Android gets the Official White House App

The Official White House App has arrived for the Android platform. It was earlier launched for the iOS platform which provided users with alerts directly from the White House, behind-the-scenes multimedia and the latest news from the blog or briefing room. The Android version will have the same features. The iPhone version has also received an update through which users will be able to get an alert whenever President Obama is about to give a speech.

WordPress for Android upgrades to v1.4

The newest version of WordPress is now available at the Android Market which is the version 1.4. It will be offering new features that should appeal its users.

• Post Scheduling: This will enable the user to set the publish date and time in the app when creating a post or page, publishing a future date will set the post status to ‘Scheduled’ and publish it on the blog when the time arrives.

• Post Password: A Post Password field has been added to help protect the user’s content. When a password is entered in the field, the post will require that the password be entered for viewing on the blog when published.

• HTTP Authentication Support: There is also added support for entering the Authentication credentials in the blog settings so that one can manage his blog through the app. To access the Authentication settings, add a self-hosted blog to the app and select ‘Optional Settings’ in the setup area.

CNN launches free App for Android

CNN has launched an app for the Android platform which will provide users with news and direct access to CNN’s global resources which will include live field reports, user-generated content and a variety of enterprise interviews and podcasts. The app is free of cost and will be available for Android v2.1 and higher smart phones. It also has a nice Radio section which includes hourly news updates, original reports from CNN Radio correspondents, audio of interviews from CNN television, and podcast series about politics, entertainment, tech and food. Users can personalize their news experience by tracking local news and weather based on location and save them so that they can view it later even in offline mode. Text stories and images can also be shared directly from the app via email, Facebook and Twitter.

Louis Gump, vice president of Mobile at CNN said, “Android users are extremely discerning, and will accept nothing less than a first-rate app that showcases high quality, world-class content – and enables them to share it. We built the CNN App with these desires specifically in mind, and are excited to offer the millions of Android phone users around the world with access to CNN’s global reporting.”

The CNN Android app is available at www.cnn.com/android.

Google provides ad privacy to Android users

Most of the Android Apps are free of cost or can be purchased at a few bucks. So where do the developers earn? Well the ads that come along with the Apps generate the earnings. But it gets annoying to have ads pop-up on your smart phone. Now Google has introduced an option in the Android Market that will enable users to opt-out of receiving targeted ads. However this won’t be stopping all the ads that the user receives, just the interest-based ads. The privacy setting could be a little useful for some users. Do tell us what you think about the added privacy if you have tried the setting.

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Google Maps is now the most downloaded Android App

Google Maps for the Android platform has been downloaded more than 50 million times. The milestone makes it the first ever app to reach this height. Available for all versions of the platform, it has provided with full GPS functionality and turn-by-turn directions to its users. The app is free of cost for the Android users which has made it in more popular in the market. If you arent one of the 50 million people, then do give it a try.

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Sony Ericsson launches its own channel on Android Market

With new android devices launched by Sony Ericsson, they now have their very own channel on the Android Market. The channel will provide exclusive content for Android users using Sony Ericsson handsets and will also recommend third-party apps. This update will replace the ‘My Apps’ link in the Android Market to Sony Ericsson’s channel link and ‘My Apps’ will be available when user press the menu key.

AutoCAD coming soon for Android devices

After Adobe announced their Photoshop apps for the tablet devices, it’s now AutoCAD for the Android platform. Autodesk has announced an Android version of the AutoCAD software which will run on Android 2.1 Eclair meaning that over 90 % of current Android devices should be able to run it. It will be released officially on the 20th of April. One will be able to view, edit, and mark-up drawings as well as opening attachments from email, file sync, and local saving if internet connection is not available.

Windows Live Messenger app coming for Android

Microsoft has joined hands with Miyowa to develop an official Windows Live Messenger App for the Android platform and will be launching it soon. Microsoft used to handle all the mobile versions of Windows Live Messenger themselves for platforms like iOS, Windows Mobile, Symbian, and Blackberry. However, Microsoft has let Miyowa develop the app for this particular platform. It will be a free, ad- supported and compatible with 1.6 and higher versions of Android. The app will feature push notifications and multi-tasking will be missing things like file transfer or integration with Windows Live SkyDrive.

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Android under attack via disguised app

A version of the app called Walk and Text is available on the Android Market which is infected with a Trojan virus and is exploiting users. Also known as Android.Walkinwat, when run a dialog box opens up saying the app is processing on the front hand, however on the back hand the app gathers and sends data like name, phone number, IMEI number, etc. to an external source. The app also sends out the following SMS messages to all the contacts in the contact list, “Hey, just downloaded a pirated App off the Internet, Walk and Text for Android. Im stupid and cheap, it costed only 1 buck. Don’t steal like I did!” In the end it shows a message telling the users to check their phone bill and to buy the original app from the Android Market.


The app has been spreading easily as it is authenticated, well sort of. The Trojan virus performs the above actions in a routine of Android.Walkinwat called “License Check” which is usually used by legitimate apps for license management in combination with a Licensing Verification Library available for the Android platform to help prevent piracy. The authors of the malicious code have also taken a step to make sure that their app was complicated, which is another recommended measure to prevent piracy.

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