App Review: Bank of America

I usually do reviews for software I like. I do that for a few reasons. First, I think it is worthwhile for you to read reviews of apps that are actually helpful. Next, I am an optimist and I see the good in almost everything. And last, I don't always see a need to slam every product.  My review of Bank of America's mobile app is none of these things!  However, even on positive reviews I usually add my opinion about features I would like to see added or that are blatantly missing just to balance out the review; so I am going to try and help them make this a better product for their customers.

Accounts in Bank of America

I know that banks are like cell phone carriers.  We all have one and we all normally hate them.  Banks are a necessary evil.  That being said, we all want a bank that offers us great customer service and doesn't cost us a fortune in fees.  I switched to Bank of America a few years ago because I liked the online banking experience they offered plus the account I chose didn't cost me much to maintain.  They have accounts designed for people like me that only want to do online banking.  Heck, they eventually added support on their website for Google Chrome Browsers!  But their mobile Android app is still lacking in some key features.

The app starts up quickly and once you have logged in and verified your credentials the first time, it will come up with your saved Online ID code. Click on that to get to their secondary authentication method, the passcode.  Upon entering the passcode you can have it drop you into the accounts section of the app.  From the accounts section you can drill down to the individual checking or savings accounts you may have.  If you open one of the accounts the app loads 25 items at a time. It will show the status of the transaction along with some details and the amount.  There is a search option at the top of the screen to help you find specific transactions.  It is very limited in what you can actually do here other than view transactions.

To get back to the accounts section you need to hit the back button. While this certainly works, the first thing I find annoying about the app is the navigation or lack thereof.  I don't find it intuitive or easy to navigate at all.  You go into sections then need to back up to go to other sections. I would like a universal menu to be available at all times to help with this problem.

Banking locations for Bank of America

You also have a Bill Pay tab (if you are signed up for that service) to allow you to pay bills while on the go.  Again, the navigation is like a bad 90's FrontPage site.  As you would expect in the Transfers section, you can transfer funds between accounts.  They allow you to schedule transfers at a later time and review scheduled transfers.  The final tab is the locations area.  This will let you find ATM's and banking centers near you.  The app will let you choose to use your location based on cell tower locations rather than GPS. When I load the app it never initiates the GPS signal so I am assuming that it just triangulates your location.  You can see the locations on a map or in a list view.

That is where the functionality ends. If you noticed there is no way to deposit checks through the app.  I asked about a year ago if that feature was going to be added and the bank employee was sure they would have it "soon".  I know that USAA and Chase both offer a feature where you can take pictures with your camera through the app to have the funds deposited.   I have been contemplating leaving Bank of America because of this missing piece. I don't ever need to go to the bank except to deposit checks.  If I could snap a picture on my phone and deposit it that way, I would likely need to go to the bank twice a year..max.  But since it isn't available I am led to believe that I will be going to the bank every week or two for eternity.

The app logs you out if there isn't any activity for a few minutes.  I feel that the security is strong enough to trust having it on my phone.  With the passcode ID that has to be entered every time I did eventually save the Online ID code.  It makes using the app easier but I could see this being a concern for the security minded or wealthy users. I am not either of those and the standard security is fine.  Bank of America does offer SafePass security for additional piece of mind. However, they don't tell you this unless you logout of the app and click on the Privacy and Security options.  This brings up a web page type screen that has an option listed as Security Solutions on the right side of the screen.  That takes you to a set of apps to aid you in being more secure.  Why is this not a front page option?  I don't get it.

If I could offer up some advice on how to improve this app it would be:

1. Fix the interface navigation. Allow me to be able to jump from one point to the other easily without using the back button.
2. Add deposits through the camera like Chase and USAA offers.
3. See #2, this is very important to me and it is 2012 after all! Seriously, they should stop whatever it is they are doing and work on this right now. I am not kidding.
4. Put additional security tools on the main login page or on my aforementioned navigation menu.

If you are a customer like I am your options are a) suffer with this app or b) change banks.  Changing banks isn't as easy as it sounds either.  I just hope that Bank of America updates some of these features soon.  What do you hate about your banking app? Let me know.

App Review: Stick It!

With smartphones and tablets today having better screens and faster processors, watching video has become a much better experience on the go.  The problem with watching videos is that they take up the whole screen and block your notification bar. I have finally found a video player that works in a windowed view to allow you to multitask while playing video, Stick It! by MBFG.

I was recently watching an episode of All About Android where Eileen Rivera had this app for her Android Arena pick.  Since I watch podcasts all of the time I thought I would give it a try.  Immediately I was impressed by how well the app works on an Android phone or tablet.

Stick It and Browsing

It opens up a video but allows you to still open apps and use your device while the video is still playing.  I can resize the window and move it around so that I can still work while watching.  They have also made the app so that you can minimize it to the notification bar but have the audio still play.  If you watch videos frequently on your phone you know that with most video players you cannot minimize the video app without killing the playback.  When you want to go back to the video in Stick It you open notifications and click it.  The video portion resumes playing without it skipping a beat.

Stick It is really like running a Windows app. It is a floating window with a video process running in it.  In fact, you can run multiple windows with videos, all at the same time.  I don't know why you would want to do that but it is possible.  It plays in the background when you have other apps open and supports streaming from HTTP and MMS sources.  I typically will be watching a video and can now open emails or text messages and respond all while I am still watching the playback. Before, I would be watching a video and hear the message notification come in but I had to stop playback to switch over.  Stick It eliminates that interruption.

I like that I can minimize the video to the notification bar and turn off the screen.  This is another big failure of most video player apps.  If you need to stop the video it is simply done by clicking on the screen where the video is playing.  Touch it again and playback resumes.  This is a great way to control the video.  However, I do wish it had easier scrub controls for the video playback.  On the phone, the bar to allow you to fast forward or backup the video sometimes is hard to grab.  I would also like to have a 30 second jump button.  I find those useful on podcasts especially when you want to jump ahead on news stories or ads.  Even having the progress scrub bar more easily controllable would be helpful.  I hope that they address that in future updates.

Stick It is $1.49 in the Google Play store.  If you watch two or more videos a week you need to download this app.  It works on Android 2.2 and higher devices.  On a tablet Stick It is a great app to have.  You can easily watch videos while doing other work.  They have a workaround that will let you stream YouTube videos through the app as well.  They support 3gp, avi, divx, mp4, mov and many more formats.  You are not compromising features to get the ability to multitask! It is a full featured video player.  The playback is better than many third party players I have tied.  In fact, I prefer it over the built in Doggcatcher video player for performance and quality.

Other than the control bar I really have no complaints about Stick It.  It is a great app and cool concept.  MBFG has several apps that all float like this including a browser that is windowed like Stick It.  If I wasn't so addicted to Chrome I would be running their browser too.  Go give this app a try.  If you need to multitask and watch videos this is the app for you.

Stick It multitaksing

Review: Invisible Shield by Zagg

Are you one of those people that likes to run around naked? I guess I am.  I wasn't always this way but since I bought my Samsung Vibrant a few years ago I have preferred to use my phones without a case, you know...naked. Since buying my Galaxy Nexus I have been concerned that the glass might get scratched if I drop it. I bought an OtterBox case but I ultimately didn't like the flaps or the additional size.  It also collected lint and dust like it was a magnet.  So I have bought an Invisible Shield by Zagg.

I know many people do not like to cover the glass with clear shields because most of them are anything but clear. I have used some horrible ones over the years. When I bought my Vibrant I had an Invisible Shield put on my screen and I loved it.  It is still on there today and now that my son is using it I am less worried about him destroying the screen. With my Galaxy Nexus I keep the phone in my pants pocket. I have trained myself not to put anything else in my left pocket to avoid scratches.  But there are times when even dirt might put that dreaded first scratch across the screen. I think the tricks to getting a good screen cover is buying a quality product and having the installation done right.

I have had both of my Invisible Shields put on at a kiosk in the mall.  The vendor I use is an authorized seller. They have fitted shields built for all types of phones and devices.  For the Galaxy Nexus they only had a screen shield in stock. I plan on getting a car battery an extended 3800mAh battery soon so I was fine with not covering the back of the phone.  For my Vibrant they also sell a complete case cover as well as a screen protector.  In fact, Zagg sells protection for many different types

SGS Epic 4G

of devices including phones, ebook readers, cameras and laptops.

Zagg offers a lifetime replacement warranty on their screen protectors.  However, the materials they use were developed originally for military helicopter blades so it is likely you will never need to have it fixed. The installer sprays a liquid lightly on the screen (ok, I freaked out a little the first time they did it) and they spray the shield. It is placed on the screen and the excess liquid is squeezed out. Once they are done you are told not to put it in a case or pocket for 24 hours. Unlike other products there are no hazing or clarity issues.  The Invisible shield does not hamper the screens like cheaper variants. Having it professionally installed means there should be no bubbles or dirt under the film for eternity.

SGS Galaxy Nexus

With the screen on in the sunlight the shield does not block the visibility. I can only tell that the protection is on there when the screen is off.  The surface is smooth and since the shields are fitted, they go to the edges very well. On my Vibrant I noticed it didn't fit all the way to the edge and some dirt would collect around it, though with a simple cleaning it would wipe away and the dirt did not get under the Invisible Shield.  With the Nexus, the film goes all the way to both sides. The only place where there is no protection is the area at the top where the speaker and front facing camera is located.  The area is so small I doubt it will be a problem. My Vibrant has the same type of coverage and the screen is not scratched where the shield does not cover because the edge of the phone is there to protect it.

The Invisible Shield installed on my phone cost only $21 plus tax.  My Vibrant was about the same price.  The full case for the Vibrant would have been $34 plus tax.  Still not bad considering that was to have it installed and warranted.  I would pay someone $20 just for me not to have to install it!  Having it done right is worth it.  Zagg sells many different Invisible Shield models and styles.  Check out their site to see if they have one to fit your device.  Even if you have a case but the screen is unprotected, you are risking your touch screen every day. I know that not everyone has a seller to put their Invisible Shield on, but the process seems simple enough. Zagg also has a support area on their site with help and videos.

In the last two years I have had scuff marks show up on the Invisible Shield but they all have wiped off.  I like knowing that I can take a towel or more abrasive cleaning cloth (like my shirt) to wipe the screen clean. I work on my cars and in the yard fairly often so my screen being dirty happens all of the time. Now I can wipe it off without fearing sand and dirt will etch the glass.

I know our own Derek De La Cruz loves phone cases and does a great job reviewing them all.  I have read the reviews of different cases he has done, but I know that personally I will not use a case for more than a few days before becoming frustrated with them.  I have decided to go the other route and not use cases, but it would be foolish not to protect my investment somehow.  I put the OtterBox case on my son's phone and used the Invisible Shield screen protector instead of the one that came with the OtterBox. I feel that even with a case, having a screen protector is a smart idea.  What do you think about cases and screen protection?  Sound off below.

Picture Credit: Zagg

App Review: Llama

I love apps that help me to accomplish something without having to think much about it and I love free apps.  I reviewed Timeriffic a few weeks ago which helps turn settings on and off based on times you designate. Certainly it accomplishes the goal of controlling sounds and settings without any intervention, but it is limited by your schedule. Llama by KebabApps is a free location based app that will turn a large selection of features on or off based on areas that you create.  It does not use your GPS but rather, it uses phone masts to determine your locations.

For many people, they are only at a few locations every day. You are at home, work or school. You may go to the store or out with friends but there are a few places where you spend the majority of your time.  With Llama your phone can learn the locations based on the networks that are around you and use those locations to turn on or off wifi, cell signal, sounds, or a wide host of other options.  Unlike some other apps in this genre, Llama stands out by offering you so much control. There are roughly 26 preset features you can control through Llama!

In addition to those controls, you can create event based actions to turn on or off those features.  For instance, you can create an event to run an app if you start charging your phone. Maybe you need to have the volumes turned up when you connect to your Bluetooth in the car; there are events that will trigger this. There are also startup and shutdown actions, battery level events and so much more. I have been setting up profiles and events to control the sounds and actions to allow me to control my phone for several days and I still have only hit a small portion of what this app can do.

The setup is slightly more involved than some of the other apps that I have tried.  But given the complexity in which this app can be programmed one would expect that.  The developer has made the startup and learning curve easier with helpful popup menus when you first launch the app.  As you open each tab there is a welcome screen explaining the function.  I like the fun ok button replacements such as Groovy and Okey doke! They made me read what I would have otherwise blown past.

When you start Llama I would suggest setting up the areas first.  Areas are your locations that you want the device to teach Llama.  It will use the areas to help your device know where the phone masts are that it will identify to locate your area.  It starts you off with Home and Work. If you are at home and open up Llama for the first time simply long press Home to get a menu. There you can tell your phone or tablet to start learning an area.  The app asks you how long you will be there.  You can select as short as a minute or up to several hours.  Once the time is set the app will start to listen to cell masts around you. Once the app knows where you are you will want to open the events and profiles tabs.

In Events, you start to fine tune what you want turned on and off. You can setup hours and locations or event triggers to customize your settings.  I modified the base settings so that while I was home my phone would go to the loud sound profile up until 11:00pm then go to a night profile that I created. The wifi would be on so that my podcasts and emails will all still download overnight but I will not hear the notifications or the vibration between 11pm and 6am. Creating an event is simple. There is a + sign at the bottom of the screen that you click then start adding in conditions and actions. You can enable and disable events here too.  There is a test button so that you can see if the event works as you think it should.  A simple interface but as you get into it you see how powerful this can be.

One thing I really like about the app using your location is that say I am out late one night and away from home. Instead of Llama turning off my sounds at 11:00pm like it would do when I am at home, it will use the event actions I have defined to realize I am not home so it will go to a loud volume and perhaps I could have it also turn off wifi. I would not have to do anything to change this. I did just this the other night. I was out past 11:00pm and I was away from home or work so instead of going silent at 11:00 like Timeriffic would have done, Llama kept my wifi off and turned the volume up to loud.  When I came home it switched back over to the home 11-6 setting.

After using the app for a week I feel like it might be the app I switch over to permanently.  I have been a big Timeriffic fan for a long time but I like the options I have in Llama.  I like the flexibility.  I do wish it allowed me to use GPS locations in addition to cell masts.  I live in an area where there are only a few cell antennas around and my home based area is larger than I would like it to be.  The develop does mention this could be a problem if your home and work are very close together.  Having GPS would let me lock it down tighter.  That aside, it does work very well for not using GPS. Another advantage is that phones without a good GPS antenna *cough* Samsung Vibrant *cough* could use this app without issues.  I understand why it would not depend on GPS.

The developer says that he is looking at adding SMS conditions and actions in the future. I like that he will do this as a release only on his blog. The reason is so that for those of you in tin foil hats that are concerned with privacy do not have to allow permissions to the Internet and SMS apps if you don't want that.  He also mentioned that he updates it about once a month. He updates the version on his blog first so be sure to look there.  The app is free in the market but there is also a donation version.  This app is developed by a guy just like us in his spare time and he has created a great app, so don't be cheap!  If you like the app and use it go spend the $1.30 to keep him going. You can donate within the app or in the Google Play Store.

Apple Has Lost Its Mojo

As an Android Activist I don't normally care much about Apple propaganda announcements.  However, I feel that after the latest Apple announcement of the iPad3 the new iPad (dumbest name ever), that maybe Apple has lost their innovative mojo. I am not saying this just as an Android fan but rather a technology professional. I look at the changes that have come out over the last few IOS device releases and see them being only evolutionary steps at best. I want to compare how Android is aggressively innovating in mobile compared to Apple.

When IOS first came out it was a true revolution in the mobile market. There was nothing like it with the app store and the hardware. I now look at iPhones and even iPads and think that they are just incremental changes to the previous versions.  The hardware has really not changed much and the OS is not breaking new ground.  They bump up the cameras or processors each release and you can talk to iPhones with Siri, but looking at IOS and the hardware today, it is not much different than it was a few years ago.  In contrast, look at Android 2.1 and 4.0 and see how Android is still innovating. I will admit that Android was in this mode of keeping the interface the same in version 1 through 2.3, but they broke the mold when they came out with Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich. At the same time, hardware manufacturers are pumping out phones and tablets to fit anyone's style.

Every time I see comparisons of Apple and Android sales numbers, the argument which is used to help either side is by saying that Apple is a hardware company and Google sells ads.  Apple is a hardware company and as such, they should be innovating the hardware side of their products. However, Android manufacturers are pushing the envelope much further than Apple is in hardware.  The iPhone and iPads today are not much different than the first generation versions. The screen size on the iPhone is maybe (in my opinion) the biggest factor in the explosion of Android devices. With Samsung trying 0.1" increments of every screen size they can make and other manufacturers trying so many different size screens, there is surely one that everyone will like.  I know retina screens are all the rage but the reason I drooled over the Vibrant when it was released was the spectacular 4" Super AMOLED screen.  That phone still has one of the best looking displays in a smartphone.  You are not going into AT&T, Sprint or Verizon today and looking at the iPhone and comparing it to one of these great Android displays thinking that the iPhone screen is impressive. It pales in comparison to most Android devices. Where is the Apple Mojo in hardware, their bread and butter?

If I could do a 6 month contract and subsidize a new phone I would do it in a heartbeat so I could try out all of the new phones.  With Android I have new hardware choices all of the time. On the phone I have that is 2 years old I could throw a new ROM on it today to make it feel like new.  You cannot do that on an iPhone!  Apple needs to understand that by sitting still with their hardware designs and OS they could easily get left behind like Blackberry did.

The iPad and tablet market is Apple's sweet spot right now.  They obviously own the market. But remember, at one time not too long ago they owned the smartphone market too.  Relying on the masses to keep buying their tablets if they do not innovate will be their downfall.

I really expected some big revelation for the new iPad. It didn't happen.  iPhoto is not a selling point to me on a tablet. I don't want to take pictures on a 9-10" tablet and I can edit on an Android tablet too. The new retina display is certainly a new thing for the iPad but by the third revision I expected that display to be included.  What else have they added? If I owned an iPad2 (which I don't) I wouldn't rush out to upgrade. The display on a iPad2 is decent enough. I could upgrade to IOS 5.1 and get the rest of the features.  And the upgrade in processors may be a big deal to tech geeks but I think to most users they wouldn't need to have a new quad core right away. In comparison, look at ASUS right now.  They are putting out solid devices with tablet and docks. With ICS finally seeing the light of day, coupled with this sleek hardware, I could care less about a boring iPad. I want functionality and form.  I want a device that can work and be as flexible as I am. With the Transformer series I can work on a tablet or use it as a laptop. With the Padfone we can add phone to that list too. Who is the true hardware innovator here?

On a side note, the biggest threat to both Apple and Android in the Tablet market will be Windows 8. Before you stop reading or clean that coffee you just spit out on your monitor, hear me out. Windows 8 is designed with touch in mind. I hate it on the desktop so far but I could see loving it on a tablet. I essentially use my Samsung Tab to work like a Windows tablet. I remote desktop into Windows servers and desktops to do a lot of my work. I do that because I can use the convenience of a tablet form factor to work on a Windows PC. If I could just use Windows on a tablet I could work on a real desktop OS with apps I am familiar with, plus a desktop browser without the mobile OS limitations we all get in Android and IOS today. I know I am not alone in this.  Imagine being able to use Office and all of your Windows apps plus simple printing on a tablet. Because of the iPad, many users now see the advantage of working on tablets and will buy a Windows tablet when they come out for these reasons. And yes I know that Android tablets and iPad's can print and I can switch the browser to a desktop emulation, but with Windows 8 I will not need any emulations. That is an important difference to keep in mind. But here again Apple is sitting on their hands waiting for someone to knock them off the top spot of tablet manufacturers. This market is key to the future of computing and Apple isn't doing enough to stay ahead and Android cannot get in to the game.

Finally, I love the fragmentation argument for Android. After my response to Ken Hess about why he would never buy an Android device, my boss and I debated the fragmentation issue.  My point was that in reality, most users do not know or care which version of Android they are running. They just need the device to work best for them. Apple fans always point to the fragmentation and wonder how we can live with it as they upgrade to the latest version of IOS on their beloved phones and tablets.  Truth be told, most of us know we could be on the latest and greatest version of Android today if we root our phones. I know some people don't want to go that route, but it is always an option for us.  What if the advantages of the yearly upgrades for iPhones and iPads become so minor that users wouldn't notice if they were on 4, 4.1, 5 or 5.1 and start to fragment IOS?  If Apple isn't going to add any value to upgrading why bother? I have heard several iPhone users in the last few years say that they didn't care to upgrade their phones hardware or software when a new one was released because there wasn't a compelling reason. I am sure they eventually did, but they weren't excited about it. On the Android side there are new compelling reasons released practically every day.  By not enticing IOS users to upgrade with better features they also could fragment their own user base as well.

Really, most people don't care as much about hardware as they do software and OSes.  Android is an OS and that is where their focus and strengths lie. You probably really care about the OS functionality and the apps on a daily basis more than the processor or the screen resolution. The hardware may be a key determining factor when purchasing a phone but becomes somewhat irrelevant over time.  OSes are exciting (or at least should be), not the hardware.  Maybe that is why Apple has lost its mojo. The interface on IOS has not changed enough to keep up with the times.  If Android keeps putting out exciting feature updates to the OS and hardware manufacturers keep pumping out new innovative devices, Apple could have their work cut out for them. They are fighting a whole industry of innovators who are willing to try new things to revolutionize the industry rather than continuing to be the next evolution.

App Review: Groove IP Lite

Previously, I had reviewed Groove IP by SNRB Labs which is a Voice Over IP (VOIP) app that routes your Google Voice phone calls over your data connection.  This allows you to use your data rather than your carrier provided minutes to make phone calls.  I still highly recommend that app and use it constantly.  It is my favorite utility app that I have installed on my Android phone.  The problem is that until now it was only a paid app.  At $4.99 it is hard to convince people that it is worth a try.  Now, Groove IP Lite has been released.  This is the ad supported free version that will let you see how well Groove IP could work on your phone.

With Groove IP I have literally only used 6 of my phone minutes for the last 3 months. It has allowed me to use the lowest voice minute plan that Verizon offers without worrying about going over my limit. Because I know I do not have to be concerned with the minutes I am using, I find that I call more now than I have for the last few years.  The way that this works is I use Google Voice for my phone number and all of my calls go there. I have it ring on my Nexus, my Tab and my desk phone at work.  With the addition of Groove IP I use my data to route the voice traffic over to the Google Voice servers through Google Talk on my Tab and Nexus. I am on wifi most of the time so I do not worry about data much, but even so, they claim it uses 1.2MB of data per minute.  I would have thought based on my experience with the app that it used even less since I have not seen a spike in my data usage.  It does not seem to be a data hog by any means.

One of the big limitations of the Lite version is that  you cannot route calls over 3G or 4G. If you want to test the app out before investing be sure to have a wifi connection to use. The full version will upgrade you to be able to use all connections.  The Lite version will also not let you integrate with the native dialer, meaning you have to use the Groove IP Lite dialer instead.  I don't find this to be a big loss since I use the Groove IP dialer now in place of the standard one even on the paid version.  It works just as well as the stock dialer and I don't have to enable logging in both dialers to see the call history.  In addition, you cannot set your Google Talk status to Invisible. I use this since I don't use Google Chat much. It allows me to appear offline. With the Lite version you will appear online and I find this annoying because people will sometimes think I am available and start chatting when in fact I don't want to be bothered.  Upgrading to the full version once you know it works for you is surely the way to go.

If you have a non-telephone tablet or a limited amount of minutes on your phone, go download Groove IP Lite. It is easy to setup and start using.  This new Lite version is the best way to see if it can work for you before you invest in the paid app.  I have had many people tell me that they were surprised by how simple the setup and usage of Groove IP is. I think you will be glad you tried it.

The Google Play Store Maximum File Size Increases

This week Google has made several changes to the market, now calling it Google Play and also increasing the 50MB limit on file sizes for apps.  The size increase will be very helpful especially to developers of games that need larger file downloads.  The way this works is that the file downloads initially will still be 50MB in the market but developers can house up to two, 2GB files for additional files directly on Google's servers.  Before, developers would have to host the additional files on their own servers.  With the change implemented in file size, the large apps that you download will come from Google's servers which we can hope will be faster and more reliable. The name change has gotten all of the press this week but long term, the file size increase will have a huge impact on the apps we download.

Another change along with the file sizes, will be the return policy.  The new policy is still a 15 minute window but it now starts after the download has completed.  There were times where the download took almost the entire 15 minutes to complete for me on low speed connections. It is frustrating when you paid for an app and the download took so long that you could not get it tested before the refund window closed.  I still wish Google would expand the refund window to 2 hours.  I think for most smaller apps 15 minutes is fine but as apps get larger and more complex, a few hours would be a more reasonable refund period. I have paid $20 for Office and remote desktop apps that took more time to download, test and configure than the refund windows allowed for. I think the short window is going to become more of an issue, but that is a post for another day.

Google does suggest that developers use the first file as a static download and the second file be the patch updates.  This will allow developers to (theoretically) only need to update the patch file.  It should also keep the file size smaller for the update files.  This method will make developer's deployments in the market an easier process since they should only have to update the one file.  Google seems to be really ramping up their efforts in the market. With the re-branding of the apps along with the increased file size, I think they may be trying to improve the user experience as well as the developer's ease of entry into the marketplace.  This seems to be a win for everyone.