Android takes chunk of tablet market, but Apple's iPad still dominates

Android tablets took 39% of the world tablet market in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to new research from Strategy Analytics – though as many as half of those were not running Google-approved versions of the operating system, it said.
Apple dominated the rest of the market on its own, taking 58% of the market during the period as it sold 15m iPads, more than double the number of the same period in 2011.

Android malware or just 'aggressive' advertising?

Two online security companies are arguing over whether as many as 5m Android handsets are infected with malware produced by a publisher via its official app Market – or just part of an "aggressive" advertising network.
Symantec said that "multiple publisher IDs on the Android Market … are being used to push out Android.Counterclank", which is software that it says is "a bot-like threat" which can also steal information from devices.

Guide To Android: Why Root?

Many Android users may be asking themselves “Why root my Android device?” and there are many reasons behind this.
First and foremost “rooting” givers users complete and total control and freedom of their Android device. By “rooting” your device you not only gain complete control over the system, but you get the added bonus of deciding on how you want your device to run and are able to tweek it to your liking.
More after the break

Gamers, Steam Has A Rather Extensive Beta Going On For Android

If you’re a gamer than you’re no doubt either aware of or a member of the Steam network. Steam has released a closed beta version of the Steam app for Android into the android market, participate in the beta you need a Steam account. If you have a Steam account head over here to download the app. They are letting members in, in waves. They’ve already cleared 70,000 into the beta.

An Unofficial Android Store Will Provide All The Apps Banned By Google

Unlike getting hold of iOS apps, it’s always been possible to trawl the web for software that doesn’t appear in the Android Market. But that process is about to get even easier, because soon there will be an unofficial store for banned Android apps.
Koushik Dutta, a member of the team behind CyanogenMod and the creator of ClockworkMod, announced that he is in the process of creating an app store that will be home to apps that have been banned from Google’s official Android Market. That will include customs ROMs, retro gaming emulators pulled due to copyright complaints, unofficial tethering apps, Visual Voicemail apps, one-click rooting apps, and, well, whatever else Google says can’t feature in their store.
This will, I’m sure, be of most interest to those who have already rooted their Android handset, as it will provide a one-stop shop for the customs ROMs and apps those devices can make use of. There’s no denying that having all that stuff in one place will be more useful than having to trawl the web. Those who haven’t rooted their handset will still be able to make use of the store though, as there are plenty of normal apps that have to be banned from Google’s store, especially if they violate copyright or a mobile operator’s need to generate revenue from value-added services, like tethering.
I just wonder if it can completely avoid being shut down. One of the reasons that such a wide range of unofficial ROMs and apps continue to survive is that they’re so broadly distributed that it’s difficult to hunt them all down. Put them all in one place and that’s no longer the case.

source : http://www.gogadgetnews.com

13 Android Applications Containing Viruses

Jakarta - Symantec has just released a list of applications that contain a virus. Some of them are still circulating widely in the Android Market, anything?

Android's growing popularity soared exploited by cyber criminals to launch an action, for example by spreading the virus to spy on the victims.

One type of virus that has just detected is Counterclank, these malicious programs have the ability to spy on his victim and sends a number of important data to the creator.

Counterclank virus spread was quite rapid. Because, besides mob made ​​by three developers, the virus can also spread through the Android Market.

Here are 13 apps that contain the virus, some of which can still be downloaded on Android Market. As quoted from Symantec Blog, Sunday (29/01/2012).

•      Elite Force Counter
•      Counter Strike Ground Force
•      CounterStrike Hit Enemy
•      Heart Live Wallpaper
•      Hit Counter Terrorist
•      Touch stripper girl
•      Balloon Game
•      Deal & Be Millionaire
•      Wild Man
•      Pretty women lingerie puzzle
•      Sexy Girls Photo Game
•      Sexy Girls Puzzle
•      Sexy Women Puzzle