Posts Tagged: community

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7
Sep 10

Create Your Own Spam App With Google App Inventor for Android [Android]

Google has revealed its latest smartphone war weaponGoogle App Inventor for Android. It’s a drag & drop app creation tool to help those without a collection of SDKs on their computer build apps, games and more. Users build up custom apps from pre-defined “blocks” of code provided by Google, which are slotted together to create individual little mash-up appsmuch like the app-creation tools already offered by the likes of Mobile Roadie and others. Google’s been testing it out on normal, non-geeky people, and they have apparently been finding it easy

…drop app creation tool to help those without a collection of SDKs on their computer build apps, games and more.
Users build up custom apps from pre-defined “blocks” of code provided by Google, which are slotted together to create individual little mash-up apps much like the app-creation tools already offered by the likes of Mobile Roadie and others.
Google’s been testing it out on normal, non-geeky people, and they have apparently been finding it easy. Lucky them. We’re slightly worried the Android Market may now quadruple in size over the next month, with stuff like “Dave’s Flickr Feed App” about to clog the Market’s arteries. But certainly making apps easier to develop isn’t a bad thing….

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Create Your Own Spam App With Google App Inventor for Android [Android]

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7
Sep 10

Android Gingerbread Rumors Dismissed By Google on Twitter [Android]

Our heads went all dizzy the other day when we heard that the minimum required specs for Android 3.0 Gingerbread phones was to be a 1GHz processor, and 512MB of RAM. But now the rumormongerer has clarified they’re only “recommended.” Today, the man who first brought us those heady specs has tweeted a clarification, based on a conversation with sources. “1 Ghz, 512 Mb etc its not minimal requirments but recommended one.” Based on the way Android phones have been going anyway, I don’t think manufacturers such as HTC and Motorola will have an issue with those figuresbut it will help segregate the lower-end range of Androids from the higher-end. The full list of rumored specs for upcoming Gingerbread phones can be found here, but according to man-in-the-know Eldar Murtazin, of Mobile-review.com, the firmware update won’t be released until October; the phones until November/December

…UPDATE: Yaniv from Hebrew site NewsGeek has got in touch, and reported that they’ve spoken to a “credible source from within Google” (who wishes to remain anonymous), who confirmed that what we’ve heard so far is true. Added to that, NewsGeek managed to acquire the following details:

1. Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) will be released in time for the holidays.
2. Android 3.0 will have a complete new UI. Team working on this is led by Mattias Durte.
3. Android 3.0 will have a new look and feel for the music and media player.
4. Music downloads will be available from the Android market for gingerbread and probably for the older versions as well (his words).
5. Google will include streaming of DRM-free music from a desktop app to an Android device based on “Simplify Media”‘ (which they acquired a few months back) technology.
6. There will finally be a normal way to sync your android with your PC. He preferred not going into details about it but he said that is one of the problems that would be solved in the next…

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Android Gingerbread Rumors Dismissed By Google on Twitter [Android]

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12
Aug 10

Google Chrome to Phone Connects Your Desktop to Your Android

Chrome to Phone comprises a Google Chrome extension and a Google Android app, which connects your desktop with your phone in the way that was demonstrated earlier this year at Google I/O. Essentially, sending tasks to your phone.

…Chrome to Phone comprises a Google Chrome extension and a Google Android app, which connects your desktop with your phone in the way that was demonstrated earlier this year at Google I/O. Essentially, sending tasks to your phone.
It was built by Dave Burke, Engineering Manager, in his spare time.
This is the Android’s cloud-to-device messaging, so it can know what you’re sending to your phone and will optimize what it’s showing. For example, if you’re watching YouTube, it’ll send a YouTube link to your phone and will automatically start playing the video. Another is if you’re reading a page on the browser, it’ll load up that same page on the mobile browser.
Another example: Google Maps. Browse a location on Google Maps on the desktop and it’ll bring up the same location on Google Maps on Android. The same thing works with driving directions. How about searching for business on your desktop and having to manually dial the number from your phone? This will take care of that too, and will immediately launch the…

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Google Chrome to Phone Connects Your Desktop to Your Android

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11
Aug 10

How To Improve Your Android’s Battery Life

In the words of Google co-founder Larry Page, “if you are not getting a day [of Android battery] there is something wrong.” There must be “something wrong” with a lot of our phones, so hence the How-To Geek’s practical guide.

…there is something wrong.” There must be “something wrong” with a lot of our phones, so hence the How-To Geek’s practical guide.
The website has created a comprehensive tutorial on how to hack, fiddle and twiddle with the settings of an Android phone, to get the best out of the meager battery life. It’s long, but accompanied with large photos explaining every step of the way.
Some of the steps involve downloading apps, but most are to do with disabling life-sucking apps and functions. It might make your usage slightly leaner, but at least you’ll be able to get to work and back each day without having to take a charger with you….

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How To Improve Your Android’s Battery Life

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15
Jul 10

Google Releasing DIY "App Inventor"- App Creation

Ever wanted to become an Android developer and write your own app, but felt overwhelmed by programming language? Well, Google heard your cries! As of today, Google is releasing a do-it-yourself application creation tool, called App Inventor for Android. The beta of App Inventor should be available publicly as early as today!

…Google considers App Inventor a comprehensive tool capable of creating anything you could think of, from maze and Whackamole games to apps utilizing the accelerometer, from educational quiz games using text-to-speech to apps utilizing GPS services.

And the most fascinating part about App Inventor is that it requires no knowledge of programming! Google Labs has prepared for you a handy UI, on which you can build your apps with ease. The first test users included sixth graders, high school girls, nursing students, and college undergrads (who weren’t computer science majors). And supposedly, all of these demographics were able to develop apps with ease. How does it work? You’ll be basically dragging and dropping “blocks”. Google explains how “blocks” are the cornerstone of App Inventor:…

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Google Releasing DIY "App Inventor"- App Creation

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8
Jul 10

Android 2.2 Froyo Simulator Online

Online interactive simulation of some of the functionality of Android 2.2 (Froyo) mobile operating system. The simulation is based on the Android Emulator running an Android virtual device with Google API level 8, WQVGA400 resolution and LCD density of 160. The skin is the Google Nexus One phone. Can be easily embedded into your website!

…This is a simulation of some of the functionality of Android 2.2 (Froyo) mobile operating system.
The simulation is based on the Android Emulator running an android virtual device with Google API level 8, WQVGA400 resolution and LCD density of 160.
The skin is the Google Nexus One phone.
Simulated features: web browser with Google search, Google Email, Google Maps, alarm clock, contacts, image gallery.http://www.android.com/Disclaimer: This is a simulation based on the Android Emulator. This is not the real Android software.Share:…

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Android 2.2 Froyo Simulator Online

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30
Jun 10

4 Ways Google Can Clean Up the Android Market

It’s time to clean up the Android Market before the poor experience and questionable apps get out of hand. There are already 65,000 apps to be found there, so the time is right for Google to follow these simple steps and neaten the store.

…It comes down to openness -vs- control. Neither is inherently bad, but both can be carried to extremes. Consumers flock to iTunes because Apple does reasonable (maybe ‘fanatic’ is a better term here) app testing and applies standards (however draconian) to ensure some minimum level of app compliance. Consumers benefit and developers prosper. Apple has created a closed ecosystem where most benefit from the controls imposed. Apple is quite happy with their app ‘Disneyland’ and many consumers are too.

Open is as open does, and Android is well and truly open in any real sense of ‘open’ you want to apply. The downside is that none of the care and feeding of the app ecosystem in iTunes exists in Android. You can write anything you want and throw it into the app pond for others to consume. Much of it is great. Some of it is dreadful. A few are truly dangerous, waiting to be beheaded by remote kill switch. The Android ecosystem is less successful than iTunes, but suits certain app styles better. Consumers vary in…

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4 Ways Google Can Clean Up the Android Market

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23
Jun 10

How Google Will Defeat Microsoft (w/FOSS & GNU/Linux)

The Motley Fool - The Chrome operating system may be bigger than you think. Right now, everyone is underestimating Google’s chances to take on the Windows beast, but does anyone remember where Google’s Android(also Linux-based) was a year ago? Me - Here’s looking forward to Freedom and Humans Enabled with Technology!

…I’m not singling out one commenter. I’m sure a lot of us felt that way last July, before Android phones went on to outpace the sales growth of Apple’s (Nasdaq: AAPL) mighty iPhones. If Android has succeeded against the iPhone juggernaut, why doesn’t Google stand a chance against a beleaguered Windows platform?
Apple’s Mac OS, IBM’s (NYSE: IBM) Warp, and even a couple of Linux varieties haven’t made much of a dent against Microsoft over the years, but that is because PC owners were tied to programs that ran only on Windows.
The climate’s kinder these days, with Google Docs and other cloud computing apps besieging Microsoft’s Office stronghold. Power users are unlikely to abandon Windows, but for the vast majority of consumers who need computers solely for web browsing, reading email, and some light word processing and web-based gaming, why not Chrome OS?
Once again, I’m left hard pressed to justify how Microsoft will be more relevant in a couple of years than it is right now.
Google OS won’t be a…

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How Google Will Defeat Microsoft (w/FOSS & GNU/Linux)

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26
May 10

5 Killer Features In Google Android 2.2

Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) has problems in its mobile business, but it’s clearly not afraid of jettisoning the old way of doing things and starting over with an entirely new approach.

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5 Killer Features In Google Android 2.2

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24
May 10

Linux is going mainstream

The truth is that Linux is well on it’s way to being a mainstream operating system. The bad news is that this will not happen the way many of us envisioned. Company that will have the biggest share in this could very well be Google with their Android and Chrome OS.

…company that will have the biggest share in this could very well be Google with their Android and Chrome OS. So we should all be happy about this. We wanted Linux to become very popular. Yet, there is something annoying about a company that is already so massive being the one to take Linux to the next step. On the plus side Ubuntu has a bright future ahead of it and may also gain much of the market share, but this may not happen before Google dominates the markets first.
As awesome as Linux is on the desktop many will use Linux first on their Phone. Most of them will not know that they are running Linux, which is also a bit of a let down. On the positive side the smart phone market is projected to have a market worth of 150.3 Billion dollars by 2014, that is a lot of revenue being generated by companies dealing in Linux based smart phones. So once Linux via Droid and or Chrome dominates the Mobile market and people including open source critics learn they are using Linux, what will happen next? Will Google…

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Linux is going mainstream

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