Search giant Google unveiled a new Web-based mobile applications store for smart phones powered under its Android operating system Wednesday.
The Android Market, which had only been available on Android smart phones until now, is now accessible through any Web browser. The portal allows users to easily search for and install apps that can be set up to automatically download to a user’s Android device.
"There’s no wires, no syncing with computers. None of that sort of nonsense. Everything is connected," said Chris Yerga, Android’s engineering director, according to TechCrunch. Yerga announced the store’s launch at an event for Honeycomb, Google’s latest version of the Android operating system.
The following rankings come from the new store, which allows users to filter apps by popularity and price. There is no formal "real estate" category in the Android Market; these apps appear in a search of the phrase "real estate" on the site. All are free.
1. Zillow Real Estate: Search for rentals, homes for sale, Make Me Move homes (where an owner puts their dream price on their home without actually putting it on the market), and recently sold homes through typing or voice entry; see homes in Google Maps’ satellite or street view, and get directions; get home-value "Zestimates" for 95 million homes; view full-screen photos; and filter searches. The app launched in May 2010.
2. Realtor.com Real Estate Search: Search for homes near current location or by address; filter searches by price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, building and lot sizes, age of home, and property type; draw a search area directly on a map with a finger; see property details and photos; view open-house information; save searches and favorite listings; and see recently viewed listings.
Also, share listings with family and friends through text message, e-mail, Facebook and Twitter; save private text notes and voice memos; contact a Realtor by phone, e-mail, a website link or an "Ask a Question" button; view a property and the area surrounding it via Google Street View; and see thumbnails of nearby listings through a home page widget without opening the app. The app launched in November 2010.
3. Homes.com: Search for nearby homes for sale or rent; filter search by price, property type or features; see results in list or map view; view property details and photos; and bookmark listings.
4. Real Estate 114: See apartment price trends and floor plans; conduct QR ("quick response") codes searches; and use QR codes to contact a real estate agent.
5. HuizenZoeker: Search for real estate in the Netherlands; search nearby or by location, including postal code; filter results by price range; view property details, including price change history, photos, year built, property type and size. Includes listings from sites such as Funda, Huislijn and ERA.
6. Real Estate by Smarter Agent: Search for homes for sale, apartments for rent, and recently sold homes by city, neighborhood, school, address, ZIP code or multiple listing service number; view maps, photos, prices and other property details.
7. Real Estate Droid: Search for-sale and rental homes, foreclosures, new homes, rooms for rent and sublets; save favorites; see home valuations from Zillow; view neighborhood information; take and save your own notes and photos; use a mortgage loan calculator; and check out real mortgage quotes.
8. HOME’S: Search for rentals and for-sale properties in Japan; filter results by location, distance from present location and proximity to train lines; and view property details, including photos and size.
9. Funda Real Estate: Search for-sale, for-rent or new homes in the Netherlands; see results in map view, list view or through an augmented reality layer.
10. HotPads: Search for rentals, for-sale homes, vacation rental homes, and hotels nearby or by address; see detailed listings information and photos; get directions to listings; share listings through e-mail or Facebook; find contact information related to for-rent and for-sale properties.