NFC Android User Group

I have been lately very interested about NFC (Near Field Communication) apps and services on Android. Android 2.3 a.k.a Gingerbread introduced NFC APIs, and I have been playing a bit with them. Unfortunately, I do not yet have any Android phone supplied with a NFC chip. Fortunately, the Gingerbread's NFC API provides means to start developing NFC apps without any actual NFC enabled device. (I did pre-ordered Samsung Galaxy S II which includes NFC - at least in some variations. I also wish to get my hands on Nexus S).

To learn more about NFC apps on Android and their development, I created a new user group called NFC Android on the I Am Android social network. So, if you are interested about the topic, please feel free to join the group.

The Android Daily

Paper.li is an interesting new service that basically organizes links shared on Twitter and Facebook into an easy to read daily newspaper paper format. The service is currently in alpha mode, but you are allowed to create your own daily newspaper.

So, I wanted to a give a try for paper.li and created The Android Daily that uses my Twitter list for Android as a source for content. Seems to work pretty well - check it out.

Quick Nexus S Review

Here is a quick review of Nexus S running Android 2.3. The review video is provided by Intomobile.com:

Sony's Android developer site

If you are interested to develop and publish Android apps for the Google TV platform, here is one new developer web site to get started: Android Developer Site by Sony. The official event for launching Sony's first Google TV product will be arranged in NYC, October 12.

Google expanded paid apps market to a number of new countries

This is something that many Scandinavian Android developers (including myself) have been waiting for almost too long time: Google has expanded the list of countries where paid apps are available in Android Market. This list includes now also Finland! More importantly, Google has also added new countries where developers are accepted to distribute and sell their applications via Android Market. The list of current locations supported for selling paid apps is published in here.

I am really happy that Finnish Android developers are finally given the possibility to sell their apps through the official Android Market. I am now more motivated to finalize my Android apps :)

Do Androids Dream of LEGO MINDSTORMS?

Lego has released an Android application that can be used to control Lego Mindstorms robots using Android 2.1+ devices. The MINDdroid app is a remote-control application that allows you to create a wireless Bluetooth connection directly with your NXT, and once a connection is established, you can tilt and turn your phone to make the robot move forward, turn to the sides, and by pressing an action button on the phone's screen, activate the Action motor. I

To download the MINDdroid application to your Android phone, you can scan this QR code with your scanning application, or visit the App Market through your Android phone. More information about the MINDroid application is available in here.

The MINDdroid Application has been developed by some dedicated AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO) and software specialists Günther Hölzl and Shawn Brown, in collaboration with the LEGO MINDSTORMS team.

Firefox for Android

Firefox for Android is part of Fennec project. The aim at Fennec is . Currently, a pre-alpha version of Firefox for Android is downloadable from here or by using the QR code below. I installed Fennec on my Nexus One running Froyo 2.2. A pre-alpha software is of course just a pre-alpha software missing some features and containing quite many bugs. Loading of web pages is bit slow as well as updating the UI at some points. In general, UI needs to be polished. Fennec do have some interesting UI ideas, but I will need to use Fennec for longer period to conclude whether I like them or not. However, a recommend you to give a try, at least when Fennec hits the actual alpha or beta status.

Elisa access point settings for Android

Just in case someone needs the access point settings for Elise Internet and MMS, I publish them here. I have tested the settings to work at least with HTC Hero, HTC Desire, Motorola Milestone, and Nexus One.

Internet

Name: Elisa Internet
APN: Internet
Username:
Password:
MCC: 244
MNC: 05
APN type: default

MMS

Name: Elisa MMS
APN: mms
MMSC: http://mms.elisa.fi
MMS proxy: 213.161.41.57
MMS port:
MCC: 244
MNC: 05
APN TYPE: mms

doubleTwist multimedia player released for Android

doubleTwist Corp has released a polished audio and music player app for Android called doubleTwist player. The player seamlessly integrates with the doubleTwist desktop client running both on OS X and Windows computers. As you may already know, doubleTwist desktop client can be used to import and sync your iTunes music and playlists into your Android handset. The latest version of the client integrates also with Android market. I have been using doubleTwist for a while now, and I have been quite happy with it.

Get the player app while it is still free from here. The player will be enhanced with new features and widgets in future.

Android News Digest - June 2, 2010

• Android 2.1 is currently the most popular version with 45.1 % share
• Acer Stream previewed at Computex 2010 (via Engadget.com)
• Intel demoes Android 2.1 on Moorestown platform (via Engadget.com)
• Motorola releases FLIPOUT teaser on YouTube
• Motorola FLIPOUT announced (via Intomobile.com)
• HTC EVO 4G review (via Intomobile.com)
• Samsung Galaxy S (with Super AMOLED) will be available in 110 countries
• Mercury News interview with Andy Rubin, Google

Sending links from Chrome web browser to Android 2.2 phones

Google Chrome to Phone Extension is a project consisting of a Chrome Extension, Android App for Froyo 2.2, and supporting Google AppEngine server that enables users to send links from their Chrome desktop browser to their Android device using Android's Cloud to Device Messaging service. Note that your phone needs to have Froyo 2.2 upgrade installed. You lucky ones already having Froyo on your handsets can find the set up instructions from this wiki page. It is also possible to use other browsers than Chrome using the Javascripts provided on that wiki page.

Android News Digest - Week 22

I collected some interesting Android news and articles from the past week. Enjoy:

• Android 2.2 Platform Highlights
• List of Android phones getting Froyo 2.2 upgrade
• What Android fragmentation problem?
• NVidia CEO: Hardware manufactures uniting behind Android
• 7 Ways Android 2.2 a.k.a Froyo tops iPhone
• Android challenges iPhone users win
• Palm loses mobile design guru Matias Duarte to Google to join as a Android User Experience Director

Google: The Next 6 Months of Android Will "Blow Your Mind"

Gizmodo made a pretty interesting interview with Google's Andy Rubin. Read the entire interview from here.

Android on Your TV - Google TV

One of the biggest announcements in Google I/O event, beside Android FroYo 2.2, was of course Google TV. With Google TV, you can enjoy any Web content (including Flash content), search programs and content, listen to music, and also, since Google TV is based on Android 2.2, run Android apps right on you HDTV! Google TV compatible devices, such as HDTVs, TV companion boxes, BlueRay players, and accessories will be available already this year at least by Sony and Logitech. If you are a developer you can already start developing either Android or Web apps for Google TV.

Google Activates 100,000 Android Phones a Day!

Google revealed today at Google I/O that they are currently activating over 100,000 new Android phones every day. Which is quite respectable figure considering that just in last February Google reported that they activating (only) 60,000 phones every day. Furthermore, according to reports, Android was the second best-selling smartphone in USA during this quarter. Only RIM did better which means that Android phones sold more than the phones from the well known fruit company. Of course, statistics may change (temporarily) when iPhone 4G phone is out ...

Android 2.2 Froyo Officially Announced

So, Android 2.2 a.k.a. "Froyo" was officially announced today at Google I/O 2010 event. Froyo brings lot of new powerful and useful additions to Android platform, such as a just-in-time (JIT) compiler providing up to 5X performance boost. Other new highly interesting features include WiFi tethering (i.e. portable WLAN hotspots), a cloud-to-device messaging API, new device administration APIs, capability to install apps into a SD card (wow, finally), and a new backup app that can be used to transfer personal data and settings from one Android phone to another. Google also claims that the latest version of Android's web browser is benchmarked to be the world's fastest browser thanks to its new JavaScript Engine. The next major release 3.o a.k.a. "Gingerbread" is planned to come out Q4/2010, but meanwhile - I would not mind having some Froyo, please :)

Samsung Galaxy S

I have never had a Samsung phone, but Samsung's new Galaxy S Android phone is a beast that I would definitely consider to buy. Awesome Super AMOLED 4" display, 1 GHz Snapdragon, super fast 3D graphics packed into a thin and sleek device. I just hope that Samsung will provide Android updates more timely basis than HTC. HTC Android phones are just great, but because of the Sense UI they use, it usually takes too long for HTC to provide an updated firmware whenever a new Android OS version is released. Hopefully, Android version 2.2 entitled Froyo will change this with its more flexible update delivery and management system. So, I really hope that HTC will be quick this time in delivering Froyo to my great HTC Desire phone, or I have to consider changing it ...

PayPal launches In-App Payment library for Android

Good news for Android developers who would like to make some money with their great apps: PayPal launches an in-app payment library for Android platform. Wow - just how cool is that? iPhone OS has provided an in-app purchase feature for over a year already, a feature that is sadly still missing from Android platform today. Some desperate developers have implemented even their own solution - which tends to be quite bad idea for several reasons, such as legal and security issues involved.

Fortunately, PayPal have been developing a payment solution for Android called Mobile Payments Library which they just announced. Android developers can utilise the library to integrate PayPal payments into their applications. With the help of library, the end users will be able to make purchase transactions without ever leaving the application. The main benefit for developers, is that PayPal takes care of those nasty legal and security issues.

Of course, PayPal's solution is still a third-party solution, and inherently not as good as a seamlessly integrated native platform solution like the iPhone's in-app payments system. I hope that Google will address this issue in very near future by providing a proper Android mobile payments service and related API(s). Meanwhile, I think that PayPal's technology provides a viable solution for those Android developers that are not able to deliver paid apps via Android Market (like us living in Scandinavia).

HTC Desire

HTC Hero is my first Android phone. I have been quite happy with it. However, I wanted to upgrade to a more powerful phone with a higher resolution display and running Android 2.1. After comparing the Android phones available here in Finland, I ended up having two alternatives: Google Nexus One and HTC Desire. These two phones are almost identical - at least hardware wise. Both phones are manufactured by HTC. I decided to buy HTC Desire, basically for the following two main reasons: Desire is about 100 € cheaper than Nexus One here in Finland, and it features the Sense UI which I loved already in HTC Hero. I have been using HTC Desire now for couple of weeks, and I have to say that I really like it. HTC Desire is fast and responsive, features superb AMOLED display, and has a nice industrial design that feels comfortable on hand. Furthermore, the improvements in and extensions to Sense UI provide even better user experience than in HTC Hero. I am also impressed the quality of the software. I have not yet experienced any software crashes nor any other problems worth mentioning. So, really an awesome phone - I love it.

Dropbox for Android available!

The free (and official) Dropbox app for Android is now available from Android Market. Go and get it :)