Android Development

Airpush ads are NOT malware.

2011-09-08T23:16:00.000-07:00

Looking around on the Android Market, I have come across many reviews for my and other apps that proclaim that Airpush ads are malware.

Airpush is not malware. Think about the Groupon or LivingSocial apps that have been created for Android. Every day you'll get a message in your notification bar that alerts you to some deal in your area...$20 for $40 worth of sushi, 30% off dry cleaning, and so forth. You're not obligated to sign up for the deal. If it's something you're interested in, you click on the notification. If not, you clear it and don't see it again.

Airpush is really the same concept. It will put an advertisement in your notification bar. My apps do it only once a day (other developers may vary). If you're not interested in what the advertisement is showing, you clear it, and you're not bothered again by it.

You could equate Groupon or LivingSocial to malware because they're putting ads in your notification bar, right? No - it's not malware because it's coming from companies that we're all familiar with...

Look - I enjoy creating Android apps. I do this as a hobby. I also enjoy seeing a return from my efforts - I don't look to give things away for free. Don't categorize these Airpush ads as malware, spam, etc. Airpush ad yields are key motivating factors to continue the development process.

I welcome your comments - if you don't agree, let me know.

-rob

Who Defriended Me? for Android - Available in Market

2011-07-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered who has defriended you on Facebook? Ever noticed that your friend count is a little lower, leaving you to wonder who's no longer in your list?

This handy app will keep an eye on your friends list and notifies you when someone defriends you!

Available on the Android Market here:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rmfdev.defriend

Like it on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=161406730589543

Airpush and negative reviews for Call Faker

2011-06-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Hi,
I'm posting this because of some of the negative reviews that I've received for this app due to the incorporation of Airpush advertisements into it.

I have been completely up front about Airpush and have made no attempt to hide that it's in the app. I've put a very obvious disclaimer in the description for the app that Airpush is used, and if people have an issue with this, they can either download the paid version (with no ads) or download another fake call app.

I do not consider these advertisements to be obtrusive; with my app, you receive 1 ad per day in your notification bar, and in no way are you obligated to click on it - you can simply clear it and it goes away. If you click on it, that's fine too.

However, some people have a real problem with this. All I can say is that I enjoy creating these apps but they do take quite a lot of work and time to develop and test in order to produce something of quality. Therefore, I do not feel it's too much to ask to keep these advertisements in the free version of the app.

Hopefully you'll understand where I'm coming from. Thanks for your support!

Airpush ads in Call Faker. Here's why.

2011-06-06T06:48:00.000-07:00

I have put a lot of work into the Android apps that I've developed. However, with Android, few users want to pay for apps. Many users believe they're entitled to these apps with little regard to efforts put in by the developer.

So to make this worth my efforts, I have put in Airpush notification bar ads into the app as it is more cost-effective for me. All they do is show up in your notification bar *once* per day. You don't even have to click on them - you can clear your notification bar and they're gone.

As the user, you have the ability to do one of the following:

1. Buy the app. It's $3.99 USD.
2. Download the free version of the app, and deal with the ads.
3. Don't download it if you don't want to do 1 or 2

Your support drives the development of this app. Thanks.

Call Faker...what does and doesn't it do?

2011-05-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

If you have questions about what this app does, please read below:

What does it do?
-It makes your phone ring with a contact and/or name and number, giving the illusion that you're receiving a call from said person. You can set the time that it goes off.
-Some people use it as their alarm clock.
-Use it to get out of meetings, bad dates, funerals, etc.

What does it not do?
-It does not allow you to "fake call" other people, fake your caller id, disguise your voice, etc.
-It does not actually use your minutes.
-It does not place a call to anywhere.

This app has a version with ads that is free, and a version without ads that is not free.

This app is for entertainment purposes. If you have issues, comments, or concerns, please email callfaker@gmail.com. Thanks.

Call Faker update now in Market, Amazon Appstore

2011-04-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

The app has finally been updated to show the call screens for Android 2.0+. This is the stock Android version (not custom skins such as Motoblur, HTC Sense UI, etc).

If it's not working on for you on your phone, email callfaker@gmail.com or hit the "Feedback" button in the app and report the problem! Thanks!

Google needs 24x7 support for Android Developers

2011-04-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

Apparently no one could get into the Developer Console all weekend, and Google didn't provide any explanation.

Phandroid

I like the Google but this kind of thing bothers me - the communication is very sparse when these things happen. Google has $6B revenue... surely they could hire a team of maybe 5-6 people to provide some support when developers have this issue?

We paid $25 up front to participate and a portion of app sales go to the Market...can't we get *something*?

Real Men Use Android

2010-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:00

Great concept - use Android-powered phones for military operations to provide video sharing, collaboration tools, position location information, etc. in areas with little to no mobile coverage...this would be the definition of mission-critical software.

100,000 Apps in the Android Market

2010-10-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

That's a pretty significant milestone, but how many apps are complete and utter garbage? Since the Market has no formal reviewing process, the end-user becomes the first reviewer.

Apple has got it down when it comes to this for the App Store (for the most part - they've let some questionable apps in as well). I hope Google eventually adopts this model, and they probably will as Android evolves... I hope.

Do you speak and write Japanese fluently?

2010-10-06T17:06:00.000-07:00

I would like to translate an Android app into Japanese. If you're interested, email callfaker@gmail.com. Thanks!

Iron Man 2 (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)

It's a double rainbow, all the way!

2010-10-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

Intense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

Hide your kids, hide your wife

2010-09-23T20:47:00.000-07:00

Antoine Dodson is the man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=civOdWxd4Kc

Look at this psychopath

2010-06-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

http://s181.photobucket.com/albums/x73/my67falcon/?action=view&current=goodforhim.flv

Finally, a Sirius XM app for Android

2010-06-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

Link:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/sirius-xm-android-app-hits-the-market/

It's really a well-designed app - very nicely put together. Works great for Droid on Verizon.

I like Carol Bartz

2010-05-24T22:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq4A1uCQ1w0&feature=player_embedded#at=18

SMS Archiver v1.1 rel 5: Android app update

2010-04-26T22:08:00.000-07:00

Version 1.1, Release 5
- Performance issues addressed
- Validation of email addresses should be fixed

Please email callfaker@gmail.com for feedback/bugs

Keep your (moral) laws off my phone

2010-04-20T23:58:00.000-07:00

If you want porn, get an Android phone, says Steve Jobs

"We have a moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone. Folks who want porn can buy and [sic] Android phone."
- Steve Jobs

While I have never actually downloaded porn onto my phone, and I don't necessarily understand why you would have downloaded porn on your phone, I don't think it's up to Apple to tell people what they can and cannot have on their phone.

Lol, Steve Jobs is an ass. This is not the same guy who turned Apple around all those years ago.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

2010-04-20T04:07:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB-bmOvan94&feature=related

Flash for Android

2010-04-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

Yay

http://www.toptechreviews.net/tech-news/adobe-unveils-flash-for-android-beta-testing/

American media sucks

2010-04-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

Liberal media at it again. There are stupid people of all types of political beliefs... how about covering all parts of the spectrum?

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/galleries/teabonics_the_flawed_language_of_protest/teabonics_the_flawed_language_of_protest.html

Some pretty funny signs though.

Best comment on an Android app ever

2010-04-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

It's simple, but so appropriate:

"If you're not smart enough to use a smartphone, don't buy one."

Kal Penn Leaving White House For 'Kumar' Sequel

2010-04-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

Perhaps he didn't agree with Obama's healthcare bill?

Sydney Opera House

2010-04-05T01:42:00.001-07:00

Apple Fanboys are funny

2010-04-04T21:42:00.000-07:00

Link (old, but still funny)

Where can I find a barber that'll shave an Apple logo into the back of my head?

When's the last time you used a pay phone?

2010-04-04T20:47:00.000-07:00

Interesting article on the decline of payphones. ATT actually got out of the business.

At least I thought it was interesting.