As of today, Android Application developers can get their high quality applications noticed to the Android public through the Amazon Appstore which will be launching in the near future.  Amazon is offering application developers a chance to join in on the movement now, before the launch of the official store. As stated from their developers blog,

At Amazon, we start with the customer and work backwards, and we’re always looking for ways to improve the customer experience.  The sheer number of apps available today makes it hard for customers to find high-quality, relevant products – and developers similarly struggle to get their apps noticed.  Amazon’s innovative marketing and merchandising features are designed to help customers find and discover relevant products from our vast selection, and we’re excited to apply those capabilities to the apps market segment.

Amazon entines developers with the features of marketing, and the power of the amazon brand behind it. If you think about how popular a site like amazon.com has become and all the areas, from books, to household supplies, it is no wonder that the Amazon band is moving to the digital commodities. Also by appealing to the Android market it is providing and easy way for new and old Droid users to find and purchase the applications they need or desire.

We at Gaming Angel’s will let you know as soon as the Amazon Appstore is open to the general public, for now, you can read the developer blog notes at the link below.

Amazon Appstore Developer Blog.

This advanced technology features Qi (chee), the new universal standard for inductive charging, so it will power up devices like smartphones, MP3 players, cameras – any device 5W or less – on a single charging station, now and in the future regardless of manufacturer.  Consumers can purchase it now knowing it will work with Qi devices for years to come without the need to update old technology.  It is designed to work with Qi-enabled devices, whether Qi is built into the device or the device has a Qi accessory.  Qi was developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), an international cooperation of companies that came together with the common belief that all portable electronic devices should have global compatibility.

It features two large charging zones that don’t require locking the device into a precise position and also features a USB port to meet additional charging needs.  The charger will be introduced with accessories to enable Qi-compatibility with popular Smartphones.  Ultimately, doors and sleeves will not be required as manufacturers begin introducing new devices with the Qi standard built in.

The simple fact that the Energizer Inductive Charger and its accessories are small scale and affordable would make this a great accessory for your home and office, or a Great Gift for anyone on your list!  For more information on this product, please visit Energizer.

iPhone, Smartphone or Cell Phone: This gadget was the main gadget that was popping up in our discussion. We can not leave our house without our cell phone.  Mainly the smartphone. Many of use have an iPhone with many of the app. We use these apps lot in order to take notes, interviews, or ideas for articles. Trina, Cherith, and Tiffany swear by them. Besides, I guess you can call us on them too.  Renochan and myself, do not have smartphones, but we still swear by our phones. We can’t leave the house without them.

Portable Gaming System; DS, DSi or PSP: Tiffany states that “My purse purchases are directly influenced by whether my DS Lite will fit” Talk about dedication! Shadow Kat Au states that she takes her PSP everywhere she goes! We love taking our gaming on the go be it a commute, a bus ride or travel across the country. We need to take our games with us.  Currently, Renochan is addicted her the new Pokemon games for the DSi so she has begun to carry around her pokewalker.

iPod/Mp3/Zune: As I am typing up this article, I am listening to a 1st generation iPod Nano. I have had this little buddy for a few years now, and it has gotten me through two degrees, and almost two years of teaching. (Let hope it lasts!)  RainbowSleeve says that she also takes her iPod when she goes out.  A friendly reminder, that you should clear out those ear bud or headphones of your often.

Laptop/Netbook: I can’t leave the house without my laptop. Most of the time I am heading to work, and lugging my beast of a laptop with me. If you are anything like me, you should get yourself a carrying or protective case to lug you laptop around. Get a case that is stylish, and expresses your personality.  Check out some of our articles at Gaming Angels.com about nice and affordable cases.

How about you lovely readers? Is there a gadget or gadgets that you don’t leave the house without?

Source:
Shiny Shiny http://www.shinyshiny.tv/2010/03/ipad_apps_shapi.html

I remember years ago when I found this perfect nail polish in a store. Of course, no price tag on either the bottle or the shelf. I stood there looking for one of those bar code scanners. After enough annoyance, I gave up. Of course I bought the polish. Now imagine if I had an app on my phone that would have told me that the wonderful polish was only five dollars.  Well that is now possible with ScanLife’s App.
A new version of ScanLife’s App for bar code scanning was released this week for the Iphone, Android and Blackberry.
The app functions by using the mobile phone’s camera to scan the UPC and then the app reads the bar code in order to retrieve product information for all product.  The new app is able to scan both 2D and 1D bar code into the app and identify the product.

Consumers can download ScanLife free of charge from their mobile phone at www.getscanlife.com or from Android Market, BlackBerry App World™, and Apple’s App Store.

The hub’s features include:

• Collect Achievements and build your Gamerscore
• View Xbox LIVE leaderboards
• See your Xbox LIVE Avatar
• Access Spotlight feeds, including the latest tips and tricks, game news, updates and more
• Add Xbox LIVE friends to your friends list while out on the go
• Turn-based (asynchronous) multiplayer gaming

During the press conference Ron Pessner, general manager of Xbox LIVE Mobile stated  “It has always been our vision to expand the Xbox LIVE service to connect people to their games, entertainment and friends wherever they go, and the launch of Windows Phone 7 Series is an important step toward that goal.”

A video of the conference is viewable by following the following link:  Video.

What do you think about Windows 7 Phone Series along with the the new Xbox Live feature? Would this be a reason to buy this smartphone over other versions that are on the market today?

I’m not talking about your old school foursquare, with chalk, a ball and too much aggression. I’m about about the moblie app, and web site designed for people on the move and who wish to explore.

For the longest time Foursquare was limited to a list of cities. If your city wasn’t on the list, then it was pretty much pointless to have the app.  Since then it’s been upgraded to the “Elsewhere” mode, where you can check-in no matter where you are.  People from all over, including my isolated self, can check in, give updates, become mayor and provide suggestions of things to do.   Yet the question is, why should I even bother?  What,  I really enjoy about this concept is that it is away to explore new cities while traveling, as well as the place you have lived all your life.  I found a wonderful coffee shop in the middle of nowhere because someone had checked in there and recommended the food. I also found an amazing used bookstore, and a bakery in the middle of a national park. Of course, when you find something cool, that you think others should enjoy then why not share? Also, many places are offering discounts, or specials if you are the mayor or check in to their establishment such as: a free beer, discounts on food, theater, events and many others.  Also, if you are using the app on your smartphone, then when you are close to these places, it will tell you what you have to do, or what the specials are.  Click the link if you wish to have a full list of mayor specials.

One of the biggest questions is “how do you check in?” Of course there are many ways, one way is to download the app for your iPhone, Android, or Blackberry .  If you don’t have one of these fun smartphones, then you can still check in using the web application on your phone.  You arrive at a place, check in and it notifies all your friends on Foursquare where you are.

Though it sounds like a little bit like Big Brother from 1984, there are ways for you to check in while, being “Off the grid”  This way you can get the points to check in, receive badges and become mayor even if you are on a date or want to keep a low profile for studying.
Also, Foursquare can be connected to your Facebook or Twitter account in order to let ever you tech loving friends where you too.

In the end, what does all this mean? Well, its a great interactive way to explore cities, find specials, and to let friends in on where you too, and what to expect when you get there.

Links:
Foursquare
Mayor Specials

With over 125,000 developers using the platform (some of whom can actually say they’ve started coding for iPhone full-time), and more added every day, the iPhone train is headed downhill at full speed with no brakes. In the first few days of 2010, Apple announced that the App Store reached over 3 billion downloads.

To put that in perspective, in the past eighteen months, an average of 64 apps were downloaded every second.

With an all-but-confirmed tablet on the way and more iPods and iPhones flying off the shelves, that number’s bound to go up exponentially, controversy over the approval process or not.

Need to do something? There’ll be an app for that, now and in the future.

This nothing like the CES to get the gadgets section full of items. It is also no surprise that a number of large electronic companies have waited to unveil new and up coming items. Dell has unveiled a number of new items that they will be selling within the coming year. They are sub divided into three headings, smartphones, laptops and tablets.

Smartphone:
In terms of smartphones, Dell is moving into that business. They showed the Mini 3. This phone is a phone that is based off the Andriod phone and was developed in conjunction with AT&T. The phone will be available on AT&T’s network, which makes it the first Andriod based phone to appear on the network. Also, Dell has an agreement with other service providers outside the US such as Vodafone in Europe, Australia and New Zealand; AT&T in the United States; M1 and Starhub in Singapore; Maxis in Malaysia; China Mobile in China; and Claro in Brazil, to sell the Mini 3.

This move to develop smartphones, was out of Dell’s participation in a study of those types of phones.

“Smart phones are an extension of Dell’s strategy to develop intelligent and more mobile products that meet the needs of operators and customers,” said Ron Garriques, president, Dell Communication Solutions. “The Mini 3 is a result of listening to customers and creating products that allow people to do the things they want, whenever and wherever they want to do them.”

Source:

Laptops and Personal Computers:

It’s no surprise that that majority of the new from Dell was about computers. To be correct, the news was mainly focused on gaming

and studio computers. They announced the new Alienware M11x, the revamp of the Studio 14 and the continued improvement to the Inspiron line.
(All information was taken from the press releases)

Alien M11x:
· The Alienware M11x demonstrates the graphics power of a 15-inch laptop in an 11-inch form factor

· Play all of your games and media, whether at home or away, at HD 720p resolution

· With the Alienware M11x, gamers can enjoy the feel of the gaming without compromise anywhere they go

The M11x is a part of the Mx line which also includes a 15 and 17 inch laptops. Stats can be found for both of these laptops on Alienware’s site. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a information on the status of the M11x on the website.

Studio:

· Refreshed Studio laptops feature Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and are perfect for sharing photos, music and videos with friends and family.

· Portable Studio 14 available in North America later this month with prices starting at $699.

· Studio 15 has high-definition, 15.6-inch LED widescreen design and is rich with multimedia technology, like True HD resolutions that show off content crisply, starting at $849

· Studio 17 features beautiful 17.3-inch display, with unbelievably realistic audio. Prices start at $949

Tablets:

The last thing that Dell announced was the 5 inch tablet. To date I am unable to find anything about the tablets specs, only images takenfrom the press release. At this time, all I can say is, it looks pretty. When I am able to provide more information, since there was none in the press release, I will post it.

To download the app, visit www.DriveSafe.ly