Published on Sunday, July 25, 2010 by Jerry Hildenbrand You know both your smartphone platform and its applications have hit the big time when you start seeing leaks of beta versions -- enter aHome 4 for Android.  With the onslaught of new home replacements, some of the old standbys have been all but forgotten.  The folks over at mAPPn are about to charge back in a very big way with aHome 4.  It's chock full...

Published on Saturday, July 24, 2010 by Phil Nickinson Airplane-landing games are a dime a dozen now, but the original and best is coming to Android. You might want to consider quitting your job to free up time for this one. [Firemint via @alexessory] Thanks, Rene!Posted originally at Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories ...

Published on Friday, July 23, 2010 by Jerry Hildenbrand There are three things I love -- open source, Linux, and ingenuity.  Android Central forum member 42turkeys brings all three together, along with some serious Mac love in his versions of the Sideload Wonder Machine for Linux and Mac.  Using the same premise as we did with the Windows version, you can now sideload apps to your crippled AT&T branded Androi...

Published on Friday, July 23, 2010 by Jerry Hildenbrand AOL, an Internet and media giant if there ever was one, has released a duo of Android applications.  While it may be trendy and fun to bash AOL, the fact is that it helped usher in the Internet age, and things would look much different had they not help shaped today's landscape.  What does that have to do with an Android app you ask?  Think market share...

Published on Friday, July 23, 2010 by Kyle Gibb Verizon has been pushing its "VCAST" video service for quite some time, and it just got a lot more desirable for NFL fans on Big Red. The new and improved "NFL Mobile" app will allow live streaming of the NFL Network and access to Video on Demand for free through the end of August, after which a $10 per month subscription to VCAST Videos will be re...

Published on Friday, July 23, 2010 by Jerry Hildenbrand Advanced Launcher is an application for those of us looking for an app that alleviates a bit of homescreen clutter, groups the favorite things on our phone, and keeps us from having to dig through the app drawer.  What, you thought you were alone in your distaste of a block grid of icons, laid out in an order that just doesn't work for you?  Well read on my ...

Published on Friday, July 23, 2010 by Jerry Hildenbrand General Motors has expanded the functionality of its OnStar application for Android, and it will now work for most 2011 GM cars and trucks.  Using the OnStar app, drivers will be able to remotely unlock, start the car and sound the horn.  Also, and a little more practical, is the ability to check diagnostics and see things like how full your gas tank is, ti...

Published on Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Jared DiPane Apps, apps, apps! We get it, you guys love yourselves some applications. And because we love you, we are here with our weekly helpful hints at some great applications! With more than 70,000 applications in the market it can be a little difficult to decide, so we bring you some of our favorites each week! Check out this week's choices after the jump. Posted originally ...

Published on Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Phil Nickinson Google just unleashed an update to Google Voice, introducing "direct access numbers" in hopes of speeding the process of placing calls. Here's how it's explained on the Google Voice Blog: Until today, the Google Voice app had to make a request to the Google Voice server every time you wanted to make a call to send us the phone number you wanted to dial...

Published on Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Kyle Gibb  Barnes & Noble has released the Android version of its Nook e-book reader (an Android-based device, natch) onto the Market. The app is similar to functionality to Amazon's Kindle, and comes with a number of free "sample" segments of books. There are more than 500,000 free eBooks, and every paid eBook has a free preview. Perhaps the most intere...