Mplayit, maker of the mobile app catalog that lives inside Facebook, will release a report later today that lists the top games in their collection. Tetris, The Sims 3, and Wheel of Fortune are among the winners. So are Tap Tap Revenge and Rock Band.

On Mplayit, users can rate, comment on, and recommend individual apps to their social network on Facebook and Twitter. They can browse friends’ app collections, and follow their interests.

The most interesting stat in the report is that while games account for only one in five of the 130,000 iPhone apps at Mplayit, they’re half the traffic. By contrast, games are only 30 percent of BlackBerry traffic and 20 percent of Android.

“iPhone developers are driving this phenomenon, putting out simply fantastic games that get people excited,” Mplayit founder and CEO Michael Powers said in a press release going out today. “But the developer catch-up is underway on Android.”

What about my BlackBerry? “Although BlackBerry is renowned for apps,” Powers said, “it continues to be underrated and overlooked as a games platform.”

Gaming interests vary across platforms, in ways you could probably guess. Music games like Rock Band are popular on the iPhone. Android users like games that use the phone’s GPS and camera, as well as augmented reality games like Barcode Beasties.

BlackBerry users prefer to read the Wall Street Journal on their phones. I’m kidding. Mplayit says they’re a less youth-culture oriented than iPhone and Android owners. They prefer TV and movie-related games like Deal or No Deal, and CSI Miami, and traditional card games like GT Blackjack and Aces Solitaire.

Mplayit has prepared an easy-to-read chart of the top games by phone type and game category.

[via VentureBeat]

I pinched and zoomed the Google Maps images on my Nexus One smartphone this morning, the same pinch-and-zoom feature that iPhone (and iPod Touch) owners have been using for some time.

The pinch-and-zoom experience on the Nexus One, which was unlocked with an OS update released yesterday, was nice. It wasn’t one of those write-home-to-mom, earth-shattering experiences – but it was nice.

To be honest, Google didn’t really need to enable multi-touch, as the technology is known, to sell me on the Android experience. I was already impressed with Google Maps – as well as several features – on Android devices and already considered them to be superior to the iPhone experience.

Actually, as long as I’m being honest, my fanboy love for Apple products has actually been slipping in recent months. Sure, I still love my Macbook – but I’m intrigued by what Google might be able to pull off with its Chrome OS, which is in the works still. (Did you catch the recent buzz about a Google Tablet?) I absolutely like my iPod Touch for playing games, watching videos and listening to music – but I no longer feel like something in my life is missing without an iPhone.

In fact, just a few weeks ago, I might have said that I’d be the first one in line when the iPhone hits the shelves at the Verizon store – but that’s no longer the case, either. I’ve liked Android from the very beginning but I must say that I’m impressed with what Google and partners have done to up their games with the device designs, the user interfaces and even the choice in carriers. In a relatively short time, Google has made great strides in making the Android experience better.

And, as long as I’m being completely honest, I was less than impressed with what Apple announced last week with the iPad, a device that I consider to be little more than an oversized iPhone. I’m usually bullish on Apple’s product announcements – but not this time. It just didn’t do it for me. Maybe Apple could have won me over at last week’s event with news of a Verizon partnership for the iPhone or some peek at anything new for the iPhone/iPod Touch. But this event was all iPad.

It wasn’t enough.

Apple has a reputation for putting out quality products worthy of the premium price tag on them. But I can’t help but wonder if Apple is starting to become a bit – dare I say – stale with the iPhone.

Sure, there have been enhancements and new versions and so on. But there’s no variety there. All of the devices look the same, the moans and groans from developers about the process to get their apps approved is getting old and I really wish I could expand the storage on the device without having to upgrade to a more expensive model (as opposed to buying a higher-capacity SD card.)

Apple changed the game by raising the bar on smartphone functionality. Way back when, I argued that Apple could have dominated the world with smartphones the way it did with mp3 players – but that the exclusivity deal with AT&T would hold it back and give the competition the time it needed to bring an alternative to market.

These days, Apple seems to be pushing its catalog of apps, pointing to the milestones it reaches with downloads (though it doesn’t break out the difference between paid apps and free apps.) Sure, Apple may offer more apps than anyone else – but do I really need that many apps? The Android marketplace offers a nice catalog, too, and companies that I’ve talked to about their mobile strategies mention Android apps as being just as much a priority for them as an iPhone app.

So many companies flopped when it came time to challenge the iPod. Now, with the competitive target aimed squarely on the back of the iPhone, Google has stepped up to change the game and give Apple a run for its money.

Speaking of which, Motorola announced a new Android phone this morning, called the Devour (see image on left). It will run the Motoblur interface and be available on the Verizon Wireless network. My colleague Andrew Nusca has put together a quick peek at it, calling it Droid Lite.

Hmmm. Another Android to device to choose from, huh? My Apple fanboy membership card is sure to be revoked now, don’t you think?

[via ZDNet]

If the iPhone didn’t finish off Windows Mobile in the smartphone market, the Motorola Droid may.

Windows Mobile is losing the last vestiges of its mojo–if it really had any to begin with–as the Droid and other phones based on the Android 2.0 operating system push the buzz meter needle into the red zone. Many in the media–which can play a big role in steering users to one technology platform or another–sense that Windows Mobile has now been relegated resolutely to has-been status.

The Motorola Droid’s high-resolution screen.

(Credit: Verizon)

Let’s do a quick canvas of what some in the press are saying now that we’re at the start of the Droid era. A post on SFGate.com (the Web site of the San Francisco Chronicle) is, like other commentary out there, clearly dismissive of Windows Mobile. “Curiously, Microsoft is nowhere to be seen in this battle royal,” the author states, referring to the iPhone and Android.

And there’s this more damning comment from a blog at SeattlePI.com. “Rarely mentioned, however, is another player in the mobile OS market–Microsoft. Why not? Because not many people in the smartphone world seem to really give a hoot about Windows Mobile anymore.”

The litany of like articles is long. This post on PC World asks: “Has Microsoft Placed Its Last Mobile Bet?” The article cites research from Canalys showing Windows Mobile slipping from 13.9 percent of the worldwide smartphone market in 2002 to 9 percent in the second quarter of 2009.

The numbers are even less favorable in an accounting by ad service Admob, which compiles data on which operating systems are in use on mobile devices that access online ads. In August, according to AdMob, Windows Mobile had only a 4 percent share of the mobile OS market worldwide, down from 7 percent in February.

But getting back to my original premise of no mobile mojo for Windows. The fact is that consumers don’t care about Windows on smartphones. In other words, while Windows seems to be a prerequisite for many consumers when buying a PC, it just doesn’t come into play in a big way in a smartphone purchase.

This will have ramifications beyond Microsoft of course. Companies like Toshiba (and its attractive TG01 smartphone) will probably not be as successful on Windows Mobile as they would (will) be on Android 2.0. Or, at the very least, will not get the necessary buzz.

Then there’s the Intel factor. Intel also wants to be a player, eventually, in the smartphone space. If it is indeed able to beat back Texas Instruments (whose chip is used in the Droid), Samsung (iPhone), Qualcomm (BlackBerry), and Marvell, it probably won’t do it by sticking to the tried-and-true “WinTel” combination that’s been so outrageously successful in the PC space.

And Intel is chasing a fast-moving target. TI, and all the other ARM-based chip suppliers cited above, are slated to bring out dual-core designs that can hit speeds as high as 2GHz (think next-generation tablets and media pads). In other words, they’ll also be able claim the coveted speed mantle on phones, such as the Droid, where Windows Mobile is no where in sight.

So the Droid may not be the iPhone killer but rather the Windows Mobile slayer. Microsoft, of course, will always have the unassailable PC franchise. But, wait, isn’t Android coming to Netbooks next year? Maybe the real battle royal for Microsoft is yet to come.

[via cnet]

Motorola

This business of iPhone killing is a lot harder than it looks.

Putting together a package that can overtake Cupertino’s magic device has proven extremely difficult, mostly because Apple has created a tight product that is extremely elegent, fun to use and boasts not only a powerful piece of hardware but an almost infinite amount of third-party software.

But there are ways to blunt Apple’s advantage, even if you can’t go toe-to-toe with the iPhone’s overall experience. The Motorola Droid, which goes on sale today for $199.99 (after a $100 rebate), is a study in just that kind of striving.

While it doesn’t match the iPhone’s simplicity and produce the same end result, Droid creates a hugely compelling package that is the best challenger yet to the iPhone. In some ways, it even surpasses the iPhone though its list of advantages doesn’t provide the one killer punch necessary to knock the iPhone down.

Perhaps, the best edge for Droid is its network. On Verizon Wireless, the Droid has a powerful network that finds me in the nooks and valleys of San Francisco. I’ve had a better time finding a 3G signal with the Droid than with my iPhone 3GS, which is an AT&T exclusive.

This is not a trivial matter because Verizon folks are very loyal. Some have already left for the iPhone but they would love to stay on the Verizon network if possible. With a Verizon iPhone looking pretty far-fetched at this point, the Droid is a great device to keep those Verizon customers happy and away from the door.

Aesthetically, the Droid hardware won’t set any hearts on fire. Its best attribute is its beautiful 3.7-inch screen which is not only bigger than the iPhone’s but, at 854×480 with a 16:9 aspect ratio, it boasts a better resolution.

The rest of the phone design is rather ho-hum. It’s got a glossy black body framing the screen with four touch buttons for back, menu, home and search. The back of the phone has a more rubberized black matte finish with gold accents.

Despite being just about a millimeter and a half thicker than the iPhone 3GS at its thickest point, the Droid manages to hide a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Unfortunately, it’s not a great type pad. To accommodate the thin body, the buttons are flattened and offer very shallow channels to differentiate one from the other. The result is some inaccurate typing.

The biggest head scratcher is the inclusion of a directional pad just to the right of the keypad. It’s also on the same side as a lip that extends beyond the body beyond screen. What it all means is that your right thumb has to extend a lot further than your left just to type, which gets annoying.

I’m more of a fan of the virtual keyboard, which thankfully has improved auto-correct software. Even for longer messages, I was tempted to just type using the virtual keyboard in landscape rather than pull out the physical keyboard.

The Droid is the first to run Google’s Android 2.0 software. The highlight of this operating system upgrade is the inclusion of Google Maps Navigation, a free turn-by-turn direction service that works pretty well. Since it’s Internet connected, the service can also pull up live traffic, nearby searches and also Google Street View for points along your path.

Android 2.0 also provides some other nice touches including the ability to collapse contacts and information from multiple sources into one view. You can sync your contacts list from Google, Exchange and Facebook. Your different e-mail accounts can also feed into one in-box. It’s not as elegant as HTC’s Sense user interface, but it creates some intuitive connections and integration that you can’t find on the iPhone.

Some other less pointed advantages for Droid over the iPhone is its ability to multi-task, customize and support widgets. The iPhone has multi-tasking for many Apple apps but third-party apps have to be typically closed out before a user can access another application. Android lets you leave things running in the background though it doesn’t provide a huge benefit. The ability to customize your home screen with your own picture is a nice perk but hardly a game changer. The widgets, like a Facebook status update widget, can actually be pretty helpful though with only three home screen panes, they can take up some valuable real estate.

Android 2.0 also provides support for more camera features. The Droid sports a 5 megapixel camera with a LED flash and some nice effects and modes like sepia or portrait. Despite its higher megapixel count, the pictures aren’t noticeably better than the iPhone’s though the video is pretty good. The flash helps at a certain range but too close and it casts a garish glare.

One of the iPhone’s strength’s is its tight integration with iTunes. You can not only sync media easily, you can buy songs, videos and apps easily right from your iPhone. Droid offers access to Amazon’s MP3 service but there’s no equivalent to easy video downloads. You can move your own media over just by plugging your droid into a PC or Mac and dragging and dropping your files onto the Droid.

The web browser is very nice especially on the Droid’s larger screen. It’s too bad you can pinch to expand and shrink the page but double tapping is a good alternative for getting a closer look. Pulling back is more tedious, requiring multiple presses on an on-screen magnifying glass. Another addition is the ability to see thumbnails of bookmarked Web pages. Overall, I’ve gotten quite used to the user interface of Android and the way a press of the menu button or a long press takes you where you want to go. The iPhone set my expectations for responsive touch screen interfaces but Android’s experience has been easy to grasp.

Finally, the app story is still very much in Apple’s favor. It’s not just the huge numbers advantage 100,000 to Android’s 12,000 apps. But Apple just has some very polished software coming out from both independent guys and big name publishers.

In the end, the Droid doesn’t kill the iPhone so much as offer a credible alternative. The iPhone still has an edge but considering the amount of distance the Android platform has closed in just one year, you have to wonder what the competition will look like in another year. That’s where Android can press its advantage. While the internal innovation that happens on the iPhone comes from Apple engineers, Android is managing to ramp up faster because its open source nature invites innovation from a host of developers.

The days of a true iPhone killer are still not here and in truth, that title is a misnomer. Nothing’s gonna just appear and mop up the floor with the iPhone. But we’re now with the Droid and its Android successors, you’re seeing a future line-up that could turn this argument into a toss-up pretty quickly.

Jack Wallen has jumped on the Android bandwagon in a big way. Find out which features won him over.

I recently switched from my AT&T iPhone to Sprint’s HTC Hero. Now although the Hero is not a pure Android phone (it’s the HTC Sense, which is a modified form of Android), it gives the same experience that Android gives (only with an HTC “bent” to the package). Through this phone, I have come to once again enjoy my mobile experience. There are so many differences between the iPhone and the Hero, so many aspects of the Hero to really help you get your mobile geek on. But for the purposes of this article, I had to pick just 10. So I have narrowed it down to those aspects that really make the experience different from that of the iPhone.

We all know the iPhone, know how it works (or doesn’t work, in many instances). We know there is an app for just about every possible task on the planet. But an Android phone? You don’t really know an Android phone until you’ve worked with one. That’s when you’ll find how far you can push your mobile experience.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

1: Browsing

Let me first say I do like the Safari browser on the iPhone. It’s fast, it’s reliable, it’s stable. But flexible? Flash? Monopolistic? Yes Safari is the only browser for the iPhone, and that browser still does not do Flash. However, the Android browser is one of the best browsers on the mobile market. On my HTC Hero, I have Opera Mini, Dolphin, and the default Browser. I haven’t used Opera Mini since I used it a couple of times upon installation. Dolphin is outstanding, with its use of Tabs and Gestures. But the default Android browser just can’t be beat. It usually loads pages faster than Safari, has Flash support, and simply does everything a browser should do.

2: Desktop

Instead of just having icons littering your phone’s desktop (like the iPhone), the Android phone adds widgets to the desktop. These widgets tend to have an actual purpose. For example:

• The Twitter Widget allows you to update your Twitter status from your mobile desktop.
• The People Widget allows you to enable different actions for different contacts right from your desktop (say you want to call your wife with a single click and text your child from a single click).
• The Messages Widget allows you to instantly see your email from the desktop.

The Android desktop is on a completely different level from the iPhone desktop. To compare them is actually unfair. Apples to Éclairs as it were.

3: Connectivity

On one of the “pages” of my Hero desktop, I have four buttons:

• Turn on/off bluetooth
• Turn on/off Wifi
• Turn on/off Mobile Network
• Turn on/off GPS

These buttons let you instantly switch on or off the various connectivity options, which will go a long way toward conserving battery life. There is also an app in the Market called Y5, which will turn off Wi-Fi automatically when no known wireless network is available. To do any of this on the iPhone, you have to go into the Settings screen and navigate your way around the various options.

4: PC connection

Unlike the iPhone, you don’t need to have iTunes to manage your phone. Now, I say this with a bit of a chewed-up tongue because Android can’t sync with the Linux desktop yet. That’s okay for now. But Android can mount the SD card so that it is usable (via drag and drop) by any operating system. On this you can add music and files, which will then be usable on the phone. Simple.

5: Multi-notification

One of the issues I’ve always had with the iPhone is its notification system. Basically, it depends upon a single system that not all applications have access too. For instance, if you are a Twitterer, you can find out if you have updates only by opening the Twitter app on the iPhone. With Android, the apps have access to the notification system and can all report. The notification bar on the Android phone can alert you to new voice messages, email messages, Facebook notifications, new Gmail, new text messages, and much more. If an app has a notification, it can let you know quickly, and in the background.

6: Endless personalization

I hesitate to place this on the list because so many readers seem to think user-configuration is worthless. It’s not. The Android phone allows users to configure their mobile to look and behave exactly how they want it. If you’re a social network power user, you can have a screen for Facebook, one for Twitter, one for texting, and one for Flickr. Or if you are a business user, you can have a screen for contacts, for your calendar, for gmail, for email, for RSS, and more. Not only can you configure the desktop the way you want, you can configure the behavior of your phone. Set up default actions for different contacts — even add an entirely different desktop, should you want. The possibilities are endless with the Android phone. With the iPhone, you’re pretty much limited to what Apple says.

7: Market

Yes, Apple has an app for that. But so does Android. And chances are, the Android app is free and works as well (or better) than the iPhone app. And, believe it or not, there are thousands of apps in the Android Market. Apple does not (at least yet) have a patent on an application for just about everything. Give it time though. And installing applications on your Android phone is actually easier than it is on the iPhone. For free applications, you don’t have to worry about entering a password every time you try to install anything. And you do not have to link to Apple’s iTunes store to purchase applications from the Android Market. For those apps that have a price, you enter your information on the Google Market one time and you’re done.

8: Google integration

This one is almost not fair, since Android was built with the intention of integrating with Google. But wow does it integrate well. Want to search Google? Simply click the search button, enter your search string, and you’re off and running. Did I mention Google Voice? Yes, the Android has an app for that.

9: Open Source

Why does being open make Android better than iPhone? For the same reason that being open helps Linux: a planet full of developers with the ability to aid Android’s developers. Anyone can get access to the source of Android to better the system. This is also a double-edged sword, in that it allows those will less-than-ideal intentions to discover any weakness of the phone. But that can be seen as an indirect plus because when weaknesses are found in the open source community, they are quickly fixed. I assume that this tradition will extend to the Android phone. iPhone open? You’re kidding right?

10: Open to carriers

This is yet another reason why Android is superior. If you want an iPhone (at least for the time being), you better be open to AT&T. If you don’t like AT&T and you still want an iPhone, you better be open to doing a little jail breaking or move to another country. If you want an Android phone, you can join any number of carriers and have your choice of any number of outstanding phones using Android. No lock down.

Your take

What do you think: Are these reasons enough to get you to move from your iPhone to an Android phone? If not, tell us why you prefer the iPhone. And if you aren’t sure, just grab an Android phone and play around with it. You might quickly change your mind.

[via TechRepublic]

To stay ahead of AT&T and Apple, Verizon is placing a big bet on Android smartphones and other new gadgets

Can Verizon Wireless keep its spot as the leading wireless company in the U.S. if it doesn’t have the industry’s hottest phone?

Lowell McAdam, the company’s chief executive, is trying to make the case that it can. Two years ago, Verizon Wireless passed on the chance to become the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Apple (AAPL) iPhone and pushed Apple into the arms of rival AT&T (T). Since then the iPhone has become a megahit, helping AT&T close the gap with Verizon. In the most recent quarter, AT&T added 2 million wireless subscribers, bringing its total to 81.6 million, while Verizon Wireless added 1.2 million, for a total of 89 million.

Now, McAdam is launching a slew of products designed to keep Verizon ahead. In the fourth quarter the company is rolling out its largest new-product lineup ever: 14 devices, vs. half that number a year ago. Among those will be two netbooks and five smartphones, including the Droid phone from Motorola (MOT), a sleek device with a touchscreen and keyboard that runs on Google’s (GOOG) Android operating system. The new products are backed by an unusually aggressive marketing campaign. In one TV spot, Verizon takes direct aim at Apple with a series of “iDon’t” quips that explain all the things an iPhone can’t do. “The Droid can compete head to head” with the iPhone, says John Stratton, chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless.

Too Many New Offerings?

Verizon’s strategy is bold but risky. With the Droid and another phone from HTC, Verizon is placing a big bet on the unproven Android. The software is popular with techies and has attracted enough support from developers that 10,000 apps are available for download to Android phones, but it hasn’t yet caught on with consumers. In addition, Verizon risks confusing customers with the sheer number of devices it’s introducing. “Greater choice is not a guarantee of a greater quarter,” says Richard Doherty, research director at Envisioneering Group.

McAdam and Stratton are firing up Verizon’s marketing machinery to win over consumers. The Droid will be backed by Verizon’s biggest marketing campaign ever for a single device, and total marketing spending will increase 5% to 10% in the current quarter from last year. Stratton says the anti-Apple vibe will be toned down in favor of ads that underscore the features of its phones and the reliability of its network compared with AT&T’s. Verizon has said it is still interested in selling the iPhone if Apple is amenable.

Verizon is experimenting with new marketing approaches. For several weeks in November, the company has rented time on two huge electronic billboards in New York’s Times Square that will show real-time results of searches people make on their Android phones. Verizon is also planning to transform Droid, the moniker for the Motorola phone, into a brand name for a whole lineup of Android devices.

Google Could Be the Key

Verizon’s success may ultimately depend on how the partnership with Google works out. As cell phones become more sophisticated computing devices, wireless companies need Silicon Valley firepower to compete. Google has helped boost the number of wireless applications available on Android phones, but analysts say it has to step up its marketing of Android to gain ground on Apple. “When the iPhone was associated with Apple iTunes, that really meant a lot to consumers,” says Ken Dulaney, an analyst at researcher Gartner (IT). “You want to know that the [Android] app store is being run by Google.”

By Spencer E. Ante

[via BusinessWeek]

We’ve covered a couple of Distimo reports in the past because they provide us with some valuable insights on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market based on the startup’s in-depth analysis of publicly available data. Now the company has added RIM’s Blackberry App World store to the fray, which gives us even more data points to compare the rivals’ app pricing and whatnot.

In the latest report (September 2009), Distimo notes software programs for Blackberry devices are considerably more expensive than comparable apps for competing devices/platforms.

In fact, the average price for apps is more than three times higher than the one for similar apps in the App Store and Android Market, which is sort of unbelievable. There’s not a single category where the average price of an app is lower than its equivalent on the latter two application storefronts, and the more serious, business-related tools are definitely much more expensive. Just look at the difference in fees for apps in such categories as Finance, Productivity, Reference, News, Utility/Tools and particularly, Navigation/Travel in the chart below.

Research In Motion has traditionally targeted more of a business audience with its product line, but is that enough of an explanation why developers are pricing their mobile software programs so much higher than their equivalents on the competing platforms? Or are Blackberry users simply more willing (and able) to pay for apps? If so, than the higher pricing is merely a result of simple relation between offer and demand.

Either way, the difference in pricing is quite clear.

Update: as commenter Cameron correctly points out, the minimum listing price for apps that get distributed on App World is $2.99, which is part of the explanation of the huge pricing differences (I doubt it’s the only reason). Note that the store is open for free applications as well (if they generate revenue after download).

The chart also shows pricing of apps for the most popular listings in Apple’s App Store and Android Market are rather similar, with only Social Networking, Navigation & Travel and Productivity showing a bit of difference in asking pricing.

[via TechCrunch]

Starting this year and rolling into 2010, expect to see a slew of new smartphones, ranging from Google’s Android platform to Windows Mobile, capable of displaying Flash-powered content and video in their Web browsers. And what about the iPhone, you ask? Good question.Adobe announced early Monday that its Flash Player 10.1 for desktop PCs, netbooks, and smartphones (indeed, Adobe is calling its latest Flash Player the first to allow “uncompromised Web browsing” on mobile devices) is poised for launch, promising public betas of the Windows Mobile and WebOS (think Palm Pre) players by later this year. Android and Symbian (read: Nokia) support should come by early 2010, with BlackBerrys also on board, although no dates have been set.

PreCentral.net has video showing Flash support on the Palm Pre in action, and it looks mighty impressive. In the video, an Adobe rep shows off a Flash-powered game, then follows up by zooming in to a Flash music player on the Black Eyed Peas Web site; finally, we’re treated to a movie trailer on Yahoo! Movies.

The rep explains that the new Flash Player support such smartphone features as multi-touch gestures (such as “pinching” and “zooming”) and accelerometers (for turning the screen to landscape mode), and that the player will be able to keep multiple Flash instances running on multitasking phones (like the Pre) without ripping through the battery.

So yes … at last, no more surfing the Web on your smartphone only to see warnings that “You must have Adobe Flash Player installed to view this content.”

Pretty cool, but wait … when’s Flash Player 10.1 coming to the iPhone, again?

Well, Adobe didn’t mention the iPhone in its announcement today, and indeed, Adobe and Apple have had a rocky relationship when it comes to mobile Flash. Last year, Steve Jobs dismissed the existing desktop version of Flash as “too slow to be useful” on the iPhone, and said that Flash Lite—Adobe’s previous Flash app for smartphones—”is not capable of being used with the Web.”

Later in 2008, an Adobe staffer said that a version of the Flash Player was in the works, but that since the iPhone was a “closed platform,” Apple would have to give the OK before releasing the player on the App Store.

Since then … crickets.

So, will Apple bow to the pressure and finally get with the Flash program, especially given the speedier processor in the new iPhone 3GS? Time will tell.

[via Yahoo Tech]

The Yahoo Search Marketing Blog announced that your search ads will now automatically be displayed on iPhone & Android mobile phones. Yes, Yahoo said, this is an automatic opt in for all advertisers. Yahoo said, “As of today, your ads should begin appearing immediately on these devices for relevant searches, if they have not already.” Yahoo boasted, if you didn’t have your ads on mobile devices, then “we’ve done it for you.” I assume there is an easy way to opt out, if you specifically do not want to show your ads on these devices?

Here is a picture of the ads:

Yahoo Search Mobile Ads There are also ads at the bottom of the search results. For more information about mobile search ads from Yahoo go to searchmarketing.yahoo.com/mobile.

by Barry Schwartz

[via search engine land]