The biggest addition is that it's web based. That's right, Android users. A store that's easily browsable on the desktop. Not to mention an application for desktop app management.

So that's all well and good, but why does Motorola have to even build a separate portal? This is all stuff that Google should really be on top of if they want to really win consumers over. The last thing that anyone wants is to have the Android Marketplace start getting segmented by manufacturer, so please Google, whenever you're done building your phone, add this stuff in to save us all the trouble. [Android and Me via Engadget]

Apple Said to Be Bullying, Giving Wedgies to Flash Memory Makers

Anyone surprised that Apple's been accused of practicing some, shall we say, Machiavellian business tactics? The Korea Times published a story in which anonymous representatives of Apple's major flash memory partners, Hynix and Samsung, accuse Apple of ordering more memory than needed, then buying the necessary (smaller) amount once the price drops due to that whole supply/demand see-saw. It winds up in Remainders because it's awfully insidery, and honestly we're pretty glad flash prices are so cheap (a 64GB iPod Touch would've been unthinkable three years ago). Sorry, Samsung/Hynix! If you just sock Apple one time right in the face, maybe they'll leave you alone. [Electronista]

Legendary German Camera-Maker Launches Really Boring Digital Cameras

Praktica, a camera-maker out of Dresden, Germany (hence the Vonnegut, ha ha aren't we so literary), has the stature of Zeiss and Leica in the film world. Yet the company's new point-and-shoot digital cameras are the more boring, style-less pieces of plastic I've seen in a long time. The 10- and 12-megapixel cameras feature the normal scene modes, SD/HC storage, video recording and either a 2.7- or 3.0-inch screen. They're a snore and a half and it looks like they may be Germany-only, to boot. [Engadget]

ClearPlay's Upscaling 1080p DVD Player Allows High-Definition Censorship

ClearPlay, a company known for implementing "content control" in their DVD players (basically allowing parents to turn off objectionable content), just moved into the future, sort of! It's not a Blu-ray player or a media streamer, that'd be actually timely, but it is an upconverting, 1080p DVD player—the first of its kind to feature content control. It's available now for $100. [Engadget]

Survey of Android App Developers Reveals Unhappiness With Sales

Okay so go find a heaping spoonful of rock salt that you can chew slowly as you read this story, because there are serious issues with it, but: A recent survey of Android app developers showed that the majority are not satisfied with app sales performance in the Marketplace. Most apps (over 90%) are downloaded less than 10,000 times, which is pretty minimal compared to the sales of apps in Apple App Store for Apps (apps).

Now, the rock salt. For a survey like this, you need a wide variety of developers, doing all different kinds of apps (entertainment, utility, whatever), and the survey assuredly doesn't have that—only thirty developers were polled, a low enough number that frankly I don't trust any conclusions gleaned. Besides, of course Android app sales are lower; Android hardware sales are lower, too, and the Marketplace is a lot younger and less-established than the App Store. Basically, I'm not saying it's wrong, but we really can't trust this survey. [GigaOm]

The overall winners: SweetDreams, which allows you to set specific nighttime settings (deflect incoming calls, disable Wi-Fi and GPS to save battery) automatically; What the Doodle?!, which is an online multiplayer game sort of like Pictionary; and WaveSecure, which lets you track your phone's location, backup data, remotely lock the device, remote wipe, and restore data. Those guys aren't super exciting to me, but the competition also resulted in some really cool ones.

Plink Art identifies artwork after you've taken a photo of it, so you can pretend you knew the difference between Monet and Manet the entire time; Celeste gives you an augmented reality view of the solar system; Car Locator remembers where you parked your car; and Andrometer measures the approximate distance from yourself to any object you can see. Check out the full list here. [Google Code]

Microsoft's take on an app store got off to a timid start, so the accompanying news that the catalog has hit 800 apps is definitely promising, as is the expanded userbase: now that the millions of 6.0 and 6.1 handsets are part of the Marketplace's potential userbase, developers will be more enthusiastic about actually developing for it.

And even if it's not quite up to speed yet, it's a much easier way to find the basics than scavenging the app download hellscape that is the Greater Internet, and some of Microsoft's new codeveloped apps—Facebook, in particular—are pretty great. You can download by pointing your WinMo phone's browser to mp.windowsphone.com. [Windows Team Blog]

He's not revealing the method for ethical reasons, but anybody wanna fill us in on how these shenanigans work, so hopefully it'll get fixed so developers don't get screwed? [XDA via Engadget]

Also, for T-Mobile customers, there's going to be a direct-to-bill payment option for apps (so it shows up on your phone bill, in other words), so buying apps will be a little simpler.

Turns out it's just a feature to let you transfer apps to a new phone when you replace your last. That's a nice little feature, don't get us wrong, but it's definitely not the same thing as allowing customers to share apps with friends and family. To quoth Microsoft:

As outlined in the terms of use for Windows Marketplace for Mobile, this ability is limited to phones owned by the person who purchased the application. Application sharing is not permitted. We believe people will find a high value in mobile applications they purchase through the Windows Marketplace, and we will also be offering a refund policy that will make it easier to shop for applications with confidence.

This is quite a bit of backpedaling from the original statement, in which Microsoft senior planner Daniel Bouie said, "We feel comfortable that using our LiveID system to help connect products to five devices is a great balance of the needs of both developers and end users." Sucks for us, but Microsoft has to avoid pissing off developers to get their Marketplace going. [Boy Genius Report]

The list is below, but the major ones are these: no VoIP that goes over the provider's network (Wi-Fi is OK), no apps that make you download more than 10MB over the air (not Wi-Fi), apps that use/promote other marketplaces other than the official Windows Mobile ones, apps that make you pay money outside of the marketplace (which bypasses Microsoft's cut of the profits), and apps that publish your location without permission.

They're all pretty reasonable expectations, but not being able to have VoIP over the carrier's network is a step down from what it is now, where you can download VoIP apps and talk as much as you want. Looks like Skype isn't going to be distributed through Microsoft's Marketplace then, or at least just locked down if it is? [PC World via Fierce VoIP via Tech Digest]

Who's on the panel?
· Magda Apanowicz (Lacy Rand, "Caprica")
· David Eick (Executive Producer)
· Jane Espenson (Executive Producer)
· Tricia Helfer (Number Six, "Battlestar Galactica")
· Paula Malcomson (Amanda Greystone, "Caprica")
· Ronald D. Moore (Executive Producer),
· Esai Morales (Joseph Adama, "Caprica"),
· Grace Park (Sharon/Athena/Boomer, "Battlestar Galactica")
· Eric Stoltz (Daniel Greystone, "Caprica")
· Alessandra Torressani (Zoe Greystone, "Caprica")

Did you like it? I didn't have a chance to watch it yet, so I've no idea if it's as good as Battlestar Galactica. Then again, I thought the miniseries was slow and dull, but really got into it starting from the first episode of the series proper.

The 70% dev cut is simple enough and has worked well for other stores, but the $99 fee is a slight divergence from the norm. Under this subscription plan, developers can submit up to five apps a year, with an additional $99 fee for every app above that limit. That sounds a little lame, but if you're the kind of person (or outfit, rather) that markets more than five apps a year, a hundred bucks probably won't sting too much, and the fee might even serve as a nice little cr-app filter. There are a few other details, like a fee waiver for student developers, but most of this doesn't really matter much to consumers, and won't surprise developers.

But Microsoft couldn't resist getting a little political here, going out of their way to promise "transparency throughout the certification process"—a not-so-subtle dig at Apple's restrictive and sometimes mysterious vetting process. It's a nice promise, but the Windows Mobile app store is inherently different in this regard already. It may have rules, but developers can still distribute their apps elsewhere, and any user is free to install them. In other words, unlike in the iTunes App Store, a rejected app isn't necessary a dead app. Full press release is below. [Microsoft]

Microsoft Unveils Its Developer Strategy for the Next Generation of Windows® Phones

Familiar tools, large worldwide customer base and transparent policies allow mobile developers to innovate and generate new revenue opportunities with Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

REDMOND, Wash. - March 11, 2009 - Microsoft Corp. today announced new details about how developers can build and sell applications for Windows® phones through Windows Marketplace for Mobile, the recently announced application marketplace available with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. In its commitment to helping developers create new and exciting applications, Microsoft will provide developers with 70 percent of the revenue generated from sales of their application sales from Windows Marketplace for Mobile, transparency throughout the certification process, and guidance and support from the stage of development to the final sale to the consumer. To get the tools to begin developing for Windows® phones, go to http://developer.windowsmobile.com.

"We are empowering the thousands of existing Windows Mobile independent software vendors and prospective developers to grow their business by connecting them to the millions of global Windows® phone customers around the world," said Andy Lees, senior vice president of the Mobile Communications Business at Microsoft. "Our announcement today demonstrates Microsoft's unwavering commitment to providing developers with the latest tools and technologies to develop compelling applications, as well as the appropriate distribution channels to generate revenue."

Developers who sell applications through Windows Marketplace for Mobile will receive 70 percent of the sale of each application. In addition, they will have the ability to set the price for their applications in each market, maximizing their revenues based on targeted pricing strategies. Developers can also choose to distribute their application at no cost. Up to five application submissions to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile is included in the introductory annual registration of $99 (U.S.). Each additional submission within the annual period will have a cost of $99 (U.S.). The registration fee will be waived for student developers who want to reach Windows® phones customers, through enrollment in the DreamSpark program. Finally, developers will also be eligible for marketing and sales support from the Mobility Solutions Partner Program, allowing developers to focus on their core competency of developing innovative applications.

With Windows Marketplace for Mobile available in 29 countries, developers will be able to tap into a broad international customer base. At the same time, Microsoft will continue working with developers to ensure that their applications run optimally on Windows® phones by running a rigorous certification and testing process before applications go to market. Developers will be able to see detailed feedback during and after the certification process of their application on the Windows Marketplace for Mobile developer portal. Ultimately this enables developers to devote more time to writing innovative applications, and less time trying to navigate the approval process. Developers will have access to all details once the registration doors open in the spring, and will be able to start submitting their applications later this summer.

Developers can utilize familiar tools and technologies to build unique experiences for the Windows Mobile platform through Windows Marketplace for Mobile, including the Windows Mobile 6 SDK, .NET Compact Framework 3.5.

With more than 20,000 applications already in market, Windows Mobile is among the most popular platforms for developers. Windows Mobile 6.5, the next generation of the Windows Mobile operating system, will allow developers to build innovative mobile applications without having to learn new skills or programming languages, by leveraging familiar desktop and server development tools such as Win32, Active Template Library and Microsoft Foundation Classes (Visual C++), Visual C#, Visual Basic .NET, ASP.NET and asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX).

1. What was the name of the dog that tried to hump Kim Deal's leg during the recording of Trompe Le Monde?

2. Name all the 14 different drugs that Keith Richards did while he was in a taxi on his way to visit his grandma after recording Exile In Main Street.

3. What's Jack Johnson secret to make his banana pancakes?

4. How many dwarves carrying cocaine plates were at the party that Freddie Mercury threw to celebrate the wrap up of the album A Night at the Opera?

5. On average, how many amphetamine pills did Johnny Cash pop before the recording of The Johnny Cash TV Show?

6. What kind of melon was Elvis' favorite?

7. How many pounds of marijuana were used during the recording of Led Zeppelin I?

8. How many BLT sarnies did David Bowie's roadies eat during his Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars tour?

9. How many Apple employees have set their spam filter to trash any mail containing "John Mayer" on the "From" field?

10. How many times have police arrested Gizmodo editor-in-chief Jason Chen, charging him with stalking Chris Martin?

[Zune Insider]

Germany, Austria, Netherlands, France and Spain will get the same support later in Q1, and will all be under the same Google Checkout service to handle the money transaction. While paying for apps sucks, the main point is that developers who were holding out from the Marketplace because they couldn't be compensated for their (more costly, more time consuming) work will now finally hop on. Which is good for all Android users. [Android Developers]

A Windows Mobile app store has been rumored for quite some time, and with everyone else going in that direction, it makes sense for Microsoft to follow. But on top of that, the Ballmer confirmed that Zune Marketplace would be coming to phones a long ways back-what's it going to be, MS?

Obviously, at the moment, the Market isn't live. So we'll just have to wait, until, what, MWC next week? [Gadget Mix]

Musiwave provides ringtones and other music to European cell phones, and was acquired by Microsoft a little more than a year ago. Now, a web services development job listing proclaims "Zune Services is building an entertainment store for a wide range of Zune clients or 'tuners.' Today these tuners include the Windows PC client, the Zune web site and the Zune device; in the future there will be more. Each of these tuners access a set of rich web services implemented by Zune and soon by Musiwave as well."

The combination of Musiwave and Zune suggests some sort of mobile Marketplace, whether it's through phones or simply over-the-air to Zunes. Microsoft did note at the time of their absorption of Musiwave that the European company would help them arrange a better ecosystem of products and devices. Could this mean Zune on Windows Mobile?

Another listing asks for a user experience designer to focus on a few aspects of the Zune: device UI, Zune PC client, and then a surprise, Zune Xbox. There's no other information, but we think it'd be a pretty good idea to incorporate the Zune Marketplace into the successful Xbox environment. Imagine, Microsoft integration as far as the eye can see.

This is, of course, rumor and conjecture, but those job listings are certainly eyebrow-raising indicators of what's to come from the big MS. And our earlier rumor on Xbox-Zune Marketplace integration is in line with what we're seeing here, as well as Ballmer's confirmation of Zune and Windows Mobile love. [TechFlash via CNET]

• The store payment method will be PayPal. Good.
• Companies will be able to control what applications are downloaded by users. Good for companies, bad for users.
• Storefront will allow any price.
• Developers will retain 80% of the revenue.
• Carriers will be able to distribute software themselves.

[Intomobile]

Hey all,

Looks like an update to the Andoid Market is coming on the 20th. I'm not aware of the changes exactly, but it will require that you re-download any applications you may have downloaded before that point. Remember, the applications are free for the time being so there's no risk of being charged for the downloads. I just wanted you to be aware.
===
Will
Admin, T-Mobile Forums

No reasons yet, though. For now, only these apps are available:

• AccuWeather.com
• Plusmo College Football Live
• Myspace Mobile
• imeem for Android
• Plusmo Pro Football Live
• BlueBrush
• Maverick
• MyCloset
• Cab4ME Light
• e-ventr
• TuneWiki
• The Weather Channel
• BreadCrumbz
• Buzzd

[Android Community—thanks krztov for the update]

While Apple reluctantly acknowledged the existence of their kill switch only after it was discovered by developers, Google has been relatively upfront about Android's. They've even laid out plans for reimbursing users whose paid apps (which aren't even available yet) are recalled. And as ComputerWorld notes, a kill switch makes a little more sense for Android, as their applications aren't really vetted in any meaningful way before showing up in the app store.

Retroactive vetting, though, is still vetting, so Android's App Market may be a little more like the App Store than we originally thought. As before, we'll just have to wait for the final verdict on this one from preeminent kill switch expert Stephen Colbert. [ComputerWorld]

If this is true, it'll be interesting to see when Microsoft will roll this out. They've already revamped the Zune UI in the 2nd generation Zunes last Fall, and to redo the entire Marketplace portion of the suite again this year might be too many changes in too short a time. Then again, we'd really like Zune to support video and movie rentals that are tied into Xbox Live's movie rentals. [ZDNet]