It’s here, and is yet another Google service I won’t be using.
Category: Google
Paying For Android Apps
Whilst watching a recent episode of All About Android on the TWiT Podcast network, I noticed that as one of the hosts was demoing Plume – a twitter client for his Android tablet – he said that he was using the free version of the app, even though it had ads and that he might upgrade to the paid version as he uses the app a lot.
This remark struck a chord with me. A Twitter client is a pretty important application for most users on their mobile devices, especially for someone who is connected with thousands of people. It becomes a communication and research tool. My Twitter app is very important and considering how much I am going to be using it, I would not hesitate in paying for it—especially if I was happy with the app after using a ‘lite’ version.
The New Command Line
Google’s search box is the new command line.
In 2004, John Gruber said that the browser’s location bar was the new command line, correctly predicting the massive wave of web apps we all now enjoy using every day.
I think in the 8 years since his article, a lot has changed, including the way we use the web itself. I watch co-wokers search for things like “Yahoo mail login” and “what time is sunset?” and then move on to whatever they wanted to do.
Fake Instagram Android App Spreading Malware
Sophos, the IT security and data protection company has a new warning on its Naked Security blog today that a fake Instagram app is infecting Android devices with malware.
Jackpot.
Caring Matters (Or: Why Does Google Let Android Continue to Suck?)
Earlier today, I linked to this article, that quoted Google CEO Larry page as saying:
I believe Android was very important for Google. I wouldn’t say it was critical.
He also discussed than Android is a means to get people to use existing Google services.
Now, Google doesn’t charge for services that most consumers use. It does, however, use them to display ads.
Therefore, it’s not a long stretch to simply say this: Android is no different from other Google services and products. It’s designed to get ads in front of people’s eyeballs.
Larry Page: Android Isn’t Critical
Oracle completed its cross-examination of Google CEO Larry Page today in the copyright phase of the trial between the two Silicon Valley giants, and Page was quite candid about Android’s importance to Google as a whole. When asked if he believed Android was a critical asset to Google around 2010, Page said: “I believe Android was very important for Google. I wouldn’t say it was critical.”
‘Clearly Sergey is an Atheist’
RNC Picks Google as Social Media Platform
Google+ Gets Revamped
RIM: Android Piracy Issues a ‘Cesspool’
Backing up Gmail
Google Wants to Deserve ‘Great Love’
We have always wanted Google to be a company that is deserving of great love. But we recognize this is an ambitious goal because most large companies are not well-loved, or even seemingly set up with that in mind. We’re lucky to have a very direct relationship with our users, which creates a strong incentive for us to do the right thing. For every magic moment we create—like the ability to drop a photo into Google and search by image—we have a very happy user. And when our products don’t work or we make mistakes, it’s easy for users to go elsewhere because our competition is only a click away.