Getjar Gold offers Android users apps for free

The Getjar Gold launched to target Android users makes full versions of premium apps accessible to them, for free. The same apps costing up to $10 on Amazon App Store or Android Market can now be availed for no cost at all.
Getjar has about 30 million active monthly users downloading freeapps and now Android users too can enjoy apps like Age of Zombies, TuneIn Radio Pro, Solo, Paper Glider and Splashtop Remote Desktop, with just a click. The company works by offering a win-win scenario for everyone involved. While the consumers receive free apps, developers obtain remuneration and the increased site traffic, generated by the program, in turn benefits advertisers.
“We are able to develop programs like GetJar Gold because of our open and free business model,” shares Ilja Laurs, CEO and Founder of GetJar. “We regret that at this time we cannot extend our program to iPhone users, as Apple runs a closed ecosystem that does not allow for competing app distributors like GetJar. Unfortunately, iPhone users will have to continue paying for the very same apps that their Android counterparts enjoy for free.”
The developers are paid on a per-install basis and with free apps being downloaded 10 to 20 times more often than paid apps, they receive more exposure. Thus, the services rendered at Getjar, leave their consumers, developers and advertisers happy. iPhone users however will not be able to avail these services.
The Getjar Gold has free apps available from categories like gaming, entertainment to productivity and more for Android users.

Gurk, the 8-bit RPG

With all these high-end, octo-core phones being released with some of the most cutting edge and powerful GPU’s capable of advanced 3D graphics — this game wont require any of that. In fact, Gurk, the 8-bit RPG is merely a 100KB download of the most purest, old-school RPG fun.

Alright — I know most of you took one look at those screen shots and immediately ran for the hills. I did too. In fact, I laughed. But don’t let these cheesy 8-bit visuals fool you. Underneath this games pixeled exterior is a surprisingly deep and well thought out RPG. With over 24 dungeon levels, 44 different items and 23 unique monsters — seriously, you’re just going to have to try it for yourself.

After giving the game a chance, I couldn’t believe I was actually having fun with it. It may not look amazing, but it’s definitely worth a look. You can find Gurk, the 8-bit RPG for free in the Android Market right now.

Next iteration of Android to be called Jelly Bean

The Android platform has taken us all by surprise with its features and functionalities over the past couple of years. But there is another thing that the Android platform is known for. We’re talking about the rather strange names for its OS updates.

Starting all the way back from Android 1.5 Cupcake, Google decided to name the OS updates after desserts or sweets in alphabetical order. Today we’ll discuss the Android version which is to succeed the Ice Cream Sandwich or Android 4.0 update. The Ice Cream Sandwich interestingly is still awaiting release somewhere around next month or the month after that. Well, the successor to Ice Cream Sandwich is to be called “Jelly Bean”, which doesn’t seem strange given Google’s policy with the naming of OS updates.

Well, there is no word from Google on this, but we feel Jelly Bean will be pretty much it. As for the OS version and other additional info, we will have to wait till the very last minute since Google doesn’t give out that info till the OS update is ready to roll out. But it has been reported that the Jelly Bean update will have a lot more features in its inventory than Ice Cream Sandwich which will come as bad news to the users waiting for the Ice Cream Sandwich update.

It is also being said that all the features that were promised with Ice Cream Sandwich will be moved to Jelly Bean. This could mean that the Ice Cream Sandwich update is just another update with a couple of not so surprising features. But well, since all of this is still a rumor so we recommend you to take it with a pinch of salt.

All is to be revealed with the Ice Cream Sandwich update which will break cover soon. As of now we know that Ice Cream Sandwich will be a bridge between Gingerbread and Honeycomb, meaning a unified OS bringing in the best of both worlds. Let’s hope the rumors are false and we get to see some real action with Ice Cream Sandwich.

Netflix now finally, fully supports Android

Instead of adding in support for specific Android phones every few weeks, Netflix has now opened up its app to everyone with Android 2.2 or 2.3.

That means anyone who goes out and buys a new Android phone today will be able to stream Netflixmovies and TV shows without worrying about whether or not that specific handset is supported.

The only people who still can't access Netflix are those with existing phones running a lower version of Android, which only encompasses those who have an outdated phone anyway. The major update now gives Netflix access to about 80% of allAndroid devices.

One word of caution, though, is that devices running Android 3.0, the specialized tablet version of Android, are not included in the sweeping update. They only account for around 1% of all Android devices, but products like the Xoom, Galaxy Tab, and Thrive are still on a trial basis for Netflix.

For many Android users, Netflix's slow rollout seemed frustrating. The online video giant originally released an Android app some months ago, but most users who downloaded it couldn't do anything with it. Slowly, Netflix began adding support on a phone-by-phone basis, adding random handsets without any real rhyme or reason. Some blogs suggested the company was only testing it with theAndroid phones that its employees happened to have on hand.

The same phenomenon is happening with Hulu Plus right now, with only scattered devices supported for that app. It all stems from concerns over video playback compatibility as well as the digital rights management (DRM) that needs to be incorporated.

Clearly, fragmentation continues to be a problem with Android.