Saturday, July 20, 2013

Android World Update # Android and Me

Android and Me
Meet Your New Android Friend. Your Community For All Things Google Android.
Nexus 7 Giveaway: Why do you need a Nexus tablet?
Jul 19th 2013, 18:43, by Jess Blanchard

The Nexus 2 7″ may sell for as little as $229 with a July 31 retail launch date, but you can have the original Nexus 7 for free this week!

“How?” you ask. Well, we’re making it nice and simple. All you have to do is tell us, in the comments, why you need a Nexus 7 in your life. What will you do with it? How will it make your life better? The top five commenters (that’s right, we’ve got five Nexus 7 tablets to give away!) will each win a device.

I need dis.

This could be you.

For this contest, only commenters with an And Me account will be eligible to win. If you don’t have one already, sign up now. It’s free and easy. This contest will be open to continental US residents only. Sorry international buddies, but the logistics of expanding our giveaways to overseas audiences are impractical.

Remember, you can embed images and gifs (that’s with a hard “g”) in our comments section. So, be as creative as you can with your post. Then vote for your favorite. You have until Tuesday, July 23 at 11:59 PM EST to earn votes. At that time, we will tabulate and begin contacting the winners. Happy commenting!

Google Play Store serves up more than 50 billion downloads
Jul 19th 2013, 18:21, by Dima Aryeh

When Android was first released, application downloads did not look promising. One major reason was poor app selection; you can’t download something that isn’t there. As app available grew on Android, so did total downloads. Still, iOS outclassed Android by far when it came to app downloads, especially with such a strong head start.

Overtime, the app catalog expanded exponentially. And as Android improved, so did the quality of the apps available on the platform. The hideous Gingerbread apps of yesteryear were replaced by apps decked out in the gorgeous Holo look and feel. This all contributed to accelerating app downloads. Back at Google I/O 2013, Google announced that the Play Store had reached 48 billion downloads. And now, a few short months later, Google reports that number is at a whopping 50 billion!

The Apple App Store reached 50 billion downloads only a few months ago, so Android is hot on the heels of iOS. With 1.5 million Android device activations per day, it’s likely that Android will overtake iOS at the next major milestone. When do you think we’ll see 60 billion?

Meet Android and Me: Steve Raycraft
Jul 19th 2013, 18:08, by Steve Raycraft

Hi there. My name is Steve Raycraft, and I’m another one of the new writers here at Android and Me. My story began in 1972 in Arcadia, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA. I grew up in a house full of technology, always playing on the ever-so-powerful systems of yesteryear. My dad loved technology and always wanted to make sure we stayed current with the latest video game system. We had most every system available including Vectrex, ColecoVision, Intellivision, and the Commodore 64. I believe this immersion in technology is the reason for my love of technology and gadgets.

When I was 12, my younger brother and I moved with our parents to the small town of Port Angeles, WA. This picturesque town is roughly two hours from my grandparents in Seattle and about 17 miles across the water from Victoria, Canada. The house where we lived didn’t receive cable, so most of the TV stations were Canadian. Watching Canadian TV reignited my interest in hockey, which originated when my parents had season seats to the Los Angeles Kings and would frequently take me to games. I’m still a Kings fan to this day.

After graduating from High School and going to the local community college for a couple years, I transferred to Washington State University. I was there for a little over two years and graduated with a Bachelors degree in Law and Public Policy. Portland, OR, was my next destination and my career in technology started when I got a job at a call center providing technical support for 3Com modems. I enjoyed Portland, but after 5 years I wanted to try living farther east, so I moved to Knoxville, TN, where I had extended family.

Us

Knoxville is a decent sized town, so the change from Portland was not too drastic. I did notice that the South’s reputation of being polite and friendly is fairly accurate. Most people I initially encountered were very friendly. I met my wife Tarci in Knoxville, and we now have a blended family with 6 children ranging in age from 6 to 29. Over the past few years as I’ve seen technology continue to grow, a new interest in Android has emerged inside me. After purchasing my first Android device, the Samsung Fascinate, I was hooked. The Android-flavored Kool-aid is coursing through my body, and I enjoy sharing that passion for Android with friends and family. I’ve always had an interest in writing, so I thought writing for an Android blog would be a great way to share Android with others. I’m excited to be part of the AAM team, and look forward to the future.

When not writing or reading about Android, you can usually find me in one of a few different places. I’m a big soccer (football) fan and occasionally join friends on the pitch for a pick-up game during lunch. The end of the work day marks the beginning of quality time with my family. My wife and I love staying active together. We take Zumba classes at gym a couple times a week. After a rigorous class, it’s time to chill out and watch some of our favorite TV shows, including Burn Notice and Suits.

What I’m excited about

I’m excited to be part of a great group of writers that love sharing their insights about Android with the general public. I know there will be lots to learn, but I’m looking forward to what the future holds for the Android and Me site and the Android ecosystem.

What I’m going to do here at Android and Me

I’ve always loved the ability to use different apps on Android, and I thought taking over the Top 10 apps articles would be a great fit for me. I know what Taylor has done with these lists is very popular, but I want to hear what our readers want in terms of apps. Let me know if there are any other “app” articles you would like to see. I’ve toyed with the idea of a “Power Rankings” concept, showing the top 20 apps over the past two weeks and charting how apps move up and down over time based on reader interest.

What devices have I owned?

The list of devices I’ve owned is relatively small. They include the Samsung Fascinate, HTC Rezound and the HTC Thunderbolt. I’ve also owned an Acer Iconia a200 and I currently have a Nexus 7 tablet.

What phone do I daily drive?

My current device is the HTC Thunderbolt running an older ROM. I’m anxious for this Fall when I can upgrade and pick up one of the new phablets that will be available, like the Note III or rumored HTC One Max.

Facts about me

  • I’ve lived in 4 of the 5 states on the West Coast (including Alaska and Hawaii).
  • I have 4 grandchildren.
  • I’m a huge Starbucks fan.
  • I golf left-handed, but putt right-handed.
  • I’ve never seen Star Wars I, II, or III. Grand Girls Lexi Boys

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