Hardware Innovations affecting Mobile Software Trends

December 6th, 2010 Admin No Comments »

Android apps are still fairly new on the block, but their popularity is expected to grow rapidly with Android’s continuously growing market share.  According to IDC’s new “Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker”, global smartphone market of 2014 could see Android in second place with a 25 percent share, followed by powerhouses like BlackBerry, Apple, and Windows Mobile.

Among other factors, these trend shifts in mobile operating systems popularity are influenced by hardware developments, with the greatest impact comping from the development of new processors, led by Intel, with AMD and a number of more anonymous companies trailing far behind.  We can see similar changes happening in the non-mobile sector.  As new processor technology is being introduced ,we can see Intel Windows 7 migration is happening more and more.  Many small business can now afford to purchase computers with fairly high-end processors, capable of running Windows 7 and various office software, as their prices have dropped very quickly with the introduction of even newer processors (followed by aggressive marketing campaigns.)

Again, this phenomenon has its equivalent in the world of smart phones and mobile devices, as new hardware is being developed which is fairly cheap, while still being capable of supporting Android very competently.

The Samsung Epic 4G, the Nexus S, HTC’s EVO 4G, and the Motorola DROID PRO are just a few examples of phone which manage to keep hardware prices down while running the latest version of Android, compatible with most Androids apps.  As most of the major mobile phone manufactures are quite openly battling Apple’s iPhone domination, we should expect to see more and more new Android devices, offering high end performance at competitive prices (the competition being you-know-who.)

If You Like to Shop – You Will Love These Android Apps

December 2nd, 2010 Admin No Comments »

Shopping is sometimes necessary and other times a luxury, depending on the item you want and the budget you have. Either way, your Android phone can help you be a smarter and more frugal shopper regardless of whether you are placing a bid on eBay, searching for big savings from coupons, needing reviews on a store you want to visit for the first time or looking for a particular shop or restaurant in your area. By using your smartphone to help you shop, you can have fun while saving money and time.

Store Locators

While this is not a particular app, there are simply so many store locators for Android and other smartphones that it is difficult to narrow it down to only one. With that being said, any store locator is a necessary app for those who love to shop. These types of applications can help you find coffee shops, restaurants and so much more. And if you are hungry but cannot make a firm decision as to where to eat, your Android phone can show restaurants in any area categorized by cuisine. There are also apps that display information not limited to eateries.

ShopSavvy

ShopSavvy is an excellent Android app that helps its users save a ton of money. If you happen to be at a store that offers price matching, you can use your smartphone as a barcode scanner that will show all stores in your area carrying a particular item as well as the advertised cost at each store. If you find said item elsewhere at a lower price, simply show the results to the store owner or manager and request a price match. ShopSavvy can not only help you pay the lowest advertised price but also save you gas and time wasted by driving to multiple stores in order to collect the data your Android phone can show you in mere seconds.

MyCoupons

Anyone who thrives on finding great deals will consider the MyCoupons to be an invaluable resource. This application allows you to quickly look for lower prices, in-store coupons and online codes to make shopping easy.

Amazon

The Android Amazon application allows users to search for more than deals on books and other merchandise. Users can take a picture of a book cover or barcode and the Amazon app will use the picture as a search query that will display reviews as well as the best prices listed for the product. Even though any browser-based phone can be used to view www.amazon.com, this Android app streamlines the entire process.

Three Android Apps Not Worth Downloading

November 24th, 2010 Admin No Comments »

Even though there are currently over 100,000 Android apps available in the Android Market, not all of them are worth downloading. Quantity does not equate to quality. Of course, each worthless application is as such for varying reasons. Some apps may be based on a great idea but are incorrectly executed while others are considered to be plain ridiculous. The following are three Android apps to skip the next time you search for new downloads.

CarSafety

The CarSafety application for Android sounds an emergency alarm in the event the user is in a car accident. If the user does not turn off the alarm in 60 seconds or less, the CarSafety app will send an SMS that sends the address of the alleged accident as well as the GPS coordinates to a predetermined phone number. However, some Android users report that this app does not function when their device is in sleep mode.

So how does CarSafety determine if you are in a car crash? It does this by using the phone’s accelerometer. Unfortunately, dropping the phone can sometimes be enough to set off the CarSafety alarm. In addition, it constantly runs in the device’s background, wasting precious battery life that will be needed to make a phone call if you actually do have a car accident.

My Perfect Egg Timer

With My Perfect Egg Timer, Android users can calculate how long it will take to boil an egg. By inputting the diameter of the egg, the temperature of the egg and the desired hardness or softness, this application will turn on an egg timer as soon as the egg in question is placed in boiling water. Moments before the egg should be taken out, My Perfect Egg Timer will notify the user so they can remove said egg.

Also, this application utilizes the Android device’s built-in GPS in order to detect the altitude, allowing for any cooking time adjustments. While anyone who loves boiled eggs or has tons of disposable time may enjoy My Perfect Egg Timer, this application falls into the “boring” category for most people. All in all, this app wastes space and nothing more.

Pocket Agent

The Pocket Agent allows users to directly contact their insurance agent in order to file a claim, check their Mutual Fund and State Farm accounts, look at their insurance policy and find State Farm’s Select Service repair centers, rental car facilities, hotels and emergency contacts. To use this application, one needs to register for an account online but if the user happens to mistype their login information more than three times, they must reactivate their account before they are granted further access. This app seems like a little too much work when you can just call your insurance agent to get the information you need.

Christmas List Pro: A Must-Have Christmas Android App

November 22nd, 2010 Admin No Comments »

Christmas is a busy time of the year that most people find to be exciting yet exhausting. Sending holiday cards, shopping for the most impossible gift recipient and cooking outrageous amounts of foods for holiday feasts are some of what Christmas entails. Thankfully, your Android device can be of some use. As an Android user, you have most likely forgone your old desk calender for the technologically advanced one built right into your phone. If so, using this Christmas shopping application will be a breeze and even better, it will take some of the hassle out of your shopping tasks.

The Christmas List Pro

Made by Developers Simplify Lives, the Christmas List Pro is one of the latest additions to the 100,000 plus Android applications available for download in the Android Market. The idea behind this app is simple – to make holiday shopping easier. With this app, users can utilize features such as gift tracking that allows them to keep a record of what gifts they have purchased and for whom the gifts are intended. In addition, there is a per-person spending breakdown and a cost summary, both of which are ideal for those who are on a tight budget. For anyone who is worried that their children, or spouse, may try to sneak a peak at their shopping list, Christmas List Pro is password protected.

Free vs. Paid

Just like many Android applications, Christmas List Pro is available in a free and a paid version. For only $1.99, Android device owners can download the paid version and take advantage of the password-protection feature as well as enjoy the ability to back up their Christmas list on an SD card, allowing them to print out a paper list if they wish. Anyone who is not ready to commit to the paid version of Christmas List Pro can still use the application at no cost; however, the free version includes ever-pesky advertisement pop ups. Even with this drawback, using the free Christmas List version is a great way to test the app before deciding whether or not to purchase it.

Although your Android device is unable to physically shop for you, it will still make the holiday season a lot more manageable. It’s hard to beat the convenience of being able to view important information on a single device. And with the Christmas List Pro, you will never have to worry about someone inadvertently seeing your shopping list or even worse, desperately searching for the carefully crafted list you have misplaced.

Sick? – Use These Android Apps to Feel Better Fast!

November 17th, 2010 Admin No Comments »

No one likes being sick, but we often don’t really think about our health until it’s really too late — you’re already sick, and it’s much harder to get back to healthy than it is to avoid getting sick! However, if you already carry around your Android everywhere and you’re sick in bed, you might as well download a few apps to help you feel better fast — right?

If you’re not sure where to begin, we don’t blame you — after all, the Android Marketplace has grown to immeasurable heights, and developers are creating apps all the time to take advantage of all the unique features of the Android OS.

So let us help with the following list of Android apps that will have you getting healthy and happy again in virtually no time at all!

1. Diet & Food Tracker

It’s all about watching what you eat, in more ways than one. If you don’t put the right things in your body, the lack of nutrients can really make you sick. There’s no need to feel like you aren’t going to be able to take care of yourself when there are plenty of resources to help you really maintain your health the right way. As the name implies, this app will help you watch what you eat and monitor your caloric intake on top of everything else.

2. Vitamin Tips

As mentioned before, what you put into your body matters. This app will tell you exactly what you need to put in your body, as well as help you keep from overdoing the supplements. It can be just as bad to overload your body with supplements as it is to not have enough nutrients.

3. WebMD

Everyone’s favorite medical website is now on your Android phone. While you’re in bed sick, you can be reading through WebMD’s massive medical library and figuring out how to take care of yourself even better than you are now. WebMD is a site that’s managed and monitored by numerous medical professionals, which means that you can feel better about the information that you receive.

Great information is usually only a click away, and when you’re sick in bed you need to make sure that click is as convenient as possible. It really doesn’t get more convenient than your Android phone, so why not check out these apps and download them today?

Poker Apps for Android Phones

November 14th, 2010 Admin No Comments »

Android phones are growing in popularity and that’s good news for poker fans as well, as it means an entire new platform for game developers to tackle. Even better is the fact that unlike Apple and its iron grip on what can and can’t be sold at the App Store, there are fewer restrictions on what types of apps can be developed and distributed for Android powered phones.

If you’re just getting started with poker on your Android phone and are looking for a simple poker game, there are plenty of apps to choose from. It all boils down to what type of poker game you’re looking for, as far as a single-player game that pits you against computer opponents in a variety of settings or a multi-player game that lets you play with friends and other players from around the world. Each type has its own pros and cons, and it really just depends on what your personal preferences are.

As far as some of the more popular Android poker apps, Zynga live Poker and Live Hold’em are two of the more popular apps, with both featuring multi-player action that’s very similar to what you find at online poker sites. Since both apps only let you play for play money, it’s more like free poker online than anything else, as you can’t play for real money on any of the current Android poker apps.

Aside from apps that let you play poker, there are also other poker-related apps for Android phones that tackle other facets of the game, including odds calculators and clocks that manage tournament levels and notify you when blinds increase. There are also other poker utility apps that let you track how much you win or lose in cash games or at the casino as well as ones that deliver poker news, chip counts, and reports from tournaments directly to your phone.

Never Be Bored During a Flight or Road Trip with These Seven Android Game Apps

November 11th, 2010 Admin No Comments »

If someone were to tell you that you had to go on a road trip right away as a passenger in the car, what would you say? Chances are that you might be excited at the chance of going out on a trip, but chances are also good that you’d be worried about what you’ll actually do on the rip. If you’re seriously ready to fight boredom, you’ll need two things: your Android phone, and some good games.

What’s that? You have an Android phone but no games to go with it? Don’t fret, my friend — we actually got together and came up with some good Android games that you need to put on your phone. Most of them are free, but you might find one that’s actually worth putting onto your phone.

1. Bonsai Blast

Remember that classic computer game where you have to shoot colored bubbles at other colored bubbles and make the whole ball of wax fall down? It’s the same principle behind Bonsai Blast, a game that will have you addicted in no time. If our team got stuck at the airport, I’d definitely want this on my ‘Droid, for real. You’ll find some challenge with this game, especially as the time starts running out and you have to make decisions faster and faster.

2. Gem Miner

This game has a free version and a pay version. You might want to pick up the free version before you really dive in and buy the full version. The basic premise is that you have to go down into a mine and pick up any gems or gold that you find. You will then have to avoid traps and mazes in order to sell your precious cargo at the store — only to dive more into the mine, carrying better supplies and equipment every time. As you might imagine, this can be pretty addictive as you try to skillfully get past everything in the mine.

3. Puzzle Blox

If you were to put Tetris and Bejeweled into a high speed blender, this is probably the game that would come out. Hey, there are worse analogies, you know. Anyway, Puzzle Blox is all about matching up blocks in a way that will clear the board. If you’re familiar with both of the games mentioned, then you already know what to do. Even if you don’t, you’ll quickly catch on. There’s an online scoreboard where you can look and see who you can take out. Be warned, though — there are some PRETTY HIGH scores already out there, which means that you’re really going to have to work hard to break into the top scores. Thankfully, there’s always a slowdown at the airport, which means you’ll have plenty of time.

4. Parallel Kingdom

Mash together a MMORPG, GPS, and Google Maps, and you have Parallel Kingdom. This is actually a great idea that translates into some pretty interesting times. You won’t find top notch graphics in this guide, but it IS a game that will keep you occupied. Basically, the fantasy world is laid right on top of the real world that you’re exploring right now. You get to collect items and claim territories, as well as exploring the world around you. This is a perfect app for a group of geocachers or even just a hiking team, since both groups have a lot of ground that they have to cover.

5. NESoid

As you might be able to tell from the name, NESoid is an Android app that basically turns your phone into a Nintendo emulator. Not Super Nintendo — though there’s an app for that too — but old school Nintendo goodness. If you’re thinking about picking up a regular console, skip it and get a few emulators for your Android. You’ll get hours of entertainment for the price of a can of soda — if even that, really.

6. Munchy Solitaire

What honest Android game list could leave off solitaire from the list and still be an honest list? None, that’s what. You have to have at least one solitaire game. We don’t know what it is about solitaire that makes it so interesting and such a great way to pass away hours stuck at LAX, but it’s one that we keep reaching for time and time again.
Another reason why Munchy Solitaire should be on your list because you don’t have to drain your battery to get things up and running — the game is very battery-friendly and you can pick up other tools to handle the battery usage as well.

7. Blackjack Attack

Another card game Android app, but it’s a good one. If you need to have blackjack explained to you, well…you’re either a newbie or you’re just not a card player. However, the real card sharks will know exactly what’s meant by blackjack, that elusive search for 21 — don’t bust out and don’t let that dealer take all your hard earned chips! Did we mention that BA is also free? The fun just doesn’t stop!

Yes, we know that we could have given you 50 games, not just seven. However, these seven are more than enough to get you excited about the road ahead, so why not just download them and check it out? Most pay versions have free versions right next to them so you can actually try the game out before you buy it — making it a true win-win for all parties involved!

7 Android Apps for Busy Moms That Need a Break

November 8th, 2010 Admin No Comments »

When you take the plunge to become a mother, you already know that you’re life is about to turn upside down — but in a good way! It’s said that there’s no job on earth like being a mother, and there’s really no job that’s more important. Hey, we all had a mom at some point, right?

If you’re a busy mom looking for a way to put that shiny new Android phone you got to good use, here’s 7 Android apps that can really help you take some of the load off those childraising shoulders.

1. OurGroceries – If there’s one thing that you have to always think about, it’s definitely the groceries. After all, kids tend to pack away a lot of food, which means that you will need to make sure that you always have some food set aside for everyone in the house. OurGroceries is an app that makes managing the grocery lists a real breeze — it’s easy to add items, it’s easy to take away items, and it’s downright simple to add notes. It’s exactly what you nee d– an extra pair of hands to remember those little things on the grocery list that need to be purchased now.

2. CardioTrainer – Every mom needs to get in that all-important exercise routine. CardioTrainer tracks your progress and helps you set realistic goals that are easy to maintain. Since you have a lot on your plate, you can even count on CardioTrainer to remind you when you need to take your next run or other cardio-heavy activity. It’s completely up to you. Oh, if you’re wondering whether or not you have to give up your music just to use CT, here’s good news — you don’t, music integration is completely part of the app.

3. aCar — Unless you have a partner that really considers themselves to be Mr. Fix It, chances are good that you’re also responsible for making sure that the family cars are running in tip top shape. There’s nothing wrong with handling this on your own, but why not let an app like aCar make it a little bit easier? Instead of trying to remember when all of the services need to be checked on the car, you can let aCar manage that for you. Even if you switch phones, you’ll still be able to import the statistics into your new copy of aCar, giving you worry-free maintenance that lets you get on with the rest of life.

If you are running a home based business like many moms are doing now, you also have another benefit waiting for you when you pick up aCar — you will be able to track mileage as well as expenses that you incur on the car. This makes it much easier to face the accountant before tax season starts. You really can’t pass up aCar — many people love the app, not just moms. Still, it holds a place on the list because of the benefits it actually gives everyday moms.

4. EverNote – If you’re the type of busy mom that needs to take a lot of notes, EverNote is definitely an app that you must add to your collection. It will make your note taking experience so much nicer than what you’re dealing with now — download the app and you’re good to go — it’s free! And if you run out of space on your HDD you can always use disk cleaner to manage your data.

5. BabyBump – If you’re tracking the kids that you already have around all day, it can be hard to track the progress of the child that’s growing inside of you when you’re expecting. This app makes it downright easy to follow along with your pregnancy — you can even get Dad in on the fun too.

6. Listen — When you’re out and about, you have to listen to something other than the sounds of everyday life, right? Enter Listen, a Google Android app that is designed to help you manage each and every last one of your podcasts. There’s nothing wrong with being a geek and a mom at the same time, is there?

7. Ringdroid – It might seem odd to have an Android app on here that is more or less fun and entertainment-oriented, but there is a reason for this. When you’re a busy mom, you need to make sure that you have everyone organized on your phone. You don’t want to pick up the phone and not know who is calling — that’s what custom ringtones are for. Instead of paying more for ringtones, you can use Ringdroid to convert any MP3 file on your phone into a ringtone. You can even trim it down to make it fit on the device.

There are plenty of other apps out there for busy moms — it’s pretty hard to track them all. If you’re loving the Android lifestyle and running a family of your own, don’t be afraid to weigh in with the Android apps that really rock your day!

Help Your Kids Make the Grade with These Educational Android Apps

November 2nd, 2010 Admin No Comments »

Children of all ages usually have one stumbling block — their schoolwork. Even if you have a top notch A student, it goes without saying that you will need to make sure that you have given them every resource possible for them to maintain their good grades.

When you know that you need to really make the grade, you should take comfort in the fact that the hot new Android phone that you gave your kids can actually help them really get a jump start on their education.

Don’t believe us? Check out these 5 education apps for Android!

1. Capital Quiz — students can learn their capitals with no trouble at all, thanks to this handy little Android app. There’s no need to fear not being able to help your children learn their capitals as long as you have this app loaded.

2. Sky Map — Your children are most likely highly curious about the world around them — why not make it easy on them with Sky Map? It’s a great app for Android that really makes astronomy fun for the whole family. Instead of feeling like there’s no way that you would ever be able to find out what those stars in the sky really match up to constellation-wise, you and your children can use the Sky Map Android app to really make the night sky light up.

3. My Pocket Prof — If your children complain about having to take notes, this is the perfect Android app for them. My Pocket Prof will keep their class notes organized and also handle their homework as well. This way there can be no real excuse for not getting homework done. There’s another element to this app that really makes it interesting — you will be able to create notes and even quizzes that can be sold to other students. This means that if your little students have a bit of an entrepreneurial streak, they’ll be able to get a little bit of extra money.

4. Formulas Lite — As the name implies, this Android app is all about helping your students manage basic formulas and other data that can help them ace their next tests. Of course, they won’t be able to actually use it on test day, but they can still get their studying done. Even though Mac data recovery techniques are not perfect, your students will have something to study by even when their MacBook goes to service.

5. Pocket Knowledge –If you had to ask students what type of app they’d want, they’d naturally tell you that they want an app that can give them the answers they were hoping to get in the first place. Pocket Knowledge will accept just about any question you can think of and spit back an answer that you can squirrel away to be used at another time. This could even make your family discussions more interesting, as debates can be quickly solved with this handy little Android app.

Overall, helping your kids make the grade isn’t just a one time thing — it’s truly a process. These Android apps should definitely help your kids get where they want to go in virtually no time at all — why not get started today?

Embrace Your Inner Geek with These 5 Android Apps

October 31st, 2010 Admin No Comments »

If you’re a geek, there’s no reason to hide it. This is the era of the geek, and it’s going to stay that way for a long time. Look at the entire Android platform if you don’t believe us — it’s a phone designed to make you feel downright peachy about being a geek. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t apps out there to help you live out your inner geek to the fullest.

For those trying to get their inner geek to the surface, rock it out with these 5 Android apps.

1. Where’s My Droid? — Hey, just because you’re a geek doesn’t meant hat you’d never lose your phone. Just about everyone’s lost their phone, and it’s definitely not a pleasant feeling. The time for feeling like you’ll never see your phone again is over — there’s a new game in town.  Just send a quick “Where’s my phone?” text to your phone, and your phone will go off silent and start ringing its little head off – exactly what you need to find your phone.

2. Advanced Task Killer — If there’s one thing about geeks, it’s that they just can’t leave well enough alone. They want to make sure that their systems are running at maximum efficiency, and Advanced Task Killer is one of those apps that helps you do just that. With ATK, you can immediately zap any app that has overstayed its welcome, while leaving your system running as smooth as a baby’s…well, you know.

3. ConnectBot — It’s a Windows, Windows, Windows World…All cheesy James Brown parodies aside, the tech world is heavily Windows — at least on the general user side. On the geek side, you do have options. No matter if you’re running Windows or Linux; make sure that you will always be able to establish a secure connection from your mobile phone to the computer of your choice.

4. Photoshop.com Mobile — Photo editing at its finest — even if you’re not a huge artist, you will find that the basic version of this mobile Android app will give you more options than you really know what to do with.

5. Ringdroid — In the past, if you wanted a hot ring tone or a message tone for your friends, you had to pay through the nose just to get what you want. Not anymore — Ringdroid is an app with attitude — your attitude! If you don’t want to pay for ringtones, this app will give you just about every ringtone you could ever want. The secret lies in the app’s ability to take any MP3 files you have on your phone and create ringtones on the fly. If a song is too long, you can clip it down and make it the perfect length for a ringtone that will eventually annoy every last one of your friends — what could be better than that?

Overall, these Android apps are pretty geeky, but you wouldn’t have them any other way. Check them out today and you’ll definitely be able to stand squarely with just about any geek on the street — get started today!

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