Android: On Apps, Kill Switches, and the Future - PCWorld. The more I use the HTC Incredible, the more I like it. And the thing that really makes the Incredible, er, incredible is its operating system, Android. Android, as I'm sure you must know by now, was developed by Google, and is open in a way that the system it is most commonly compared to, iPhone's iOS operating system, isn't. A consequence of this openness is that third-party Android applications can easily get to market in sharp contrast to Apple's rather random iPhone application approval process. Mobile deathmatch: Apple iOS 4 vs. Android 2.2 In passing, it's worth noting that both Android and iOS have a "kill switch" that allows the remote, global erasure of applications the companies deem unfit for their platforms.
That said, as much as many of us dislike this god-like power, given that neither OS has any real safeguards against malicious applications there is an arguable need for a kill switch as the ultimate safeguard against a serious rogue program. Verizon's Droid X: 12 Apps to Get You Started - PCWorld. Ladies and gentlemen, the newest Droid has officially landed. Verizon's Motorola Droid X launched across America on Thursday. The Droid X is among the most powerful Android phones to date, with a 4.3-inch display, 1GHz processor, and 720p high-resolution video recording. Plus, it's expected to receive Google's Android 2.2 upgrade within a matter of weeks, making it one of the first handsets to run the long-awaited Froyo operating system. Thanks to Android's open ecosystem, the Droid X has countless options for customization -- a night and day change from a certain other popular smartphone platform.
Much of the muscle comes from the ever-expanding Android Market, which features an uncensored and ever-expanding array of programs that let you make the most of your Android experience. Here are 12 top-notch Droid X apps to help you get started. All right -- ready to begin? Droid X App #1: Google Goggles One of the most innovative apps available for the Droid X is Google's own Google Goggles. Android Gets a Build-Your-Own-App App - PCWorld.
Got an idea for a smartphone app? If you've got an Android phone you might be able to build it yourself, thanks to App Inventor for Android, a new Google Labs program for Windows, OS X, and Linux that's designed to make building Android programs as easy as piecing blocks together. Steve Lohr's story in the New York Times makes it sound sensational; here's a video from Google showing a lady creating her first App Inventor app: App Inventor is in closed beta at the moment, and Google says it'll let folks in "soon" -- you can sign up here. As you'll see if you fill out the sign-up form, Google sees the program as an educational tool of particular interest to teachers and students. It's an exciting idea that's more than slightly reminiscent of HyperCard, the brilliant visual programming tool that was a big deal on the Mac more than twenty years ago, and which is missed to this day.
Google App Inventor Lets Anyone Make Android Smartphone Apps - PCWorld Business Center. Google on Monday revealed a new software tool that lets just about anyone make apps for mobile phones that use its Android software. The beta version of the Web site for App Inventor for Android went live from Google Labs with a video showing how easy it is to make apps, including a number of ideas for apps people can make themselves.
"To use App Inventor, you do not need to be a developer. App Inventor requires NO programming knowledge," the Web site says. Software code is written by App Inventor software, while users are given options on what to include in the app. The site offers several suggestions in app creation, including using the handset's GPS function for location, creating SMSs for friends, or building apps that link to other services, such as Twitter. The new software tools should give Google's Android mobile software a leg up against rival smartphone software, including Apple's iPhone OS. App Inventor for Android.
10 Free Android Apps for Staying Informed - PCWorld.