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Google's Android long ago eclipsed Apple's iOS in terms of sheer size: Gartner reports that Android powers 74.4 percent of all smartphones sold worldwide during the first quarter of 2013, up from 56.9 percent during the year-ago period and widening its already considerable lead on iOS, which plummeted to 18.2 percent from 22.5 percent in the first quarter of 2012. But size isn't everything, and iOS has always maintained a number of competitive edges over Android.

Close to one year after introducing a Google Play digital storefront update enabling select Android application developers to respond to both positive and negative consumer reviews of their work, Google is finally expanding the feature to all members of the Android developer ranks.

Google is expanding its Android gaming efforts, introducing a series of multiplayer and social features to rival Apple's Game Center platform for iOS, Android Police reports.

There will probably be a lot of chatter about Babel. Those in the hands-on labs might get a taste of Key Lime Pie. A new Nexus device seems almost inevitable. But for the hoard of developers descending on San Francisco for Google I/O 2013, the focus will surely be on one thing: Making the most of the Android app opportunity.

Consumers aren't exactly putting out the welcome mat for Facebook Home: Roughly a month after the social networking giant rolled out the alternative Android homescreen, there's mounting evidence to suggest the concept is a dud.

Amazon is extending its Appstore for Android to China, becoming the first Western company to offer premium-priced Android applications to consumers in the world's largest smartphone market. Rival Google Play's Chinese efforts remain limited to free Android apps.