Android Market Upgraded, Buy eBooks and Rent Movies

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Android Market Upgraded, Buy eBooks and Rent Movies

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday July 27, 2011 @09:12AM from the growing-google dept.

hypnosec writes "Search engine giant Google has quietly dished out an update for its Android Market mobile application store. The update, which bumps the Android Market version to 3.0.27, brings a new user interface and new content for Android powered Smartphones and Tablet devices. Users will now be able to purchase and download eBooks and rent movies."

157 comments

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 09:16 · Score: 1

Android powered Smartphones and Tablet devices
What about Android-powered media players? Is there an Android-powered counterpart to iPod touch for sale here? There is the Archos 43, but it doesn't come with Android Market.
1. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:29 · Score: 0
  
  What about Android-powered media players? Is there an Android-powered counterpart to iPod touch for sale here? There is the Archos 43, but it doesn't come with Android Market.
  So pirate it. Instructions for all of Archos' devices exist. It's Android - it's free after all, and since Google didn't bake in any app DRM like Apple, the apps are all available on your favorite torrent sites as well. And I've seen daily app market torrents giving you all new paid apps of the day
  And stuff like the Nook Color with the marketplace are also pirated, so it's no big deal.
  Leave the purchasing of apps to the iOS chumps who have to jailbreak to even get close to what Android does out of the box.
2. Re:Android pod touch by Baloroth · 2011-07-27 09:30 · Score: 1
  
  The Android Marketplace has certain technical requirements that device makers need to meet to use the Marketplace which is here (PDF warning). IDK if any PMP meets those requirements, although I know as of 2.1 Google doesn't have telephony as a requirement, so they certainly could. Not sure why why the Archos doesn't have the Marketplace, but I bet not meeting the requirements is it. There are, however, alternate marketplaces you can install, many free, so I don't see it as an issue personally.
  
  --
  "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
3. Re:Android pod touch by maxume · 2011-07-27 09:30 · Score: 0
  
  It isn't exactly obscure information that Google is limiting the market app to devices linked to a cellular plan.
  
  --
  Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
4. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:33 · Score: 0
  
  This is what makes the thought of developing for Android so enticing...
5. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 09:37 · Score: 1
  
  And I've seen daily app market torrents giving you all new paid apps of the day
  The specific application that I want to use is the application to scan paper checks with my device's camera and deposit them to Chase Bank. I haven't seen it on AppsLib, SlideME, Amazon, or direct APK download from the web. It appears to be exclusive to Android Market. Do the app torrents include the free apps as well, or is using ArcTools to pirate Android Market the only way to do that?
6. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 09:40 · Score: 1
  
  There are, however, alternate marketplaces you can install, many free
  So how do I convince my bank to add its check deposit application to one of these alternate marketplaces?
7. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 09:42 · Score: 1
  
  So if Google doesn't want this market, then what's the viable alternative to iPod touch?
8. Re:Android pod touch by Jeng · 2011-07-27 09:42 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Are you sure you want to use pirated software or software from a non-official source for your banking purposes?
  That sounds unwise.
  
  --
  Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
9. Re:Android pod touch by maxume · 2011-07-27 09:46 · Score: 2
  
  It may simply be the case that the micro-niche that you occupy lacks any alternative to the iPod touch.
  
  --
  Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
10. Re:Android pod touch by Dishevel · 2011-07-27 09:48 · Score: 1
  
  I am sure that I want a person who will use non official sources for his banking apps to use them and then post the stories of how well it worked out for him so that we can all have a nice laugh and get on with the rest of our day.
  
  --
  Why is it so hard to only have politicians for a few years, then have them go away?
11. Re:Android pod touch by PCM2 · 2011-07-27 09:48 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  It isn't exactly obscure information that Google is limiting the market app to devices linked to a cellular plan.
  Not obscure, perhaps, but false nonetheless. My Galaxy Tab 10.1 uses the Android Market, and it's Wi-Fi only.
  
  --
  Breakfast served all day!
12. Re:Android pod touch by kenshin33 · 2011-07-27 09:53 · Score: 1
  
  not true. I came across a xoom tablet (android 3.0) with no cellular plan (wifi only model) and it had the market place. I've seen galaxy tabs all over the place (android 2.x) with no cell radio and they had the market.
13. Re:Android pod touch by node+3 · 2011-07-27 10:02 · Score: 0
  
  So if Google doesn't want this market, then what's the viable alternative to iPod touch?
  Google doesn't want that market, because it doesn't make them very much money. What good are ads without an ever-present internet connection?
  It does seem shortsighted to me, though. Even though an Android Touch would give Google less revenue, it's still *some* revenue. And it would help Android's market share, even if only by a little. Which might be a reason for this. If Android went head-to-head with the iPod touch, it would lose, hands down, similar to how it's losing against the iPad.
  Sure, it would be talked about very nicely here on Slashdot, and perhaps even 5% or so of the people who actively post here might even buy such a media player, but in proper market numbers, it would be a complete failure. That's something that perhaps Google would, reasonably, like to avoid.
14. Re:Android pod touch by node+3 · 2011-07-27 10:04 · Score: 0
  
  It may simply be the case that the micro-niche that you occupy lacks any alternative to the iPod touch.
  The market for the iPod touch is not a 'micro-niche'. On the other hand, the market for iPod touch alternatives is. It's even smaller than the market for iPad alternatives, which is already extremely small as it is.
15. Re:Android pod touch by nurb432 · 2011-07-27 10:06 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Leave the purchasing of apps to the iOS chumps who have to jailbreak to even get close to what Android does out of the box.
  Ok, so ios users are chumps beacuse they jailbreak to do cool stuff, but ( using your example ) a nook color user is cool beacuse he had to root his device to do cool stuff..
  ya, makes a lot of sense to me. Talk about hypocrisy.
  
  --
  ---- Booth was a patriot ----
16. Re:Android pod touch by Baloroth · 2011-07-27 10:09 · Score: 1
  
  Ah. Ummm, a strongly worded letter? Barring that, is it possible to sideload the app? I don't think any such PMP blocks that, the problem would be finding the .apk file. Also, its generally possible to get the marketplace working on such devices (this website lists instructions for Archos products, specifically). It really is a shame that Google doesn't work harder to make it work on all such devices, but I guess thats more the manufacturers problem.
  
  --
  "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
17. Re:Android pod touch by iamhassi · 2011-07-27 10:10 · Score: 2
  
  So pirate it.... Leave the purchasing of apps to the iOS chumps...
  
  This is what makes the thought of developing for Android so enticing...
  Shame you posted as AC, I think that's a very Insightful comment.
  
  --
  my karma will be here long after I'm gone
18. Re:Android pod touch by maxume · 2011-07-27 10:15 · Score: 1
  
  Micro-niche I was talking about: Android PMP+Chase App+No cellular.
  
  --
  Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
19. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:19 · Score: 0
  
  Sure, pirates tend to be idealists while companies usually will do anything to get my money.
  Just stay clear of those few pirates who pirate as a company.
20. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:19 · Score: 0
  
  The Samsung Galaxy Player is what you're looking for.
  And if you happen to find it, let the rest of us know because we're wondering what hole it disappeared into.
21. Re:Android pod touch by h4rr4r · 2011-07-27 10:22 · Score: 1
  
  So add the market yourself.
22. Re:Android pod touch by PRMan · 2011-07-27 10:25 · Score: 1
  
  I have it on my Asus Transformer which is Wifi only.
  
  --
  Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
23. Re:Android pod touch by darkgumby · 2011-07-27 10:25 · Score: 1
  
  I used 'Bluetooth File Transfer' to copy some apps from my EVO4 to my rooted Nook Color. It packaged the app into a *.apk file and copied it across for me. I then navigated to the *.apk file with the file manager app and installed it from there.
24. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:30 · Score: 0
  
  No they aren't.
25. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:30 · Score: 0
  
  Who cares if that information is known by tons of idiots or not; it's not true.
26. Re:Android pod touch by IamTheRealMike · 2011-07-27 10:39 · Score: 2
  
  Sure, pirates tend to be idealists while companies usually will do anything to get my money. Just stay clear of those few pirates who pirate as a company.
  
  LOL. No son, pirates tend to be people making money by getting you to install malware. If you think otherwise you are naive. Anyone who pirates banking apps of all things is going to get completely screwed.
27. Re:Android pod touch by node+3 · 2011-07-27 10:41 · Score: 0
  
  Then you replied to the wrong post.
  Either way, adding "+Chase App" is redundant. "Android PMP+No cellular" is already a micro-niche. Hell, you can even remove "+No cellular" and this will hold true.
  The only market where Android is not extremely small is in the phone handset market. Interestingly, this is the only potential Android market where there is a high amount of artificial influence, raising significant doubt that people are actually choosing Android specifically.
28. Re:Android pod touch by gibletparade · 2011-07-27 10:42 · Score: 2
  
  What about Android-powered media players? Is there an Android-powered counterpart to iPod touch for sale here? There is the Archos 43, but it doesn't come with Android Market.
  I've had this Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.0 for a few weeks now. Seems to match your description - not a phone but does wifi and app store fine thanks. Has good codec support. Ogg packs down audio really well too. There's a 5" version also. More info at http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=238
  Unfortunately the app store update to get books and films is US-only at the moment.
29. Re:Android pod touch by oakgrove · 2011-07-27 10:44 · Score: 1
  
  I hope you realize that you and everybody that gave this a serious response just got trolled. You do realize that, right? Right?
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
30. Re:Android pod touch by maxume · 2011-07-27 10:46 · Score: 1
  
  Nah, I replied in the context of the entire thread around this post:
  http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2352138&cid=36901372
  Basically, tepples has manufactured some scenario that applies to him (the intersection of people that care about having a Chase app but do not want a smart phone has to be tiny) and is wailing about how the companies don't support it.
  If I wanted to pay for a smart phone, I would choose Android over Apple in about 0.5 seconds, but maybe I am under some sort of artificial influence.
  
  --
  Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
31. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:57 · Score: 0
  
  I don't think they do.
  My nook color's marketplace works just fine.
32. Re:Android pod touch by oakgrove · 2011-07-27 11:00 · Score: 1
  
  I realize we've had our differences but a malware purveyor, I'm not. I just downloaded the Chase app to my phone and pulled it out of the /data/app folder. Enjoy.
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
33. Re:Android pod touch by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 11:15 · Score: 0
  
  You can actually install the market app on any android system you want, even the emulator. (great for testing market integration)
34. Re:Android pod touch by maxume · 2011-07-27 11:18 · Score: 1
  
  Okay, that's six people that have pointed out that I was misinformed.
  I hereby apologize to the entire internet for opening my mouth without checking to see if I was even close to being correct.
  
  --
  Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
35. Re:Android pod touch by CannonballHead · 2011-07-27 11:24 · Score: 1
  
  I hereby apologize to the entire internet
  I, the Internet, in the absence of Al Gore, accept your apology.
  ;)
36. Re:Android pod touch by exomondo · 2011-07-27 11:35 · Score: 1
  
  Is there an Android-powered counterpart to iPod touch for sale here?
  What about the galaxy player? A new one is supposed to be coming in US Spring.
37. Re:Android pod touch by mjwx · 2011-07-27 12:43 · Score: 1
  
  It isn't exactly obscure information that Google is limiting the market app to devices linked to a cellular plan.
  Not obscure, perhaps, but false nonetheless. My Galaxy Tab 10.1 uses the Android Market, and it's Wi-Fi only.
  That's a feature specific to Honeycomb.
  
  Whilst there is not as much demand for an Android powered media player as the whingers would make out, Google honestly did not anticipate any demand for one what so ever. Google thought most people would just use their phone for media purposes and for the most part they are right, however there is a small demand for them.
  
  In any case, except that particular Honeycomb feature to make it's way to Ice Cream Sandwich.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
38. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 12:43 · Score: 1
  
  everybody that gave this a serious response just got trolled. You do realize that, right?
  I'm not always aware of how troll-like my words appear before I get replies. I want to overcome my condition. How do you recommend that I do so?
39. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 12:48 · Score: 1
  
  What good are ads without an ever-present internet connection?
  They're great when cached.
  
  and perhaps even 5% or so of the people who actively post here might even buy such a media player
  My cousin bought an Archos 43 because he wants a handheld computer on which to run applications but can't afford a cellular voice and data contract. I guess I must have been overestimating this sort of niche because three people across two households fall into it (one iPod touch and two Archos 43 in two households). Consider that Apple once marketed its iPod touch as a handheld game system in an attempt to compete with the Nintendo DS and PSP. It may still; I haven't checked in the past month.
40. Re:Android pod touch by Anubis350 · 2011-07-27 12:50 · Score: 1
  
  It isn't exactly obscure information that Google is limiting the market app to devices linked to a cellular plan.
  Not obscure, perhaps, but false nonetheless. My Galaxy Tab 10.1 uses the Android Market, and it's Wi-Fi only.
  That's a feature specific to Honeycomb. Whilst there is not as much demand for an Android powered media player as the whingers would make out, Google honestly did not anticipate any demand for one what so ever. Google thought most people would just use their phone for media purposes and for the most part they are right, however there is a small demand for them. In any case, except that particular Honeycomb feature to make it's way to Ice Cream Sandwich.
  Yeah.... still not true: Either way, it looks like this Android 2.2 player (it's upgradable to 2.3, by the way) with full Market access will be headed stateside sometime soon.
  
  --
  "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
41. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 12:50 · Score: 1
  
  But are there any Android-powered devices with the Market and no cellular radio in a form factor that fits into a pocket? If not, there are Android-powered counterparts to the iPad with Wi-Fi, iPad 3G, and iPhone, but not iPod touch.
42. Re:Android pod touch by oakgrove · 2011-07-27 12:50 · Score: 1
  
  raising significant doubt that people are actually choosing Android specifically.
  Doesn't raise much doubt in light of the fact that the best selling Android phones also happen to be among the most expensive. If all of the top selling handsets were the throwaway 50 dollar jobs, then it might make sense that people are just buying phones that "do stuff" no matter what the OS. That's obviously not the case.
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
43. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 12:52 · Score: 1
  
  Is using ArcTools to add Android Market to an Archos 43 Internet Tablet even legal? And will the Market still work after this update?
44. Re:Android pod touch by element-o.p. · 2011-07-27 12:53 · Score: 1
  
  Ditto for my Dell Streak 7. It's got a slot for the SIM card, but I never bothered to acquire one. Don't know if the fact that it *can* be linked to a cellular plan -- even though I have so far chosen not to do so -- makes any difference.
  
  --
  MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
45. Re:Android pod touch by True+Vox · 2011-07-27 13:56 · Score: 1
  
  Tepples, what I'm doing currently is I bought an Android phone from Virgin Moble. I ditched the service, and I find it works great as an "Android Touch". YMMV, airplane mode is your friend.
  
  --
  "Gratuitous complexity is akin to chaos" - True Vox
46. Re:Android pod touch by That+Guy+From+Mrktng · 2011-07-27 14:26 · Score: 1
  
  Why? Tablets and MPs w/out android market are the cheaper ones, you don't see anyone w/ the latest Samsung or Motorola android phone or tablet without the Market. If you're not willing to invest in a good device probably your not going to invest in apps anyway. I know, My first tablet was the lowest end available Android 1.6 and all, I still rooted it and installed the Market and have spent no more than$20 USD on apps, mostly because I love F Droid. Ahhh the freedom.
  Also, nice to know that nobody pirate iOS apps.
47. Re:Android pod touch by That+Guy+From+Mrktng · 2011-07-27 14:35 · Score: 1
  
  This is no IT territory, this is Darwin's one. It should be common sense to use OFFICIAL apps for banking and sensitive stuff, If you don't get it it's not the platform problem since the phone is probably smarter than the user. In ancient times lack of common sense will make you a Lions dinner, so, in the end is not that much of a drama nowadays.
  I don't even trust sensitive accounts or logins on my tablet, being non-rooted and having a software stash 100% legal. It's sad to say but I probably would trust more in iOS for such tasks (only good thing to say about the walled garden) but I'm not buying Apple until the OCDed CEO leaves, I'll stick w/ my live cd's/USBs for sensitive stuff, tyvm.
48. Re:Android pod touch by kenshin33 · 2011-07-27 16:23 · Score: 1
  
  that I don't really know as I was never interested in things like that (not even tablets ... I came across them by chance).
49. Re:Android pod touch by ozmanjusri · 2011-07-27 17:36 · Score: 1
  
  It isn't exactly obscure information that Google is limiting the market app to devices linked to a cellular plan.
  It's obscure to me.
  I just bought an Asus EeePad Transformer which has no 3/4g option at all. Google Market is installed by default and works fine on that.
  Where do you get this information from?
  
  --
  "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
50. Re:Android pod touch by iampiti · 2011-07-27 18:22 · Score: 1
  
  I believe Samsung Galaxy player may be what you're looking for.
51. Re:Android pod touch by mjwx · 2011-07-27 18:23 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah.... still not true: Either way, it looks like this Android 2.2 player (it's upgradable to 2.3, by the way) with full Market access will be headed stateside sometime soon.
  Call me when it's released.
  
  It's long since been known Samsung has planned this, lots of nice press releases but no product. I'd bet on it being released with the next version of Android.
  
  --
  Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
52. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-27 23:58 · Score: 1
  
  A new one is supposed to be coming in US Spring.
  It's already over a month into US Summer and I haven't seen it in stores or on bestbuy.com.
53. Re:Android pod touch by tepples · 2011-07-28 00:01 · Score: 1
  
  In addition, I would ideally be able to verify that an application was published by JPMorgan Chase and not modified, even if it is pirated.
54. Re:Android pod touch by RDW · 2011-07-28 00:04 · Score: 1
  
  Also, in most of the World (possibly not the US!) you can buy a PAYG Android phone complete with Market for less than the price of an iPod Touch. The extra phone components are cheap, and there's really no incentive to make a less functional device. Apple can get away with selling a 'smartphone without the phone' because of its brand recognition, nice design, iTunes infrastructure and high profile App Store. Nobody else can. Apple isn't competing at the low end of the market, which leaves a niche they can fill with the iTouch while preserving a lucrative price differential with the iPhone. With Android, this niche is already filled with actual phones, at least where I live.
55. Re:Android pod touch by Vectormatic · 2011-07-28 00:26 · Score: 1
  
  i bought a 7" android tablet at the end of may, which features android 2.2 and a fully working market, no 3g though.
  Not bad for a 99 euro device really, even if i only use it as a large screen PMP rather then a tablet
  
  --
  People, what a bunch of bastards
56. Re:Android pod touch by h4rr4r · 2011-07-28 04:12 · Score: 1
  
  Legal? Yes, but it might violate some contracts. The market will still work fine.
57. Re:Android pod touch by That+Guy+From+Mrktng · 2011-07-28 04:13 · Score: 1
  
  Correct, I have seen Android Phones in the $170 USD range, boxed, unlocked and not clonish in nature. . Here you can get a decent generic tablet, new! for the same price than a used Touch 2nd Generation, around $100 USD. Obviously I'm not going to compare Generic tablets to Apple products in battery life and other niceties, the iPod touch make the perfect palm that Palm never delivered for one. And for someone that somehow needs[1] an iOS Device, the touch it's a no brainer.
  [1] Advertising and design shops I know and sometimes work with (since ages Apple territory), are moving to platforms and tools based on iOS. Also haven found a reliable way to test a mobile website in the iOS stack w/out the device itself. One would say Advertising companies would support Android coming from Google, an advertising company and all, but you can't spell Advertising Agency w/out smug, bling and marketing powered IT decisions. Advertising people usually are too busy doing pot and redwhiskybull to want to fiddle around w/ computers and nerdy stuff, they probably want "just works" more than anyone else.
58. Re:Android pod touch by hazydave · 2011-07-28 04:43 · Score: 1
  
  The iPod market itself is shrinking very rapidly. Apple will certainly try to reboot the whole line this fall, but this is not likely the best place to worry about Android devices. And Archos does seem to have this niche well covered, anyway.
  As for "extremely small"... Android is now just over 30% of the tablet market, as of last quarter. That's hardly what I'd call "extremely small". Apple did 66% of the market... very good for Apple, but given they essentially owned the market last year (95%), a smaller percentage of a rapidly growing market (9.25 million iPads, more than twice this time last year).
  And most of the business is actually on the name brand tablets, not the Chinese ripoffs. That's Asus, LG, Motorola, and particularly Samsung. HTC, Lenovo, and Sony are joining the party soon, on Android. And of course, you have Microsoft (Win7 tablets today), HP (WebOS), and RIM (PlayBook) each trying to suck less to establish a foothold at third place. Last quarter, it was Microsoft, even given that Window 7, and particularly Windows 7 applications, are not well suited as a tablet.
  
  --
  -Dave Haynie
59. Re:Android pod touch by hazydave · 2011-07-28 07:01 · Score: 1
  
  The Galaxy Tab 7 also comes with Android Market, Wi-fi only, and that's Android 2.2.
  
  --
  -Dave Haynie
60. Re:Android pod touch by exomondo · 2011-07-28 10:51 · Score: 1
  
  A new one is supposed to be coming in US Spring.
  It's already over a month into US Summer and I haven't seen it in stores or on bestbuy.com.
  Im hoping to see them released soon, i don't particularly want Android as my smartphone OS but i do like it and would like to have an android device (maybe get a tablet when it comes time to replace my ipad) so if they have Galaxy S2 hardware in a PMP that would be pretty awesome.
quietly? by rbrausse · 2011-07-27 09:18 · Score: 1

maybe "without announcement" as it seems impossible to "quietly" upgrade something when it results in a changed UI...
but at least we have a person to blame: he wrote it.
Old. by CannonballHead · 2011-07-27 09:18 · Score: 1

I've had the new market for I think about a two weeks now... it was released I think on July 12th. It wasn't exactly "quiet" (I heard about it the day-of), nor was there any great fanfare.
1. Re:Old. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 19:14 · Score: 0
  
  I've had the new market for I think about a two weeks now... it was released I think on July 12th. It wasn't exactly "quiet" (I heard about it the day-of), nor was there any great fanfare.
  I have yet to see any difference in the UI when using my smartphone. Is this just for the website interface, or only certain models of phone, carriers, etc.?
2. Re:Old. by CannonballHead · 2011-08-01 05:08 · Score: 1
  
  It's the market app itself, not the website. I am not sure what models they released it for... I downloaded the apk and installed it that way :P :)
Or they can continue... by cayenne8 · 2011-07-27 09:19 · Score: 1

...to just download movies and books off USENET or torrents.
:)
I'm about to play with Android myself soon..been reading up on 'hacking' a nook into a more fully functional tablet...for cheap.
I saw a friends nook running cyanogen mod7, and all the stuff he'd downloaded for it, looked pretty sweet.

--
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
1. Re:Or they can continue... by uofitorn · 2011-07-27 10:46 · Score: 1
  
  I bought a nook and put cyanogen mod on it. It has really performed well below my expectations. So much so that I haven't even bothered charging it in the last 2 weeks. Given the choice again, I probably would have spent a little more for something like the new Dell Android tablet that was reviewed on el reg today.
  
  --
  "What kind of music do pirates listen to?" -Paul Maud'dib
  "Yeeeaaarrrrr n' Bee!!" -Stilgar, Leader of Sietch Tabr
2. Re:Or they can continue... by rmcd · 2011-07-27 10:51 · Score: 1
  
  Out of curiousity, what do you dislike about the nook + cm7? I ask because I have the same. I put swype on it, and it works quite well for my purposes (browsing, pdf reading). The absence of GPS and camera is unfortunate, but I knew they'd be missing. Only problem I've noticed is that for some reason gmail doesn't sync well.
3. Re:Or they can continue... by Daneurysm · 2011-07-27 11:52 · Score: 1
  
  I'm also curious about how CM7 on a nook color was so underwhelming to you...
  
  Granted it isn't a Xoom, but it is $249. I installed it to the eMMC, OC'd to 1.3ghz, performance governor, installed launcher pro and I gotta admit it performs nearly as well as my Evo 4G did. I play games on it and they perform great. The browser performance sucks, but, that's the browser. Dolphin is a bit better, Opera is insanely smooth. I haven't done any modding or even tweaking since the weekend I got it. It really hauls ass. Sure, the battery life isn't as awesome as it was stock, but, it also isn't painful to use...quite the opposite and the battery life is still pretty damn acceptable (unless you need hours upon hours of nonstop screen-on gaming).
  
  But, as usual YMMV...and did...but I'm also curious why and how you had such a dismal experience.
4. Re:Or they can continue... by cayenne8 · 2011-07-28 02:31 · Score: 1
  
  I bought a nook and put cyanogen mod on it. It has really performed well below my expectations.
  Did you play with the governor settings, or try to boost the clock up a bit? Running it more near the 900ghz setting should help the performance...I've seen these nooks sped up a little...and things ran smooth as silk on them.
  YOu might give it a try.
  I just bought a brand new one yesterday....I had an ATT $50 gift card...and $85 worth of rewards at Best Buy...so, went in and got a brand new nook plus a 4GB micro sd for $147 tax included.
  I figured the price was right on that.
  Since I get 14 days free magazines and newspapers from B&N on the new nook...likely I won't root it till that is over...but after that...time to play.
  Give the clocking a look at yours and see if that improves things.
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
5. Re:Or they can continue... by cayenne8 · 2011-07-28 02:35 · Score: 1
  
  As I posted to that other guy...I just got mine yesterday...and with the gift cards and BB rewards zone credits..I got my new nook and 4GB card for $147 tax included.
  I'm likely going to hold off rooting mine...so I can enjoy the free 14days of B&N magazines and newspapers...but I might try to make a boot SD card just to play with android a bit during this period.
  Just curious, what was the battery life on the standard out of the box nook? What times do you get now with normal use? Did you use cyanogen mod7?
  Do you have a link to the root mod that you followed?
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
6. Re:Or they can continue... by Daneurysm · 2011-07-28 11:30 · Score: 1
  
  The SDcard booting is really handy. The performance is slightly lackluster considering the read speed of the SDcard, but, it's still very usable.
  
  The battery life out of the box, well, I didn't get very far in using it stock. The sales rep claimed 10. I browsed a lot for the better part of an hour without a single notch coming off of the battery gauge, for what that's worth. I know that when I set it to stock speed (300min 800max) I get about 4 hours of non-stop web browsing and all that entails (flash ads, opening multiple windows, checking email, gtalk sessions). Disable WIFI and I'm sure you could double that easily for just reading. Now, when I have it OCd (800min, 1300max) I get 2.5-3 hours of non-step web browsing, etc. The same for game playing, though admittedly I only play scrabble and puzzle games. I have tried a smattering of action games and they are all playable but I can't comment on their battery consumption habits. This is all with screen at max brightness, max volume (and then some thanks to DSP manager).
  
  The Bluetooth is also handy for transferring files, though I haven't tried it for playing music.
  
  I use Cyanogenmod7, though some people swear by Phiremod. MIUI was just released for it...it needs a little work still but it's fully functional, it just doesn't 'scream' yet.
  
  ...and as far as any Android hacking is concerned get over to xda-developers.com forums. Nook Color is listed in the forums list. Go straight to the Development sub forum. The boot images are all easily accessible and all the tools you need are right there in a sticky at the top with very clear instructions. You can even dual boot from the eMMC. I have a dual boot bootloader that lets me choose which to boot from eMMC (primary or secondary images), SDcard (also with two images) or Recovery.
  
  I can't say enough good things about this machine, especially when compared to other "tablets" in and round it's price range. That gap is closing in the next 6 months I'd imagine as we get into the next generation of tablets, but, for my needs this thing is fantastic. Good luck.
7. Re:Or they can continue... by Daneurysm · 2011-07-28 11:45 · Score: 1
  
  Oh yeah, and sometimes I don't plug it in for days and when I turn it on the battery is still pretty much exactly where it was....that's a relatively new feature, lol.
  
  As for the actual reason I replied again: Hard-power off = Hold the power button down until it turns off. Locking up your device once or twice is part of the ritual of modding an android device. Just be sure to never do this while flashing. I'd rather let the battery run dry than risk having to fix things the hard way. (Which isn't that hard, honestly, and there are clear instructions on XDA's Nook Color forum for how to fix this)
8. Re:Or they can continue... by cayenne8 · 2011-07-28 15:35 · Score: 1
  
  Thank you very much for the reply and info!!
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
K-Rad! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:19 · Score: 0

These new features seem quite innovative.
Won't work. by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:33 · Score: 0, Troll

It will most definitely flop 'cause you Android freaks never pay for anything. Well, I take that back... if google can figure out a way put ads in there somehow, and sell your viewing habits to highest bidder (their true customers), it might just work out for them... though Nielsen will probably be pissed.
Bloatware increasing... by stretch0611 · 2011-07-27 09:34 · Score: 2, Interesting

I noticed after a ASUS upgrade package for my transformer left me with a "Google Video" app. It can't be uninstalled, it won't play local media files, but it will let me spend money renting...
The prior upgrade left me with a useless ebook reader that I was not allowed to uninstall (google books). As time goes on, the more frustrated I will get. When it peaks, I will root my devices and uninstall all the garbage.
Hey google!!! I own the device not you... What part of "do no evil" allows you to put your crap I do not want on it??? If it is a choice and I find it useful, I'll install it and praise you. If I do not have a choice of (un)installing, I will never use it and curse you regardless of its usefulness.

--
Looking for a job?
Want your resume written professionally?
DON'T USE TUNAREZ!!!
1. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:45 · Score: 0
  
  Dude,
  You can fix your problem easily enough by installing an uninstaller. RTFM!
2. Re:Bloatware increasing... by kenshin33 · 2011-07-27 09:57 · Score: 1
  
  Dude, didn't you see : "I will root my devices and uninstall all the garbage."? you only need root to do it !
3. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:03 · Score: 0
  
  Blame ASUS for that not Google...
4. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:06 · Score: 0
  
  Google's not blameless either; they are certainly paying Asus to do that.
5. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:16 · Score: 0
  
  I should blame Asus because my HTC also has a lot of Google shit I don't want?
6. Re:Bloatware increasing... by drsmack1 · 2011-07-27 10:24 · Score: 2
  
  Hopefully Google will listen to your rant and not include that bloatware anymore that we did not ask for - I mean, who asked for a kernel anyways?
  The next version will be kernel optional I wager.
  
  --
  Humor from a Genetically Molested Mind
7. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:32 · Score: 0
  
  No, you should blame HTC for that. Or your cell carrier, since they love to throw extra shit in and not let you change it.
  If you want flexibility, root the thing and you have it. If you don't have a root-friendly android device, but you want flexibility, why didn't you buy one?
8. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 11:11 · Score: 0
  
  OMG! It installed two apps that provide optional extra functionality that take up a couple of megs of space! How fucking evil is that? Those bastards! I bet they killed Kenny too. To the special hell with them!
  Develop a sense of damn perspective you flaming, great, drama-queen. The fact you haven't rooted the device and removed any apps you don't use already is quite telling. All mouth an no trousers is the phrase used around these parts. Yes, yes I know. (imagine I am rolling my eyes at this point) You purchased a product and it should work just exactly how you want it to and damn everyone else and their desires and/or agendas. Blah, blah, blah. Who on earth would want apps to download films and books to read and watch at their leisure anyway? What you want is all that matters in this world and it should be handed to you on a silver platter by two rather fetching virgins. Perhaps you should write a strongly worded letter to Google telling them exactly what you want from your next device and maybe next time they will make it especially for you. Maybe Google should go the Blackberry root and not provide any useful software on their tablets at all? Then you could bitch about that too.
9. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 12:49 · Score: 0
  
  I wish I could uninstall this "Phone" app... I never seem to use it.
10. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 13:32 · Score: 0
  
  If you check the market, there are a few root uninstallers that will blow away any crap. I used it to uninstall a non-functional app that Dell included in the default Streak ROM.
11. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 19:15 · Score: 0
  
  It's hard to draw the line here. For the average user, they just want stuff there for them, ready to use. Would you like it if you had to install right off the bat things like an email client, google maps + navigation, or perhaps even the android market (what if you prefer the amazon app store, and hate the android market? Wouldn't you want to uninstall that too?).
  Not saying that I'm necessarily defending the practice, but there's definite consumer benefit. You can't think of the /. crowd, but the masses. Plus, those apps were pushed by Asus and saved in the "un uninstallable" section of the device. Who knows what part Google had in making them not uninstallable? Just my $0.02
12. Re:Bloatware increasing... by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 19:15 · Score: 0
  
  Root the device, then use "Root un-installer" to get rid of all the apps you don't want, even bundled ones. Worked like a charm on my tablet. (2.2)
13. Re:Bloatware increasing... by AmiMoJo · 2011-07-27 21:05 · Score: 1
  
  It is your carrier, not Google. Google generally does not install any of its own apps forcefully, except the gMail app and Android Browser which are a standard part of the OS.
  I updated my Galaxy S and didn't get any forced app installs.
  
  --
  const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
  SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
14. Re:Bloatware increasing... by daid303 · 2011-07-27 22:01 · Score: 1
  
  While "standard" you can still remove them and have a functional Android system. The Cyanogenmod wiki has a nice list of what you can remove:
  http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Barebones
  On Cyanogenmod the google apps are even a different install package (for copyright reasons, these are not open source) http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Latest_Version#Google_Apps and the system will work without this package.
  I rooted my HTC Legend, installed Cyanogenmod, and I'm very happy about it. Blocking app permissions is just one of the reasons to install it. It also comes with a ton of extra configuration options. And I'm a hacker, so I hacked a few things to my own liking.
Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:36 · Score: 0

Went iPhone. That Android stuff is for kids. I don't have time for that hack shit.
You do realize this is not Digg, don't you?
Re:Who cares? by future+assassin · 2011-07-27 09:36 · Score: 1

Poor you...

--
by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
Re:Who cares? by Jeng · 2011-07-27 09:37 · Score: 1

Of course he does, I'm sure he would troll in a completely different way on Digg.

--
Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
Where? by BradleyUffner · 2011-07-27 09:38 · Score: 2

So where or how does one go about getting this new version? It didn't show up as an update when I started the market application just now. Is this something that has to go through the carrier?
1. Re:Where? by Is0m0rph · 2011-07-27 09:41 · Score: 1
  
  Same here. Mine's not updated.
2. Re:Where? by Megatog615 · 2011-07-27 10:22 · Score: 1
  
  Same, my Nexus S 4G's Market is still at 2.3.6, even after clearing the Market's data, cache, and uninstalling updates(and subsequently installing them again by running it).
3. Re:Where? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 11:26 · Score: 0
  
  I found the .apk posted days ago on the xda forums, I installed in from there.
4. Re:Where? by DoomHamster · 2011-07-27 11:56 · Score: 2
  
  This is a rolling update. Here is a link from Google on how to update: http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=190860
5. Re:Where? by DoomHamster · 2011-07-27 11:58 · Score: 2
  
  Or if you don't want to wait, download the apk from XDA:
  http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1166152
6. Re:Where? by BradleyUffner · 2011-07-27 14:30 · Score: 1
  
  Or if you don't want to wait, download the apk from XDA:
  http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1166152
  
  Thanks for the link, works perfectly.
Re:Android malware by ThePeices · 2011-07-27 09:42 · Score: 1

Really? What malware is there in the official market?
Oh wait, there isnt any.
Been eating too many Apples today? I can smell your arrogant smugness from here.
Worth it yet? by georgenh16 · 2011-07-27 09:42 · Score: 1

I'm likely one of the few people here without a smartphone - is it worth it yet?

It's an extra $20 something a month for the data plan, and right now I have a waterproof shockproof phone to mitigate the risk of shelling out a few hundred if my phone breaks.

Am I really missing out?
1. Re:Worth it yet? by PCM2 · 2011-07-27 09:56 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I'm likely one of the few people here without a smartphone - is it worth it yet?
  
  Depends what you want. I find it convenient to read and respond to new email on my phone, browse the Web from anywhere, pay my bills while sitting at the park, check Google Maps when I'm lost, calculate things (I have a full HP 48 emulator on mine), take the occasional photo of something wacky I see while out and about (and post it directly to Facebook), listen to music, and play the occasional game.
  Then again, as much as people rave about how important "apps" are, I have apps on my phone that sounded cool at the time but I'm certain I'll never actually use. Maybe you'd use your phone even less. What you get for the $20 extra per month is that anytime you're possessed of the desire to do any of these things, you can just take out your phone and do it, then put it away again. If the added cost of one dinner per month isn't worth it to you, then don't buy a smartphone. Nobody's forcing you.
  
  --
  Breakfast served all day!
2. Re:Worth it yet? by PCM2 · 2011-07-27 10:01 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, and my phone is a Motorola Defy, which is reasonably rugged. Motorola is rolling out the Titanium now, which supposedly meets military specs.
  
  --
  Breakfast served all day!
3. Re:Worth it yet? by LordLucless · 2011-07-27 10:13 · Score: 1
  
  It depends. If you own other mobile devices for functions the smartphone can also perform (playing media, handheld games, etc), it's probably worth consolidating into one device, especially when one of them breaks. If you don't ever feel the need to watch video, listen to music, read ebooks or play games on the move, then not. In either case, it's probably worthwhile keeping your old rugged phone as a backup, or if your doing any activity where its ruggedness is likely to be useful. It probably also has a longer battery life than a smartphone.
  
  --
  Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
4. Re:Worth it yet? by h4rr4r · 2011-07-27 10:26 · Score: 1
  
  Is the bootloader locked? Does it also have that the shitfest that is blur installed?
5. Re:Worth it yet? by PCM2 · 2011-07-27 10:36 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know about the Titanium, but for the Defy the answers are yes and yes (though I don't mind Blur at all, kinda like it in fact).
  
  --
  Breakfast served all day!
6. Re:Worth it yet? by h4rr4r · 2011-07-27 10:39 · Score: 1
  
  I am going to be replacing my D1 soon and unless something changes I will be forced to switch carriers since verizon seems to not have any phones with unlocked boot-loaders.
7. Re:Worth it yet? by geekoid · 2011-07-27 10:40 · Score: 1
  
  I came to the cell phone party very late. I didn't want one until I could take decent pictures, view pictures easily, could hook it to any computer to load what ever data I wanted.
  Now I use it for so much more. Hell, just the other day I used an app to deposit a check. Awesome. I ahve taght several kids about constellations with impromptu demonstrations, The navigation is pretty good for my needs, it plays my music, and so on.
  IIF you won't use it for anything more then what you use your current phone, then don't bother; but I think you would use it for more.
  I got the Nexus S at best buy for 100 bucks with a 2 year extension on my contract. I got the buy back program because it's based on FULL retail, so when I'm done with my phone, I can trade it in for 119 dollars.
  And yes, I got the extended warranty. It was cheap and I don't have to get a case to cover up my shiny precious.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
8. Re:Worth it yet? by hey · 2011-07-27 10:43 · Score: 1
  
  You don't need a dataplan. Buy an unlocked smartphone and drop on your exiting SIM card. Connect with Wifi.
9. Re:Worth it yet? by georgenh16 · 2011-07-27 10:53 · Score: 1
  
  Thanks - sounds like the Titanium was meant for me!
10. Re:Worth it yet? by Carrot007 · 2011-07-27 11:11 · Score: 1
  
  > I'm likely one of the few people here without a smartphone - is it worth it yet?
  It was 10 years ago. How many devices do you want to lug around?
  > It's an extra $20 something a month for the data plan, and right now I have a waterproof shockproof phone to mitigate the risk of shelling out a few hundred if my phone breaks.
  Sucks to be you then. I am paying less now I have a smartphone. Note I never ring people or text anymore so that part of the plan is low.
  > Am I really missing out?
  Only if such things matter to you.
  
  --
  +----------------- | What is the question!
11. Re:Worth it yet? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 11:51 · Score: 0
  
  T-Mobile for $1.49 you get 24 hour data access w/ no data plan, it's actually not a bad deal (you'd have to be using data daily for the plan to cost less). Why commit when you can just use it whenever you want. :)
12. Re:Worth it yet? by PCM2 · 2011-07-27 11:52 · Score: 1
  
  Well, I don't know how to explain it, but believe that even though the Defy's bootloader is locked, there is a one-click root exploit and you can indeed get CyanogenMod on it. I'm not 100 percent certain about this, though, because it's not something I feel compelled to do to mine, but if you like the hardware then you should Google it.
  
  --
  Breakfast served all day!
13. Re:Worth it yet? by Archangel+Michael · 2011-07-27 14:30 · Score: 1
  
  If you're in the US, your choices of phone/carrier combinations pretty much makes it impossible to find anything reasonable by almost all definitions. AT&T's network is faster, when it works. Sprint's is nearly useless. Verizon at least has coverage.
  If you're in a big city, hope you don't use AT&T because the their network is saturated. They need T-Mobile's towers. I feel sorry for the T-Mobile customers, they got screwed.
  Which leaves Sprint, sucky coverage except cities. HTC makes decent phones that you can unlock the BL easily on. Sprint's only hope is a quick rollout of their 4G network, else they will be consumed by someone else.
  Bringing us back to VZ, which while has locked phones, at least gives you coverage and service that doesn't ultimately drive you crazy.
  To coin a phrase ... what good is a rooted smart phone if you're unable to use it?
  
  --
  Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
14. Re:Worth it yet? by Archangel+Michael · 2011-07-27 14:31 · Score: 1
  
  This is probably US, where AT&T uses GSM SIMs. Nice try though. ;)
  
  --
  Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
15. Re:Worth it yet? by daid303 · 2011-07-27 22:12 · Score: 1
  
  You don't need a dataplan with a smartphone. I'm using one without a dataplan (paying 7.50 per month for call/sms, got a slightly outdated android phone for 270)
  So, what do I use it for:
  * To call/sms
  * Email when I'm near WiFi (I don't need email everywhere, and I mostly do read-only)
  * Agenda, this is one of the most used features on my phone, having your schedule at hand is useful for a chaotic person like myself
  * Remote control for my media center, it's easier to select a file on a touchscreen then using a remote to scroll and select files onscreen
  * Toying around with apps, as a programmer I can make what I need :-)
16. Re:Worth it yet? by Isaac-Lew · 2011-07-27 23:58 · Score: 1
  
  You do know that Sprint roams on the Verizon network, right? There is a limit of minutes for free roaming, but I can't recall it right now.
17. Re:Worth it yet? by h4rr4r · 2011-07-28 04:15 · Score: 1
  
  It means you are stuck with their kernel and are really only changing userland. Which is pretty lame.
  Nor will I support Motorolas decision to do this with my money.
18. Re:Worth it yet? by h4rr4r · 2011-07-28 04:22 · Score: 1
  
  Sprint roams on verizon.
  I would rather go back to a non-smartphone than use my money to support a vendor who locks out the user.
OMG tiles! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:42 · Score: 0

Judging by the video, someone in Google has bought a WP7 phone.
Only in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 09:54 · Score: 0

my Dutch Android handset's Google Market doesn't offer me movies and ebooks to download. So I guess it's region limited?
renting digital movies? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:00 · Score: 0

what do they need the bits back to loan to someone else?
cross platform by fermion · 2011-07-27 10:14 · Score: 1

I buy books from Amazon because Amazon Kindle will work on many devices. iBooks is inferior not only technically, but also because it only works on iOS devices. An Android ebook will presumably be readable on Android.
iTunes, OTOH has players for iOS, Mac and PC, so that is a viable option. Not great, but Video tends to be heavily protected, so options there are limited. I presume Android market movies are for android. For renting movies, only being able to watch it on one device is not a big deal. They say there will be an app, but really the only thing that matters is what is here. Amazon probably does a better job, already tv ready, at movie rental than the Android store.
It is sad seeing Google playing catchup creating arguably inferior products whose purpose is to segment the market.

--
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
1. Re:cross platform by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 10:40 · Score: 0
  
  Actually Google's book platform isn't really inferior to Apple's in any way. You can read books on Android, ios, pc web browser, use to be able to do android's web browser but they block it now trying to force people to get their silly app, a new iriver google book ereader just came out, also a number of others are compatible, not the Kindle, but the Nook does, along with Sony's readers and anything that uses Adobe's book format really, can read more here: http://books.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=179849
2. Re:cross platform by Oliver+Wendell+Jones · 2011-07-27 11:46 · Score: 1
  
  Once you "purchase" the rental of a movie (is there a better word than purchase in this situation?), you can watch the movie through YouTube as well - as long as you log into YouTube with the same Gmail account you used to pay for the rental.
  
  --
  A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing -- Emo Phillips
3. Re:cross platform by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-28 12:20 · Score: 0
  
  Once you "rent" the movie, you can play it on any device that is capable of Flash or HTML5, or by using the application (and you can flip between them as you like). You may also watch it offline (presumably after you downloaded it).
  Compare this to the i* devices where you have to buy a $100 TV box that can only play on that device or on a desktop that has a 100MB bloatware install. Like libraries, public university computers, or on laptops
  To say Google's product is inferior would be a mistake.
Google-oply by hey · 2011-07-27 10:41 · Score: 1

Google is getting into too many areas for me liking. Maybe they aren't a monopoly but they certainly are leveraging their Android users into movie-renters, etc.
Perhaps G+ will take over social networking. Its too much power for one company.
I don't like it.
1. Re:Google-oply by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 11:32 · Score: 0
  
  Where is the gun pointed to your head forcing you to rent movies from Google? Or use Google+? Or anything Google?
2. Re:Google-oply by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 12:20 · Score: 0
  
  "Google is getting into too many areas for me liking. Maybe they aren't a monopoly but they certainly are leveraging their Android users into movie-renters, etc.
  Perhaps G+ will take over social networking. Its too much power for one company.
  I don't like it."
  Yes and I would call the police for the gun they hold to your head forcing to use their stuff...
3. Re:Google-oply by exomondo · 2011-07-27 12:42 · Score: 1
  
  Maybe they aren't a monopoly but they certainly are leveraging their Android users into movie-renters, etc.
  Do you have to rent movies? Even if you want to do you have to rent them from Google's service?
  Pretty sure the answer to both of those is 'no'.
4. Re:Google-oply by oakgrove · 2011-07-27 13:02 · Score: 1
  
  Oh, hey, Jim Goldman, didn't you Facebook people get busted a couple of month ago for astroturfing against Google? Give it up, man, everybody's on to you.
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
Re:Android malware by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 11:15 · Score: 0

You seem to have a real hard-on for dissing Android. It's rather pathetic that someone would care so much about a platform they obviously don't like. The only problem is, your complaint is basically moot. Of course an open platform that anyone can develop for is going to have malware issues. The only thing is, only nerds like you actually care. Everybody else just keeps on using their phones. Kind of like how another massively successful platform that suffers from malware walks up one side of Apple and down the other. In case you're a little slow, I'm talking about Windows.
Re:Who cares? by oakgrove · 2011-07-27 11:20 · Score: 1

I see the Engadget anti-Android trolls have invaded Slashdot. Oh well, only another 550,000 Android activations today. Sucks, don't it?

--
The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 12:33 · Score: 0

No buddy. Fuck you. Android is shit. It sucks the big dick. It has as many security holes as anything else
Not as severe as iDevices that have had multiple security issues so bad that a website can own the whole device.

is over run with malware
How is one so feeble that they could be 'over run' with malware?
I want to download the APK from Chase.com by tepples · 2011-07-27 12:40 · Score: 1

Are you sure you want to use pirated software or software from a non-official source for your banking purposes?
If Chase were to offer a direct APK download from an HTTPS site whose certificate I can reliably authenticate to Chase, then yes, I would turn on "unknown sources" and install the Chase APK.
1. Re:I want to download the APK from Chase.com by Altus · 2011-07-28 02:54 · Score: 1
  
  I don't think that is what he means by "pirated software."
  
  --
  "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson
2. Re:I want to download the APK from Chase.com by tepples · 2011-07-28 03:08 · Score: 1
  
  OK, I admit that I made a mistake in my reasoning. But why do publishers of even free applications have a Market-only policy, with no Amazon, AppsLib, SlideME, or direct APK download available?
Re:Who cares? by oakgrove · 2011-07-27 12:44 · Score: 1

Hahaha. And he follows up by trotting a particularly elderly saw. See, sometimes the best is the best seller. Sometimes the best isn't the best seller. What happens with cars and music doesn't correlate with anything other than, you guessed it, cars and music. Here's a nickel son. Get yourself a better meme.

--
The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
Expected Arrival Date: No ETA at this time by tepples · 2011-07-27 12:59 · Score: 1

I opened the forum that you linked, opened the threat titled "Where are these things??", and read pages 1, 17, and 18. The links to buy the product were all broken, and the links to search results returned nothing relevant (mostly cases, no actual players) I read some pages from the thread that you linked. So I searched for samsung galaxy s wifi on Google Product Search, and the only result for the Galaxy S Wifi 4.0 was this: "Expected Arrival Date: No ETA at this time"
I'm not sure I get it by countertrolling · 2011-07-27 16:04 · Score: 1

So, now I can actually pay to watch a movie on my giant 4 inch screen? Better be at least 2K video... uncompressed

--
For justice, we must go to Don Corleone
1. Re:I'm not sure I get it by Anonymous+Psychopath · 2011-07-27 18:08 · Score: 1
  
  So, now I can actually pay to watch a movie on my giant 4 inch screen? Better be at least 2K video... uncompressed
  Think HDMI-out and DLNA. Your phone isn't the only possible display device, even if that's where you got the content.
  
  --
  Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
Great, now if only they could fix *real* problems by goose-incarnated · 2011-07-27 21:28 · Score: 1

If only I could sell my app on google market
Sigh

--
I'm a minority race. Save your vitriol for white people.
Not for Germans! by SlothDead · 2011-07-27 23:19 · Score: 1

Thanks to the GEMA (German RIAA) we won't get this in Germany.
It's bad enough that we have to rent proxies to use Hulu, Netflix, Pandorra etc. but now we have to use proxies on our PHONES to reach the content we want to pay for? I'm really trying hard to pay, but I'm not sure how long I can resist the much simpler way: just pirate it. :(
Is there even a way to fake being an USA citizen on Android? How much work would that be? X(
Thanks for nothing! by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-27 23:33 · Score: 0

The app as a whole is HUGE (roughly 7MB) compared to previous. Had to remove some stuff on my lowly LG P509 to stay over the 24MB 'nag zone'. Google obviously didn't look at how many folks still don't have tablets and can't easily make use of the book content as a result. The movie rental is nice though. No more Bitbop, HOORAY!!!
Re:Great, now if only they could fix *real* proble by NTT · 2011-07-28 00:10 · Score: 1

... or let me use my Apps for Domains account
Re:Sony court battle : FAIL by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-28 04:01 · Score: 0

we lost ownership of our devices when we all failed to fight sony and the PS£ modifying stuff.
we made our bed now we dont own our devices.
LG Thrive by Anonymous Coward · 2011-07-28 04:50 · Score: 0

The LG Thrive is essentially an Android iPod Touch. It is an ATT prepaid GoPhone. You don't have to get a data plan at all; I just use its wifi connection for everything.
http://bro.blogspot.com/2011/04/is-lg-thrive-ipod-touch.html
Unknown sources on LG Thrive? by tepples · 2011-07-28 07:58 · Score: 1

Will LG Thrive work with no SIM or with an expired SIM? Or do I have to keep topping it up to keep it from falling into "Emergency calls only; no app use allowed" mode? And has AT&T finished pushing out the update to unblock "Unknown sources" on this model, or will I have to buy and carry one device just for Market applications and one device just for non-Market applications?