Apps Archive

Spotify to get Branded with New Apps

– April 13, 2012Posted in: Apps, Internet Trends, Tech

Following what seems to be becoming a pattern of updates and announcements from Spotify, the company is said to be launching branded apps – giving advertisers the same ability as developers to set up playlists and features that make use of the music streaming service.

If you have yet to be impressed with currently available music recommendations perhaps you’ll enjoy AT&T’s “Surround Sounds” or get your next workout playlist through Reebok. These as well as other brands like McDonald’s and Intel are expected to make appearances in the form of Spotify apps in the coming months. Could branded apps be a hit for Spotify? We’ll have to wait and see.

(Via The Verge; Imag4e via VentureBeat)

Tags: Apps, brands, Music, Spotify

Evernote + Pinterest = Springpad?

khoward

– April 11, 2012Posted in: Apps, Innovation, Internet Trends, Tech

After launching three years ago as an intelligent “notebook,” digital organizer Springpad has launched a redesign that makes it quite a bit more like popular sharing site Pinterest. Springpad users can now make their notebooks public and follow the public notebooks of other users.

Previously, the startup was a more personal service – a place to save websites, images, and products, or “springs,” which are then analyzed to bring you offers, coupons, related news items, and other relevant information. The Springpad 3.0 update adds to that intelligent functionality the ability to share and even co-curate notebooks. It also includes themes and accents for personalized notebooks along with new features to make your “springs” more actionable.

As a digital organizer and social sharing site, Springpad seems to compete with both Evernote and Pinterest – quite a daring undertaking. But it could just be the right service for Pinteresters who demand a private option – or Evernoters who want more from their “notes.” You can check out Springpad 3.0 right here.

(Image and Story via TechCrunch)

Tags: Evernote, organization, Pinterest, social, Springpad

Instagram Finally Makes Android Appearance

khoward

– April 3, 2012Posted in: Apps, Internet Trends, News, Tech

For Android users who until now could only view the wonders of Instagram over the shoulder of their iPhone-carrying friends, the wait is over. Announced at March’s SXSW as being near release the Android version of the popular photo editing and sharing app is now available for download for Android 2.2 and above.

Instagram for Android has most of the same features and a similar interface to the iOS version, which has been available since 2010. The application, which is sure to greatly increase from its 30 million registered iOS users, does not yet appear to support tablets. For Android smartphone owners the time to become an Instagram photographer has finally come. For everyone else, prepare to see even more square, vintage-style photos just about everywhere.

(Via CNET; Image via Google Play)

Tags: Android, app, Instagram, photo sharing, photos

Erasing Digital History

khoward

– March 30, 2012Posted in: Apps, Internet Trends

For Internet mistakes you’d like to forget (like the wholly regrettable theme on your MySpace page) and social sites that are putting a serious dent in your daily productivity (you know the ones), Erasey Page will let you erase it all, one website at a time. At least after a fashion.

The web-based project offers to give Internet prisoners their lives back – just put in the address of the website you want to remove from your life and erase away with the giant eraser. Of course, you’re really only erasing an image of your least favorite or most time-consuming site – those websites will still be there when you choose to return. But Erasey Page does provide a reminder that life does exist outside of the web, if you’re brave enough to face it.

While Erasey Page is currently offline as it features in Miami Beach’s Bass Museum of Art, it will be available to web users as early as April 6. Until then, we’ll have to settle for the less-cathartic version of turning off the Internet noise – closing the web browser.

(Image and Story via Read Write Web)

Tags: Erasey Page, Innovation, Web

Free Apps May be Paid for in Battery Power

khoward

– March 20, 2012Posted in: Apps, Tech

Free apps are arguably one of the great benefits of having a smartphone – but they could be costing you dearly when it comes to battery life. A Purdue University team discovered that free apps like Angry Birds are often poorly coded – making them inefficient power-drainers compared to their paid counterparts.

Perhaps not entirely surprisingly, most of the battery power used by an app – up to 75% – is drawn not by the game or application itself, but by the ads that accompany most free applications. In addition to GPS tracking and third part ads drawing significant power, the study discovered that many apps leave connections open for up to 10 seconds after downloading – an effect known as the 3G tail.

Applications that are free to smartphone users depend on advertisements for funding – and aren’t necessarily likely to become more efficient in the near future. The question then, is whether the savings of free apps is worth the trade-off of a shorter battery life.

(Via BBC, Image via Engadget)

Tags: Apps, battery, free, power, Purdue

Smithsonian Exhibits “The Art of Video Games”

khoward

– March 19, 2012Posted in: Apps, News

Museum art may not bring to mind Pac-Man or Super Mario Brothers, but video games like these are the focus of a new Smithsonian American Art Museum Exhibit entitled “The Art of Video Games.” A committee selected 240 games, 80 of which were chosen by public vote to feature in the exhibit.

According to exhibit curator Chris Melissinos, the exhibit is the first “that actually looks at video games themselves as an artform.” Throughout the display, video games for various consoles show up in different forms, from video presentations to concept drawings, from interviews with developers to playable games projected on exhibit walls.

Classic gaming hardware also makes an appearance in “The Art of Video Games,” helping the exhibit show a progression not in games but in the design of consoles on which these favorite games are played. The games span twenty different game platforms and give a unique perspective on the last forty years of gaming.

(Story and image via Dvice)

Tags: art, Museum, Smithsonian, Video Games

Konami Joins Zynga’s New Platform

khoward

– March 9, 2012Posted in: Apps, Internet Trends, Tech

Along with Playdemic and Rebellion, Konami Digital Entertainment has signed up with Zynga to bring games to the stand-alone platform, Zynga.com. The agreement with the game developer responsible for gaming franchises such as Silent Hill and Contra shows that Zynga’s attempt to gain independence from Facebook has a good chance at success.

The games these new developer partners will bring to Zynga.com remain unknown – as do the dates the games will make an appearance on the platform. Even so, Konami’s addition to the platform means even more to look forward to in Zynga’s future – and in the future of social gaming.

(Story and Image via CNET)

Tags: games, Konami, social gaming, Zynga

Ask.com Takes Quick Polls on the Go

khoward

– March 8, 2012Posted in: Apps, Tech

Need a fast answer to a “Should I wear this?” but your more fashion-conscious friends aren’t available? The solution – and the answer you need – could be right on your phone with Ask.com’s Pollroll app.

Available for iPhone and iPod Touch, the quick poll app lets you pose instant questions, complete with answer options and even a photo. Once a poll is published, the asker can view responses from everyone, people nearby, or friends only.

The comment feature lets responders explain their answers, while “nearby results” could help Pollroll users find the best local events or restaurants. You can also discover and answer interesting polls that others have posted. Pollroll is currently available for free in the iTunes Store, taking Ask.com’s question and answer service to the mobile level.

(Story via Mashable; Image via iTunes)

Tags: app, Ask.com, iphone, poll

The Android Market Becomes Google Play

khoward

– March 6, 2012Posted in: Apps, Google, Internet Trends, News, Tech

Google opened a new media hub today, designed to put the company’s music, app, game, and e-book offerings all in one central location. Along with the Android Market and the Google eBookstore, Google Play includes Google Music, which just launched in November.

The branding and organization move could be the result of revenue issues with Google Music as well as the Android Market – though Google’s director of digital content states that the music service is up to 4 million users. The bundling of these services into Google Play won’t affect current libraries and playlists – though it could become strong competition for Apple’s iTunes and Amazon.

(Story and Image via CNET)

Tags: Android, Android Market, Apps, games, Google, Google Play, Music