Google recently announced the launch of Android Instant Apps, a new technology which allows just the bare minumum of an App to be downloaded from links, bypassing the Play Store. This sounds cool enough on its own, but the implications of this reach far deeper than at first appears, and could end up changing the entire internet.
Toys R Us launch $150 Android tablet for kids
- Super User 0 Comments
Toys R Us have announced their Tabeo 7-inch tablet, which promises child-safe features for $150. Surrounded by a huge drop-safe bumper, there's a front facing camera, WiFi and Toys R Us even run their own app store, the "Tabeo Store", to complement the 50 proloaded games and apps it comes preloaded with.
Powered by a 1Ghz CPU, theres a decent amount of storage provided - 4Gb - but it also comes with a MicroSD card slot, which can handle up to 32G cards. It's no slouch in the Android department either, sporting ICS (Android 4.0) from the off. It's available for pre-order now but wo't ship until October 21.
Google TV launches in the UK
- Bill Damage 0 Comments
Just as Sony announced their new Google TV set top box, the Google TV site itself saw a major overhaul, all suspiciously happening just days before this years Google I/O. Not only that, but now the Google TV service is to launch in the UK - two years after its US debut.
Google TV has had a chequered past, and those following it from the start have seen many UI changes too. The most notorious problem was the Logitech Revue fail, and it's rather telling that there's now no mention of that anywhere on the new site at all. The timing is also interesting to industry watchers following that other tech giant dabbling with TV - Apple - since rumours are rife they're about to make a big move too.
Android Academy Certified Developer
- Bill Damage 0 Comments
Well - how about that! We've been working on something a little special for some time now, and today's the day we're proud to announce our new baby - the AACD programme. In collaboration with SteelyEye Digital Media, we're announcing the Android industrys first Accreditation scheme - the Android Academy Certified Developer programme. This is in the form of an online exam which has been developed and calibrated by a team of Android experts for over a year. The software driving the exam is the same the SteelyEye guys used when they were running the Symbian Academy, so it has a pedigree second to none. This is no cut and paste script kiddie affair - well over £2.5m has been spent perfecting it such that it adapts to the knowledge level of the subject as it progresses. This means no two exams are the same.
What to do with a first-gen Android phone?
- Bill Damage 0 Comments
Life in the old girl yet
Despite the best intentions of the Android modding community, there comes a point at which it's just not feasibile to maintain older kit. Long-abandoned by the manufacturers and carriers, even the humble old first-gen hardware such as the HTC G1/Dream will eventually begin to gather dust as their newer and shinier models march forever onwards and upwards.
I've a soft spot for my G1. I really do consider it a piece of history - the first Android handset will always be special, and looking at the way things are heading, quite the collectors item once domination is complete ;-) Yet ... it's still very much usable, and certainly for far more than a mere backup phone. So I got to thinking ... what can it be used for today in a positive way? And I don't mean giving to someone as their first smartphone such as the folks or kids - although in my experince kids are certainly switched onto what's in and isn't in the Android world anyway, so that would likely get it thrown straight back at you with a loud "meh!".
CozyBot - Cool desktop phone holder every Android fan will love!
- Bill Damage 0 Comments
Every Android fan loves him
Early in 2012 a mysterious object appeared on the lawns outside OTAMate's HQ. What did it mean? Were the Mayans right and this was some kind of 2001-style omen? Nope - it was CozyBot! Designed by OTAMate and sold through our very own shop, this is the cool desktop phone holder every Android fan will love! When news of his arrival broke on Linked In there were so many hits to the site the servers crashed. He's been sold all over the world and had sightings in Brazil, the Philippines, Canada, Australia, the Czech Republic amongst many other countries including, of course, the US. Made from sturdy ABS shatterproof plastic, the CozyBot comes in two parts and is made to the highest quality manufacturing standards - even the color is the official pantone green.
Renault: Android is now a vehicle platform
- Bill Damage 0 Comments
Android in the dashboard
Tres bien! Renault just sent us the press release for the R-Link, an Android based in-dash control, communications, entertainment and kitchen sink system which can download apps from their private App store. Appearing first in the new Clio 4 and Zoe, and eventually being rolled out to every car in their range, there will initially be 50 apps available to kick things off. They are also embracing totally the open philosophy of Android, clearly a major feature when deciding which platform to run their entire future portfolio on, by announcing a campaign to attract developers to the R-Link system. Whilst it's almost a cert they'll already have enough gas consumption display apps etc, this does open the door for developers to start their engines by fuelling a whole new class of App innovation :-)
CoolNote does Christmas!
- Bill Damage 0 Comments
CoolNote 1.5 has been released with lots of sparkling goodies just in time for Christmas. It was always capable of downloading extra content in the form of backgrounds and fonts, so appropriately enough this new version sees a whole bunch of new Christmas-themed backgrounds with everything from snowmen, santas and presents right through to the Christmas bunny. There are lots of other improvements too, most of which revolve around polishing the look and feel whilst retaining the smooth interface CoolNote has become known for. There's also a nice price drop to 0.99p/~$1.50 for the rest of the year. But back to those Christmas notes - they in fact serve a dual purpose, since they can not only be used as cool Christmas to-dos (e.g. present lists) on your home screen, but the rich notes are now sent as an image with the text when the note is shared via email to any non-CoolNote using buddies - yes it really is a poor mans Christmas card solution :-)
DrinkMinder gets Social!
- Bill Damage 0 Comments
Arriving in good time for the Christmas festivities is an update to DrinkMinder for Android - and this time things get social. Yes, you can now set up a Twitter account and automatically tweet each drink so that even those without DrinkMinder can now keep an eye on things ;-) The full DrinkMinder write up is here, but there are some other minor improvements relating to usability, performance and compatibility. DrinkMinder is a FREE Android app which will keep you informed with its instant unit/calorie reckoner or its drink session recorder, where with a carefully designed 1-tap drink logger you can track your sessions over time. Get it from the Android Market now!
