Androidify: I made myself into a Google robot mascot, and you can too
Who doesn't like a cool avatar? What better for an Android user than you personalized as Google's droid mascot? Yesterday, Google released Androidify to the Android Marketplace, which I downloaded last night. The app starts with the typical green droid, which users can customize to suit their fancies. My first effort, and most certainly not my last, is above. I replaced my Facebook and Twitter avatars last night.
The app is easy enough to use, and it's hugely finger friendly. Just touch and drag to resize head, torso or limbs. Google lets users choose attire, hairstyle and other attributes. But Androidify isn't what I expected. For no particular reason, I imagined that Google's app would use the phone's camera to take a photo and Androidify the image. So much for my imagination.
Google Creative Lab and Larva Labs codeveloped the app, which is a great marketing gimmick. Already the green droid mascot is a hugely appealing and identifiable brand representation of Android. It's smart marketing to let Android enthusiasts do an Avatar droid makeover they can easily share. As I have so oft-times asserted: Enthusiasts are any company's best marketers (To be fair, I heard it first from Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg when we worked together at JupiterResearch). There are more than 700 user reviews.
Androidify is by no means a productivity app, and I expect most people will tire of it quickly. But it's a fun tool for creating new avatars, and, frankly, who really can have enough of them? But is Androidify a fad already out of control? Russell Holly tweeted yesterday: "My twitter feed is a relatively constant stream of #androidify avatars. God help me haha."
Androdify isn't the only Android makeover on the InterWebs. Among them: MetroPCS' "Android for All" contest, which concludes on March 14th. Participants create and customize their own Android robots; winners will be chosen in a vote conducted between March 15-31.
My favorite Christmas 2010 present was a green Android mini collectable purchased for $8.99 from Amazon seller Fancy Toys (the collectible sells for $11.99 today -- now why is that?). DYZPLASTIC is the place for information on upcoming Android collectibles. Series 02 is scheduled to release in March. The Chinese New Year Android mini collectible (photo above) was limited edition and it's adorably cute. I want one! Don't you?