Friday, May 25, 2012

Android At 59% Market Share

I just stumbled over an article with new numbers regarding the market share. Mainly the article is about the dropping numbers of RIM now below 10%. But something other was more interesting.

Photo Google. All rights reserved.
Android market share is at 59% leaving iOS, with only 23%, in the dust. Now we could think of why the patent battle is waging. There is no other way for Apple to keep hanging on.

I was really wondering if you think about it how fast Android spread. And I honestly believe, the war is over. The patent and design lawsuits are rearguard battles. Android has won. No matter if Apple can manage to come back with the iPhone at release week, the massive amount of Android devices activated per day is huge on a solid basis. It's over. Congratz Android.

[via InformationWeek Mobility]

Friday, May 18, 2012

Lightbox Bought By Facebook. Google+ Is The Alternative for Instagram

After the buyout of Instagram, Facebook also bought Lightbox, which had some remarkable success in the Android community. What's left? Google+ !

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
And I don't mean necessarily for Facebook, but for those image sharing services. Google+ has already a wide acceptance with photographers around the planet. Uploading and sharing photos is, in short, even easier than with Instagram or Lightbox.
With Ice Cream Sandwich having a lot of effects and filters integrated there is no need for special software. Yes, you read right. Everything you need is in there. Older versions of the Android can download on of the countless but great photo editors and share it directly from there.

The community on Google+ is awesome, especially for creatives. The good integration of photos and movies from day one, set the sails for attracting the most ambitiousness photographers you can find.

So no need to worry. The good thing: You can still spread your photos anywhere. A buyout by Facebook doesn't mean you can't share it there, too. However, in case of Lightbox, it looks like they will shut down the service, soon. I leave it to you to what you think about this.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Quick Review: Ninja Chicken Ooga Booga

I have to admit, I like that title. That was the first push to download this game. And then I found that this is one of the most fun game, I've ever played.


You steer the brave Ninja Chicken to defeat the levels by sliding or jumping. Nothing more. But you really have to time this exactly, while collecting stuff and avoiding enemies. It's a modern level-based game, so you can quickly play a level and try as long as you want to beat it. And you can select any played level at any time.


The graphics are nice and look awesome on tablets, too. It installs on SDCard automatically. I like that when an app does this. The sound is also very nice. The melody is fitting, but you'll hear it quite a lot. The sound effects are awesome :) Poor Chicken "Ninja?". And you will hear this pathetic scream quite often because the game gets harder and harder very quickly. Although the controls are responsive, and I never faced a slowdown, it's tricky and you have to react quickly.


Of course there is a little downturn. To play a bonus level, you are forced to install another app that also allows you to buy in-game coins. Sure, this is the way they finance the game. But installing another app, isn't much what I want. They would have better used the in-game selling API that Google offers.

Still, it's definitely a recommendation if you want a simple, but fun game.

  • Graphics 7/10
  • Sound 7/10
  • Usability 9/10
  • Overall experience 9/10

Thursday, May 3, 2012

I Submitted This For The Outdoor Contest

Android Central have an Outdoor Contest just now.
They ask people to send in their photos. You can win a Android USB-Charger. The green cute, Android-shaped one. I submitted this photo:


As a geocacher, I have plenty of outdoor photos. You may send only one. Hard decision, but I decided on this. What do you think ?

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Yes, there is support at the Play Store!

It's like we just want to believe that there is no human support on Google. But the Zylon empire Google's awesome Play Store, hast a 24/7 phone support for you.
Phandroid sort it out. And even free for you. You will be called back several minutes later.


But, either everyone is using that form now, or it's only for the US, many user reports that there is no form visible to them.

Well, well, well... Don't use it for stupid questions. Use it wisely.

Did You Know: Google Play Store Offers 24/7 Phone Technical Support?:

'via Blog this'

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Another Hiccup With GMail and Maps In Europe?

It's an Odyssey... GMail (named Google Mail in Europe) updates never really were fun in Europe. Most of the time, there wasn't a update, when others already have it for month. Then there was a legal problem with the name. And now, with the latest version, some devices updates while others get "Not available in your country".

And that is really strange. On my Nexus S 4.0.3, I can't install the GMail update. Not in the country I'm in at the moment. And on my Galaxy Tab 7 original, I can install it with Gingerbread. Anothewr hint that there are issues that need to be solved. Updates for all, is the only way to go.

With Google Maps I never had problems. But again, on the Tab no problemo. On the Nexus S, it gives me an error message, that it will get downloaded soon, which never did for many days.

Still, my Nexus S can't be updates to 4.0.4 with the current OTA-Update. What's wrong? Looks like something is out of control with the Nexus S devices. I expected to be the other way around. That's why I purchased a Nexus device. Google, it's your turn...