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March 6, 2010

Android Rising, Sony Poised to Join the Smartphone Fight

Filed under: theappleblog — Tags: a-brand-new, a-lengthy-head, android, corporate, google, iphone, like-the-iphone, mobile, network, playstation, sony, street, street-journal-, with-the-iphone — @ 3:35 pm

Yesterday Apple announced the arrival date of its much-ballyhooed tablet, the iPad. It will have a staggered release throughout April, beginning on the 3rd in the U.S. Once it does arrive, we’ll see what effect it has on the mobile landscape. But right now, Apple has other things to worry about if it wants to keep its newly minted status as a leading mobile device company.

The recent threats are at least twofold, one of immediate concern and one potentially dangerous down the road. First, there’s Android’s continued growth in terms of mobile marketshare, compared to Apple’s shrinking slice of the pie. Second, there’s Sony’s potential expansion of its mobile operations into direct competition with the iPhone.

Web analytics firm Quantcast released figures this week that show iPhone OS is still the dominant force in terms of mobile web usage, but the trend is working slowly against it. It lost 3.2 percent of its market share last month, while RIM and Google’s Android both gained ground. Over the past quarter, Android has gained a whopping 44 percent, while Apple has lost between five and 10 percent during the same period.

That’s only market share percentage, though. Apple is still showing positive growth in terms of mobile users and pageviews, but Google is just doing it that much faster. Which should be worrying to the current king of mobile web. The Nexus One may have been a relatively innocuous volley in the ongoing war, but Google is gaining steam, and quickly.

Another competitor is said to be waiting in the wings, too. According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony is gearing up to offer an iPhone competitor that could have one key advantage: the ability to play PSP and PlayStation games downloaded directly to the advice. That would be in addition to music, video and e-book content that it would also offer for sale through digital distribution.

Sony is not inexperienced in the cell phone market, and it already has a successful digital distribution framework operating as the PlayStation Network store. A PSP with smartphone features could be a very attractive proposition for young customers just entering the market.

Long story short, Apple has enjoyed a lengthy head start in the mobile web generation of smartphones, but after many, many failed attempts, a few competitors are beginning to realize exactly what it will take to catch up to Cupertino. And at this crucial point, Apple is focusing on jumpstarting a brand new market that many aren’t sure even has much potential.

The danger is that the iPhone isn’t being given sufficient attention thanks to the iPad’s imminent launch. If the next generation iPhone only gets some minor incremental updates, like the iPhone 3GS did, then I will seriously begin to question Apple’s sense of prioritization. Resting on its laurels for another year won’t help the company widen the closing gap between it and its competitors, whether or not the iPad succeeds.

Related GigaOM Pro Research: Is an iPhone- and Android-Only World the Best We Can Do?

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Android Rising, Sony Poised to Join the Smartphone Fight

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February 21, 2010

Tantalizing iPhone Code Clues Hint at Future Video Chat Capability [IPhone]

Filed under: gizmodo — Tags: a-little-more, another-edition, being-prepped, edition, left-image500, like-the-iphone, sdk, telephony — @ 3:00 pm

Morning! And welcome to another edition of “Hey, it looks like the iPhone might soon have video chat and a front-facing camera.” Today’s round includes the iPhone SDK, and the fact that it mentions a number of video chat commands:

That there image is from the SDK, and all but hits you in the face with two icons that mention “accepting” and “declining” video.

Parsing the evidence further, we discover this, a more direct mention of “video chat” in the telephony UI code:

So video chat on the iPhone. Probably coming soon, at least in code form. But what of the heavy strain on AT&T’s 3G network? One would think that video chat via millions of new iPhones would tax the hell out of an already taxed system. Perhaps they’ll roll it out everywhere but New York City and San Francisco and screw those cities a little more? Maybe throw little “too bad, so sad” San Fran/NYC asterisk caveats in all the anti-Verizon Wireless ads they no doubt have saved in the can for when this hypothetical video chat iPhone launches. We’ll see. Editor’s Note: Or video is being prepped for some other carrier’s network, as noted in the comments. Could be! -j.l.

In any event, as far as a hardware refresh or longer case goes? If the video chat development pans out, it’s looking more and more likely. [9to5Mac]

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Tantalizing iPhone Code Clues Hint at Future Video Chat Capability [IPhone]

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February 17, 2010

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 clears for landing at AT&T

Filed under: mobilecrunch — Tags: against-devices, april-or-may, bgr, device, ericsson, fighting-chance, genius, iphone, like-the-iphone, like-the-x10, looks-like, major-concern, mobilecrunch, spring — @ 7:42 pm

When the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 was announced in November, my major concern was whether it was coming to the U.S., when it was coming and if it would be subsidized by a carrier. The good news is that it looks like the X10 will be hitting AT&T’s shores this Spring.

The Boy Genius, whom I trust, has it on very good authority that the device will definitely be carried by AT&T, and that it will arrive some time in April or May. As far as pricing, it looks like $199 or less is what BGR is hearing and that sounds reasonable if Sony Ericsson wants a fighting chance against devices like the iPhone.

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Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 clears for landing at AT&T

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Opera says Opera Mini for iPhone “100% compliant” with App Store policies (video)

Filed under: mobilecrunch — Tags: a-hands-on-demo, actually-making, conversations, device, genius, like-the-iphone, looks-like, opera-software, software, techcrunch — @ 7:25 pm

We had a brief chat with Opera Software product analyst Phillip Grønvold here at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona yesterday. We inquired about the company’s plans to submit an Opera Mini application for the iPhone / iPod touch in the near future, and also got a hands-on demo of the app in action. Unfortunately, Grønvold was unwilling to demo the app on video, but take our word for it: the browser really is very, very fast.

Grønvold also declined to provide an ETA for the submission of the app to the App Store, but said it is very close to completion so it shouldn’t take too long.

A lot of people are – justifiably – skeptical about the chances of Opera Mini for iPhone actually making it to the App Store, but we can tell from our conversations with the people from Opera that this isn’t a publicity stunt, and that the company went to great lengths to ensure that they fully comply with Apple’s strict policies.

It’ll be interesting to see when Opera sees the app fit enough to be shown off publicly, and when it will be submitting the app. Once it does, the ball will be in Apple’s court, and a lot of people will be watching over its shoulders.

Do you think you’ll ever be able to download Opera Mini for iPhone from the App Store, or is there no chance in hell?

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Opera says Opera Mini for iPhone “100% compliant” with App Store policies (video)

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February 16, 2010

Question: Why does the iPhone still have the best touchscreen in the industry?

Filed under: crunchgear, tipb — Tags: a-little-bitter, a-phone-with, android, apple, competition, friends, have-on-android, industry, like-the-iphone, touchscreen — @ 1:32 am

I don’t have an iPhone. And I’m happy with my other devices. But while I laugh at AT&T issues, mock iPhone users for lacking features I have on Android, and so on, there has always been one thing I’ve been desperately jealous of: the touchscreen.

Now, I’ve had my share of touchscreens of all sizes and shapes. I’ve demoed phones and devices of varying quality for years. And somehow, Apple got themselves a better touchscreen in 2007 than any other company in the world has been able to buy or develop in the succeeding three years. Are you kidding me?

I guess I’m a little bitter about it. I mean, seriously. It’s kind of an indictment of the industry, isn’t it? Years now they’ve had to match it in terms of responsiveness and accuracy, and no one has hit it. This little informal test really draws out the issue. The Droid and Nexus One, flagship phones for the competition, completely fail where a years-old device excels. It boggles the mind!

And this isn’t just a rhetorical question. It’s a serious question that HTC, RIM, and everyone else should be asking themselves, and probably have been. Literally years after a device is introduced, with touchscreen technology advanced (one imagines), higher-resolution screens, and vastly improved processors and other components, no one in the industry has matched that device. The original iPhone, to say nothing of the 3G and 3GS, lets you point more quickly and precisely than phones coming out this week! This is a genuine mystery, my friends.

You would think that by now, someone would have thought to put together a phone with similar components and carefully fit the software so that it worked as well. But no! Even phones like the Storm and Nexus One, where the hardware and software were designed for one another, can’t stand up to the iPhone. That’s pretty embarrassing, guys! And I can’t imagine there’s a good excuse. It’s not like the iPhone uses unicorn tears as conductive lubricant or something.

The only thing I can think of is that these other companies think it doesn’t matter. That’s really the only explanation. Otherwise they would certainly have matched or exceeded its performance, you know, some time in the last few years they’ve had to do the R&D. Well, if that’s the case, then they’re blowing it in more ways than one. I exhort all them to get their collective shit together and make something that doesn’t fail miserably when compared to retired hardware.

Whether it’s buying a better screen, working more closely with the UI designers, or inventing something from scratch, it needs to happen, because the rest of the industry has been getting schooled for way too long at this point. Step up, guys.

Originally posted here:
Question: Why does the iPhone still have the best touchscreen in the industry?

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February 11, 2010

iPhone, iPad bandwidth strains could lead FCC to pay for airwaves

Filed under: appleinsider — Tags: 29-99-unlimited, after-apple, apple, appleinsider, available, communications, competitive, government, like-the-iphone, technology — @ 2:45 pm

By Neil Hughes

Published: 09:45 AM EST

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission could pay network broadcasters to vacate their airwaves and offer more wireless spectrum as bandwidth-heavy devices like the iPhone and iPad become more prevalent.

The strategy could be a part of the in-the-works National Broadband Plan, due to be introduced to Congress in March. According to an FCC official who spoke with BusinessWeek, the plan could use revenue from airwave auctions to pay existing users to vacate.

“We know there’s a spectrum crunch,” the official reportedly said. “We are just trying to come up with options.”

The introduction of the bandwidth-heavy, always-connected iPhone has placed a strain on the AT&T network in the U.S., where it is the exclusive carrier of Apple’s handset. AT&T will also be the sole stateside 3G provider for the iPad, with a $29.99 unlimited plan available contract-free.

Last October, Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC, said devices like the iPhone would require new policies to be enacted because of a coming “spectrum gap.” He said all signs point to there not being enough spectrum available for wireless services in the future.

The iPad is expected to only compound the issue. After Apple introduced the device and its 3G-enabled model that could access the AT&T network in the U.S., the FCC posted on its official blog that the iPad signals even more devices will be taxing the available mobile bandwidth.

“With the iPad pointing to even greater demand for mobile broadband on the horizon, we must ensure that network congestion doesn’t choke off a service that consumers clearly find so appealing or frustrate mobile broadband’s ability to keep us competitive in the global broadband economy,” the FCC wrote.

Genachowski, who has admitted he is an iPhone user and fan, has been a strong proponent of Net neutrality, allowing users to visit sites they please without being discriminated against by broadband providers.

With Genachowski at the helm, the FCC has taken an active role in the wireless market. Under pressure from the government, AT&T agreed to allow Voice over IP calls via its 3G network. It also inquired over the non-acceptance of the Google Voice application in the App Store.

The FCC has also signaled that it wants to increase wireless carrier competition, and increase the availability of exclusive smartphones like the iPhone in rural markets where providers like AT&T do not offer service.

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Bill Gates unimpressed by keyboard-less Apple iPad

Filed under: appleinsider — Tags: a-big-believer, a-few-years, a-nice-reader, a-real-keyboard, apple, available, communications, competitive, device, gates, government, like-the-iphone, same, steve-jobs — @ 1:50 pm

By Slash Lane

Published: 08:50 AM EST

February 10, 2010

Facebook Mobile Hits 100 Million Users, Growing Faster Than On Desktops

Filed under: techcrunch — Tags: a-video-isn, a-viewer-tries, a-week-later, confirm-or-deny, facebook, flash, img-alt, increase, information, into-the-site, like-the-iphone, site, site-routinely, techcrunch, work — @ 7:07 pm

For years, one of the most popular ways to access Facebook has been from mobile phones. The company has done quite a bit to make this possible, offering everything from SMS messaging functionality to web-based mobile sites and native applications for most smartphone platforms. Today, the company has announced that 100 million Facebook users are tapping into these mobile services, up from 65 million users last September.

Of course, Facebook has grown by over a hundred million members since the last milestone, so this increase isn’t a big surprise. But mobile growth seems to be accelerating even faster than Facebook is acquiring new members — Facebook had 65 million mobile users in September, and less than a week later announced that it had hit 300 million total active users (in other words, around 21.7% of users were using Facebook mobile). Now they have 100 million of 400 million total users tapping into the site from their mobile phones, or around 25%.

Facebook’s post notes that the mobile websites m.facebook.com and touch.facebook.com (which is optimized for smartphones like the iPhone) have been redesigned. And that the site routinely handles text messages from 80 operators across 32 countries worldwide.

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Facebook Mobile Hits 100 Million Users, Growing Faster Than On Desktops

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February 8, 2010

Consumers lose interest in iPad after Apple’s unveiling – survey

Filed under: appleinsider — Tags: 16gb, expect-the-ipad, ipad, iphone, like-the-iphone, making-the-16gb, not-interested, product — @ 3:15 pm

By Katie Marsal

Published: 10:15 AM EST

Despite a highly publicized public debut, potential customers lost a great deal of interest in Apple’s new touchscreen iPad after it was unveiled, a new study has found.

A survey of more than 1,000 randomly selected customers at the online marketplace Retrevo found that 52 percent of respondents have heard of Apple’s iPad, but are not interested in buying one. Another 18 percent said they had not heard of the product, but also were not interested.

Prior to the product’s unveiling, 26 percent of those surveyed had heard of the then-mythical “Apple tablet,” but were not interested in buying one. That total doubled after the iPad’s official Jan. 26 unveiling.

“It’s the apps that sell smartphones like the iPhone and it could very well be those same apps that motivate buyers to run down to the Apple Store and get in line to buy a shiny new iPad,” the company said. “Whether this device becomes a big hit is anyones guess but based on this study it sure looks doubtful.”

The survey found that awareness of the iPad is high — more than 80 percent of respondents said they had heard of Apple’s product. Of those, 21 percent said they need more information on the iPad before they purchase, and 9 percent said they would likely buy one. The company even tracked conversations on Twitter, and found the iPad announcement rivaled talk of the U.S. presidential State of the Union address, held the same day.

The survey results suggest consumers may not see how the iPad would fit into their lives. While 5 percent said they “definitely” need one, 61 percent said they do not think they need an iPad.

In addition, the $130 premium cost to add 3G connectivity was found to be a turn-off for potential buyers. While 12 percent would pay the extra money for 3G and 29 percent would think about it, 59 percent of respondents said they would not pay any extra for 3G.

Retrevo’s latest survey was conducted between Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 following Apple’s announcement of the iPad, starting at $499 and scheduled to arrive in late March. The results were compared to a previous study done between Jan. 16 and Jan. 20, before the iPad was unveiled.

Last week, another study of medical professionals found that one in five physicians said they are likely to purchase an iPad. Of more than 350 clinicians surveyed, 9 percent said they plan to buy the product immediately, while another 13 percent intend to purchase one in the first year.

Analysts mostly expect the iPad to have a moderate but successful start, selling between one million and five million in its first year. The product’s aggressive $499 starting price is seen to be its greatest asset. One analyst believes a sales “catalyst” must emerge — as the iTunes Store did for the iPod, and App Store for the iPhone — before the iPad sees significant growth.

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February 2, 2010

iPad Prognostications: What Matters in Web Tablets

Filed under: gigaom — Tags: a-web-tablet, apple, gigaom, iphone, like-the-iphone, north, price, respondents, right-notes, version-as-your, windows — @ 8:23 pm

When it comes to Apple’s iPad , the question for many is not if they will buy the device, but when. However, as detailed in our new report at GigaOM Pro (sub. req’d), which presents the results of a survey of technology enthusiasts we ran in the run-up to the iPad launch, the answer may not be day one. In fact, a significant number of people may end up sitting on the iPad sidelines for the foreseeable future as they weigh factors such as price, connectivity features and choice of wireless carrier.

As can be seen in the embedded slideshow below, price and cost of broadband service ranked near the top of purchase considerations when it comes to web tablets. Given the extra $130 it costs to add 3G to the iPad, not to mention the monthly carrier access fees, such considerations will factor heavily into the success of Apple’s latest gadget.

When asked about what technical features mattered most on a web tablet, a nearly unanimous 98 percent of respondents ranked connectivity at the top, and 85 percent said an e-reader feature was a must-have. Video games, on the other hand, were only seen as important by 39 percent of our respondents.

And is Apple the only game in town when considering a web tablet? According to our survey, it depends where your loyalties lie. If you’re a confirmed Apple fanatic, there’s no other choice. But if you’re a general mobile enthusiast, there’s a chance you’d be open to a Windows or Android version as your web tablet platform.

Bottom line? The iPad hit most of right notes and will see much of its early demand driven by the same early adopters who rushed out to buy the first-generation iPhone. But also like the iPhone, the price of the first-gen product and associated fees could keep some out of the game, at least for 2010.

To read the full 33-page report on our web tablet survey, head over to GigaOM Pro, where for just $79 a year you can access it and over 70 more in-depth research reports and insight pieces.

Related GigaOM Pro Research:

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