Reflections on the MWC 2011 and the outlook for the cell phone and Android world

17/02/2011 — AndroidZoom

The MWC will shortly be closing its doors for another year and though we’ll be sad to see it go, with all the excitement over, it’s maybe not such a bad thing. This year’s edition has left us with plenty to talk and think about so at the close of this international event, held once again in Barcelona (the host city for next year too), let’s take a look at what the future has in store for the cell phone world. I’ll also share with you what I view to be the best releases for Android this year.

At least until next year breaks the record, the 2011 congress has undoubtedly been the most multitudinous edition so far, both in terms of visitors and media attention, with huge crowds (90% dressed in suits) and hundreds of events taking place throughout the city of Barcelona.

General overview

Overall, I have to say that the MWC has left me with a bitter sweet aftertaste. At first you’re over-excited, eager to see it all (an almost impossible task), rushing from stand to stand, talking to every single company- manufacturer, operator or developer… Everything looks perfect, colorful, eye-catching, full of realities and promises … But if there’s one thing that really stood out at this year’s MWC, it’s the number of cell phones that were presented with one characteristic in common: a clear lack of innovation. Just like they said to us at Samsung when we asked about the resemblance between the SGS II and the iPhone 4, there’s not a lot you can do to differentiate a model in a 3 to 5 inch format where the screen occupies 95% of the design. But we’re not just talking about similar designs here; we’re talking about a clear failure by some brands to innovate.

The case of HTC is unforgiveable: practically the same cell phones without even new or adapted names. The hardware is almost identical (except for just a few small details) and they’re way behind when it comes to the generational change in the tablet world (can this really be justified? Are they looking for a different niche market?).

And Samsung isn’t far behind as we mentioned, but at least in their case they introduced a superior cell phone that represents a real step forward for their product. Designs and names aside, of course. And coming up the rear is Sony Ericsson. While there are positive changes here in some cases, with the exception of the Arc and the Play the design of the rest is just more of the same, and although aimed at different potential clients, they’ve left Neo totally unprotected.

Motorola don’t generally innovate in terms of design (basically because it’s something they’re not so concerned about- they usually opt more for uniformity across their products) but they do when it comes to functions and accessories, especially in the integration of these two concepts for an improved technological and multimedia experience.

Then we have the tablets. This is where it gets complicated; they all have Honeycomb and they’re all the same, apart from some small details in each model. They’re all major brands too, so how can we differentiate one from the other? The Galaxy Tab 10.1 has no SD slot but it weighs 100 grams less than the Xoom. The Optimus Pad has a 3D camera but measures the same. Spot the difference? The price, of course! Or at least that’s what we hope

Here’s where the real handset price war starts, something we hope to take full advantage of. The silence surrounding launch dates (“before summer” was the most repeated indication) makes us think that they’re waiting to see who makes the first move in order to compete with prices and give added value to their products. We hope to see signs of this war from May onwards, which is when most of the releases are expected. Here’s hoping they’re ruthless in combat!

The top discoveries

For me there are clear winners and losers at this year’s MWC. Among the winners, I’d highlight the following, in this order:

1. LG Optimus 3D: In my opinion, this is already the cell phone of the year. With its dual core, dual channel and dual memory, it’s sure to become the most powerful cell phone on the Android scene. It certainly left me lost for words (for benchmark fans: 2954 on Quadrant…). And as if that wasn’t enough, there’s the 3D element, but then that’s not everyone’s thing.

2. Motorola Atrix with LapDock: It may be just an accessory that’s the real key to this little discovery, but I think it’s a great idea. It travels well and can be seamlessly connected to a light lap-top dock that doesn’t overheat. I was really impressed but I’d have to try it out for a few days to see exactly how it could improve my day-to-day multimedia experience.

3. Samsung Galaxy S II: This is clearly the forerunner of the next generation of Android phones. It doesn’t quite give the same results as the Optimus 3D but we have to remember that Samsung is backed by its bestseller the SGS, so it’s more easily recognizable to new users.

4. OnLive for HTC: This is a clever move by the Taiwanese, but we’ll have to wait and see how it works; some country networks are probably too weak to support this game-streaming service.

5. Blackberry Playbook: It certainly doesn’t beat Honeycomb or even the HP Pad with WebOS, but the jump in quality compared to what we’re used to with RIM software is immense. It was great to see it in action and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. There’s already some talk about it becoming compatible with Android Market (hmmm, we’ll see…).

To sum up, Android took centre-stage at this year’s MWC (it was everywhere) but unfortunately, so did the army of disappointing cell phones (even though there were a few jaw-droppers here and there). Despite the general let-down, I confess I’m already looking forward to next year!

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in AndroidZoom, Elandroidelibre, MWC2011, Reviews. 1 Comment »

No-brainers: The most common Android problems, solved (II)

10/02/2011 — AndroidZoom

After such a good response to the first edition, where we talked about how to save space by moving applications to the SD, how to take screenshots and how to uninstall default apps, today we’re pleased to present you with the second edition of No-brainers.

How can I save space by cleaning cache?

There’s no getting round the fact that our applications store up a lot of cache. On occasion, my browser and my twitter apps have managed to clock up over 30Mb of data. So what’s the solution? It couldn’t be easier. Download App Cache Cleaner.

App Cache Cleaner
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This simple application will show you, in order of cache size, the applications with the most Mb in cache. Then you simply tap on the application to empty it. You’ll be surprised by the Mb you’ll save.

How do I stop my cell phone from using data?

You may not have a flat rate data plan, or maybe you’re going abroad on vacation for a few days… Imagine that for whatever reason, you don’t want your cell phone to consume data. What can we do to avoid a nasty surprise when your bill comes through? Fiddle with the phone settings? No need. The easiest solution of all is called APNDroid, a real must-have.

APNdroid
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This application is a simple widget. When you press it, all data connections on your cell phone are instantly blocked. And don’t worry, you can still receive text messages. Only data connection -which not everyone has- is restricted. This application is an absolute must for those of you who’d rather avoid flat rates. However, a good data plan, is highly recommendable.

How do I use my cell phone to connect to the internet from my computer?

There are two options here. Well actually, there are 3.

For Android 2.2 or above

Go to Settings –> Wireless & networks –> Tethering & portable hotspot -> Portable wifi hotspot

End of story. Configure it with whatever name and password you want and hey presto, your cell phone will be transformed into a wifi router for your laptop or PC.

If your Android is < 2.2

• For NON- ROOTED

The best option is to use PDANet or Easy Tether.

PdaNet
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EasyTether Lite
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• For ROOTED

We recommend you use Barnacle Wifi Tether.

Barnacle Wifi Tether
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NOTE: Not all operators allow tethering, so it’s a good idea to check first.

How can I control my data usage? For any number of reasons, you might want to control the amount of data you’ve consumed. Maybe you have a data allowance or maybe your operator drastically reduces your connection speed once you go over a certain amount. How about a simple widget to keep an eye on what you’ve used?

Traffic Counter Extended
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You can also use a more comprehensive application such as 3G Watchdog.

3G Watchdog
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Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of No-brainers. Any suggestions are more than welcome. If you have any questions you can ask right here in comments.

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in AndroidZoom, Apps, Elandroidelibre, Tricks. 2 Comments »

No-brainers: The most common Android problems, solved (I)

07/02/2011 — AndroidZoom

We receive a lot of questions here at AndroidZoom, so it’s easy to identify which are the most common problems you guys experience with Android.  Instead of answering the same questions over and over we thought: hey, why not gather them all together in one post? So that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Here are the answers to the 3 most common questions we get asked. If you have any other doubts, let us know about it for the next issue. Here goes

How do I move applications to the SD card to save space?

This is a classic Android problem: we end up short of space and need to transfer apps to the SD. So how do we do it? It’s really easy.



Note: Not all applications can be moved to the SD. It depends on the Developer.

I have Android 2.2 or above

All you need to do is download App 2 SD (the free or paid version, whichever you prefer). When it loads, it displays all the applications that can be moved to the SD. Just click on the app to move it. End of story. This should help you save a few MB.

App 2 SD Free (move app to SD)
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I don’t have Android 2.2 or above

You should be rooted and use a ROM that supports Apps2SD (the ROM information indicates this). In our Mobiles section, you have all the ROMs available for each phone. Once you’ve installed the ROM, follow the steps above :-)

How do I take screenshots?

There are two ways to do it.

I’m ROOTED Download Shootme. This is a great application that not only allows you to take screenshots- you can also shoot videos. What more could you want?

ShootMe (Screen Grabber)
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I’m NOT ROOTED

Use the SDK with DDMS. Here we explain how (and as a real treat, there’s even a video). Contrary to popular belief, it’s really easy.

How do I uninstall the default applications on my phone?

For this, you absolutely have to be ROOTED.

The next step is simple. All you have to do is download Root Uninstaller. It allows you to remove all the applications you want. A total must-have.

Root Uninstaller
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We hope this information will be useful to you in your Android apps discoverings!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in Apps, Elandroidelibre, Tricks. 2 Comments »

Official Skype for Android

24/01/2011 — AndroidZoom

Last October another great application dives into Android. Up until now we’ve had only limited versions or imitations, leaving us to resort to third parties. But those days are over. The official version of Skype has finally reached Android.

The application

For those of you unfamiliar with Skype (highly unlikely), it’s the most well-known company offering VoIP (Voice over IP), or in other words, free calls on the internet. If your friends have Skype, the call is free. If not, you can still call landlines and cell phones anywhere in the world at really low rates (between 2-5 cents per minute). Until recently, there was no official application for Android and the third party apps available didn’t support free calls between users. That was until now. The application graphics are impressive.

To begin with, we’re asked to sign in, with the option of registering. We’re then displayed with a series of tabs for navigating between the different application functions: Contacts, Calls, Profile and Events (each one is fairly self-explanatory).

The application also supports:
•    Instant messaging between users
•    Skype-to-Skype calls
•    Calls to landlines and cell phones
•    Incoming calls
•    Participation in group calls (conference calls)
•    Android address book sync (adding in 2.1 the option to call each contact via Skype)
•    Call diversion
•    Favorite contacts, groups of contacts
But for the time being, the following isn’t possible:
•    Videocalls
•    Skype voicemail
•    Skype SMS
•    Skype File transfer
Even so, we can’t complain! Download it here or from the official website: skype.com/m

Skype
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Who can use it?

•    At the moment it’s only compatible with Android 2.1 or over. For some strange reason, the Samsung Galaxy S isn’t supported…

The big debate

As you can see, this service is awesome. When Skype was “PC only”, no problem… So now it’s available on all smart phones (Android, iPhone, BB, Symbian), what’s the big deal? Well, now everyone can make free calls, or almost free, between phones!
As you can imagine, Voice over IP isn’t exactly a telephone operator’s dream since they lose vast amounts of money. As a result, Voice over IP is limited or even prohibited by Spanish companies. If you want, you can call, but don’t be surprised when you receive an astronomical bill.

Solutions: for the time being, there are 2.
•    Call via Wi-Fi. It makes sense and it’s easy, especially since all the latest phones support WiFi. On the down side, if you can’t connect to the internet, you can’t call.
•    Certain companies such as Vodafone are offering fixed rates that include VoIP, but the price is considerably higher (40€ per month or more).

It’s about time companies faced up to the fact that VoIP is the future and gradually, they’ll have to adapt their billing and tariffs to a single flat rate. But, one step at a time…

Alternatives

Skype isn’t the only company offering these services. Here are a few alternatives for you to try out:
•    Fring
•    Nimbuzz
•    Rebtel
•    Truphone
•    Tubaloo

We’ve tested them all and they get our seal of approval ;-)

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in Apps, Elandroidelibre, Reviews, VoIP. 3 Comments »

“The Other” Android tablets at the 2011 CES

17/01/2011 — AndroidZoom

Some tablets really stood out while others went virtually unnoticed. There were a few that we’re now dreaming about and others that we haven’t even heard of yet. You’ve already seen a lot of the first models recently: the Motorola XOOM, the G-Slate by LG, the Asus (Transformer, Slider and Memo). And the greatest discovery that unites them all: Honeycomb.

But there were a few that, for some reason, we weren’t quite expecting. Here’s the rundown:

Toshiba “Anon”
Why Anon? Because it has no name. What’s its main characteristic? It’s a clone of XOOM and G-Slate but not quite as complete as these- that’s why such a fuss hasn’t been made about it. What do I mean by incomplete? Well, as you’ll see in the video, it has Froyo but that’s temporary; it’ll soon come with Honeycomb. Let’s take a closer look at its characteristics and the video by our friends at Android Police:

•    Nvidia Tegra II Chipset
•    10’1 inch screen with WXGA resolution (1280×800)
•    Full size HDMI and USB ports (no micro or mini)
•    SD card slot (again, no mini or micro) which means storage can be expanded to 64 GB instead of 32.
•    Weight: 770g
•    5 Mp camera at the back and a 2 Mp front-facing camera

Acer Iconia Tab A500

One of the two tablets promised by Acer, so far it’s been introduced with Froyo, but as with the previous tablet, it’ll come with Honeycomb. The proof? The virtual buttons instead of hardware buttons.
It also has a 10.1 inch screen, with USB, microUSB and HDMI ports, and a connection for charger and dock. “On top of” Android, it has the Hacer U15 interface by the manufacturer and of course (as if it were now the standard) Nvidia Tegra 2. Perhaps its most distinguishing feature is its attractive, hard shell and metallic color.

Dell Streak 7

Dell has gone for a seven inch tablet, also with Nvidia Tegra 2. In this case it also has:
•    Gorilla Glass screen
•    Internal 16 GB memory, expandable with microSD (+32GB)
•    5 Mp back camera and 1.3 Mp front-facing camera
•    Manufacturer interface (Stage)
•    Currently with Froyo but has virtual buttons (Honeycomb, perhaps?)
•    Dimensions (in inches): 7.87? x 4.72? x 0.49?

Two more- and even more on the horizon…

On another level, we have the Lenovo IdeaPad U1, a tablet with Android 2.2 and Snapdragon processor @ 1.3 Ghz, that can’t be updated to Honeycomb. Its main feature is that when you plug it into its dock, it becomes a screen for running Windows 7 (which is what the dock-keyboard has). And to make it just that little bit stranger than it already was, it doesn’t have Market, which seems to be the case with a lot of tablets as we mentioned before.

The Vizio Via Tablet is also worth a mention, an almost square tablet with Froyo on the inside, but again, it looks like Honeycomb is on its way (virtual buttons and the apparition of Market). In this case we’re talking about 8 inches and it has a curious little app that turns it into a universal remote control. Here’s a video from CNET to show you more:

The MWC is just around the corner and that means more new features. Ever thought about what Samsung has been up to while everyone’s been busy making tablets and HTC? In a month or so we’ll have the answer.

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in AndroidZoom, CES2011, Elandroidelibre, Reviews, Tablets. 1 Comment »

APPS2SD: Free up space on your Android in 3 easy steps

12/01/2011 — AndroidZoom

A lot of people have been telling me recently that they can’t install certain applications because they have no space left on their phone. Now we’re talking about internal memory here, not the SD memory. And yes, it’s true to say that on the first phones that came out (such as Dream, Magic, Hero and co.) the internal memory in terms of installing applications is nothing to shout about. More than once you’ll have found the Memory Full icon on the notifications bar, so let’s have a look at how to avoid it.

Step 1 Clear data

If you go to Settings -> Applications -> Manage applications you’ll see a list of all the installed apps. If you go into one of them (Twitter, Navigator, etc…) you’ll see different storage data. One of the options here is Clear Data. This will delete all data stored by the application and should free up quite a lot of space.

But remember, this is a short term solution because this data will reaccumulate and you’ll be back to square one.



Step 2 Clear Cache [Roots only]

Just like on a computer, you can delete cache. You can use an application directly to do this, but you’ll need Root access.

Cache Killer
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Step 3 Move applications to the SD [Root only]

Note: With Android 2.2 Froyo and NOT rooted: only a few applications can go on to the SD. ROOTED + Any ROM that fully supports Apps2SD: no problem, they’ll all go on.

This is the function that we’re all waiting for and that’s gradually being implemented in Android 2.2 Froyo. Unfortunately, we still depend on the developer implementing it on his application. BUT if you’re ROOTED you can activate this function and transfer all your applications to the SD without any difficulties. This is a definitive way of solving the problem of storage, since you’re left with all the SD space for installing applications. Here are a couple of applications (there are many more available) that will help transfer to the SD.

App 2 SD Free (move app to SD)
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MoveToSD
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This should work for all Androids (it doesn’t), but in any case, if you have Android 2.2 it’s guaranteed to work for a few apps.

Note: Don’t transfer widgets to the SD because they’ll stop working.

I hope this advice helps you free up more space on your phone for installing applications. Another way of reading it is: here are two more reasons to root if you haven’t already!

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in Apps, Elandroidelibre, Tricks. 3 Comments »

Simple games from the past, the present, and always: Bomber man, Frogger and Solipskier

05/01/2011 — AndroidZoom

It’s great that Android is also evolving into an excellent gaming platform where the quality of textures is on a par with that of any portable console… But from time to time there’s a certain nostalgia for those simple games we would spend hours and hours playing until we’d practically damaged our eyesight. So here are three games that the majority will probably be familiar with and that we can now enjoy on our phones.

Bomberman Dojo

Bomberman Dojo takes us back to the days when we used to spend dime after dime at the amusement arcade (now that made me sound old…). If the name doesn’t ring any bells, all you need to do is look at the image of the little guy who strategically plants bombs until he’s cleared the screen of enemies and you’ll recognize it.
The game includes multi-touch support and Open-Feint connection (like Ninja Fruit) so you can share statistics with the whole community. To do this, if you haven’t installed Open-Feint or you haven’t set up an account before, you’ll have to create one at the beginning of Bomberman Dojo, or you can forget about sharing.
Movement is controlled by sliding your finger over the cross control. There’s a normal mode (Dojo) and an editable mode (User) from which you can load saved games, edit your own maps and even exchange maps created with maps by other users.
It may not run quite as smoothly as it should and $4.99 may be a bit steep, but the memories it brings back are priceless.

Bomberman Dojo
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Frogger

This is another one of those games that we’ve probably all played more than once. The frog that tries to cross a busy road and then a river by jumping on logs etc. is now a classic in the genre of simple but addictive games. By the one and only Konami, it comes in both a standard version and a version compatible with Android 2.0 onwards. However, inexplicably, the updated version not only has worse graphics, but its price has almost doubled… Even so, despite the simple plot, it’s a game that’s way more addictive than it seems.

Frogger
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Frogger
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Solipskier

Now this one hasn’t been around for that long, but it’s a classic browser game (for when your boss isn’t looking). Some of you may remember Line Rider, a game as basic as they come but that could get you totally hooked, spending hours creating incredible circuits for your character to do impressive spins on his sleigh… If you fit that description, then Solipskier will definitely trigger your memory. Again, the aim is ridiculously simple: gain as many points as possible with a skier you draw the tracks, slopes and jumps for, but this time you create the tracks as you go along, by sliding your finger over the screen. The sense of speed intensifies with the accompanying music. It’s very basic game, but it’s the perfect companion for any kind of journey.

Solipskier
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So what about you guys? Missing any classics on your Android? What are the games that kept you awake and out of pocket when you were young that you’d like to see adapted for your cell phone? I vote for “Cadillacs & Dinosaurs”.

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in AndroidZoom, Apps, Elandroidelibre, Games. 3 Comments »

The 6 most amazing Android applications

31/12/2010 — AndroidZoom

Just the other day I was thinking back to how I imagined the future would be when I was little. I didn’t have any exact ideas, but thanks to all those science fiction movies I at least had a notion of what the main features would be: voice and gesture controlled computers and hundreds of other similar gimmicks and gadgets… And then I stopped and said to myself, “Hey, you’ve already got all this stuff!”

Readers, the future is in your hands. The same type of future that if you show it to grandma or grandpa, or even to your parents, they’ll stare at you stunned and won’t even attempt to try and understand it (now that’s magic). Let me introduce you to a few of the applications that are fast establishing a before and after. Here goes with the TOP 6.

6 – Google Navigation/Google Maps

Since Google Navigation was activated automatically on our phones a couple of months ago, I’ve been able to use the application to its full potential and understand that although it’s not the best ever, Google Maps Navigation has marked a before and after in the GPS world. To begin with, the fact that you get a complete GPS for free upfront when you open the map application is incredible. But Google Maps is much more than your run-of-the-mill GPS: Navigation checks the road traffic in real-time and if it detects congestion, it searches for alternative routes. You can navigate with Street View which shows you with real photos the streets you have to take, or you can just say “ice-cream parlor” and it’ll take you to the nearest one.

So it really doesn’t matter if you’re visiting a city for the first time. Now there’s no excuse: you can’t ever get lost anywhere, even if you tried. Amazing.



5 – Awesome Drop

I just can’t help it- I love this little application. Awesome Drop is a perfect representation of what will soon be the integration of HTML5 in our lives. Let me sum up what it’s all about. On the one hand, you install the application on your Android and on the other, open a browser on your PC. Visit the website and after entering the code that appears, all you have to do is drag and drop the files you want and they’ll automatically download onto your phone through push. Awesome.



Allow me to underline the advantages of this little application. You don’t need wires, or to be connected to the same Wifi network to send files from a computer to a cell phone. No restrictions whatsoever. But what’s more important: there are no physical limitations. I can open my application and my girlfriend Paola who lives in Madrid opens her browser. She gives me the code and passes me all the files she wants and they’ll appear instantly on my phone. Great.

4 – Chrome to Phone

This application is similar to the previous one but with a few modifications. Chrome to Phone has two main components: an application for Android and an extension for Chrome or Firefox. The principle of Chrome to Phone is to remove the physical boundary that exists between your computer and your phone in terms of information flow. If you’re watching a video on Youtube, press the button and it will automatically continue playing on your phone. If you’re reading an article, the same applies: press the button and continue reading on your cell phone. But it goes one step further: search for an address or map on your computer and Google Maps will open on your Android. Select a telephone number on your computer screen, press the button and be amazed as your phone starts to dial.



Technology aside, I love this application for the philosophy behind it and because we’re getting closer to a future where moving from cell phone to PC is completely fluid and vice versa. Changing devices will no longer mean you have to stop what you’re doing.

3 – Gesture Search

We already talked about this application but it’s been updated recently with a movement that will leave you speechless.

We literally open this application with a “doubleFlip” and then all we have to do is write with our finger the application we want to open. It’s amazing that with the flick of the wrist we can browse our contacts, applications and music. You should see the look on people’s faces when I do this trick.



2 – Shazam and music recognition

This application is a must for music lovers. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, Shazam is one of those applications that leave you thinking “how do they do that?” Imagine a song is playing… Open Shazam and in 15 seconds you’ll know the title of the track, the artist, the album, dates, Youtube videos, lyrics, places you can download it and much more. You really have to see it in action to believe it.

With applications like this, I’m left thinking why they don’t integrate it somehow in car radios and other places. It automatically tells you what band and what song you’re listening to… Seriously, try it if you haven’t done so already.

1 – Voice search with Voice Actions

Introduced just over a week ago, this is one of those applications that lead you to the conclusion that the future really is here. The new Google voice search is much more precise and it now recognizes voice commands. So from now on no more wasting time typing on your Android- voice is the future.

Commands such as “Get directions to Juanma’s house”, “Message to Narbona, colon, pick up the phone” or “Play Owl City” are understood perfectly by your phone and executed immediately with outstanding results. For the time being, it’s only available in English… but that doesn’t stop you giving it a try and gasping in awe.



And of course, I’ve failed to mention applications for controlling your computer, changing songs, measuring distances or representing a virtual reality right in front of you. In any case, I’m starting to realize now just how far our phones can go and how unaware we are of it.

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in AndroidMarket, AndroidZoom, Apps, Elandroidelibre. 2 Comments »

The new Market: broken promises?

20/12/2010 — AndroidZoom

Last week was one of major announcements, the release of the SDK for Gingerbread, the Nexus S ad, the new Google Maps and the presentation of the new version of Market. But in the midst of all these good tidings, there’s one that’s not quite so good as the rest. At a glance, in the new version, Market has been given a long overdue facelift; the new look is more in line with the times, with a more modern and functional edge. At the tap of a thumb, all the information is available on the one screen the description of the application, the different screens, comments and related applications. The first screen presents us with the most relevant info, but we can delve into more details by simply pressing “More”.

On the surface, this all looks great, but what’s still missing is a certain order. Market has become a free-for-all, where applications roam unrestricted, with no control whatsoever from Google.

This control that some of us have been missing has turned into a limit in the time we have to test the software. Now we get just 15 minutes to try out an application before giving it back. If anyone is able to fully test any half decent application in 15 minutes, please let me know about it. It certainly takes me longer to write articles for the blog, I can assure you.

And let’s hope the errors of earlier versions have been solved in the new version of Market. Just yesterday I was struggling to update Angry Birds. I have the SD which doesn’t let you update and after transferring it to the telephone, uninstalling it and trying again, I had no other choice but to install the APK downloaded from the Internet. Google really messed up here and they should fix it as soon as possible. Market is the main applications repository for Android and users shouldn’t have to fish around on the Internet for applications that can be installed directly from Market.

One of the promises Google made after this year’s I|O was the web version of Android Market, a website where we could find all the applications available on Market and download them directly from the site, linking to our Google account and loading them directly onto our phones.

This was just one of the promises made together with Froyo, Gingerbread is just around the corner and there’s no news on the web version of Market. Android users are starting to opt for more elaborate web versions of Android Market than the one Google offers us on the official Android website.

Call me impatient, but if they show us a fully functional version at the I|O where the application is loaded onto a Nexus One directly from the website, surely it means that it’s almost ready. Either that or they tricked us with a demo set-up. At the same I|O they also showed us Chrome Store, with no preliminary version to be worked on, just like Android Market, but it’s been online now for a week.

Google Music is another of the broken promises from this year’s I|O, where Market is concerned. The idea was to introduce a music store where all the music indexed in our system could be loaded onto our device. In the case of the video it’s a Nexus One. Again they suggested a practically functioning version, but we’re still waiting for Google to make the application public.

Google Books is another recent application that we all heard vague rumors about and it’s already been released before the other two I’ve mentioned. If they keep announcing improvements like this, our best option is to expect the unexpected rather than pay attention to what they tell us at the I|O. Exactly the same thing happened with Google Reader; no-one expected the official feeds reader, but it was published two weeks ago without any fuss.

Another promise was the possibility of making payments on Market without using Google Checkout. In this case, the new player on the scene was PayPal, the leading online payment tool. It’s not that I favor one over the other, but in general people don’t like giving out their credit card number over the Internet. If I already have a PayPal account, why do I need a Checkout account too?

I don’t generally criticize Google. In fact, I usually sympathize more with Google than with other companies, but I get the feeling that they’re biting off more than they can chew lately. They’re moving into areas like operating systems with ChromeOs and into program execution in the Chrome navigator with Chrome Web Store, while turning their back on Android. We’re now on version 2.3 but there has been no real shake-up to the system in any area since version 1.5. Each new version is just like its predecessor with a few changes to the options; it’s not getting the attention it deserves, starting with Market.

Users with versions from 1.6 onwards started to receive it yesterday afternoon; we’ll just have to wait and see how it evolves.

Happy applications discovery!

[Via elAndroidelibre]

Posted in AndroidMarket, AndroidZoom, Elandroidelibre, Reviews. 8 Comments »
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