Google and Android

Intel Powered Tablets Coming To Challenge The iPad

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The Apple iPad may be “Magical” to some but Intel is betting that some extra horsepower will be all the rage for others in the very near future. At an Investor Meeting Intel Vice President Mooly Eden said that: "People ask me, are you serious about trying to participate in the tablet market? The answer … Read more

Google Maps for Android Gets Biking Directions, Navigation Shortcut, Sharing, and More

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Starting today, Google Maps for mobile has a few new ways to help you and your friends quickly get to where you’re going whether you’re on 4 wheels or 2 (or maybe even 3). With Google Maps 4.2 for Android you can now get biking directions on the go, start Navigation from your Home screen, … Read more

Android Shakes Up U.S. Smartphone Market

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First quarter 2010 information from The NPD Group’s Mobile Phone Track reveals a shift in the smartphone market, as Android OS edged out Apple’s OS for the number-two position behind RIM PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Android operating system (OS) continued to  shake up the U.S. mobile phone market in the first quarter (Q1) of 2010, … Read more

It’s not about where Android is, it’s about where it’s going…

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So David and Doug have been back and forth about this whole Android/WinMo thing, and it has mostly centered around Apps.  We can debate about the quality of Android apps and the archaiety of WinMo apps forever as there is plenty of ammunition around to make the US nuclear stockpile look like firecrackers.  However, one specific trend sticks out in my mind that spells D-O-O-M for Android if they’re not careful.  Microsoft stumbled on the same problems and are now facing a major overhaul. 

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Google Goggles v1.1 For Android Released

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Android users need not wonder what in the world they ordering in another country again thanks to Google hooking them up with Goggles v1.1! This handy little app will let you take a picture, say of a menu, and translate it for you  into English or one of these newly released languages: English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Also included in Goggles is an improved barcode feature.  You can read more in the announcement coming from their blog this morning below. 

Traveling to another country can be an amazing experience. The opportunity to immerse yourself in a different culture can give you a new perspective. However, it can be hard to fully enjoy the experience if you do not understand the local language. For example, ordering food from a menu you can not read can be an adventure. Today we are introducing a new feature of Google Goggles that will prove useful to travelers and monoglots everywhere: Goggles translation.

Here’s how it works:

  • Point your phone at a word or phrase. Use the region of interest button to draw a box around specific words
  • Press the shutter button
  • If Goggles recognizes the text, it will give you the option to translate
  • Press the translate button to select the source and destination languages.

Jump after the break for the rest of the press release by Google on Goggles v1.1 for Android!

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Thumbplay Music Launches On Android

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Thumbplay®, the leading provider of mobile entertainment in the U.S., has launched its cloud-based Thumbplay® Music(TM) (www.thumbplaymusic.com) service in Android(TM) Market, providing the Android fan-base with unlimited, anytime/anywhere access to millions of songs. Thumbplay Music is the only on-demand, subscription music service currently available on both the fastest-growing and largest smartphone platforms in the U.S., … Read more

HTC Desire Android Device Available In Three Flavors!

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Just got an email from OnTheGoSolutions.com and they are telling me that they now have in stock the HTC Desire Android Device in three flavors including a USA Version with the 850MHz Bandwidth to work on AT&T’s 3G network. Check them out: HTC Desire – Unlocked Quadband GSM, International 3G (900/2100Mhz) The HTC Desire International … Read more

Skyfire Launches the First Flash Video Enabled Mobile Browser for Android

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Well now that you got your new Verizon HTC Droid Incredible, what do you do now? Browse the web with Skyfire’s new web browser fro Android! Skyfire 2.0 for Android includes a cloud-computing toolbar – the SkyBar – which includes three key features missing from the native Android browser, and missing from Fennec.

What’s in the SkyBar?

1. Video – this icon repairs any broken Flash video which would normally display as an error message on Android (see screenshot)
2. Explore – brings smart media recommendations to the user based on what they are looking at (including Twitter buzz, trends, other videos, and other sites).
3. Share – lets the user upload any website, video or link to their social networking accounts with a single click and status update

Check out this video for more on Skyfire 2.0 for Android:

I have been using Skyfire for my WinMo devices since it was in Beta and everyone was fighting over getting an invite. It is an excellent full browser experience for your mobile device. I have not tried this yet, but I can tell you if it works as well on the Android platform as it does on all my WinMo devices, you guys are going to be grinning ear to ear. Check out the full press release after the break.

Skyfire 2.0 for Android is available for download worldwide free at bit.ly/skyfireandroid

 

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