Interesting article on Android here:
http://utestme.com/android-mystery-numbers/
“Where are these Android phones? How many of them are used for little more than phone calls and texting?” – Daring Fireball, in GOGO Inflight WI-FI Usage Numbers.
That’s the real question: how many of them are used as smartphones?
The answer, I think, is “Not many“.
“…perhaps surprisingly, it’s relatively clear from the evidence that Google is the major gatekeeper between OEMs and the market — and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. We’ve gone through the entire stack of documents and pulled out all the information we can, so clear your schedule and let’s dive in.”
http://bit.ly/androidnotopen
“As of today, four HTC model phones (the Incredible, EVO 4G, G2, Nexus One) and the Samsung Nexus S are the only devices capable of running the app.
We tried sideloading the app onto our Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, as well as onto an LG G2X smartphone; No dice. The G2X wouldn’t even open the app. We were able to access Netflix’s web store through the Galaxy Tab, but we weren’t allowed to stream movies on the unsupported device.”
http://bit.ly/wiredandroidfrag
Want to improve battery life and reduce Safari crashes and slow downs? Here’s how:
“Whether you wish to conserve electricity, silence overactive cooling fans, boost the security of your browsing experience or protest against the use of media plug-ins, you can easily remove Adobe Flash from your Mac. “
http://aol.it/nomoreflash
Though they’ve been surpassed in design and perfomance by their successors, Apple’s iPhone 3Gs and iPad 1 are still quite popular–so popular, in fact, that they outsell some of their newer Android rivals.
Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley says his retail checks show continued strong demand for the iPhone 3GS at AT&T and iPad 1 at Verizon, even as the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 continue to fly off the shelves. At AT&T, for example, the iPhone 3GS is outselling newer Android phones like the HTC Inspire and Motorola Atrix.
http://bit.ly/izOM6H
Juniper Networks today released a study concerned with potential threats to mobile technology, revealing a 400 percent increase in Android malware. The study also found that both enterprise and consumer mobile devices are being exposed to a record number of security threats, including highly targeted Wi-Fi attacks.
http://bit.ly/kf6YnD
“A new survey by Manhattan Research reveals that 75 percent of physicians in the United States have purchased an Apple mobile device such as an iPad, iPhone or iPod.
The firm has completed its “Taking the Pulse U.S. 11.0″ survey, an annual report that examines how physicians are using technology. It studies physicians’ use of the Web, mobile devices and other technology tools.
For the survey, Manhattan Research interviewed 2,041 U.S. doctors in the first quarter of 2011 on the phone or online. The company organized data among specialists such as primary care physicians, cardiologists, oncologists and pediatricians. Researchers used back-end software to avoid overlap and ensure unique responses.”
Full article here: http://bit.ly/docslikeiphone
Yet another nail in the coffin for the so called ‘open’ Android OS.
“Google plays ball with carriers to kill tethering apps, violates spiritof the ‘open access’ it bid $4.6B to protect”
http://bit.ly/androidtether
Scobleizer has an insightful article on the state of the iPhone vs. Android market.
“Datapoint one: John Gruber is noting that Android doesn’t have very many of the industry’s best apps.
Datapoint two. Starbucks CIO says that he’s forced to use HTML 5 to support Apple iOS users, because they represent the majority of folks using mobile devices in their stores.
Datapoint three. SlideRocket is forced into HTML5 land (they used to be all Flash) because of pressure from iOS users.
Datapoint four. Instagram got 100,000 users in less than a week (now rumors are that they’ve gotten more than a million users in first month).
Datapoint five. Mobile app developer HighFive Labs (they’ve built 15 apps, including Mario Batali Cooks) tells me they are staying iPhone only for a while.
Datapoint six. Just yesterday Sam Feuer, CEO of MindSmack, told me his app, FastMall, was just put to the top of Apple’s iTunes store and is getting overwhelming demand. When I interviewed him a few weeks ago he told me he already had 250,000 downloads just because he was included in the featured list on the store.”
And to summarize:
“1. There’s a common belief that Apple users are buying apps, while Android and other platform users aren’t.
2. There’s a common belief that Apple users are trying more apps per device.
3. There’s a common belief that Apple users are “better” for monetizing, because they are spending more money per device at retail.
4. There’s a common belief that Apple’s platform is best to develop on. Yes, some, like Swype, are on Android, not on Apple. I interviewed them here and their new keyboard is remarkable. What you didn’t see in the interview is that they told me off camera that they really wanted to be on Apple devices and they showed me it working on both iPhones and iPads, but are kept from shipping by Apple.
5. There’s a common belief amongst app developers that Apple’s iPad is going to be untouched in next six months.
6. There’s an understanding that Android is selling more units, but those users are less likely to buy apps, less likely to try apps, and that they have fewer methods of virally pushing apps. iOS, on the other hand has several systems to help you discover apps. My favorite is Chomp, interview here, but the others are quite good too, like Appsfire, and Appolicious. Android has GetJar, but that’s not an Android-only store.
7. App developers tell me they like being featured in Steve Jobs’ keynotes, on Apple in-store advertising and demo stations, and on commercials. That’s a stick that other platforms can’t offer developers.”
Check out the complete post here:
http://scobleizer.com/2010/11/20/is-the-tech-press-needed-anymore-how-apple-iphone-apps-take-off-now/
Interesting article on the Smartphone Wars. Here is the conclusion. See link for full details.
“WHICH LEADS ME TO ONE FINAL POINT
When analyzing the potential for challengers to the new winners, the most cited is Android. Can Android affect this redistribution of profit once again? And to whom?
If Android is to become the dominant platform, does it depend on the success of its licensees? Who are these licensees and what are the chances that they will be able to align their businesses to what Android offers (a new revenue model based on services and advertising).
One problem I see is that Google is making a bet on those same vendors who are now squeezed in the middle of that last pie chart: Samsung, LG, Motorola and Sony Ericsson. Nokia, Apple and RIM will certainly not take the OS over what they already have as it dilutes their differentiation and margins. That means Android is aligned with the biggest losers in the industry.
So how likely are these disrupted ex-giants to recover and take Android forward? My bet: slim to none. Android does not offer more than a lifeline. It is not a foundation for long-term profitability as it presumes the profits accrue to the network and possibly to Google. Profit evaporation out of devices to Google may be a possibility at some time in the future, but only if the devices don’t need too much attention to remain competitive. But because they’re still not good enough (and they won’t be for years to come), it’s certain that attention to detail is what will be most important to stay abreast of Apple.[1]
So here we have the real challenge to Android: partnership with defeated incumbents whose ability to build profitable and differentiated products is hamstrung by the licensing model and whose incentives to move up the steep trajectory of necessary improvements are limited.
In other words, Android’s licensees won’t have the profits or the motivation to spend on R&D so as to make exceptionally competitive products at a time when being competitive is what matters most.”
http://www.asymco.com/2010/08/17/androids-pursuit-of-the-biggest-losers/
