Twitter Intros Official Android App

Twitter has launched its official application for accessing the microblogging site through smartphones running Google's Android operating system.

Twitter for Android makes it possible to share links or photos on the site by clicking the share button in an application and choosing Twitter. In addition, the smartphone app makes it possible to read tweets, the short messages Twitter users broadcast on the site to friends and followers, on a number of different places on an Android phone.

For example, the Twitter timeline can be viewed through the phone's home screen widget and a tweet location can be seen on a map. In addition, tweets can be accessed through the phone's phonebook, on Google Talk, or through any other application that uses Android's QuickContact bar.

Twitter introduced the application Friday and posted screenshots of it on the Twitter blog. The social network said Google would open-source the code used in the application in the near future, making it possible for developers to use the Twitter application programming interfaces in their Android apps.

The Twitter for Android app is available for phones running Android 2.1 or later, which would include Google's Nexus One and the new HTC Droid Incredible. However, the requirement means older phones, and even some new phones, won't be able to use the new application.

The fact that Twitter's app won't run on all Android phones is an indication of the fragmentation that could become a problem for users. Android phones each run the OS differently, whether due to screen size, keyboard configuration, or the version of Android being used.

There are currently four different versions available and it's up to the handset maker and carrier which to choose. Depending on the phone chosen, the user can get Android 1.5, 1.6, 2.0, or 2.1.

Part of the problem is due to Google releasing new core versions of the platform faster than its partners can keep up with their own tweaks and customization. Google is reportedly hoping the problem will eventually go away as the platform matures and fewer updates to the core become necessary.

Source:

http://www.techweb.com/article/showArticle?articleID=224700489&section=news

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100 Million Windows 7 Licenses Sold

Along with its third-quarter results, Microsoft on Thursday disclosed that it has sold more than 100 million Windows 7 licenses since the product debuted in October, 2009.

"To put that in context, more 10% of all PCs worldwide are already running Windows 7 today," said Brandon LeBlanc, Microsoft's in-house Windows blogger, in a post. For the quarter, Windows sales were up 28% year-over-year, to $4.4 billion.

Still, Microsoft's Windows XP, now almost a decade old, remains the most popular OS. It's currently on 64.5% of PCs, according to data from market watcher Net Applications. Windows Vista holds a 10.2% share.

Overall, Microsoft said earnings per share for the period increased 36%, year-over-year, to 45 cents. Net income climbed 35%, to $4.01 billion, on record revenue of $14.5 billion, a 6% gain from the year ago quarter.

Wall Street analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call were, on average, expecting Microsoft to report quarterly EPS of 42 cents, and income of $4.8 billion on revenue of $14.4 billion.

Microsoft's results were mixed across its other product lines. Sales in its Server and Tools division increased 2.4%, to $3.6 billion.

Revenue from the company's Business unit was off 6%, to $4.2 billion, as customers remained on the sidelines in anticipation of the arrival of Office 2010, which is set for release in June. In addition to the standard versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, Office 2010 also includes free access to Web-based editions of the apps.

Sales in Microsoft's Online Services unit were up 12%, to $566 million, while revenue from the company's Entertainment & Devices group, which is home to the Xbox and Windows Games products, rose 2.2%, to $1.7 billion.

Microsoft shares were off 1.82%, to $30.82, in mid-afternoon trading Friday.

Source:

http://www.techweb.com/article/showArticle?articleID=224600306&section=news

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