Google Music: iTunes for Android or something more? | 1 Comment
By brian on 11-18-2011 04:46 PM
Google Music, an online music store and “free locker” for digital music, was rolled out to the public on Wednesday.
Google Music, with more 13 million songs, will be integrated with Android Market, the company’s online store for smartphone apps and videos as it plays catch-up with its rivals. Apple, Amazon and Facebook have to varying degrees integrated music into their core online and mobile products. Google Music will allow the Web search leader to do the same by letting consumers access music from various Internet-connected devices and easily share tracks with friends. Google has negotiated U.S. deals with three of the four major music companies: Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group; Sony Corp’s Sony Music Entertainment; and EMI. It has also signed deals with the increasingly influential independent label group Merlin and London-based Beggar’s Banquet label group, home to the year’s biggest selling artist, Adele.
While no single Android phone has approached the popularity of the iPhone, Android smartphones as a whole have become a serious force, capturing more than half the overall market during the last quarter. (Android phones amounted to 52% of the global market compared to about 15% for the iPhone, according to Gartner). For someone trying to decide between buying an Apple or Android device, iTunes could be a deciding factor. Google Music, at least in part, could take that bullet out of Apple’s gun.
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Would you like an Ice Cream Sandwich? | 0 Comments
By evp on 10-18-2011 09:34 PM
Google has come out with some of the most creative names for their Android software. Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo (frozen yogurt), Gingerbread, Honeycomb, and now Ice Cream Sandwich. Seems that Google has the same love of desserts that I do.
The newest OS is expected to be a combination of Gingerbread and Honeycomb and will likely be Android 4.0. The launch of the new software was pushed back out of respect for the late Steve Jobs. Though the new OS has not yet officially launched the new character has. This week the newest member of the dessert family arrives early at the Google Corp office. Check out the arrival of the newest dessert and enjoy.
Google Wallet is here! | 0 Comments
By evp on 09-23-2011 03:54 PM
Google Wallet is an Android app that makes the Nexus S 4G a wallet. That’s right, your phone can now literally do everything including pay for your dinner. The app stores a virtual version of your credit card on the phone and allows you to pay using near field communications or NFC. Currently the app is only available on select devices and accepted at select retailers, but I anticipate this growing to include all retailers in the near future.
Article from Phone Scoop states, “Google today announced the general availability of its Google Wallet service for Sprint and owners of the Samsung Nexus S Android smartphone. Google Wallet is an open platform for payments and offers at the point of sale. Google said it makes use of your phone to tap, pay and save. Google Wallet uses NFC (near-field communications) and GPS to let people use phones for commercial transactions. Google Wallet works with MasterCard’s PayPass system, and Sprint, Citi, which are among the first Google Wallet partners. Others following soon include Visa, Discover, and American Express. Google Wallet supports loyalty programs, such as supermarket club cards, and automatically applies any earned discounts to the purchase. Receipts are stored electronically on the phone. The system was trialed in New York City and San Francisco over the last few months. Some of the first retailers on board are Macy’s, Walgreens, and Subway. Google is offering a $10 bonus to new users who sign up before the end of the year. There is a tool available on Google’s web site to help potential users see where they might use the service. Google hasn’t said if or when Google Wallet will become available to other handsets and other carriers.” Read More from Phone Scoop.
