A new maps app called Sparkling maps that offers Google maps has hit the app store

November 18, 2012 by

A new maps app called Sparkling maps that offers Google maps has hit the app store.  This will come as an ideal solution for those looking to get back to Google’s standard of mapping that offers it’s users, reliable maps that offer a decent amount of  detail on the maps.  This app also includes access to Google’s infamous street view. Lastly this map even offers turn by turn navigation, which Google official iOS 5 map app never did.

However this app does have some short cummings when comparing it to the Google’s iOS 5 official version. The text is often very small to see on the maps also it’s not possible to use the maps when offline, like you could on Google’s iOS 5 official version. Lastly there also seems to be a problem with the street view maps option. Yes you can access the street view option with ease, but once you go into street view mode you are not able to zoom in or out like you could within the official iOS 5 Google version.   

 

Overall despite it’s short Cummings, which will hopefully be resolved soon by the developers. It’s a useful app for anyone who wants the first class mapping experience that iOS users once enjoyed with Google maps. Currently there is no other app that can offer this level of map detail, street view, and turn by turn navigation like this one does. So what are you waiting for it’s a bargain for only $0.99 or 0.69p from the UK app store.

 

Update 29-11-12

I would like to post an update on this app and say that now the developer have produced and released an updated version of this app that has addressed most of the problems that were previously raised by users. 

 

Filed Under: Apple, Apps Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

VideoLAN releases the VLC media player on Android

July 3, 2012 by

 The VideoLAN team has just released it’s popular Windows VLC media player on the Android OS platform. This will be welcomed by the Android community, because this media player is very versatile by being able to play most codecs that gets thrown at it.  However the VideoLAN team warns that at the moment the app is only at the beta stage, so be prepared a few teething problems, such as various playback issues like stuttering from time to time on certain codecs. But it’s developers say these problems will be be ironed out soon with future updates.

The App comes with a simple interface and that is packed with many features such as, direct browsing of directories, network streaming, support for subtitles and audio tracks, headphone control and gestures that can control the volume. 

It’s however worth noting that the current beta version of the app only works with devices that are powered by ARMv7 processors that support NEON instructions.  ARM V6 and Tegra 2 will be supported soon, you will also need to be running on Android 2.1 (Eclair) and above.

The app is available for download from the Google play store in most countries with the exception of the US and Canada play stores. However if you live the US and Canada and you still want to download it, you can get it directly from the VideoLAN server. If you want to know more about the capabilities of this app, just go to the VideoLAN website for more information.

 

Filed Under: Apps Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Google s Nexus 7 tablet could be released this month

June 13, 2012 by

Google plans to release a Nexus 7 tablet  this month. According to Android Authority the release date is likely to be at the end of June and it going to be a collaboration between Google and Asus  and it will have a Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor. It will also feature a 7 inch screen, but there has been no information on whether the screen will be LCD or amoled, it will come with Android’s next operating system pre installed which is Android Jelly Bean.

The odds of it being released at the end of June are good, because Google holds it’s annual I/O developer conference then, so there is a good chance that these rumours might have some validity. It likely to be priced around the $150-$250 range, which will make it competitive against the likes of the Kindle Fire tablet. In order for Apple to compete effectively at this end of the market, they really need to bring out their rumoured budget iPad that is supposedly coming with a 7 inch screen.

It’s doubtful the release of this tablet will make an impact within an already crowded tablet market. Windows 8 Arm powered tablets are also due for release in the near future, this will further pose a problem for Google s future Android tablet market share.

 

Filed Under: Android, Tablets & PCs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

7.1% of all Android devices are now running Ice Cream Sandwich

June 4, 2012 by

Ice Cream Sandwich is now running on 7.1% of all Android devices  according to the Android Developers website on June 1, that 

Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich is now running on 7.1% of all Android devices. It has more than doubled since last April when it was reported that only 2.9% of Android devices were running ICS.

While the ICS software user base is expanding. There are problems brewing for the OS. It appears that many of the older  and lower end devices are not able to run ICS, due to the hardware of these devices not being able to cope with the newer requirements. In fact the adoption rate of Gingerbread (Android 2.3) has increased by 1.3 percent amongst older and lower end devices over the last few months alongside the growth of ICS. The Android Developers  website goes on to say that Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3) are running on as much as 84.1% of Android devices. ICS has a long way to go, before it  becomes a major player within the Androids eco system. This will not help Google’s fragmentation issue which appears to be growing day by day.

On a more positive note most of Google’s Android high end and mid end devices are now receiving or have received the new OS update.  Samsung devices such as the,Galaxy Tab,  Galaxy S2 LTE, and the Galaxy Note have all received Android 4.0 aka ICS. The Galaxy S3 even now coming with ICS.

Sony has now updated most of it’s high end and mid end Xperia range phones with the exception the Sony Xperia Play, which will not be getting it, due to hardware issues.

Htc has plans to rollout ICS soon to its high end devices such as the EVO 3D, Incredible S, Sensation XL, Desire S and the Desire  HD.

Other manufactures such as LG, Asus and Viewsonic are planing soon to implement ICS. 


Filed Under: Android Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Do Android tablets have a future

May 20, 2012 by

The is a question doing the rounds lately that is asking the question do Android tablets have a future. 

The sales of the Android tablets seem to be decreasing, the first quarter numbers from IDC showed that Android tablet shipments declined in Q1-12 from Q4-11.  While the competition from Apples ipad and the Kindle Fire tablet from Amazon seems to be growing. 

The reason for Androids poor results seems to come down to Googles strategy of competing directly against the iPad with many of its high end models such as the Moto Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tablet.  

The reasons why Google cannot effectively compete with Apple’s ipad, range from poorer hardware performances in certain models, poorer availability of decent quality apps and also poorer out of the box user experiences. 

The best strategy is for Google to focus more on the lower end of the market more and compete more against Amazon’s Kindle Fire table which has successfully created a whole new market with the Kindle fire tablet, which is has been characterised by simpler hardware specifications and software, which is set at the $200 price point.

Android could even be further hammered when Windows releases its Arm based tablets later on in the year. Google  needs to resolve these issues or act to produce a new strategy soon to stop the rot before its too late. 

 

 

Filed Under: Tablets & PCs Tagged With: , , , , ,