The Android Market saw staggering growth in 2011 and thanks to some tracking done by Distimo, we have a better look at how the numbers play out in comparison to Android’s top competitor Apple. According to Distimo, the Android Market has now reached over 400,000 apps, which is still 100K shy of Apple’s 500K+ active apps available according to 148apps metrics. While Android still trails in overall apps, it’s really the rate at which it’s growing that is impressive.
As the ongoing patent arms race continues, Google has acquired a few extra weapons courtesy of IBM. Just before the end of 2011, Google scooped up another 200+ patents from IBM, bringing the total of IBM patents acquired to just over 2000. Of course not all these patents are mobile related, but there are a few covering VOIP, NFC, and a “computer phone.” This just continues the steps Google has been taking to increase its patent portfolio and readying itself for the inevitable patent troll 2.0 that 2012 will bring.
Android 4.0 was created to help unify Android across all devices. Yesterday, Google took that goal of unification one step further. From here on out, any device running Android 4.0 with the Android Market, will require the inclusion of the unmodified Holo theme family. The Holo theme family consists of the themes Theme.Holo, Theme.Holo.Light, and Theme.Holo.Light.DarkActionBar. You can see examples of these three themes in the above image. These requirements will help better control the rampant “fragmentation” of Android and will allow manufactures to continue using their own custom themes, while providing a familiar experience.
The LG Optimus series made quite the rounds last year, and it seems it will be getting a successor in the year 2012. The LG Optimus 2 has shown up on LG’s official site, and while there aren’t too many specifics, what is does show, is, well — underwhelming. According to what’s currently listed, the LG Optimus 2 is sporting:
Samsung has announced its first DualView Camera capable of both Wi-Fi connectivity and Android control (via an Android device and the Samsung Remote Viewfinder app). The camera itself builds on the success of Samsung’s DualView technology and features a 1.5” front facing LCD screen, allowing subjects to view themselves and ensure you’re shooting their “best side.” There’s a lot of handy uses for the front facing LCD, such as child animations, which help keep children engaged and focused, allowing for that perfect shot. Samsung also introduces Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing the DV300F to:
