Mobile infrastructure must catch up with user needs and demands. Ubiquitous mobile computing is all around us, not only when we use smartphones to connect with friends and family across states and countries, but also when we use ticketing systems on buses and trains, purchase food from mobile vendors, watch videos, and listen to music on our phones. As a result, mobile computing systems must rise to the demand. The number of smart phones will exceed the number of PCs in 2014.
Some time in the next six months, the number of smartphones on earth will pass the number of PCs. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone: the mobile business is much bigger than the computer industry. There are now perhaps 3.5-4 billion mobile phones, replaced every two years (versus 1.7-1.8 billion PCs replaced every 5 years).It means that mobile industry can sell more phones in a quarter than the PC industry sells in a year. After some years we will end up with somewhere over 3bn smartphones in use on earth, almost double the number of PCs. The smartphone revolution is changing how consumers use the Internet: Mobile browsing is set to overtake traditional desktop browsing in 2015.
It seems that 4G has really become the new high speed mobile standard widely wanted during 2013. 3G will become the low-cost option for those who think 4G option is too expensive, not everyone that has 4G capable device has 4G subscription. How the situation changes depends on how operators improve their 3G coverage, what will be the price difference from 3G to 4G and how well the service is marketed.
Mobile data increased very much last year. I expect the growth to continue pretty much as projected in Mobile Data Traffic To Grow 300% Globally By 2017 Led By Video, Web Use, Says Strategy Analytics and Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, 2012–2017 articles.
When 4G becomes mainstream, planning for next 5G communications starts. I will expect to see more and more writing on 5G as the vision what it will be destined to be clears more. Europe’s newly-minted 5GPPP Association plans to launch as many as 20 research projects in 2014, open to all comers, with a total budget of about 250 million euros. The groundwork for 5G, an ambitious vision for a next-generation network of networks that’s still being defined, and the definition will go on many years to come. No one really knows today what 5G will be because there are still several views. Europe’s new 5GPPP group published a draft proposal for 5G. 5GPPP is not the only group expected to work on standards for next-generation cellular networks, but it could become one of the most influential.
The shifting from “dumb” phones to smart phones continue. In USA and Europe smart phone penetration is already so high levels that there will not be very huge gains on the market expected. Very many consumers already have their smart phone, and the market will be more and more on updating to new model after two years or so use. At the end of 2013 Corporate-Owned Smartphones Back in Vogue, and I expect that companies continue to shop smart phones well in 2014.
The existing biggest smart phone players will continue to rule the markets. Google’s Android will continue to rule the markets. Samsung made most money in 2013 on Android phones (in 2013 in West only Samsung makes money from selling Android), and I expect that to continue. In 2013 Apple slurped down enormous profits but lost some of its bleeding-edge-tech street credit, and I expect that to continue in 2014.
The biggest stories of the year 2013 outside the Samsung/Apple duopoly were the sale of Nokia’s mobile phone business to Microsoft and the woes of BlackBerry. BlackBerry had an agonising year and suffered one of the most spectacular consumer collapses in history, and I can’t see how it would get to it’s feet during 2014. Nokia made good gains for Windows Phones during 2013, and I expect that Microsoft will put marketing effort to gain even more market share. Windows Phone became the third mobile ecosystem, and will most probably keep that position in 2014.
New players try to enter smart phone markets and some existing players that once tried that try to re-enter. There are rumors that for example HP tries to re-enter mobile market, and is probable that some other computer makers try to sell smart phones with their brands. In the Android front there will be new companies trying to push marker (for example OPPO and many smaller Chinese makers you have never heard earlier). Nokia had a number of Android projects going on in 2013, and some former Nokia people have put up company Newkia to follow on that road. To make a difference in the market there will be also push on some smaller mobile platforms as alternative to the big three (Google, Apple, Microsoft). Jolla is pushing Sailfish OS phones that can run Android applications and also pushing possibility to install that OS to Android phone. Mozilla will push on with it’s own Firefox OS phone. Canonical will try to get their Ubuntu phone released. Samsung is starting to make Tizen powered smart phones and NTT DoCoMo could be the first carrier to offer a Tizen powered device. None of those will be huge mainstream hits within one year, but could maybe could have their own working niche markets. The other OS brands combined do not amount to 1% of all smartphones sold in 2013, so even if they could have huge growth they would still be very small players on the end of 2014.
As smartphone and tablet makers desperately search for points of differentiation they will try to push the limits of performance on several fronts to extremes. Extreme inter-connectivity is one of the more useful features that is appearing in new products. More context-aware automatic wireless linking is coming: Phones will wirelessly link and sync with screens and sensors in the user’s vicinity.
You can also expect extreme sensor support to offer differentiation. Biomedical sensors have lots of potential (Apple already has fingerprint sensors). Indoor navigation will evolve. Intelligent systems and assistive devices will advance smart healthcare.
Several smartphone makers have clear strategies to take photography to extremes. 40 megapixel camera is already on the market and several manufacturers are playing with re-focus after shooting options.
In high-end models we may be moving into the overkill zone with extreme resolution that is higher than you can see on small screen: some makers have already demonstrated displays with twice the performance of 1080-progressive. Samsung is planned to release devices with 4k or UHD resolutions. As we have seen in many high tech gadget markets earlier it is a very short journey to copycat behavior.
It seems that amount of memory on high-end mobile devices is increasing this year. To be able to handle higher resolutions smart phones will also need more memory than earlier (for example Samsung lpddr 4 allows up to 4 GB or RAM on smart phone as now high-end devices now have typically 2GB). As the memory size starts to hit the limits of 32 bit processors (4GB), I will expect that there will be some push for chip makers to start to introduce more 64 bit processors for mobile devices. Apple already has 64-bit A7 microprocessor in iPhone 5s, all the other phone-makers want one too for their high-end models (which is a bit of panic to mobile chip makers).
You will be able to keep your mobile phone during some flights all the time and browser web on the plane more widely. At some planes you might also be able to make phone calls with your mobile phone during the flight. Calls on flights have been theoretically possible, and United States has recently looked at mobile phone calls allow the flights.
In year 2013 there were many releases on wearable technologies. Wearable is a trend with many big companies already in the space, and more are developing new products. It seems that on this field year 2013 was just putting on the initial flame, and I expect that the wearable market will start to heat up more during 2014. The advent of wearable technology brings new demands for components that can accommodate its small form factor, wireless requirements, and need for longer battery life.
The Internet of Things (IoT) will evolve into the Web of Things, increasing the coordination between things in the real world and their counterparts on the Web. The Internet is expanding into enterprise assets and consumer items such as cars and televisions. Gartner suggests that now through 2018, a variety of devices, user contexts, and interaction paradigms will make “everything everywhere” strategies unachievable.
Technology giants Google Inc. and Apple Inc. are about to expand their battle for digital supremacy to a new front: the automobile. The Android vs. iOS apps battle is coming to the automotive industry in 2014: car OEMs aren’t exactly known for their skills in developing apps and app developers don’t want to develop so many different versions of an app separately (for Ford, General Motors, BMW, and Toyota). I am waiting for Google’s response to Apple’s iOS in the Car. Next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Google and German auto maker Audi AG plan to announce that they are working together to develop in-car entertainment and information systems that are based on Google’s Android software. The push toward smarter cars is heating up: Right now, we are just scratching the surface.
For app development HTML5 will be on rise. Gartner predicts that through 2014, improved JavaScript performance will begin to push HTML5 and the browser as a mainstream enterprise application development environment. It will also work on many mobile applications as well.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Predictions for 2014: Computing Technologies In The Age Of The Customer
Posted by JP Gownder on December 30, 2013
http://blogs.forrester.com/jp_gownder/13-12-30-predictions_for_2014_computing_technologies_in_the_age_of_the_customer?evar1=51174:1014876&cmpid=pr:soc:tw:IO_Gownder_12-30-2013
Computing is a critical technology element in the age of the customer: The use of tablets by sales professionals creates richer experiences for prospects and customers, even as the use of wearable technologies by health professionals helps phlebotomists find the vein in a patient’s arm more quickly. Computing is a front-line, customer facing experience that helps companies win and serve customers more effectively.
With that context in mind, I present six meta-trends that will be critical for computing in 2014
Mobility: Look for a sustained mobile mind shift. Customers and employees are beginning to expect that the information, services, social networks, and customer service will all be available to them in context on any device at their exact moment of need.
Fragmentation: Watch device proliferation and fragmentation continue. Fragmentation is already a way of life as we end 2013. In 2014, we’ll see a continuation of that trend, as people trade off between multiple devices and find ways to thrive across operating systems. All those articles about Android becoming the Windows of the mobile world? Not quite. Android remains internally fragmented, with inexpensive, often forked, versions of Android inflating global numbers through non-standard devices in the Chinese market. Loyalty won’t be achieved within ecosystems in 2014, though numerous players (Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft) will be trying to create stickiness across devices.
Wearables: Expect accelerated innovation in wearable devices and business models. Sure, wearables are facing a hype bubble. So did the Internet; that didn’t make it any less significant in the long run. Wearables are just taking off and have a bright future ahead of them.
Intelligent assistants: Anticipate their rise to prominence.
Gestural computing: Plan on seeing new applications and scenarios. With XBox Kinect in tens of millions of households, Leap Motion now commercially available
Channel: Time for discontinuous innovation. 2014 will be the year in which you walk into a store and it “knows you” and customizes your visit.
In terms of device vendors, I expect to see a number of market dynamics taking shape:
Apple will reveal its new innovations…
…while making slow and steady improvements to retain its market leading status.
Microsoft and its partners will make progress on operating systems. Don’t look now, but Windows Phone is now the clear #3 smartphone operating system. Although its market share globally remains under 5%, the platform now enjoys over 10% market share in Europe’s five biggest markets, and has sured up its app base to 200,000+.
Chromebooks will consolidate their market gains…
…even as Google attempts to converge Chrome OS and Android. In 2013, Google united its Chrome OS and Android teams under one leader, Sundar Pichai. Although Google management has endeavored to deny it, expect 2014 to be the year when Google tries to unite the two platforms (or at least lay out a timeframe for doing so). If QNX could emulate Android apps, why not Chrome OS?
Chinese vendors will make a play for top-tier status. In 2013, Xiaomi, Lenovo, ZTE, and Huawei all made significant strides into the mobile handset arena.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Alcohoot Breathalyzer
Blow for Fun, Not for Safety
http://www.wired.com/reviews/2013/12/alcohoot-breathalyzer/
With all the devices one can attach to a smartphone to extend its capabilities, it was only a matter of time before a breathalyzer attachment came along.
The Alcohoot is a $120 breathalyzer that plugs into your smartphone. Via a companion app, it tracks how many drinks you’ve consumed and displays an approximation of your blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the metric used to measure whether or not you’re legally intoxicated.
It’s a neat idea — various companies have tried to bring a device like this to market before, but the Alcohoot is the first to be labelled “law enforcement-grade.” In reality, it doesn’t quite live up to its promise.
The unit itself is small: 2.69 x 1.88 x 0.86 inches, and just under 2 ounces in weight. The Alcohoot comes with eight mouthpieces to help keep the device clean, a loop to attach it to your keyring, and a USB cable for charging.
The device works in tandem with an Android or iOS smartphone by connecting through the 3.5mm port. It’s not compatible with every Android device, but the general rule of thumb is a device running Android 4.0 and higher will work just fine. iOS users only need to be running iOS 6 for Alcohoot to work.
Tomi Engdahl says:
IR Sensor Startup Preps Smartphone Bid
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1320521&
Pyreos Ltd. (Edinburgh, Scotland), a developer of infrared sensors that spun out of Siemens in 2007, has raised $4 million to help it pitch for design wins in smartphones and tablet computers.
The company reckons its low-power IR technology when applied to gesture and proximity detection consumes about one-thousandth that of competing technologies.
Tomi Engdahl says:
10 Android Devices You May Have Missed
Android in that?
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1320507&
Tomi Engdahl says:
Digital GIANTS in BLOODY battle to put your EYEBALLS in a JAR
Who will capture the screen?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/12/04/capturing_the_digital_edge/
As consumers become ever-more attached to their gadgets – variously glued to PCs and tablets, and, after-hours, laptops, game consoles and mobiles – the gigantic digital businesses are competing with each other to capture and monopolise users’ screen time on internet-connected devices. And all of the contenders are using many monumentally large data centres and data vaults.
For the first time in human history, businesses can hope to have access to consumer eyeballs for several hours a day and become electronic comfort blankets for digital entertainment, mail, mapping, photo albums, e-tailing, search and social media – either through endpoint device capture or internet activity dominance, or both.
The influence of the “FAGAMe” group of businesses is becoming pervasive, global in scope, and capturing a hitherto unattainable amount of individual consumer spending through the colossally concentrative effects of internet access to favoured destinations.
Just six businesses are becoming the dominant internet destinations for consumer eyeballs. Here they are with their dominant consumer-facing activities:
Facebook for social media;
Apple for phones, tablets, digital entertainment and mapping;
Google for search, phones, mapping and mail;
Amazon for e-tailing and book readers and digital books;
Microsoft for desktops/notebooks, search and mail; and
eBay for e-tailing and payment
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Glass won’t succeed as a consumer product in 2014 due to high expectations, cost, more — Scoble says Google Glass is doomed:
Scoble says Google Glass is doomed
https://plus.google.com/+Scobleizer/posts/1UfNLdZAN4h
I think Google Glass is doomed. In 2014. Why?
1. Expectations are too high.
2. These are too hard to buy and acquire. They need to be custom fitted and, because they have a new user interface, users need a bit of training on how to use them.
3. Not enough apps
4. The current UI can’t handle lots of apps.
5. Battery life. Right now I want to use Glass for journalism. It works pretty well for that
6. Photo workflow sucks.
7. Facebook is our main addiction and I can’t do it in Glass.
8. No contextual filtering. When I’m standing on stage, why does Glass give me Tweets?
9. Developers are being held back because there isn’t any distribution system for apps or Glass experiences.
10. The Gruber problem. He just doesn’t like the idea of Glass, even if Apple were to bring out one.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Glassholes, snapt**ts, #blabbergasms, selfies and PRISM: The Reg’s review of 2013
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/12/31/end_of_year_review_2013/
A is for Accessorize:
By year’s end, neither Apple nor Microsoft had delivered a smartwatch, but others had: more than 200,000 so-called “smart wearable bands” shipped in the first half of 2013 with the number expected to grow by more than 500 per cent in the second half, according to analyst Canalys.
C is for Cloutage: The cloud, technology firms told us, is more reliable then running our own servers. OK, but it’s still people in charge of servers, and people still make mistakes
D is for Defenestration: Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, Blackberry’s Thorsten Heins, Acer’s JT Wang, and Intel’s Paul Otellini were pushed or jumped this year.
G is for Glasshole: “A cop just stopped me and gave me a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving!” incredulous Google eyewear fan Cecilia Abadie wrote on – what else – her Google+ page
I is for Insider: “Are you a Microsoft Trojan?” a heckler asked Stephen Elop following his Mobile World Congress (MWC) keynote, not long after he’d ascended to become Nokia CEO. How we, and he, laughed.
During 2013, Elop’s “big answer” was to actually sell Nokia – to Microsoft, in a $7.2bn deal that has now been approved by Nokia’s shareholders.
P is for PRISM: Ever feel like you’re being watched? You should be, because you are if former WikiLeaks deep throat Edward Snowden is to be believed.
R is for Rightsizing: Apple has been seemingly unstoppable with the iPhone and then iPad earning billions and forcing others big and small to follow its lead. Since the passing of Steve Jobs, though, we’ve been waiting for the “next big thing.”
S is Snapt**t: The 23-year-old co-founder and CEO of sext-friendly Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, turned down a $3bn offer from Facebook for his company.
V is for Vomit: Sick of Apple? So were fanbois, but for different reasons. iDevice fans took to the forums in September to say they were suffering sudden bouts of nausea and headaches when using iOS 7.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The world’s largest manufacturers of computer-listed Chinese Lenovo to expand its business to smartphones as sales of traditional computers are waning.
Lenovo has just unveiled the Z-Vibe smartphone 5.5-inch display and LTE connectivity. Phone sales have started in the United States and Asia.
In addition, Lenovo has announced a 6-inch S930 smartphone and a 4.7-inch S650.
The published smartphones are operating on the Android platform.
Source: http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/lenovo+laajentaa+alypuhelimiin++esitteli+55tuumaisen/a957136
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sony’s first Windows Phone handset likely will tip up in 2014
To join handsets from Samsung and ZTE
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2320660/sonys-first-windows-phone-handset-likely-will-tip-up-in-2014
JAPANESE PHONE MAKER Sony reportedly is planning to launch its first Windows Phone handset in 2014 in a bid to reduce its reliance on Google.
Microsoft reportedly has been working to convince Sony to do so
The report claims that Microsoft is also in talks with ZTE to develop low-end Windows Phone handsets, and it’s likely that we’ll be seeing new Windows Phone handsets from Samsung
Tomi Engdahl says:
5 ways to lockdown your mobile device
http://www.csoonline.com/slideshow/detail/129913?source=itwartcso
Locking your mobile device is important because it’s often your first line of defense. It may not be the strongest form of security, but it could prove to be the difference in protecting your organization by keeping the device locked down until mobile device management measures like remote wiping are put into play. Here are five ways to lock on various mobile platforms.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung launches DDR4 memory modules
Thanks for the memory
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2320780/samsung-launches-ddr4-memory-modules
KOREAN CHIP MAKER Samsung has announced its first memory chips to comply with the DDR4 standard.
DDR4 is said to offer twice the speed of DDR3, but because it works at lower voltages DDR4 can significantly reduce the power consumption of devices. This is significant because it can lead to increased battery life, which remains the holy grail of handheld equipment designers.
Samsung VP for memory sales Young-Hyun Jun predicted that the new LPDDR4 parts will spur growth of the global mobile DRAM market.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Coming Soon: Prescription Lenses For Google Glass
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/14/01/02/1847206/coming-soon-prescription-lenses-for-google-glass
Tomi Engdahl says:
Elisa was the first to use the new 4G frequencies in Finland
Elisa was the first user of new 800 MHz frequencies in Finland. Their performance was tested immediately at the first working day of a high level, while Pia Viitanen and Communications Elisa’s CEO Veli -Matti Mattila held a video conference with each new operating frequency of the 4G LTE network.
“The good news is that the 800 MHz frequency band, the construction is bringing even faster connections in rural areas”
The operator plans to build this year, several hundred of the 800 MHz base stations. Now there are only four of them in use.
Source: http://www.tietokone.fi/artikkeli/uutiset/elisa_otti_ensimmaisena_kayttoon_uudet_4g_taajuudet
Tomi Engdahl says:
HTC: Shipping Android updates is harder than you think – here’s why
It’s a long and winding road from Google to your pocket
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/12/27/htc_android_update_infographic/
If you’re wondering why your HTC smartphone hasn’t been updated with the latest version of Android yet, the struggling smartphone vendor wants you to know it’s not its fault – at least, not entirely.
While Apple likes to brag about how quickly its iPhone and iPad devices receive updates to the latest iOS version, Android devices are notorious for lagging behind the state of the art, with many devices only receiving one or two minor OS updates before seemingly being abandoned by their makers.
Understandably, that has angered more than a few Android users over the years: many point a finger at the hardware vendors which, according to the users, aren’t doing enough to keep products relevant.
But HTC wants us to know that shipping a new Android version to existing phones is easier said than done – in fact, it’s downright difficult.
The saga begins when Google releases a new Platform Development Kit (PDK) to handset makers so that they can evaluate the latest changes. Typically this happens a few months before the Chocolate Factory announces a new Android version.
Assuming the hardware vendors want to support the new version, however, that’s only the start of the journey. Next Google must provide source code to the handset makers and the companies that provide the chipsets that go into the phones. It is the chipset makers who decide which of their parts will support the latest Android versions; if an older phone was built with an unsupported chipset, that device will never be upgraded.
Once the chipset makers decide which of their components will support the new OS, they must then make optimizations for those chipsets and issue new drivers in the form of board support packages (BSPs) for those parts.
That’s when the handset makers kick into high gear, assigning developers and resources to the task of fitting the new OS to the devices that support it. This is also the phase in which the vendors add their custom Android modifications, such as the HTC Sense UI layer.
Then it’s time for the handset makers to start working with the mobile operators, folding in any modifications that they may require and tacking on their custom apps and services.
That phase completed, it’s time for testing.
Only after all of this is done can the handset maker, the carriers, and Google begin working together to prepare an over-the-air (OTA) update to push out to existing devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Alicia Keys throws in towel on BlackBerry’s creative director job
Chanteuse ditches dying handset maker – or did they ditch her?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/03/alicia_keys_throws_in_towel_on_blackberrys_creative_director_job/
She’s the indecisive pop star
She started the role last year, when the firm formerly known as RIM launched its new BlackBerry 10 devices in a bid to compete with Apple and other smartphone manufacturers. However, the phones flopped and a subsequent attempt to sell off the firm failed dismally.
It is unclear whether Keys decided that the job wasn’t for her, or whether the ailing Blackberry manufacturer decided they could no longer afford her.
Tomi Engdahl says:
ZTE reveals a smartwatch and an Android phablet ahead of CES
Four more smartphones also set for Las Vegas debut
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2320842/zte-reveals-a-smartwatch-and-an-android-phablet-ahead-of-ces
CHINESE HARDWARE MAKER ZTE has unveiled a number of products ahead of next week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), including a smartwatch, an Android phablet and the ZTE Grand S II smartphone.
firm has also teased its debut smartwatch, the ZTE Bluewatch. This will feature a pedometer for fitness tracking and a camera, and will offer access to Facebook and Twitter.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nokia says final sayonara to Symbian and MeeGo apps as store freezes updates
http://www.zdnet.com/nokia-says-final-sayonara-to-symbian-and-meego-apps-as-store-freezes-updates-7000024719/
Nokia’s Symbian and MeeGo app store entered a state of suspended animation yesterday, ahead of the store’s total shutdown once it’s in Microsoft’s hands.
As the new year dawned, Nokia officially shut off Symbian developers’ ability to make changes to existing MeeGo or Symbian apps, or publish new ones, on the Nokia Store.
“That was it; we are officially closed. Thank you all for the past years!” the Symbian Signed team wrote on Twitter today.
Although the apps can still be distributed in their current state, should any bugs be discovered — impacting device compatibility, for example — developers won’t be able to fix the problem through the Nokia Store.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why are phones continuing to get bigger? (Hint: Think post-PC)
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2083503/wearable-tech-at-ces-2014-prepare-your-body-parts-for-an-onslaught-of-options.html
Summary: Ridiculed early on, the first “phablet” has given rise to a new class of smartphone: One that still maintains portability but offers a tablet experience. Why the big change from folly to growing market? More capabilities that excel on a large screen.
It wasn’t that long ago when a 4-inch phone was considered big. These days, however, 5-inch handsets are approaching the norm for many and most the latest and greatest pieces of mobile hardware have even larger screens, with some crossing the 6-inch mark.
There are a few reasons for this change; I’ve touched upon them before and throughout the large-screened phone movement. In August of 2012, I boldly proclaimed that tablets will replace smartphones. I understandably caught a fair amount of grief and skepticism back then, but this current trend is exactly what I was thinking: Larger screened devices in the form of small tablets — or big phones, if you prefer — would become the norm. What was the first, main driver for that thought? More mobile content consumption.
Mobile content consumption is on the rise; according to Ericsson’s November 2013 mobility report (PDF), mobile video already accounts for roughly 35 percent of all mobile data, compared to 10 percent of data used for web browsing on mobile devices. That figure is poised to keep growing as well: By 2019, mobile video will use up half of all mobile data.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wearable tech at CES 2014: Prepare your body parts for an onslaught of options
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2083503/wearable-tech-at-ces-2014-prepare-your-body-parts-for-an-onslaught-of-options.html
Wearable technology. It’s an exploding product category in desperate need of a category-defining product. And now, with the Consumer Electronics Show upon us, we get to see whether some company, any company, can release an uncompromised, mainstream consumer hit in 2014.
Manufacturers have unleashed a torrent of ambitious but confounding wearables over the last two years—perhaps you’ve heard of Samsung’s beta-like Galaxy Gear, or Google’s alpha-in-everything-but-name-only Google Glass? At CES 2014 in Las Vegas next week, many more companies will attempt to realize the unfulfilled promises of smartwatches, smart eyewear, and, yes, even wrist-worn activity trackers, because apparently we can never have enough of those.
The scent of freshly forged wearables will pervade most of CES, but the highest concentration will hover over a new TechZone area called WristRevolution. Ten smartwatch manufacturers—including Burg Limited, Cookoo, Sonostar, Kronoz, Metawatch, and Neptune Pine—will stake a claim to your human body part that’s most ripe for exploration.
Tomi Engdahl says:
WristRevolution
http://www.cesweb.org/Show-Floor/TechZones/WristRevolution
Witness the unveiling of next generation tech wearables. The all-new WristRevolution TechZone at the 2014 CES is where style, sensors and connectivity intersect. From customizable and downloadable watch faces to internet-connectivity and app-based programs, the standard wristwatch transforms into a GPS, music player, health monitor, alert and message indicator and more. The WristRevolution TechZone will showcase the latest developments and discoveries for the next wave of advancement for this pocket-sized tech.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cancer smartphone apps for consumers lack effectiveness
http://www.fiercemobilehealthcare.com/story/cancer-smartphone-apps-consumers-lack-effectiveness/2013-12-26
There is a lack of evidence on the utility, effectiveness and safety of smartphone-based cancer applications, according to an article in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
“Overall, this study found a considerable number of cancer-focused apps, available to consumers, of unknown utility and effectiveness,” the article’s authors write. “Although mobile devices offer remarkably low-cost, real-time ways to encourage preventive strategies, monitor a host of behaviors, symptoms and physiological indicators of disease and provide interventions, the evidence base in support of these apps is lacking.”
Researchers conducted a systematic review and content analysis of the online app stores for four major smartphone platforms–iPhone (App Store), Android (Google Play), BlackBerry (App World) and Nokia/Symbian (Ovi).
“There are hundreds of cancer-focused apps with the potential to enhance efforts to promote behavior change, to monitor a host of symptoms and physiological indicators of disease, and to provide real-time supportive interventions, conveniently and at low cost,” the article’s authors write. “However, there is a lack of evidence on their utility, effectiveness and safety. Future efforts should focus on improving and consolidating the evidence base into a whitelist for public consumption.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung’s New Year’s Resolution: Get Rid of Old Habits
http://blogs.wsj.com/korearealtime/2014/01/03/samsungs-new-years-resolution-get-rid-of-old-habits/
In his annual speech at the start of the new year, Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Kun-hee highlighted how tough the competition has been in 2013 and emphasized the pressing need to move away from old habits and come up with new technologies.
“Research & development center(s) should work around the clock, non-stop,” Mr. Lee said according to a statement provided by Samsung.
He also said Samsung must “get rid of business models and strategies from five, ten years ago and hardware-focused ways.”
Boosting software capabilities has been a key challenge for Samsung as it tries to compete better with Apple Inc. and Google Inc. in the mobile market. Though the South Korean company is currently the largest seller of mobile phones, its traditional strength has been hardware not software.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Evernote, the bug-ridden elephant
http://jasonkincaid.net/2014/01/evernote-the-bug-ridden-elephant/
Every day ideas flit through my head, ideas for essays, for characters, for jokes. Just now I catch a glimpse of one, without thinking I am talking into my phone like a Star Trek Communicator, telling myself that maybe I should title this post Leaky Sync. Maybe not.
Because I use it so often, I am unusually familiar with the service’s warts. Evernote’s applications are glitchy to the extreme; they often feel as if they’re held together by the engineering equivalent of duct tape.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2014: Wearables, tablets and 64-bit chips are likely to dominate
Column Las Vegas consumer technology show is almost here
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/feature/2320888/ces-2014-wearables-tablets-and-64-bit-chips-are-likely-to-dominate
From 7 January until 10 January, consumer information technology titans will descend on the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) to showcase what they have in store for 2014, be it the next ‘must-have’ piece of technology or, like last year, a potty that doubles as an iPad stand.
The show hasn’t even kicked off yet, but the announcements have already begun, with Acer unveiling new tablets, ZTE outing a handful of new smartphones and Lenovo’s Vibe Z smartphone making its debut ahead of CES.
We’re also excited about 64-bit chips, which are likely to make plenty of noise at this year’s CES. If online murmurs are to be believed, Nvidia will announce a 64-bit chip in Las Vegas, and Qualcomm is likely to use the event to show off its first 64-bit processor that it unveiled last year
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES 2014: Early coverage roundup
We round up the pre-CES announcements
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2320957/ces-2014-early-coverage-roundup
Tomi Engdahl says:
Welcome to WIRED’s CES Smartphone Thunderdome
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2014/01/welcome-to-wireds-ces/
He was referring to CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, where nearly every desirable gadget on Earth lands in Las Vegas for a week of wonder. Companies will strike countless million- and billion-dollar deals; gadget-makers will show off their latest creations to fanfare and yawns; and journalists will fall: sick, exhausted, dehydrated, hung over, emotionally damaged for life.
This year at CES, our core crew of reporters can use only their phones to cover the show. No DSLRS, no laptops. No fancy compact-system cameras or iPads. Just phones.
We’ll call it our CES Mobile Challenge Smartphone Superchallenge Smartphone Thunderdome. And to make it more interesting, no two reporters will use the same brand of handset–or even the same platform.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mobile
Connected Cars Driving 2014 CES to Become More of an Auto Show
http://recode.net/2014/01/04/connected-cars-driving-2014-ces-to-become-more-of-an-auto-show/
CES has always been the place to find the latest in TVs, but each year, some other category seems to dominate the show.
A few years ago, it was PCs and netbooks. E-readers also had a brief moment in the sun, and for the past couple of years, CES has been a big spot for new phones and tablets.
In 2014, CES is shaping up to be a big show for cars. Until now, most of what was being shown off at CES were various in-car electronics. No longer, it seems — for the first time, nine of the top 10 automakers will be exhibiting at the show.
“Even though the Detroit Auto Show is only a couple weeks later, it seems like CES has turned into the auto-electronics show,” said Nvidia VP Ujesh Desai.
And technologies that allow cars to drive themselves, at least for some scenarios, are also expected to get some attention at the show.
Meanwhile, a number of big names in mobile, including AT&T, Nvidia and Qualcomm, aim to use this year’s show to establish their automotive bona fides.
“We view, and have viewed, the car as just another device in your life,” said Glenn Lurie, who heads the carrier’s emerging devices unit. “You are seeing that come to life at CES.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nvidia debuts 192-core Tegra K1 processor
http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/5/5278206/nvidia-debuts-tegra-k1-192-core-processor
Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, after nearly a year of promising outsized computing power for so-called future “superphones,” took the stage at CES today to unveil the company’s latest mobile processor for Android. The 192 CUDA-core Tegra K1, demonstrated onstage on Android, is designed not only for smartphones and tablets, but for 4K televisions, consoles, and cars, as well.
The 192 cores (a number that should not be confused with dual- and quad-core nomenclature) in the Kepler Mobile GPU is a small chunk of power taken from a laptop- or desktop-class computer, but outstrips the 72 cores of the Tegra 4.
According to the official release, the K1 is offered in two versions: the first is a 32-bit quad-core ARM Cortex A15 processor, similar to the Tegra 4: the second variant is a long-awaited custom 64-bit dual-core “Denver” ARM CPU, the first CPU Nvidia has ever developed.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel hopes the new Edison’s computer to open the doors on wearable technology market. Edison has a size of only a sd memory card class and is designed for use in small, flexible devices that can wrap around the body.
The computer has Intel’s ultra-low-power processor Quark as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections, which allow computer to communicate with other devices.
Intel introduced the computer to the Las Vegas International CES technology fair.
“Wearable technology is not about carrying a camera attached to the wrist. Technique is to be natural, and the chip must be invisible, “Intel’s new equipment Director Mike Bell commented Idgns news agency in an interview.
CES showcases the latest technological applications: Mimo company Baby-Rest Devices baby clothes. Edison’s help, the child’s pulse, body temperature, and motion of sleeping position, for example, are transmitted directly to the smartphone.
Edison is based on Intel’s x86 architecture, and a line width of 22 nanometers. It is running Linux OS.
Mini Computer introduced a do-it-yourself computer enthusiasts available as an independent package, in the summer, probably in June or July. The price is still unknown.
Source:
Tietoviikko
http://www.tietoviikko.fi/kaikki_uutiset/intel+laittaa+tietokoneet+vauvojen+poksyihin/a957620
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mozilla partners with Panasonic to bring Firefox OS to the TV, details progress on tablet and desktop versions
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/01/06/mozilla-partners-panasonic-bring-firefox-os-tv-details-work-tablet-desktop-versions/#!rCjIf
At CES 2014 in Las Vegas today, Mozilla announced its plans for Firefox OS this year. Having launched Firefox OS for smartphones in 2013, the company has now partnered with Panasonic to bring its operating system to TVs, and also detailed the progress that has been made around the tablet and desktop versions.
Panasonic will be the first to release next-generation smart TVs powered by Firefox OS. Mozilla and Panasonic will work together to promote Firefox OS and its open ecosystem on the big screen.
The fact that Mozilla only managed to get Panasonic on board as a TV partner is telling. Firefox OS for TVs is clearly still very immature.
Mozilla is working on a Firefox OS contribution program aimed at accelerating the development of Firefox OS for tablets. The company plans to provide dedicated contributors with access to resources and reference hardware.
Mozilla is working on a Firefox OS contribution program aimed at accelerating the development of Firefox OS for tablets. The company plans to provide dedicated contributors with access to resources and reference hardware.
Furthermore, VIA today announced the availability of APC Paper and Rock, two new devices that offer a preview of Firefox OS running in a desktop environment.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Gorilla Glass fights dirty, dirty germs with antimicrobial coating
Ionic silver surface will help to keep fondleslabs clean
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/06/gorilla_glass_fights_dirty_dirty_germs_with_antimicrobial_coating/
Corning has unveiled an antimicrobial version of its Gorilla Glass line.
The company said that its glass display covers will sport an ionic silver coating which will kill off any potential build-up of harmful bacteria and fungi. Corning said that the coating has been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency.
“Corning’s Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass inhibits the growth of algae, mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria because of its built-in antimicrobial property, which is intrinsic to the glass and effective for the lifetime of a device,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel unveils series of wearable devices, including a smartwatch and fitness-tracking earbuds
http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2014/01/07/intel-unveils-series-of-wearable-devices-including-a-smartwatch-and-fitness-tracking-earbuds/#!rCt9R
Intel wants to “make everything smart” — and it’s focusing on wearable devices at CES 2014.
“Wearables are not everywhere today because they aren’t yet solving real problems and they aren’t yet integrated with our lifestyles,” CEO Brian Krzanich says, and explains that Intel is out to change that.
First of all, Intel unveiled its own take on a smartwatch. Krzanich showed off a prototype at Intel’s keynote address
In a bid to disrupt the fitness tracker industry, Intel announced smart earbuds — which has biometric and fitness capabilities. Sensors that measure your heartrate are built into the earbuds, which get their power from the microphone jack in your smartphone, so all you need on your run is your mobile device with the app loaded onto it, and a pair of smart earbuds.
The company also took the wraps off an always-on smart headset, nicknamed Jarvis, which integrates with existing personal assistant technologies.
To solve the problem of charging wearables, Intel also unveiled a smart wireless charging bowl
Intel is also focusing on offering accessible, low-cost entry platforms, “aimed at helping lower entry barriers for individuals and small companies to create innovative Internet-connected wearables or other small form factor devices.”
To this extent, Krzanich also announced Intel Edison, a full computer based on Intel Quark technology in the form factor of an SD card, with built-in wireless capabilities and support for multiple operating systems.
“We believe Edison will enable rapid innovation and rapid product development,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sony Xperia Z1S: a waterproof flagship exclusive to T-Mobile (hands-on)
http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/06/sony-xperia-z1s-waterproof-flagship-t-mobile/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft reportedly considers letting consumers pick a device and then its OS: Windows Phone or Android
http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2014/01/06/microsoft-reportedly-considered-letting-consumers-pick-device-os-windows-phone-android/#!rCurl
We’ve already heard rumors that Microsoft has courted smartphone OEMs to offer dual-boot options for Windows Phone and Android, as well as looked at cutting the licensing fees that it normally charges device makers. Another tactic the company has reportedly considered is letting consumers pick one or the other after they select a given device in store, according to internal documents obtained by The Information.
Tomi Engdahl says:
NVIDIA Tegra K1
http://www.nvidia.com/object/tegra-k1.html
The universe’s most advanced mobile processor has arrived. It’s an otherworldly combination of 192 supercomputer-class GPU cores, incredible graphics horsepower, and extraordinary power efficiency. And it’s redefining where mobile processing can take us.
Tegra K1 is built on the same NVIDIA Kepler™ architecture that drives the world’s most extreme gaming PCs and the fastest supercomputer in the United States. This is the first-ever console-class mobile technology, giving you full support for PC-class gaming technologies like DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.4, and Tessellation—all in the palm of your hands. Plus, it’s the first mobile processor to run Unreal Engine 4, Epic’s latest game engine for powering next-gen games.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Launches Android Automotive Consortium
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/14/01/06/1724251/google-launches-android-automotive-consortium
“Google announced an initiative with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Nvidia aimed at fostering and standardizing Android in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems. The Open Automotive Alliance (OAA)”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google launches Android automotive consortium
http://linuxgizmos.com/google-launches-android-automotive-consortium/
Google announced an Open Automotive Alliance with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and Nvidia to ease integration with Android and standardize Android IVI systems.
The Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) is “dedicated to a common platform that will drive innovation, and make technology in the car safer and more intuitive for everyone,” says the group. The OAA is further committed to “bringing the Android platform to cars starting in 2014.” In its FAQ, the OAA suggests that this is not a full-blown Android in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system, but rather a standardized integration stack between automotive systems and mobile Android devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Introducing the
Open Automotive Alliance
http://www.openautoalliance.net/#about
The OAA is a global alliance of technology and auto industry leaders committed to bringing the Android platform to cars starting in 2014.
Tomi Engdahl says:
I’ve seen the future of car radio – and DAB isn’t in it
BMW’s cable-free, dongle-free music streamer
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/01/07/ive_seen_the_future_of_car_radio_and_dab_isnt_in_it/
Last month BMW rolled out the first cars to come with a fully integrated on-demand music-streaming service built in.
I was forced to conclude that things look ominous for digital radio, which is likely to be squeezed harder as on-demand services like this become more commonplace.
For this particular service, no cables are required and it includes a subscription deal that gives the buyer roaming access to the service, built for BMW by Rara, across five European countries including the UK at no extra cost.
Now on with the experience. Pistonheads will likely know all about BMW’s ConnectedDrive Online Entertainment service, with its very well thought-out UI. It’s nicely designed for distraction free driving, with a HUD and the ability to control the music from the steering wheel. What’s new about the Rara integration is that it’s completely built-in and truly on demand. You don’t have to pre-program it via a smartphone – although that’s a sensible option I expect a lot of people will use.
Rara is a brand owned by Omnifone, one of the oldest kids on the block for digital music, with years of experience doing wholesale deals for the likes of Sony and BlackBerry.
Tracks stream in at 48kbit/s with 64kbit/s Dolby Pulse due later this year.
The bitrate is a trade-off in making the whole system more responsive, as 3G coverage is far from ubiquitous, and in dense areas the backhaul gets hammered. The bitrate is a trade-off in making the whole system more responsive, as 3G coverage is far from ubiquitous, and in dense areas the backhaul gets hammered.
I found it hard to see what benefit integrating iOS or Android into the head unit would actually bring the user, as BMW has made the overall UX so slick.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Android will ship more than ONE BILLION mobes+slabs in 2014
‘OS of choice’ to leave Apple for dust, say stats bods
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2014/01/07/gartner_2014_android_growth/
Android will break the one billion sales barrier this year as low-priced tabs become ever more popular while PC shipments continue to fall.
Number-crunching house Gartner has predicted 1.1 billion Android devices will be sold during 2014, a 26 per cent increase over 2013.
More Reading
Merry Christmas? Not for app devs: That gold rush is officially OVERGlassholes, snapt**ts, #blabbergasms, selfies and PRISM: The Reg’s review of 2013Android, Chromebooks storm channel as Windows PC sales go flat
Android will continue to be the “OS of choice across all devices,” Gartner said in its PC, Ultramobiles and Mobile Phones Worldwide 2010-2017 4Q3 Update on Tuesday.
However, Apple’s iOS and Mac will grow the fastest of all – but only just.
Apple’s combined operating systems will see 344m units sold, a 29 per cent increase over last year.
Microsoft’s Windows will be slightly ahead of Apple on total numbers, with 359 million units sold, but will lag on growth – going up 9.7 over 2013.
Not helping Microsoft will be the ongoing drop in sales of traditional PCs. Gartner forecast these would fall seven per cent to 278 million.
The number tablets shipped is expected grow by nearly half this year, by 47 per cent to 263 million.
Gartner reckoned 1.8bn mobile phones will be sold this year, an increase of 4.9 per cent. But Ultramobiles – which includes tablets – will take over as the main driver of growth, increasing by 54 per cent.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Blue Link Will Allow Hyundai Owners to Remotely Access Features and Information through Wearable Devices like Google Glass
http://www.hyundainews.com/us/en-us/Media/PressRelease.aspx?mediaid=40189&title=hyundai-explores-wearable-technology-with-all-new-genesis
The way people interact with their cars is about to change. No longer is controlling a vehicle remotely through a gadget reserved for comic books, super hero movies or secret agents. Hyundai’s next generation of products, starting with the all-new 2015 Genesis, will allow owners to connect with their vehicle using wearable devices. Hyundai’s cloud-based Blue Link platform makes features like remote start and service information quickly accessible through new devices like Google Glass and others.
“We see wearables as a technology trend, expanding from fitness and health monitoring to broader applications,” Barry Ratzlaff, executive director, Customer Connect and Service Business Development, Hyundai Motor America. “As a leader in connected car technology, we’re always exploring new ways to use technology to enhance the ownership experience for our customers. Wearables are a great way to extend the experience outside of the vehicle by leveraging these small screens to quickly access remote features and deliver timely vehicle information.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why Google Glass is doomed.
http://thenextweb.com/robertscoble/2014/01/02/google-glass-doomed/?fromcat=all#!rCSLe
But Google Glass is doomed. Why do I say that? Because the tech press tells me so.
Now that we got that out of the way, what have I learned in my eight months of wearing Glass?
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sony’s new Core fitness tracker will be the ‘heart’ of its wearable experience (hands-on)
http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/6/5282290/sonys-new-core-fitness-tracker-will-be-the-heart-of-its-wearable-experience
Sony’s not new to the wearable market, but the company just entered the fitness-tracking market in a big way — during its CES press conference, the company announced Core. It’s a tiny chip that Sony called perhaps the tiniest gadget it has ever made, and the company’s planning to put it into a number of products, starting with a smartband that’ll be released this spring. Core will include the typical fitness-tracking metrics, but Sony says it’ll also function as more of a life journal as well, tracking photos you took, “special moments,” and other live events — kind of like the Day One journaling app with a fitness tracker.
The Core will be shipping to both Europe and the US for 99 Euros (Sony did not provide a US price) in the first quarter of this year.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Epson introduces new Moverio glasses with head-motion tracking and camera
http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/06/epson-moverio-bt200/
Everybody knows about those other smart glasses, but they’re certainly not the only ones making a big fuss these days. Epson has been working on a similar product called the Moverio BT-100, for the last few years, and it’s ready to show off the next iteration of its signature wearable at CES. This one, the BT-200, will retail for the same $700 price point as the original, and comes with Android 4.0 support and a few new features and capabilities: Bluetooth 3.0 support, head-motion tracking aided by sensors and Dolby Digital Plus for surround sound are among the new options. Also, there’s a front-facing camera with image and video capture, but bystanders won’t need to worry about asking you if you’re filming them — an LED lights up on the lower left corner anytime you’re trying to capture precious moments.
But how does it look inside the glasses?
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Shady Practice of Mobile App Install Ads
John McDermott
http://digiday.com/publishers/shady-mobile-app-install-ads/
When former CBS Interactive exec Jason Kint tried to read this Associated Press story on his iPhone on Jan. 1, he wasn’t just given an intrusive copy-blocking Candy Crush ad. He was automatically redirected to the download page for the popular mobile game in Apple’s App Store. Typically, smartphone users are only sent to the app store when they tap on an ad for an app. Kint, however, had done no such thing. He had merely tapped on the link to the story he wanted to read.
It turns out Kint’s experience was not an anomaly. He tweeted about the seemingly shady ad experience and several of his followers said the same thing had happened to them — and not just on AP stories. A subsequent Twitter search for “redirect to app store” revealed a chorus of boos from people with similar frustrations, suggesting the problem was widespread.
“It’s clearly a bad development, and it should send up alarm bells to the entire industry,” Kint told Digiday.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple is reportedly having screen technology, battery, and manufacturing issues while building the iWatch
http://thenextweb.com/apple/2014/01/07/apple-reportedly-screen-technology-battery-manufacturing-issues-building-iwatch/#!rHgeb
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cyanogen will partner with OnePlus on its debut phone, the ‘OnePlus One’
http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/07/cyanogen-partners-with-oneplus-one/
Ex-Oppo exec Pete Lau has just announced that his new company OnePlus will partner with Cyanogen on its first smartphone, which will be called the “OnePlus One.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Razer’s Nabu smart band is half fitness tracker and half smart watch (video)
http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/06/razer-nabu-smart-band/
“It’s not a smartwatch,” he said. “It’s not a fitness band. It’s what we’re calling a ‘smart band.’”
The device is actually an odd combination of both, featuring the bio data-tracking features of fitness products, while also dispensing notifications via two small OLED displays — a small 32-pixel square that displays notification icons, and a larger 128 x 32 panel that ticks off texts, emails and other personal data. By positioning the screens on opposite sides of the user’s wrist, Razer hopes the second screen will act as sort of a privacy screen, keeping folks from reading your texts by glancing at your wrist. The band can also track a user’s location, altitude, steps walked, sleep data and everything else one needs to quantify their body. All of this, Min adds, works right out of the box, for both iOS and Android.
Tomi Engdahl says:
CES: Sony outs Playstation Now as PS4 sales surpass four million
Cloud-based service will allow gamers to play Playstation titles on smartphones and tablets
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2321515/ces-sony-outs-playstation-now-as-ps4-sales-surpass-four-million
JAPANESE HARDWARE MAKER Sony unveiled Playstation Now at CES on Tuesday, a service that will allow gamers to play Playstation titles on a smartphone, tablet or smart TV device.
“It will also introduce the world of Playstation to non-console owners, via Sony smartphone and tablet devices. We are paving the way for gamers to play wherever, whenever.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Android will shift more than one billion devices in 2014
Sales of PCs and high-end smartphones will tail off
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2321425/android-will-shift-more-than-one-billion-devices-in-2014
INTERNET GIANT Google’s Android mobile operating system will reach a user base of almost two billion this year, according to number crunchers at Gartner.
Gartner said that global shipments of everything from PCs through tablets and mobile phones are expected to reach over 2.5 billion units over the next twelve months.
Android alone is expected to see sales of more than one billion devices this year
Overall, mobile phone devices will lead the market, and they will be complemented by other hardware like tablet, notebook and hybrid devices, according to Gartner. The firm predicted that mobile phones will see most sales in midmarket and basic devices compared to high-end handsets, while buyers will continue to move away from traditional PCs.