Amazon's Appstore for Android is well-executed and poised for success

The Store works as advertised, which might be bad news for Verizon's efforts.

Two big Google (GOOG) Android stores launched this week.  Verizon(VZ) launched its VCast Apps for Android on the new Thunderbolt LTE Handset late last week and this morning, after a slight delay and a last minute trademark lawsuit by Apple, Amazon(AMZN) launched their Appstore.

Amazon's Appstore

Both claim to be a more curated app buying process.  However, they are a study in contrasts. More

Posted in: Amazon.com, Android, AngryBirds, app, Apple, appstore, Google, Verizon

• Bloomberg releases its Android app

  The full featured app signals the rise of Android in business.

  Google's (GOOG) Android platform is starting to make significant inroads into businesses.  One sure-fire indicator is that Bloomberg has released an Android app for their news readers on Google's smartphone platform.  Android Bloomberg users were previously able to access their information via a mobile web interface but the new app is a "richer, more interactive, and engaging experience".

  One unique (and MORE

  Seth Weintraub - Sep 30, 2010 2:57 PM ET
  Posted in: Android, app, BBY, Bloomberg, Business, GOOG

• Amazon builds Kindle for the Web, eyes Android tablet?

  This morning Amazon released a new Kindle Web interface, but their plans don't stop there if recent rumors are true.

  It makes perfect sense.  You can read your Kindle books on your iPad, your Kindle, your Android device and your PC or Mac with a dedicated app.  Why not just make a Kindle reader for your browser?  That will be a pretty important feature if Google's ChromeOS, which doesn't let users MORE

  Seth Weintraub - Sep 28, 2010 11:42 AM ET
  Posted in: Amazon, Android, app, Kindle, Store, Web

• Microsoft builds Bing Search App for Android

  Pigs are flying over a frozen river of Hades.

  In case you like Google (GOOG) for its AndroidOS but hate their search engine, Microsoft (MSFT) has built a Bing Search Engine.    For now, like Skype, it is only available on Verizon's Android phones.

  The Bing app has some interesting features that may or may not grab some customers:

  The app homepage features the Bing image of the day, flickable back seven days
  The image MORE

  Seth Weintraub - Aug 30, 2010 4:11 PM ET
  Posted in: Android, app, Bing, Microsoft

• Apple Store app crashes on launch

  A bad day to invite customers to purchase products "from the convenience of their iPhone"

  Tuesday was a busy day for Apple (AAPL). Very busy.

  The company refreshed its Mac mini line. It started taking pre-orders for the iPhone 4. And it launched a free Apple Store app. According to the press release:

  "The new Apple Store app makes it easy for US customers with an iPhone or iPod touch to find an MORE

  Philip Elmer-DeWitt - Jun 15, 2010 10:24 AM ET
  Posted in: app, Apple, Apple Store, iPhone, iPhone 4, Mac mini

• Kindle app for Android surpasses iPhone

  Google's 'more open' application environment allows Amazon to build the bookstore into the app.

  On the iPhone, you can read your Kindle books using Amazon's WhisperSync technology. Implementing it however, involved a bit of a workaround for Amazon.

  If you want to buy an Amazon book on an iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch), you need to exit the Kindle application, open a web browser, and buy the book with your Amazon MORE

  Seth Weintraub - May 18, 2010 1:22 PM ET
  Posted in: Amazon, Android, app, Google, iPhone, Kindle