Play Store: What it Is, Latest News on Google Android

The people at AndroidPit were really right when they thought my blog readers would be interested in knowing more about their resources for Android users.
The posts about Android have been super popular so first I’ll share about Play Store and then at the bottom I’ll link to the other posts about Android you may want to see.
Play Store is the new name for the official Google Android App Store that used to be called Android Market. In typical Google fashion, they changed the name and confused everyone. Why DO they do that?
Now people don’t know what to call the official Google Android Store or where to find it. They’re asking on Twitter and in forums.

On Twitter I’m seeing tweets about Google Play instead
of Play Store and buzz that people hate the new name.

Since AndroidPit appears to have all the apps and great reviews, if you need an Android App you could just use their site instead:

Just click the image above to visit AndroidPit or read these other posts about the benefits of using their site:
Disclosure: AndroidPit has compensated me for my time in reviewing their site and providing information about what they have to offer my readers.
Tagged as: android, android apps, gadgets, play store, smartphones

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The Android Games Console

Take an Android phone or tablet with a powerful Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB of RAM and a HDMI outout. Now, take out the expensive high-resolution capacitive screen, the camera, the Bluetooth, GSM radio kit and battery. You’re left with something which costs a lot less to build.
Put this inside a box and plug it into your TV. Add a wireless controller with a D-Pad, touchpad and triggers. Bingo, you’ve got yourself a games console.
The guys at Ouya have done just that, and shortly after listing the project on Kickstarter it’s netted more than double the amount they needed. A cool $2.5 million has been added to their funds, and the box could soon be in shops for less than $99. Existing Android games on a big screen will be playable through the touchpad on their controller, and a custom user interface will deliver further “free to try” games to Ouya owners.
The boys at Ouya tell us…

Smartphones and tablets are getting all the new titles – they’re “what’s hot”. The console market is pushing developers away. We’ve seen a brain drain. Some of the best, most creative gamemakers are focused on mobile and social games because these platforms are more developer-friendly. And the ones who remain focused on console games can’t be as creative as they’d like.

Against the likes of Microsoft and Sony, these guys have got quite a fight on their hands. Let’s not forget what happened when Sony Ericsson launched the Xperia PLAY.
But maybe, just maybe, this could do well. What do you guys think? Check out the video below…
Link – Ouya (Kickstarter)

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Coolsmartphone Recommended Android app – Volume in Notification

This little app is for Android tablet running Honeycomb or higher. It adds a few buttons to the status bar area on your tablet. The buttons will change the media volume without having to use the hardware button.
It is really quite useful if you want to quickly adjust the volume whilst listening to music or something and you don’t want to wear out your hardware button. Some tablets also have strangely positioned volume buttons as well.

Control the media volume from within the Notifications window on your tablet. Volume in Notification is intended for use on tablets running Android OS 3.X and up.This app puts a media volume and mute control in the Notifications window that can be accessed from the status bar on your tablet. It lets you adjust the volume without using the hardware volume button and without exiting the app that you’re currently running. For example, you can adjust the volume of a video directly from the Notifications window while continuing to watch the video.
We developed this app because we often find it hard to use the hardware volume button on a tablet, depending on its orientation and how we have it set up in the stand. We hope you find it useful too!
Note: This app will only control media volume. In general, media volume includes music, video, and game sounds.
To use: Tap on the app icon and select Activate. This will put the volume control into the Notifications window. On the status bar, tap on the time to access the volume control.
To close: Tap on the app icon and select Deactivate.

Play Store Link – Volume in Notification

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HTC releases its Android 4.0 update roadmap

HTC has released a list of phones that they will be updating to Android 4.0 this year. Along with the names of the phones, they also mention the time period during which you can expect the update to arrive for the respective handsets.
From the list, the only phones that have already received the update or are in the process of receiving it are the four Sensation handsets and the HTC Vivid. Other noteworthy phones in the list includes the EVO 3D and Rezound, which will get the update by June-July and the Thunderbolt, which will get the update by July-August.
It's also nice to see older phones like the Desire S and the Incredible S on the list as well, with both getting the update by June-July. What's even more surprising is the presence of the Desire HD in the list, a phone that launched back in 2010 that will soon be rocking the latest version of Android. Kudos to HTC for that.
All handsets that get Android 4.0 will also be upgraded to Sense 3.6.
HTC has also mentioned which devices won't be updated to ICS. This includes phones like the ChaCha, Salsa, Wildfire S and Explorer. It also includes HTC's tablets, namely the Flyer, EVO View 4G and the Jetstream. HTC has clarified that despite not getting the next version of Android, these devices will continue to receive software updates and support.
For the full list of handsets, click on the source link below.
Source

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Android in April: ICS gets 4.9%, Gingerbread still king

Google just updated the Android version distribution charts. In April the growth of Android Gingerbread finally started to slow down, while the ICS market share nearly doubled.
The latest version of the Android OS - Ice Cream Sandwich now has a 4.9% share, up from 2.9% a month ago. We do wonder if it will manage to become the most widely adopted version before Jelly Bean becomes available.
Versions 2.1 and 2.2 (Eclair and Froyo) saw a slight decline while the other releases maintained their market share.
Source

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