Skype is now available for the Android platform, but only on devices running Android version 2.1 or later.
Skype for Mobile has long been available to Verizon customers. Today’s release makes available Skype for the Android platform as a whole. Non-Verizon subscribers will now be able to download Skype for Android through the Android Marketplace — regardless of carrier — as long as the device runs Android 2.1 or higher.
The Android app lets users make free Skype-to-Skype calls, as well as send and receive IMs for free. Calls to phones are charged at Skype’s standard rates. The app is capable of making calls on both Wi-Fi and 3G, but some carriers may limit calls strictly to Wi-Fi.
If you already have a Skype account, you’ll be able to instantly access your contact list on your Android device after logging in.
Skype for iPhone , which was launched in May 2010, is one of the most successful apps on the iOS platform, and we expect the Skype for Android to become a hit, too.
Android users can install Skype over on skype.com/m or through the Android Market.
Brace yourselves for the Google TV onslaught: Google launched the official site for Google TV this morning. It comes just days before Logitech’s Google TV launch event on Oct. 6 and Sony’s on Oct. 12.
With the launch of the site, developers are lining up in droves to announce their apps for Google TV. So far, we’ve seen announcements from Twitter Pandora CNBC, Vevo and Netflix.
Google released this video showcasing the functionality of some of the apps (and revealing a few that are yet-to-be-announced — like HBO):
Hipmunk , the site that takes the pain out of finding your next flight, has raised a $1 million angel round from the likes of Ashton Kutcher, FriendFeed creator Paul Buchheit, WordPress (and Automattic) Founder Matt Mullenweg and several others, including “super angel” Ron Conway’s SV Angel.
Most flight search sites haven’t changed in years. They have an intimidating search page and endless pages of flight results. Finding the right flight often takes all afternoon—or all week. Himmunk is here to change that.
It’s refreshing to find a web app that solves a legitimate, common consumer problem. We see a lot of social communication tools focused on web geeks and early adopters, but not as many that are focused on solving the everyday problems that the average person experiences.
Hipmunk effectively solves the problem of sorting through half a dozen slow and painful discount travel user interfaces to find the one flight you need. According to the company, “Hipmunk makes intelligent decisions about which flights to show you. For example, if there’s a cheap, non-stop flight on your favorite airline, Hipmunk will hide more expensive one-stop options on other airlines.”
Following its debut at Target stores this weekend, Apple’s iPad also became available for purchase from Amazon’s online electronics department on Monday — the first online retailer to carry the device besides Apple itself.
It may seem odd that Amazon would carry a product (albeit through a third-party retailer) often referred to as the “Kindle killer” in its store — especially after disparaging said product in a recent slew of TV ads — but financially it makes a good deal of sense.
Not only is Amazon poised to profit directly from sales of the highly popular device, but also from sales of its e-books via the Kindle app for iPad. Since the Kindle app is arguably superior in both functionality and inventory compared to Apple’s iBooks app, each iPad sale presents a new opportunity for Amazon to expand its e-books business as well.
After all, Amazon’s e-books strategy hinges on selling actual e-books rather than selling e-readers; consequently, the company has worked hard to brings its Kindle app to as many platforms as possible, including Mac, PC, iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and, most recently, the web.
Amazon is carrying all six models of the device: Wi-Fi-only 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, as well as Wi-Fi and 3G-enabled 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models.
San Francisco-based startup BlindType has just been acquired by Google, the former announced.
BlindType has developed a technology that removes the need to type with an on-screen keyboard. Users can simply start typing anywhere; BlindType will recognize their movements and translate them into text. In other words, users can write messages without having to look at their screens.
Currently, the keyboard on Apple’s iOS-powered touchscreen devices, including the iPhone (), iPad and iPod touch, is superior to the one used by Android () devices. The acquisition allows Google () to leapfrog its rival in this respect. A better keyboard might seem like a minor advantage, but for those who frequently write SMS or e-mail messages on their mobile phones and tablets, it’s anything but.
BlindType competitor Swype has been developing a nearly identical service for Android devices; we’ve reached out to the startup to find out if it plans to continue developing for the platform now that news of the acquisition has been revealed.
“We are excited to announce that BlindType has been acquired by Google!
We want to thank everyone for their overwhelming support and positive feedback.
We know that typing on your mobile device can be a frustrating experience, which is why we’ve worked hard to make touch typing easier and faster than ever – the way it should be.
We’re excited to join Google, and look forward to the great opportunities for mobile innovation that lie ahead.
- The BlindType team”
A spokesperson for Swype told us that the company “will absolutely continue to expand its Android device lineup” despite news of the acquisition.
A BitTorrent app called IS Drive has appeared in Apple’s App Store for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, despite the company’s past refusal to approve BitTorrent apps because they could be used for Internet piracy.
The app is intended as a tool for managing ImageShack ()’s torrent download service, but it can be adapted to manage downloads from other torrent sites like IsoHunt and Mininova.
BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol that shares the bandwidth load for large file transfers between large pools of users. It’s often used for legit services like ImageShack, but it has also gathered a lot of negative attention because it’s ideal for use by illegal file sharers.
Apple has always blocked those apps for fear of allowing illegal activity that could undermine its music and video business on iTunes. Nevertheless, there are a couple possible explanations for IS Drive’s emergence.
Apple recently eased up its app store approval guidelines and the secrecy surrounding them in response to a lot of criticism. As a result, lots of apps that were previously not permitted have arrived — Google Voice apps, for example.
It’s also possible that Apple didn’t realize IS Drive is a BitTorrent app. IS Drive’s developer told TorrentFreak, “I always had the thought that if I didn’t call the app a ‘torrent client,’ Apple would probably let it through the review process.” The app doesn’t use the words “torrent” or “BitTorrent” at all, and it’s simply a download manager.
There’s no torrenting on the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad running the app.
IS Drive costs $4.99 in the App Store (), and the ImageShack sharing service comes loaded with either a monthly or daily fee.
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