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Android ideas get cash from Google
IT was last November when I first wrote about Google Android in these pages.
At that time the company had just announced the launch of an open source mobile phone platform that would put it into direct competition with both Microsoft and Symbian.
But what set them apart was that they issued it under an open source licence.
Android stacks software as a Java-over-Linux platform, and when it was launched many industry pundits said it would form the basis for a whole new generation of mobile devices.
The Open Handset Alliance, a group of more than 30 technology and mobile companies, came together to accelerate innovation in mobile computing.
The member list includes global leaders such as T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm and Motorola as well as Google.
At about the same time Google announced its $10 million Android challenge to reward developers who built great applications for Android.
It's now been about half a year since the challenge closed and Google has announced the mobile applications that have clinched success in the final round of the competition.
Fifty teams of finalists emerged from the first round and were rewarded with $25,000 each.
Now ten of the teams will receive a further award of $275,000 and another ten teams, a $100,000 award.
These are the big money winners:
>>cab4me: lets you call a cab to any location worldwide. You can order a cab to your current location with a single click without having any local knowledge, phone numbers, etc. It uses the location awareness of Android (GPS and cell-based).
>>Compare Everywhere: lets you scan a barcode to instantly check if the price really is a good deal. It has a built-in camera to scan barcodes and uses GPS to find nearby stores You can ring them directly, or find directions using Google Maps.
>>Ecorio: automatically tracks your mobile carbon footprint, suggests transit and carpooling alternatives and lets you stay carbon neutral by offsetting your trips. It uses Android's maps and locations API to show location based tips on how to reduce your carbon impact.
>>GoCart: lets you scan a product's barcode and view all the best prices online and at nearby, local stores. It using Android's built-in camera, GPS and location aware features to search for the best prices from both online and nearby, local stores.
>>Life360: uses a multi-channel messaging system and neighborhood-centric social network to keep you up-to-date and in contact with your family and local community. Using Android's always-on networking capabilities, this service means you always stay in contact with your family and know when important events happen in your area.
>>Locale: allows you to automatically change your phone's settings based on conditions, such as location. It allows you to manage and create locations using an intuitive interface based on the Maps API. Locations can be moved and re-sized using a touch-based drag and drop interface.
>>PicSay: is an easy-to-use image editor that lets you personalise your pictures and share them with friends or photo sites. It uses various Android UI components and animations to create an intuitive interface.
>>Softrace: lets people around the world meet online to compete against each other in different physical activities. It uses Android's location and map APIs to track and graph the locations and progress of competitors.
>>TuneWiki: is a social media player featuring synchronized lyrics for audio or video, translation, music maps and a social network. The playback abilities for content stored on the phone and Android's "always on" internet connected platform combine to create a virtual library. The music and video can be local or "in the cloud".
>>Wertago: shows information about what venues are hot, helps coordinate social plans, shares content about the social scene and connects people. It uses Android's APIs to offer rich content and functionality including location-based search results, maps and social networks.
>>Sherrilynne Starkie is the managing partner of Strive Public Relations, a strategic communications consultancy serving the Isle of Man. Visit her business blog, Strive Notes for frequent updates www.strivepr.com/notes or follow her on twitter.com/sherrilynne.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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