Many computing elite find Apple’s tight hardware standards and highly controlled ecosystem constricting, even if it is in the interest of system stability. Google’s Android exists with a very different outlook, supporting hardware from a variety of manufacturers, multiple versions of the OS, and a wide open development environment. This fragmentation comes at a cost, what some developers have come to call the Android Matrix of Pain. Developing for iOS has been a relatively straightforward process since the mobile platform’s launch, but the process of porting popular iOS apps to Android compliments has caused developers to make some compromises including supporting only recent Android versions, leaving out large chunks of the user base. A handful of companies have cropped up to offer comprehensive testing on a variety of Android hardware, but Android’s market dominance could suffer if greater standardization doesn’t allow wider app compatibility.
Tag: android
Is Chromecast As Open As Advertised?
Google’s Chromecast made waves because it’s cheap, and actually does what it promises to do. It also comes with its own apps and development tools, meaning that the utilizations for the device could be endless – that is until Google released an update that cut off the open development of the platform after an Android developer reverse enginered the Chromecast to let users stream anything straight from their Android smartphones. Called AllCast, the app broadcasts anything and everything from the device, until Google’s latest update cut off the workaround. As far as development goes, it means that the ecosystem will likely be relatively constrained. But as far as trends are concerned, this move has vast implications for the Chromecast network; it means that sponsored material and app-based streaming are the only possible way forward for the technology, and that brands will have a strong hand to play in terms of branded, casted content.
IKEA Augmented Reality Catalog Previews Products in Apartment
As part of its 2014 catalogue, IKEA will allow you to preview products in your own home using augmented reality, to ensure that the item you eventually purchase is the correct size, style, and color. It works through IKEA’s iOS and Android apps, in combination with the catalogue itself. You can scan the catalogue, and thereafter visualize the product overlaid onto the environment; the app itself measures the space and provides options based on what would fit. It cuts down on waste, returns, and ultimately, provides a fun, virtual shopping experience around IKEA’s products. For a quick look at how it works, check out the video below:
Showtime Anytime Apps Updated For Live Programming
The Showtime Anytime app has brought mobile access to Showtime’s several series’ since 2011, but users will now have access to live episodes. Thanks to the app’s update, users can stream a live feed of whatever is presently airing on Showtime. This is a big addition to the already burgeoning second-screen ecosystem, and is sure to compete with streaming services like the recently announced Chromecast, as well as Apple’s Airplay.
GoPro’s Camera App Gets Social Update
GoPro released an update to it’s iOS and Android companion apps, which allows GoPro owners to view, edit, and share content from their smartphone or tablet. The app connects to the camera over WiFi, giving owners a deep set of editing and sharing tools that control the camera from the phone or tablet. The update demonstrates GoPro’s dominance in an increasingly competitive camera market, and how it manages to constantly stay ahead of its competitors’ curves. Expect to see social feeds start to fill with action-packed videos in the near future.
Fashion App Pose Introduces Advertising
Pose, after two years as an app-based fashion network, is finally getting serious about advertising, as it launched an ad campaign with Juicy Couture Fragrances. The ads, though, aren’t traditional banner display units; instead, they’re modified takes on the app’s standard “pose” and appear in-stream with poses uploaded by regular users. Users can interact with these advertised poses much in the same way as they can interact with user-uploaded poses. It’s the second in-stream ad campaign that the app has brought to bear, and fits with the app’s stance that advertisements should be more integrated and actionable. And with 2 million subscribers, it seems likely that Pose will be able to execute the campaigns with tangible results.
Samsung Outpacing Apple In Smartphone Sales
According to new estimates, Samsung smartphone samples left Apple in the dust for Q2 of this year. TrendForce reported that Apple sold 27 million iPhones in the second quarter as its global market share fell to 12.1%, which would mark a 30% sequential decline – and if the 5S doesn’t launch until October, the numbers are projected to get worse. Samsung, on the other hand, sold 71 million smartphones, which explains their record profits. The Galaxy S4 shipments totaled 23 million units in Q2, which was the fastest-selling Android smartphone in history, as well as the best-selling smartphone in the world last quarter.
Google Maps Update Includes Discovery Feature
Today, version 7 of Google maps was launched, boasting a new discovery feature, as well as enhanced navigation. The new update is cleaner and faster, and allows you to discover nearby places to eat, drink, and shop by simply tapping the search box. Enhanced navigation shows real-time traffic congestion, incidents ahead, and suggests alternate routes. Zagat is fully integrated into search results, with curated lists and rating systems. Though it’s not a radical shift in the direction of Maps, it’s certainly a step closer to the merging of maps and search. The update is presently available for Android devices, with an iOS build coming in the near future.
Microsoft Windows Store Hits 100,000 Apps
In an important milestone marking its ascendancy into competition with iOS and Android, the Windows app store bassed 100,000 apps in the Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, and Windows RT store. For comparison, iOS and Android each have over 800,000 apps available in their respective stores, and Windows has been aggressively pursuing developers in an attempt to reach similar numbers – including paying up to $100,000 to developers to bring their apps over to Windows. So although it has some catching up to do numerically, this is still an important moment for the mobile competitor.
Imgur Debuts Android App
Imgur, known to most people as a simple but popular photo-sharing website favored mostly by Reddit users, officially launched its first mobile application today. Fitting with its off-kilter ways, the app is, as of yet, Android only. Its Beta app was tested in the wild, which is why its rating is so poor in the Google Play store – many users had issues with the beta builds. The official, public app allows viewers to view and upload pictures, but it also supports sharing, commenting, and engaging within the broader Imgur community. There will also be updates in the coming months that guide content creation and personalization. Whether this becomes a major player in the photo-app landscape remains to be seen, but for now it remains an important addition, and a profoundly new way to interact with one of the most popular photo-sharing websites on the web.
