I have a love-hate relationship with Android 4.0 and the Holo theme used throughout the UI. It’s definitely a step in the right direction, but there’s still a few design choices I’ve never liked about Android that haven’t changed. They can be found in all of the Google developed apps for Android 4.0 except one. [...]]]>

I have a love-hate relationship with Android 4.0 and the Holo theme used throughout the UI. It’s definitely a step in the right direction, but there’s still a few design choices I’ve never liked about Android that haven’t changed. They can be found in all of the Google developed apps for Android 4.0 except one. The new Chrome beta. Which is quite possibly the best looking piece of software Google has ever made.

Sharp corners and the color blue.

After just a couple hours with Android 4.0, you can get a good idea of how any app Google could possibly release for Android will look and feel from this point forward. If you had to really dumb it down and describe Android 4.0 with two main characteristics, you could easily say ICS is all about sharp corners and the color blue. Gmail, Google Talk, Music and the People app are all great examples of this, but you don’t even need to look further than the notification bar.

The signal indicator is a sharp triangle, the battery icon is a sharp rectangle and both are permanently tinted blue. Sharp corners and the color blue. I can understand Google’s use of triangles and corners throughout Holo, it sets their UI apart from the competition. But I’ll never understand why they became so fixated on one color. Every highlight, toggle and animation some how involves one single color.

It’s not that this kind of consistency is bad for a platform. Android really needs consistency if Google ever wants it to be hailed as one of the top consumer friendly operating systems. But I can’t possibly be the only one who thinks there is too much blue in Android 4.0. Just like there was too much green and orange in Android before that. I was really expecting to see some major changes in Android 4. Not just a color switch and some tighter corners. Sure, a lot more than that has changed, but in everyday use, it doesn’t really feel like it.

If I had my way, Android would look and feel more like the new Chrome beta.

Matias Duarte has essentially taken over in the design department at Google. Before that, he worked on a number of other mobile platforms including the highly praised webOS. Still to this day, webOS remains one of the absolute best looking operating systems to ever grace the industry. The folks behind Chrome mobile have captured the soul of webOS, and stuffed it into what is already one of the best looking smartphone browsers the world has ever seen.

If Matias didn’t have a hand in the design behind Chrome for Android, I would be blown away. The icons and animations found throughout the app share a lot with webOS. Especially in the tab selection screen. The depth and smooth animations in the tab screen are so similar to webOS’ cards, you might think you were actually using HP’s late, great operating system.

When you first press the tabs button, there’s a very pleasant animation that bring you into the multiple tab screen. Instead of seeing a blue glow when you pull your stack of tabs (which just so happen to be represented by cards) up or down, the tabs lean with a 3D animation that creates depth. You can also tilt your device to get the same 3D effect. If you’re done with a tab, you can press the small etched “x” in the top right corner, or simply flick it to the right. Either way, the card, I mean tab, fades out of existence.

You can also transition between tabs by swiping left or right. By swiping in either direction from the edge of your display, your current tab shrinks into a smaller rounded card. You can keep swiping to push it out of the way, where the next tab (also represented by a card) will then grow to fill your screen.

From left to right: Android 4.0's blue hologram, Chrome's tilt animation.

On the Android 4.0 homescreen, swiping all the way in one direction prompts a blue glowing holographic rectangle to appear that tilts sideways to let you know you’ve reached the end. When swiping horizontally through tabs in Chrome, the last tab in either direction tilts in the same way. But since it’s the tab itself shifting, it actually makes sense.

After playing around for awhile in the Chrome beta, I couldn’t help but wonder why this isn’t what Android 4.0 looks like. There’s some small similarities here and there, but overall Chrome doesn’t look like every other app Google has released or updated recently. Or the core UI for that matter.

Discarding an unwanted tab never looked so good.

The multitasking screen in Android 4.0 looks nothing like the multiple tabs screen in Chrome, yet a similar swiping motion can be used in either for getting rid of unwanted items. Chrome’s multiple tab screen looks leagues better than the multitasking screen though.

Chrome for Android is incredibly polished. It features a totally new level of design that is new to Google software. It doesn’t just look different, it creates its own wonderful experience. With every little animation and gesture in Chrome, I kept finding myself surprised at how much I enjoyed browsing the web on my Nexus S. That was when it really dawned on me. This is what I wanted to feel in Android 4.0. Instead, I was left wanting more.

The question now is what happens next. Does Android 4 get updated to look and function more like Chrome, or does Chrome get updated to look and function more like Android 4.0? If Android was updated to look more like Chrome, one could hardly argue it wouldn’t be one of the best looking operating systems available. For now though, I’d say that’s seriously debatable.

Of course that’s just my opinion. And no opinion piece would be complete without some input from you. What do you think of the design in Chrome for Android? Should Android adapt to be more like Chrome, or should Chrome get the Holo treatment?

Portions of this page are reproduced from work created and shared by the Android Open Source Project and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 2.5 Attribution License.

RIM wants Android apps in their BlackBerry App World market so bad, they’re practically giving away PlayBooks to developers who submit them. What’s that you say, they actually are giving away PlayBooks? Oh RIM, what’s happened to you?

Instead of building quality hardware, pairing it with quality software and attracting users and app developers the [...]]]>

RIM wants Android apps in their BlackBerry App World market so bad, they’re practically giving away PlayBooks to developers who submit them. What’s that you say, they actually are giving away PlayBooks? Oh RIM, what’s happened to you?

Instead of building quality hardware, pairing it with quality software and attracting users and app developers the old fashioned way, a clearly desperate RIM is giving away PlayBook tablets to any developer who submits their Android app to the BalckBerry App World market.

You see, RIM has developed software for the OS running on the PlayBook that allows Android apps to be ported to BlackBerry with just a few simple clicks. Apparently, RIMs plans to leech from the Android Market isn’t turning out quite like they imagined. Even after drastically lowering the price on PlayBooks, RIM still can’t get rid of them. So why not give them away in exchange for apps?

RIM’s future is still very uncertain at this point, but a free tablet is a free tablet. Need an ereader for your kids? A $500 coaster? A chew toy for your dog (just kidding, don’t give your dog a PlayBook to chew on)? You have until February 13th to submit your app and take advantage of this generous offer.

Google has just announced an “incremental” update to Ice Cream Sandwich that will now serve as the base version of the OS. From this point forward, manufacturers looking to update their handsets to ICS will be doing so with Android 4.0.3. According to the Android Developers blog, 4.0.3 will be rolling out to production phones [...]]]>

Google has just announced an “incremental” update to Ice Cream Sandwich that will now serve as the base version of the OS. From this point forward, manufacturers looking to update their handsets to ICS will be doing so with Android 4.0.3. According to the Android Developers blog, 4.0.3 will be rolling out to production phones and tablets “in the weeks ahead.” While this is a good sign that manufacturers are just about ready to start rolling out updates, not all developers are ready for the jump.

The update to 4.0.3 isn’t exactly earth shattering compared to any other version of Android 4.0.x. There’s plenty of optimizations packed inside, as well as some big fixes, Bluetooth enhancements and graphic improvements. There’s also some new APIs for developers to play with that pertain to the camera, calendar and more. As badly as I’d like to see these changes brought to a device near me, there’s something else that needs to happen first. Developers need to make sure they update their apps to work with Ice Cream Sandwich.

Android 4 may have a relatively small user-base compared to previous builds, but that doesn’t mean app developers should postpone updating their apps until more people are using Ice Cream Sandwich. Of course some developers are ready for the update, but support issues for popular apps are more rampant then you think. We reached out to the followers of the Android and Me Twitter account to see what kinds of apps you’ve been having with trouble with, and which ones are working fine, on your shiny, new Galaxy Nexus.

• Netflix: Netflix really needs no introduction, and fortunately, the app has been updated to work on ICS. Breathe easy streamers.
• Dolphin Browser: Easily the most popular alternative browser for Android, ICS users are having trouble using Dolphin Browser.
• OnLive: If you happen to use OnLive to get your gaming fix, you’re in luck. OnLive works on the Galaxy Nexus.
• Facebook: Some users are reporting problems with Facebook. Considering it’s the most popular Android app on the Market, Zuck might want to get on that.
• Light Flow: Light Flow gives users an added level of control over the LED notification light on their device. While most are saying it does indeed work on the Galaxy Nexus, there are some bugs that need to be smoothed out.
• GTA 3: Probably one of the most popular games on Android at the moment, some users are reporting problems with the newly released game.
• Swype: This is a big one. Swype has officially announced that their innovative replacement keyboard is not ready for ICS.
• Adobe Flash: Adobe promised they’d update the abandoned Flash player to work with Ice Cream Sandwich, and sure enough, it was.

This is just a short list of the apps that do and don’t work with Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus, so feel free to share any issues you’re having in the comments below. And developers, your users are waiting.

The Android Developers website has always played host to a great wealth of knowledge on developing apps for Android. It’s where you go to download the SDK, find announcements on development and publish apps, among other things. Starting today, the Android Developers website will also become a training ground for developers in the making.

Announced [...]]]>

The Android Developers website has always played host to a great wealth of knowledge on developing apps for Android. It’s where you go to download the SDK, find announcements on development and publish apps, among other things. Starting today, the Android Developers website will also become a training ground for developers in the making.

Announced by Reto Meier, Android Developer Relations Tech Lead, Android Training is a collection of free virtual classes aimed at helping developers with a wide variety of problems and questions. Classes range from Designing for Multiple Screens to Monetizing Your App, with a little bit of everything in between.

Meier has promised that more from Android Training is on the way, but for now, there’s more than enough to keep even the seasoned developer occupied for awhile. To see all the different classes Android Training offers, just head to the Android Developers website now.

During the Le Web technology conference held recently in Paris, France, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt took to the stage to lay out some predictions on how developers will favor Android over iOS before 2012 is finished. He said that within six month’s time, developers will be releasing apps for Android before iOS due to the sheer volume [...]]]>

During the Le Web technology conference held recently in Paris, France, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt took to the stage to lay out some predictions on how developers will favor Android over iOS before 2012 is finished. He said that within six month’s time, developers will be releasing apps for Android before iOS due to the sheer volume of Android devices out there. Flurry sees it differently.

Flurry is a mobile app analytics firm that has their hands on data from just about every popular smartphone OS on the market. So far, over 55,000 companies have used Flurry Analytics across more than 135,000 applications. Developers use Flurry’s analytical data before apps are initially shipped (for a number of reasons), so the company has a good idea of what platforms developers are going to be supporting out of the gate.

Flurry has collected the data from 55,000 apps that were started in 2011 and organized which platform they were developed for by quarter. While Android developer support has steadily declined (save for a small 2% uptick in Q4) throughout the year, iOS development has exploded. In Q4 2011, 73% of developers using Flurry were making apps for iOS first.

Of course this data comes from developers using Flurry, not all apps in general. Still, Flurry Analytics “powers approximately 25% of all apps downloaded from the App Store and Android Market combined.” There’s good reason to believe that Flurry’s data is an accurate description of the market. Especially once you factor in money.

Schmidt’s prediction that developers will support Android first is related to how many Android devices are out there. Not how much money apps are making. By taking a look at in-app purchases in some top apps across Android and iOS, you can see just how much more money iOS users are putting into their apps. According to Flurry, iOS developers make around three to four times as much money with iOS apps. On average, “for every $1.00 generated on iOS, the same app will generate $0.24 on Android.”

Google is certainly headed in the right direction with the Android Market, but it’s going to take a lot more than sheer volume to secure immediate developer support. Until the money is on Android’s side, iOS is going to stay the go-to platform.

App reviews have always been some what of a sore spot for developers and users alike. Reviews are an essential tool in deciding if an app is worth purchasing or not. But without a whole lot of rules behind them, it can be a pain narrowing down relevant reviews to see who had real problems [...]]]>

App reviews have always been some what of a sore spot for developers and users alike. Reviews are an essential tool in deciding if an app is worth purchasing or not. But without a whole lot of rules behind them, it can be a pain narrowing down relevant reviews to see who had real problems on what devices, or who was just blowing off some steam. Thanks the the Android Market’s new advanced app review filtering system, finding trustworthy reviews just got a whole lot easier.

By clicking on an app in the web-based Android Market (sorting isn’t available in the mobile app yet), and then clicking on the “user reviews” tab, you can now sort app reviews in a number of different ways.

Version number is the first option on in the list, allowing you to look at reviews for all versions of the app, or just the latest version. Sorting by version is helpful for seeing if a new version got rid of any nasty bugs stopping you from purchasing.

Next up is devices. By using the device filter, you can see reviews from people using your device. Or any device registered to your account. Unfortunately, you can’t just look at reviews for any Android device out there, but sorting reviews by your phone or tablet model is certainly helpful for narrowing down any compatibility errors.

Finally, the last feature in the new filtering options is the ability to organize reviews by helpfulness. App reviews can be sorted by the date posted, the rating and helpfulness.

These three sorting features along with in-depth review details (reviews say the device and app version the review is tied to) and the option to sort reviews by their star rating and are going to be a huge help in finding reliable information on an app.

The Android Market’s 10 billionth app download has been a hot topic this week. We’ve been talking about all the apps that are on sale to celebrate and which developers are reaping the rewards, but we haven’t really had a chance to take a look at how it all happened. Like what’s the [...]]]>

The Android Market’s 10 billionth app download has been a hot topic this week. We’ve been talking about all the apps that are on sale to celebrate and which developers are reaping the rewards, but we haven’t really had a chance to take a look at how it all happened. Like what’s the most popular type of app? When is the most popular time to download apps? And which country downloads the most apps anyway?

Google has released a rather good looking infographic that reveals the history of the Android Market. There’s a quite a bit of information in the image, but here’s some of the highlights:

• The most popular time to download apps is 9PM, on Sunday. Monday at 4AM is the least popular.
• Apps are downloaded from 190 countries.
• South Korea has the most downloads per capita. The US is number four.
• The most downloaded type of app is games, with 25%. Entertainment is second at 12%.

And as for some individual app highlights:

• 100 million words are translated every week in Google Translate.
• 12 billion miles have been navigated in Google Maps.
• 20,000,000,000 keystrokes have been saved by using SwiftKey.
• 4054 years have been spent playing with Talking Tom.

As you can see, these numbers are impressive to say the least. And the best part is, this is only the beginning. What’s your favorite bit of info shared?

iOS apps have been headed to Android in droves this past year, but there’s one app that manages to maintain its comfortable spot as an exclusive on Apple devices. Despite how badly consumers want it to cross the line. That app is the ever-popular Instagram. And thankfully, it’s exclusivity period is almost at an end.

It’s apparently “update all the applications” day over at Google today. Google+, Google Maps and Google Goggles have all received an update of some form or another.

The Google+ application has been updated today, bringing several new feature enhancements and the standard stability improvements and bugfixes. The full changelist is as follows:

Magazines as we know them have reached their transition point. They’re slowly but surely making the switch to digital, but it isn’t playing out as smoothly as it could. In their current state, magazines shouldn’t just have their pages ported to digital pictures. Thanks to the Internet, writing something even a couple days before releasing [...]]]>

Magazines as we know them have reached their transition point. They’re slowly but surely making the switch to digital, but it isn’t playing out as smoothly as it could. In their current state, magazines shouldn’t just have their pages ported to digital pictures. Thanks to the Internet, writing something even a couple days before releasing it is outdated. That’s where PXL, the Android (and iPad) gaming magazine comes in.

PXL is a new type of gaming magazine that’s in the works right now, backed by a cast of all-star writers from PSM, Nintendo Power, Next Generation, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Joystiq and more. PXL will still utilize the per-issue pricing structure, but dynamic content is what sets it apart from the competition.

Issues will be updated with news and reviews as the week goes on, ensuring that readers are never out of the loop. So if some big story breaks, or a game review is finally eligible for publishing, the most current issue of PXL will be updated. Other apps and websites have adopted a magazine-esque design, but this is one of the first magazines that will adopt a website-esque content model.

As of right now, the first issue of PXL is slated for release in February of 2012 for just $0.99. The second issue won’t cost much more than that, but in order to get to that point, they need some help. PXL is on Kickstarter right now looking for $3,500 to get the magazine off the ground. They’ve already reached $500, and there’s still a month before the drive is over.

If PXL sounds like something you’d be interested in reading on your Android tablet, then head on over to Kickstarter and see what you can do.