Android Tablet Update

Pretty awesome right? I haven’t even told you the amazing part yet, they are stopping development for Android.

You might have caught wind of this story elsewhere with some kind of doom and gloom spin about how it is impossible to ever make money on Android and that developers should flee from the sinking ship sooner rather than later. You’ll be surprised to find that even the developer that wrote the blog post that caused this whirlwind of ridiculous coverage doesn’t think that is true. I reached out to them after reading far too many posts from people that seemed to have skipped what was actually said in favor of the story that they felt like writing.

The developer in question is Mika Mobile, a two person development team that spent about two and half years making games on iOS before porting a couple of their titles to Android.

They launched their first game, Zombieville USA, on iOS in February of 2009. This was about 6 months after the launch of the App Store and at the time there were approximately 20,000 apps available for the then current iPhone 3G. The game was polished and offered stylized visuals that surpassed a lot of what was out there at the time and as a result was prominently featured in the App Store. In the second month it was available in the App Store they saw 150,000 downloads of the free and $2 version. While I couldn’t get an exact split they did indicate that the majority were paid so ballpark estimate they made approximately $140,000 from it that month.

Fast forward to today and they have a total of four paid apps in the App Store and profits are basically steady at a similar level to what they were seeing two and half years ago, albeit from four apps rather than just one. So yes if you are doing the math at home that means that this two person development team is taking in over $1.5 million a year from the App Store. If you are under the impression that is a normal small developer experience in the App Store, then I have some lovely ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

This tremendous and not likely to be reproduced success in the App Store is the real reason they are leaving Android development and it has nothing to do with difficulties in developing for Android. To infer otherwise is ignoring everything that Mika Mobile had to say in their blog including the fact that they spent only 20% of their time on the Android side of things and yet were producing what most people would consider a healthy living from it.

In the 9 months since they first launched their two Android games, Zombieville USA and Battleheart are both in the 50,000-100,000 downloads range and while again I couldn’t get an exact figure from them that places their earnings from the Play Store at a minimum of $140,000 and possibly quite a bit higher. This was without any major marketing efforts that I could find relying simply on word of mouth, although Battleheart did appear as a featured tablet app in the Market in mid-June. It’s likely that with a concerted marketing effort they would have done even better, but again they are a two person team with a finite amount of time.

Returning briefly to what took up the majority of that 20% of their time dedicated to Android development, it was not related to fragmentation as some have asserted. The two activities that required the most time were the initial porting process (not shocking) and simple customer service (download and payment problems). The latter seemed to be a particular thorn in their side and of course is made all the more exasperating by the fact that those are in fact areas in Google’s control and not really something a developer should be dealing with at all. It’s hardly the first time I’ve heard that complaint from a developer and it is a subject worthy of discussion on its own at some point.

Were it not for the sheer volume of inaccurate coverage this story got I would have left it alone as I would hope that most people would reasonably conclude that trying to make broad generalizations regarding the Play Store, or the App Store for that matter, based on the experiences of one developer isn’t practical.

The real takeaways from this story is that if you are a two person team making around 2 million a year on iOS then by all means go ahead and stick with iOS and more power to you. If on the other hand you are a new developer or you have the resources to develop for multiple platforms then by all means take a look at Android as there’s plenty of money to be made.

Yesterday Google started rolling out their new Google Play Store to replace the Android Market, and many of our readers reported that they started receiving it in the afternoon. However, quite a few people have said they still do not see the new Google Play Store yet.

If your device is running Android 2.2 or greater, you should be able to easily force the new Google Play Store update. Nothing really changes besides the cool new icon, but follow the steps below if you want to check it out.

To force Google Play Store onto your Android device:

• Install the new Play Books, Play Movies, or Play Music
• Go to Settings > Apps > Market and hit the Clear data button
• Open Play Books, Play Movies, or Play Music and hit the new Play Store icon
• Accept the new terms of service
• Enjoy

If it doesn’t work on the first try, wait a minute and then repeat the steps. I automatically received the Google Play Store on my Google TV, but I used this trick to get it on my smartphone and tablet. Let us know if you got the new Google Play Store and what you think about it in the comments below.

There were rumors that Google Play might be the name for Google’s upcoming 7-inch tablet, but it turns out it’s actually a “digital entertainment destination where you can find, enjoy and share your favorite music, movies, books and apps on the web and on your Android phone or tablet.”

Today in a company blog post Google announced the Android Market will now be called the Play Store, Google Music will become Play Music, Google Books will become Play Books, and the Video App will turn into Play Movies.

Google Play is already live on the web and it will be rolling out to devices with Android 2.2 or higher over the coming days. All content and apps in your existing account will remain in your account, but will transition to Google Play.

Right now, it looks like the countries that have access to Google Play will remain the same for different types of content. Google said they are working to expand support to new markets, but they don’t have a specific timeline to share.

Types of content by country include:

• Paid Apps: Available in these countries
• Movies: Available in US, UK, Canada, and Japan
• eBooks: Available in US, UK, Canada, and Australia
• Music: Available in US

It appears this change in strategy is to emphasize that Google’s content can now be accessed on any computer with a modern browser and not just Android devices. Users can read books on the Google Play web reader, listen to music on their computer or watch movies online. All the content is stored in Google’s cloud, so you can access it anywhere with your Google account.

“This is really an acknowledgement that these experiences are relevant not just for a mobile environment but across the web,” said Jamie Rosenberg, Google’s director of digital content, in an interview with Marketing Land.

Let us know if you see the new Google Play appear on your device in the comments below.

Developing…

If you’ve ever downloaded a game on the Android Market, you’ve probably noticed that most of the more complex games make you download large files the first time you launch the application. This has been a source of frustration for many Android users, especially when you take into account Android’s 15 minute refund window which begins as soon as the application is downloaded to your phone. Adding a 1GB download to an application can easily eat up most or all of that 15 minute window, leaving you with sunk costs if you don’t actually enjoy the game.

The reason these downloads outside the market exist is because Google has limited the maximum application size for any app on the market to 50MB, hardly enough space for most modern games. As a result, game developers have had to host the additional files needed to run the game on their servers, and users are stuck downloading extra game resources directly from the source.

Yesterday, Google announced that they would be increasing the application size limit to 4GB, though the maximum APK (the core application itself) file size will remain 50MB. Developers will be able to add two expansion files, each with a maximum allowable file size of 2GB. The announcement comes a staggering 10 months after they announced this change would be coming back at Google I/O in May 2011.

This change benefits both Android users and developers. For consumers, you’ll be able to see the total download size directly in the market, and the 15 minute refund window will begin after all files are downloaded, allowing you to truly try out the game before buying. This change only affects newer devices, and older devices will still have to download the extra files via an external download server (though one powered by Google).

Developers will now be able to host all files related to the application on Google’s servers, freeing up space and capacity on their servers for coming up with the next great thing in Android (or, you know, whatever else you’d need server space/capacity for).

For more information on the change, be sure to head over to the Android Developers Blog and read up to your heart’s content.

If you’ve always wanted a way to download an application from the Android Market directly to your PC, boy do we have the right thing for you. An Android developer by the name of redphx sent us an email today, introducing us to APK Downloader. It’s a Chrome extension which allows users to download application APK files directly from the Android Market to their desktop.

In order to use the APK Downloader extension, you’ll need the latest version of Chrome on your computer. Then you will need to disable the browser’s SSL error warnings, enter your device ID number, email and password. Your email and password are stored locally on your computer and are only used when the Chrome extension tries to grab the Android Market cookie to download the APK file from the Android Market. Once your setup is complete, simply browse the Android Market with your Chrome browser on your PC, find an app you would like to download, and click the APK Downloader icon which appears in the address bar when you are on the application page.

At first, we couldn’t think of any real reason to use APK Downloader, but then we realized that there are plenty of Kindle Fire users who do not have access to many of the applications that are only available on the Android Market, plus there are many apps which are made available only for specific devices. Come on, do developers really think that all those Tegra games can not be played on devices with Qualcomm chips?

I don’t think the APK Downloader extension for Chrome is going to change anybody’s life, but it will be handy tool for those of you who have devices with limited access to the Android Market and simply want to enjoy their applications on as many device as possible.

Give APK Downloader extension a try and let us know what you think.

After much hoopla Google Wallet finally launched on the Nexus S last September, but it was only available on Sprint’s version of the phone and not T-Mobile’s. Then when Verizon announced their Galaxy Nexus, it was soon discovered that they would not support Google Wallet. Verizon claimed that Google Wallet “needs to be integrated into a new, secure and proprietary hardware element in our phones” and they were continuing their commercial discussions with Google on the issue.

Thanks to a recent app update, Nexus users on AT&T and Verizon can now install Google Wallet directly from the Android Market. Many users previously obtained a hacked copy or side-loaded it onto their device, but now they can have the comfort of getting the latest official version from Google.

AT&T users with the Nexus S or GSM Galaxy Nexus just need to search for Galaxy Nexus and install it. Those devices are recognized as supported in the Market and it’s a 1-click isntall.

For Verizon owners of the Galaxy Nexus, the process takes a few extra steps. They need to visit the Android Market website from their browser and then trick their device into installing the official app. It might sound like a little much, but it only takes around one minute to complete.

1. From your phone open the browser and head to http://market.android.com. (Tip:  You may want to clear data and defaults on browser and Market before doing this.)
2. Search for “Google Wallet.” (If your browser prompts you to open the Market, don’t. Just stay in the browser.)
3. When the results come back, tap on the Google Wallet icon.
4. Tap the “Install” button from within the browser and then sign into your Google account. (Again, this is all from the browser, not the Market app.)
5. Once you have signed in, you should be redirected back to the Market page in the browser.
6. Obviously, you will not have the option to install there since the VZW Nexus is not supported.
7. Tap the back button until you are prompted for the Market or Browser again, this time choosing the Market.
8. The Android Market should open to the Google Wallet page with an option to install.

If it doesn’t work right away, just sign out of the Android Market website from your browser and try the steps again. I tried this on my Verizon Galaxy Nexus and it worked on the 2nd try. Previously I had side-loaded an older version of Google Wallet, and the install updated it to the latest version with no problems.

We don’t have a Nexus S or GSM Galaxy Nexus on T-Mobile to test this trick out, but hopefully it works on that device as well. If you happen to have one on hand, let us know if you were able to install Google Wallet from the Market.

At least AT&T is now allowing Google Wallet on some Android phones with NFC, and hopefully Verizon is close to reaching an agreement with Google.

Smartphone security continues to be a hot topic in the Android ecosystem. Whether you believe this is much of an issue or not, Android is the most popular mobile operating system, and the bad guys are known to target bigger markets. Google is not keeping its arms crossed, and they have just revealed Bouncer, a service that scans the Android Market for malicious apps.

This makes it easier to keep the Android Market safer while maintaining the simple process of uploading new apps (which is something developers and users love about Android). This service has been operating since the beginning of 2011, without our knowledge of its existence. And Google claims that the number of malicious app downloads has gone down by 40%, which is contrary to what most anti-virus app developers claim.

The procedure is simple (relatively). When a developer uploads an application, Bouncer analyzes it for known trojans, spyware and malware. The app is also scanned for any type of extraneous behavior, compared to past-scanned apps. The discovery of any dangerous behavior then raises a “red flag.” After finding a malicious application, Google goes on to revise the developer’s account, and prevents them from spreading any current or future dangers.

Google Mobile Blog’s post goes on to talk about the fact that Android was built with security in mind. There are multiple functions within the Android OS core, which help stop the bad guys from accessing all your goodies. Here are some of the features that help Google make our devices secure:

Sandboxing: The Android platform uses a technique called “sandboxing” to put virtual walls between applications and other software on the device. So, if you download a malicious application, it can't access data on other parts of your phone and its potential harm is drastically limited.

Permissions: Android provides a permission system to help you understand the capabilities of the apps you install, and manage your own preferences. That way, if you see a game unnecessarily requests permission to send SMS, for example, you don’t need to install it.

Malware removal: Android is designed to prevent malware from modifying the platform or hiding from you, so it can be easily removed if your device is affected. Android Market also has the capability of remotely removing malware from your phone or tablet, if required.Hiroshi LockheimerVP of Engineering, Android

As Hiroshi mentions, there is no way to stop malicious applications from getting to Android devices (or any smartphone, for that matter). What Android is trying to do here, is rid the Android market of all possible danger.

Bouncer may be the answer to all of those that worry about this issue. If an anti-virus app makes you feel more comfortable, though, it never hurts to have it. Plus, anti-theft solutions come in handy much more often than we would hope. My personal favorite happens to be avast! Free Mobile Security, followed by Lookout.

As always, though, the best solution is common sense. Getting a trojan, spyware or malware is simply not as common just yet. A googler even goes into detail about this, going as far as to mention that virus companies are “charlatans and scammers.”

Are anti-virus apps necessary?
I don't think so. Let's put it this way - I don't run those apps. That's obviously an individual choice, but I haven't felt the need for it.Hiroshi LockheimerVP of Engineering, Android

In an interview with JR Raphael, from Android Power, Lockheimer also mentions that he sees anti-virus apps as unnecessary. He also goes on to mention that the Android team is not stopping here, and they will be further trying to improve security within the Android ecosystem.

Android, security and its future
I want to emphasize that this is one piece of our overall security story. It doesn't start and end here. It starts with the device. It's not just about the app - it's the sandboxing, the (analyses of) developer accounts, and the scanning that happens. We're going for an end-to-end security path. Open source and security are not mutually exclusive.Hiroshi LockheimerVP of Engineering, Android

Just make sure you download apps from trusted sources (like the Android Market), and don’t forget to check out the permissions and app reviews. These techniques, along with Bouncer, should keep our devices safe enough, at least until this problem gets bigger (if it does). As for Google – we are glad they are working hard and have our backs.

Have you purchased any music from the Android Market yet? Google just offered up some free hit tracks from Drake, Maroon 5, and Mary J. Blige in order to promote their Google Music service. Just click the links below to be redirected to the Android Market and add the free music to your library (sorry, appears to be US only).

• Drake “Take Care (feat. Rihanna)” - http://goo.gl/x1aGw
• Drake “Make Me Proud (feat. Nicki Minaj)” - http://goo.gl/Cb5Ri
• Drake “Fancy” - http://goo.gl/4BzzA
• Maroon 5 “Moves Like Jagger” - http://goo.gl/3Y8Xf
• Maroon 5 “How” - http://goo.gl/OowOP
• Mary J. Blige “Need Someone” - http://goo.gl/ITXH0

These latest free tracks are in addition to the Free Song of the Day and the hundreds of other free tracks. Let us know about your Google Music experiences in the comments below.

Distimo is reporting that Android now has 400,000 applications available on the Android Market, putting Android a mere 25% behind Apple’s App Store. Android’s smartphone market share continues to grow more rapidly than any other smartphone platform, and developers are taking notice.

With more and more developers developing Android applications before developing for other platforms, it will likely not be much longer before the number of Android applications matches the number of iOS apps, likely when both platforms are in the 550,000 to 600,000 range if Android’s market growth continues at the rate it has been.

Distimo’s report shows that Android’s application growth is largely coming in the free application category, with 68% of applications now available free of charge to end users, a 13% increase from April 2011 to December 2011. We expect this trend to grow even more as developers embrace the freemium model, where developers offer the basic application for free and offer premium features as in-app purchases.

While it’s encouraging to see the number of applications growing, we hope that the trend continues to bring useful and novel applications to Android rather than “crap-apps” or apps that simply replicate functions of another application.

Gameloft has some of the best paid Android games around and for the next week all of them will be on sale for only $0.99. The one exception is Modern Combat 3 that will only go on sale for 24 hours, so follow Gameloft on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ to find out when. There are a lot of old games thrown in the mix, so here are my top 5 picks.

1. Modern Combat 3

Modern Combat 3 is easily the best action game on Android. I’ve been playing it a lot over the holidays and it continues to surprise and entertain me with how awesome it is. Keep an eye out for when this one drops to $0.99.

2. 9mm

Fans of Grand Theft Auto will love this game, even though it plays more like Max Payne with a heavy focus on gun fights and slow motion bullet times. The single player campaign only took me a couple days to finish, but multiplayer mode extends the replay value. It earns the medium maturity rating that it received and reminds parents about the Android Market content filter settings.

3. N.O.V.A. 2

I was so pumped for this game last Christmas and I think it lived up to the hype when it finally landed on Android. The gameplay from the single player is fun, but I actually spent quite a bit of time on the multiplayer mode. You will need a fast connection and dual-core phone to keep up with action, but this is one of the few online FPS games that I have enjoyed.

4. The Adventures of Tin Tin

Gameloft just released The Adventures of Tin Tin to coincide with the release of the movie from Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I just handed over my $0.99 to check out the game. Early reviews have been good and I’ve been looking for a new adventure style game to check out.

5. Order and Chaos Online

I’m not a huge fan of MMORPG games, but those that are seem to enjoy Order and Chaos Online. The game has a 4.5 rating on the Android Market mostly because of the continued support by Gameloft. The community has been steadily growing and Gameloft is working on an update that will allow Android players to join and compete with their iOS friends.

Which Gameloft games are your favorite? Let us know in the comments below.