Friday, July 16, 2010

Is There an App for That?

The term “app” has so far been pretty synonymous with Apple’s mobile devices. However, Google is hoping to change that association with a new do-it-yourself app builder specifically made for the Android.

 

app

 

The “App Inventor” is so simple builders don’t even need to speak code to create what they want.

 

“Using an online interface, would-be developers visually design the app’s interface and interactions, using drag-and-drop blocks that specify what the app should look like and how it should behave” – ReadWriteWeb.com

 

While app building tools are not a new concept, Google’s approach to them is. By giving the power to create to the everyday user, Google gives anyone with a great idea the same app-creating power as programmers.

 

Although the approach is liberating and opens the door for more app concepts, you can’t help but wonder if this will create a collection of half-apped ideas. Just because the ingredients and recipe are in front of you, it doesn’t mean you’re a chef.

 

What’s your vote? Google’s open app building platform or Apple’s more controlled approach?

 

Think you have an awesome idea for an Android app? You can start here.

 

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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Google Adds Facebook Pages to Real-time Search

Want the absolute most up-to-date information on any hot or trending topic? Just Google it. Google’s new real-time search feature means you get more than the latest news, images and web content – you access conversations.

The real-time search function launched December 2009, and originally included Twitter, blogs, news, Web sites, Yahoo Answers and MySpace. Google added Facebook fan pages weeks later.

The stream doesn’t currently include public Facebook profiles, which limits the feedback from individual users. However, companies can keep a finger on the real-time pulse of what followers of fan pages are saying about them – the good, the bad and the ugly.

While having what people are saying about you take a front-and-center spot in the world’s most popular search engine might seem scary, being able to monitor and participate in those conversations so efficiently should be an exciting new possibility for marketers. More importantly, including Facebook fan pages in results will help publicize the pages to new potential fans.

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