sunbattery's posterous http://sunbattery.posterous.com Most recent posts at sunbattery's posterous posterous.com Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:32:00 -0700 Apple study reveals carrier loyalty to be main reason for Android buys http://sunbattery.posterous.com/apple-study-reveals-carrier-loyalty-to-be-mai http://sunbattery.posterous.com/apple-study-reveals-carrier-loyalty-to-be-mai

Apple study reveals carrier loyalty to be main reason for Android buys

By Chris Burns

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There's an Apple internal study out there, and revealed today by Samsung, that says your choice of an Android smartphone was likely made because you're loyal to your mobile carrier. In this study, Apple asked consumers back in 2010 why they purchase an Android device. One of the least chosen answers, believe it or not, was that these Android lovers wanted "the latest technology."

Also near the bottom for consumers in this Apple-run study was that people chose Android because it had turn-by-turn GPS navigation. This study very well may have been part of the reason why Apple's version of Maps (Google Maps powered though it was) has thus far not had turn-by-turn navigation onboard. Another of the least-chosen answers to the question was that people "wanted the latest and greatest smartphone."

Up near the top you'll see that this study found - far and away, actually - that consumers purchasing Android devices did so because they "wanted to stay with [their] current wireless service provider." This answer had 48% of those surveyed answering that yes, this was a reason why they chose an Android smartphone or tablet - more likely a smartphone is what they were speaking about given the year, but the iPad was certainly right at the back of their minds as well.

* Wanted to stay with current wireless service provider: 48%
* Trusted the Google brand: 36%
* Preferred larger screen: 30%
* Preferred the Android market for apps (Gmail, Google Docs, Google-Voice): 27%
* Wanted better integration with google services: 26%
* Wanted the latest and greatest smartphone: 26%
* Wanted turn by turn GPS navigation: 25%
* Wanted the latest technology: 25%

Those who trusted Google's brand were next with a 36% agreement rate and 30% of responders said they preferred a larger screen, and that this was why they chose Android. Right in the middle of this list was the question of whether their choice of Android was due to them preferring the Android Market (now called Google Play) for apps, these including Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Voice as examples - this answer has a 27% share.

Keep in mind again that this study was done internally at Apple in 2010, while the original iPhone was released in 2007. The first Verizon iPhone wasn't released until 2011 - this being the first non-AT&T version of an iPhone here in the United States. Take from that what you will!

Apple vs. Samsung trial reveals sales numbers

By Ben Kersey

Apple and Samsung are currently duking it out in court over various patent infringement allegations, and as part of the proceedings the two companies have had to submit detailed sales numbers for their smartphones and tablets. Apple normally reveals how many iPhones and iPads it has shipped during its quarterly earnings results, but this is the first time we're getting a closer look at some of Samsung's sales numbers along with detailed breakdowns in the United States.

Information submitted by Samsung indicates that between June 2010 and June 2012, 21.25 million phones were sold in the United States, generating a total revenue of $7.5 billion. The best selling Samsung smartphone is the Galaxy Prevail, a prepaid device available on Boost Mobile, shifting a total of 2.25 million units. Samsung's range of Galaxy S II devices across all the US carriers sold 4.1 million units combined.

Samsung's range of Galaxy Tabs didn't seem to do nearly as well. They sold 1.4 million in total, generating a much lower revenue of $644 million. That contrasts sharply with Apple, with the company selling 34 million iPads in the United States since 2010, generating $19 billion in revenue. The company also managed to shift 85 million iPhones and 46 million iPod touches for a combined revenue of $60.3 billion.

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The thrust of Apple's legal argument is that Samsung directly copied elements from the iPhone for its range of Galaxy smartphones, from the design of the handset to the app icons. Apple argues that consumers are confused as a result, with previous evidence suggesting a large number of Samsung Galaxy Tab returns at Best Buy stores were a result of customers not being able to distinguish the product from an iPad.

Apple offered licensing deal to Samsung, wanted $30 per phone

By Eric Abent

Apple and Samsung may currently be duking it out in the court room, but a freshly-surfaced Apple presentation from 2010 shows that the iPhone maker tried to strike a licensing deal with Samsung long before the jury became involved. Apple, as many of you already know, is taking Samsung to court over allegedly copying the iPhone in its own devices, but this new presentation shows that Apple tried to resolve the dispute by offering to license its patents to Samsung. Given the fact that Apple is currently suing Samsung for $2.5 billion, it seems that negotiations didn't go so well.

AllThingsD reports that Apple patent licensing director Boris Teksler referenced the October 2010 presentation during his testimony yesterday. The presentation shows that Apple was asking for $30 on each Samsung smartphone sold (dubbed "advanced mobile computing device" in the presentation), and $40 for each Samsung tablet. If Samsung had agreed, Apple was projecting that it could have made $250 million from the licensing deal in 2010, a figure which can hardly be considered chump change.

Apple was willing to give Samsung discounts on royalties too, seeing as how it considered Samsung a "strategic supplier." For instance, Samsung could have enjoyed a 20% discount if it chose to cross-license its own patent portfolio to Apple. Phones using an Apple-licensed OS were good for a 40% discount, and phones that didn't use proprietary features - Apple references the Samsung Blackjack II in its presentation, which has a physical QWERTY keyboard - would have qualified for another 20% off.

Samsung, obviously, wanted nothing to do with this licensing deal, and Teksler said in his testimony that none other than Steve Jobs and Tim Cook were driven to confront Samsung executives about the similarities between the Galaxy S and the iPhone. Hopefully Samsung made the right choice in turning down that licensing deal, because if it loses this case, it could end up owing Apple a lot more than it would have been paying in royalties. Samsung is set to begin calling its own witnesses to the stand on Monday, so keep an ear to SlashGear for more information on this high-profile trial.

Apple patents licensed to Microsoft while Samsung declined

By Chris Burns

It seems that one of the bigger stories to come out of the Apple vs Samsung trail over the past few days has gotten just a bit more complicated, as the patents Apple offered to Samsung several years ago - the same that are on trial now - were also offered to Microsoft. As Apple's director of patent licensing and strategy Boris Teksler noted in the case, Microsoft and Apple have had a long-running cross-licensing deal going in which all of the patents in the case at hand were and are included. With that deal came "specific rules" in which both companies are not allowed to make "clone" products.

In this Microsoft / Apple licensing deal, Teksler notes that "there's a clear acknowledgment that there's no cloning", this same sort of deal having been offered to Samsung some years ago. Samsung objected noting that Apple had made no mention of their design patents when they met with them at this licensing deal several years ago. Apple responded with the idea that some of those patents were still pending at the time, with several having only been granted years later.

Teksler also noted that Apple never planned on offering up everything they had, "clone" clause or not.

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"We were clear we weren't offering a license to everything. We had yet to discuss some what we termed 'untouchables,' if you will. … We wanted to get properly compensated for that which was infringed, and with respect to our unique user experience. That's exactly what we were trying to do with this presentation." - Teksler

This is one of the last points of "attack" Apple will be able to go on as Samsung's side of the trial, if you will, begins this week. Apple's segment was essentially played out throughout the week previous to this one, while Samsung will call witnesses and experts to the stand Monday through Friday. Stay tuned as it all goes down right here on SlashGear!

Windows Phone 8 hardware to compete with Android's best. Maybe

By Marco Chiappetta

Images and specifications of the supposed successor to Nokia's Lumia 800 suggest that the initial batch of Windows Phone 8 devices are going to go head-to-head with some of the more powerful Android-based smartphones on the market.

Microsoft has already disclosed quite a few details regarding Windows Phone 8. The biggest news was that Windows Phone 8 would use the NT Kernel, but Microsoft also disclosed that its upcoming mobile OS will support multi-core processors, higher resolutions, NFC, customizable home screen tiles, and sport seamless SkyDrive integration, among a number of other details. The first device shown publicly running Windows Phone 8, however, was clearly a prototype design vehicle that would never hit retail. It was thick and bulky, with sharp edges and a relatively large bezel.

Some details of a reported Nokia-built device have recently emerged, though, that shed more light on the direction Windows Phone 8-based hardware is headed.

The leaked pictures of Nokia's supposed first Windows Phone 8 device seems to show a smartphone with a 4.5-inch to 4.65-inch screen. It's difficult to say for sure, but holding a sampling of smartphones in my own hand, with my fingers in the exact same position as the person in the leaked image, lead me to believe the phone is similar in size to the HTC One X, which has a 4.7-inch screen. The amount of overhang over the pinky is the clearest indicator of the phone's size.

Based on my highly scientific hand-modeling method, I estimate that the Nokia device in the picture appears to be much bigger than either the HTC Touch Pro 2 (3.6-inch screen) or HTC Inspire 4G (4.3-inch screen), and somewhat larger than a Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket (4.6-inch screen). Unless the person in the photo has tiny hands, the phone in the image is likely much larger than the Lumia 800 (3.5-inch screen), which the upcoming Windows Phone 8 device is obviously modeled after. The resolution of the screen hasn't been reported, but in light of competing offerings with similar screen sizes, a 720P resolution is a possibility.

Other leaked details suggest the phone will have a Qualcomm dual-core SoC, an external MicrsoSD card slot, and support for NFC and LTE. Based on those details, the phone is most likely powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4, which also happens to be used in the two most powerful Android-based devices currently on the market in the U.S.: the Samsung Galaxy S III and HTC One X. Clock speeds and memory capacity weren't reported either, but I suspect Microsoft and its partners are going to make the spec sheets for the initial batch of Windows Phone 8-based devices comparable to anything the competition has to offer. Speeds of 1.5GHz+ and at least 1GB of memory are safe bets.

Although Windows Phone 7 didn't need (or even support) multi-core processors and performed very well with only 512MB of RAM, I had suggested in this very blog that Microsoft's hardware partners would want to bolster the specifications of their next-gen devices to make them appear more competitive, at least on paper. If these initial indicators hold true, it seems Microsoft partners - or at least Nokia - are going to do just that. We'll all know for sure in a few more weeks.

I can't help but miss Google Now on the HTC One X

By Taylor Martin

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If you've been following my weekly Official Smartphone Rankings(TM) each week, you've likely discovered that I absolutely love the HTC One X. It has been my #1 choice since it launched back in May, and not even the Samsung Galaxy S III has been enough to sway me in any other direction. It is my top choice in phone, and it's there to stay for the foreseeable future.

From the inside out, I love what HTC has done with the One series; they dug deep to get back to their roots and focus more on what matters, quality over quantity, performance and durability.

Granted, there are some aspects of each One device that could definitely be improved upon (like the cameras, for instance). I explained back in June that there is no perfect 10 consumer device … and there may never be one, for all we know. In my opinion, however, the HTC One X is the closest thing to perfect for me and my needs. I prefer its S-LCD2 720p display over the HD Super AMOLED on the Galaxy S III. I prefer the unibody design over a cheap, lightweight and flimsy plastic chassis. And I can live with Sense UI, whereas TouchWiz has always been one of my least favorite Android customizations.

While I could definitely go for some more storage space and battery life at times, I thoroughly enjoy the One X and have been, for the most part, content with it since day one. (I say "for the most part" because the first unit I received had a dud battery. Ever since replacing it, I have been thoroughly happy with it and its battery life.)

That said, last month, I asked whether software or hardware is more important. I explained that I have had a terrible time choosing between the Galaxy Nexus with Jelly Bean and the One X with Ice Cream Sandwich, Sense-flavored. The consensus I came to back then was that software ultimately won. While I would much rather choose the hardware on the One X, I found myself erring on the side of the Nexus due to its stock Android 4.1 software.

When I started the Voice Input Challenge, though, I chose to carry three handsets: an iPhone 4S, One X and a Galaxy Nexus. I typically only carry two phones with me every day. But I wanted to actively try the two different Android phones since there were some pretty significant changes in dictation software between Android 4.0 and 4.1. After the challenge, I kept my primary AT&T SIM in the One X and started leaving the Galaxy Nexus at home when I set out for the day. (There is simply no need for a third line. A second line is excessive, I will admit. But a third? That's above and beyond, and it's not even convenient.)

Almost immediately, I started to miss one feature of the Galaxy Nexus and Jelly Bean: Google Now.

To be fair, the One X has voice search, which I have been using quite often. But that's not the problem. The problem is that it's not as easily accessible from anywhere within the operating system (a la slide gesture up from the home button), and it's not as feature-packed as the automated personal assistant service dubbed Google Now.

To quickly access Google Now on the Galaxy Nexus or Nexus 7, you simply slide your finger up from the home button. Google Now appears and immediately gives you any pertinent information based on time, location, any of your upcoming appointments and the other various things it has learned about you. I don't get that on my One X. I don't get automatic traffic reports for my commute home every day. I don't get weather updates each time I go for a Google search. And I don't get results nearly as fast or in such a consumable, easy-to-understand (card) format.

It may seem like a petty complaint. But I seriously miss Google Now when I'm using my One X. I have become attached to how quick and painless Google Now and the Google voice search in Android 4.1 are. Over the weekend, Evan asked, "If you had to choose, would you pick Google Now or Siri?" The fact that I'm consistently switching back to an older phone to continue using Google Now while I have had Siri at my side all along and haven't cared to use it is a pretty clear testament to where I stand. And it should serve well as a testament to the power of Google Now.

To be clear, I could hack and mod my One X to retrofit it with Google Now. But that's neither the point or something I'm willing to do at this time. The point is: I have one of the newest Android smartphones available and there will likely be another four or so months before the One X (or any other high-end Android phone, for that matter) officially receives the Jelly Bean update. And thus, it will be the same amount of time before I have Google Now officially on my One X. That's a shame considering the usefulness and potential of Google Now.

I'm not sure what I will end up doing in the end, but I still find myself trying to balance the two devices on a single line. Carrying three devices every day is not the answer and neither is switching back and forth every couple days. But I'm having trouble coping without Google Now. And likewise, I'm having trouble settling with the hardware of the Galaxy Nexus.

Google Now may not be one of my favorite Android features … yet. But the power of voice input is definitely one that is continually growing in importance, and Google Now is undoubtedly one of the more impressive context aware voice search utilities to surface of late.

Tell me, ladies and gentlemen. Is voice search all that important to you? Do you find yourself growing attached to Google's voice search? Siri? Google Now? Do you miss your voice search of choice when it's unavailable? Have you changed phones (or respective software) just to get a taste of the latest voice input tech?

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Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:26:00 -0700 The 3 secret ingredients to Android success http://sunbattery.posterous.com/the-3-secret-ingredients-to-android-success http://sunbattery.posterous.com/the-3-secret-ingredients-to-android-success

The 3 secret ingredients to Android success

By JR Raphael

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We knew it was coming, and today it begins: Google is finally starting to put its stamp on Motorola Mobility.

The first steps in the Motorola makeover are somewhat bittersweet: Google revealed this morning it'd cut 4,000 jobs from Motorola's existing workforce in order to better focus the company on "innovative and profitable" high-end devices. It's likely the first of many changes we'll see following Google's acquisition of Motorola earlier this year.

As Motorola's new focus falls into place, I thought it'd be a good time to look at what helps certain Android manufacturers succeed while others struggle. Samsung is dominating the smartphone market, eclipsing other phone-makers both within Android and beyond -- so what's it doing that everyone else isn't?

The truth is that Samsung's Galaxy S III isn't insanely better than HTC's One X -- the two phones are pretty equally matched, and in many respects, the One X actually has the upper edge -- yet the GSIII is selling like hotcakes while HTC is watching its profits plummet.

So what lessons can Motorola take from Samsung's success? Creating quality products with enticing designs is a given; HTC has done that as much as anyone and still isn't thriving. Here, then, are the secret ingredients Samsung is using that other Android manufacturers haven't figured out. Listen closely, Motorola.

1. Focus

It may seem obvious, but if you make one high-end product your primary focus, it's going to have a better chance of standing out from the pack and succeeding. Samsung certainly makes a lot of phones beyond the Galaxy S III -- it had somewhere around 94 gazillion different models, last I counted -- but none of them gets anywhere near the level of love and attention the flagship GSIII phone receives.

Even before the Google acquisition, Motorola said it was going to stop flooding the market with new devices every other week and focus instead on a small group of "core" products. Its then-CEO made that declaration last January; Motorola then proceeded to launch a whopping 27 devices over the course of 2011. Something doesn't add up.

New Google-migrated CEO Dennis Woodside seems set on actually living up to the company's previous promise: Woodside says he intends to ship only a few key products per year, making sure each one pops for its standout hardware features.

That's focus. But that's only a third of the battle.

2. Ubiquity

You know what really sets the Galaxy S III apart from the One X? The fact that you can find it almost anywhere you look.

Samsung's managed to get its flagship device on all the major U.S. carriers, and that's an enormous win. The notion of carrier-exclusive smartphones is both dated and dumb; it benefits the carriers while limiting choice for consumers -- and limiting potential for manufacturers, too. As mobile technology grows increasingly advanced and important to our lives, this sort of one-sided arrangement looks increasingly ridiculous.

The One X may be a damn fine phone, but if someone isn't on AT&T in the U.S., it isn't an option. And that kills an awful lot of its opportunity for success. Ubiquity and focus go hand in hand: If you make a single high-end device your priority, you're going to do everything you can to make sure everyone can get it.

3. Marketing

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This last ingredient may be the biggest of all -- and for whatever reason, it's one Android-focused companies have by and large failed to grasp.

I'm talking about marketing. If there's one area in which Apple consistently excels (well, nearly all of the time), this is it: From its lavish and secretive "special events" to its massive (and massively effective) ad campaigns, there's no denying the iGang's success in this realm.

Why do you think so many people -- consumers and tech writers alike -- religiously repeat phrases like "magical," "revolutionary," and "it just works"? Those are all key marketing phrases Apple's worked hard to hammer home, both in ads and in presentations. Now, countless people chant them as mantras without even realizing they're regurgitating carefully constructed marketing messages. In reality, Apple stuff often doesn't "just work" -- but at this point, that's almost irrelevant.

With its Galaxy S III launch, Samsung strived for a similar sort of controlled impression. From prelaunch buzz to a lavish launch event and Olympic-sized promotional push, Samsung has done everything it can to make sure its phone is seen as the hot new device to own right now. And by most appearances, its efforts have paid off. Do you really think, for example, that every non-Android-focused tech writer legitimately concluded the Galaxy S III was hands-down the best Android phone available -- no ifs, ands, or buts about it? Probably not. But they sure as hell thought that's what they were supposed to think. And that's what solid marketing can do.

From the marketing itself to the mainstream media coverage it influences, Samsung has molded public perception of its product in a way no Android device has done since the original Motorola Droid. The company's message is everywhere. That makes all the difference in the world.

Put it all together...

When you combine these three ingredients -- focus, ubiquity, and marketing -- you've got a recipe for success. These three things are what set Samsung's Galaxy S III apart from other equally impressive phones like the HTC One X. It's not just the technology; it's how it's presented.

If Motorola can achieve the kind of focus, ubiquity, and marketing Samsung has delivered -- while putting out the kind of top-notch smartphone experiences it's perfectly capable of providing -- there's no reason it can't match or even surpass Samsung's level of success. Heck, maybe our friends at HTC can watch what happens and learn a thing or two as well.

In the end, Android is all about choice and diversity, and healthy competition among multiple manufacturers is a key part of that equation. I'm optimistic Motorola can re-establish itself as a prominent player in the game -- and that other skilled but struggling device-makers can follow its lead.

Your move, Motorola.

Nokia's Asset Sales: Every Little Bit Helps

By Saibus Research

We previously published a series of reports analyzing Nokia Corporation's (NOK) struggles. We actually considered investing in it 10 years ago when we purchased our first cellular phone, which was a Nokia. We can't repeat enough how Nokia has seen a reversal of fortune since 2006. Should it have retained its sponsorship of the Sugar Bowl college football bowl classic? Should it have hired Catherine Zeta Jones as spokeswoman when T-Mobile declined to renew her contract? Should it have sold Nokia Networks to Siemens (SI) instead of acquiring Siemens's telecom equipment business? Was it a mistake for Jorma Ollila to tap some lawyer to succeed him as CEO and President in 2006? Citigroup (C) had a larger than life CEO (Sandy Weill) just like Nokia and it tapped a lawyer to succeed Weill, just like Nokia did with Ollila? Should Ollila have taken more proactive steps to arrest Nokia's decline after he stepped down as CEO in 2006 but remained as Chairman from 2006-2012? Did Ollila stick around too long as CEO? In hindsight, we are wondering if Sandy Weill stuck around too long at Citigroup and if he should have sent a certified letter to James Dimon in Chicago nine years ago during Dimon s Midwestern Exile that simply said "Dear Jamie, Please come back. All is forgiven. I'm sorry if I hurt you in any way. Sincerely, your old buddy Sandy". Coincidentally, Ollila was a former Citibank banker as well as Sandy Weill and Jamie.

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Did Nokia spend too much of its research and development resources on the research side and not enough on development? Despite spending $40B for research and development versus $10B for Apple (AAPL) over the last decade, Nokia has been in its own lost half-decade since 2006. When we reconsidered investing in Nokia in February, the stock price had declined significantly from when we were looking at it in 2002. Then again, Nokia's fortunes had taken a similar decline as well. When we were looking at it in February, those aforementioned questions we enunciated here were some of the many questions we had with regards to Nokia's prospects. While Nokia has bounced off its lowest reached around the time it released its Q2 2012 results, we find that the company still has a lot of question marks hanging over it like a Sword of Damocles.

Because we are a progressive, fair-minded, objective and independent research firm, we pride ourselves on taking a fair and balanced approach to investments. We even like to quote John Maynard Keynes's alleged famous quote about how when the facts change, he changes his opinion. Regardless of whether Keynes said it or if it should be attributed to another economist, we think it's a useful quote to incorporate into our research and analysis. In addition to Keynes being the father of Keynesian economics, he was alleged to have been skilled in managing money and was an early influence to Warren Edward Buffett himself. While we think it is too early to declare that Nokia has turned itself around, we can certainly take note of when good things happen to otherwise poor performing companies.

As everyone knows, Nokia announced on August 9th that it sold 500 of its patents to Vringo (VRNG), a company that provides a range of software products for mobile video entertainment, personalization and mobile social applications. Because Vringo is an early development stage start-up that has lost $43M since its inception and since it only had $3.6M in the bank as of March 31st, it had to issue 9.6M shares at a price of $3.25 per share in order to pay the $22M price for those patents. The deal is scheduled to close on September 14th 2012. Also, as part of the deal, Nokia will get 35% royalties from Vringo to the extent that the revenue generated from Vringo's new patent portfolio exceeds $22M. The Patent Purchase Agreement provides that Nokia and its affiliates will retain a non-exclusive, worldwide and fully paid-up license (without the right to grant sublicenses) to the portfolio for the sole purpose of supplying (as defined in the Patent Purchase Agreement) Nokia's products. The Patent Purchase Agreement also provides that if Vringo brings a proceeding against Nokia or its affiliates within seven years, Nokia shall have the right to re-acquire the patent portfolio for a nominal amount. We're pleased that Nokia isn't afraid to monetize its patent portfolio in order to help bolster its liquidity resources. The market was pleased as well as shown by Nokia's share price increasing by 9.36% on September 9th. We are disappointed that Nokia is probably more likely to realize value for its stakeholders by selling off its patents than by competing in the mobile device business against Apple (AAPL) and other device makers. We think it goes back to Nokia's culture of heavy investment in research and lack of resources and interest devoted to execution and development. We are absolutely shocked, shocked that Nokia outspent Apple 4-1 on research and development and yet Nokia and Apple have seen a reversal of each other's fortunes.

Nokia also announced that it agreed to sell its Qt software business to Finnish IT services firm Digia Oyj. Neither company disclosed the value of the deal and analysts surmised that it was a fraction of the $150M Nokia paid for Norway's Trolltech in 2008. Qt software is used by 450K developers to make software applications with a graphical interface for 70 industries. Qt software was a central part of its strategy until 2011 when it decided to swap its own smartphone software for Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Phone and the Lumia smartphone series. Digia had previously purchased the Qt commercial licensing agreement last year and will now own. This deal is also expected to close in September as well as the patent sale. Once Digia takes control of the rest of the Qt software business, it plans to enable the Qt software development platform to be used in Google's (GOOG) Android, Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 operating systems.

As Nokia is expected to make €1.9B in restructuring charges over the next 2 years, we believe it was prudent for the company to prune its non-core assets in order to aid with the restructuring in order to make it a more mobile and agile mobile device vendor. The Qt software development platform was largely used for Symbian (AKA the Burning Platform itself) and was made redundant when Nokia jumped into the cold foreboding waters of Microsoft's Windows Phone Platform.

In conclusion, we see the asset sales as a positive factor for Nokia. We're not ready to say that the company has turned itself around. We have seen a number of missteps by Stephen Elop since he has become CEO of Nokia. We believe that the performance of Nokia will be extremely binary based on its dependence on Microsoft and the Windows Phone Platform. At least Nokia did the right thing by holding its annual Nokia World Event on September 5th, one week before Apple. We believe that there is a significant level of execution risk in Nokia's shares due to its reliance on Microsoft and the Windows Phone 8. If Nokia mishandles this product launch the same way it handled the retirement of Symbian and the introduction of Windows Phone 7, it will sink into irrelevancy like the BlackBerry.

Disclosure: I am long AAPL.

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Additional disclosure: Saibus Research has not received compensation directly or indirectly for expressing the recommendation in this report. Under no circumstances must this report be considered an offer to buy, sell, subscribe for or trade securities or other instruments.

Electronic Arts: New Windows central to mobile games

By BLOOMBERG NEWS

Electronic Arts Inc., the second- largest U.S. video-game maker, is in talks with Microsoft Corp. to bring mobile games to the next version of Windows as it sees the operating system as central to its handset strategy.

"We're working very closely with Microsoft to understand what their views on gaming navigation are," Chief Operating Officer Peter Moore said in a phone interview. "Anything that allows more platforms to be adopted quickly that have a gaming element is good for Electronic Arts." The Redwood City, California-based company is counting on games on phones and tablet computers as well as Internet-based games as it tries to reduce reliance on boxed retail products. The mobile version of Windows 8, due later this year, is also central to Nokia Oyj's plan to revive smartphone sales amid competition from Apple Inc.'s iPhone and devices running Google Inc.'s Android software.

Nokia plans to announce its new line of smartphones using the Windows Phone 8 operating system as early as next month and offer them for sale before the year-end holiday shopping season, a person with knowledge of the matter said this month.

Moore was speaking before the annual Gamescom conference in Cologne, Germany, this week, where Electronic Arts will show a new version of city-building simulator "SimCity" as well as updates to its "FIFA Soccer," "Medal of Honor" and "'Need for Speed'' titles. He said the company is on the lookout for more acquisitions after purchasing game makers including PopCap Games Inc. and Playfish Inc.

''We're in a very strong position with our balance sheet and we're never afraid to use it if the opportunity arises," Moore said. "We're always looking at opportunities for us to strengthen our development capabilities, maybe our IP and maybe our technology backbone" including middleware and network technology.

Up for some rough and tumble

By LEE SUCKLING

Motorola's Defy is a revelation in mobile technology for New Zealanders - it is dustproof, scratch resistant (with Corning Gorilla Glass), and can be completely submerged in water. It beacons a new trend in mobile technology, as manufacturers finally realise that most of us are clumsy and struggle to keep our phones in pristine condition.

There is also a market of consumers that needs rugged phones more than the average Kiwi - tradesmen. Increasingly prominent in Christchurch, contractors and those who work outdoors in temperamental environments need mobile phones that can withstand drops, knocks, and splashes. However, the new Defy isn't quite enough, says one Cantabrian consumer.

'The market has now been completely dominated by smartphones which are internet and entertainment-focused, but [manufacturers and networks] have completely forgotten about those of us that still work in talk- dominant environments,' he told Fairfax Media.

For this consumer, the Defy doesn't suffice - he is still worried about having an exposed screen. 'There have been several phones in the past - the Sanyo 7050, for example - that are of flip (clamshell) design and are ideal for the kinds of work we do because they are truly 'rugged' by complying to US Military Standard 810.'

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The old 7050 has been available through Telecom and can sometimes be found on Trade Me. However, it should be noted that the use of "compliant to US Military Standard 810" is deceptive. While this standard can be obtained to provide test procedures, there is no MIL-STD- 810 compliance agency to officially certify any consumer product, meaning phone manufacturers use the claim as an unwarranted marketing tool.

However, those in need of the toughest of tough phones have other options.

New Zealand mobile networks offer a couple of suitable alternatives to the Motorola Defy (and Defy+), which retail at $599 from Telecom and 2degrees.

On Telecom, there is the option of the house-branded Telecom R54 ($249), which is independently certified with IP54 protection, the International Protection standard of shock, dust, and water resistance.

Withstanding splashes, dust and mud, the phone's internal circuitry is safe, and the battery cover is even locked down with a screw.

Vodafone offers the Samsung B2710 ($199), which is IP67 certified - heralding almost complete protection from the elements, so it is all-but-absolutely safe in environments such as dusty building sites.

It's also submersible in up to one metre of water for up to 30 minutes. Unless you actually want to drive over your phone with a truck or throw it into a lake, this model should meet the requirements of most tradesmen.

Some consumers may be wondering which rugged phones are in use by New Zealand's military and emergency services, and how such can be obtained.

NZ Police and the NZDF have confirmed primary communication from field staff is Radio Technology (RT), not cellular phones. For the police, mobile phones are just a secondary option. 'We don't issue 'rugged' phones to staff - just standard models,' says Grant Ogilvie, of the police. 'Some staff might obtain a protective casing for their work phone, and some may have a personal phone which is of the 'rugged' variety.'

New Zealand networks are understandably reluctant to import phones for individual customers, so if there is a very particular model available overseas that you want, you can buy it online yourself from an international website.

This does come with certain risks around compatibility to New Zealand networks, though. While you won't need to be a tech genius to configure a phone yourself, you will need to be somewhat savvy, although Vodafone's model- specific configuration section of its website makes it as straightforward as possible.

Vodafone will also configure an international phone in store for a fee. Consumers should beware, however; there are some issues that can't be resolved with some phones from selected countries. Problems can include dropped/missed calls and call quality issues, delayed text messages and PXT problems.

With few models on New Zealand shelves, and the expectant risk around buying online from overseas, the alternate option is to buy a parallel import. Parallel imported phones are all configured to Vodafone and 2degrees networks, and selected models are configured to Telecom's XT. These imports also come with warranties and refund policies, so are a good option for Kiwis to get the ideal mobile to suit their purpose.

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Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:39:00 -0800 Why Androids eat Apples for breakfast http://sunbattery.posterous.com/why-androids-eat-apples-for-breakfast http://sunbattery.posterous.com/why-androids-eat-apples-for-breakfast

Why Androids eat Apples for breakfast

By Shawn Dobbs.

Contributor

Before the criticism begins, let's give credit where credit is due. The iPhone is a good product. In terms of functionality, user-friendliness, and cohesiveness of vision and implementation, the iPhone (especially the iPhone 4S) is ideal for many people. But, as Samsung has recently tried to point out through their Galaxy ad campaign, it is by no means the only thing out there.

In fact, the biggest reason that Apple is such a powerhouse today is because they were first out of the gate, releasing the first iPhone in July 2007, over a year before the first Android device (HTC's G1) was released. Since the G1, it's been an ugly battle, with both companies viciously competing for market share and driving the technology in the field to dizzying new heights.

Despite Apple's significant lead (a year is a lifetime in the smartphone industry), Android has taken massive strides to catch up and surpass Apple in almost every respect. So before you run out the door to buy a new iPhone, consider a few things first.

Open Source

As mobile technology advances more quickly than any other industry, and Apple had such a huge head start, how is it that in just over three years Android has been able to overtake Apple in such a significant way? Within the answer lies what is the most crucial difference between Android and Apple. That reason is "open source."

Put simply, anyone can do anything with their Android phone. In contrast, the user can't even take the battery out of the iPhone. This represents a stark contrast in company philosophy. Android is an open source code. The developer codes for Android software are available for free to anyone who cares to mess with it.

You can "unlock" your Android phone and rewrite the very code that it runs on to make it do what you want it to. This is far more advanced than the average user is capable of, but there are plenty of people out there who love doing exactly this, and they make the results of their work available for free to the rest of us on the Android platform.

Apple, on the other hand, charges $99/year for access to their code, and developers can do only one thing with it: create apps for the Apple AppStore. Any attempt to rewrite the iPhone code would be immediately rejected, and those caught modifying and distributing modified codes would be prosecuted.

In the long run, it is this philosophy that will be the death knell for iPhone. There is an active community of thousands of Android enthusiasts working tirelessly to make the platform the very best that it can be. The open source nature of Android encourages this. Apple retains such tight control over every aspect of its product that it simply cannot utilize the resources of the developer community in the same way that Android can.

Hardware & Software

There is one final, crucial aspect to consider when purchasing your new phone, and that is the hardware and software it is running. In this area, Apple at least gets kudos for keeping things simple and reliable. There is only one iPhone every year, and it comes straight from Apple. Every new iPhone is guaranteed to feature significant improvements over the previous generation of iPhone. Not so with Android.

Android manufacturers have recently stated that beginning this year they will focus on quality rather than quantity and the general concensus is that this is a welcome trend. For the last two years, Android handsets have been flooding the market faster than anyone could keep up with. The high-end and some mid-range Android phones have always been superior to iPhone (and any other phone on the market), but the low-end and certain other mid-range phones have tarnished the platform and left many consumers feeling that deciding which Android phone to get is just too much trouble. Many simply believe all Android devices are the same.

In order to give an accurate comparison, we will focus only on the high-end phones (generally called "flagship devices") of the various carriers, which represent the best of Android, and compare them to the iPhone 4S, the best of Apple.

Droid Does

Motorola uses the slogan "Droid Does" in their marketing campaigns. This accurately sums up the difference between Android and Apple devices. Android does, and Apple does not.

What does Apple not do? Several things, including but not limited to- NFC chips (Near Field Communication, used for such services as mobile banking), AM/FM radio; widgets (extensions of apps that update automatically on the phone's home screen), 4G network speeds (that's right- the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S are NOT 4G phones), and memory cards/SD cards/SIM cards.

In addition to lacking several software features found in nearly every Android phone, the iPhone 4S falls short in the hardware department too. Without getting overly technical, the biggest problem with the iPhone's hardware is that it is outdated and overpriced. The just-released iPhone 4S is powered by the 1Ghz Apple A5 dual-core processor. The A5 chip is based on Cortex 9 technology, which is almost three years old.

Samsung has been able to use Cortex 9 technology to produce 1.5Ghz processors. Why did Apple choose not to utilize the technology to its full capability? Even the upcoming iPhone 5, with an updated Apple A6 processor is based on Cortex 9 and expected to run at only around 1.2Ghz, while Samsung's highly anticipated Galaxy S3 is expected to be running on Cortex 15 technology, boosting performance to 2Ghz and providing up to 75% more speed and power than Cortex 9-based chips.

Even with inferior hardware, the iPhone 4S retails at $400, and that is WITH a 2 year contract. In contrast, flagship devices from LG, Motorola, Samsung, and HTC (the major Android manufacturers) have never topped $299, and most go for $199.

Another major disappointment is that the iPhone 5 will not be a quad-core device, meaning Apple users will have to wait at least another full year before they can hope to see a quad-core iPhone.

Dual core devices were introduced for the first time last year (making their debut on Android, incidentally) and provided twice the speed, computing, and processing power of any handset released prior. Dual core has now become the industry standard. Quad core devices take it still further, promising a 5x performance improvement.

Essentially making mobile devices capable of running at speeds equal to or faster than a desktop PC with high-speed internet access.

Quad core technology is already in use in some Android tablets, and at the Mobile World Congress at the end of February, quad core phones will be premiered for the first time, yet again exclusively on Android.

In the last three years, Android has come from being the dark horse of the mobile arena to the fore runner. In the coming years Android's expertise and superiority will only become more pronounced as they continue to deliver cutting edge technology with the best hardware and software at the best prices on the market. Unfortunately for Apple, their reign of smartphone dominance is already on the decline, and they will continue to be outpaced and outdone as Android delivers what consumers expect out of their products.

APPS, APPS, APPS

While it is true that the Apple AppStore still contains more apps than the Android Marketplace (459,000 for Apple compared to 319,000 for Android, as of October 2011) there are three things to keep in mind here.

(1) Apple has a 16-month head start on Android. Considering that in just the last three months of 2011 there were over 100,000 apps added to each platform, 16 months is a tremendous lead, and for Android to close the gap this quickly is an impressive feat.

(2) Android is catching up fast. October's numbers were the latest exact figures available, but Android boasts on its website that the Marketplace now contains over 400,000 apps, and Apple claims to have over 500,000. Regardless of claims and speculations, one thing is clear- Android is catching up. Keep in mind that because of the open source nature of Android, apps can be downloaded from other sources as well, including the Amazon AppStore, the AppBrain market, AppPlanet, and countless others. Including these third party sources, Android far surpasses Apple in sheer numbers of apps.

(3) Android offers more free apps than Apple. 70% of Android apps are free, compared with just 35% of Apple apps. From a developer standpoint, this could be a disappointment, but for the end user it is extremely satisfying knowing you got the same app for free that your iPhone carrying friends coughed up $3-$5 or more for.

 

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Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:34:00 -0800 HP's Whitman Warns On Android, Optimistic On WebOS http://sunbattery.posterous.com/hps-whitman-warns-on-android-optimistic-on-we http://sunbattery.posterous.com/hps-whitman-warns-on-android-optimistic-on-we

HP's Whitman Warns On Android, Optimistic On WebOS

By Eric Zeman.

Google has said over and over that Android will remain an open platform. HP CEO Meg Whitman isn't so sure.

When Google announced its intent to purchase Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, there was an immediate fear that Google would close the OS and work only with Motorola moving forward. Other hardware makers voiced support for the deal publicly, but you can be sure they were cursing behind closed doors. Ever since, Google has said over and over that Android will remain an open platform. HP CEO Meg Whitman isn't so sure.

Speaking to attendees of the HP Global Partner conference in Las Vegas, reports PC World, Whitman contended that "the industry needs another OS," and went on to suggest that Google may change its mind once it owns Motorola. This potential allowed Whitman to talk up the appeal of its own webOS, which it recently decided to launch as an open source project.

Whitman maintains that webOS could remain an important player over the long term. Though it will take time for webOS's full potential as an open source project to be realized, she said that HP will sit in silent support of its mobile platform as it continues to take shape. HP is still excited about webOS's prospects and will continue to contribute to its development.

WebOS was developed by the now-defunct Palm, which HP acquired in 2010. WebOS floundered under HP's ownership, and last August the company announced that it would cease making webOS smartphones and tablets--mere weeks after launching the webOS-powered TouchPad. The company announced its intent to open source the platform in December. Since then, it has begun making individual components available to the community, though the entire OS isn't expected to become available until September of this year.

Whitman is likely wrong about Android. It would be suicide for Google to close off Android and could spark a huge legal war between Google and its hardware partners. Google is activating more than 750,000 new Android devices each and every day. Why would it want to harm that number? Motorola may make decent products, but Samsung is outselling it like mad the world over with its own Android devices.

Were Google to close off Android, it wouldn't just be shooting itself in the foot, it would be lopping off both legs and letting them bleed out.

The idea that the mobile industry needs webOS to stick around is also a bit of a folly. The platform failed for a reason: there are stronger alternatives already in the market. If webOS really had a place in the mobile ecosystem, Palm would have been more successful with it.

There's been a ridiculous amount of consolidation in the platform space. We've seen Symbian, MeeGo, Windows Mobile, Palm OS, and webOS all go away. In their place, we have Android, BlackBerry OS, iOS, and Windows Phone. The market is having a hard enough time supporting these four, as BlackBerry and Windows Phone are struggling up against Android and iOS. What use is webOS at the moment? Though I don't doubt the creative uses to which the open source community will put it, unless it gets major backing from a hardware vendor (something it has already lost) it doesn't have a significant chance of re-entering the market.

Is A Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet On The Horizon?

BY E.D. Kain.

Samsung's giant Galaxy Note smartphone has been described as a ‘phoneblet' thanks to its massive 5.4" screen.

The innovate smartphone comes with an S Pen stylus, allowing you to take notes or draw sketches directly onto your phone.

And while the big screen may have some downsides when it comes to actually talking on the phone, if rumors are true it's going to be downright tiny compared to the Galaxy Note 10.1.

That is, if there's going to be a tablet version of the not-yet-released smartphone.

While it may be a mistake, Slashgear also points to a casting call for an actor to star in the Galaxy Note 10.1 commercial. Though there's been no official confirmation that a Note tablet is on the way, this is looking like more than just idle speculation.

While I think the Galaxy Note smartphone looks awesome, I still wonder if there's a market for such a large screen. On the other hand, the 10.1 version would be perfect. The extra screen real estate will make the tablet an even better medium for artists and other creative types.

Now I just need to find a way to get to Barcelona at the end of this month for Mobile World Congress 2012.

 

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Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:31:00 -0800 HP's Whitman Slags Android to Pump WebOS http://sunbattery.posterous.com/hps-whitman-slags-android-to-pump-webos http://sunbattery.posterous.com/hps-whitman-slags-android-to-pump-webos

HP's Whitman Slags Android to Pump WebOS

By Eric Smalley.

Sometimes, when you're down and fighting your way back to your feet, you've got to throw elbows. Or, if your opponents aren't in range, sling FUD.

On Wednesday, at a meeting of the company's channel partners in Las Vegas, HP CEO Meg Whitman talked up Open WebOS, the company's newly open sourced mobile operating system. But she also took a moment to stir up a batch of fear, uncertainty, and doubt about Google's Android. The mobile operating system "may end up being a closed system with their purchase of Motorola," she said. Whitman also described Android as "remarkably fragmented."

The concern about Google's Motorola acquisition is nothing new, and it may be much ado about nothing. Google announced its intention to purchase Motorola in August, and the acquisition was briefly back in the headlines this week when U.S. and European regulators approved the deal.

According to Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman-Epps, Google has a vast and growing business that involves distributing Android and other services to many outside phone manufacturers. Whitman's remarks are simply raising old concerns about the Google Motorola merger, she says. Little has changed, and Google has shown no indication that it will favor Motorola over its other partners. "There's too much at stake for Google," Rotman-Epps says.

A Google spokesperson pointed to the company's FAQ about the Motorola acquisition: "Android absolutely will remain open-source. It's in our interest to have as many Android partners (OEMs) as possible."

Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin dismissed the idea that Android could become closed. "First, Google has been a wildly good open source citizen. They are responsible for amazing amounts of useful code being out there for everyone to use," he says. "Second, Android is wildly successful right now so it doesn't make a lot of sense for Google to mess with that success. Why fix what isn't broken?"

Strategically, Whitman's rhetoric is an attempt to position WebOS as a viable alternative to Android. Whitman's remarks follow last month's release of HP's roadmap for taking WebOS open source. Open WebOS 1.0 is scheduled to be released in September. Establishing Open WebOS is likely to take two to four years, according to Whitman.

One of the first milestones on the road map is this week's release of the WebOS open source project governance model. The WebOS project is modeled on the Apache project: WebOS will be licensed under the Apache license. If the WebOS project evolves according to plan, it will be more open than Android. The WebOS governance model allows independent people promoted by merit to branch and merge code in the open. Initially, however, only HP will be allowed to "commit" code.

The Open WebOS project follows HP's failure to make headway against Android and Apple's iOS with its proprietary WebOS platform. HP wrote off $3.3 billion in 2011 for winding down the WebOS device business. That's 2.5 times as much as the company paid to acquire WebOS creator Palm.

HP is clearly looking to leverage the open version of the operating system. Even if WebOS fails to gain traction with hardware OEMs and app developers, HP can use the operating system to avoid relying on platforms owned by other companies, says IDC's Al Hilwa. HP is taking the open source project seriously, he says. "They appear to be conducting a thorough [intellectual property] scrub to avoid many of the issues with Android and seem intent on a more open governance model."

Of course, there's no guarantee that an open WebOS will be any more successful than its proprietary predecessor. Even if it ends up being a more open operating system than Android, it's not clear why WebOS would be better for OEMs, says Rotman-Epps. "I don't know that openness in itself is a virtue for making products with efficiency and scale."

 

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:15:00 -0800 Google's Bouncer For Android Shows Malware Apps the Door http://sunbattery.posterous.com/googles-bouncer-for-android-shows-malware-app http://sunbattery.posterous.com/googles-bouncer-for-android-shows-malware-app

Google's Bouncer For Android Shows Malware Apps the Door

By Kate Freeman, VIA:mashable.com.

Bouncer scanning software, developed by Google, is designed to search the Android market for software that could be malicious, the company announced Thursday on its blog.

With the success of Android this year, the company says it wants to protect its many users and their devices from harm.

"Device activations grew 250% year-on-year, and the total number of app downloads from Android Market topped 11 billion," Hiroshi Lockheimer, VP of engineering, wrote on the Google Mobile Blog. "As the platform continues to grow, we're focused on bringing you the best new features and innovations - including in security."

Bouncer will scan current and new applications, plus developer accounts. The blog post explained how the service will function.

"Here's how it works: once an application is uploaded, the service immediately starts analyzing it for known malware, spyware and trojans. It also looks for behaviors that indicate an application might be misbehaving, and compares it against previously analyzed apps to detect possible red flags. We actually run every application on Google's cloud infrastructure and simulate how it will run on an Android device to look for hidden, malicious behavior. We also analyze new developer accounts to help prevent malicious and repeat-offending developers from coming back."

Bouncer was tested in 2011 and comparing the first half of the year to the second, Google Mobile reported a 40% decrease in malicious downloads.

Google says from the beginning, Android was designed with security in mind. And, although a company can't prevent malware, it can control the amount of damage those threats can cause with a dynamic security plan.

Some of Android's core security features are:

Sandboxing: The Android platform uses a technique called "sandboxing" to put virtual walls between applications and other software on the device. So, if you download a malicious application, it can't access data on other parts of your phone and its potential harm is drastically limited.

Permissions: Android provides a permission system to help you understand the capabilities of the apps you install, and manage your own preferences. That way, if you see a game unnecessarily requests permission to send SMS, for example, you don't need to install it.

Malware removal: Android is designed to prevent malware from modifying the platform or hiding from you, so it can be easily removed if your device is affected. Android Market also has the capability of remotely removing malware from your phone or tablet, if required.

Google's long been fine-tuning its security features for its various products. Although in the past Google's products have clashed with that of other mobile service providers due to security concerns.

Are you an Android user? What do you think about Bouncer? Tell us in the comments.

----------------

Devs, start your compilers: Peek offers free/cheap devices to hackers

BY MICHAEL CRIDE.

If there's one thing the Android development community can't resist, it's a cheap mod platform. The Nook Color and (eventually) the HP TouchPad both owe their legacies to budget-conscious Android users looking for something to mod. The latest platform for cheap hacking might just be the Peek, a single-function device built for SMS on the cheap. The company is going out of business, but The Verge reports that CEO Amol Sarva wants to give the thousands of unsold units to hackers, hoping that "maybe somebody can build something great". At least one member of the Reddit Android section has the idea of porting Android to the device - a familiar rallying cry.

For those who are unfamiliar with Peek: it's a small BlackBerry-style gadget that's built for text messaging and email, and nothing else. The single-purpose Peek was sold for less than $100 and used cheap service without contracts as a hook for those who needed to stay connected without the use of a phone. The hardware is pretty bare-bones, but includes a full QWERTY keyboard, GSM connection, side-mounted scroll wheel and 2.5-inch 320 x 240 display - not that much smaller than a lot of cheap Android phones, though it's unfortunately not touch-enabled. Peek worked with a variety of email services, including POP3, IMAP and Exchange.

Can any of the Peek devices run Android? It's hard to say. Getting the hardware itself to boot a different operating system wouldn't be that difficult, but according to the Wikipedia page, the Peek's processor is a mere 100mHz and the storage space is a measly 8 megabytes. It would be a challenge for even the most talented Android ROM developer to get Android to fit on the device, to say nothing of it running properly. The Peek has no expandable storage, so getting it to hold more data would require some hardware modifications. Still, if anyone can do it, Android modders can.

 

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:13:00 -0800 Android Fragmentation Not So Serious: Localytics http://sunbattery.posterous.com/android-fragmentation-not-so-serious-localyti http://sunbattery.posterous.com/android-fragmentation-not-so-serious-localyti

Android Fragmentation Not So Serious: Localytics

By: Clint Boulton, VIA:eweek.com.

Google's Android operating system is regularly blasted for fragmentation. It won't be mistaken for Apple iOS, but it might not be as bad as we originally thought.

Much of the negative conversation concerning Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platform is predicated on the fact that it's fragmented.

Specifically, the concern is that there too many operating system builds spanning Android 2.0 to Android 4.0, too many devices and handset makers clogging an already crowded mobile market.

While it's not common to hear Average Joe Consumer complain about having too much choice, or even the occasional broken app that works on one OS build but not the other, mobile app developers have expressed concern about their ability to write for the platform and make money.

Yet Localytics in January collected data that shows developers shouldn't be as concerned as we all thought. The mobile analytics specialist said Android devices using applications with its analytics software have many specifications in common.

For one, 73 percent of Android handsets tracked by Localytics run Android 2.3 "Gingerbread," the penultimate platform. That number should shift as more users buy phones based on the latest Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" operating system. We certainly saw this trend when Android 2.2 "Froyo," the OS leader for a good part of 2010, gave way to Gingerbread. And yet, 23 percent of user sessions are still running Froyo.

"Between the two, Android developers can be confident that they only need to actively target two Android OS builds in order to achieve 96 percent compatibility with the Android ecosystem,"Localytics concluded in a Feb. 1 blog post about its results.

To address the concern that Android developers should be concerned about writing code to fit varying screen sizes and resolutions, Localytics said 41 percent of all app sessions came from Android devices with 4.3 inch screens, which include the Motorola Droid X lines, as well as the HTC Thunderbolt and Samsung Droid Charge.

Next up were 4-inch screens at 22 percent. These models include the original Motorola Atrix and Samsung Galaxy S line. Also, 800 x 480 pixels accounted for 62 percent of resolution specs, per app sessions.

"For both screen size and resolution, Android developers have more to deal with than iOS developers, thanks to Apple's single handset form factor," Localytics noted. "However, with five options accounting for more than 90% of all Android app usage, the fragmentation is not particularly daunting.

Moreover, the analytics firm said Android tablets showed similar patterns, with nearly three quarters of all Android tablet usage from devices with the same specs, including the popular Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Kindle Fire, Barnes and Noble's Nook e-reader and Samsung Galaxy Tab. Most of the Android tablets run either Gingerbread (71 percent), or "Honeycomb" (21 percent).

Localytics' point is that while fragmentation exists in Android where it may not for iOS development, it's not as serious as people have made it out to be. Perhaps this is true, and Ice Cream Sandwich will help fuse the fork Google created by splitting smartphone and tablets into two distinct branches a year ago this month.

But it still doesn't ameliorate the fact the handset OEMs and carriers decide what OS version goes on their handsets and tablets and that app developers have to write several versions of their app to work on different devices.

Worse is that OEMs and carriers withhold OS upgrades when they're available. While it's understandable that carriers and OEMs wait to push out OS upgrades until they've been properly tested, it still can lead to awkward moments.

Such as when friends with Android phones made by different OEMs served by the same carrier realize one has a fresher OS build than the other.

Android, iOS win Q4 market share in U.S. from BlackBerry, Microsoft, Symbian

By Dan Seifert, VIA:mobileburn.com.

It has released its report on the mobile phone market in the U.S. for Q4 2011, and from the looks of things, Android and iOS were the winning OSes this quarter, at the expense of BlackBerry, Microsoft, and Symbian.

Android's market share increased by 2.5 percentage points, landing at 47.3 percent, while iOS grew by 2.2 points to 29.6 percent. RIM's BlackBerry platform fell 2.9 points to 16 percent, while Microsoft (including both the older Windows Mobile platform as well as Windows Phone) and Symbian fell 0.9 and 0.4 points, respectively.

Looking at overall mobile phone manufacturers, Apple was the only one to make forward progress in the U.S., as it increased its fourth-place market share 2.2 points to 12.4 percent. Samsung held flat at 25.3 percent, leading the market, while number 2 LG and number 3 Motorola lost 0.6 and 0.5 points, respectively. Fifth-place RIM's market share dropped 0.4 points to 6.7 percent.

It is interesting to see that despite Samsung's record holiday quarter, it was not able to increase its market share at all. Also interesting to note is that while Android has a commanding lead in the smartphone OS space and is continuing to grow, it is taking share from RIM, Microsoft, and Nokia's Symbian, but not from Apple.

 

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:10:00 -0800 Does iOS Crash More Than Android? A Data Dive http://sunbattery.posterous.com/does-ios-crash-more-than-android-a-data-dive http://sunbattery.posterous.com/does-ios-crash-more-than-android-a-data-dive

Does iOS Crash More Than Android? A Data Dive

By Tomio Geron, Forbes Staff, VIA:forbes.com.

Ever wonder why certain mobile apps you use crash so much?

It turns out there are many possible reasons. And it can vary particularly depending on whether you are using an Apple iOS device such as an iPhone or iPad, or an Android device.

One of the reasons for crashes is the proliferation of mobile operating systems on iOS and Android. As Apple and Google have released more new operating systems, each with multiple updates, app developers face more operating systems to test apps on. In data that mobile app monitoring startup Crittercism compiled for crashes between December 1 and 15, there were at least 23 different iOS operating systems that crashed and 33 Android operating systems that crashed. (See the graphs above.) Note that the graphs that separate out Android and iOS show these number of operating systems and the graph that combines both iOS and Android shows less¨C22 iOS and 17 Android.

The largest proportion of crashes from both iOS and Android platforms were on iOS 5.01 with 28.64% of overall crashes (in a normalized data set). That makes sense since iOS 5 was still relatively new at that time and many apps still need to work out the kinks with the new OS. But there are also older iOS versions that have a significant proportion of crashes. For example, iOS 4.2.10 had 12.64% of crashes, iOS 4.3.3 had 10.66% and iOS 4.1 had 8.24%. One other point that this made clear to me is that many people apparently take their time updating their iPhone software or never update it at all.

The data raises two main questions for me: why do these operating systems crash so much, and does iOS crash more than Android? On the first question of why apps crash, the reasons are many, says Crittercism CEO Andrew Levy. This can be due to hardware issues, such as the use of location or GPS services or cameras; it could be due to the Internet connection, that is, how a phone connects to 3G or WiFi, or that the device is not connected to the Internet at a certain moment, or that something happens during the switch between 3G and WiFi. There could also be issues with language support on certain devices. There can also be memory problems if an app uses too much memory.

Problems can also occur with third-party services that developers use in their apps, from analytics to advertising systems. For example, there were reports that Apple's iAds system gave some developers problems if they did not adhere to certain standards. "It can be a mix of both hardware and software issues that developers may or may not be responding to," Levy says.

In addition, developers also constantly create new updates to their apps to create new features or fix bugs. But again, people often don't update their apps¨Cjust as they don't update their operating system. (Android, unlike iOS, allows users to auto-update their apps, which can eliminate some of the problems.) So developers often test all previous versions of their apps with each version of the different operating systems. "The permutations go on forever," Levy says. "That's a large reason for creating our platform." Particularly with a new OS, developers have to test their app to make sure it still works on the new OS. Often they will seek to test their apps in a test environment, but often that isn't possible.

The Apple iOS operating system crashes accounted for more of the crashes in Crittercism's data than did Android-based phones, as mentioned above. In the pie graph "Crashes by OS Version Normalized" you can see that iOS accounted for close to three-fourths of the crashes, with Android making up the rest. But is that just because Crittercism has more iOS phones in its network? Crittercism parsed some data to answer that question.

Crittercism analyzed a total of more than 214 million app launches from November and December 2011 from apps that use its service (see graph at top of this article). There were about 3 times more app launches for iOS that Crittercism analyzed, about 162 million to 52 million. But the analysis examined crashes as a percentage of each app launch, so this data takes out the issue of there being more iOS than Android apps. In other words for each iOS app and each Android app how often percentage-wise do they crash?

In the top quartile of apps, Android apps crashed 0.15% of the time they launched, while top quartile iOS apps crashed 0.51% of the time. In the second quartile of apps, Android apps crashed 0.73% of the time and iOS apps crashed 1.47% of their launches. In the third quartile of apps, Android apps crashed 2.97% of the time, while iOS apps crashed 3.66% of the time.

So what does all this data mean? On a basic level, you can see that iOS apps crashed more than Android apps during this time period. But Crittercism's Levy cautions that this doesn't necessarily mean that overall iOS apps crash more than Android apps. That's because Apple had recently released a new version iOS 5 in October. Android's new Ice Cream Sandwich operating system (Android 4.0), meanwhile, had not been widely released on phones yet at the time of this study. "I expect as Ice Cream Sandwich just launched and the new Nexus S phone launched (during the study), we'll expect the same situation to occur (with Android) as what happened (with iOS)," Levy says.

Still, the data shows that apps on iOS did crash substantially more than Android apps. Anecdotally, I know that certain apps I use on my iPhone crash and they crash often. Will that change as Ice Cream Sandwich rolls out and as more developers improve on iOS 5? We'll see.

One other thing about the data: in the best apps, that is, the top quartile, the apps crashed much less than in the third quartile. Levy emphasized that that shows the difference that developers can make with their apps by analyzing the data and improving their apps. Splitting up the data by quartiles also removes apps with massive user bases that can skew the averages.

My own point: when you get to the top apps, Android's lower crash rate than iOS makes less of a difference because they are both well below 1%. However, there was a bigger difference between iOS and Android crashes in the top quartile of apps than in the third quartile. In other words, the best apps in Android crashed about one third as many times as the best iOS apps, while the second best quartile Android apps crashed about half as much as comparable iOS apps, and in the quartile, the difference between the two operatings systems was even less. So the very top Android apps are achieving a crash rate that, at least in this time period, the best iOS apps can't match. Why that is, I'm not entirely clear.

However, Android, it should be noted, allows developers to push updates faster than Apple. With Android developers can just send an update to its code, which can show up almost in real-time. But for iOS it can takes days or a week for an update to show up. That means there can be more crashes while those updates are waiting to happen. Whereas with Android, presumably if developers know there's a bug they can immediately fix it.

One final piece of interesting data from Crittercism: The performance of apps is not only different on various operating systems but also on different devices. About 74.41% of the iOS crashes Crittercism tracked were on the iPhone, 14.81% were on the iPod Touch, and 10.72% were on the iPad.

Crittercism, which is backed by Google Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, AngelPad, AOL Ventures, Opus Capital and Shasta Ventures, provides crash reporting to app developers. The company provides developers with a wide range of data besides the mobile device and operating system, including, for example, the length of time between when an app is loaded and when it crashes, or how a user is holding a phone¨Cportrait or landscape¨Cwhen it crashes. It can also help evaluate whether an app's own code has caused it to crash or whether a third party service SDK being used is causing the problem. This kind of data is important for helping developers plug all the holes in the landscape of operating systems. Clients using Crittercism include: Aston Martin Explore, Bullet Time and Hipster.

Protecting apps from crashes is not only important for app developers, who by definition live and die by the ability of their apps to work smoothly. Increasingly, many types of companies rely on apps to run their businesses, even if there isn't a large consumer user base using the apps. Banks have mobile apps that enable check deposits, sales people use apps in the field, and so on. "It's about protecting your brand," says Crittercism cofounder Rob Kwok. "More and more business-critical functions are moving to apps."

Crittercism is signing up a number of large customers to its platform as a result. The company has already ramped way up from the 214 million app launches that it monitored in this data from November and December. If you're hoping to end those annoying crashes on your phone or tablet, that should be welcome news.

 

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