Tag Archives: applications

Sony Hopes Release of PlayStation Suite SDK Will Bolster Games Catalog

Sony has announced today that it will begin offering a PlayStation Suite SDK to Android content developers in an effort to grow the platform as it become available on more devices. Currently the PlayStation-certified Xperia Play is the only device to offer PS Suite compatibility, but that will change with the release of Sony’s Tablet S and Tablet P. The PS Suite SDK, which becomes available in November, will provide developers with the tools necessary to create new games and experiences on these devices as well as the the Sony portable PlayStation Vita. Sony hopes to expand the lineup of PlayStation-certified devices further over the coming months. SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT TO OFFER SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT FOR PLAYSTATION®SUITE STARTING THIS NOVEMBER SCE to Provide Strong Support to Content Developers for PlayStation®Suite With the Distribution of the Newly Developed Content Starting Next Spring Tokyo, September 15, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that it will offer software development kits (SDK) for PlayStation®Suite (PS Suite), called “PlayStation®Suite SDK,” * for content developers starting this November. PS Suite is an initiative solution to deliver the world of PlayStation® to Android™ based portable devices. Through PS Suite SDK, content developers can create content for PlayStation™Certified (PS Certified) devices, hardware certified through the PS Suite license program, as well as for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita). Supporting C# as the programming language, PS Suite SDK can run programs developed in C# on virtual machine equipped on both PS Certified devices and PS Vita. By supporting development for multiple devices and by adopting libraries to create a variety of content not only limited to games, PS Suite SDK will not only help developers save their cost in creating new content but also allow them to efficiently create their content on one SDK and without having to create on several different SDKs. Through PS Suite SDK, SCE will provide to game developers and publishers the potential to further expand their business opportunities to Android based portable devices. In addition, SCE can approach to a wider range of content developers, non-gaming developers and individual programmers. The detailed information of PS Suite SDK, including how to download, will be announced via a dedicated PS Suite section on SCE’s official website. As of September 15th, 2011, PS Certified device line-up includes Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB’s Xperia PLAY, Sony Corporation’s “Sony Tablet” S, “Sony Tablet” P, and SCE will continue to further accelerate the expansion of PS Certified devices in addition to the current hardware line-up. Furthermore, SCE will provide a variety of content towards these PS Certified devices from end October through PlayStation®Store*2 on PlaySation®Network, starting with original PlayStation games (PS one® classics). The service will start in nine countries including Japan, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Australia and with more countries to follow. In next spring, SCE will enhance the PS Store for PS Certified devices and provide content created by PS Suite SDK, further prevailing the world of PS Suite. Through PS Suite, SCE will deploy various measures to support content developers in their business for rapidly prevailing Android based portable devices and will expand the PlayStation entertainment experience on an open operating system. *1 Software Development Kit is a set of development tools and software libraries. Developers are able to obtain this SDK by signing a license agreement with SCE and by purchasing tool products. *2 Users can download vast digital content including games through PS Store for PS Network for PS3, PSP, PS Vita and PS Certified devices. *3 Number of content differ by regions.

research2guidance: Weather apps are the most profitable in Android Market

If I had to guess which app category is most profitable, weather apps would probably be at the end of my list. That’s how wrong I would be, cause weather apps are just the opposite – they make more money than any other app category. According to research2guidance, selecting the right app category is crucial for developers. Here are some findings from their report titled “ Android Market Insights “: At the end of August 2011, the average application had generated nearly $2,500 since publishing with total average cumulated revenue from paid downloads varying from $300 to $21,000 per category. Nearly a quarter of all apps downloaded on Android Market are games. Business category currently contains 7,000 apps and only 13% of them are paid; while users do not mind paying a price for another good tool. Many categories have very low average revenue, because users either prefer to download free alternatives, or they just would not pay more than a dollar for something as useless as another ringtone or wallpaper. Finally, the research company concludes that it’s not that easy to make another great weather app that will be appealing to a ton of users… research2guidance: Weather apps are the most profitable in Android Market originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-15T10:06:11Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

App building service Mobile Roadie launches in China, hits 10 million app downloads milestone

The self-service mobile app platform Mobile Roadie is going for the ever-growing Chinese mobile market. The localized version, called Q Mobao, is unveiled together with FabriQate, the company’s local partner. Alongside the service launch, Mobile Roadie also announced its first customized Chinese app created for Madonna, allowing Chinese fans to listen to tracks, view photos and videos, engage with other fans on the fan wall, and share their activity on Chinese social networks Sina Weibo, Renren and Jiepang. Going forward, the next step is to work with local partners like China Mobile and China Unicom, which reach more than 900 million handsets across the country. In the other Mobile Roadie news, the company announced reaching a major milestone, surpassing 10 million app downloads since launching in March 2009. At the moment, there are more than 1,500 apps created with Mobile Roadie, including Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, The Beatles and Dallas Mavericks. Finally, you can check out how that growth looks from the infrographic below. App building service Mobile Roadie launches in China, hits 10 million app downloads milestone originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-15T09:54:36Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Protext Mobility’s AmberWatch Safetext hits AT&T AppCenter; Enables child-safe texting

We’ve all heard about sexting and how children should be protected against that. Really it’s not easy to do that while not impeding on their privacy. Enter Protext Mobility, which AmberWatch Safetext made to do just that. What’s more, the application/service goes beyond sexting, helping parents protect their children from other potentially dangerous mobile activities like cyber-bullying and texting while driving. Parents are empowered with a robust set of features and online reporting tools designed to encourage responsible mobile device use while allowing parents to keep apprised of their children’s smartphone activities. These features include auto-analysis of text messages with real-time alerts to text message violations, as well as reporting of pictures, mobile Web browsing, driving alerts and many other safety features. The news here is that AmberWatch Safetext is now available from AT&T AppCenter from where interested parents can grab the app and subscribe to use it for $4.99 per month. It may sound a lot for an app, but since we’re talking about a child’s safety – it’s a bargain. As for the supported platforms, the application works on Android and BlackBerry smartphones… Protext Mobility’s AmberWatch Safetext hits AT&T AppCenter; Enables child-safe texting originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-15T09:52:00Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Apps of the Day: Manilla, Help Out, and More

Every day we peruse the Android Market looking for the best, worst, interesting, and most unique apps in an effort to sift out a few gems. We call it Apps of the Day. We can’t guarantee that every app featured below is a real winner, but each is worth at least a quick look. It’s all in an effort to help you, our faithful readers, get the most out of your Android handsets. Read on to see what we found today! Manilla  - Weighed down by bills? Can’t always remember when your next payment is due? It’s a challenge for many, and quite a few services have emerged to help folks tackle the mountain of accounts and bills, but not many do it as easily and efficiently as Manilla. With a simple interface and quick setup time, you will be on your way to managing your accounts in no time. Now instead of checking many sites or filing through the mail, one quick look at Manilla is all you need. Set up alerts and you will never get hit with a late fee again. [ Market ] Cave Escape  - Perhaps I’m just nostalgic for the days when I used to play games on my TI-83 calculator during high school algebra, but I’m a sucker for any sort of Fall Down-type game. Cave Escape follows the basic concept but spruces it up with a new look. You control a spider diving deep into caves, discovering powerups and avoiding hazards along the way. [ Market ] Help Out  - Help Out is a deceptively simple puzzle game with graphics reminiscent of something from the Katamari franchise. In help out you are faced with colorful puzzles, the goal being to free a big-eyed, smiling block in the middle. A focus is on customization, allowing you to mix up which of the goofy characters greet you during each puzzle. What looks like an easy solution can often take much longer than anticipated. [ Market ]

Google Goggles updated with new sharing options

Google Goggles, the application that uses pictures to search the web received an update and its new version 1.6 enhances the camera on your Android-powered phone. This is the first significant update since its  addition of personal notes  a few months back. The 1.6 update promises to make your smartphone’s camera “smarter” with this new opt-in feature in Goggles, users can set the app to automatically scan all pictures taken from the camera application on their phones. This feature is suppose to create its magic in the background by sending users a notification if it is able to identify a landmark, painting or other object from your picture. If Goggles does make a match, you can go into the Goggles application and share with your friends via your search history. Not bad, right? Well, Google Goggles has been an interesting project by the search giant, as it improves the platform trying to get more people to use it. I myself, have yet to find any use for it in my day to day task, Goggles strikes me as a luxury app not an app of necessity. But if you’re interested in giving this new and improved version a go, all you have to do is install/update Google Goggles on your Android 2.1+ device, and simply go into the settings and click the “Search from Camera” button to set this feature up on your device. Be sure to report back to us with your thoughts. [via  Google Mobile ]   Google Goggles updated with new sharing options originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-14T21:33:33Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Google Goggles Updated, Automatically Searches Every Picture You Take

Google Goggles has been updated to version 1.6 with a feature that aims to make your smartphone camera “smarter.” With a new opt-in feature, Goggles will now automatically perform a search on any image you take with your camera, whether you snap the picture using the app or not. The search takes place in the background, and, should any useful results such as paintings or landmarks be returned, a notification will be pushed. Many might be hesitant of the new feature, viewing it as just one more way for Google to collect information on its users, and Google no doubt hopes to gain from whatever data they uncover, but the feature is stressed as opt-in only. Goggles won’t be googling your images without your knowledge. Automatic image searches could certainly come in handy when it comes to uncovering fun facts or interesting threads of information related to the objects and places you photograph, but for now it still doesn’t do much to elevate Goggles into an app useful on a daily basis. Head over to the Android Market to download or update Goggle now. Android Market Link: Google Goggles [via Google ]

Google Goggles updated, makes your camera smarter

Google Goggles, the application that uses pictures to search the web, has received an update to version 1.6 today. The 1.6 update promises to make your smartphone’s camera “smarter,” and can now be set to automatically scan all pictures taken from the camera application on your Android phone. You read that right; any pictures you take with the standard camera application can automatically be scanned by Goggles in the background. You will receive a notification if it is able to identify a landmark, painting or other object from your picture. If Goggles does make a match, you can go into the Goggles application and share with your friends via your search history. Though most people will simply launch Goggles to make use of the application when they actually want to identify something, having potentially useful information pushed to you when you’re not thinking to look for it can certainly come in handy on some occasions. And having the application run in the background at least won’t annoy you too much. Once you install/update Google Goggles on your Android 2.1+ device, simply go into the settings and click the “Search from Camera” button to set this feature up on your device. Google Goggles Free Google Inc. MARKET QR

Top 20 Android apps by gender led by Facebook, Google Maps and Gmail

A study conducted by Nielsen showed the top 20 Android apps by gender, and to nobody’s surprise Facebook, Google Maps and Gmail were the most used among U.S. owners 18 years and older (if you don’t count the Android Market app itself). In order for Nielsen to establish the “active reach” of each app, the company had to track the percentage of Android owners who used an app within the past 30 days, with help from on-device meters on thousands of Android smartphones. As you can see in the chart above, streaming music service Pandora and two versions of the popular game Angry Birds showed similar usage by both men and women. Clearly destroying green pigs is a pastime that crosses gender boundaries. What wasn’t so surprising to me were notable differences between men and women in active reach for social apps. I’d like to think that we can all agree women are far more social than men. Results show Facebook’s mobile app had an active reach of 81 percent for women compared to 69 percent for male Android users, while Twitter also had slightly higher active reach among women (16.5%) than men (13.4%). However, Google+, Google’s new social network, had more than twice the active reach among men (15.8%) than women (7.2%). Why do you think that is? Other noteworthy apps include Amazon’s Kindle, Words With Friends, and Quickoffice Pro — kind of bummed they didn’t have Documents to Go on the list, though. Ladies, which apps do you use most? Does this graph seem accurate? [ via ] Top 20 Android apps by gender led by Facebook, Google Maps and Gmail originally appeared on IntoMobile.com on 2011-09-14T16:13:25Z. FV1gMYsz9b5j

Sphero enters production mode, launching late 2011

Sphero has sent us over some pictures of their final production model for their upcoming Android phone accessory which you can check out in the gallery at the end of this post. We call Sphero an accessory loosely, as Sphero is much more a gaming accessory that you happen to control with your Android device. Sphero is basically a tennis-ball sized electronic polycarbonate ball that glows different colors depending on user settings and applications you choose to use Sphero with. The ball itself comes with a conduction charger, as well as various different applications the company has created to help you make full use of your purchase. The included applications are really what make Sphero functional, as the games such as Drive and Golf allow you to use your phone to play a game of golf, and whatever you do on your smartphone will happen in real life with the Sphero ball. The ball mirrors your on-screen gestures as it moves around the floor. Though a few games will come with the Sphero device itself, many more will be available on the Android Market since Sphero has released their developer toolkit to all those interested in building applications for the Sphero platform. When we tested Sphero at CES in January, we were given a basic application that simply allowed you to move the ball around, but the addition of game applications to the final Sphero product will really make this a fun tool for you and your kids. You can check out Sphero in action in the following video. Sphero is launching their service later this year. Sphero has given users the option to pre-order the Sphero ball, which will launch at a whopping $129.99. If you are interested in Sphero, you can pre-order the device on Sphero’s website . I have a feeling, however, that the $129.99 price is sure to turn some users off to this service. What do you guys think? Are you looking forward to getting your hands on Sphero despite the high price tag? Has Sphero priced this too high for your liking?  Let us know in the comments. Gallery