The latest addition to the Google Android application circle has been launched today, as the Google Catalogs app becomes available for download for tablets.

Put simply, the app pulls together 400 digital catalog issues from such brands as Nike, Sephora and Nordstrom for you to browse at your leisure. Interactivity is the name of the game with images and videos sewn throughout the pages and pages of shopping treats. Another neat time saving touch is the unified search box, which allows you to search across all the catalogs for a specific item. Purchasing is as easy as one tap to find the product nearby or at a retailers website, kind of similar to the Google Shopper app. 

This is sadly for those of us in the rest of the world, another U.S.-only application for the time being. But if you’re Stateside and fancy a helping hand with your Christmas shopping, check out the promo video after the break, and hit up the download link below. 

Source: Google

April 1st – 7th

• Sony suffers another major security breach
• Apple to fix location tracking bug in iOS 4.3.3; due out soon
• Live from RIM’s BlackBerry World 2011 keynote!
• RIM to launch 10-inch BlackBerry PlayBook this fall; OS 7 devices delayed?
• BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930 hands-on!
• Samsung Galaxy S II hands-on
• BlackBerry Bold 9900 / 9930 gets official, finally touch and type
• No iPhone 5 this summer according to AT&T rep
• Samsung Infuse 4G hands-on!
• White iPhone 4 not thicker than black version according to Apple SVP and Consumer Reports

You would think maybe AT&T might have learned something through osmosis, through the months and months and millions and millions of dollars of highly successful advertisements Apple has run promoting the iPhone. They’ve pulled at our heartstrings. They’ve played off our emotions. And they’ve been very, very good at it.

But that’s Apple.

AT&T, meanwhile, has found itself on the wrong end of the 4G argument, and it’s doing its damnedest to lose it.

We’re not going to wade too deep into the whole “what is 4G?” thing. Because at this point, it can be whatever a carrier says it is. Sprint calls Wimax “4G.” Verizon calls LTE ”4G.” T-Mobile calls HSPA+ “4G.”

And AT&T defines its 4G as “HSPA+ with advanced backhaul^*.” Seriously, it says that right on the box of the new Samsung Infuse 4G, which will be released on May 15. And backhaul’s even got top billing, listed above the massive “4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display” and the “Android 2.2 platform” and the “8MP rear and 1.3MP front facing cameras.”

But you saw that asterisk, right? Turn the Infuse’s retail box 90 degrees and you’ll find the small print. And it reads thusly:

* 4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul delopyment. Learn more at att.com/network. 4G used in connection with the Samsung Infuse product name refers to the fact that the infuse is capable of operating on AT&T’s HSPA+ network with enhanced backhaul described herein.

I’m less concerned with AT&T marketing a phone on its potential to do something. That’s not to say I’m overly thrilled about it — it’s specious at best. But AT&T (and to a lesser extent, T-Mobile) are in a 3G/4G transition period, and I can remember buying 3G-capable phones long before I ever actually had 3G service where I live. For the sake of argument here, we’ll pretend that AT&T’s definition of “4G” is legit.

But the idea that you can actually market a phone as “4G HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul” is ridiculous. Having to qualify the 4G spec like that is bad enough. But a paragraph of small print that makes it OK for AT&T to pimp “4G HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul” on the box in the first place is just asinine.

The mobile space is innovating so quickly and growing so fast, the carriers and manufacturers should be going out of their way to make things more simple. The word “backhaul” should never be placed in front of a paying customer. “HSPA+” should never have to be seen by someone who doesn’t either write about or sell smartphones for a living. (Or by those who obsessively check Android Central while they should be working. You know who you are. We love you.)

Normal customers — I lovingly call non-smartphone nerds “civilians” — don’t care whether a phone has an AMOLED screen or a Super AMOLED screen or a Super AMOLED Plus screen or a TFT LCD screen or an SLCD screen or a nova display or a retina display. They care about apps. They care about browsing. And taking pictures. And e-mail. And Facebook. And Angry Birds. Not display type, and certainly not backhaul.

It’s gotten to be a bit like that scene in “The Right Stuff” where the early test pilots would one-up each other over and over again, breaking each other’s speed records by a few miles per hour, because that’s what they did. And now Android’s manufacturers and carriers have found themselves in a similar smartphone spec space race, aiming to go just a little higher and a litter faster than the last guy, all while forgetting that there are passengers in the back who just want to go from Point A to Point B in relative style and comfort, and with a fair amount of speed.

Specs are good. Increments are important. But they also should be invisible, and the platform sold as a whole product. Because while some are cheering the difference between AMOLED, Super AMOLED, Super AMOLED Plus, HSPA, HSPA+, climbing slightly higher with each iteration, Apple’s been circling the globe, millions of passengers in tow, its eyes locked firmly on the horizon (if not beyond).

Customers are being bombarded with specs that they should never have to worry about — ever. In the case of the Infuse 4G, which in our initial use is a pretty darn good phone, it’s a smokescreen to cover the larger issue –  that nobody knows what the hell “4G” really means. And as long as there’s no real standard, carriers at the back of the race, like AT&T, are content — and allowed — to blow smoke in our eyes while they continue to promise that there one day will be a hot enough fire to back it up.

Regional wireless provider U.S. Cellular has officially thrown its hat into the 4G ring. “U.S. Cellular, in conjunction with its partnership with King Street Wireless, announced today that it will deliver high-speed 4G LTE services and 4G-enabled devices to more than 25 percent of its customers across two dozen markets in time for the holiday season,” declares the company’s press release. U.S. Cellular plans to have LTE-enabled devices in market “during the first phase of its 4G LTE rollout” with additional devices populating the carrier’s lineup in 2012. Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wisconsin; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, North Carolina will be among the first markets to be covered by the new, high-speed network. The full press release is after the break.

U.S. CELLULAR TO LAUNCH 4G LTE SERVICE AND DEVICES IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

CHICAGO (May 6, 2011) – U.S. Cellular (NYSE: USM), in conjunction with its partnership with King Street Wireless, announced today that it will deliver high-speed 4G LTE services and 4G-enabled devices to more than 25 percent of its customers across two dozen markets in time for the holiday season. U.S. Cellular customers with 4G LTE devices and service will experience significantly faster data speeds when browsing the web, accessing e-mail, playing games and viewing and streaming videos.

The initial rollout of 4G LTE service for U.S. Cellular, which has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier, is planned for selected cities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. These include some of U.S. Cellular’s leading markets such as Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wis.; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, N.C.

“With 4G LTE, our customers will have faster connections to the people, information and entertainment that enhance their lives and help them stay organized,” said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. “In addition to our line-up of cutting-edge devices, customers who switch to U.S. Cellular get unique benefits like faster phone upgrades without continuously signing contracts, and join the happiest customers in wireless.”

U.S. Cellular plans to introduce a portfolio of 4G-enabled devices during the first phase of its 4G LTE deployment and will continue to expand its offering through 2012. The rollout builds on the 3G data services that U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier’s high-quality nationwide network. More details on the next phases of the company’s 4G LTE deployment will be announced at a later date.

Android’s U.S. market share is continuing to grow at the expense of RIM, Microsoft, and Palm, according to a new report from comScore that took a snapshot of the mobile phone market during the March quarter. The report found that Android powered 34.7% of all U.S. smartphones, up 6% from December 2010. RIM’s BlackBerry OS market share fell 4.5 points to a 27.1% share of the market, while Microsoft’s Windows and Palm’s webOS each saw a 0.9 percentage point decrease. Apple’s iOS market share jumped 0.5 points to a 25.5% share of the market, just behind RIM’s 27.1% grasp. Samsung remained the most popular mobile phone brand with a 24.5% share of the market, followed by LG (20.9%), Motorola (15.8%), RIM (8.4%), and Apple (7.9%).  The report also found that 234 million Americans above the age of 13 used mobile devices. Hit the jump for the full release.

comScore Reports March 2011 U.S. Mobile Subscriber Market Share

Google and Apple Gain Ground in Smartphone Market

RESTON, VA, May 6, 2011 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released data from the comScore MobiLens service, reporting key trends in the U.S. mobile phone industry during the three month average period ending March 2011. The study surveyed more than 30,000 U.S. mobile subscribers and found Samsung to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 24.5 percent market share. Google Android led among smartphone platforms with 34.7 percent market share.

OEM Market Share

For the three month average period ending in March, 234 million Americans ages 13 and older used mobile devices. Device manufacturer Samsung ranked as the top OEM with 24.5 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers. LG ranked second with 20.9 percent share, followed by Motorola (15.8 percent) and RIM (8.4 percent). Apple continued to gain share following the launch of the Verizon iPhone, up 1.1 percentage points to reach 7.9 percent of subscribers.

Top Mobile OEMs 3 Month Avg. Ending Mar. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2010 Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers
	Dec-10	Mar-11	Point Change
Total Mobile Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
Samsung	24.8%	24.5%	-0.3
LG	20.9%	20.9%	0.0
Motorola	16.7%	15.8%	-0.9
RIM	8.5%	8.4%	-0.1
Apple	6.8%	7.9%	1.1

Smartphone Platform Market Share

72.5 million people in the U.S. owned smartphones during the three months ending in March 2011, up 15 percent from the preceding three-month period. Google Android grew 6.0 percentage points to 34.7 percent market share, while RIM ranked second with 27.1 percent. Apple grew 0.5 points to 25.5 percent share, followed by Microsoft (7.5 percent) and Palm (2.8 percent).

Top Smartphone Platforms 3 Month Avg. Ending Mar. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2010 Total U.S. Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Smartphone Subscribers
	Dec-10	Mar-11	Point Change
Total Smartphone Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
Google	28.7%	34.7%	6.0
RIM	31.6%	27.1%	-4.5
Apple	25.0%	25.5%	0.5
Microsoft	8.4%	7.5%	-0.9
Palm	3.7%	2.8%	-0.9

Mobile Content Usage

In March, 68.6 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers used text messaging on their mobile device. Browsers were used by 38.6 percent of subscribers (up 2.2 percentage points), while downloaded applications were used by 37.3 percent (up 2.9 percentage points). Accessing of social networking sites or blogs increased 2.6 percentage points, representing 27.3 percent of mobile subscribers. Playing games comprised 25.7 percent of the mobile audience, while listening to music represented 17.9 percent.

Mobile Content Usage 3 Month Avg. Ending Mar. 2011 vs. 3 Month Avg. Ending Dec. 2010 Total U.S. Mobile Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens
	Share (%) of Mobile Subscribers
	Dec-10	Mar-11	Point Change
Total Mobile Subscribers	100.0%	100.0%	N/A
Sent text message to another phone	68.0%	68.6%	0.6
Used browser	36.4%	38.6%	2.2
Used downloaded apps	34.4%	37.3%	2.9
Accessed social networking site or blog	24.7%	27.3%	2.6
Played Games	23.2%	25.7%	2.5
Listened to music on mobile phone	15.7%	17.9%

2.2

Here’s a head-scratcher. We’re hearing rumors that Sprint’s HTC EVO View 4G tablet will not, repeat not, ship with the snazzy HTC Scribe stylus. A report from Engadget on Friday indicated that the HTC Flyer tablet — the EVO View 4G’s generic sibling — will include HTC’s digital pen unless the device is purchased from Best Buy. Our own source, however, has indicated that Sprint’s training materials list the EVO View 4G’s Scribe stylus as being “sold separately.” The pen is one of the EVO View 4G’s differentiating features and, if the exclusion turns out to be true, would be a major disappointment. What do you think? Does this change your EVO View 4G tablet purchasing plans?

Thanks, BJ!