Tag: Android

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Skype for Android.

Skype is now available for Android 2.1 and higher. Previously Skype was available only for Android on Verizon.

Skype for Android can be obtained by visiting skype.com/m on Android browser or through Android Marketplace.

Skype Blog:

Skype now available for Android phones

  • Skype is not available in the Android Market in China or Japan.
  • Skype has been tested on HTC and Motorola devices with Android OS 2.1 and above. It may work on other Android phones, but we can’t guarantee full functionality or compatibility. We’re aware of some problems with the Samsung Galaxy S, and we’re looking to address these in the future.
  • It’s free to use Skype in a WiFi zone. If you use Skype with a mobile data connection, operator charges may apply, so we recommend an unlimited data plan.
  • In the US, you can make calls only over WiFi.
  • A fair use policy applies to unlimited subscriptions.

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Steve Ballmer wants Microsoft to regain “Evil Company” Title by threatening Android.

In recent Interview with The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that there are licensing fees for Android.

WSJ: Are you trying to protect Windows or do you see Windows Phone 7 as a big revenue opportunity in and of itself?

Mr. Ballmer: No, I see it as a big opportunity. There’s the sale of the device, there’s potential for search revenue on top of that and commerce revenue. There’s potential for subscription revenue from various entertainment or productivity experiences.

Job One here will be selling a lot of phones, and if we sell a lot of phones, good things are going to happen.

WSJ: You’re still charging a license fee for the software.

Mr. Ballmer: Sure.

WSJ: Is that difficult in an environment where Android is free?

Mr. Ballmer: Android has a patent fee. It’s not like Android’s free. You do have to license patents. HTC’s signed a license with us and you’re going to see license fees clearly for Android as well as for Windows.

Since Google is not charging any licensing fees, then who is?

Well, Microsoft is currently going after Motorola for making Android phones. Motorola currently does not making any phones based on Windows Phone 7 platform.

Microsoft had signed “Patent deal” with HTC over Android. Some pundits “cheered” this move as a way for HTC to fend off Apple on the ongoing lawsuit.

Microsoft is poised to regain the “Evil Company” title with this move if only if the consumer cares about the issue. Unfortunately some influential Tech-Elitists are not saying anything much about Microsoft asserting “ownership” over Android and Linux.

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Where’s The Outrage? Microsoft is going after Motorola for Android.

Fortune reports that Microsoft is going after Motorola for Patent violations related to Android. Apparently Motorola won’t be going the Windows Phone 7 way in favor of Android. It is obvious that Microsoft is losing the grip and going lawsuit happy.

Anyone remembers that HTC signed a “Patent deal” related to Android with Microsoft? I really thought that Android is an Open Source Project led by Google. How can Microsoft asserting Patent right to someone else’s product?

Well, Microsoft has been claiming that another Open Source Project named Linux is violating their Patents. Novell was quick to “collaborate” with Microsoft. Linus Torvald disagrees.

There are a lot of people who feel disgusted with Apple suing HTC, and a lot of them cheered when HTC signe a deal with Microsoft. What is wrong with this picture? It is just like defending a castle from attacks by surrendering to another enemy with a bigger army. You still lose!

Shame on you, Microsoft. Is this how you innovate?

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Someone in Ars Technica is a Bleach Fan.

It is pretty obvious that someone in Ars Technica is a Bleach fan. Well, either that or whoever it was happened to be using Bleach as example.

The article is about RockPlayer for Android platform.

About Bleach (Anime & Manga):

Bleach is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. Bleach follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki after he obtains the powers of a Soul Reaper – a death personification similar to the Grim Reaper – from Rukia Kuchiki. His newfound powers force him to take on the duties of defending humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife.

About Android Mobile Platform:

Android is an operating system for mobile devices such as cellular phones, tablet computers and netbooks. Android is developed by Google and is based upon the Linux kernel and GNU software.

About RockPlayer:

RockPlayer is an embedded platform, high performance, almost all format video player. With optimized for mobile devices, and highly optimized core players FFmpeg decoder, RockPlayer Android platform has become the highest performance of the most extensive format support for video player.

About Ars Technica:

Just go to the site and see what they are if you didn’t know it already.

That is all.

Special shout out to the people of BA!

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Steve Jobs speaks up about Flash and Adobe’s response.

Apple fans and haters have something to bicker about today. It’s about what Steve Jobs said about Flash. Not that Flash from the comic book. It is Adobe Flash.

Thoughts on Flash

blah blah blah blah blah blah, Flash is proprietary, blah blah blah, Battery Life, blah blah blah, Flash crashes on Macs, blah blah blah.

OK, that’s the really short summary the blah-blah-blah version.

Shortly after, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen responded to Steve Jobs’ statement through an interview with The Wall Street Journal:

blah blah blah, Flash on Android, blah blah blah, Steve Jobs is wrong, blah blah blah, Nexus One, blah blah blah, Flash, blah blah blah.

That’s another short summary the blah-blah-blah version.

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So take sides and start arguing!