I was planning to write some article on the mobile trends on this year based on news-feed from MWC 2020 mobile event, but MWC canceled because of Coronavirus COVID-19. And so some other events.
Here are some trends:
It seems that smart phones seem to have as much excitement when a new model is released. Usually there is no new feature that renders the latest model an absolute must-have. Apart from potential prestige, there’s usually very little difference to the user whether the phone cost $300 or $1200.
People still remember the failed promise of foldable phones and 5G. For those 2019 had been a year of failed promises.
Along with foldable displays, the fifth generation of networking technology was touted as being the next big thing in the mobile business. It seems that year 2020 will be a real test for 5G if it will really take on or fails to full-fill the big expectations. This year will be the real test for 5G devices as the 5G device mass market has not yet really started. Read more on that on my 5G trends 2020 post.
The smartphones market was valued at USD 714.96 billion in 2019. It was expected to reach USD 1351.8 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 11.2%. But it seems that this year does not meet those expectations, as IDC expects Smartphone market to drop 2.3% in 2020 due to coronavirus. COVID-19 outbreak is expected to result into 10.6 percent drop in the first half of 2020 and China’s smartphone market will drop by nearly 40 percent year over year in the first quarter. The SMEs in the phone industry, especially retail channel partners, will see the biggest effect.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
We’ve heard that “Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results”? But a new model helps app makers guesstimate what the future holds.
Predicting the Lifespan of an App
https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/telecom/internet/predicting-the-lifespan-of-an-app
The number of apps smartphone users have to choose from is daunting, with roughly 2 million available through the Apple Store alone. But survival of the fittest applies to the digital world too, and not all of these apps will go on to become the next Tik Tok. In a study published 29 July in IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, researchers describe a new model for predicting the long-term survival of apps, which outperforms seven existing designs.
“For app developers, understanding and tracking the popularity of an app is helpful for them to act in advance to prevent or alleviate the potential risks caused by the dying apps,” says Bin Guo, a professor at Northwestern Polytechnical University who helped develop the new model.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Facebook isn’t happy about Apple’s upcoming ad tracking restrictions
https://tcrn.ch/31z9tFx
Apple’s upcoming operating system iOS 14 (currently in public beta) could have a big impact on publishers who work with Facebook’s ad network — at least, according to Facebook.
The company published a couple of blog posts yesterday outlining the potential impact of a major privacy change that Apple announced at WWDC — namely, the fact that Apple will explicitly ask users whether they want to opt-in before sharing the IDFA identifier with app developers, who can then use it to target ads.
https://www.facebook.com/audiencenetwork/news-and-insights/preparing-audience-network-for-ios14/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple blocks Facebook update that called out 30-percent App Store ‘tax’
Facebook is ‘still working to make that information available’
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/28/21405140/apple-rejects-facebook-update-30-percent-cut
Apple blocked Facebook from informing users that Apple would collect 30 percent of in-app purchases made through a planned new feature, Facebook tells Reuters. Apple said the update violated an App Store rule that doesn’t let developers show “irrelevant” information to users.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphone Shipments Expected to Drop 10% in 2020
The worldwide smartphone market is forecast to decline 9.5% year over year in 2020 with shipments totaling 1.2 billion units, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker. While the second quarter of 2020 (2Q20) resulted in slightly better than expected numbers, the market was still down 17% year over year with visible signs of economic …
Global Smartphone Shipments Expected to Drop Nearly 10% in 2020, But a Strong 5G Push Is Expected to Bring the Market Back to Growth in 2021, According to IDC
https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS46802520
FRAMINGHAM, Mass. August 27, 2020 — The worldwide smartphone market is forecast to decline 9.5% year over year in 2020 with shipments totaling 1.2 billion units, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracke r. While the second quarter of 2020 (2Q20) resulted in slightly better than expected numbers, the market was still down 17% year over year with visible signs of economic concerns. On a positive note, IDC expects the smartphone market will return to a full recovery by 2022, and will achieve a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7% over the five year forecast, largely driven by the assumption that smartphones will continue to be the computing platform of choice for most of the world.
“5G remains a priority for all smartphone OEMs despite the challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of consumer demand,” said Ryan Reith, program vice president with IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. “While many of the top vendors have reduced their 2020 production plans to align with the market decline, we’ve seen most of the cuts focused on their 4G portfolios. Most channels in developed markets have set the expectation that the portfolios they carry will be dominated by 5G units by the end of 2020 leaving less shelf space for 4G. However, we still believe that consumer demand for 5G is very low and when that is combined with the economic headwinds facing the market, the pressure to drive down hardware and service fees associated with 5G will become increasingly important.”
This supply-driven 5G push mixed with a poor economic climate will only accelerate the drop in 5G average selling prices (ASPs) in 2020 and beyond. In the past quarter, China saw 43% of 5G devices priced under $400. IDC expects global 5G smartphone ASPs to hit $495 by 2023, which should eliminate most of the price concerns voiced by consumers in recent IDC surveys. As a result, IDC expects 5G smartphones to capture 50% of the global market by 2023.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple is building ~75M 5G iPhones for later this year, along with two new Apple Watch versions, iPad Air with edge-to-edge screen, and smaller HomePod — – Headphones, new Watch models, iPad Air, smaller HomePod coming — Supply chain, consumer interest hold up in pandemic, recession
Apple Preparing 75 Million 5G iPhones Alongside New Watches and iPad
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-01/apple-targets-75-million-5g-iphones-for-fall-product-blitz
Apple Inc. has asked suppliers to build at least 75 million 5G iPhones for later this year, roughly in line with last year’s launch, in a sign that demand for the company’s most important product is holding up in the midst of the global pandemic and recession.
The Cupertino, California-based technology giant anticipates shipments of these next-generation iPhones may reach as high as 80 million units in 2020, according to people familiar with the situation. Apple plans to launch four new models in October with fifth-generation wireless speeds, a different design and a wider choice of screen sizes, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced products.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11096-samsung-galaxy-z-fold2-on-mekaaninen-taidonnayte
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11096-samsung-galaxy-z-fold2-on-mekaaninen-taidonnayte
Tomi Engdahl says:
Happy birthday to the Nokia 3310: 20 years ago, it seemed like almost everyone owned this legendary mobile
Possibly the first of the ‘dumb’ phones that didn’t suck
https://www.theregister.com/2020/09/01/nokia_3310_is_20/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://lmsomeco.fi/blogi/brandatyt-mobiilipelit-verkkokaupan-kilpailutekijaksi
Tomi Engdahl says:
How visual processors and display technology work in mobile devices
https://www.edn.com/a-look-at-visual-processor-and-how-display-technology-works-in-mobile-devices/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Smartphones
World’s first Android 10 powered smartphone to feature a thermal camera
Ulefone Armor 9 with Android 10 and FLIR Lepton camera
https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/ulefone-armor-9-with-android-10-and-flir-lepton-camera/
Tomi Engdahl says:
It never ceases to amaze me how low companies will stoop to rip people off.
Phones for low-income users hacked before they’re turned on, research find
https://www.cnet.com/news/phones-for-low-income-users-hacked-before-theyre-turned-on/#ftag=COS-05-10aaa0i
Endless pop-up ads siphon off data paid for with federal subsidies in the Lifeline program, researchers found.
Researchers found phones in the Lifeline program came with malware installed, causing the phones to be loaded up with adware.
Rameez Anwar’s phone had serious problems. The device, paid for by the federally funded Lifeline program for low-income people, was overrun with pop-up ads that made it unusable. Despite multiple factory resets, the problem wouldn’t go away.
“As soon as it detected internet,” Anwar said, “it started doing the pop-ups.”
Collier confirmed Anwar’s hunch: The phone’s settings and update apps contained code that allowed them to load malicious apps known as adware. The adware displayed ads that covered users’ screens, no matter what they were doing on their phones.
phone model, made by American Network Solutions. Because the phones and their service plans were subsidized by a US program, taxpayers were funding the data that was used to display the promotional campaigns. On top of that, the adware prevented the phones doing their intended job: keeping low-income people connected to vital services via phone and internet.
Evidence suggests pre-installed malware plagues inexpensive phones around the world. Earlier this year, Collier found pre-installed malware, a broad range of disruptive or dangerous apps, on a phone made by Unimax and distributed by the Lifeline program. Collier says he frequently sees similar malware on cheap phones outside the Lifeline program. A BuzzFeed investigation found inexpensive phones popular in African countries had similar problems.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11124-samsung-patentoi-lapinakyvan-alypuhelimen
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung Galaxy smartphone met transparant display
Samsung patenteert geavanceerde technologie voor de ontwikkeling van een futuristische transparante smartphone waar je geheel doorheen kunt kijken.
https://nl.letsgodigital.org/smartphones/samsung-telefoon-doorzichtig-scherm/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Android 11 has arrived
https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/08/android-11-has-arrived/?tpcc=ECFB2020
Google today announced the launch of Android 11, the latest version of its mobile operating system. After a slightly longer public preview, users who own a select number of Pixel devices (starting with the Pixel 2), OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO or realme phones will now see the update roll out to their phones in the coming days, with others launching their updates over the next few months.
Android 11 isn’t a radical departure from what you’ve come to expect in recent years, but there are a number of interesting new user-facing updates here that mostly center around messaging, privacy and giving you better control over all of your smart devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2020/09/09/google-turns-android-up-to-11-with-latest-update/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huawei phones will start running on HarmonyOS in 2021
https://tcrn.ch/2RcUQC0
Huawei is planning to launch its proprietary Harmony operating system on smartphones in 2021, the firm announced at its annual developer conference in Dongguan on Thursday.
The readiness of HarmonyOS handsets will largely be contingent on the number of apps Huawei can attract within a short window. HMS Core, Huawei’s counterpart to Google Play Services and the toolkit helping developers build and manage apps, now includes 96,000 apps, the company said today. That’s up from 81,000 in July and60,000 in March.
In comparison, both Google Play and Apple App Store have accumulated apps numbered in the millions.
To lure more apps into its ecosystem, Huawei announced that a beta version of its second-generation operating system — HarmonyOS 2.0 — for mobile developers will launch by the end of this year.
That suggests Huawei phones are still based on Android at the moment. Indeed, Huawei’s latest user interface, the EMUI 11 unveiled today, runs on Android, though it noticeably lives on the dated 10th generation rather than Android 11, which arrived two days ago and noticeably supports Huawei’s local rivals Xiaomi and Oppo.
Huawei’s addition to the U.S. entity list last year has blocked its access to key American suppliers including Google, which prompted Huawei to create an alternative to the Android app ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the beta version of HarmonyOS will go open-source for tablets, in-car systems and smartwatches starting this week. Huawei’s operating system has a current reach of 490 million users through the company’s family of hardware devices, and it’s looking to expand its base through the Internet of Things market.
For one, it’s struck deals to bake HarmonyOS into recognized home appliance names such as Midea and Joyoung. The HiCar interface, Huawei’s equivalent to Apple’s Carplay and Android Auto, has teamed up with over 20 automakers and aims to rack up 5 million pre-installs in vehicles next year. Huawei smartwatches are a distant second to Apple Watch with an 8.3% share of global shipment during H1, up 2.8% year-over-year, according to research firm Counterpoint.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cell Phone Signal Booster Gets Teardown And Demo
https://hackaday.com/2020/09/10/cell-phone-signal-booster-gets-teardown-and-demo/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Rusty Nail Award For Worst WiFi Antenna
https://hackaday.com/2020/04/23/the-rusty-nail-award-for-worst-wifi-antenna/
In general, you get what you pay for, and if what you pay for is a dollar-store WiFi antenna that claims to provide 12 dBi of signal gain, you shouldn’t be surprised when a rusty nail performs better than it.
The panel antenna that caught [Andrew McNeil]’s eye in a shop in Rome is a marvel of marketing genius. He says what caught his eye was the Windows Vista compatibility label, a ploy that really dates this gem. So too does the utterly irrelevant indication that it’s USB compatible when it’s designed to plug into an SMA jack on a WiFi adapter. [Andrew]’s teardown was uninspiring, revealing just a PCB with some apparently random traces to serve as the elements of a dipole. We found it amusing that the PCB silkscreen labels the thru-holes as H1 to H6, which is a great way to make an uncrowded board seem a bit more important.
12dBi Panel Wifi Antenna vs a Rusty Nail!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uObC2VHCFKU
12dBi Panel Wifi Antenna vs a Rusty Nail!
Picked this up last year when on holiday, it turned out to be a bit lacking in performance maybe that’s why it has a windows vista sticker on it!
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nämä ovat parhaat kamerapuhelimet – teknologiajulkaisut listasivat suosikkinsa
https://www.iltalehti.fi/digiuutiset/a/5de3ecb7-07c3-4401-8abb-827864e320cc
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chinese game engine creator Cocos is the fast-food equivalent of Unreal Engine, powering hit mobile titles
https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-leaders-and-founders/article/3099271/chinese-game-engine-creator-cocos-fast-food
Xiamen-based Cocos is the game engine that helped create nearly half of all mobile games in China in 2018
Unlike its competitors known for complex 3D games, Cocos founder Zhe Wang says he aims to offer the simplest and most budget-friendly game engine
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why You Should Stop Sending Texts From Your Android Messages App
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/08/30/google-android-messages-apple-iphone-ipad-imessage-security-update-sms-rcs-whatsapp-encryption/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.dna.fi/fi/yrityksille/blogi/-/blogs/lisatty-todellisuus-saastaa-rutkasti-rahaa-kunnossapidossa?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=linkad&utm_content=artikkeli_lisatty_todellisuus_saastaa_rutkasti_rahaa_kunnossapidossa&utm_campaign=sa_jatkuva_some_20
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://ishotify.com/find-hidden-cameras-in-house/
Tomi Engdahl says:
How visual processors and display technology work in mobile devices
https://www.edn.com/a-look-at-visual-processor-and-how-display-technology-works-in-mobile-devices/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=link&utm_medium=EDNFunFriday-20200911
Tomi Engdahl says:
Näin kääntyi HSL-sovellus Huawein AppGalleryyn
https://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11142&via=n&datum=2020-09-11_15:46:03&mottagare=31202
Huawei on pyrkinyt kasvattamaan oman alustansa sovellusvalikoimaa ripeästi. Yksi uusimpia kotimaisia tulokkaita HMS-alustalla on HSL-sovellus. Sen muokkaaminen toimimaan Huawein uusissa älypuhelimissa sujui varsin nopeasti ja pienillä kehittäjäresursseilla.
ETN on omissa testeissään todennut, että valtaosa Android-sovelluksista toimii aivan hyvin myös HMS-pohjaisissa laitteissa. Harmia on tuonut lähinnä sovellusten ajoittainen herjaaminen Google-tuen puuttumisesta. Sovelluksen toimintaan näillä ei ole ollut merkitystä. Koodiltaan GMS- ja HMS-sovellukset ovat siis pitkälti yhteneväisiä.
- Karkean arvion mukaan pystyimme käyttämään yli 95 prosenttia GMS-version koodista, kun kehitimme tämän ”AppGallery-version”, Kiiveri kertoo.
Työtä helpottavat Huawein tarjoamat työkalut.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Markkinoilla on jo 138 5G-puhelinta
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11146-markkinoilla-on-jo-138-5g-puhelinta
Tomi Engdahl says:
HP tuomassa taipuvan näytön simpukkapuhelinta
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11145-hp-tuomassa-taipuvan-nayton-simpukkapuhelinta
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jon Porter / The Verge:
Leaked promotional videos show Oculus Quest 2 powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 with an “almost 4K display”, 6GB RAM, up to 256GB storage, and 3D audio
Facebook’s Oculus Quest 2 leaks in full via official promo videos
A full launch of the headset is rumored for later this week
https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/14/21435891/oculus-quest-2-leaked-promotional-video-specs-features-qualcomm-xr-2-platform-6gb-ram-4k-display?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
The Oculus Quest 2 VR headset has leaked in full via a pair of promotional videos uploaded to a marketing hub run by parent company Facebook, The videos outline the specs of the standalone headset, which is a successor to 2019’s Oculus Quest. Also listed on the site is a pair of live demos of the headset, scheduled for September 16th and 17th. That lines up neatly with a previously-rumored launch date for the Quest 2 of September 15th.
According to the videos, the new headset is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon XR2 platform, which is specifically designed for AR and VR hardware (unlike the general purpose Snapdragon 835 that powered the original Quest). One video boasts that the Quest 2 has an “almost 4K display,” which it says translates to “nearly 2K per eye,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Daily Crunch: Apple announces new iPads and Apple Watches
https://tcrn.ch/2Fo79ZV
Tomi Engdahl says:
Facebook’s Project Aria Is Google Maps — For Your Entire Life
A new augmented reality headset will create a map of everything you see
https://onezero.medium.com/facebooks-project-aria-is-google-maps-for-your-entire-life-1511a88f6249
Tomi Engdahl says:
15 Years Ago, the Military Tried to Record Whole Human Lives. It Ended Badly
Before Facebook, the military tried to make an all knowing ‘cyberdiary’ called LifeLog.
https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/vbqdb8/15-years-ago-the-military-tried-to-record-whole-human-lives-it-ended-badly
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11172-oneplus-osaksi-googlen-yritysohjelmaa
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://semiengineering.com/week-in-review-manufacturing-test-114/
Economic uncertainties have increased the downward pressure on smartphone prices globally with 73% of shipments in 2020 expected to be priced below $400, according to IDC. Worldwide smartphone value is expected to decline 7.9% in 2020 to $422.4 billion, down from $458.5 billion in 2019, according to IDC. “The downward trend is intensified by consumers turning to devices priced in the low-to-mid range as they prioritize spending on essentials,” according to IDC.
https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS46865120
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/10975-huawein-harmony-kayttojarjestelma-tuli-wifi6-reitittimen-muodossa
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/10971-huawei-nousi-kannykoiden-ykkoseksi
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11071-alypuhelinmyynnista-katosi-viidennes-toisella-neljanneksella
Tomi Engdahl says:
Brent Rose / The Verge:
Fitbit Sense review: sleek design, intuitive UI, many granular metrics, but lots of bugs, fiddly solid-state button, and poor battery life in always-on mode
Fitbit Sense review: enough bugs to raise your heart rate
https://www.theverge.com/21450123/fitbit-sense-review?scrolla=5eb6d68b7fedc32c19ef33b4
Fitbit’s latest smartwatch has sensors, and bugs, galore
When Fitbit announced the $329.95 Sense last month, it was being hyped as the company’s most-thorough health tracking device yet. With new features in the form of stress management (with electrodermal activity monitoring), skin temperature, oxygen saturation while you sleep, and an upcoming Food and Drug Administration-approved ECG-app, it seemed poised to give us the most holistic look at our health of any consumer-facing wearable yet.
Unfortunately, after testing the Sense for the past week, the impression I’ve gathered is that Fitbit tried to do too much in too little time, which results in a smartwatch that feels slightly unfinished.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ron Amadeo / Ars Technica:
Q&A: Android engineers Dave Burke and Iliyan Malchev on “Generic Kernel Image” for Android, hidden developer options like “Gabeldorsche” in Android 11, and more
The Android 11 interview: Googlers answer our burning questions
Android engineers Dave Burke and Iliyan Malchev are back for our yearly Q&A.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/09/the-android-11-interview-googlers-answer-our-burning-questions/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huawei overtakes Samsung to be No. 1 smartphone player in the world thanks to China as overseas sales drop
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/30/huawei-overtakes-samsung-to-be-no-1-smartphone-maker-thanks-to-china.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11216-alypuhelinmyynti-romahti-toisella-neljanneksella
Tomi Engdahl says:
Reuters:
Sources: China is considering an antitrust probe into Google, after allegations by Huawei that Google leveraged the dominance of Android to stifle competition
Exclusive: China preparing an antitrust investigation into Google – sources
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-china-huawei-tech-exclusive-idUSKBN26L1OH
China is preparing to launch an antitrust probe into Alphabet Inc’s GOOGL.O Google, looking into allegations it has leveraged the dominance of its Android mobile operating system to stifle competition, two people familiar with the matter said.
The case was proposed by telecommunications equipment giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd last year and has been submitted by the country’s top market regulator to the State Council’s antitrust committee for review, they added.
A decision on whether to proceed with a formal investigation may come as soon as October and could be affected by the state of China’s relationship with the United States, one of the people said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows 10 Can Now Make and Receive Android Phone Calls
https://uk.pcmag.com/windows-10/122971/windows-10-can-now-make-and-receive-android-phone-calls
The latest Windows 10 Insider Preview Build adds support for using your PC speakers and microphone to handle calls from your linked Android phone.
Microsoft made it clear back in August at the Samsung Unpacked event that it wanted to allow Android phone calls to be possible through Windows 10. Now the feature has rolled out in the latest Insider Preview build of the operating system.
The new Calls feature forms part of the existing Your Phone app which already allowed texting, notifications, and file transfers between an Android device and Windows. Linking your Android device to Windows 10 is easy. Now it allows you to leave your Android phone in your bag or pocket and make/receive calls through Windows 10.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Nikkei Asian Review:
Sources: Google is planning to produce as little as ~800,000 Pixel 5 handsets, taking total production of Pixel 4a, 4a 5G, and 5 to 3M units
Google sets modest smartphone goals as COVID-19 bites
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Google-sets-modest-smartphone-goals-as-COVID-19-bites
Google plans to produce less than 1 million Pixel 5 smartphones this year, sources told Nikkei Asia, signaling a far more conservative outlook for the internet giant’s flagship device than last year.
Production could be as low as around 800,000 units for the 5G-capable flagship smartphone, which is set to be released on Sept. 30, the sources added. Google will also introduce the Pixel 4A (5G), following the recent launch on its website of the more affordably priced Pixel 4A.
Initial production for these three models this year is currently set at a modest 3 million units. Google’s total handset sales last year fell below the company’s target, and market demand this year has been further hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year, Google shipped 7.2 million Pixel smartphones, according to research company IDC, falling short of the company’s ambitious target of 8 million to 10 million units — double the 4.7 million it shipped in 2018. Sales of last year’s flagship phone, the Pixel 4, were particularly weak.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Stephanie Chan / Sensor Tower Blog:
Global app revenue grew 32% YoY in Q3 2020 to more than $29B; consumer spending in the App Store grew 31% to $19B while Play Store grew ~34% YoY to $10.3B
https://sensortower.com/blog/app-revenue-and-downloads-q3-2020
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/30/google-hardware-event-roundup/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Neil Cybart / Above Avalon:
As the installed base of Apple Watch approaches 100M, with an estimated 35% of US iPhone users wearing one, rivals are yet to make a credible competing device — In a few months, the number of people wearing an Apple Watch will surpass 100 million. While the tech press spent years infatuated …
Apple Watch Momentum Is Building
https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2020/9/30/apple-watch-momentum-is-building
In a few months, the number of people wearing an Apple Watch will surpass 100 million. While the tech press spent years infatuated with stationary smart speakers and the idea of voice-only interfaces, it was the Apple Watch and utility on the wrist that ushered in a new paradigm shift in computing. We are now seeing Apple leverage the growing number of Apple Watch wearers to build a formidable health platform. The Apple Watch is a runaway train with no company in a position to slow it down.
Mirages and Head Fakes
We are coming off of a weird stretch for the tech industry. As smartphone sales growth slowed in the mid-2010s, companies, analysts, and pundits began to search for the next big thing. The search landed on stationary smart speakers and voice interfaces.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11240-elisan-laaja-tutkimus-tallaisen-puhelimen-suomalainen-haluaa
Tomi Engdahl says:
Huawei edelleen toisena toisella neljänneksellä
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/11243-huawei-edelleen-toisena-toisella-neljanneksella
Tomi Engdahl says:
Qualcomm To Launch Its Own Premium Snapdragon Branded Phones
https://mobile.slashdot.org/story/20/10/07/2248242/qualcomm-to-launch-its-own-premium-snapdragon-branded-phones?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
According to Taiwanese publication DigiTimes, Qualcomm is planning to launch new premium smartphones under its own brand name. It’s reportedly partnering with ASUS to manufacture and distribute the devices globally.
ASUS is already a known quantity in the Android smartphone market, and produces its own line of gaming smartphones like the lightning-fast ROG Phone 3, which is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 865+ SoC.
https://hothardware.com/news/qualcomm-asus-snapdragon-875-elite-gaming-smartphone
Tomi Engdahl says:
Linux Fu: The Linux Android Convergence
https://hackaday.com/2020/10/07/linux-fu-the-linux-android-convergence/
The Android phone that you carry in your pocket is basically a small computer running Linux. So why is it so hard to get to a usable Linux environment on your phone? If you could run Linux, you could turn your cell phone into an ultra-portable laptop replacement.
Of course, the obvious approach is just to root the phone and clean-slate install a Linux distribution on it. That’s pretty extreme and, honestly, you would probably lose a lot of phone function unless you go with a Linux-specific phone like the PinePhone. However, using an installer called AnLinux, along with a terminal program and a VNC client, you can get a workable setup without nuking your phone’s OS, or even having root access. Let’s see what we can do.
AnLinux itself isn’t a big program. It installs operating system images and creates scripts that can start the environment for you. Then you’ve got a fake Linux computer running inside your Android phone while Android is still running. Simply connect to it from the outside Android OS using a terminal program or a VNC viewer, and you’re good to go.