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:
Facebook hits 100 million monthly active users in Africa, with over 80% on mobile
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2014/09/08/facebook-now-100-million-monthly-active-users-africa/
Facebook just keeps on growing. The number of people accessing its social network each month has reached 100 million in Africa, further highlighting the opportunity for expansion through emerging markets.
According to Facebook, more than 80 percent of its monthly active users in Africa are now accessing the platform from a mobile device. That’s a high attachment rate for feature phones, smartphones and tablets, suggesting usage on laptops and desktop PCs is slowly being left in the dust.
Facebook’s success is hardly surprising, however. In June, the company explained how it had retooled the Facebook for Android app to maximise performance on low-end devices and modest internet connections. Just last month Facebook’s Intenet.org group also announced an app for Zambia, which offers free access to 13 different services including Facebook.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Tides Turn for the Phablet’s Popularity
http://www.flurry.com/blog/flurry-insights/tides-turn-phablet%E2%80%99s-popularity#.VA73AWNsUik
we are categorizing devices as follows:
1. Small phones (e.g., most Blackberries), 3.5” or under screens
2. Medium phones (e.g., iPhone), between 3.5” – 4.9” screens
3. Phablets (e.g., Galaxy Note), 5.0” – 6.9” screens
4. Small Tablets (e.g., Kindle Fire), 7.0” – 8.4” screens
5. Full-size tablets (e.g., the iPad), 8.5” or greater screens
Today the story looks different than it did a year prior and it appears that Phablets are beginning to hit their stride.
In 2013, a mere 2% of the kinds of devices Flurry saw were Phablets, whereas in 2014, Phablets represent 10% of all device types Flurry tracks across the mobile universe. This proliferation of larger screens comes at the expense of Small and Medium Phones. OEMs have invested in Phablets, presumably in response to (or anticipation of) increased consumer demand for more real estate.
Today, 6% of all mobile users are on Phablets, compared to 3% a year ago, and again, this growth has come at the expense of Small and Medium Phones.
App sessions are an indicator of actual device usage, and Phablets command a disproportionate share of that app activity. While they account for only 6% of active users, Phablet users account for 11% of all app sessions.
Today, Phablets account for 18% of all active Android devices compared to 7% in 2013, a sign of significant, growing demand for larger phones. Over the same time period, demand shrank 9% for Medium Phones and 4% for Small Phones running Android. Demand for tablets (Small and Full-size) also grew from 10% to 12% over the course of the year. Android users are upgrading to larger devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
PayPal’s Braintree Embraces Bitcoin, One-Touch Payments
http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/08/paypal-braintree/
Nearly a year after PayPal acquired it in an all-cash $800 million deal, online and mobile payments platform Braintree is unveiling one-touch payments and is integrating Bitcoin.
Bill Ready, who led the company through its sale, says that mobile conversion rates are still far off from where they are on the desktop web. That’s partially because it’s a lot more tedious to enter or re-enter credit card information on mobile devices. Ready says that more than half of e-commerce shopping experiences happen on mobile devices, but only 10 to 15 percent of purchases occur on smartphones.
“The reason for that gap is that there’s a two-thirds to 75 percent fall off in conversion,” Ready said. “People just bail out.”
“This is PayPal making a move to embrace Bitcoin,” Ready said, pointing out that Braintree is the go-to developer platform for PayPal.
Tomi Engdahl says:
iPhone 5 and iPad 2 Still Dominate As Apple Prepares for Announcement
http://info.localytics.com/blog/iphone-5-and-ipad-2-still-dominates
Tomi Engdahl says:
Diabetes Data, Everywhere
A Continuous Glucose Monitor, the Cloud = Life Saving, Life Changing Diabetes Care… for everyone.
http://hackaday.io/project/1922-Diabetes-Data%2C-Everywhere
A Dexcom G4 continuos glucose monitor and its protocols were decoded to allow for real time upload of critical Blood Glucose data (of my 4 year old son), and viewing by Mom, Dad, his school nurse.
A pebble watch to give a glanceable peek and helpful alerts
Making the uploader and pebble app open source & collaborating with others has grown the tools into a viral sensation and is widely used by many, many more people than I would have ever imagined.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Announces Smartwatch, Bigger iPhones, Mobile Payments
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/14/09/09/1819244/apple-announces-smartwatch-bigger-iphones-mobile-payments
they announced the new iPhone 6 models.
the iPhone 6 is 4.7″ at 1334×750, and the iPhone 6 Plus is 5.5″ at 1920×1080.
phones have a new-generation chip, the 64-bit A8.
Apple upgrade the phones’ wireless capabilities, moving voice calls to LTE and also enabling voice calls over Wi-Fi.
Apple also announced its entry into the payments market with “Apple Pay.” They’re trying to replace traditional credit card payments with holding an iPhone up to a scanner instead. It uses NFC and the iPhone’s TouchID fingerprint scanner.
Apple capped off the conference with the announcement of the long-anticipated “Apple Watch.” Their approach to UI is different from most smartwatch makers: Apple has preserved the dial often found on the side of analog watches, using it as a button and an input wheel.
powered by a connector that has no exposed contacts — it magnetically seals to watch and charges inductively.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wearable Tech Could Help Track Gun Violence
http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/portable-devices/wearables-to-track-firearms-use
Convicted criminals released on parole or probation are often required to wear electronic monitoring devices so that police officers and court officials can track their movements. Despite these precautions, individuals serving their sentences in the community are still responsible for almost half of reported incidents of gun violence in the United States, says University of Pennsylvania criminology professor Charles Loeffler. Adding existing technology to current monitoring devices, though, could help deter these shooters by recording and reporting when they fire a gun.
In a paper released last week in the online journal PLOS ONE, Loeffler reported that wearable accelerometers, like those commonly used to track the distance logged by joggers, could also be used to track when someone fired a gun. Shooting a handgun, it turns out, forms a hard to miss pattern on accelerometer readouts.
Combined with sensors that track parolees via GPS, accelerometers could be used to alert police departments immediately when a person wearing a wrist monitor fired a gun.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Watch hands-on: a rounded, square wonder
Is your wrist ready?
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/9/6124253/apple-watch-hands-on-video-photos
The Apple Watch is amazing and boring at the same time.
After nearly two years of rumors, the Apple Watch has finally been unveiled. (Don’t call it the iWatch.) Designed to work in tandem with an iPhone, the Apple Watch is packed with sensors that can be used to help monitor your activity. Of course, as with other smartwatches, it’ll also run apps and help you keep tab on your incoming notifications. And even more intriguingly, you’ll be able to make purchases with the included NFC technology at a variety of retailers, from McDonalds to Whole Foods.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Watch apps and partnerships announced, powered by ‘WatchKit’
From health to entertainment and more
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/9/6107861/iwatch-apps-partners-deals-apple
Tomi Engdahl says:
JEDEC Releases Wide I/O 2 Mobile DRAM Standard
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1323830&
At the end of August 2014, the JEDEC Solid State Technology Association released JESD209-4 Low Power Double Data Rate 4 (LPDDR4), which is aimed at boosting memory speed and efficiency for mobile computing devices.
The new standard retains the Wide I/O vertically stacked through silicon via (TSV) form factor, but it boosts speed significantly (by 4X) and changes the power supply.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Forget iPhone: 4 Megatrends in China’s Smartphone Market
Tense techno-politics unfolds as Asian suppliers fight over China
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1323672&
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Finnish company launched the usual wristwatch-packed security phone
Navigil has announced the S1-safety wrist watch and its use within the meaning of Rafael-network services. The device is targeted at elderly care clients as well as working alone, who may be a need to call for help.
Regular wristwatch looking device can receive and make call (make emergency calls with the push of a button). The clock can also be used to alert authorities or health care staff (for example if patient leaves designated area). The device has support for GSM / GPRS / 2g-mobile communications, GPS / GLONASS positioning and Bluetooth communication link.
The manufacturer shall supply a full 500 mAh battery device in the standby period of one week.
Source: http://www.tivi.fi/kaikki_uutiset/suomalaisyritys+lanseerasi+tavalliseen+rannekelloon+pakatun+turvapuhelimen/a1010345
Tomi Engdahl says:
The new operating system has time before the new iPhones
IOS 8 will be available in a couple of days before the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sales will begin in the largest market area. As usual, the update is free.
The new iOS version works with the following devices: Apple iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, the fifth-generation iPod touch, iPad 2, iPad Retina, iPad and the iPad Mini Air normal and Retina display.
Source: http://www.tivi.fi/kaikki_uutiset/uusi+kayttojarjestelma+ehtii+ennen+uusia+iphoneja/a1010424
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why Apple Devices Will Soon Rule Every Aspect of Your Life
http://www.wired.com/2014/09/apple-ecosystem/
The biggest thing Apple showed off Tuesday wasn’t a product, or even a product line. It was the way all of Apple’s products—and thousands more from other developers, manufacturers and services—now mesh together. It is like a huge ubiquitous computer now, all around us, all the time. The interface is the very world we live in.
“The product isn’t just a collection of features,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said, announcing his company’s new iPhone, “it’s how it all works together.” And really, this is true of the entire Apple line, the entire Apple experience.
Tuesday’s announcements laid open the scope of Apple’s ambitions in making everything in your life work together. A computer on every desk? Chump change. With the new iPhones, Apple Watch, Apple Pay, HomeKit, HealthKit, iBeacon and even CarPlay, Apple is building a world in which there is a computer in your every interaction, waking and sleeping.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Said to Reap Fees From Banks in New Payment System
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-10/apple-said-to-reap-fees-from-banks-in-new-payment-system.html
Apple Inc. will reap fees from banks when consumers use an iPhone in place of credit and debit cards for purchases, a deal that gives the handset maker a cut of the growing market for mobile payments, according to three people with knowledge of the arrangement.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Watch uses four sensors to detect your pulse
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/9/6126991/apple-watch-four-back-sensors-detect-activity
One of the most distinct elements of the new Apple Watch is a set of four rings built into its backside, but they’re hardly there for style: inside those four rings are sensors that the Apple Watch uses to measure its wearer’s pulse. The sensors include infrared and visible-light LEDS in addition to photosensors, which all work together to detect heart rate. Using that information, Apple says that it can begin to put together a comprehensive look at a person’s daily activity.
The watch allows its wearer to record their heartbeat, and then send it to a friend, who will feel it played out for them in vibrations. It’s obviously not a practical feature, but perhaps Apple sees it being used as a romantic gesture.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Text While Driving In Long Island and Have Your Phone Disabled
http://tech.slashdot.org/story/14/09/10/1234225/text-while-driving-in-long-island-and-have-your-phone-disabled
A District Attorney in Long Island, NY is stepping up efforts to combat distracted driving. Kathleen Rice says motorists who are caught texting while driving should have hardware or apps installed on their phone to prevent them from using it at all while driving.
Tomi Engdahl says:
With Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 210, even the cheapest smartphones will get LTE
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/09/qualcomm-snapdragon-210/
While Qualcomm’s dominating the premium and mid-range smartphone space, MediaTek’s been taking care of the other end of the spectrum until it launched its premium LTE octa-core chipset recently. In China alone, 40 percent of the smartphones shipped in 2014 Q3 are powered by MediaTek, versus 27 percent by Qualcomm, according to IDC (NVIDIA and Intel each had less than one percent share).
Of course, emerging markets are where the money’s at these days, so it’s no surprise that Qualcomm’s striking back by offering an LTE-enabled SoC, the Snapdragon 210, for the entry-level market. Better yet, Co-president Cristiano Amon told us in Hong Kong that Qualcomm’s specifically aiming at the off-contract sub-$100 smartphones.
As you’d expect, this 28nm low-power Snapdragon 210 isn’t quite the powerhouse you get in your typical flagship phone, but it’s still a complete package. You get up to 1.1 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPUs, Adreno 304 GPU, Bluetooth 4.1 and 802.11n WiFi, along with support for display resolutions of up to 720p, up to 8-megapixel cameras (1080p video capture and playback; H.265 codec supported to cut bandwidth by half) and QuickCharge 2.0 (separate chip required).
Tomi Engdahl says:
T-Mobile will give you a customized router for better Wi-Fi calling
https://gigaom.com/2014/09/10/t-mobile-will-give-you-a-customized-router-for-better-wi-fi-calling/
After Apple announced Wi-Fi calling support in iOS 8, T-Mobile reemphasized its long-term commitment to the UMA standard, complete with a new free router for subscribers that prioritizes voice calls over other traffic.
Tomi Engdahl says:
2-Hour Refund Window For Paid Apps And Games On The Play Store Is Officially Official
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/09/10/2-hour-refund-window-for-paid-apps-and-games-on-the-play-store-is-officially-official/
This is certainly good news, given that the switch to 15 minutes back in 2010 came after a much more lenient 24-hour window, and ever since there have been complaints about the short time allocated to try out new apps, particularly large, expensive games.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Visa, MasterCard in Talks with Mobile Wallets for ‘Cardholder Present’ Rate
http://bankinnovation.net/2014/09/visa-mastercard-in-talks-with-mobile-wallets-for-cardholder-present-rate/
With the arrival of Apple Pay yesterday, the mobile wallet industry has been reinvigorated.
Now, it looks like Visa and MasterCard are looking to advance all mobile wallets by lowering their transaction fees.
Payments through mobile wallets currently are charged at Visa and MasterCard’s “Card Not Present” rate — which is typically higher than purchases with a credit card in hand, since it adds risk to the transaction. However, the two major payments networks are adding a third category — “cardholder present” rate — for mobile wallet providers to cut their digital transactions costs. The lower price is contingent on the mobile wallet providers integrating their services with biometric sensors, most prominently Touch ID in Apple’s iPhone 5S, 6, and 6 Plus.
The card-present rate is on average 1.5% of the purchase price. Card-not-present, meanwhile, costs 2.75%.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Clever trick will safeguard Apple Watch from thieves
http://www.cultofmac.com/295024/apple-watch-anti-theft/
One of the big questions about the Apple Watch is how Apple will prevent thieves from ripping it off your wrist and using it to clear your bank account.
Because the Apple Watch is connected to Apple Pay — making purchases as easy as a quick swipe — what’s to stop miscreants from abusing it?
Thanks to sensors on the Apple Watch’s back, the device can tell when it’s being worn and when it has been taken off.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Analysts: Apple slips BlackBerry’s way
Apple announced yesterday the new iPhone 6 -model, brought to the iOS platform support NFC for payment and introduced the first smart watch. Releases known ahead of time precisely, with many analysts already sees major challenges for the company in the future.
For example, the financial magazine Forbes that Apple will be in many new features clearly late of competitors. New iPhones are great devices even if they are technically less revolutionary.
According to Forbes Apple’s problem is that it has been idle for 4-5 years. Competitors – Samsung, LG and four major Chinese manufacturers – have gone over and make everything cheaper. According to Forbes, no company can be a very long time to charge other devices more, the characteristics of which remain behind.
Several well known companies have tried the same trick before: Polaroid, Kodak, Digital Equipment, Blackberry and Sony, for example. To all of them eventually went badly. Is Apple’re going to the BlackBerry the way, ask Forbes?
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1760:analyytikot-apple-luisuu-blackberryn-tieta&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Global survey finds 85% of mobile apps fail to provide basic privacy information
http://ico.org.uk/news/latest_news/2014/global-survey-finds-85-percent-of-mobile-apps-fail-to-provide-basic-privacy-information-20140910
A survey of over 1,200 mobile apps by 26 privacy regulators from across the world has shown that a high number of apps are accessing large amounts of personal information without adequately explaining how people’s information is being used.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Poor old Samsung: APPLE WATCH will EAT the SMARTWATCH MARKET – analyst
But after Applelocalypse other wrist ‘puters will get look-in
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/11/apple_set_to_take_over_the_smartwatch_market/
Apple is set to be the biggest player in the smartwatch world, the analysis firm Canalys has predicted. But its reign may only be temporary, as competitors will inevitably storm the fruity barricades armed with cheaper wrist ‘puters in a bid to steal away the unfaithful.
Canalys predicted that “wearable band” shipments will grow 129 per cent between now and 2015, reaching a total of 43.2 million a year.
Of course, Apple is likely to still be sitting pretty on its iPerch by then, dominating this new market.
“By creating a new user interface tailored to its tiny display, Apple has produced a smartwatch that mass-market consumers will actually want to wear,”
However, Canalys warned the acolytes of Apple that their favourite smartband brand might see its market share drop whenever the rest of the industry gets itself together.
It warned that “low-cost Chinese vendors” are already trying to tempt cash-strapped folk with lesser smartwatches. Xiaomi, for instance, has released a band called Mi which costs under 20 quid. However, this is what Canalys deem a “basic band”, which does not run third party apps, as opposed to an Apple style “smartband”, which is likely to run all manner of apps.
Google’s Android may also power competitors to the iWatch, although this platform needs to be “greatly improved” if it is to match Apple’s offering.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Could Get A Cut Of Every Transaction When People Use The New iPhone Payments System
During its mega-presentation Tuesday, Apple announced a new mobile payments system called Apple Pay. which will let owners of the new iPhone or Apple Watch ditch physical credit cards and instead pay for things with a simple tap of their device.
Although Apple made it clear that it won’t charge users, merchants, or developers to use this new service, sources with knowledge of the arrangement told Bloomberg’s Elizabeth Dexheimer that Apple will charge banks a fee.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-could-charge-a-fee-for-apple-pay-2014-9#ixzz3D0Y59JiP
Tomi Engdahl says:
Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Apple’s New Payments System, Apple Pay
http://www.businessinsider.com/apples-payments-system-facts-2014-9#ixzz3Cvn0qcus
Apple just announced a new mobile payments system called Apple Pay.
Apple Pay will work with an NFC (near field communication) antenna that will be built into every new iPhone as well as the new Apple Watch.
To get started with Apple Pay, you can simply add a credit card from your iTunes account. You’ll also be able to add new credit cards to Apple Pay just by using the iSight camera on your phone — no need to type in card numbers. Each card will get a device-only account number, so the actual credit card number is never stored on either your phone or Apple’s servers.
The service is starting in the U.S. and will work with American Express, Mastercard, and Visa, as well as several major banks, like Capital One, PNC, and Chase.
With Apple Pay, you’ll pay for something with a touch of your finger using TouchID.
Apple has partnered with a bunch of stores
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chromebooks can now run some Android apps for the first time, including Evernote and Vine
http://thenextweb.com/google/2014/09/11/chromebooks-can-now-run-android-apps-first-time-including-evernote-vine/
We knew that Google planned to add support for running Android apps on Chromebooks since the company announced it back at Google I/O in June, but today we’ve had confirmation that the first Android apps to run on Chrome OS are now available to download.
Although jut a few months back the project was described as “in its early days”, it seems Google has got the system working smoothly enough to unleash the first four apps from the App Runtime for Chrome (beta) on the general public.
Of course, those are just the first four, but Google said it is working with ” a select group of Android developers to add more of your favorite apps”, so you can expect to see more in future.
As noted at the time, the move to bring Android apps to Chromebooks is important for Google as it offers the possibility to introduce hundreds of millions of Android users to its Chrome OS.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kevin Rose’s New App Tiiny Lets You Share Little Photos That Disappear In 24 Hours
http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/11/kevin-roses-new-app-tiiny-lets-you-share-little-photos-that-disappear-in-24-hours/
Digg, Milk, and Revision3 founder Kevin Rose recently left Google Ventures to start a new mobile development house called North, and now we have some details on the firm’s first app, Tiiny, which will launch soon. The basic idea is that Tiiny lets you share thumbnail-sized photos and animated GIFs to a grid of pics on your friends’ phones, and they disappear 24 hours later. Rather than making you scroll through full-width photos like Instagram, Tiiny lets you get a constantly-updated look at what lots of your friends are up to in a single glance.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Review: In its second generation, the Moto X becomes a true flagship
We miss the smaller size, but everything about this $499 phone feels high-end.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/09/review-in-its-second-generation-the-moto-x-becomes-a-true-flagship/
The original Moto X was an opportunity for Motorola to reinvent itself. The new Moto X just needs to take everything the old one did well and do it better.
Motorola calls the new Moto X just “Moto X,” with no extra numbers or letters attached, and it’s the same way for the new Moto G.
It’s got a big, sharp 5.2-inch 1080p AMOLED display, which is great for reading. Like all AMOLED displays, it has a tendency to oversaturate colors, and whites are often vaguely greenish, but as a tradeoff you get great contrast along with nice, deep blacks. The screen is bright enough to be usable in sunlight, though IPS panels like the one in the HTC One M8 are still a bit easier to see in these cases.
The tradeoff for this bigger screen is that the Moto X no longer fits our hands like a glove, and its size is much more comparable to other Android flagships.
The new Moto X uses an all-glass front the curves at the edges to meet the all-metal rim around the phone. This aluminum looks and feels great, and it also doubles as the phone’s antenna (there are plenty of cutouts separating the pieces of the antenna—the entire mobile industry has learned its lesson from the iPhone 4 and “antennagate”).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Correction: Switzerland Now Has An Incredible Competitor
http://techcrunch.com/2014/09/09/correction-switzerland-just-gained-a-huge-competitor/?ncid=rss&cps=gravity
So here we are, in the hours after the official launch of the Apple Watch, and we need to address just what the watch means for Switzerland.
When I first saw the watch I literally thought that Jony Ive was right in regards to how – ahem – ruined the Swiss watch industry was.
In short, the Apple Watch replaces the regular watch. This doesn’t mean it will actively replace the TAG Hauers and Rolexen out there. Instead, it will fill the blank space that is currently on most of our wrists. This space has, of late, been home to Fitbits and Pebbles and the like but, for most people, a watch hasn’t been a must-have accessory. And now it is.
Apple made watches cool again and new buyers of watches who may or may not have worn watches in the past will be its biggest customers. It will sell millions. That’s why Switzerland should be scared. Because they will now have to compete with Apple and they can’t. So they will have to improve their own wares and make mechanicals and quartz watches much more compelling. I won’t wear an Apple Watch 24/7. I still prefer my Omega Seamaster and my Bell&Ross. But I will wear the Apple Watch when I’m traveling or need to be aware of incoming messages.
Finally, Apple has obsoleted almost all Android Wear devices without even firing a shot
Tomi Engdahl says:
Texting Drivers Take Eyes Off Road 5 Seconds On Average: Study
http://www.ibtimes.com/texting-drivers-take-eyes-road-5-seconds-average-study-699189
More than 5,000 people die each year as a result of being distracted while driving, and a new study indicates that teens and cell phones make for the most volatile combination.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that of all drivers under age 20 involved in fatal crashes, 16 percent were distracted — the highest proportion of any age group.
Among the various distractions, ranging from talking with passengers to adjusting the radio, texting while driving was particularly perilous.
Shockingly, texting drivers took their eyes off the road for each text an average of 4.6 seconds — which at 55 mph, means they were driving the length of a football field without looking
A Harris poll last year found that 59 percent of adult drivers admitted to talking on a handheld cellphone while behind the wheel, and 37 percent said they engaged in texting.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Penalty for driving while texting in Long Island—a disabled cell phone
New York prosecutor says driving while texting is as dangerous as drunk driving.
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/09/penalty-for-driving-while-texting-in-long-island-a-disabled-cell-phone/
Motorists popped for texting-while-driving violations in Long Island could be mandated to temporarily disable their mobile phones the next time they take to the road.
That’s according to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, who says she is moving to mandate that either hardware be installed or apps be activated that disable the mobile phone while behind the wheel. The district attorney likened the texter’s punishment to drunk drivers who sometimes are required to breathe into a device before turning on the ignition.
“Research suggests that driving while texting can be as dangerous as driving while drunk, and even more pervasive, especially among young people,” Rice said. “It’s well established that the practice robs people of their lives and futures. Tackling this problem will require a concerted effort by numerous sectors of commerce and government.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Pay Details: Apple Gets 0.15% Cut of Purchases, Higher Rates for Bluetooth Payments
http://www.macrumors.com/2014/09/12/more-apple-pay-details/
Apple’s ambitious new mobile payment initiative, Apple Pay, was announced on Tuesday during the company’s iPhone event. Many questions still linger about the service, but information is beginning to trickle out from various sources as retailers, banks, and credit card companies prepare for the service’s October launch.
According to a new report from The Financial Times, Apple stands to make quite a bit of money from its payments service. Banks and payment networks will be forking over 0.15 percent of each purchase to Apple, which equates to 15 cents out of a $100 purchase.
According to bank executives, Apple was able to negotiate with so many partners and receive choice deals because the industry didn’t see anything threatening in Apple Pay.
Along with the cryptogram generated between a standard debit or credit card and a point of sale terminal, Apple Pay takes advantage of a token system that encrypts every step of the payment process. Tokenization is already built into the standard NFC specification, so what Apple is really doing is utilizing existing technology and further securing it with its own Touch ID fingerprint authorization system.
Every card added to Apple Pay (and located in Passbook) is assigned a token, which Apple calls a Dynamic Account Number. Each Dynamic Account Number is stored in the secure element of the iPhone and accompanied by a unique cryptogram for each transaction.
The token system essentially provides an extra layer of security to payments made through NFC, which, as mentioned earlier, allows merchants to pay a lower “card present” rate for NFC purchases. Merchants still pay the higher “card-not-present” rate when payments are made over Bluetooth LE rather than NFC, however, or when a purchase is made in-app using Apple Pay.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tim Cook says Apple could have made a bigger iPhone ‘years ago’
Apple CEO tells Charlie Rose the company’s just been patient
http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/12/6142359/tim-cook-says-apple-could-have-made-a-bigger-iphone-years-ago
Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company could have made a larger iPhone long ago, but didn’t, choosing instead to wait and make what it now considers a better product.
“We could have done a larger iPhone years ago,” Cook told Charlie Rose in an interview that airs later today on PBS. “It’s never been about just making a larger phone … it’s been about making a better phone in every single way. And so we ship things when they’re ready, and we think that both the display technology here, the battery technology, but all — but everything else and the software.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft needs Minecraft to boost mobile ambitions
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/12/us-mojang-microsoft-idUSKBN0H72EV20140912
Microsoft’s impending purchase of Mojang, the Swedish developer with 100 million players of its open world Minecraft game, is more aimed at pulling users onto the software company’s obscure mobile platform than its better known PC system or Xbox game console.
The software company’s Windows Phone system has only 2.5 percent of the world’s smartphone market, and its Surface tablet barely more, according to tech research firm IDC. Growth is hampered because many app and game developers ignore it.
Enter Minecraft, which is the top paid app both on Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O) iOS and Google Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Android systems. Microsoft will unveil a $2.5 billion deal to buy its owner on Monday, according to a source briefed on the matter.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Glympse Keyboard launches for Android to help you share your location from any app
http://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/09/12/glympse-launches-new-android-keyboard-app-help-share-location-within-app/
Glympse has long since cemented its position as one of the most popular real-time location-sharing apps for mobile.
Today, however, Glympse has launched a brand new standalone app for Android users. Glympse Keyboard is fairly revealing from its name – it’s a keyboard that works in conjunction with Glympse, letting users share their location from whatever application they’re currently using.
The location link is then pasted into the app you’re using (e.g. WhatsApp, Gmail), and your normal keyboard returns.
Third-party Android keyboard apps are already plentiful on Google Play, with the likes of SwiftKey, Swype, TouchPal and Fleksy vying for your fingers’ attention. Glympse is throwing an interesting dedicated feature into the mix, though it remains to be seen whether this is tempting enough for users to ditch their current keyboard of choice.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bloat-free, unlocked Moto X to be dubbed ‘Pure Edition’, says report
Really? But what about that gently tweaked Android OS?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/13/moto_x_pure_edition_bloat_free_unlocked_report/
Motorola has reportedly named its yet to be released bloat-free, unlocked Moto X the “Pure Edition”.
According to the Verge, the handset maker is planning to ship the unbranded version of its Moto X model later this month.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Did Apple just become a big bank?
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/217624-did-apple-become-a-big-bank
Apple’s move into mobile banking could bring the tech giant under the same federal regulations as financial institutions.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why Apple Pay Will Hurt PayPal
http://recode.net/2014/09/10/why-apple-pay-will-hurt-paypal/
Apple’s new payment system hopes to change the way people make purchases both in stores and in apps, and that could become a big problem for the Web’s biggest digital payment network, PayPal.
In addition to allowing people to pay in stores, Apple Pay will also let owners of the newest iPhones buy things within participating apps by using the credit or debit card they have on file with iTunes or the App Store. This means they don’t have to go through the annoying process of typing in payment information on small screens.
When it comes to e-commerce, Apple Pay can have an impact on PayPal just focusing on app payments as it is now. If it extends Apple Pay into the mobile Web, things could get even worse.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Trying to Hit the Brake on Texting While Driving
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/business/trying-to-hit-the-brake-on-texting-while-driving.html?_r=0
People know they shouldn’t text and drive. Overwhelmingly, they tell pollsters that doing so is unacceptable and dangerous, and yet they do it anyway. They can’t resist. So safety advocates and public officials have called for a technological solution that does an end run around free will and prevents people from texting in the first place.
A Changing Business Model
Cellphone carriers like Sprint have become strong opponents of distracted driving. That was not always so. When cellphones first became mass-market products, drivers were the target market. Carriers sold talk-time by the minute, so the more people talked, the more money carriers made. And people spend a lot of time in cars.
But business models have changed. Carriers now sell unlimited use, making it much less important to their bottom line that people talk or text behind the wheel.
“It did become less of a business interest for carriers to push the freedom of use wherever an individual might be,” said Ray Rothermel, internal counsel for Sprint, who works on government affairs.
Moreover, carriers can now receive fees from insurance companies for carrying the wireless connections on their networks — up to $5 a month a car. That money can add up.
Back in February, Mr. Rothermel described the partnership with Katasi as “a good-sized weapon in the war against distracted driving.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Expert: The charger can keep blithely plugged in all the time
The charger can safely choose to keep constantly in the electrical outlet, even when it does not charge anything.Tukes security expert says that there is no risk, and charger power consumption is in sleep mode is very low.
- A little bit of electricity it goes, but it is not a security risk. Branded Chargers are of high quality and can be continuously plugged in, unless the manufacturer is not specifically forbidden, says the safety engineer
- In normal operation, especially in the older chargers heat up when they were charging. Quiescent current in modern chargers is instead provided so small that if they are not in themselves should warm up.
Safety Engineer Niemi says that only if the charger heats up considerably when it does not load, may suspect something bad.
- First, you should read the manual. If the manufacturer is instructed to take the lead out, it should be followed.
Source: http://yle.fi/uutiset/asiantuntija_laturia_voi_pitaa_surutta_pistorasiassa_koko_ajan/7468007
Tomi Engdahl says:
Locket Lock Screen (Beta)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.locket.matterhorn
Locket is the intelligent lock screen that brings you the top 5 stories every time you wake up your phone. Locket learns your interests and habits to bring you contextually relevant content on your lock screen. The more you use it, the smarter it gets.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sapphire Glass Didn’t Pass iPhone Drop Test According to Reports
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/14/09/14/1440232/sapphire-glass-didnt-pass-iphone-drop-test-according-to-reports
Sapphire screens were part of the iPhone 6 design until the glass repeatedly cracked during standard drop tests conducted by Apple suppliers. So Apple abandoned its sapphire plans before the iPhone 6 product launch September 9.
Tomi Engdahl says:
New source says Apple originally planned sapphire-screened iPhone 6
http://venturebeat.com/2014/09/12/new-source-confirms-apple-originally-planned-sapphire-screened-iphone-6/
Sapphire screens were part of the iPhone 6 design until the glass repeatedly cracked during standard drop tests conducted by Apple suppliers. So Apple abandoned its sapphire plans before the iPhone 6 product launch September 9.
VentureBeat has learned that recent supplier channel checks by an IDC analyst yielded several reports of the sapphire failures and Apple’s decision against using the glass material.
The new Apple Watches (except the “Sport” version) do use sapphire for their screens. Levitas believes that the glass for the smaller 1.5-inch and 1.7-inch watch screens was less likely to break in drop tests.
Levitas believes there’s every chance that Apple will include sapphire screens in future iPhone releases.
A recent survey found that the second-most wanted iPhone feature among consumers is a harder covering.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cellphone Talkers Get Their Own Sidewalk Lane in D.C.
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/cellphone-talkers-get-their-own-sidewalk-lane-in-d-c-92080566744.html
A sidewalk in downtown Washington, D.C., looked a little different Thursday, courtesy of a set of freshly stenciled commands separating the path into lanes: “NO CELLPHONES” on the left, “CELLPHONES: WALK IN THIS LANE AT YOUR OWN RISK” on the right.
D.C.’s government had nothing to do with Thursday’s changes to the 1000 block of 18th Street Northwest. Instead, credit goes to National Geographic, which staged this stunt for an upcoming TV series on behavioral science called Mind Over Masses. With the phone lanes marked off, a TV crew camped out on that block for the day to see how people would react. (Yes, Nat Geo had the city’s permission.)
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mixed reaction to smartphone sidewalk
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/n/2014/0915/c90882-8782579.html
Chongqing provides separate pathway at Yangrenjie scenic spot
The first “mobile phone sidewalk in China” has appeared at a scenic spot in Chongqing municipality.
The sidewalk – 3 meters wide and 50 meters long – was built in the Yangrenjie Scenic Spot in Chongqing.
It separates pedestrians along two pathways. One is for cell phone users to walk on; the other is for those without cell phones.
A warning sign proclaims: Cell phones walk in this lane at your own risk”.
“In my mind, these sidewalks help a lot in minimizing security risks for mobile phone addicts,” said Wang Li, a local resident who doesn’t use a mobile phone often.
Cases of mobile phone users being injured while using their phones and ignoring their surroundings have been reported by the media.
“Setting up special sidewalks could be a solution for reducing security problems in particular situations. But this kind of sidewalk is not a fundamental solution and could be an indulgence for mobile phone addicts in the long run in my mind – and this could even lead to more problems in the future.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Qualcomm Says Its Chips Can Power a More Secure Smartphone Kill Switch
http://recode.net/2014/09/13/qualcomm-says-its-chips-can-power-a-more-secure-smartphone-kill-switch/
Qualcomm says using its Snapdragon processors can help in the effort to ensure that cellphones can be rendered useless when stolen.
While there has been a big push for so-called “kill switches,” the chipmaker says that adding a hardware component to a kill switch has big advantages over a software-only approach.
“It’s just a lot more secure,” Qualcomm Senior VP Raj Talluri told Re/code. For instance, using the chip can help ensure that thieves can’t just factory-reset a phone, or flash the device with new software.
Qualcomm plans to detail its approach on Sunday, and said the technology should show up in new phones starting next year; it may also be made available for some older phones.
It’s not enough to just add chip-level support, though. Qualcomm will have to work with phone makers and carriers to implement the technology, and Talluri said talks are under way.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huawei ditches new Windows Phone mobe plans, blames poor sales
Giganto mobe firm slams door shut on Microsoft. OH DEAR
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/15/huawei_abandons_windows_phone_blames_slow_sales/
Huawei – the planet’s third biggest shifter of smartphones – has abandoned plans to build more devices based on Windows due to slower than expected sales.
This is a blow to Microsoft and its much-maligned Windows 8 operating system, which now has to rely on Nokia and other lower-ranked mobe makers to trade its wares. Huawei confirmed four devices in its portfolio run on the software.
“We used to invest in Windows for several products but they didn’t have good sales. [It was] hard to sell, and recently our Windows investment was suspended,” said Huawei’s veep of consumer business group marketing, Shao Yang. “For us, Android is the best choice.”
“The biggest problem is that Windows is not easy to develop independently on this platform. A lot of things are defined by Windows; they [Microsoft] leave [a] very small space for vendors to develop,” he told El Reg.
In contrast, Google’s Android gives the development community “more potential to develop”, the veep added. He said a Huawei-developed OS is not part of its future plans.
This has effectively killed off Huawei’s move to create a dual boot smartphone, which it claimed was on the cards back in the spring
Tomi Engdahl says:
Get your Indian Landfill Android One handsets – they’re only SIXTY QUID
Cheap and deafening mobes for the subcontinental masses
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/09/15/google_android_one_on_sale_indian_manufacturers/
Three Indian manufacturers have signed up to make Android One budget handsets in India and the devices have been launched today.
The Karbon Sparkle V is 6399 rupees (£64), runs KitKat 4.4
The Micromax Canvas A1 is Rs 6,499 (£65). It has exactly the same spec and Micromax quotes a screen resolution of 480 x 854
Spice Dream’s UNO mi498 is the cheapest of the trio at Rs6299 (£63).
All the phones are 3G, there is no 4G support and are dual SIM being based on the MediaTek MT6582 SoC (System on Chip) which is ARM Cortex A7-based.
Google has done a deal with MediaTek to aggregate purchases of chips and then sell on to suppliers. MediaTek says: “The processors are managed by MediaTek’s CorePilot technology, an advanced scheduler algorithm with adaptive thermal and interactive power management that delivers superior multi-tasking performance and excellent sustained performance-per-watt for a premium mobile experience.”
Google has announced that it plans to expand the Android One program to Indonesia, the Philippines and South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) by the end of the year, with more countries to follow in 2015.
The Android One programme fits well with the research from the GSMA which says that smartphones will account for two thirds of world’s mobile market by 2020. This research quotes China as significantly the biggest current market for smartphones with more users than the next five countries (US, Brazil, India, Indonesia and the Russian Federation) put together.