Success on iPhone, Temple Run entering Android

Temple Run, games that previously only available on iOS, officially entered the Android platform, Tuesday (03/27/2012). This game is very popular among the users of iPhone and iPad, it's downloaded up to 40 million times.

As in iOS, this game also will be free on Android, but using Freemium / In App Purchases concept.

Revenues from this game also will be similar on iOS, which is from coins that must be purchased by game players to power up. With this power up, the game characters that played will be able passed the trip along eponymous temple with  more powered.

The story in this game is about game main character who escaped after stealing an idol on temple. Throughout the escape, the character will be chased by black birds.

To avoid this, players must shaking the phone left and right. Game character should collect as much as possible coins in order to still lives and remain strong running and avoid the birds.

With this gameplay, Temple Run achieved a significant increase in the number of downloads on iOS. In the first six months after its release, Temple Run has become the most popular free applications on iTunes Store.

Temple Run is actually scheduled for release on the Android platform on February 2012. However, for reasons that are not published, Imangi Studios delayed release schedule to March 27th, 2012.

Now,  Android users can downloaded Temple Run from Google Play Store.

Google Play Store, New Name of Android Application Center

Google changed the name of its online store from a Android Market Store to Google Play Store, since Tuesday (03/06), a step taken to compete more closely with Amazon and Apple who first have a similar services.

With the changes, it means the users of the Android-system can access all applications, videos, music, and Google electronic books now have to accessed on Google Play Store.

"People see Android  icons on screen and they think it's (online shop) only sell applications," said Chris Yerga, director of Android digital content, Monday (03/05).

The new name (Google Play Store) was introduced three and a half years after Google launched the Android Market as a center to download a variety of mobile applications for their Android and tablet-based phones.

Yerga continued, "Our goal is to bring more people into our online store,"

Android operating system is number one in the world, and used in various devices from various brands, including Samsung, Sony, Motorola, and HTC.

There has been more than 450,000 Android-based applications provided by third-party developers at Google Play Store, Apple is still far behind, who has been provided 550 000 applications.

Real Football 2012 Present for Andorid

Gameloft recently announced that the Real Football 2012 game was able to played on the Android platform. The game will be equipped with a stamina gauge mode.

As reported by Softpedia, Saturday (02/11/2012), since its launch, Real Football 2012 has reached a  4.2 value rating based on 300 votes gamers who download and install the game.

Developers add stamina gauge mode after previously received variety of input and review from the gamers. The source said, the stamina gauge mode on Android platform is intended to keep the game competitively by challenging gamers to be able to increase the  team stamina, but the addition of stamina and recovery teams had to be purchased through the app store in the game.

Gamer responses are diverse, they complained that the stamina mode was a cunning, because gamers are required to pay to start the match, or if do not want to pay, gamers have to be patient waiting for a day to recover the stamina.

Google Tightens the Android Market Security

Increasing the amount of malware that infiltrated the Android Market makes Google should tighten the security of its application store.

Google also deployed Bouncer, their security services that working to scan all new applications uploaded by developer to the Android Market. Bouncer will 'sweep' suspicious application that potentially spread of malicious programs.

Reported by Reuters on Friday (02.03.2012), Bouncer also analyze new developer account in order to prevent similar 'villains' to distribute malware.

"The most important thing is wether this malicious applications are installed from the Android Market or not. And we know, the level has started to decline significantly," said Hiroshi Lockheimer, Vice President of Engineering at Google's Android division.

By implementing Bouncer,  Lockheimer claimed there is a decrease  malware applications download for 40 percent in the Android Market.

Bouncer usage marks a new direction for Google's security system. So far, Google is considered less strictly manages the application store. Compared with its competitors Apple, the company is managing the App Store through the various stages evaluation until appropriate to download.

Is it True that Android Counterclank Dangerous?

Symantec categorizes Android Counterclank as malware that warrant concern, but Lookout Security actually thought it was just a new platform the advertisers.

Through the official blog, Symantec reveals the findings of their latest malware called Android Counterclank. The program was found sneaking in the 13th outstanding applications in the Android Market.

Different from Symantec, Lookout Mobile Security that also an antivirus program company considers Android.Counterclank malware is not as said Symantec, but only a new platform to sell advertising.

"Until now, it (counterclank) seen as a means of advertising that slightly encroach privacy, not a harmful malware. But it must still be considered and we will try to find the solution," wrote Lookout.

Well, a disagreement these two antivirus vendors would confuse the Android users. Then, what does Android.Counterclank is dangerous?

Although both vendors are different in views, but both have now agreed that Android.Counterclank can not be categorized as malware in general. Still, the existence must be aware. Because, Android.Counterclank not only violates privacy limits, but also forces the user to refer to a particular site and displays very annoying notification.

Quoted from PCMag, Saturday (02/04/2012), although not a variant of malware, however Android Counterclank can change the browser home page and add the bookmark without knowledge of the mobile phone owners.

Symantec: Android Virus Coming from Ad Network

Antivirus maker, Symantec, said that the viruses that was found in 13 applications from the Android Market attacked via the ad network in the program. These application have been downloaded by millions of Android users.

Symantec called the 13th applications as "Android Counterclank" and classified as a Trojan horse or malware. Symantec also found that the application is also indicated like "Android TonClank", which is also called Plankton. This type is found on the Symantec research at the University of North Carolina State in June 2011.

Android application that consists of Counterclank Android code has been downloaded 1 million to 5 million times. "This is a malware with the largest number of downloads. Generally, this malware will change the appearance of a browser, add a desktop shortcut, and delete bookmarks," said Kevin Haley, Director of Symantec Security to Computer World.

Symantec has reported 13th applications that contain Android Counterclank code to Google, but Google refused to withdraw it from the Android Market. According to Google, these applications do not violate the policy.

Symantec understood why the attacks are so easily entered the Android applications. Android applications are available with very cheap, even for free, so users do not have a lot of thinking to install any application available on Android Market. Users could not distinguish code that containing viruses, malware, spyware, or adware.

"We hope in future could inform the user about security status of the applications that are available in Android Market," said Haley.

Symantec is not the only one Antivirus company who rejected Google. Look Security, Symantec competititor, had previously been rejected by Google about the claims of the applications that are affected the virus.

Valve Launches Steam Mobile for iOS and Android

 Good news for gamers, especially who now frequently play mobile games. Yes, Steam Mobile is currently available on the iPhone and the iPod Touch. Steam can also be run on the iPad, but unfortunately still in the non-optimized version. Besides present in  Apple products, Steam is also present in Android. So, is now the gamers can play the game in steam on a smartphone?

The answer to the above question so far is "can not". So, although there has been Steam Mobile, gamers can not yet enjoy the game in steam at each smartphone. At the moment, the Steam android app is more to facilitate the users to be able see the other steam users who are online and chat with each other through chat features that are served, select a community group, see user profiles, see screenshots, and more. Then the user can also make purchases and monitor Mac or Windows games discount which sold on Steam.

Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve said that the decision released this application arises from the many requests directly from customers. Unfortunately the application which is actually made by valve is still in limited beta stage. To use this Steam Android application, you only need to download free applications and log into your Steam account



I personally think even if they do not sell mobile games or run the game in this application, this step is the right step to build a community that will be loyal to the released products the company concerned. Mobile technology has succeeded changing the way people interact, enjoy the news, get news, and others. Therefore, the way of a products promotion in digital also must be able to follow the changes produced earlier. And it seems this is what might be is trying by Valve with this Steam Android apps.