Google enables users to rent movies and buy books from the new Android Market client for smartphones running Android 2.2 and later. The client's user interface has also been overhauled.
Google
(NASDAQ:GOOG) July 12 announced an upgrade to its Android Market client for
Android smartphones that allows U.S. users to rent movies and purchase books
right from their handsets, and includes a spruced-up user interface.
U.S. users
with Android 2.2 smartphones and later will be able to rent thousands of movie
titles from their handsets with Google's Videos application from the Android
Market.
This application
was originally enabled first for tablets based on the freshest Android 3.1
tablet build. Titles range from $1.99 to $3.99 for new flicks. Google provides
movie content from its cloud, allowing users to buy once and watch it on any
Android device.
"There's
no more waiting for downloads, syncing, or worrying about storage space,"
said Google Product Manager Paul Montoy-Wilson. "Simply sign into Android Market with your Google
account, and you can rent movies from anywhere-the Web, or your Android phone
or tablet-and start watching instantly."
Importantly,
users may also download movies to their handset or tablet so they're available
for viewing even when they don't have an Internet connection. This is ideal for
people traveling somewhere where they may not be able to pick up a WiFi or
cellular data connection.
The Videos application
rakes in content from
YouTube's Movies application.
Search Engine Land's Greg Sterling grabbed the
new Android Market client and the Videos application from his HTC Evo 4G
and began using it.
U.S. users may
also now purchase books from Android Market through their phone. Just as with
the Android Market movies application, books are linked to users' Google
account in the cloud, making them instantly available across all their devices.
The new
Android Market application will be rolling out to U.S. users in the coming
weeks, with the update coming over the air on supported phones, said Montoy-Wilson.
Google said it would bring these capabilities to "select countries outside
the U.S. soon."
Google has
also added several new UI perks to the new Android Market smartphone client.
Eric Chu, from Google's Android Developer
Ecosystem, said the new Market
client does a better job of showcasing top applications and games and makes it
easier for users to download or purchase applications.
The home screen
includes a new promotional page that highlights top content, including favorite
books and movies.
Google also
added its application lists right to the Apps and Games home pages, allowing
users to see what other people are downloading in the Top Paid, Top Free, Top
Grossing, Top New Paid, Top New Free and Trending lists.
Users who are
ready to buy an application can make their purchase in two clicks from the application
details page. This new Market client will be coming to Android 2.2 and later
phones worldwide soon.
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