Those who use the music streaming service Spotify’s Android app have noticed that it’s not that good, at least compared to the company’s iOS app. The Android version doesn’t feature support for Ice Cream Sandwich and also crashes frequently on other versions. Luckily, a new report says the app is getting a “major” revamp soon. For an app that has “5 million to 10 million” users, the update is much needed.
Ahead of the Olympics being held in London this summer, the Google Maps team has released an update for its Android app and mobile web page today that will help commuters in the London area. Today, Google Maps has gained service alerts for London’s Underground train system. Users will be provided with real time information on closures and other issues on the track.
Google Wallet has been dealt more blows than Rocky Balboa but it just won’t quit (even though some of its engineers will). Today, Google announced the acquisition of technology company TxVia and hopes their expertise will “accelerate innovation towards our full Google Wallet vision.” TxVia has worked with advanced processing technology for prepaid cards and emerging payments since 2008 and has supported the management of more than 100 million accounts. Google Wallet could use all the help it can get right now and I’m betting TxVia’s connections with major payment networks will come in handy.
The latest distribution numbers are out and it appears Ice Cream Sandwich is gaining momentum. In a 14-day period ending on April 2, 2012, Android 4.0 appeared on 2.9% of devices accessing the Google Play Store. Yes, that’s still a pretty paltry number, but compared to last month’s data, it’s up 1.3%. That’s good news for an operating version that has been mostly stagnant since its release back in November of 2011. We’re finally starting to see OEM’s and carriers roll out the Android 4.0 update to their phones and this latest data is reflective of that.
There’s no question mobile cameras have advanced tremendously over the years and they’ve even become a main feature focus for many consumers and manufacturers. One such example is the hype over the HTC One X camera. HTC has made a pretty big deal over their new ImageSense software as well as the custom ImageChip, f/2.0 lens, HDR technology, and super fast capture. We’ve seen a few sample photos, some good, some bad, but what about some real world tests against a couple device also known for their camera prowess?
