Information
What to do with a first-gen Android phone?
Despite the best intentions of the Android modding community, there comes a point at which it's just not feasibile to maintain older kit. Long-abandoned by the manufacturers and carriers, even the humble old first-gen hardware such as the HTC G1/Dream will eventually begin to gather dust as their newer and shinier models march forever onwards and upwards.
I've a soft spot for my G1. I really do consider it a piece of history - the first Android handset will always be special, and looking at the way things are heading, quite the collectors item once domination is complete ;-) Yet ... it's still very much usable, and certainly for far more than a mere backup phone. So I got to thinking ... what can it be used for today in a positive way? And I don't mean giving to someone as their first smartphone such as the folks or kids - although in my experince kids are certainly switched onto what's in and isn't in the Android world anyway, so that would likely get it thrown straight back at you with a loud "meh!".
CozyBot does the Gadget Show Live 2012
Great news for Android + Gadget fans - the perfect desktop smartphone holder for Android users will be available for demos & purchase on stand D252 at the Gadget Show Live 2012, NEC Birmingham Uk 11th-15th April. Come and meet the team, try your handset for size, check out the funky new designs and of course pick up your Gadget Show Live CozyBot in person!
androidpolice.com: Win one of ten CozyBot Android phone Stands
We've looked at a few different mobile stands in the past, but none quite like the CozyBot stand. You see, the CozyBot was made for specifically for Android users. Why? Because it is an Android. A little plastic Android that holds your phone/tablet/whatever, to be exact. I spent the last couple of weeks hanging out with the little green guy, and here's what I think of him so far.
The CozyBot is shipped as two separate pieces: the Android and the base. To make it once cohesive unit, the Android's feet slide into the available cutouts on the base. Easy peasy.
The quality of a stand is only as good as the material it's made from: in this case, plastic. Don't sell it short though, it's very sturdy with a device in/on it. The Android also appears to be both perfectly scaled and colored; in fact, the green is even the official Android color!
One of the best features of the CozyBot is the side/back slots so you can thread your USB cable into the stand and charge your device while it rests in the stand, making it both convenient and organized.
All-in-all, it's really hard to beat the CozyBot, especially for the money. It's simple, practical, functional, and... Android.
In order to be in the running to grab one of these stands you'll need to do a couple of things:
- First, go ike this page. It's not a Facebook page - it's the CozyBot page. Hit the 'like' button on the right side.
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Second, leave a comment on this post telling us why you want the CozyBot.
And that's it. The giveaway starts now and will run until Saturday, March 10th at 11:59 PST, at which time the winners will be randomly chosen and contacted for their info.
A new kind of desktop war: Steve Jobs doll vs CozyBot!
Now the desktop wars get literal as the epic Apple vs Android battle moves from the handset to the desktop. As the rabid fans of either camp knows, anything one side can do the other can do better. So when the $99 Steve Jobs doll arrived, naturally Android fans demanded a response to it. Ok, the doll has since been withdrawn, but that didn't stop the Android army stepping up to the challenge, which in their typical style is much cheaper (and does more - no! I didn't mean it!).
We are talking of the CozyBot - an Android shaped green desktop holder which could easily pass as a toy in its own right, available from the Android Academy shop. This looks to be neither a dock nor a cradle since it has no electrical or moving parts, which probably accounts for its price (£4.99, about $7.80/E5.96). It has various holes in its base for charging cables and a slot to rest your handset on, portrait or landscape, for devices up to 7". It seems sturdy enough but it's clear it's been designed for as many sizes of handsets as possible, given there are no grips of the kind you get with car holders. This is more like a way of resting your handset whilst it's within arms reach - great for watching vids on, that sort of thing, especially with one of the larger 4-inch+ screen sized phones in landscape mode. The other thing is the enjoyable but slightly over-the-top video, which is viewable right here.
Having one of these on your desk certainly sends out a loud message - one which clearly puts you in the Google camp. Actually I tried an iPhone4S and it fits perfectly, but I can't see too many people wanting that combination. All in all, a fun little desktop gadget any Android fan will love, and all for the price of a burger and a coffee. Sorted.
Android leaves the rest scrapping amongst themselves for smartphone market share
androidacademy.com: The Smartphone market share war is now over. Gartner's report shows Android having a 52% global market share (up from 25%), with Apples iOS falling from 16.6% to 15.0%, undoubtedly helped by them letting down their customers by palming them off with an update to the iPhone 4 as a new handset instead of the iPhone5 its fans had been waiting for. With nearly 12 months to wait before the next one, and Android handsets already appearing with 4"+ screens, NFC, 4G and quad core CPUs (none of which are in Apples offering) its pretty clear this downward trend is set to accelerate.
Hardly worth mentioning is Microsoft with their 1.5% market share, down from 2.7%. Things might change next year when the new Nokia models arrive, but if they do scrap out any kind of market share above what Android would consider a rounding error it will be at the expense of Apple - clearly nothing can stop the juggernaut now.
Is teknonymy wise in the current mobile game arena?
The catalyst of the interview (in GameDailyBiz, at least) was a response to comments made by Andy Nulman, CMO of Airborne Entertainment, that mobile games are pretty bad and will remain so until the telco industry gets beyond its current thinking on what a game is. Mork’s argument is that the games are fine, it’s the distribution and marketing that is the problem.
CoolNote 1.2 is now available free at https://market.android.com/details?id=com.otamate.coolnote.free - Add fantastic looking notes to your home screen with this simple to use app.
CoolNote Free is like nothing seen before on Android. Add as many notes to your home screen as you like. Each can have different sizes, fonts and backgrounds with many more available for download to keep them fresh and sharp. Simple to use, powerful and instant - its what Androids been waiting for!
The most successful mobile games provide entertainment value to a broad range of players. No longer are games just targeted for youngsters, but men and women of all ages. Research has shown women prefer puzzles and non-violent mobile games that have soft colours and upbeat themes. Young men appear to be attracted to Java mobile games that involve an element of danger, are action-packed, and move at a fast pace. According to some latest reports, puzzle, retro arcade, and casino are the three most popular categories for mobile games.
All mobile games are designed for enjoyment. Some are designed to be fun, some will delight, and others will entertain. Whatever mobile game you desire, there are plenty for you to choose from, and in today’s exciting market, you will never be bored again!
CoolNote 1.2 released
CoolNote for Android, the unique note app which places ultra-realistic notes on your home screen just got a huge update. Now at version 1.2, there are so many improvements it looks like a whole new app - just about the only thing it had in common with the previous version was the ability to add the widgets, which it retains and improves on considerably. Now the notes have 2 sides - the old text side and a new check list side designed for one handed use - see the new video for how this works or just visit the CoolNote site for more info. There's a new widget size - "micro" - which takes up the space of 1 icon, a new background type which lets you choose the color from a palette and a new master password option. With a refreshingly strong emphasis on simplicity, CoolNote just pulled off the neat trick of becoming even better looking at the same time as becoming even easier to use.
