Applications

May

Facebook Starts Tweaking Mobile A Little Early, Makes Photos, Posts Bigger On Mobile Apps/Site

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Applications, News

Remember when Facebook said that it was going to finish its IPO, and then work on improving its mobile experience? Well, reverse that. Ahead of the company's IPO, the social networking giant has already announced at least one minor improvement to its mobile apps and website: bigger pictures and posts!

^{Old version on the left, new version in the center and right.}

In an effort to make use of all those wonderful high-resolution displays you kids are carrying around these days, Facebook is making photos look bigger, and posts wider, to the point of reaching the edges of your display.

May

[Review] Turntable.fm On Android: It's Fantastic If You Have A Good Network And A Bit Of Luck

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Applications, Reviews

We've been waiting on turntable.fm to land on Android for a while now. Well, it's finally here! The music sharing service has been available for a little over a year on desktop machines. The concept is simple: DJs join a room and share songs with an audience that can then vote on whether a song is Awesome or Lame. It's a great concept for sharing music.

The only thing that could make it better is if you could listen to (or DJ!) a room while away from your computer. iOS users have been able to do this for a couple months, and now Android users can join the fray.

May

Facebook's Primary Post-IPO Goals Are To Improve Mobile And Advertising Experiences, Says Zuckerberg

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Applications, News

Fans of Facebook's mobile app and burgeoning integration with various online services should have something to look forward to in 2012 – founder Mark Zuckerberg, during the first week of a cross-country tour promoting the social networking giant's upcoming IPO, indicated that once the social giant goes public, its goal will be to focus on improving its mobile and advertising experiences.

Zuckerberg indicated that Facebook is "just getting started" with the app, and that the network plans to increase integration with other online apps while working to create a "transformative" ad experience.

Zuckerberg went on to explain that another key element in Facebook's strategy of integrating with other online apps will be to bring people together through Facebook in more ways than ever before.

May

[Pure Evil] SellARing "Replaces The Ring-Ring With A 10 Second Ad," Vies For Title Of Most Intrusive Ad Network Ever

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, Applications, News

Remember Airpush, the ad network that was widely considered one of the most intrusive, irritating methods of advertising in existence (so much so that Lookout released a special app to fight it off)? Well, it looks like the folks at SellARing (pronounced "sell a ring") have come up with something even more insidious.

SellARing's ad network essentially allows associated apps to replace the familiar "ring ring" sound you hear after dialing a number with a selection of 10-second audio ads.

The service lists NBC, Walmart, Vodafone, FOX, and others as among already-enlisted audio advertisers, and boasts a booked campaign calendar for May 2012, noting that they "have demand for more Android apps," while promising five-minute integration with a proprietary SDK.

May

[New App] Turntable.fm For Android: It's Finally Here!

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Applications, News

It's here! It's here! It's here! Ok. Calm down. Woo. For those of you who have been living under a digital rock for the last year, turntable.fm is a music sharing service. You and four of your best buddies log in to a virtual dance floor, create playlists, and take turns playing songs for a room full of listeners who can then vote your songs up or down. DJs can accrue points, get swag, and become virtual DJ legends. Or, if you prefer, just sit back and enjoy rooms full of hand-selected music. Take that, Pandora!

Turntable.fm has been available for a little over a year online, and the company has also created an iOS app.

May

Download: Latest Google Play Store v3.5.19

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Applications, Apps/Games, Google, News

Last Updated: May 19th, 2012

A new version of the Android Play Store (formerly Android Market) with version 3.5.19 is now rolling out, replacing 3.5.16. We haven't seen a new Play Store for over a month, but what changes it contains compared to its predecessor is not clear at the moment. I've examined all the menus I could think of and didn't find anything new, so improvements are either under-the-hood or so subtle it'll take a whole AP community to find them.

If you haven't gotten 3.5.19 pushed to your device yet, we have some download mirrors below. The apk has been verified as official and signed by Google, so it's safe to proceed.

May

Savored Launches Official App For Android, Offers Free Reservations, Discounted Dining Up To 40% Off In Select US Cities

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Savored, an app exclusively partnered with OpenTable to bring users an excellent reservation system and great savings, launched officially on Android today, bringing users in select cities across the country the ability to book reservations at quality dining establishments and save a ton of cash at the same time.

Savored's arrival on Android coincides with the end of its $10 booking fee, meaning reservations (along with membership) are totally free. Better still, the incredible discounts Savored offers are coupon-less, with discounts applied automatically to your bill.

The only down side to Savored is that it is as yet only available in select cities (including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.

May

Viggle For Android Gets Beta App – Let Your Inner Couch Potato Free, Earn Tangible Rewards For Checking Into Your Favorite TV Shows

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Applications, News

Viggle, a TV check-in app that's already seen popularity on iOS, has just seen its first beta release for Android. Viggle, for those who don't know, allows users to check in to their favorite TV shows. The app accomplishes this by "listening" to audio and comparing the sounds it hears to a database, matching them with a certain television show.

What makes Viggle more interesting than many check-in apps is that users can earn tangible rewards. By checking in to TV shows, users earn points (specially featured shows offer more points), and those points can be redeemed for everything from sweepstakes entries to gift cards and electronic gizmos.

May

[New App] CloudOn Gives You Access To Microsoft Office On Android Tablets, Stores Files In Your Preferred Cloud Storage

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Applications, News

Tablets have, historically, been less-than-ideal for productivity. Part of the problem is that developers are still trying to catch up to the new world of connected devices. One solution, as CloudOn demonstrates, is to bring together the best options from various platforms and merge them into a fluid product. CloudOn lets you use what appears to be remote access to Word, Excel, and Powerpoint from an Android tablet.

The app might be best utilized if you have a connected keyboard and mouse at times, as the UI is still very much the Windows-style. No special, touch-centric designs here. However, since Android supports the use of a keyboard and mouse, having the option is a huge boon.

May

Google Maps App Updated To 6.7 - Brings Google Offers, Indoor Directions, 360 Panorama Views For Businesses

Posted by David Ruddock in Applications, Apps/Games, News

The Google Maps Android app has been updated to version 6.7, bringing some new important (and useful) features. You probably figured out what they are. Here's the changelog:

What's in this version:
Discover nearby Google Offers in the US
Indoor walking directions (Beta) for Japan and the US
See 360° panoramas inside restaurants and stores

Google Offers has been having difficulty gaining traction in a market dominated by the Groupons and LivingSocials of the world, and Maps integration may be just what it needs to start getting a little respect. You can actually set it up so while you're in the maps app, Offers will let you know if the area you're hovering over contains any...