Google Play Celebrates App Milestone by Offering Discounts

by Holly Shoemaker

Yesterday Google announced a milestone – Google Play celebrated the 25 billion app download mark. Through Sunday, Google is selling some of its apps and games for $.25, with new apps being added daily.

For those looking for additional deals, the Google Play Store also offers the following deals through Sunday:

• Must-own movies starting at $4.99
• Twenty five albums that “changed the word” starting at $3.99
• Twenty five banned books for $.99 a piece
• Magazines for $1.99 per issue 

Google Play versus App Store

Apple hit the 25 billion download mark in March. While Apple's iOS App Store still houses a slightly larger amount of apps, at 700,000, Google is quickly catching up. The Google Play Store has 675,000 available apps.

Shifting Trend? 

Google’s announcement and sale to celebrate its milestone may have come as a surprise to some. An earlier study showed that interest in developing apps for Android devices decreased. While it looks like the trend is changing, app developers are still finding it more challenging to break even. With Google’s less stringent standards when it comes to publishing apps, that may provide a better route for developers.

Galaxy S IV Rumors and the Screen-Size Game Changer

by Holly Shoemaker

Last week reports surfaced that Samsung planned to release the newest version of its flagship smartphone line, the Galaxy S IV, at the Mobile World Congress in Spain. However, Samsung quickly denied the rumor on Twitter.

When the latest version debuts, the device is expected to feature a five-inch screen, keeping in line with the company’s methodology of increasing the screen size with each release. The iPhone 5 also featured a larger screen. Samsung sold more than 20 million units in the last three months, officially marking the first time the iPhone 4S was not the top selling smartphone.

While the Galaxy S IV remains a rumor, it seems unlikely that Samsung would not debut the phone at the Mobile World Congress. The company said, even before the U.S. Court ruling against Samsung that it had been working on new designs to further separate the company from Apple. Based on that, a new release makes sense as Apple has added an addendum to the other pending lawsuit, which specifically takes aim at the Galaxy S III. 

Items to Ponder

For now, in addition to the latest rumor, consumers may continue to debate the following:

• Role of Processors – Will Apple have to pay more for Samsung’s processors? That is what Samsung wants. The company claims it is the only firm that produces on-time delivery with superior pricing and performance for mobile app processors.
• Screen Size – Will screen size become the deciding factor on why to purchase a smartphone? So far, Samsung, and now Apple must think so. That strategy helped Samsung become the dominate manufacturer of Android devices.

Smartphone Loss Causing Anxiety? Time to Unplug

by Holly Shoemaker

Are we too attached to our smartphones? A survey conducted earlier this year seems to indicate we are, and many people have compulsive or overly emotional feeling when it comes to these devices.

Overview of Findings

Lookout engaged Harris Interactive to conduct a survey from May 8, 2012 to May 10, 2012. The survey polled 2,097 adults ages 18 and older. The results found that users have strong reactions to the thought of losing their smartphones.

• Seventy-three percent of respondents felt panicked when they misplaced their smartphone.
• Fourteen percent of respondents felt desperate.
• Seven percent felt sick.
• Six percent felt relieved.

In addition to feeling emotional responses regarding loss, smartphones sometimes contribute to bad manners.

• Sixty percent of respondents said they cannot go an hour without checking their phones. This habit is more prevalent among men ages 18-34. While I rely on mine, I do not feel the need to constantly look at it. I also feel relived at times when I purposely leave it in another room.
• Fifty-four percent of respondents said they check their phones while trying to sleep or in the middle of the night.
• Thirty percent of respondents admitting to checking their phones while having a meal with others.

Concluding Thoughts

Technology comes with a price. I know I find myself browsing my smartphone at nigh when I cannot sleep. However, I try to get productive use from that time. If I feel I cannot turn the phone off, I put it on airplane mode. I figure it is better than booting up my laptop. For those who find they spend too much time on their smartphones, or they just need some help to better manage and keep an offline schedule, an app like iUnplug may curb some of those habits, and anxious feelings.