Google+ includes several exciting features including social circles, hangouts and a handy search feature.  With this release comes some new hangout features for Android users.  Google already has mobile apps available for iPhone, Android, Windows and BlackBerry.  There will no doubt be a large influx of Google+ users following today’s news, time will tell if its just another fad or here to stay.

Swype makes it easier and faster to input text on your screen.  Instead of typing you simply ‘swipe’ the virtual keyboard for letters containing the word you are looking for.  For example the image on the right shows how you would input the word “quick.”  This revolutionary software is available on several different platforms not just the Android.

You can download Swype beta for Android by visiting their site and registering your email address.  Remember there will be a limited amount of testers picked so act fast if you want to be a part of this.  Eventually more spots will open up and more features will become available.

[via AndroidandMe]

Recognizr will be available soon on the Android Market and to get it to work all you have to do is point your phone at someone’s face.  Once it ‘recognizes’ the other person it will automatically bring up the social networks they belong to and allow you to interact with them.  Both parties will need to have the application downloaded in order for it to work.  Of course this type of technology is still in the early stages and it is likely that down the road something like this will be available for all mobile devices.  This would then make it easier to find people to connect with but at the same time might also bring up privacy concerns.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

Mobile Roadie was already available for the iPhone and they are now also building apps for the Android.  In seconds you can begin building your own personalized application.  They let you build your app through an easy to use CMS system where you can add tons of features.  You can add music, photos, a fan wall, a news section and various other add-ons.  Another cool feature is push notifications for the iPhone.  Even if iPhone users aren’t currently logged into your app they can still get instant notifications about upcoming events or breaking news.  Mobile Roadie will also handle the App Store approval process and send your app to the Android Market.

Pricing includes a $499 set up cost and a monthly fee of $29.  If you buy apps for both the iPhone and the Android they will give you a 20% off discount.  One drawback about this service is that your app won’t be completely unique.  Sure you can tweak the appearance to what you like but it will probably look similar to a bunch of other apps on the market.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as you will want to put something out there that people are already familiar with.  Still Mobile Roadie is the best way for anyone to create their own app at a reasonable price.  They give you all the tools necessary to get your app in front of millions of people and that will surely benefit your brand.

From the press release:

“Our vision is to facilitate an open app store ecosystem that supports every mobile device, every application, and every carrier network globally,” said Jud Bowman, President and CEO of PocketGear. “By combining the two largest independent app store companies, we’re creating significantly more scale and value for all of the stakeholders in the open app store ecosystem.”

It will be interesting to see just how this plays out.  Clearly Mobihand and their huge presence in the smartphone community had to have some kind of effect on this deal.  Independent app stores will definitely have their work cut out for them but as long as smartphone sales continue to rise so will app sales.

Google Earth for the Android comes with several different layers to peel back and enjoy.  It also includes the popular ‘Roads’ layer that gives you a better view of each road on the map.  Of course there is the must have 3D imagery feature along with multi-touch navigation.  Google Earth for the Android also takes advantage of the Android’s voice recognition software so you can speak words like “Empire State Building” and the app will take you there.

As of now the app only works on phones running Android 2.1 and up.  Nexus One owners will able to download Google Earth right away while Droid users may have to wait for another update.  You can download Google Earth for Android by scanning the QR code on the left or by searching ‘Google Earth‘ in the Android Market.

Once you find the product you are looking for you can star it and save it as a favorite.  You can also share the product with friends and Google Shopper will automatically save it in your history so you can easily access it at a later time.  We’ve seen apps like this for the iPhone and BlackBerry but neither of them are backed by Google.  You can expect this application to be a handy tool for years to come.

To download Google Shopper simply scan the QR code on the left.  You can also find the app by searching “Shopper” on the Android Market.