Starting today i.e. 15 December 2010, the latest Android Market updates have finally reached India!

Now one can enjoy the new improved and updated version of the much popular Android market. Herein, all the android mobile users can purchase their favorite applications from. It is just like Apple’s App store.

The android market comes installed with new enhancements, an attractive user interface and cool applications. Let’s have a look one by one for the various updates and enhancements added to the android market which has finally come to India!

Market Main Page
Update- a more green page with iPhone album art like interface
Brief- the page mainly consists of the lost of the applications along with another list of applications on the top of the page which rotates automatically. The rest of the page has normal buttons of search, app games and downloads. However, downloads have been changed to My Applications.

Market Settings
Update-filtering and notifications options
Brief- this page now offers the Filter options with various levels of it i.e. mature, teen, preteen or all for all the available content! An added attraction is the Notifications option which will then allow the market to keep you updated about the application of games which are already installed on your device!

Application and Games Pages
Update-scrolling iPhone album art like banner on top
Brief- this page contains the usual list of categories of applications with the additional change of iPhone album art like banner on top!

Application Page
Update-complete makeover!
Brief- this page now shows all the icons in big along with Related Applications. There are bigger icons on display for applications. An Install button is on the right with a description below. There is also a More button for expanding details. Right below the details are Application screen shots and Reviews. And right below Reviews is the Related Application section.

Security Options
Update- complete make over
Brief- on this page, when a person clicks Menu on Application Description Page then a new option comes for Security. It works for both installed and applications being viewed by you. In fact this options helps to detect what all the applications have access to on your device!

It has been confirmed finally. Google is indeed going to introduce an Android powered Motorola tablet. This tablet will utilize Honeycomb which is a mobile operating system meant for smart phones. Apparently, this mobile OS Honeycomb is being updated for use in tablets.

The prototype for this Motorola tablet was unveiled by Google Vice President for Engineering Andy Rubins during the D: Dive into Mobile conference held at San Francisco.

It is rumored that this Honeycomb tablet is being introduced to give direct competition to Apple’s iPad tablet which was launched few months back!

Speculations are rife about the features and specification of the new tablet and what it has to offer. Few things however have been confirmed. For instance, Honeycomb Motorola Tablet will boast of a 3D processor from NVIDIA. The new APIs will allow the application to be split the functionality into multiple views.

The upcoming tablet will also feature GMAIL application with 2 pane view which is quite similar to the GMAIL application on iPad.

Here are some speculations made about the Honeycomb Tablet

•A full 10 inch or 9. Inch screen quite similar to iPad.
•Video chatting facilities just like the FaceTime application being introduced in the upcoming iPad 2.

Motorola Honeycomb tablet will release sometime in next year. Only then it would be decided if this Android powered tablet will be one up over iPad or not!

Using this you can open any bit torrent file to download TV and music mp3 albums straight to your phone!

Here are some of its cool features:
1. In-App Searches
2. Start, Stop, Pause
3. Que Torrents
4. Set File priority
5. Downloading while sleeping
6. and lots more!

How to get it?

Search Android market for AndTor or scan the QR code from here.
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-androidtorrent-torrent-app-android-jEjtq.aspx

Also, the most applauding feature of this phone remains 4G support which enhances your browsing experience by manifolds. One can in fact view high definition videos through the help of 4G without any hassle. The new Hotspot and YouTube application walks on these same lines.

In addition, HTC EVO’s new snapdragon processor of 1GHz makes it really easy for you to enjoy various applications in altogether new mode. You can enjoy WIMAX radio without any support from wifi or Bluetooth or even CDMA! This is what one call a Smartphone in every sense. Its built too is quite different from that of a slim looking iPhone 3GS. Even though it is slimmer in look, SPRINT HTC EVO is much more solid looking than iPhone 3GS.

Some more highlighting features of SPRINT HTC EVO 4G
• 4.3 inch WVGA display
• 8 megapixel camera with dual LED flash
• 720p video recording
• HDMI 0ut
• WIMAX compatibility
• 1500mAh battery
• 8 GB microSD card
• Qik powered two way video chat
• Sprint TV

IPhone 3GS on the other hand is the latest phone carrying forward the tradition of Apple’s Iphone series intact. As a matter of fact, this phone which is considered to be the better version of iPhone 3G extends improved applications which are copyrighted under Apple phones.

You will get an enhanced version of both RAM and CPU speed [256 & 600 MHz respectively]. In addition, Apple has worked a lot in improving its software which cater to the needs of a majority of the mobile users across the world.

Some other highlighting features of iPhone 3GS
• 600 MHz CPU speed [ improved from 412 MHz]
• 256 MB RAM [ improved from 128 MB]
• 16 to 64 GB storage
• Graphic chip- Power VR SGX
• iPhone version of Spotlight
• 480 X 320 display
• Excellent 3D game support
• Oleophobic coating
• 3 Mega pixel built in camera with auto focus
• Voice control
• Internal compass/Google Maps

IPhone 3GS has already established a market for itself. While SPRINT HTC EVO 4G which is yet to be launched in June needs to prove it mettle. But the previews so far have been swinging odds in the favour of EVO creating a ripple in the mobile market!

Following will highlight the basic difference between Apple Ipad and Google Android Tablet on Verizon. Given the absence of any information about the Google tablet specifications, we are going to highlight the difference based solely on speculation

•Since Google Tablet computer has Android for its operating system, its applications are bound to run on the same temperament. It provides more space for user interface as compared to the proprietary operating system of Apple.

•Google Android Tablet follows an open source platform that allows you to create and develop your own applications for it. Apple on the other hand isn’t that flexible given its sole ownership of its operating system.

•Google tablet offers flash support which will come as a much needed relief to all gadget users who were fuming over the non Adobe Flash supportive Ipad.

•Google Android Tablet on Verizon also comes out to be more flexible of the two tablet computers as it allows downloading of applications from third party source.

By all the above enlisted points, it looks as if Google Android Tablet would be capable of giving stiff completion to Apple Ipad or at least it seems so until more information is release about this Google gadget. Till then, keep on reading this space!

is this how google tablet will look?

Gadget freaks all over the world have been speculating over this issue-whether or not Google is going to launch its own tablet in competition to Apple’s hugely successful Ipad. The rumors have become more strife since the confirmatory statement made by the Verizon Wireless CEO, Lowell Mcadam in a recent interview. The CEO gave indication about the development of an Android powered tablet computer in partnership with Google.

The liaison between Verizon, Google and Android was last seen in Motorola’s ace phone Droid which successfully implemented the Android operating system. Incidentally, Droid too was launched to break the monopoly of Apple’s iPhone series. Given the success of this liaison, there is a very negligible chance of the corporate giants not repeating their winning formula again in the form of 3G Google Android Tablet. This growing partnership between Verizon and Google also finds base in the fact that Verizon is the largest wireless carrier of U.S.

There have been no confirmations or details released about the launch, manufacture, applications, design or any other specification. However, speculations are being rife over this upcoming gadget from Google. Right from its look to its updated applications, everything is being discussed and argued over. But one thing is for sure, if Google wants to walk neck to neck with Ipad it would surely have to work on following areas

• Streaming video options
• E-reader solutions
• Touch friendly OS skin
• Flash and air support

Although the biggest difference between Google Android Tablet computer and Apple Ipad will still be their operating system and the consequent application changes. Google follows an open source platform in the form of Android as compared to the more rigid operating system of Apple. Google allows more freedom to users with third party download and support for Adobe Flash. Incidentally, Ipad has been condemned on these two points only.

Since the unavailability of any other details and release date for Android run Google Tablet on Verizon, there is minuscule amount of uncertainty about the development of such a tablet in the near future. All one can do right now is wait and watch for this revolutionary gadget to arrive in the market!

Motorola Droid Apps – Tools & Utilities:

• Astro File Manager on allows you to manage the SD card through your phone
• Linda File Manager enables get an in-depth look at and manage files both on the device and the SD card
• TasKiller lets you close (kill) your running applications in one click, Switch between apps and have unlimited ignored apps in your
• Advanced Task Killer: Droid often leaves the applications running in the background even when you quit them. This can really slow up the systems and also reduce your battery life. Advanced Task Killer (Free download from the Android Market) kills all the background applications with one click and frees up your system.
• Flashlight

Motorola Droid Apps – Locale:

Allows you set your profile based on where you are, using the GPS.

• ConnectBot: ConnectBot is an open-source Secure Shell client.  It can manage simultaneous SSH sessions, create secure tunnels, and copy/paste between other applications. This client allows you to connect to Secure Shell servers that mostly run on UNIX-based servers.
• Remote RDP A Remote Desktop Protocol client can remotely control your PC. Features including: Copy/Paste text between local and remote, attaching you SD Card to remote computer, playing music.
• AndFTP [FTP/SFTP/FTPS client]
• Android-VNC-Viewer [VNC Viewer]
• Gmote [Media Remote for your computer]
• Wheres My Droid [Helps you locate a lost phone]
• SnapIt [OCR, Image to Text tool ]
• Torrent-Fu [Really nice uTorrent/Transmission remote client. Alternatively Transdroid has support for more torrent clients, but it is not as good]
• Barcode reader [Versatile tool for installing apps with QR codes and scanning CD's/movies for use in torrent-fu]
• AndroZip, the Motorola Droid app for zip file management (functionality: delete, copy, move, rename, prop.; Supports: ZIP, RAR, 7Z / 7Zip (max dict 6 MB), TAR/TGZ, BZ2, GZIP) You can open files, attach to gmail..
• Share Your Board [Interesting whiteboard capture utility. Does perspective correction and text enhancement]

Motorola Droid Apps – Social / Communication

• Google Voice: This application integrates nicely with the droid phone. However, it does not integrate that nicely with SMS.
• Meebo IM OR ebuddy [Alternate IM Apps]
• NewsRob: The first Android news reader that has offline capabilities and synchronizes with Google Reader.
• Twidroid: Motorola Droid Application that supports your Twitter account. You can even set an icon to display in the Notification bar to keep you apprised of tweets, replies, and/or direct messages.
• Handcent SMS: It is a Nice SMS App which can do speech-to-text. However the application is a bit slow

• Twidget Lite: This is a widget that gives you quick and easy access to your Twitter account, including showing the latest and greatest tweet on one of your home screens.
• Twitpic: Moto Droid app for posting pics on twitter

Motorola Droid Apps – Multimedia

• Last.fm: Droid application for streaming Music Client
• Meridian Player Evolve OR MixZing Music Player: Advanced Video/Music player; allows you to search lyrics, subtitle, gesture, ID3 edit, rating, extra info etc.
• Midomi: A cool android application that identifies the tune if you hold the phone close to a speaker or even sing or hum the melody.
• Simple Last.fm Scrobbler OR Scrobble Droid: This application tracks the music which you listen to & sends this information to Last.fm. Last.fm then uses this information to make recommendations you or even create a playlist for you.
• DoggCatcher OR Google Listen: The Moto Droid podcasts application
• TunesRemote [iTunes Remote]
• TV.com
• Photoshop.com: Photoshop application on the droid
• LapseDroid: The timelapse software application for the droid
• Ringdroid snips your songs so you can use just the part you want as ringtone OR notification
• Qik
• Pandora
• FxCamera [Camera app with neat filters]
• Video Player, application to watch videos on the Droid

Other Droid apps

• Dolphin Browser [Replacement Browser]
• Astrid [Awesome To-Do List]
• WeatherBug OR The Weather Channel
• FBReader [eBook Reader]
• VirtualSheep for Android
• Google Sky Map
• aDyno: Droid application that allow you to use the phone as a dynamometer and performance timer. Calculate spped, mile times, peak HP and acceleration, power curves, G-Meter and a lot more
• Shopsavvy OR CompareEverywhere : is the price comparison application on the Motorola droid
• SMS popup: Gets your home screen to tell you when you have a text message, email or a voice msg., other than at the very top in that little white box
• Percent Off: a price calculator for application for calculating sale price of items on sale.
• Tip Big: Simplest tip calculator droid application.
• Tip Rate is a rate based tip calculator. This tool suggests a tip amount based on answer to several qualities of service questions.
• Things to Remember application that stores information often used but not often remembered.
• RoadRules Study Guide a study guide application for people studying to become license drivers.
• Immigration Civics Study Guide a study guide Motorola droid application for people studying to become citizens of the United States. This guide covers the New Naturalization Test – Civics Exam.
• Unit Cost application calculates unit price of items bases on size. It can be used to calculate compare items of different size to determine the better deal.
• Size Chart – Christmas Edition application that stores different clothing sizes for the people on your gift list. This app stores shirt, shoe, suit, pants, coat, bra, and dress sizes.

Widgets / Homescreen

• OneWeekCalendar
• Anycut
• Screens
• Quick Settings
• tCalendar

Guitar

• TabDroid Pro
• Robotic Guitarist
• Tuner – gStrings

Games apps on Motorola Droid

• Robo Defense FREE
• Tadoku
• Space Physics Lite
• Nesoid Lite
• GameBoid Lite
• FRG Lite
• Angband [The roguelike]
• Super Mario

To buy the Droid & its accessories, click below:

Motorola Droid Accessories

Motorola Droid

A thanks to Tyler Bishop for framework of this post