Yesterday Google released the SDK for Android, right on time, as promised. And while most of the Apple world was focused on the UK release of the iPhone, Google made some even louder noise as they announced the $10 Million Android Developer Challenge.

In a post on the Google’s code site, “We welcome all types of applications but are looking to reward innovative, useful apps that make use of Android’s capabilities to deliver a better mobile experience.” Read more…

I visited the Dr. Pepper website for the first time today. I love Dr. Pepper. I have for years. And it is totally better than Mr. Pibb in case you are wondering. But despite my loyalty to the 23 flavored Dr. Pepper, I never had an idea to go and visit them online.

Today I visited DrPepper.com because I wanted to play a simple game called MatchCaps.

So what is so special about MatchCaps? When it comes to online games, there is very little special about MatchCaps. In fact, it is identical to another game found on Dr. Pepper’s website, SweetSwap.

The gameplay is not special, but the timing is. MatchCaps is the first official advertgame made especially for the iPhone. MatchCaps works flawlessly on the iPhone’s Safari browser.

Even if this game was a big POS, Dr. Pepper would have had success. Sometimes it is better to be first than it is to be best. They have garnered quite a bit of coverage for being first out of the gate with this iPhone game. The iPhone is the most covered device of the year and has spawned countless websites dedicated to it (Including the one I am Editor-in-Chief of). Any press around it would surely get PR and Dr. Pepper knew that.

But being first can only happen to one person (or company). No one gets attention for being second. Which means that even though MatchCaps is a fun game, every game moving forward has to be brilliant. The gauntlet has been thrown. Let’s see what #2 comes up with.

This is a post that I wrote also posted at iPhoneMatters.com.

Amidst the big hooplah surrounding the new iPod nano with video, the iPod Touch, and the reduced priced iPhones, was an announcement of a new way to use your Apple products at Starbucks.

Starting in October, you can walk into select Starbucks locations, connect to the Wifi, click a Starbucks button on your iPod Touch, iPhone, or Laptop and automatically see what is currently playing in the store. Then, at the touch of the button, you can purchase and download that song to your device via the iTunes Music Store. Read more…

Chalk this up to an idea that I just don’t have the time to pursue on my own. So I decided to post this up here so hopefully Apple or another enterprising company can jump on. The idea is this: Using your iPhone as a Wish List barcode Scanner.

Imagine going to any store in the world, seeing something you like and then telling everyone who matters to you that you want it. Now imagine that instead of having to write down the store, the product name, or color choice, you simply use the camera function in your iPhone, scan the barcode on the item, and it auto-populates to your .mac wish list. Read more…

Google CEO Eric Schmidt is a very smart guy. He’s is also absolutely giddy over his new iPhone. As a member of Apple’s board of directors, Schmidt got his very own iPhone and is anxious to show people. In this video (found via iPhone Alley), Schmidt shows off his iPhone at the World Economic Forum.

But besides his iPhone demonstrations to the audience, he also talks a lot about the new type of business, powered by phone technology. His so called: “Phone to phone to phone viral network” and the effects of emergent distribution markets is just another reason why Apple may have tapped into a market just at the right time.

You can view the video here.