If you prefer convergence applications that takes away the hassle of juggling separate applications on your Android phone, then you may be interested in this thing called SPIDERSS. It’s an Android app that combines a lot of popular applications into one – it’s a Webkit-based browser, RSS reader, and allows for social networking elements to be used all on a single screen. The Tokyo-based jig.jp, known to be an avid mobile browser developer since 2003, claims that their “jig browser” is the world’s first Java based browser that follows closely the experience you get on a computer thanks to its support for HTML 4.0.1/XHTML 1.1 and JavaScript 1.5 – it takes advantage of Android 1.5 or higher handsets with support for QVGA and VGA resolutions. Not only can you surf the web with the application, users can even check out their Facebook and read their RSS feeds at the bottom part of the screen in the “Application Deck.” Although some may view the browser as still needing some work, it just simplifies the user’s experience without the need of having separate dedicated applications running simultaneously. Not only will it attempt to reduce frustration levels, but it happily combines some of the core elements that most people are accustomed to using nowadays.
via TechCrunch
Let´s get down to brass tacks. The third edition of Android NDK has just been released – this is a software pack that enables developers to create programs capable of accessing the available system resources directly (also called “native” applications). In other words, it permits programmers to modify the platform and take advantage of new functions.
The third edition Android NDK brings various improvements and fixes certain bugs. Still, as consumers, what we feel most thrilled about is the added support for OpenGL ES 2.0. This is an API that allows for complex 3D graphics, much the same as all the cute visuals and eye-candies you can see when playing games specifically developed for the iPhone 3GS. Well, it seems that Android-based handsets equipped with OS version 2.0 or newer will also be able to take advantage of the extra feature soon. Now, we hope to see more developers jump on the bandwagon and hard at work, so they can flood the market with new applications (and as many games as possible) utilizing the full functionality of OpenGL ES 2.0. We would be happy as can be to review the Android versions of, say, Crysis or Unreal Tournament for you.
source: Android Developers
According to Mashable, Google has been working on an app store for business users. The store would enable businessmen using Android handsets to quickly find apps they could use for work instead if having to navigate through soundboards and fart apps. Software providing things like word processing,, security and information porting would be some of the software offered to Google Apps customers. A Google spokesperson told Mashable, “We’re constantly working with our partners to deliver more solutions to business,but we have nothing to announce at this time.” The site said in its story that it is “fairly confident” that the store would be officially announced next week and could be introduced as soon as tomorrow. Now that Android has caught on strongly with the consumer and such handsets as the Motorola DROID and HTC’s Nexus One have established themselves as viable iPhone alternatives, Google’s next step is to get its open source OS into the boardrooms of corporations, a location where RIM’s BlackBerry handsets and Microsoft’s business solutions have traditionally been found. Can a green robot wear a pinstriped suit? We’re about to find out soon.
source: Mashable via ThisAndroidLife
Swype is an interesting app that allows you to type faster and with more accuracy on your mobile phone. With Swype, you slide-or swipe-your finger from letter to letter without lifting your finger off the touchscreen display. The app first appeared for use on the Samsung Omnia II. Now, it comes to Android. A limited number of those using Google’s open source OS can use the Swype beta simply by registering at this link. You will receive an e-mail giving you all the directions you need to start Swyping on your Android phone.
source: Swype via AndroidandMe
Memento is an application suitable for straight-laced people. We all know such people (personally, we are not of them) – they want everything to be shipshape and well-kept, properly catalogued, sorted by alphabetical order, relative colors or brands and, if at all possible, all of the above at the same time. In a nutshell, Memento enables you to store information about your belongings directly on your handset, including various items, notes on study materials, recipes and what have you. We do like the fact the applications allows you to use a bar-code scanner to enter additional details easily, plus you´ve got the handy option of creating your own product categories. The Pro version is fully functional for 15 days, so you don´t have to pay anything to test the program.
Memento offers a great number of options to help you categorize your belongings
SmartAss is a great app and not for its funny name only. The program allows you to create lists of products you want to buy, i.e. shopping lists. This may come in quite handy indeed, since it makes your shopping activities more organized, especially for people like us who can get easily distracted, plus the interface is truly user-friendly and does not bother you with thousands of options while you´re struggling through the crowd in a busy shopping mall. We just hope future editions will add tabs for relevant prices, so people can keep track on their spending. In our case, we would be able to finally find out why our salaries vanish into thin air the second day the money get into our accounts and whether or not that sweet tooth we have is to do with the disappearance…
You need application with proper shopping list functionality? SmartAss might be what you need
Crazyhamster is a version of the popular game Whac-a-Mole. Your goal is to hit as many rodents (within 30 seconds) as you can, while trying to avoid smacking female rats (they are pink… who knows, they might be males with penchant for weird clothing really…). The graphics is truly amusing and enjoyable, the game itself is addictive and proper reflexes. Only the Lite version of the title is currently available, but the full edition (paid) is coming soon and will include a mini game called Crazy Party. All told, Crazyhamster Lite offers lot of fun for a totally free application indeed.
We cannot wait for the full edition of Crazyhamster
Your goal in Ballistic Defense is to protect your cities against missile attacks. The game is actually one of the best in this genre (at least from all the titles available for Android) and it´s a shame it comes with antiquated graphics. Still, we do recommend that you give it a shot, because it´s quite addictive and the difficulty increases exponentially as you play, meaning at a certain point it becomes extremely challanging indeed. And the best thing about it? It´s completely free!
Ballistic Defense is one of the best titles in its class
With Spring Training already underway, the 2010 Major League Baseball season is just around the corner. If you are a big fan, the MLB At Bat app is a must-have for your mobile phone. Last year, the app was available on the iPhone and this year, MLB has upgraded it and has now made the app available for Android phones running 1.5 or higher, and the BlackBerry Storm and Storm2, besides the iPhone. The price has risen 50% to $14.99, but for the fan who eats, drinks and breathes the American Pastime, it is worth every penny.
The app brings you streamed audio of every regular season and post season games (you can select to hear the home team announcers or the road team announcers), in-game pitch tracker, box scores, video highlights and more stats than you can swing a Louisville Slugger at. iPhone users will be able to view selected out of market games through streaming video and a separate subscription to MLB.TV. While currently the Storm and Storm2 are the only BlackBerry handsets that the app will work with, right after Opening Day, other ‘Berries using the 5.0 OS will be able to use At Bat 2010. At Apple’s iTunes app store, At Bat 2010 is already the highest grossing app ever. You might say, it’s a hit! For information on subscribing to the At Bat 2010 app, visit the source link.
source: MLB via CIO
Microsoft’s Tag Reader is an app that allows you to scan a product’s bar code using your phone’s camera. Your phone will then give you information on the product including promotions, videos and special offers. This is the Redmond based firm’s first application for Android and Tag Reader has already been released for the iPhone, Symbian, BlackBerry and of course, Windows Mobile platforms. The app is free and can be downloaded from the Android Market. If you Pre and Pixi users feel a bit left out, start bugging Microsoft and perhaps the next build will be for webOS.
source: Microsoft via Engadget, UnwiredView
Macy’s doesn’t tell Gimbels went the old saying. It would be even stranger for Macy’s to tell customers to go shop at Gimbels. As strange as that seems, imagine Steve Jobs telling would-be iPhone buyers to pick up a Palm Pre Plus instead. That is akin to the situation that Motorola found itself doing to Android developers. While the Motorola DROID can load custom ROMs, get overclocked past 1GHz and basically can be hacked into without a problem, the handset’s European relative, the MILESTONE is locked up tighter than the Queen’s Jewels. Digitially signed firmware makes it impossible to load custom ROMs on the MILESTONE and developers were asking Motorola for some help.The response came from Lori Fraleigh from the Motodev team. Her response was that the company knows there are Android developers who want to go beyond application development to experiment with Android system development and re-flashing phones. She recommended that for those doing such work, buying a Google ADP1 developer’s phone, or a Nexus One as both of those models were “intended for those purposes”. Motorola’s Android phone, she explains, are made for the consumer. the DROID, she added, was a deviation from their common business practice and when such deviation occurs, it is because of a specific business reason.
Motorola has released 9 different Android handsets under 12 different names and the DROID is the only one to accept unsigned images and the manufacturer won’t discuss the business reason that made the DROID different. With talk of a Motorola built device heading for Google’s phone store, will the latter force the former to open up that model? In the meantime, developers have the answer to their question. It might not be something that the Schaumburg based company wants repeated like a mantra, but developers looking to experiment with Android should buy HTC.
source: MOTODEV via MotorolaOwnersForum, AndroidandMe
A leaked copy of the Android 2.1 firmware for the HTC Droid Eris has made its way to the XDA developers forum. The leak came frim someone who claims to work for HTC in China. The initial version that was posted had some problems, but after a spit and polish shoe shine by the developers at XDA they were able to repair it and flash it onto their phone. The ROM is totally functional and even includes the new Sense UI. As we previously reported, not all of the 2.1 features were part of the upgrade, such as the animated wallpaper. It still could be a while before the official release is launched. Web site Android and Me feels that Google is working on a coordinated release among carriers for the second quarter. Oh, and if you decide to download XDA’s handiwork on your phone, well, you could end up with an Android flavored brick. Some other developers are working on porting the code over to the CDMA version of the HTC Hero.Those with the Hero over at Sprint could soon have a leaked 2.1 upgrade of their own. Or, we could all just take a chill pill and realize that the official release probably is not too far away.
source: XDAdevelopersforum via AndroidandMe
ou’re on the go and you want to look up a contact or open an app, but can’t sort through a hundred names, what do you do? Well, if you have an Android phone running 2.0 or higher, and you speak English, you can use Google Gesture Search. Gesture Search lets you look for something by scribbling a letter on the touchscreen of your device. Look for a contact, a bookmark, an app or even a music track. It allows you to get through a list quickly without typing. You can download the app by visiting the source link.
source: Google via AndroidandMe
