Apps Tally: Google Android=200K, Apple iOS=400K
Food for thought: The Apple Apps Store was recently estimated [Aysmco] at nearly 400,000 apps (iPhone, iPad-only, and universal), whereas another estimate now puts the Google Android Market at 200,000 apps[Pocket-lint].
Is it me or did Android catch up fast? According to Pocket-lint, the Android Market doubled in two months There are other estimates that say the Android Market will hit 400,000 apps around mid-2011. Part of that will probably be due to the Android tablets that are expected to appear in 2011. However, with or without new versions of Apple’s iPad due out soon, the App Store is going to continue to grow.
Whether or not the Android Market will ever catch up to or pass the App Store is hard to tell at this point, but I do know from talking to recruiters looking for mobile developers that need for Android apps development skills are now at the point where are a few companies are paying a higher rate per hour than for iPhone dev skills, and at less experience.
What do you think? Will Android surpass iOS? Do you think an apps market with nearly half-a-million apps is a good or bad thing, i.e., for finding what you really want?
Links: Asymco, Pocket-Lint.
Avatron Air Display App: Your iPad as External Screen [Updated]
Not everyone needs multiple computers and screens like my setup, above, but if you do and also own an iPad, there’s a quick-fix option.
Despite my 5 screens (3 laptops, 1 Dell Zino mini-desktop), iPhone and iPad, my work sometimes has me wishing I had yet one more screen. That productivity is extremely high when you use multiple screens is an established fact — according to my own experience and to various studies I’ve not bothered to to get references for. If you doubt me, try it yourself. Two screens is better than one, three better than two, and so on. If there’s an upper limit where too many screens become a distraction, I haven’t reached it yet. But adding extra screens gets costly, and when you’re a bootstrapping mobile startup, that matters.
Fortunately, if you already own an iPad, there’s an inexpensive option that might do in a pinch: your iPad. Yes, you CAN use your iPad as an external screen to your computer. I have tried using VNC software, but that’s a remote desktop app, and not really what we need here. The answer? Avatron’s Air Display, which currently only supports Mac computers but will have a Windows solution in the future. Using a combo of an iPad and a server app on your laptop/ desktop, the iPad can be used as an external screen. (Expensive option, yes, unless you already own an iPad and don’t want/ are not ready for another external monitor.) [Update: Installation of the equivalent server application on your Mac requires that you have to restart your computer .]
Ars Technica already has a fairly lengthy review of Air Display, so I’m not going to review it too. I purchased the iPad-specific app from the Apple App Store on the basis of the review and like it for the most part. The only caveat I’ll mention has to do with the iPad WiFi-only model’s wireless connection quirkiness and its lack of connection persistence, if you haven’t used the device for several minutes, or if your wireless setup has fluctuations (my AT&T U-Verse setup does). When the wireless connection temporarily ceases, the app has to be reset all over again (from the Mac toolbar). This is irritating because any windows you have open in the iPad’s screen area gets shunted over to one of your other screens. You have to move them all back when you reset Air Display settings. Not exactly productive.
If not for this situation, Air Display is a killer app. I’m guessing that if you’re one of those rare people with two (or more) iPads, you could connect all of them and have quite the temporary display setup. Hopefully either Apple will hurry up the software fix for the connection problem or Avatron will upgrade the app to save state so that the problem is minimized. Ultimately, if you need something more permanent, you’re better off purchasing a real monitor. For suggestions on setup, read my detailed post at Performancing on multi-screen, multi-computer configuration options.
Need consultation on mobile apps, the mobile platform or mobile marketing? Need an iPhone, iPad or Palm webOS developed and marketed? Have a mobile device, platform, application, service, accessory or related news or tips you want to share? Contact us at callstyleblog at gmail.com.
Geotagging Your Pics With MoPho’s MoPho.to
The list of all the location check-in apps on smartphones is truly staggering and they just keep coming, with one of the latest being MoPho.to, but for geo-tagged photos. At least, that’s what it appears to be, but when you look into the iPhone app maker, ChoiceVendor, you see that their main site offers B2B (Business-to-Business) reviews. The idea is in fact to take pics at events and places, such as at a restaurant.
As TechCrunch writer Leena Rao points out, other location-sharing apps such as Gowalla do allow geo-tagged photos, though MoPhoto emphasizes the photo aspect over checking-in to locations. I’m not sure that that is a strong enough distinction. Location-sharing as it stands now, with most mobile apps, is awkward and provides no incentive. People who do it either because they’re testing the technology (possibly to write about) or just having some fun being early adopters. Personally, despite my intense interest in mobile apps development, I already have location check-in fatigue, and it’ll take a lot more features and incentive to impress me. However, being a long-time photography buff, I do like that MoPhoto’s emphasis is on photos.
Design Mobile Apps for Success
Over on GigaOm, Dev Khare, a VP at venture capital firm Venrock, takes a look at some of the factors that make a mobile app successful. He puts forth the idea that user experience is key to the success of a mobile app, which makes a great deal of sense. He gives several examples of good apps and explains why he likes each, including ease of use, sometimes with just his thumb.
Consider this: would you use an app that was awkward or uncomfortable, unless you absolutely had to use it? Probably not. On the other hand, fun apps that you have no use for besides entertainment will be high on your list. In fact, I’ve heard stories of people using “fun” apps up to 2 hours a day or more, just because the experience was enjoyable. Pretty much a no brainer, right?
So design of mobile apps is far, far more important than many “bedroom developers” consider. The most addictive ones go beyond cookie-cutter UI (User Interface) elements. If you’re building mobile apps, take the time to come up with multiple versions of every screen. Some people believe that the really good ideas start AFTER the 10th design.
If you need templates to work with, check out Smashing Magazine’s list of wireframing templates for mobile design. You can download and print off the templates to sketch out your mobile app screens — in this case for iPad, iPhone, Android (amongst other templates not for mobile apps). If you’re designing for the Apple iPad, also check out Smashing Mag’s design tips for iPad apps, which has a list of other articles worth checking out.
As Apple Lifts Restrictions, VoIP through 3G Now Possible in the iPhone
Prior to this, VoIP through cellular networks was not possible for the iPhone. Or should say, Apple did not allow the feature. For whatever reason, you can only make VoIP calls whenever your iPhone is connected via Wi-Fi. Sudddenly, Apple realized that it’s now time to lift this restriction and allow VoIP feature through cellular networks.
As soon as Apple updated the iPhone SDK, we now have the first iPhone app to make this possible – iCall. In fact, this app will go down into history as being the first and currently the only VoIP application that uses 3G networks for the iPhone.
So, now you make unrestricted free local and long distance calling vover 3G networks using your iPhone.
iCall is already available at the Apps Store as a free download. And iCall CEO is more than happy about the release of this app and applauded Apple for lifting the restrictions.
“I applaud Apple’s decision to allow iCall to extend its functionality beyond Wi-Fi and onto the 3G networks. This heralds a new era for VoIP applications on mobile platforms, especially for iCall and our free calling model. I hope that now more developers will begin using our VoIP as a platform to integrate VoIP into their applications.”
Here’s the link to iCall iPhone App at the Apps Store.
TweetDeck for iPhone Gets Updated with List and New ReTweet Style
Of all the Twitter apps that I have downloaded on my iPhone, TweetDeck is the one that I have constantly used. It’s one of the best and most robust Twitter iPhone app that I have used so far. In fact, I also have TweetDeck on my Mac. That’s how much I like TweetDeck.
And guess what, TweetDeck for iPhone has just been upgraded to version 1.3. With the version update are some great new features that you will surely appreciate including mobile retweets, Twitter lists, view on map, location features and more.
In brief, here’s what each of these new TweetDeck features can do:
- Keep up with your favourite Twitter Lists – add your own Twitter List or List you subscribed to on a new column
- Mobile retweets – lets you choose how you want to retweet a post, that is using the old style or new style of posting a retweet. TweetDeck remembers your first preference and maintains it in your succeeding retweets until you change your preference
- Location features – you can now geotag your tweets based on your current location; needs activation
- View on Map – takes all the geo-coded tweets from the column of your choosing plot them on a map, this helps you find out where all your Twitter followers are at the moment
Aside from those new features, TweetDeck did some tweaks and fixes.
If you have not downloaded a Twitter app for your iPhone, you might want to check out TweetDeck. [iTunes Link]
Samsung Galaxy Spica Joins the Android Crowd
Android (ver. Android 1.5)Aside from the Nexus One, another Android Phone just debut, this time at the CES 2010 event. Samsung has launched its latest Android phone called the Samsung Galaxy Spica.
The Samsung Galaxy Spica boasts of a slim and compact form factor and with its Android platform gives you seamless connectivity and access to various Google such as Gmail, Maps, Google Search and more. It also supports popular social networking sites including Facebook and MySpace. This phone is loaded with an 800 MHZ processor and supports DivX. Of course you can also download various applications from the Android market.
This Android phone also features DNSe 2.0 that provides better sound quality. For your listening the Galaxy Spica has a 3.5mm ear jack.
Complete specs of the Samsung Galaxy Spica are as follow:
- Android (ver. Android 1.5)
- 3.2” HVGA(320×480) TFT Display
- 3MP autofocus camera
- 180MB Internal Memory
- microSD expansion card
- video and audio playback
The Samsung Galaxy Spica is a HSDPA 3.6Mbps (900/2100)
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900) phone. It runs on 1500 mAh battery. While this maybe a nice Android device, the Samsung Galaxy Spica is still not as feature-packed as the Nexus One. Unfortunately, pricing and release date of this Android phone are still unknown. Although, we’re pretty much sure that it will be much cheaper than the Nexus One.
iPhone Apps for Business Productivity
Mashable.com has a great list of work productivity-related iPhone apps with a bit of an overblown title. These apps are ideal for the busy entpreneur, manager and others, and fall into the categories of virtual assistant, to-do/ reminder lists, flight updates, web meetings, password managers, expense trackers and a few others.
While most of the apps listed do cost money, a few of the valuable ones are free:
- AT&T virtual receptionist, which apparently includes a free toll-free number.
- Fuze Meeting, which is similar to WebEx but free, includes instant messages, video sharing, desktop sharing, conference calling. Did we say it’s free? Now you never have an excuse to skip a meeting. Ever. Unless your carrier doesn’t have coverage where you are, or there’s no Wi-Fi. Or you “accidentally” turn off your phone and “forget” about it.
- UPS Mobile. Got an account with UPS? Get an UPS ID (register online) and you can initiate pickups and deliveries, see rates and track your packages.
See Mashable for more info.
Free Gorillacam iPhone Photography App Packed with Goodies
Gorillacam is a neat little iPhone photography app, and combined with Joby.com’s GorillaMobile tripod (pictured below) for mobile devices, you can have a lot of fun photo sessions. Some of your pics might even come out looking reasonably professional. Don’t believe me? Check out the iPhoneography.com website in general, but specifically look at some of the iPhone photography work shown there.
Now about Gorillacam… It’s packed with features. You can set the “bubble” feature to get a carpenter’s level accuracy about your camera position. (See the very top of the image above to see the yellow/green bubble.) Turn on the grid feature to pull off better photo compositions. Want to take a group pic with you in it? Use a GorillaMobile or other tripod and the Gorillacam self-timer feature. You can also do multi-frame “bursts” and set the interval (in seconds) between pics. This is great for time-lapse photography of slow-moving objects, or even to create stop-motion videos. (Just remember to disable your iPhone’s auto-screen save so that it doesn’t turn off in the middle of your photo sessions.)
Not bad at all for a free app. I think I’m impressed enough to buy a GorillaMobile tripod for my iPhone 3GS. The hefty price of US$39.95 seems worth it, given how flexible this tripod is (just like the original Gorillapod). You can attach to all kinds of objects.
Trouble Waking Up? Use the iPhone Alarm Clock App in a Creative Way
If you’re like me and have trouble getting up in the mornings, get creative with the default Clock app on your iPhone. What I do is set two alarms about 10, 15 or 30 minutes apart, with different sounds for each. For me, a deeper sound such as a drum works better, but I mix it up with a Xylophone or Harp sound. In fact, what works best for me is a softer sound for the 1st alarm, and a more insistent sound for the 2nd alarm.
As far as timing, the 2nd alarm is set for the time that I don’t want to get up past. Give it try.