Amazon Appstore for Android hands-on review: Android Market is in trouble

Earlier today Amazon released its long-awaited Appstore for Android. Fundamentally it's very similar to Google's first-party Android Market or the third-party AppBrain, but it has a few Amazonian differences that could set it apart from the competition very quickly.

First and foremost, Amazon is promising to give away one paid app for free every day. Today it's Angry Birds Rio, and it only retails for 99 cents, but that doesn't really matter: people love free stuff. People will download stuff simply because it's free, even if they don't want it! The best bit (or worst bit) is that developers still get 20% of the usual retail price, which will be paid out of Amazon's pockets.

The next defining feature is Amazon Appstore exclusives. Angry Birds Rio, CoD:MW:Force Recon and other apps will be available only from Amazon. As we know from the console wars, exclusive titles aren't always a good thing, but who cares? Amazon simply wants unique selling points, and exclusive titles are definitely that.

It's not all good, though. We ran in to some rather serious bugs while playing around with the Amazon Appstore for Android app, and then there's the matter of having to enable installation from Unknown Sources before it will even install...

Gallery: Amazon Appstore for Android

Continue reading Amazon Appstore for Android hands-on review: Android Market is in trouble

Amazon Appstore for Android hands-on review: Android Market is in trouble originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/22/amazon-appstore-for-android-hands-on-review-android-market-in-trouble/

MCAFEE MICROS SYSTEMS

Ask DLS: Cross-platform multiplayer games that work on Android and iOS

Here's one for our knowledgeable commenters: I recently bought my girlfriend an iPad. I, on the other hand, own an Android device. And now we're looking for games we can play using both devices.

There's no dearth of multiplayer games either for Android or for iOS. But finding multiplayer games that can cross the platform boundary is an entirely different matter.

Jay recently posted Words with Friends which is one such game. It's actually an ideal example, because it's turn-based so you don't necessarily both have to be next to your device at the same time (great for long-distance gaming).

But what other examples are there? What multiplayer games are there that let iOS users play with Android users?

[Why am I now humming 'Ebony and Ivory'? -Ed]

Ask DLS: Cross-platform multiplayer games that work on Android and iOS originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/02/ask-dls-cross-platform-multiplayer-games-that-work-on-android-and-ios/

SAIC CISCO SYSTEMS

Internet Explorer 9 now available to download

Moments ago, kicked off by a hipstertastic soiree at the SXSW convention, the final build of Internet Explorer 9 was made publicly available. You can now download it from the Beauty of the Web site.

There are no significant changes between the RC and the final build; it's more of a spit-and-polish than anything else. Microsoft tells us that performance has been improved on low-end machines (with low-end graphics cards), but we can't confirm that yet. There's also a handy link from the Tracking Protection UI to the ready-made Tracking Protection Lists.

If you already have the Release Candidate or Beta versions installed, the RTW (release to world) build will be offered via Windows Update (presumably tomorrow morning). If you don't have the RC or Beta builds installed, you'll have to grab it manually.

Download Internet Explorer 9 for Windows Vista and 7 -- then read our IE9 guide -- and top it off with some juicy IE9 keyboard shortcuts.

Internet Explorer 9 now available to download originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/15/internet-explorer-9-now-available-to-download/

PLANAR SYSTEMS IDT

Froyo, Gingerbread Get Full Frontal Flash

Adobe announced Monday that its Flash Player 10.2 update is now available on Android Market. The update's a production release for Android 2.2 and 2.3 but an initial beta release for Android 3.0.1. That news may impact the Motorola Xoom, as it runs Android 3.0 aka "Honeycomb." Android 3.0.1 is Honeycomb with the latest Google updates.

Source: http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/72110.html

ELECTRONIC ARTS SANDISK

Government says it's got i4i's back in Word patent dispute

As the US Supreme Court prepares to hear yet another appeal in the seemingly unending patent dispute between Microsoft and XML specialists i4i next month, some pretty influential folks are starting to take sides -- officially. Perhaps most notably, Acting Solicitor General Neal Kumar Katyal filed an amicus brief backing i4i and a previous US Court of Appeals decision to uphold the $290 million judgement against the software giant. Other big guns backing i4i with amicus briefs include DuPont, 3M, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and GE. Of course, Microsoft's getting a little help from its friends with official I-got-you-bro statements coming from Google, Apple, Toyota, and Walmart. The appeal is expected to hit the Supreme Court in April and has big implications for patent litigation -- specifically, it could give tech giants like Microsoft more guts to go after patents held by little guys like i4i.

Government says it's got i4i's back in Word patent dispute originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/p3xQlkjgw9Q/

VERIFONE HOLDINGS TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS

Opera delivers new Mini, Mobile browsers with pinch-to-zoom and shows off one for TVs

Web browser maker Opera is staying busy, unleashing several new versions of its product upon the populace today. Both of its on the go browsers have been updated with modern technology like pinch-to-zoom, sharing to other apps, improved scrolling and new tablet-friendly interfaces, while its also ready to show off a new version for set-top boxes and updating tools to help developers create apps for Opera-powered TVs. In case you need a scorecard, Opera Mini 6 (available for J2ME, Android, Blackberry, Symbian/S60) compresses pages before downloading them and Opera Mobile 11 (for Android, Symbian, Windows 7, MeeGo, Maemo) promises the entire web for those on high speed connections like WiFi, explaining the platform crossover. Peep the demo above or press releases after the break if you're still not sure what pinch-to-zoom means in or just point your mobile browser to m.opera.com and download the latest version for your device -- iOS need not apply at this time.

Gallery: Opera Mobile 11 & Opera Mini 6 screenshots

Continue reading Opera delivers new Mini, Mobile browsers with pinch-to-zoom and shows off one for TVs

Opera delivers new Mini, Mobile browsers with pinch-to-zoom and shows off one for TVs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/opera-delivers-new-mini-mobile-browsers-with-pinch-to-zoom-and/

IMATION IRON MOUNTAIN INORATED

Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 get some competitive price tags, starts at $469

Now we're talking, Samsung! In a surprise move, the company decided to come clean with the pricing of its new Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 this morning, and it's incredibly competitive. The WiFi version of the 10.1 will be up for grabs on June 8th in the US, and as you can see from that lovely chart above, the 16GB version is set at $499 and the 32GB at $599. Did you really have any doubt that Samsung was going after Apple here? The company is being a bit more vague on the Galaxy Tab 8.9 availability, only promising an early summer arrival at this point, but the WiFi version of that one comes in at a bit less. The 16GB option is $469 and the 32GB $569. You'll want to check out our hands-on with the two new tablets, but with this pricing now in our bag, we're certainly getting excited for the summer.

Samsung's new Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1 get some competitive price tags, starts at $469 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/samsung-galaxy-tab-8-9-and-10-1-get-some-competitive-price-tags/

HON HAI PRECISION IND INTUIT