14
Nov
g tiny

One of the neatest things about the Play Store is that, as long as you're signed in to your account on the web, you can install apps directly to your device without ever picking it up. Now, Google has integrated this functionality into Google+. If a user shares a link to an app on the Play Store, that friendly blue "Install" button will now be embedded directly in the post. A-like so:

2012-11-14_10h25_24

This is a nifty new addition to Google+. Of course, the embeds don't include ratings, user reviews, or any of the other key information that everyone should probably at least glance at before installing apps on their devices.

08
Mar
opera

Opera Software, makers of the popular browsers for desktops and mobile devices, today unveiled a mobile storefront for web apps called the Opera Mobile Store. The store, which racked up 15 million users during its February beta release, is available now on Android (as well as several other mobile operating systems).

Applications will be purchased, installed, and run via Opera's mobile browsers (Opera Mini or Opera Mobile). Opera's store is powered by web app company Appia, whose storefront commerce system will be used for payments. An Opera Publisher Portal, a platform for developers to create and dispense their apps, was released simultaneously.

02
Feb
wm_2011-02-02 16h30_58
Last Updated: July 24th, 2011

Android users have been clamoring for an official online Android Market solution for ages, and today, El Goog finally delivered with the Android Market Web Store. Once the issues with the "Sign in" button (clicking it returned an 'Invalid Request' error) were fixed, we didn't think twice about delving in and giving it an in-depth look. Read on for our first impressions!

Front Page

wm_2011-02-02 16h30_58

The front page of market.android.com (aka the Android Market Web Store) is simple, clean, and sexy - just the way we like it. Across the very top, there are links to other Google services (i.e. Gmail, Calendar, Docs, etc.), as well as links to "My Market Account" (more on that below), "My Account," and "Sign out." Below that is the good old Android Market logo and a Search box.

02
Feb
2011-02-02 13h36_57

Oh yes, those juicy rumors about an online version of the Market were true - the "Android Market Web Store," as Google is calling it, is accessible now via market.android.com.

2011-02-02 13h36_57 2011-02-02 13h39_03 2011-02-02 13h41_29

As you can see, a list of featured/best selling games populates the front page, along with a list of categories, a "Sign in" button (which, at the time of this writing, leads to an 'invalid request error'), and a "Search" function. Once you click on one of the apps, you are taken to a page somewhat like the one in the second screenshot, with a description, links to "Overview," "User Reviews," "What's New," and "Permissions" on top, as well as a list of related apps on the left side and a QR code and a "Tweet" button on the right side.

06
Aug
500x_car_dock[3]

When Google closed up shop at their now ghost-town of a webstore, Nexus One owners were left without an outlet for official accessories, particularly the elusive HTC Nexus One Car Phone Holder (aka car dock).

With eBay sellers demanding upwards of $200 (and that’s used) for a device that once retailed for $59.99, it seemed Google and HTC had hung Nexus One owners out to dry. But now, HTC’s US online store (run by LetsTalk.com) and its UK sister site are offering up Nexus One goodies, Car Phone Holders included, once again.

Capture

I, for one, breathed quite a sigh of relief knowing I could still obtain my Nexus One car dock without handing over what currently represents my effective life savings.

27
Jul
broken_n1-300x180

Tmonews has leaked a T-Mobile retail partner sales FAQ in which it is explicitly states that T-Mobile will never again stock the Nexus One in their retail stores.

nexusonetmo_wm

This would seem to be the last nail in the coffin for the Nexus One’s US tour, though it is still sold abroad in the UK and South Korea. While the document doesn’t explicitly preclude the possibility of online sales, “The Nexus One was sold and marketed by Google” is pretty damning.

Also, this document is addressed towards brick-and-mortar retailers, and thus it wouldn’t be relevant to mention T-Mobile’s online sales policy. I think it is safe to assume, though, that you won’t be seeing the Nexus One on T-Mobile’s web store anytime soon.