Find what you’re looking for with these great Android search apps (Appolicious)

There are dozens of different search apps available on the Android platform to help you track down what you need. General browser apps like Google will point you in the direction of any general information you need, while others have more specific purposes. For instance, the Internet Movie Database is a resource geared toward helping you find out anything you want to know involving movies and film. Here, we have highlighted some of the most used and most reliable apps in the search genre.

General Search Apps

Google Search (Free)

Whether you're looking up the weather, a recipe, instructions on how to sponge paint your bathroom, how to play Pinnacle, Van Morrison's entire bibliography or a listing of all the local restaurants, clearly, Google Search is the key to a ton of different information. It's also a pretty handy app to use if you don't know exactly what you're looking for, as the app will start to give you web site suggestions as you type. Because Google is such an easy to use and valuable resource, it's no wonder why this app comes standard on all Android devices.

Voice Search (Free)

Voice Search is kind of like having your very own assistant. Quickly search your phone, the web, or navigate yourself to your destination—all by using voice commands. This is an especially helpful app when you're in the car and need to focus on driving, which will also save you some money on tickets. Sure, your hands are on the wheel and your eyes on the road in front of you, but you're still able to dictate a text message, call your mother or map out how to get to a client's house or your next lunch meet-up.

ShopSavvy Barcode Scanner (Free)

You can use ShopSavvy to check the price of an unmarked item while you're shopping, but it does even more than that. When you scan a product, the app compares it with other prices listed online and even at nearby local retailers, just so that you can make sure that you're paying the best price.

More Specific Search Apps

White & Yellow Pages (Free)

If you haven't done it already, now's a good time to toss out all those clunky phone books. Everything you need is in the White & Yellow Pages mobile app for Android. Look for people (that is, if the person you're looking for still has a land line) and businesses by name and use the app's GPS capability to navigate your way there. You can also add new contacts, save favorites, track your history or even go directly to a business' website.

Urbanspoon (Free)

You’re hungry, but can’t decide what to eat. Just give your phone a good hard shake. UrbanSpoon is like a restaurant slot machine, pinning down the neighborhood, type of cuisine and price that you're interested in. You can also lock-in a category if, say, you know you're in the mood for Chinese or you'd like to stick around the Brooklyn area. When you find something that looks good (and, mind you, you can give your phone a shake as many times as you'd like) you can call to make a reservation by tapping the phone number, read reviews by clicking the button at the bottom of the screen, or just read more about the restaurant by clicking the name.

IMDb Movies & TV (Free)

This one may not be as crucial as some of the others on this list, but it is still a helpful resource. Think about it this way: you're at a dinner party, in the midst of an entertainment discussion, and you realize that you can't remember the name of an actor or actress. While a few years ago you would rack your brain and insist that the name was on the tip of your tongue, IMDb will give you your answer in seconds. The app's mother site is dedicated to documenting every detail about every movie and TV show ever made, including who was in it, who made it, the plot, user ratings, trailers, photos, reviews, trivia, quotes and goofs. You can also use the app to find show times, watch trailers, browse photo galleries, get US TV listings, find latest DVD and Blu-ray releases, explore popular charts and share movie information.

GasBuddy (Free)

You just need gas when you're on Empty, and GasBuddy doesn't discriminate by brand. The app shows you where all the nearest gas stations are, whether it's Mobile, BP, Shell or independently owned, but it also tells you how much gas costs at each place on the map. If you're looking for a particular grade of gas, diesel or ethanol, for instance, Gas Buddy allows you to search based on this criteria. When you decide where you're headed, based on either price or proximity, Gas Buddy will map out turn-by-turn directions to that location.

Kayak Flight and Hotel Search (Free)

Kayak lets you search between multiple airlines for the best price on plane tickets. You can also track the status of your flight and easily book hotels and rental cars, too. Download this app before you go to the airport, that way, when you get bumped from a flight and need a quick replacement, you can do it headache-free with just a few quick taps of your finger.

Download the free Appolicious Android app

Gartner: Android on nearly half all smartphones by end of 2012

Gartner forecasts that by the end of 2012 Google's Android will be powering about half of all smartphones sold, easily overpowering iOS and BlackBerry.

Market analysis firm Gartner is trying to look into the future of the turbulent smartphone market—and it sees things coming up very rosy for Google’s Android operating system. According to Gartner, by the end of 2012 Android will be powering nearly half of all smartphones sold worldwide (49.2 percent), while Apple’s iOS and Rim’s BlackBerry platforms will be distant runners-up with 18.9 and 12.6 percent of the smartphone market.

“As vendors delivering Android-based devices continue to fight for market share, price will decrease to further benefit consumers”, Gartner principal analyst Roberta Cozza wrote, in a statement. “Android’s position at the high end of the market will remain strong, but its greatest volume opportunity in the longer term will be in the mid- to low-cost smartphones, above all in emerging markets.”

Gartner’s forecasts for 2011 remain more modest, but show Android gaining rapidly in the marketplace, mostly at the expense of the now-moribund Symbian platform. By the end of this year, Gartner believes Android will account for 38.5 percent of the global smartphone market, with Apple’s iOS managing a 19.4 percent share, just ahead of Symbian with a 19.2 percent share. Gartner believes RIM will account for a 13.4 percent share of the market this year (down from 16 percent last year), with Microsoft coming in with a 5.6 percent share.

However, in 2012, Gartner believes smartphone sales will explode, jumping from a forecast volume of about 468 million units in 2011 to more than 630 million units in 2012. And Gartner believes Android will reap most of the benefits of that explosion as Symbian enters a sharp decline and Apple’s iOS mostly holds its own, proportionately. Gartner forecasts Microsoft will be able to jump to a 10.8 percent share by the end of 2012—making it the number-three platform worldwide—but Gartner doesn’t’ seem to have much faith in HP’s ability to put webOS back in the smartphone business: none of the company’s forecasts separate out forecasts for webOS at all.

It’s worth noting that share of the smartphone market isn’t the same thing as overall shares of an operating system across devices: Apple’s iOS also runs on the successful iPod touch and iPad, and Android runs on a growing variety of tablets and media devices. However, Gartner notes that consumers propensities towards media tablets and smartphones are linked.

“Consumers who already own an open OS communications device will be drawn to media tablets and more often than not, to media tablets that share the same OS as their smartphone,” said Gartner research VP Carolina Milanesi, in a statement. “This allows consumers to be able to share the same experience across devices as well as apps, settings, or game scores. At the same time, tablet users who don’t own a smartphone could be prompted to adopt one to be able to share the experience they have on their tablets.”

Android Market Kini Bisa Diakses dari PC

Jika Anda pengguna ponsel Android, Anda boleh bersenang hati. Karena Google baru saja mengumumkan bahwa kios aplikasi Android Market kini bisa diakses melalui komputer atau PC.

Dalam konferensi pers yang digelar pada Rabu lalu waktu setempat, Google mengatakan bahwa Android Market kini bisa diakses online melalui website. Ini diharapkan dapat memudahkan pengguna Android untuk membeli dan menginstal aplikasi yang mereka butuhkan.

Tentu saja, cara baru ini dapat membantu pengguna Android di negara-negara berkembang yang sebagaimana diketahui memiliki jumlah pengguna Internet melalui ponsel sangat banyak akan tetapi infrastrukturnya kurang memadai.

Alhasil, kecepatan data yang pas-pasan menjadi isu mendasar para pengguna. Contohnya, di Indonesia. Tidak jarang ditemui isu koneksi data nirkabel yang kurang stabil di daerah-daerah tertentu.

Memang, ide website Android Market ini adalah untuk memudahkan pengguna dalam menelusuri berbagai aplikasi yang dibutuhkan dari mana saja dan tidak terbatas melalui ponsel Android-nya saja. Di sisi lain, Google ingin mengejar ketertinggalannya dari Apple App Store.

Anda dapat mengunjungi website Android Market di link berikut ini. Lantas, apa saja yang disuguhkan Google di dalamnya?

Seluruh isi Android Market tersedia secara online di dalam website barunya. Proses pembelian aplikasi pun dibuat cukup sederhana dan mudah.

Setelah Anda membeli atau menginstal aplikasi yang diinginkan pada website, maka seketika ponsel Android Anda akan memulai proses unduh. Inilah yang menjadi kelebihan Android Market yang tidak dimiliki Apple.

Anda juga dapat membagi link (tautan) unduh dari website Android Market pada teman atau kerabat Anda melalui Twitter atau e-mail. Proses ini sama mudahnya. Saat tautan dibuka, aplikasi akan secara otomatis terunduh ke dalam ponsel.

Dengan SDK terbaru, yang mana akan mulai tersedia sekitar akhir Maret, para pengembang dapat menambah aplikasi-aplikasi berbasis Android ke dalam Android Market, baik aplikasi berbayar maupun gratis.

Seek Droid Is the Simplest Way to Find Your Lost Android Phone [Downloads]

Is a deadlock between Samsung and carriers stagnating Android updates?

It's the stuff of playground arguments: An anonymous insider claims the manufacturer and its carriers won't back down, and it's why you don't have Android 2.2.

Things continue to look bleak for Samsung Android customers. Last week, a T-Mobile insider accused the manufacturer of purposefully putting off the Android 2.2 update until the Vibrant Plus is introduced. And despite protests from Samsung, it’s difficult to dismiss the fact that only one of its Android phones was privileged enough for the latest Froyo OS.

Now we’re hearing that a standoff between Samsung and its carriers could be what’s between users and an updated Android OS. An anonymous source wrote into XDA Developers, claiming that Samsung requires carriers to pay a fee each time its smartphones are eligible for an Android upgrade, and carriers have simply refused.

It almost seems like enough of a headache to switch to an iOS device. Apple simply requires its users to plug in their phones and open iTunes; Android devices rely on carriers for its OS upgrades. These overhaul “feature” upgrades aren’t cheap, and thus Samsung passes the buck to its carriers – and they apparently aren’t having it. “Most US Carriers aren’t very happy with Samsung’s decision to charge for Android updates as feature updates…As a result of perhaps, corporate collusion, all US carriers have decided to refuse to pay for the Android 2.2 update, in hopes that the devaluation of the Galaxy S line will cause Samsung to drop their fees and give the update to the carriers.”

Before shooting off any livid letters to Samsung, though, it’s important to note that this latest news first originated from a forum posting. So while it does seem to line up with what the T-Mobile insider claimed last week (and the fact that the source is allegedly an insider and in breach of an NDA), we’re going to take it with a grain of salt. Still, there has to be some reason that Samsung has done such a poor job upgrading its users’ Android devices.

And maybe the anonymous statement will serve a purpose other than enlightening users to the situation. According to a Facebook post from US Cellular, the Galaxy S will be ready for its Froyo update in March (the post mentions the Mesmerize, which is US Cellular’s Galaxy S phone).

Handle Emergency Calls When Your Android Phone Is on Silent [Video]

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Handle Emergency Calls When Your Android Phone Is on Silent

You silence your phone at night so you aren’t woken up (or disturbed during meetings, etc.). But you also want certain people to be able to reach you in an emergency. Here’s how to get the best of both worlds.

Music by Pex Mahoney Tufvession.

The secret sauce in this hack uses Tasker, the ultimate automation tool for your Android. We’ve covered it a lot already. This is just another cool use case…

What It Does

Here’s the system I wanted to create:

My phone is on silent and a certain (very privileged) person calls. I don’t want to be woken up this time (it might not be an emergency after all), but instead I want the caller to receive a text message with instructions on how to unsilence my phone if it is an emergency. (You can see the process in action in the video above.)

The instructions tell the caller to send me a text message containing a keyword. This keyword unsilences my phone so that the next time they call, I’ll hear it.

It’s possible to import and export Tasker profiles, so I’ll link to my exported profiles at the end for convenience. If you want to know how it works, here’s the explanation.

How to Set It Up

Tasker works by responding to certain situations (called contexts) with certain actions (called task).

So what’s the context in our case? It’s the phone being on silent. Unfortunately, that’s not a context Tasker recognizes! So instead I’ve created a variable that we can toggle with a widget that puts the phone in silent and sets up the emergency call handling.

It may be that you use Tasker to put your phone on silent during certain hours of the day or whatever. In that case you can just use that same context to enable the emergency call system.

So we’ve got a profile that changes the phone to silent and a profile that sends a text message with instructions when a VIP calls (and the phone is on silent).

There’s also a stand-alone task that toggle the silent mode variable which we assign to a widget.

The last thing we need is a profile that responds to the keyword and takes the phone off silent.

Here are the XML files to import in to Tasker.

They need to be customized for your VIP numbers and you will probably want to customize the message you send out and maybe the keyword too. You can do that after you’ve imported to your phone but it’ll be easier to open the files in a text editor on your PC and do it there before importing. Here’s what to do:

Open up send-wakeup-instructions.prf.xml
Find the line 5554443333/5551234566/5559876543
Replace the numbers with your VIP numbers

Find this line Automated message: My phone is on silent…
Customize your instruction message. Remember not to go over the text message limit as Tasker won’t split it for you.

The other files don’t need customizing unless you want to change the keyword for unsilencing. In which case search for “wakeupcall” in un-silence.prf.xml and change it to whatever you want.

All you need to do now is get those files onto your SD card and import them into Tasker.

To import to Tasker click the Menu button, select Profile Data, select Import One Profile and import the xml files one at a time.

The final step is to add a widget to your home screen to toggle silent. To do that long press an empty spot on your home screen, choose Widget, choose Task, select Toggle Silent, pick an icon for it by clicking the button to the right of the wrench, click Make Widget and you’re all done.

It’s not a perfect system, but it’s pretty darn good. If you’ve got suggestions for improvements, or you’ve got another method you’ve used to accomplish a similar task, we’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Steve blogs regularly about science, maths, and technology over at blog.stevemould.com.

Acer announces Iconia Tab A500 10-inch Android tablet with LTE

Woah, Acer just dropped news on a new Iconia device, except this one is all tablet. The Iconia Tab A500 has Android (no version specified) with the “Acer UI 4.5″ on top, and Verizon 4G LTE inside. There’s a 10.1-inch “10 point multitouch” screen, Tegra 2, and a gyroscope, which Acer claims should position the tablet perfectly for games. You can also output 1080p video over the built-in HDMI port, but there’s no word on the screen’s actual resolution. We also don’t have any word on a price or a release date, and Acer hasn’t even supplied any photos of the device yet , but we played with a 10.1-inch Android tablet from Acer back in November (pictured), and we have to assume this is the same one.

Show full PR text

Acer’s New ICONIA Tab A500 to Support Gamers and Mobile Consumers on the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Network

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Acer announced today that the new Acer ICONIA Tab A500 will be showcased with Verizon Wireless at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network.
Providing the backbone for the United States’ fastest, most advanced mobile network, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE ensures an improved end-user experience, including fast navigation and high-definition media streaming. The 4G LTE technology will be showcased on the ICONIA Tab A500 at the Verizon Wireless booth (#35216 in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center) at CES with a live demo.

“Innovation is in our DNA,” said Campbell Kan, vice president of Acer’s Smart Handheld BU. “We are proud to once again offer users the most advanced technologies. With the ICONIA Tab A500 supporting 4G LTE, users will be able to wirelessly navigate, download or stream as seamlessly as they do with a wired connection. This is indeed another step toward a truly mobile Internet experience.”
Sleek, smart and full of innovative features, the ICONIA Tab A500 will be equipped with the latest highly intuitive Android OS and Acer UI 4.5 to reach a whole new level of interactivity. What’s more, the Clear.fi media sharing system will be preloaded on the device to easily access, play and share multimedia across the home network and to instantly publish updates to social media networks.
Designed for HD entertainment, this tablet comes with a high-resolution, high color contrast display, allowing users to play or share HD video with friends on the go. Complete with a built-in HDMI port and 1080p output, it may also be used to enjoy HD content in full HD on a big-screen TV or monitor.

The 10.1″ full capacitive touch screen ensures an optimal on-screen experience from every angle. Aluminum casing provides a cool look and feel, while its high-gloss finish decorated with an engraved pattern demonstrates subtle sophistication. Despite being just 13.3mm thick, it’s powerful enough to provide fun and productivity in any location.

One of the tablet’s most impressive features is its ability to run and play premium HD arcade games and complex online 3D games, thanks to the 10-point multi-touch and gyro meter control, which guarantees an entertainment experience on par with the best game consoles.

The ICONIA Tab A500 will be equipped with NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual core 1.0Ghz processor with Flash 10.1 support for optimized HD Web experience, 3D gaming and multimedia playback anywhere. For seamless communication, it also features the SkyCross antenna and ZTE LTE wireless module.

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.

For more information about Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, Nasdaq: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Acer
Since its founding in 1976, Acer has achieved the goal of breaking the barriers between people and technology. Globally, Acer ranks No. 2 for total PCs and notebooks. A profitable and sustainable Channel Business Model is instrumental to the company’s continuing growth, while its multi-brand approach effectively integrates Acer, Gateway, Packard Bell, and eMachines brands in worldwide markets. Acer strives to design environmentally friendly products and establish a green supply chain through collaboration with suppliers. Acer is proud to be a Worldwide Partner of the Olympic Movement, including the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter and London 2012 Olympic Games. The Acer Group employs 7,000 people worldwide. 2009 revenues reached US$17.9 billion. See www.acer-group.com for more information.

© 2009 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners.

Android 3.0 “Honeycomb” to leave Galaxy Tab behind?

Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" may require at least a dual-core processor, potentially leaving the Galaxy Tab - and a ton of smartphones - in the dust.

Although many parts of the Android world are still waiting for Android 2.2 “Froyo” and other parts are already gnoshing on Android 2.3 “Gingerbread,” a report inPC Magazine claims that Android 3.0 “Honeycomb”—a forthcoming version of Android more tailored to tablet devices—may require a dual-core Cortex A9 processor and even a 1,280 by 720 screen resolution. If true, it means the only chipset in production right now that meets the requirements is Nvidia’s Tegra 2 platform—and that many existing Android tablets like the Samsung Galaxy Tab would be left in the dust once Honeycomb hits the streets. Also left behind: pretty much every Android smartphone on the market.

The article quotes Bobby Cha, managing director of Enspert, a South Korean consumer electronics firm.

Samsung has previously implied that its Galaxy Tab products won’t be upgradable beyond Android 2.3 “Gingerbread,” although the company has not made any official announcements. The tablet only went on sale in the United States at the end of October, 2010.

Google has revealed few details of what it plans for Android 3.0 “Honeycomb,” although last month the company showed a tablet device from Motorola running an early version of the operating system and a focus applications that require a good deal of real estate. If Google is indeed focusing Honeycomb on high-resolution, processor-endowed tablet devices, the company may be getting ready to divide the Android marketplace into two classes: smartphones and less-capable tablets (like the Samsung Galaxy Tab) and premium, high-resolution tablets more able to compete with the likes of the Apple iPad, offering higher screen resolution and Android 3.0 “Honeycomb.”

LG ups Android ante with dual-core Optimus 2x and ultra-thin Black

LG ups Android ante with dual-core Optimus 2x and ultra-thin Black Android fans can finally embrace LG with the introduction of the dual-core Optimus 2x and Black, which measures just 9.2mm thick.

After a history of less-than-jaw-dropping experiments with Android, LG dropped its dabbling and got serious on Wednesday with the official announcement of the Optimus 2x and Black, two superphones specced to give rivals like Samsung’s Galaxy S and Apple’s iPhone 4 a challenge in iPhone.
Although already revealed in December, the Optimus 2x will cinch the title of “world’s first dual-core phone” with its 1GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H processor (just don’t tell Nokia, which launched the dual-core N82 in 2007). As just one tidy benefit of that brawn, it will offer full 1080p video playback, essentially turning your phone into a mini HD cinema when paired with an HDMI cable.


Though not as powerful as the 2x, the Black was the real fresh meat of the show, claiming to be the world’s slimmest smartphone at only 9.2mm thick, and weighs only 3.8 ounces. The Black also takes a page from the iPhone by switching to an IPS LCD screen that LG has dubbed Nova. Besides the usual viewing angle benefits, LG claims it offers impressive brightness of 700 nits, up from about 450 on a typical LCD.

What about 4G? LG revealed that it has has developed its own LTE chipset for modems and smartphones on Verizon, but neither new Android device uses it – just keep your eyes peeled on the company for 4G-ready Verizon hardware in the near future.