When T-Mobile started selling the G1 handset last October in the US and UK, expectations were high. It was the first smartphone to run Google's Android operating system, which was widely heralded as having the potential to provide stiff competion for Apple's iPhone.
Has it? Not yet, but as the year has gone on, there have been more signs that Android is picking up traction with handset makers, operators and application developers.
As we approach its first birthday, it looks set to become an important platform for mobile entertainment firms and the wider mobile industry.

Or, as Google CEO Eric Schmidt put it in its Q3 financials conference call: “Android adoption is literally about to explode. You have all the necessary conditions. You have the vendors, you have the distribution, and so forth.”
The key to the optimism around Android right now is handsets. It was a slow start, with the G1 quickly selling a million units, but precious few handsets following in its wake. Mobile World Congress this year – predicted to be an Android-fest – yielded only one significant new Android phone, HTC's Magic.
However, that too went on to sell a million units in just four months, thanks to a deal with Vodafone. Since then, the pace of new handset announcements has picked up. There are now 12 Android phones available through 32 operators in 26 countries, with more already announced.
They include HTC’s Hero and Tattoo, LG’s GW620 and Acer’s Liquid smartphone. Meanwhile, Motorola is hoping its Dext handset will help it make a comeback, while social handset maker INQ has confirmed that its first Android phone will go on sale in 2010.
Earlier this year, analyst Strategy Analytics predicted that eight million Android handsets will ship by the end of 2009 – an estimate that could prove conservative given Google's own claim that 18-20 new Android phones will have been announced by then.
There was even a rumour this summer that Nokia was preparing to unveil its first Android handset, although this has turned out (so far) to be untrue.
Don't forget that Android can be used for other devices too. Acer is one of the companies putting it in netbooks, while Archos recently showed off its Archos 5 Internet tablet, which runs Android and comes with its own dedicated AppsLib app store.
There is even an Android-powered handheld gaming device, Hardkernal's ODROID, which is looking to take on PSP and DS.
One of the reasons handset makers like Android is the way they can customise it by layering their own user interfaces on top.
Motorola's MOTOBLUR, which will debut in the Dext, is a good example. It syncs people's contacts, posts, messages and photos from social networking sites including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Gmail and Last.fm, delivering them to the homescreen of the phone. It's an Android handset, but MOTOBLUR is all Motorola.
HTC has also rolled out its own souped-up Android UI, called Sense. Available on the Hero (with the Tattoo to follow), it includes widgets, 'scenes' to offer different homescreens based on the time of day, more social network aggregation, and a visually arresting 'perspectives' content interface.
Meanwhile, Sony Ericsson has shown off its own beautiful Android UI, codenamed Rachael. This ability to customise Android shouldn't be underestimated – it lets handset makers take advantage of Google's smartphone OS while retaining some control over the user experience.
However, it's also true to say Android isn't the only smartphone OS that's capable of this - HTC is taking Sense to Windows Mobile too.
In time, operators may also launch their own customised Android handsets too. Verizon Wireless announced a major partnership with Google this month to start selling Android phones, although Vodafone opted for Linux for its new Vodafone 360 initiative, which seemed tailor-made for the Android treatment.
There is excitement around Android phones, but what about its App Store. Here, Google has faced more criticism, particularly from developers.
The topline stats released by Google look good enough: 10,000 apps are now available on the store, with users having downloaded an average of 40 apps to their handsets. 80% of Android users download at least one app per week.
However, there are problems, summarised neatly by AdMob's estimate that Android Market is only generating $5 million of paid app sales a month, compared to iPhone's App Store's $200 million.
Free apps are doing very well on Android, but paid apps are not. Puzzle game Trism, for example, famously made $250,000 in two months on iPhone for its developer, but has sold less than 500 copies on Android, meaning a paltry return of $1,500.
It's partly down to billing, as unlike Apple, Google doesn't get credit-card details from every user when they activate their handset. In the additional absence of operator billing, Android Market requires users to pay via the Google Checkout system instead.
Meanwhile, developers complain that their paid apps are swamped by freebies, and that the ...

While Android 1.6 is still writhing around in amniotic fluid, BGR had the nerve to publish shots of version 2.0 "Eclair," which doesn't even have a formal due date yet. They look great. Sorry, 1.6: I'm already over you.

http://gizmodo.com/5383485/android-2...ace-sick-speed ...

The PlayStation Portable continued to outsell both the PlayStation 3 and Wii in Japan this week following the price cut of the 3000 model.

Sales were down slightly on last week however, to 40,100 from 51,215. The cheaper, slim PlayStation 3 held its number three position in the hardware chart with 30,896 units sold, and the lower priced Wii sold 30,741.

Still holding onto the top spot was the DSi, with 50,144. Sales of all platforms were down this week on last, and all of the consoles held their retrospective positions from last week.

In the software chart, Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver retook the top position, despite a 29 per cent slump in sales. Last week's number one, Wii Fit Plus, dropped to second place with an even more significant sales drop of 55 per cent.

The one new entry into the top ten was Atlus's Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey, which made its debut at number three.

Inazuma Eleven 2 dropped from number two to four and Gran Turismo Portable from four to six.

DS games Love Plus and Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Starry Sky moved from their respective 13 and 12 positions into the top ten at nine and ten.

Further down in the chart, Blue Dragon: Ikai no Kyoujuu on DS entered at number 17, White Knight Chronicles at number 19, Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga at number 22 and Phantasy Star Portable Best at number 29.

The full Media Create Japanese hardware chart for the week October 6-12 is as follows:

01 Nintendo DSi - 50,144
02 PlayStation Portable - 40,100
03 PlayStation 3 - 30,896
04 Nintendo Wii - 30,741
05 DS Lite - 5,454
06 Xbox 360 - 3,326
07 PlayStation 2 - 2,133
The full games chart for the week October 5-11 is as follows:

01 Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver (DS)
02 Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
03 Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (DS)
04 Inazuma Eleven 2: Threat of the Invaders (DS)
05 Tomodachi Collection (DS)
06 Gran Turismo Portable (PSP)
07 Wii Sports Resort (Wii)
08 Macross Ultimate Frontier (PSP)
09 Love Plus (DS)
10 Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Starry Sky (DS)

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...d-ps3-in-japan ...

40 per cent of game buyers have purchased a game on impulse in the last six months, according to a new Canadian study conducted by The NPD Group. These impulse purchases, it speculates, are attributable to creative packaging, online accessibility and a rise in the availability of low cost pre-owned games.

The large percentage of shoppers buying on impulse coincides with a rise in used games, which has flourished during the recession to be worth USD 65 million in sales.

"Clearly gamers are becoming much less reluctant to spend on games," said Matthew Tattle, group manager of The NPD Group. "One would think it is a little unusual to see impulse purchases during a recession but it's clear that hardcore gamers will find a way to satisfy their need for something new, different and enjoyable."

The majority of impulse buyers selected low price as the primary driver behind their purchases with the average spend totalling USD 27.19 compared to USD 42.97 for planned purchases.

Packaging and merchandising were also key factors, with 40 per cent saying game packaging - either images or the game's description - was very or extremely important to them, and 25 per cent indicating in-store demonstrations of the game swayed them into buying.

Additionally, the study, entitled The Canadian Video Game Purchase Process, found that females were more likely to buy on impulse than males, and that 15 per cent of the impulse purchases were made through online transactions.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...buy-on-impulse ...

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg has said that he fully expects the PlayStation 3 to have outsold the Xbox 360 in September, but Microsoft will still outperform its console rival in the long-term.

Speaking ahead of the release of NPD data for the month – since moved back until Monday due to processing issues – Greenberg also said that price cuts on rival hardware was of no concern to Microsoft.

"It is not a real concern to us – in fact, I can tell you to that when NPD releases September sales... we fully expect PlayStation 3 will come in as the console with the most units sold for the month," Greenberg told Game Informer.

"This is frankly not a real surprise to us or the analysts that follow this industry, as it is typical to see a short term bump following the introduction of new hardware and pricing into the marketplace."

Since Sony introduced a new slim PlayStation 3 and a price cut, the company sold over one million units in three weeks. The entire industry in the US is expected to have rebound during September, after six months of slumping sales.

Despite being outsold in September, Microsoft is looking at the long-term view, said Greenberg.

"What I can tell you is we remain confident that Xbox 360 will not only outsell PS3 for the full calendar year, but for this entire generation."

Greenberg pointed to Sony losing money on sales of PlayStation 3 hardware, asking if it was a sustainable business, and stating that Microsoft has diversified to attain profitability.

"It’s about the entire ecosystem and investing in the future; something we are very focused on," he said.

"There is also the whole financial side of the equation that people rarely seem to pay attention to. Sony, for example, has publicly noted that they lose money on every console they sell and with the price cut, they’re now losing even more money – so even with the PS3 in the market today at $299, you have to question if their business model is sustainable.

"I believe this generation Microsoft has really diversified the business model and the economics of the industry today is that our business is about not just hardware, but also software and services.

"These multiple revenue streams provide not only economies of scale for us and our partners, but award us the benefit of having a profitable business, which in turn allows us to continually invest in the future and remain focused on delivering new experiences and expanding our audience," he added.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...hort-term-bump ...

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg has said that he fully expects the PlayStation 3 to have outsold the Xbox 360 in September, but Microsoft will still outperform its console rival in the long-term.

Speaking ahead of the release of NPD data for the month – since moved back until Monday due to processing issues – Greenberg also said that price cuts on rival hardware was of no concern to Microsoft.

"It is not a real concern to us – in fact, I can tell you to that when NPD releases September sales... we fully expect PlayStation 3 will come in as the console with the most units sold for the month," Greenberg told Game Informer.

"This is frankly not a real surprise to us or the analysts that follow this industry, as it is typical to see a short term bump following the introduction of new hardware and pricing into the marketplace."

Since Sony introduced a new slim PlayStation 3 and a price cut, the company sold over one million units in three weeks. The entire industry in the US is expected to have rebound during September, after six months of slumping sales.

Despite being outsold in September, Microsoft is looking at the long-term view, said Greenberg.

"What I can tell you is we remain confident that Xbox 360 will not only outsell PS3 for the full calendar year, but for this entire generation."

Greenberg pointed to Sony losing money on sales of PlayStation 3 hardware, asking if it was a sustainable business, and stating that Microsoft has diversified to attain profitability.

"It’s about the entire ecosystem and investing in the future; something we are very focused on," he said.

"There is also the whole financial side of the equation that people rarely seem to pay attention to. Sony, for example, has publicly noted that they lose money on every console they sell and with the price cut, they’re now losing even more money – so even with the PS3 in the market today at $299, you have to question if their business model is sustainable.

"I believe this generation Microsoft has really diversified the business model and the economics of the industry today is that our business is about not just hardware, but also software and services.

"These multiple revenue streams provide not only economies of scale for us and our partners, but award us the benefit of having a profitable business, which in turn allows us to continually invest in the future and remain focused on delivering new experiences and expanding our audience," he added.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...hort-term-bump ...

The NPD Group has delayed the release of September's US game sales data following last minute processing issues.

The market research firm will now release the awaited hardware and software sales figures, due out today, on Monday October 19.

NPD's August data revealed some good news for the industry as unit sales of all hardware (with the exception of PlayStation 2) increased month-on-month following price cuts.

However price cuts for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 came late in August and - although they still made an impact on sales - their full effect wasn't expected to be seen until September. The Wii price cut - actioned at the end of September - is also likely to have impacted on sales of the Nintendo platform.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-sales-figures ...

Sony has confirmed a new stand alone 250GB PlayStation slim model, to be released next month.

The new hardware will launch on November 3, and will sell for $349.99 in North America.

"The PS3 platform is poised for a tremendous holiday season," offered Scott Steinberg, vice president of product marketing for Sony US.

"The new 250GB PS3 provides consumers with another compelling hardware option and speaks to the growing consumer appetite for digital content from the PlayStation Network – particularly high-definition content that showcases the power of the PS3 system."

The new model is the same form factor as the recently released 120GB slim model, and is aimed at consumers looking for more storage for digital content.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...3-for-november ...

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G17 has released a new version of the Snes emulator for the Dingoo, heres whats new:


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