Google releases Android 2.0

Google announced the release of its Android 2.0 software development kit, touting a series of enhancements for users and developers. Major additions to Android 2.0 include Quick Contact, which provides instant access to a contact's information and communication modes eg, users can tap a photo and select whether to call, text or email the individual in question. Other applications like Email, Messaging and Calendar can also reveal the Quick Contact widget upon touching a contact photo or status icon.

Android 2.0 additionally boasts support for Exchange, a combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page and search functionality for all saved SMS and MMS messages.

Android 2.0 also boosts camera functionality, introducing built-in flash support, digital zoom, scene mode and related visual effects. An improved keyboard promises to simplify text input and improve typing speed, while the framework's multi-touch support guarantees key presses aren't missed during two-finger typing sessions--in addition, an improved dictionary learns from word usage, and automatically includes contact names as suggestions.

Perhaps the most significant browser enhancement in Android 2.0 arrives via support for HTML5, which enables browser-based applications to behave more like native apps. The update also adds a refreshed UI with actionable browser URL bar, enabling users to directly tap the address bar for instant searches and navigation, as well as bookmarks with web page thumbnails and support for double-tap zoom.

For developers, Android 2.0 introduces new APIs for sync and Bluetooth. Using the new sync, account manager and contacts APIs, you can write applications to enable users to sync their devices to various contact sources. You can also give users a faster way to communicate with others by embedding Quick Contact within your application. With the new Bluetooth API, you can now easily add peer-to-peer connectivity or gaming to your applications.

The updated Android SDK is available for download here.

This video shows you the highlights from the latest Android platform release.

Apple's App Store launches 2010 Volkswagen GTI

With its launch of the Real Racing GTI App for the 2010 VW GTI, Volkswagen is the first automaker to launch a car in the Apple App Store. The game is free to download, and features tie-ins to Twitter so that gamers can upload screenshots of their progress to their followers.

What’s more, playing the Real Racing GTI App could get you an actual 2010 VW GTI for free. Volkswagen has launched a contest to go along with the iPhone and iPod Touch game; one limited-edition fully-customized 2010 GTI will be given away each week to the top user.

Brilliant mobile marketing execution.

Thoora - New Media Reporting

Thoora news is an unconventional reporting website that uses non-mainstream sources to decide what is hot.

Thoora news uses a complicated, real-time algorithm to filter, rank and post content from different blogs, Twitter posts, as well as comments and which websites/stories are garnering the most traffic.

Thoora news is an easy to use media site that foists little known blogs and websites into the front and center for all to see.

The reality of shopping on Nokia Ovi Store

The talented Mr Ben Smith over at The Really Mobile Project has used one of those super flash cartoon animation services to script his experience of shopping at the Ovi Store.

At the end of the video Ben points out that the Really Mobile team have spent over £40 on applications at the Ovi Store. But they’ve only managed to download 1 application successfully.
The team had collectively submitted 4 support requests asking for help and guess what they got ONE response! The other three were apparently IGNORED! oh God....

The reality is shopping and making a purchase on the Ovi store is a real pain. The worst part about it is that if you read the fine print it says that once you buy an app you own it and the only way to get your money back is if the app is defectifve or not advertised correctly in terms of its features. If you want your money back you have to provide proof of purchase and it could take 30 days or more to see your money back!!

If Nokia wants to compete in this space, they seriously need to simplify the buying experience and even more important improving its customer support. Enjoy the clip.

We go shopping in Nokia's OVI Store from The Really Mobile Project on Vimeo.

Beauty Contest in China?

What do you reckon the above is? Beauty contest? Almost, its really the Chinese way of selecting their best of the best to become a "Train Attendant in China!"



You got to look pretty regardless of whether you are serving on a plane or train or even joining the cadet. It pays to be pretty in China!

Pixar Intro Parody

CollegeHumor.com has done it again, this time with their original Pixar Intro Parody. Pixar Intro Parody is a must-see animation short. Take out a minute and a half out of your day for some much deserved laughter and enjoy the show.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

U.S. Leading the Global Mobile Data Boom

China and India may be well on their way to dominating the voice world with billions of users, but when it comes to mobile data, U.S. companies are leading the charge, showing strong growth both in terms of overall traffic and revenue, according to data collected by our friend Chetan Sharma, who is a member of the GigaOM Pro Analyst Network. A lot of the growth in the U.S. is coming as a result of the availability of 3G services, flat-rate data plans and of course, mobile devices such as the iPhone. Here are some interesting findings from Sharma’s report for the first half of 2009:

• Mobile data now accounts for 25 percent of total global service revenue.
• Verizon is the second-largest carrier in terms of mobile data, edging past China Mobile and closing in on NTT DoCoMo, which had revenues of $8 billion.
• U.S. data revenues were $20.6 billion vs. $16 billion for Japan and $8.6 billion for China during the first six months of this year.
• Top 10 global wireless carriers now account for 63 percent of global mobile data revenue.
• Biggest mobile growth was registered by Verizon, AT&T and Softbank. Two out of those three companies sell iPhones.
• Data revenue for the overall industry was up 10 percent from the second half of 2008, showing that the current craze for smartphones is helping to boost mobile Internet usage.

This wireless data boom, while creating many bottlenecks, also spells opportunity for companies big and small. From backhaul service providers to little app developers, the entire mobile ecosystem has been re-energized.

In related news, market research firm Telegeography notes that China Mobile not only has the largest number of mobile subscribers — 503 million – it also leads the world in terms of wireless revenue. And it’s pushed Vodafone to the No. 2 two spot.

Morgan Stanley's Mary Meeker - Mobile Internet is BIG

If you ever had doubts about how big mobile internet is going to be, check out this presentation by Morgan Stanley’s Mary Meeker. It’s one of those presentations that you just want to tell everyone about.

Mary's mobile internet take away :

1. Mobile internet is bigger than you think.
2. iPhone is becoming THE mobile platform.
3. Social media, mobile devices are changing communications and commerce.
4. Mobile internet trends in Japan show how the future will be.
5. Carriers will be crushed by demand.
6. The Walled Gardens collapse.
7. Apple wins, Google maybe wins, Research In Motion withers

Mary Meeker's Internet Presentation 2009

Mary Meeker emphasized how Facebook has been the “largest share gainer of online usage over the past 3 years” and is now serving as the new communications platform for a large percentage of internet users while Twitter is gaining some ground.

What is driving the phenomena growth is mobile and the attention is shifting in a big way to mobile devices. To highlight this shift, Meeker referenced Mixi, Japan’s largest social network. Mixi has seen desktop usage shrink and mobile usage explode as overall usage across the site increased since 2006. Facebook has also experienced tremendous mobile growth over the past year with over 65 million mobile users according to the company. This trend is expected to continue and if the U.S. mimics Japan’s trends, we’ll most likely see Facebook usage shift from desktop to mobile.

In short, mobile will be BIG. Be prepared for the evolution.

Check out below the video summary of Mary's presentation via The Business Insider.