Windows Store surpasses 3,600 apps

According to WinAppUpdate.com, the Windows Store in Windows 8 has today passed the 3000 app mark, not long after it was reported to have passed 2000 apps. The growth of the Windows Store has beenvery quick over the last few weeks, developers know that now is the time to start publishing apps.

The app growth has been pretty strong over the last few weeks, which if it keeps going, will easily pass 5000 apps before launch. According to the report, the app store is currently sitting at 3010 apps, which is an awesome number, especially since the OS isn't slated for launch for another 3 weeks.

The report also states that they've been seeing around 118 apps added to the store each day, which is great for Microsoft. Using the awesome Windows calculator, this average will total to 2714 more apps being added into the store before launch.

Android 4.2 Rumors

Over the past few days the rumors regarding Google‘s next version of Android, and their next Nexus device have really been coming on strong. We’ve heard tons of talk, from multiple sources, all about the LG Optimus G Nexus running Android 4.2 and more. Today many of those same reports are now dropping additional details on what we could see in Android 4.2, although we don’t know if it will be called Jelly Bean.

The name doesn’t really matter. Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, Key Lime Pie, Kandy Cane as some have suggested, whatever. It’s fun though. Yesterday an anonymous tipster mentioned a few things we could be seeing in Android 4.2 as it accompanies the next Nexus. Some of those included a new customization center almost for manufacture skins or “themes” as well as a new Google Play Store. Today we have even more to report and most of it is about this “Nexus certification program.”

First off these are rumors, nothing but rumors. While we can’t confirm these reports from AndroidandMe, they’ve had good sources in the past so we’ll just report what’s being talked about. The next version of Android will have a customization center. This will be the same place we know now for settings, wallpapers, ringtones and more. But it’ll also have templates or themes so you don’t have to use stock Android as Google intents it. This is where manufacturers can put their HTC Sense UI, Samsung TouchWiz UX, Moto Blur and everything else. The same will also hopefully work for the developer community who builds themes for Android — only we won’t need to root our phones to enjoy this.

This same customization center is said to be a place where stock Android will always be updated to the latest from Google. Sources claim you’ll be able to choose stock and updated Android, or wait for the manufacturers updated skin to appear with the next version of Android. This would be a dream come true for those who hate waiting for updates because the OEM’s custom skin. I don’t see this happening, but would absolutely love it.

Project Roadrunner is like Android 4.1 Jelly Bean’s project butter. Roadrunner is a massive project at the hands of Google to enhance and improve battery life. While battery technology isn’t evolving very fast — software and hardware is. Google intends to make significant increases to battery life with project roadrunner all through software.

Google Play being changed is something I’m sort of against. It’s been tweaked and completely changed its look and feel way too many times already. They need to keep it simple so people aren’t always confused. We are fine, but the mass public might struggle. However, the rumors claim the Play Store will have personalized search options, but along with that comes personalized ads for apps you might want — in your notification bar. Obviously you can opt out of this if you’d like, but hopefully they aren’t aiming for Amazon’s approach with ads everywhere. There will also be more billing options and easier in-app purchases.

Lastly is Google’s extremely impressive Google Now. The voice search companion that blows Siri away will be getting even better. Google will be adding system level functions. This will allow new users to simply ask “How do I turn down the brightness” or other simple system level tasks and Google Now will do all the work. Same goes for current features like setting the alarm or making a calendar entry. There’s also talk of a new video or media player that adds to the secure 64MB of cache for media streaming we reported on yesterday. This could be an attempt at securing media from piracy.

Now obviously this is a lot of information. Some very well could be true based on how specific it is, but at the same time this could all just be nothing but pure speculation and rumors. Yesterday we reported Google staff received the LG Optimus G Nexus — so we should be hearing more about Android 4.2 and some Google Nexus devices all month long. Who’s getting excited?

Facebook passes 1 billion members

Facebook the world’s go-to social network, proved that is still on top of its game by revealing that it now has more than one billion active members.

The company appeared to be on shaky ground after its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in May, with shares falling to half their initial value by August.

Yet the brain child of Mark Zuckerberg has still managed to clock up an extra 100 million active members since April to push it past the one billion mark.

Other milestones achieved by the company include the fact that Facebook members have befriended each other 140.3 billion times, posted 1.13 trillion ‘likes’ and added 219 billion photos.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said:
“Helping a billion people connect is amazing, humbling and by far the thing I am most proud of in my life,”

The fact that Twitter, its nearest competitor, has managed just over 500 million, will no doubt give Zuckerberg even more cause for celebration.


Facebook Mobile

Facebook has admitted in the past that it has not developed a mobile advertising strategy, but now says that more than 600 million members now access their account via a mobile device at least once a month.

This is up from 552 million in June, and the fact that the company has recently overhauled its mobile apps, including plans for a native android app, as well purchasing photo-sharing app Instagram, outlines that the company is keen to tap into mobile internet usage.

Facebook search facility on the horizon?

Speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt last month, the Facebook CEO confirmed that the company had a team working on search functionality, and that the company will do it “at some point”.

“I think search engines are really evolving to give you a set of answers, not just ‘type in something and show me some relevant stuff’, but ‘I have this specific question, answer this question for me’,”

“When you think about it from that perspective, Facebook is pretty uniquely positioned to answer the questions people have.”

With so many plans afoot Facebook looks set to hold on to its social media crown for a while yet.

Apple Adds Maps Section to App Store

If your maps experience in iOS 6 hasn’t been on a par with your expectations — Apple admitted it hasn’t met the company’s stringent standards — there’s an entire new section in the App Store teeming with alternatives. Bing is there, and so is the long-forgotten MapQuest, among other popular navigation apps.

Many folks are perfectly ok with the experience Apple Maps provides, but if you’ve been left wanting more, it looks as though there are enough choices to meet your traveling needs. It’s a small and self-effacing move that shows Apple clearly realizes there’s much work to be done.

Source

Google Maps for iOS 6 set to be released by the end of 2012?

Google was blissfully unaware that its maps would be ditched in favour of Apple’s own offerings until the firm announced the news about iOS 6 Maps to the world. That’s according to the New York Times anyway.

But far from deterring Google, the search engine giant has remained confident in its maps prowess in the face of the Apple Maps app’s spectacular flop and is said to be readying an iOS 6 version of Google Maps, which could be released by the end of 2012.

Google’s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, has said that Apple’s decision to dispense with Google Maps was far from a shrewd one.

“In my opinion it would have been better to retain our maps,”


Google Maps for iOS 6: Is it a done deal?

When questioned about a potential iOS 6 version of Google Maps, Schmidt said the company had not taken any action to bring Google Maps back to iOS 6.

Schmidt also put a question mark over whether Google would remain Apple’s search partner on the iPhone. He said:  “I’m not doing any predictions. We want them to be our partner. We welcome that. I’m not going to speculate at all what they’re going to do. They can answer that question as they see fit.”

With so much potential change afoot, the only thing that remains clear is that many disgruntled iOS 6 Maps users will welcome Google Maps back with open arms.