Android

Google Play revenue increases, but App Store remains leader

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 29, 2013

New details are emerging showing Google's Play store increasing its revenue, yet still lagging Apple (particularly in the United States) - and that's in spite of Android's big lead in terms of device activations and unit sales.

The report by app analytic firm Distimo indicates Google Play in April reached 27 percent of the combined revenue of the two app stores, up from 19 percent in November 2012. Although Google's store witnessed an eight percent jump in app revenue, Apple's App Store in April still brought in $5.1 million for the top 200 apps.

That compares to $1.1 million for Google Play. Still, the research highlighted some developers earning equal or more revenue from Android app sales...

On average, an iPhone is used an hour and 15 minutes per day

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 24, 2018

As the world migrates from dumb feature phones to more powerful smartphones, there are a greater number of options available beyond just talking and texting. What features are most used by smartphone owners and is the pattern different based on whether the handset is powered by Apple's iOS or Google's Android? To start, iPhone owners tend to spend more time with their smartphone compared to Android users, new marketing research indicates.

The typical iPhone owner spends one hour and 15 minutes using the Apple smartphone - 26 minutes more than owners of Android handsets, according to Experian Marketing Services. Additionally, Android owners typically make voice calls while iPhone owners are busy texting, emailing and taking photos...

‘Login with Amazon’ launches on iOS and Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

The online retail giant Amazon today launched a new sign-in service and an accompanying software development kit (SDK) for both Android and iOS app developers. The feature allows programmers to write apps letting folks login to apps, games, and web sites using their Amazon.com credentials. The Amazon sign-in taps the over 200 million active accounts hosted by "one of the most reputable companies in the United States," as the promo clip puts it...

IDC: tablets to overtake laptops this year, all PCs in 2015

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 28, 2017

It was not long ago that people dreamed of providing a PC for every child on the planet. Well, the vision needs to be updated. Tablets - particularly those in the iPad mini size range - are outselling laptops now and soon will overtake all PCs, research firm IDC reported Tuesday.

Some 229.3 million tablets are expected to ship this year for a 58.7 percent growth rate, compared to 2012. By contrast, PC shipments are down for the second year in a row, dropping 7.8 percent in 2013, the company announced.

The key takeaways: tablets are becoming smaller and cheaper, while at the same time being increasingly able to accomplish tasks once done by PCs...

After being dumped from App Store, AppGratis launches Android version

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

After great wailing and gnashing of teeth about its banishment from Apple's App Store earlier this year, AppGratis is back - for Android users. The app recommendation engine was yanked after Apple outlawed iOS apps which promoted other apps.

Now in the Google's Play store Android repository, developers claim AppGratis "is designed from the ground up" for the iOS rival. Yet, the service appears much like the AppGratis ejected from the app's first choice, the App Store...

Apple remains most valuable brand

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated March 14, 2018

You might have thought all the punishment Apple has taken on Wall Street would show up in how consumers view the company's brand - and you'd be wrong. A new survey again ranks Apple as the most valuable brand, easily outdistancing its arch rival Google. Indeed, Apple is still seen as the 'gold standard' when it comes to brands, according to market research firm Millward Brown...

Samsung’s $800,000 competition lures devs to write exclusive Galaxy apps

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

Samsung wants more developers writing apps that require features exclusively found on its own devices, such as the Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone - and is willing to pay. In an $800,000 competition, the South Korean conglomerate is seeking entries which highlight its own sharing service and proprietary software development kit.

The first-prize winner takes home $200,000, three second-place finalists receive $100,000 each, while six third-place finishers get $50,000 each, according to the Wall Street Journal. The competition's goal is to improve Samsung's standing against Apple's iPhone...

Siri vs. Google Now video faceoff

Cody Lee ∙ May 19, 2013

Siri was all the rage when Apple unveiled it alongside its iPhone 4S in the fall of 2011. The digital assistant was highlighted in a number of commercials for the handset during its 11-month life cycle. But since then, we've seen a number of competitors arise.

One of those competitors is Google Now, which launched in the summer of last year. And a lot of folks believe that it's superior to Siri—both in speed and accuracy. But is that really the case? Find out in this new head-to-head comparison video of the two...

Pentagon clears iPhones and iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

As expected, the Pentagon has finally approved Apple's iPhone and iPad devices for use on the United States military networks, Bloomberg learned Friday. The clearance sets the stage for Apple to compete with Samsung and BlackBerry for military sales. According to the report, the Defense Department today approved the use of Apple’s portable products running the iOS 6 software...

iOS and Android gamers spend 3X as much as handheld console owners

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

I still remember vividly how industry heavy-weights Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft initially laughed off gaming on the iPhone. It was right after Apple slashed the iPod touch to the sweet $199 price point that it became clear to me that gaming on high-end smartphones and tablets would eventually outgrow that on dedicated handheld consoles such as Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS family.

Enter a new report by research firm IDC and analytics service App Annie which reveals just how far along mobile gaming has come. According to the study, users of smartphones and tablets spend nearly three times as much purchasing games on Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store as handheld device owners.

If these numbers are anything to go by, smart mobile devices will soon relegate dedicated handheld consoles to a niche market, if not eventually kill the category altogether...

IDC: Apple, Android own 92% smartphone volume, Windows Phone beats BlackBerry

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 16, 2013

Just days after rival research firm Gartner released quarterly sales for iOS and Android, rival IDC today announced similar numbers for shipments of smartphones. Combined, iOS and Android maintained their stranglehold on the smartphone market, accounting for more than an astounding 92 percent of shipments during the first quarter of 2013.

In a surprising move, shipments of the Windows Phone smartphone operating system surpassed the BlackBerry OS, putting Microsoft in third place behind Android and iOS. I bet you didn't see that one coming...

Google previews next major Maps update, coming to iOS this summer

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

You know, it wouldn't be a Google I/O keynote without some kind of talk about Maps. Larry Page and company have made it very clear that its mapping technology is a big part of its future. And they gave us a bit of a glimpse of that future today.

Google will be releasing a big update for its Android and iOS Maps app this summer. And among several new features and updates, we're happy to see that the software will finally be landing on the iPad. More details on the update after the fold...