that you can’t simply browse to the regular books.google.com site and expect to be sent to the mobile site. Some web developers have included device detection in their sites, but not this one.
Here’s what some of the pages will look like once you browse to Book Search on the Android (left) and iPhone (right):
Related Reading:
Google Book Search Adds Magazines
Google Reaches Agreement with Authors, Publishers for Book Search
AdMob Launches Offering for Android Applications
AdMob has announced the launch of its Android application advertising offering. This allows developers to monetize their apps via a mobile banner ad. AccuWeather, Jirbo, and TapJoy are among apps that are utilizing the new option.
“Android’s open platform enables developers to build rich mobile applications that provide a great experience for users,” said Ali Diab, Vice President of Product Management for AdMob. “We are already seeing strong interest in developing applications for Android-based devices, similar to what we saw with the iPhone last summer, and are very excited to take the lead in helping developers monetize their applications on this fast-growing device platform.”
AdMob has been available to iPhone developers for months now. AdMob also offers advertising options for mobile sites.
Related Reading:
What Recession? AdMob Wins Big Funding Round, Eyes Global Ad Markets
New Wifi Enabled Mobile Devices Drive Increased Wifi Usage
AdMob, Mywaves Offer New Mobile Video Format
AdMob and Others Tout iPhone Based Ad Offerings
GiiNii’s Movit Mini is like the iPod Touch for Android
Last week, we talked about the idea of putting Google’s mobile operating system Android on a netbook. This week at the Consumers Electronic Show (CES), a device akin to the iPod Touch is also running Android.
The GiiNii Movit Mini is basically a small tablet running Android. It’s Wifi-enabled, has a touch screen and of course, can play music. The screen is 4.3 inches with a resolution of 480 x 272. It only comes with 256mb of storage, but a microSD slot allows users to add memory cards.
Engadget got to play with the device at the trade show and when they asked about pricing, they got a very vague answer about the device costing less than an iPod Touch.
With less internal storage, lack of multi-touch and a not-so-sexy design, pricing it below the iPod Touch will be a necessity!
Android Week 1: Sprint’s Not on Board (Yet) and a Security Flaw Discovered
The first phone with Google’s new mobile platform Android was released last week on Tmobile. Unlike the iPhone, Android will be seen on more devices and more carriers in months and years to come.
But Sprint CEO Dan Hesse says Android isn’t quite ready to carry the Sprint name on a device – not yet anyway. He says that Sprint will carry an Android phone in the future, but the platform needs work.
It might be tempting to suggest that the struggling Sprint should hop on board. After all, Tmobile’s G1 pre-sold $1.5 million devices. But Sprint is smart to wait on a ready-for-prime-time device. It needs to sell solid products that garner their own word of mouth instead of simply hopping on a hype wagon.
One of the reasons Android might not be ready is because of a newly discovered security flaw. The flaw was found by former National Security Agency computer security specialist Charles Miller.
Miller has reported the flaw to Google, which says it is working with HTC and Tmobile to issue a fix to G1 customers.
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