Upcoming Android Applications

This week Google, HTC and T-Mobile officially unwrapped the first Android handset. While it's a smart handset on its own, the real highlight is of course the Android operating system and the many and varied applications that it's going to provide through the integrated Android Marketplace.

To ensure that the store is well stocked with clever software to play with once the first Android phones actually reach the shelves, Google has held a competition for Android developers, offering oodles of cash and early access to more advanced versions of the SDK to help developers on their way. We've had a sift through to find ten of the best, most imaginative apps that'll draining your handset battery faster than a free bar at an office party:

1. TuneWiki - Part handset karaoke game, part social networking tool and part GPS toy; TuneWiki syncs music and music videos with on-screen lyrics and even translates them to other languages. At the same time you can share information (but not tunes themselves) with your friends.

You can also navigate a map to see what other users are listening to. Find out whether that angry looking metal head up the train is secretly bopping to Abba and then incur his wrath by whistling 'Dancing Queen' at him.

The software will also create charts of top songs by individual locations, countries, states or cities.

2. Maverick - There are so many different IM, chat, micro-blogging and small-scale social networking tools around that it's royal pain to keep using individual programs for each, especially so on a mobile device. Maverick is designed to cut though all that, by offering a single platform to chat, email and publish blog content.

You can also share multimedia content including audio clips, photos and drawings directly though IM. It will also notify you when you receive an email in Gmail.

3. PocketJourney - Taking a trip to a new city? Don't want to tap up the local tourist office and lug a map around? No problem. PocketJourney will give you location specific 'geoclips' from tour guides and enthusiastic users to help you on your way. These might involve text, audio or video.

Sounds great for tourists, but we're intrigued to know whether other storytellers could get more creative with the technology, using the same location-specific system to set out elaborate treasure hunts and guided narratives turning the urban sprawl you thought you knew like the back of your hand into mysterious adventures.

4. LifeAware - No one likes the idea of Big Brother being able to track your every move. However, it would be bloody handy to know when your mate has walked into the pub next door. LifeAware will allow fellow Android users to get updates when their contacts come within a certain range. You can also set zones that alert you when a friend enters or leaves.

Okay, it's a little creepy and not something that you EVER let your boss, your co-workers or your wife anywhere near. Still neat though.

5. GolfPlay - One for the golfing fans out there, GolfPlay is a personal tool for managing personal golfing statistics, comparing your skills with others and finding out more information about a course you're playing. GPS mapping will give you an overview of the course too with hole data and statistics.

It sounds a little like a game of Tiger Woods and a lot like cheating. But hey, it'll help fellow golf cheats socially network and by the time everyone has their handsets turned into personal golf caddies, it won't be cheating any more.

The next step logical step would be to get golf balls with their own GPS chips, thus making it possible to find them when they're buried in the rough. Hop to it, golf ball makers.

6. Compare Everywhere - Here's one that doesn't involve the GPS. Oh wait it does, but the camera comes into play too. You can use the camera to scan the barcode on any product you like. The software then works out what you're looking for and hooks up to the net to find you the best deal. Then the GPS finds you a shop that's not a mail order service based in the Outer Hebrides so you can go and buy it.

7. Softrace -Softrace is a little program designed for runners. Using, you guessed it, the GPS, Softrace lets you map out races around a virtual track - for example: round the park, up to the shops, onto the number 29 and back up the stairs - then when that data's uploaded you can challenge yourself or others to beating your time. Maps will show where the course goes so you don't get lost.

Users will presumably be able to download new routes to try out and we look forward to becoming runners finding new training nemeses who keep beating their times by fractions of a second. Little will they realise that it'll be us! Using bikes. Or possibly taxis.

8. SplashPlay - The only tool on the list that actually needs an accessory. SplashPlay will teach how to play guitar chords form your favourite tunes. The (optional - but it's a lot less useful without it) BlueTooth Pod attaches to the kneck of your guitar and instructs you on which strings to hold using a lights and an onscreen display.

An important part of the service is the online store - it won't work with just any MP3 track unfortunately. You will be able to create your own riffs and share them with other users.

9. City Slikkers - assuming all the other GPS tools don't run your battery dry with thirty seconds, then definitely keep an eye on City Slikkers, one of growing tide of pervasive, location-based games. We don't know what the gameplay will be like yet, other than that it will involve doing stuff in real life in specific places, i.e. not sitting around hammering buttons on your sofa. Whole cities are scaled back to individual blocks and territories that teams can take over and compete with other teams for control over.

This concept has the potential for lots of fun and with added twist of maybe turning people who have never physically met before into mortal enemies, frantically scrabbling for their handsets as they suddenly recognise each other as a member of a rival faction.

10. Cooking Capsules - Wndering aorund the super market and can't decent what you want to cook? Or faced with a fridge full of half-finished ingredients and want to make something palatable out of it? This is where Cooking Capsules comes in, instantly providing you with bite sized (hohoho) recipe guides.

The system talks you through each step and users will also be able to upload their own ideas to the database.

T-Mobile G1 Pre-orders sold hit 1.5 million!

We’re still 9 days out before the first Google (NSDQ: GOOG) Android phone hits the streets and T-Mobile has already sold 1.5 million G1s in pre-orders, The Motley Fool reports. The carrier is also preparing to have another couple million G1s available at retail stores beginning Oct. 22. The G1 has rapidly become a phenomenon, particularly for a device using an unproven operating system and hardware seen by only a few people. Yet the approach taken by T-Mobile and Google has brought in 1.5 million sales before the device is even readily available. Following this feat, pre-sales might become more the norm throughout the industry for these heavily sought after cellphones. It’s a stark difference from how Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) handled its pair of iPhone launch cycles. While Apple revved up consumer interest in the iPhone with mass marketing campaigns leading up to the release, Google and T-Mobile appear to be holding back on TV commercials and the like until people can walk into a T-Mobile shop to buy one. But the hype machine has worked in the pairs’ favor regardless. T-Mobile now has an early sales boost from just its existing customer base—pre-sales aren’t open to new customers yet. And Google’s got 1.5 million votes of confidence for its Android OS before it debuts.

Leaked T-Mobile G1 Specs

RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 22, 2008!!


What’s known so far:

* In-store, immediate sales only available in stores within 5 miles of a 3G covered area. If a store is beyond that range, representatives will walk customers through a T-mobile.com purchase
* One touch access to: Search, Maps, Gmail, Youtube, Calendar, and Google Talk
* Gmail account and data plan required
* GPS
* 3.1 mp camera, no video recording
* No stereo bluetooth (A2DP)
* Dimensions: 4.6 x 2.16 x 0.63 in
* Weighs 5.6 ounces
* 480×320 65K color screen
* 5 hour talk time, 130 hour standby time
* Expandable up to 8GB

Android: Google's Dream, Apple's Nightmare?

A new smartphone is debuting on Sept. 23, and, no, it's not just another iPhone clone. The HTC Dream from T-Mobile will be the first handset to run Google's new mobile operating system, Android. And while it won't look as sleek as the iPhone, it promises to give mobile-phone users a lot more freedom and flexibility.
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Many of the Dream's features are under wraps until launch, but based on leaked photos and videos along with screenshots released by Google, we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. The biggest departure from the iPhone design is the inclusion of a physical keyboard, which apparently slides out from underneath the Dream's touchscreen. The Dream will also allow users to run multiple applications at once and more easily share contacts and data between them. And if reports from developers TIME interviewed prove true, mobile-phone users will finally be able to cut and paste text in emails — a function that's frustratingly absent on the iPhone. The Dream, which is expected to go on sale in late October, will also reportedly cost the same as the 3G: $199.

The sweetest part of the Dream is the add-on applications available from the Android Market — Google's answer to the Apple App Store. Whereas many Apple apps cost money (typically anywhere from $.99 to $9.99), at launch all Android Market apps will be free. That includes BreadCrumbz, a picture-based navigation program that doesn't just give you a drawing of your route, but also includes real-world photos to keep you on track. Another interesting app, TuneWiki, is a tricked-out music player that encourages mobile karaoke, by synchronizing written lyrics onscreen to the song's YouTube video. It also shows you what songs other TuneWiki users near you are listening to in real time. Since Android is better than the iPhone at running multiple programs at once, you won't have to choose between apps: As Breadcrumbz helps you find your way to a party, TuneWiki can play your favorite Rihanna video and get you in a groovy mood. When it's time to make a right turn, Breadcrumbz will cut in and alert you.

Android has several other key advantages over Apple. While Apple takes a top-down approach to app development — the company must approve every app that makes it into its App Store — Google will allow creators to upload any application to the Android Market without its review. Sure that means some duds will make it in, but it will also allow for a much more open and democratic way for favorites to evolve. Perhaps more significantly, users will not be limited to a single phone or carrier for long. While T-Mobile's HTC Dream will be the first phone to run Android, Google is inviting all carriers to develop handsets for the platform. Expect to see other compatible devices early next year.

Most of the Dream's other features are expected to go toe-to-toe with the iPhone, including built-in GPS, a tilt sensor for gaming, and a camera. What's more, T-Mobile recently expanded coverage for its 3G data network to 27 major cities. The faster bandwidth promises to make watching videos and downloading websites go smoothly, but if the spotty 3G coverage offered by AT&T for the iPhone is any indication, buyers should treat this promise with deep skepticism.

On the downside, don't expect the Dream to be anywhere near as slick and shiny as the iPhone. T-Mobile may be much loved among teens for its colorful, flip-screen Sidekick, but the HTC Dream will likely have a more staid look that lacks the iPhone's panache. Plus, no one can turn on the hype machine quite as well as Steve Jobs. But whatever the Dream may lack in flair, it's no less of a breakthrough when it comes to giving mobile-phone buyers more ways to connect on the go.

Google’s $199 phone to compete with the iPhone

The Google-powered cell phone is coming soon, and it will retail for $199, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The price of the new Google (GOOG) smart phone would put the device head-to-head with Apple’s $199 iPhone (AAPL). The Google phone, which features a touchscreen and is made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, faces some stiff competition. The iPhone 3G has generated significant interest among consumers for redefining touch-screen technology, popularizing mobile applications and significantly improving Web navigation on cell phones.

T-Mobile (DT), the first carrier that will run Google’s Android mobile software, will show off the new phone to analysts and reporters on Tuesday in Manhattan. It is expected to hit stores later this fall.

Representatives from Google, HTC and T-Mobile would not comment on the Journal’s report.

Google unveiled features of the Android operating system on an unidentified black HTC handset at a developers conference in London on Wednesday.

The HTC phone is just the first of many Google-powered phones, according to the search giant. For Google to reach its ultimate goal - driving mobile Internet use and, in turn, ads - it will need to get multiple devices in the hands of mainstream consumers. The price will also need to be right, given that companies like Palm and Samsung already offer entry-level smartphones for $100.

Android Market: a user-driven content distribution system

When we talk to developers, a common topic is the challenge of getting applications in the hands of users. That's why today I'm happy to share early details of Android Market—an open content distribution system that will help end users find, purchase, download and install various types of content on their Android-powered devices. The concept is simple: leverage Google's expertise in infrastructure, search and relevance to connect users with content created by developers like you.

Developers will be able to make their content available on an open service hosted by Google that features a feedback and rating system similar to YouTube. We chose the term "market" rather than "store" because we feel that developers should have an open and unobstructed environment to make their content available. Similar to YouTube, content can debut in the marketplace after only three simple steps: register as a merchant, upload and describe your content and publish it. We also intend to provide developers with a useful dashboard and analytics to help drive their business and ultimately improve their offerings.

I also wanted to share some early details to help with planning your efforts so that you can be ready as our partners release the first Android-powered handsets. Developers can expect the first handsets to be enabled with a beta version of Android Market. Some decisions are still being made, but at a minimum you can expect support for free (unpaid) applications. Soon after launch an update will be provided that supports download of paid content and more features such as versioning, multiple device profile support, analytics, etc. Below are some screenshots that illustrate some of the security features and workflow.

With the addition of a marketplace, the Android ecosystem is becoming even more robust. I am incredibly energized by the support and amazing content I've seen so far. We will share more details as they are available and I look forward to working with many of you in the coming months.

Source: Android Blog

Why Android Might Deliver Where iPhone Won’t

While the industry puzzles over when Android-supported phones will hit shelves, it is unclear what impact, if any, it will have against growing iPhone adoption.

Google-led Android doesn’t quite get the hype that Apple’s iPhone does, but there are plenty of reasons to get excited for it. For one, Android’s OS looks to offer a lot more than iPhone can with its latest release.

Here are five reasons to buy your loved one an Android-operated phone rather than an iPhone for Christmas:

1. It promises to run on most modern smart phones - More cell networks will support Android than iPhone does — the iPhone is bound to just AT&T. Mobile providers NTT DoCoMo, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and more have committed to the project. Also, more handsets will operate on it. You might even get more life out of your old phone if it supports it. Handset manufactures HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung have already signed on.
2. It’s open-source software - Any programmer can whip up some code to match popular features from any other phone. Under the Apache license, any programmer can take the code and port their own version of the OS.
3. It has support for Google products out of the box - The latest Android demonstration displayed the phone’s compass prominently in Google Maps. You can bet Google will have the latest and greatest features of their software running on Android before it hits other operators.
4. Third-party developers have more access - iPhone prohibits people from using its internet capabilities for things like VoIP or an alternative browser. Android’s API allows you to create an application for anything, even the dialing software. The evidence is in the 50 applications already developed for the Android Developer Challenge last May.
5. Android allows for ‘unlocked’ phones - Most handsets in America, including the iPhone, are locked by software to a cell phone provider’s network. While there are various ways to jailbreak, it’s not easy and might break your terms of service. The availability of downloading and installing your own unlocked OS might just change the game in respect to shopping for mobile phone providers and signing contracts. If this method gets more popular, it is conceivable phone networks may drop the contracts in lieu of (better) European pre-pay pricing.

Apple proved when they launched the OS X powered iPhones, it isn’t just hardware that drives the killer mobile devices that change the industry. From what we can gather from Android, Google gets it too.

Source: WebMonkey