IntoMobile » Java

Mplayit launches App Guru mobile app suggestions

Will Park — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:07:40 +0000

There are a lot of mobile apps out there, making it a little difficult to navigate crowded app stores for the iPhone, Android, BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) and Java platforms. That’s where the Mplayit mobile app store/discovery engine comes in. The Mplayit Facebook app compiles mobile apps from different app stores and invites Facebook users to leave app ratings and reviews, giving you the power of crowd-sourced app ratings to find cool new apps. Today, Mplayit is launching their new App Guru feature that draws ratings and comments from luminaries top mobile industry blogs and sites. And, we’re proud to say that IntoMobile is an official Mplayit App Guru!

For those of you not yet familiar with Mplayit, it’s a Facebook app that gives users a place to discover new apps, rate apps and share cool apps through their individual Facebook profiles. Whether it’s the iPhone Arcade, BlackBerry Arcade, Android Arcade or the Mobile Arcade, Mplayit provides a complete overview of just about any mobile app you’re likely to ever encounter. You get app descriptions, reviews/ratings, comments and even demo videos of the app in action. And, should you be impressed enough with a certain app, Mplayit allows the user to buy the app directly through their store.

The more you use Mplayit, the better it gets to know what kinds of apps you prefer and suggests new apps that the system thinks you’ll like. There’s also an activity feed that shows you what other Mplayit users are browsing/commenting on/rating at the moment.

But, the real news today is that Mplayit has introduced its App Guru program. Thanks to Gurus like us, the app discovery engine can now give you real-time mobile app ratings from experts in the mobile space. If two or more App Gurus give a particular app a rating of four or five stars (out of five possible stars), the app earns the distinction of being “Guru Approved.” Dig down to an App Guru’s comments and you’ll find a link to a more comprehensive app review on the Guru’s blog or website.

Go to Mplayit.com and check out the IntoMobile App Guru page!

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Microsoft brings first app to Android

Marin Perez — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:11:57 +0000

There’s no love lost between Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) and Google (NSDQ: GOOG), but that’s not going to stop the Windows-maker from creating an app for Android.

The Tag Reader is available now for free in the Android Market and it scan Tag barcodes and display information about it on the handset. This can include videos, details, a phone number, a website, promotional offers and more. The Tag codes are similar to QRcodes and it is expected to be found in magazines, brochures, ads and other public locations. Tag is also available for the iPhone, Symbian S60, BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM), JavaME and, of course, Windows Mobile.

The app itself is nothing crazy because we’ve already seen a ton of barcode readers and I really don’t think we need another standard for barcodes. But it is interesting that Microsoft is correctly reading the tea leaves and understanding how big of a role smartphones are going to play in the next few years. It has already created multiple apps for the iPhone including Seadragon, Bing and others. In a way, it is taking a cue out of Google’s play book because the search giant doesn’t really care what platform people are on as long as it can advertise to them. Google has a ton of apps for pretty much every platform and it will even create workarounds to get by app store restrictions.

It’s a small but positive move for Microsoft’s mobile plans, which is definitely on the uptick because of Windows Phone 7 Series. The software giant’s latest mobile operating system looks like a paradigm-shifting approach to smartphones and I know the IntoMobile team is excited about this. Unfortunately, WP7S won’t be coming until the end of the year and that’s a lot of time for Android, BlackBerry and iPhone to capture market share. Microsoft has also essentially killed any incentive to buy its phones until WP7S because Windows Mobile handsets won’t be able to upgrade.

[Via TechCrunch]

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Video: Ericsson’s 3D Landscape Mapping APIs for Android

Simon Sage — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:08:47 +0000

Oh hey, Ericsson has labs just like Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK). Neat. They’ve published their first YouTube video, showing off a map with 3D structures working on the Xperia X10. Of course, the X10 runs Android, the APIs for which have been available since November, but it’s pretty sweet to see them in action. Ovi and Google Maps have their own ways of making buildings pop out, and also include tools for enabling third-party developers – I wonder if any developers would pick Ericsson’s solution over theirs, especially if they’re making something for Android. For a closer look at the tools, hit up Ericsson’s 3D Landscape page.

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Calling all mobile app developers! Tell us why your app rocks!

Will Park — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:10:40 +0000

Do you develop mobile apps for the iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian or webOS? Well, we want to hear from you! We’ve partnered up with “Under The Radar” to find cool mobile apps that will blow our minds. We’re asking any and all mobile app developers to submit their app for the “FAST PITCH” mobile app talent search, where your app will vie for a chance to be showcased in front of an audience of global dealmakers and start-ups. Even if we don’t pick your app for the talent search, you’ll get some serious recognition for your app (and possibly prizes, like handsets).

Interested? Here’s what you need to know:

You must be able to attend Under the Radar (in Mountain View on Nov 19)
- If you’re selected as a finalist, you’ll get a free conference pass
Your app has to be live and available for download
We welcome any and all apps for iPhone, Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc
Your app must be unique and new – no tip calculators or sudoku apps, please
You must be able to pitch your app in 2 min (and 4 slides) on stage

We’re going to make it simple for you to submit your app for consideration in the “Under The Radar” FAST PITCH mobile app talent search. Interested mobile devs need only leave a comment or tweet @IntoMobile with a quick one-liner pitch for your mobile app – Twitter is limited to 140 characters, so choose accordingly. Please make sure to include a link to your app’s download page (or homepage) and your Twitter handle with your submission.

Your app will be judged for its “uniqueness” and the all important “awesomeness” metric. We’ll be accepting mobile app submissions through Friday, Nov. 6 Monday, Nov. 9 (deadline extended). The 6 lucky finalists will be contacted directly through email and/or Twitter.

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Xsights turns your mobile phone pics into pertinent data

Will Park — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:53:47 +0000

Augmented reality applications have the power to turn the world around you into an information rich environment tagged with data points. The technology is certainly amazing and all, but what do you do if your smartphone lacks the requisite hardware (GPS, digital compass) to support AR features? If you’re Israeli startup Xsights, you take the idea of live augmented reality and apply it to still pictures. Xsights is a new service that lets you analyze your cameraphone photos to extract the information associated with the text, image, landmark, street sign, etc. Since most mobile phones today can take photos, almost anyone can take advantage Xsights’s AR-esque service.

Imagine you’re going about your typical day reading billboards, shopping, and navigating your way through rush hour traffic. You come across something interesting and want to find out more about that particular “something” (books, newspaper articles, buildings, cars, etc.). All you need to do is snap a pic of the object, let Xsights work its image analyzing magic, and wait for pertinent data to be delivered to your phone. Xsights can provide you with related information like photos, prices, videos, coupons, and anything else their system has associated with your image. But, that’s also where Xsights needs your help.

The catch is that Xsights relies on users, like you, to upload images and tag them with related information. To help get the service off the ground, Xsights is opening up their service to 1,000 people today. In exchange for helping seed the foundation of the Xsights service, beta users will be allowed personalize their uploaded content with video clip attachments. Find out how to sign up here.

For now, Xsights doesn’t really work in the real world. Movie posters will bring back trailers for some movies, but the service just doesn’t have enough tagged content to be useful for most objects. Once Xsights hits critical mass, however, the information flood gates should open up.

Xsights is available as an iPhone app and even supports MMS and video call. A BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) and J2ME version on on their way.

Get in on Xsights’s beta program here.
iPhone app

[Via: TechCrunch]

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Opera unveils next-generation Opera Mini 5 – We talk with Opera’s CEO about Mini

Will Park — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:00:12 +0000

I recently got a chance to take a sneak-peak at Opera’s Opera Mini 5 beta last week, and it basically blew me out of the water. Opera asked that I keep the launch of Mini 5 on the hush until they were ready to go live. Today, Opera took the wraps off its all-new Opera Mini 5 mobile web browser, introducing it as the “next generation in mobile browsing.” Compared to Mini 4.2, Mini 5 beta is an impressive revamp, especially if you’re already an Opera Mini fan. Read more in Stefan’s review of Opera Mini 5 beta.

“In our own research, we have learned that the number-one reason people use Opera Mini is because it is easy – easy to use the Web you know. The idea of navigating the vastness of the Web from such a small screen can be a daunting leap, which is why we have long committed to make the browsing experience you are familiar with from your PC, easy to do on your mobile phone,” said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. “With new, sleek navigation buttons, tabbed browsing and Speed Dial bookmarks, you are never more than a click away from where you want to go on the Web.”

I managed to get some face time with Opera Software CEO Jon von Tetzchner to talk about the Opera Mini browser – about where Opera Mini has come from and where it’s going. Check out the interview and Mini 5 tour below.

Opera Mini 5 beta tour from IntoMobile on Vimeo.

Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner talks Opera Mini from IntoMobile on Vimeo.

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Sony Ericsson to extend its Java platform to lower-end phones

Dusan Belic — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:58:57 +0000

You know how everything goes around apps these days. In that sense, every handset maker and platform builder wants to attract as many developers as possible to its platform to offer end-users a better experience. Sony Ericsson (NYSE: SNE) is no exception and in that sense, they said they’ll extend their sorta, kinda powerful mobile Java platform to the entry-level 3G phones.

The idea is logical – by making more phones run applications, a single app could be used by millions, something every developer would appreciate — or that’s at least the theory, which we see doesn’t always work, like that’s the case of Symbian.

Anyway, the company hopes that this move will especially be important for those developers which want to make apps for the ever-growing Chinese market. We’re not sure whether this can fly, but we’re certainly happy to see a major handset maker thinking about the application offering for the end-users.

[Via: MobileBurn]

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Samsung Launches TouchWiz Widget SDK, $20,000 Prize for Best Creation

Simon Sage — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:07:24 +0000

Samsung’s proprietary user interface, TouchWiz, could be getting a lot more interesting, as today they have announced a software development kit that will allow programmers to create widgets on a range of supporting devices. Previously, you were stuck with the selection of widgets preloaded on the phone, but soon the doors will be open for third parties to make their own. The Eclipse-based tools support Windows Mobile, Symbian, Java, and, of course, the TouchWiz user interface.

On the user end, a Widget Gallery will be available on the Omnia II (which is due out on Verizon by Christmas) and later devices. To kick off the new development environment, Samsung is hosting a contest at a devcamp running September 11-13. The creator of the best in each of five categories will win $5,000, on top of a $20,000 grand prize for the best in the show. It sounds promising, but let’s see what the turnout is like and if a reasonable stable of widgets can be built up before the Omnia II launch strikes.

[via Samsung]

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Altek Cranks out 12 Megapixel Cameraphone with 3x Optical Zoom

Simon Sage — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:45:42 +0000

Hooah, the Samsung Pixon 12 and Sony Ericsson Idou have some unexpected company. Altek, a relatively unknown Taiwanese camera manufacturer, is getting into the phone game with the T8680, which baosts above all a 12 megapixel camera with 3 x optical zoom, dedicated image processor, aperture ranging from F3.0 to F5.6 and up to 3200 ISO. A notable feature is the use of a CCD sensor, which is less suceptible to image noise and have higher light sensitivity than traditional CMOS sensors, although they tend to gobble up more power. VGA-resolution recording and TV-out make it an ample video device as well, but it’s otherwise a fairly unremarkable Java-based phone with all the usual fixings (tri-band EDGE, Stereo Bluetooth, 3″ QVGA touchscreen, FM tuner, 1020 mAh battery). It’s pretty unlikely we’ll see this on our side of the pond, but if you happen to be in Taiwan, you’ll be able to nab the T8680 later this month for 3000 yuan. You can get a closer look at the features and specs over here, or check out some hands-on pics of the user interface from the launch.

[Altek via GSMArena]

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King.com launches 20 JavaME games

Dusan Belic — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:28:28 +0000

Another King.com news. Just few days ago the online skill games company announced the release of 20 JavaME games for feature phones. Among the titles that have been released are such popular games as Midas Miner, GoGo21, Jungle Bubble and Word Battle — all of which are free to play, and King.com will even deposit $5 for free in every new account (which can be used to participate in cash tournaments).

King.com’s mobile games are available through a custom app that can be downloaded at www.king.com/mobile. From there, you can grab all 20 titles and more games are planed to be added every month.

Commenting on the release, King.com’s CEO Riccardo Zacconi said: “King.com’s games are now available to hundreds of millions of consumers to play wherever they are. Through the device that never leaves you, King.com now puts skill games directly into the hands of even more consumers worldwide.”

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