The mobile platform wars are in full swing. Android and Apple dominate the landscape. Network Effects: How Google & Apple Dominate Mobile article tells that a report from VisionMobile says that there will be no clear winner in the battle for supremacy over the mobile market. Android controls the numbers, Apple controls the profits and everybody else is fighting for scraps and third place in the ecosystem. The article has good figures that describe the mobile markets.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Report: Apple’s Share Of U.S. Smartphone Market Now Over 33%, RIM Drops To Under 10%
http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/04/comscore-apples-share-of-u-s-smartphone-market-now-over-33-rim-drops-to-under-10/
Microsoft’s smartphone platform was actually down 0.4% and now commands just 3.6% of the market.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chinese Knockoff Maker Reportedly Copies, Patents iPhone 5 Design
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/09/goophone-apple-iphone/
A Chinese iPhone lookalike manufacturer has reportedly patented the next iPhone’s design before Apple has even released the handset.
The Goophone I5, which was unveiled in late August, appears to be an exact ripoff of leaked images and parts for Apple’s next iPhone. Blog Gizchina reports that Goophone has already patented the design of the I5 and could potentially sue or try to block Apple from selling its handset in China.
“It would be unfortunate if a country’s patent system were designed to allow this type of behavior,” Robin Feldman, Professor of Law at UC Hastings and author of the book Rethinking Patent Rights, said via email. Patent laws vary from country to country, so what flies in China, may not be allowed in the U.S., or vice versa. “If this behavior had occurred in the United States, Apple would have an action for misappropriation of trade secrets.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
The end of Android tablets: can Google match Amazon’s success before Microsoft closes the window?
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/4/3291249/the-end-of-android-tablets-google-amazon-kindle-fire-microsoft-windows-8
Based on the leaks we’ve seen of the new Kindle Fire’s interface, Android’s been buried even farther into the background — a casual user may not even know that it’s there. Android on the Fire is about application compatibility, not Android itself, and it highlights Amazon’s decision to fight a battle between ecosystems, not operating systems.
There are many reasons Google’s massively successful phone operating system has basically fizzled on tablets — uninspiring hardware and bad third party software chief amongst them — but ultimately the biggest problem is the lack of a single Android tablet ecosystem worth anything to consumers.
Launching a successful Android tablet on the merits of “having an Android tablet” alone has basically been a non-starter for everyone who’s tried.
Amazon’s key insight with the Fire was to use Android as the means to enable another ecosystem that provides value to consumers
Even historically hardware-focused companies like Samsung and Sony tried to get into the act last week at IFA. Both companies are touting their own attempts at building an ecosystem — the “S Ecosystem” and the not-yet-realized “One Sony” respectively — and both companies are probably overselling what doesn’t really exist.
With Android, Google wasn’t playing to win — it was making sure it didn’t lose. As court documents in the Google vs. Oracle trial confirmed, in 2005 Google was much more worried about a Microsoft hegemony in mobile than it was about Apple
Google realized a common platform for multiple OEMs in mobile was inevitable, and wanted to ensure that it wouldn’t be locked out. Ultimately, Google was much more concerned that the common platform would be a proprietary solution like Windows Mobile than it was about Android fragmentation.
Google may have some heartburn about OEMs and carriers failing to update devices and its lack of presence on the Fire, but it’s surely better off than it would have been had Microsoft managed to get its act together sooner.
Google’s strategy worked brilliantly on phones, but the window for success on tablets is closing rapidly. After all, most Android OEMs are also Microsoft OEMs, and Windows 8 and Windows RT have enormous potential to succeed as proper competitors to the iPad.
And the value proposition for OEMs is strong: why spend money on building Android up into a laptop replacement when Microsoft is already spending billions developing Windows?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple and Google have climbed significantly over Nokia’s patents issued in the United States. Until a few years ago, Nokia was awarded many times greater number of patents than competitors.
U.S. Patent Office, USPTO statistics:
Nokia this year to date, issued 568 new patents.
Apple patents figure is 816
Google got 703 patents
In particular, Google has undertaken determination to increase the number of patents it has.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/google+ohitti+nokian+patentoijana+usassa/a835508?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-06092012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
GameStop to sell Wikipad gaming tablet on October 31st for $499
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/6/3298781/gamestop-to-sell-wikipad-gaming-tablet-on-october-31st-for-499
The Wikipad has had quite a ride. In January, it was a small no-name Android 4.0 tablet with an unproven processor, a glasses-free 3D screen, an optional game controller attachment, and a sub-$250 price.
Eight months later, the likes of Sony and Nvidia are backing a rather different Android 4.1 gaming slate that will retail at brick and mortar GameStop stores for $499.
Perhaps most importantly, the company says it will have game support, and not just the standard Android kind.
The device is also among the few non-Sony devices that is PlayStation Certified, which means PlayStation Mobile titles will be available at some point.
Intriguingly, Sony’s cloud gaming initiative will also come to the Wikipad when it’s ready for primetime.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bezos on Android: We Like It!
http://allthingsd.com/20120906/bezos-on-android-we-like-it/
When it comes to operating systems, Jeff Bezos is pretty darn pleased with Android.
The Amazon CEO said that Android is accomplishing everything that Amazon needs it to and, at the same time, giving the company flexibility to customize things.
“We treat Android like Linux, and so it’s a base OS layer,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nexus 7 – First Look
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/nexus-7-first-look
The Nexus 7 has a number of things going for it. The biggest pro in my mind is the price point. $200 for the 8GB model and $250 for the 16 GB model makes it very attractive when compared to the iPad
Despite an attractive package, and several very useful features, there are some glaring holes
For me, the jury is still out on the Nexus 7. For all the good things about it, the short comings are enough for me to pass it by.
Tomi Engdahl says:
UPDATE: Chinese Phone Maker of the GooPhone i5 might have blocked iPhone 5 sales in China!
http://www.gizchina.com/2012/09/04/chinese-phone-maker-goophone-i5-might-have-blocked-iphone-5-sales-in-china/
Android fans, especially those of you who love your Samsung devices, might have something to cheer about today as it looks like Chinese phone maker GooPhone have already patented the design of the new iPhone 5 before Apple have had chance!
The most intriguing part of the GooPhone i5′s design is the fact that GooPhone claim they have patented it in China, which could effectively block Apple from selling their next generation iPhone in the Chinese market, and may even mean GooPhone have the right to block iPhone 5 exports completely!
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon’s new high-end Kindle lacks FCC approval for sale
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/gadgetbox/amazons-new-high-end-kindle-lacks-fcc-approval-sale-986740
Amazon.com Inc trumpeted cutting-edge wireless technology as a key selling point for the fanciest of the new Kindle devices introduced by CEO Jeff Bezos on Thursday. There’s just one problem: the devices have not yet been approved for sale by the Federal Communications Commission.
FCC approval is required for wireless communications products, to assure that they operate safely and won’t improperly interfere with other signals.
A company spokeswoman said Amazon expects to receive FCC approval before November 20.
But they say it’s very unusual for a company to announce major new products without first getting the sign-off from the agency.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple is claiming that Samsung’s Android powered Galaxy models should be banned in the Netherlands for infringing its multitouch patents.
This latest argument could see a EU wide ban on all of Samsung’s devices running Android 2.3 and above, because Samsung’s distribution center is located in the Netherlands.
KOREAN PHONE GIANT Samsung has admitted that Apple’s multitouch software is much better than Google’s, in a bid to avoid a sales ban in the Netherlands.
The Inquirer (http://s.tt/1mVig)
Tomi Engdahl says:
Toys ‘R Us announces $150, Android 4.0-powered ‘Tabeo’ tablet, goes on sale Oct. 21
http://9to5google.com/2012/09/10/toys-r-us-announces-150-android-4-0-powered-tabeo-tablet-goes-on-sale-october-21/
Not content with letting Amazon dominate the $200 tablet category, The Wall Street Journal reported that Toys ‘R Us announced it would soon sell its own Android-powered tablet geared specifically towards children. The $150 “Tabeo” will start hitting the company’s retail stores Oct. 21 with preorders already being accepted through Toysrus.com. The report noted Toys ‘R Us, which is in its second year of profit declines, already has competition in the tablets for children market. Some of the leading kids’ tablets, such as Kurio 7, Meep and Lexibook, have each recently been discounted to $150 to match the price of the upcoming Toys ‘R Us Tabeo.
The Toys “R” Us tablet, which uses Google Inc.’s Android mobile operating system, more closely resembles an adult tablet; it comes loaded with 50 free game applications, including popular titles such as “Angry Birds,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
It seems that the mobile market is dividing into Apple’s i-devices and the iTunes ecosystem and on the other hand Google’s Android-based devices and services.
Android phones are sold in more than different models of the iPhone, but iPhone users downloading more applications, content and watch more ads than Android phone users.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/uskollisuus+myy+hyvin+vaikka+iphone+5+ei+tarjoaisi+mitaan+mullistavaa/a837280?s=r&wtm=tietoviikko/-11092012&
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google appears to have been blindsided by the fact that Apple won its lawsuit against Samsung.
In an interview with Bloomberg TV, David Lawee, VP of corporate development, says, “We didn’t believe rounded corners were patentable.”
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-on-patents-2012-9#ixzz26EmG2ZuS
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tablet Smackdown: Kindle Fire HD and Nexus 7
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/09/amazon-kindle-fire-versus-google-asus-nexus-7/
Both the Nexus 7 and the Fire HD have 10-point multi-touch LCD displays. And both tout the same 1280 x 800 resolution, with image quality nearly as good as Apple’s iPad Retina display. Both also do a great job of deflecting glare that distorts images on glossy screens. But there are key differences.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google: 500 million Android devices activated
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57510994-94/google-500-million-android-devices-activated/
Just before Apple debuts its next-gen iPhone, Google announces that people have activateda half billion Android devices. Also, 1.3 million new ones arrive each day.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Will Apple’s Tacky Software-Design Philosophy Cause A Revolt?
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670760/will-apples-tacky-software-design-philosophy-cause-a-revolt
By now it’s almost inevitable given the company’s track record: No matter what Apple unveils tomorrow at the Yerba Buena Center (an iPad Mini? iPhone 5?), pundits will herald the company for its innovative thinking and bold hardware design. But the elephant in the room will be Apple’s software, which many inside the company believe has evolved for the worse in the last few years.
The criticism and controversy, much of it revolving around a trend called skeuomorphism,
What’s skeuomorphism? If you’ve ever used an Apple product, you’ve experienced digital skeuomorphic design: calendars with faux leather-stitching, bookshelves with wood veneers, fake glass and paper and brushed chrome.
Skeuomorphism is a catch-all term for when objects retain ornamental elements of past, derivative iterations–elements that are no longer necessary to the current objects’ functions.
“It’s visual masturbation,” says one former senior UI designer at Apple who worked closely with Steve Jobs. “It’s like the designers are flexing their muscles to show you how good of a visual rendering they can do of a physical object. Who cares?”
Why is Skeuomorphism Bad?
The issue is two-fold: first, that traditional visual metaphors no longer translate to modern users; and second, that excessive digital imitation of real-world objects creates confusion among users.
“I’ve come to absolutely dislike this trend in user interface toward skeuomorphism,”
“Using reality as a visual metaphor for the user interface rather than make the UI function on its own terms is something that has irked me for quite a while.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Can We Please Move Past Apple’s Silly, Faux-Real UIs?
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669879/can-we-please-move-past-apples-silly-faux-real-uis
In recent years, the aesthetic of UIs has followed a dominant ideology that attempts to replicate the physical world.
There is validity to a skeuomorphic approach. To create any good interface, it is essential for the designer to understand the cognitive models that a user brings to any new product.
Kindles do not rely on material aesthetics in quite the same way many skeuomorphs do. The design is underpinned by typographic and layout conventions (i.e., the positions of page numbers and chapter names, for instance), allowing the aesthetics of the UI page to recede enough for the reader to become immersed in the author’s word
Unfortunately, the iPad book app doesn’t achieve this level of sophistication. It’s much more theatrical
The app employs elements like an overly rendered paper texture and faux page-turn animations that make it difficult to become quite as immersed in the prose of an author as the Kindle’s e-ink design allows.
It’s very easy for skeuomorphism to become a crutch and a way to justify lazy design decisions: “This is what is familiar to users, and this is what they understand.” Digitally re-creating real materials and analog objects very quickly becomes aesthetics for aesthetics sake.
Fortunately though, there are mainstream examples of UIs that venture away from the safety of skeuomorphs. Microsoft’s Metro design language, first deployed on the Windows Phone 7, is an exquisite example of what UIs can be if we free ourselves from being obviously derivative.
we need to design UIs that are stripped down as much as they can be. This means avoiding superfluous and gratuitous ornamentation, both visually and through how they move
Tomi Engdahl says:
The iPHONE 5 UNDERMINES western DEMOCRACY: 5 reasons why
Owning one will be the badge of an utter fool
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/12/iphone_five_reasons/
Thinking of buying a new iPhone 5 after it gets announced later today? Don’t. Owning it will mark you out as an easily-led simpleton – and worse, the purchase will undermine western democracy.
1. iPhone and Apple fever are undermining the bedrock of Western democracy
2. No swappable battery
3. No Memory Card Slot
4. Software lockdown and huge margin for Apple on every app
5. Stephen Fry – who knows nothing about technology – really likes it
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Many iPhone 5s Can Apple Sell in a Weekend?
http://allthingsd.com/20120911/how-many-iphone-5s-can-apple-sell-in-a-weekend/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Event Let-Down A Win for Nokia?
http://mynokiablog.com/2012/09/12/apple-event-let-down-a-win-for-nokia/
In case you guys missed it (or just didn’t really care) the new iPhone has a 4 inch display (not even HD/720P resolution yet they insist on calling it Retina) and is admittedly pretty thin (7.6MM); Apple claim it’s the thinnest phone ever, which is a blatant lie since the new Motorola droid is 7.1MM but whatever. Besides that the iPhone is pretty much the same as all others, yet Apple continue to call it ”All new” and crammed with innovation; yet ironically they said:
The most exciting thing about the new iPhone is PANORAMA!
What?
If the best feature your new iPhone offers is a built in panorama maker then you have serious issues.
n a world of amazing displays why isn’t the display 720p at the very least? Considering how Apple were the first to WOW us with their amazing “retina” screens on the iPhone 4 why didn’t they bother carrying through?
Lack of NFC seems to have been a huge issue
Apple also announced a migration to a new connector dock, from the customary 30 Pin to a new 8 pin connector (called Lightning
All in all Nokia might have a chance to encroach on Apples Market-share if anyone who was holding out for the latest iPhone thinks it’s no longer worth it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The iPhone 5 Is Completely Amazing and Utterly Boring
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/09/the-iphone-5-is-boring-and-amazing/
The iPhone 5 is the greatest phone in the world. It has top-notch hardware with a zippy new A6 processor and amazing four-inch display. Its new operating system, iOS 6, is slicker than slugs on ice. And its ultra-slim body, an all-glass and aluminum enclosure, is a triumph of industrial design. There is nothing not to like about the phone. It’s aces. Just aces.
And yet it is also so, so cruelly boring.
Yes, it’s better than the iPhone 4S or the iPhone 4 or just about any other phone you can buy.
But mostly it is the Toyota Prius of phone updates. It is an amazing triumph of technology that gets better and better, year after year, and yet somehow is every bit as exciting as a 25 mph drive through a sensible neighborhood at a reasonable time of day. It’s not going to change your life. It’s not even going to offer a radically different experience.
It’s a weird paradox.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Interview: Phil Schiller on Why the iPhone 5 Has a New Connector but Not NFC or Wireless Charging
http://allthingsd.com/20120912/interview-phil-schiller-on-why-the-iphone-5-has-a-new-connector-but-not-nfc-or-wireless-charging/
Though some saw Apple’s Passbook feature as a perfect companion to NFC, Apple opted not to include the technology in the iPhone 5. Passbook is used to store loyalty cards and gift cards as well as things like boarding passes and baseball tickets.
In an interview, Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller said that Passbook alone does what most customers want and works without existing merchant payment systems.
It’s not clear that NFC is the solution to any current problem, Schiller said. “Passbook does the kinds of things customers need today.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Developers say iPhone 5’s larger screen poses some challenges, especially without a device to test apps
http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/09/13/developers-say-iphone-5s-larger-screen-poses-challenges-especially-without-device-test-apps/
One of the major questions about the effects of Apple increasing the iPhone’s screen size to 4″ was how that would affect the 700K apps on the App Store. Developers had been at turns skittish and confident about how their apps would translate in the weeks leading up to the event.
Most apps, Apple explained during the event, will run letterboxed on the new iPhone until they’re updated to take advantage of the larger screen. In fact, a new default launch image will need to be added to any app that wants to utilize the full screen, so developers must submit an update for that to happen.
How they’ll look once they’re spread out to the larger screen, though, is a matter of how exactly they’re put together.
“For some apps it’s really easy for others it’d involve an entire redesign of the app.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple’s era of secrecy is over
http://www.zdnet.com/apples-era-of-secrecy-is-over-7000004159/
Summary: Apple introduced the new iPhone 5 today. It was entirely underwhelming. Why? Because we knew about it well ahead of time.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphone Wars: iPhone 5 vs. the Competition
http://allthingsd.com/20120912/smartphone-wars-iphone-5-vs-the-competition/
Now it’s decision time. Will the iPhone 5 be your next phone?
For some, the decision will be easy.
For others, their allegiance to another operating system or brand will lead them to stick with their current device or wait for the next “it” phone using their preferred platform.
If you fall into the latter camp or if you just want to see how the competition stacks up
Tomi Engdahl says:
IDF: Intel bets big on HTML5 for Android apps
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2205092/idf-intel-bets-big-on-html5-for-android-apps
SAN FRANCISCO: INTEL IS BETTING on HTML5 being the language that will help it take advantage of apps designed to run on smartphones and tablets.
Intel has been working hard to try to get Android apps to work on its x86 Atom processor, however there is still a grey area as to what percentage of the Android app library works on the firm’s chips.
As James admitted that HTML5 is “overhyped”, she talked up Intel’s River Trail multithreading optimisation for Javascript on Mozilla’s Firefox web browser, but it was clear that the firm is hoping that HTML5 apps will provide an operating system agnostic application development environment. James said Intel that will be releasing HTML5 development tools over the next two quarters, but didn’t detail what work Intel has done to optimise HTML5 performance on x86 chips.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sizing up the new iPhone 5 against its Android and Windows Phone competition
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/12/3321488/iphone-5-specs-compare-galaxy-s-iii-lumia-920-one-x-galaxy-nexus
Tomi Engdahl says:
iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S: what’s changed?
http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/12/iphone-5-whats-changed/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s Android Operating System is coming to the computer screens. Viewsonic has introduced a 22-inch VSD220 computer monitor that works without a computer on the table as a jumbo-standing Android tablet.
The display can surf the Internet without using a computer and view photos and videos, for example. The display is a touch panel that supports two-finger zoom and internet connections for Ethernet connection and wireless bluetooth and wifi.
Source: http://www.3t.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/teknologia/jattikokoinen_android_tabletti_22_tuumaa
Tomi Engdahl says:
iPhone 5 unveiled: Rumors vs. reality
http://www.edn.com/design/systems-design/4396128/iPhone-5-unveiled–Rumors-vs–reality
Screen measures 4” diagonal.
Screen res is 640 X 1136.
Camera is 8M-pixels.
No NFC.
Multiple mics (front, bottom, and back) for noise-cancelling.
CPU is the A6 device.
Operating system is iOS 6.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple’s new A6 iPhone 5 appears to be first ARM Cortex A15 phone
http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/09/12/apples_new_a6_iphone_5_appears_to_be_first_arm_cortex_a15_phone
While Apple hasn’t revealed much technical detail of the specifications behind iPhone 5 and its components, its new A6 processor is reportedly using next generation ARM Cortex A15 cores, making it the first to market with the technology.
According to a report by Anand Lal Shimpi of Anandtech, the performance gains Apple reported for the new A6 chip and other factors means that “it looks like Apple has integrated two ARM Cortex A15 cores on Samsung’s 32nm LP HK+MG process.”
The site added, “This is a huge deal because it means Apple beat both TI and Samsung on bringing A15s to market.”
The Cortex-A15 is the next major jump for the ARM architecture, which calls the core “the highest-performance licensable processor the industry has ever seen.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Point of view: smartphones became boring
Apple’s new iPhone announcement on Wednesday, the field was again the following circuits excited, but the excitement was something very forced. The phone was not really anything revolutionary. Wired magazine described iPhone 5 fresh but ultimately very boring novelty.
Now smartphones have become common, and their properties are well-established practice. At the same time the phones have become about as exciting as notebook computers
All devices are handled roughly as neatly smartphone basic tasks
Why mobile phone launches at all then monitored so closely?
Communication has always been destined to become invisible, because the world always changes mediated by the contents of the equipment, not the equipment. It is only natural that this is the case now for smartphones.
Source: http://www.hs.fi/talous/N%C3%A4k%C3%B6kulma+%C3%84lypuhelimista+tuli+tylsi%C3%A4/a1305598880779
Tomi Engdahl says:
Don’t Think Different: Apple Adds Straightjacket Mode to iOS
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/09/apple-ios6-lockdown/
Business iPad users beware. Your halcyon days of loading whatever the heck you want onto your tablet may be coming to an end.
Apple is set to introduce a couple of new features that will give corporate IT new ways to lock down the iOS 6 operating system
When Apple releases iOS 6 next Wednesday, it will include “several powerful enterprise features that enhance the ease with which CIOs & IT departments can put mobile to work,” Zenprise said in a blog post.
That will pave the way for a new generation of iPads that will work more like cash registers than tablets. “For example, if a retailer wants to use iPads to enhance the customer in-store experience, the iOS 6 app lock-out feature makes it so that the only app on the device will be the one for the job at hand,” Zenprise said in an e-mail message.
But first and foremost, Apple considers itself a consumer product company. Under Steve Jobs, the appeal to corporate types was definitely considered uncool.
But Tim Cook — who spent more than a decade at IBM before he signed on at Apple in the late 1990s — seems to be a bit more business-friendly, says Van Baker, an analyst with the Gartner research firm.
the wallpaper lockdown may be another play for the CEO’s heart, says Baker. “I’m sure that it’s to appeal to the vanity of the CEOs who want to have the company logo on them.”
Tomi says:
Will Apple’s Tacky Software-Design Philosophy Cause A Revolt?
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670760/will-apples-tacky-software-design-philosophy-cause-a-revolt
Fast Company’s Austin Carr speaks with industry insiders and ex-Apple designers who have soured on the fake leather, glass, and wood that runs through OS X and iOS.
Despite consistently glowing reviews from critics and consumers alike, iOS and OS X, Apple’s operating systems which tie Macs and iPads and iPhones together, have rubbed some the wrong way in recent years with their design directions.
“It’s visual masturbation,” says one former senior UI designer at Apple who worked closely with Steve Jobs. “It’s like the designers are flexing their muscles to show you how good of a visual rendering they can do of a physical object. Who cares?”
Tomi says:
You Think Nokia Uses Deceptive Advertising? Have You Heard of Apple?
http://pocketnow.com/2012/09/11/false-advertising-apple-vs-nokia/
The interesting thing is that the most profitable tech company in the world lies to us all the time in their commercials and airs them constantly on public television. Apple is often being busted for false advertising, but they never really do anything about it.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fragmentation Comes To iOS
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/12/09/13/2150229/fragmentation-comes-to-ios
“While the fragmentation issues in iOS are nowhere near as bad as Android, it can no longer be considered non existent.”
Fragmentation Comes to iOS
http://colourmeamused.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/fragmentation-comes-to-ios/
While iOS will never come close to the fragmentation seen in Android with all the different versions and customizations, recent product releases and software updates and Apple’s decision to sell previous generation products at a lower price means things aren’t as streamlined as they used to be. I have prepared a chart based on published information.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Am I An Outlier, Or Are Apple Products No Longer Easy To Use?
http://battellemedia.com/archives/2012/09/am-i-an-outlier-or-are-apple-products-no-longer-easy-to-use.php
I’m not saying I’m switching, but I sure am open to a better solution. Because the past year or so has been dominated by the kind of computing nightmares that used to be the defining experience of my Windows-PC-wielding friends and colleagues. And it’s not limited to the Mac – the iPhone is also a massive fail in what was once the exclusive province of Apple: Ease of use.
The phone is pretty much useless now, because all of its storage is taken up. With what, you might ask? Well, it’s a mysterious yellow substance – found, in a masterstroke of intuitive design, in iTunes – called “other.”
WTF is all this “other” shit, I wondered to myself. Well, that’s what Apple’s self-hosted forums are good for
OK, so…should I restore the device from backup? How do you even do that? And if that doesn’t work, then what? I have to “restore as new”?
Sounds dangerous, like I might lose all my settings and apps and such.
Which I did. And I lost all my apps save the ones that come preinstalled on the iPhone in the first place. And guess what? It didn’t fix the problem.
My point is simply this: This. Ain’t. Easy.
Another example: iPhoto.
Another example: Nearly all of Apple’s built in “productivity” applications are terrible – email, contacts, calendaring, for starters. All of them are not ready for prime time.
And dont’ get me started on Apple’s “Address Book.”
Let me repeat my refrain: This. Ain’t. Easy.
But we all know the future is mobile, right? And the iPhone and iPad are Perfect Expressions of Beauty, Ideal Combinations of Form and Function. Except they’re Not.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Over half’ of Android devices have unpatched holes
Fix is up to your carrier, Google, mobo maker – just about everyone
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/14/duo_says_android_security_nightmare/
Duo Security is claiming that “over half” of Android devices have unpatched vulnerabilities.
The company’s Jon Oberheide says in this blog post that the results come from the first slew of users of the company’s X-Ray Android vulnerability scanner.
Android patching is a pain in the neck, involving as it does the complex ecosystem of Google, device makers and carriers. The easiest way to get an up-to-date version of Android is to buy a new device.
Alternatively, we could just wait until Android is sued off the face of the planet and replaced by a new Google operating system.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Estimate puts iPhone 5 BOM at $167.50
http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/now-hear-this/4396201/Estimate-put-iPhone-5-BOM-at–167-50?cid=EDNToday
TechInsights has release a preliminary BOM (bill of materials) estimate of $167.50 for Apple’s iPhone 5, announced Wednesday.
The largest single portion of the BOM is expected to be the A6 processor, Apple’s new chip, at $28. The A5 in the iPhone 4s and A4 in the iPhone 4 at costs of $21 and $14, respectively.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Guardian tells: A German court has told that Motorola Mobility has to withdraw from the market Android tablets and smartphones in all the countries where the company has a patent dispute with Apple.
Source: http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/tappio+googlelle+motorola-androidit+pois+markkinoilta/201209259219#kommentit
Tomi Engdahl says:
Early Results from X-Ray: Over 50% of Android Devices are Vulnerable
https://blog.duosecurity.com/2012/09/early-results-from-x-ray-over-50-of-android-devices-are-vulnerable/
Since we launched X-Ray, we’ve already collected results from over 20,000 Android devices worldwide. Based on these initial results, we estimate that over half of Android devices worldwide have unpatched vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a malicious app or adversary.
Yes, it’s a scary number, but it exemplifies how important expedient patching is to mobile security and how poorly the industry (carriers, device manufacturers, etc) has performed thus far.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google forces Acer to cancel non-Android smartphone launch
Threatens to pull Android support on Acer devices
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2205568/google-forces-acer-to-cancel-nonandroid-smartphone-launch
MOBILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Google reportedly forced Acer to cancel a smartphone launch event in China yesterday because the handset wasn’t running its Android operating system.
Acer was planning to launch the Acer Cloudmobile A800 running Alibaba’s Aliyun operating system. However, Reuters reports that Google threw its toys out of the pram and pulled the plug on the Chinese launch by threatening to pull Android support from Acer devices.
Alibaba cloud computing unit has now spoken out about Google’s action.
Alibaba’s operating system is seen as an equal to the Android operating system in China, and this report apparently shows the lengths to which Google will go to try to kill competition.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple says Lightning to HDMI and Lightning to VGA adapters are on the way
http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/13/3329062/apple-lightning-hdmi-vga-cable-adapter-coming-months
There’s been some confusion as to what Apple’s new all-digital Lightning connector will be capable of, but the company has just cleared some of that up. An Apple spokesperson told The Verge that Lightning to HDMI and Lightning to VGA cables “will be available in the coming months.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Alibaba: Google forced Acer to drop our new mobile OS
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57512418-94/alibaba-google-forced-acer-to-drop-our-new-mobile-os/
The China-based company says Google threatened to pull its Android support from Acer if Acer pursued Alibaba’s Aliyun operating system.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s Java translator eases path to iPad, iPhone apps
http://www.infoworld.com/d/application-development/googles-java-translator-eases-path-ipad-iphone-apps-202377
Google on Thursday made accommodations for Java and Python developers by offering a Java-to-Objective-C translator and advancing its Python client library for Google APIs.
With the open source release of J2ObjC, Google has authored a translator to convert Java source code into Objective-C source for iPhone and iPad applications. The intent is to enable developers to write an application’s non-UI code, such as data access code or application logic, in Java. Apple has not permitted Java to run on its iOS systems (though Java code can be part of an iOS application build), while Objective-C is Apple’s development language of choice for the devices.
“J2ObjC is not a Java emulator but instead converts Java classes to Objective-C classes that directly use the iOS Foundation Framework,” Google engineer Tom Ball said in a blog post.
“It supports the full Java 6 language and most of its runtime features that are required by client-side application developers,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
The iPhone 5′s A6 SoC: Not A15 or A9, a Custom Apple Core Instead
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6292/iphone-5-a6-not-a15-custom-core
Given Apple’s reliance on fully licensed ARM cores in the past, the expected performance gains and unpublishable information that started all of this I concluded Apple’s A6 SoC likely featured two ARM Cortex A15 cores.
It turns out I was wrong. But pleasantly surprised.
The A6 is the first Apple SoC to use its own ARMv7 based processor design. The CPU core(s) aren’t based on a vanilla A9 or A15 design from ARM IP, but instead are something of Apple’s own creation.
Tomi Engdahl says:
First Apple iPhone 5 orders now shipping from China
http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/09/16/first_apple_iphone_5_orders_now_shipping_from_china
Customers who were among the first to preorder the iPhone 5 from Apple have begun seeing updates that their orders are shipping from China.
While some iPhone 5 orders are now shipping, the packages are still not scheduled to be delivered until Friday, Sept. 21, which is the product’s launch date.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung Takes Jab at iPhone 5 With Feisty Ad
http://mashable.com/2012/09/15/samsung-ad-iphone-5/
In a new ad shown to Mashable that will start running in various national and regional papers on Sunday, Samsung has stacked the specs of its Galaxy S III smartphone against the newly-announced iPhone 5.
What’s first noticeable about the ad is its tagline, which is an obvious jab at Apple: “It doesn’t take a genius.
What do you think of the ad?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google defends drowning Acer’s newborn Alibaba Linux mobe
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/17/google_alibaba/
The phone was supposed to launch on Friday, but hours before the event Acer, the handset’s manufacturer, pulled out saying that Google had threatened to kick it out of the Android club if the launch went ahead. That was acutely embarrassing for Alibaba, and perhaps fatal for its mobile operating system, and Google’s justification won’t help either cause.
Google’s decision to prevent members of the Open Handset Alliance (the nominal owner of Android) from making Aliyun handsets leaves Alibaba in a dead end in what appears, at a glance, to be clear abuse of market power.
Google’s response is to argue that while Aliyun isn’t Android it does make use of Android frameworks and tools, and includes an Android runtime which has really upset the Googleplex:
“Aliyun uses the Android runtime, framework and tools. And your app store contains Android apps (including pirated Google apps),” says the blog posting from Andy Rubin, concluding: “If you don’t want to be compatible, then don’t expect help from OHA members.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Benefits & Importance of Compatibility
http://officialandroid.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-benefits-importance-of-compatibility.html
When we first contemplated Android and formed the Open Handset Alliance, we wanted to create an open virtuous cycle where all members of the ecosystem would benefit. We thought hard about what types of external factors could intervene to weaken the ecosystem as a whole. One important external factor we knew could do this was incompatibilities between implementations of Android.
While Android remains free for anyone to use as they would like, only Android compatible devices benefit from the full Android ecosystem. By joining the Open Handset Alliance, each member contributes to and builds one Android platform — not a bunch of incompatible versions.
Thanks to their support the Android ecosystem now has over 500 million Android-compatible devices and counting!