I don’t really get why people that don’t like using their phones a lot would get a Windows Phone based on this, but it does hold a pertinent message, which is more than you can say for a normal day’s work at Microsoft Marketing.
Source: youtube.com
Apple on Antenna Issues
This letter was signed “Apple”, not “Steve”. Funny how that works, and concerning that AT&T’s network may be even worse in some places than we’ve been led to believe all this time. But hey, as long as the bars get taller, we’re in good shape.
Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars.
We are [adopting AT&T’s formula and] also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.
Source: Yahoo!
Apple Kicking Google Out of iWorld
I think Battelle is on the money here, and it’s sad.
I think this is shortsighted and wrong. I also think it’s classic Apple. It’s a re run of the Us vs. The World mentality that forced the Mac into a corner back in the late 1980s. This time, Google plays the role of Microsoft, but it really doesn’t matter. Apple won’t let anyone play in their iWorld who might pose a competitive threat. This is all we need now - a major platform war, with marketers and developers having to pick sides, cost of development, ad serving, analytics, and marketing services at least tripled (one process for Android, one for iPhone/Pad/Touch, one for Microsoft or Palm/HP or…. ). That’s not what the web is about. It’s disheartening.
Source: battellemedia.com
HP to Acquire Palm for $1.2 Billion | Business Wire
Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices. And, Palm possesses significant IP assets and has a highly skilled team…Advances in mobility are offering significant opportunities, and HP intends to be a leader in this market.
This is a fantastic move for HP, and breathes new life into webOS. The big loser here is Nokia, a company that’s disintegrating and isn’t even aware of it. webOS would’ve given them the platform they need to move forward.
Source: businesswire.com
AppleInsider | Apple to build 8-10M iPads in 2010, begins shipping preorders
In a new note to investors, analyst Katy Huberty with Morgan Stanley said suppliers for the iPad have currently forecast 2.5 million iPads to be shipped in the first three months of availability, from March to May. In all, Apple will ship between 8 million and 10 million by the end of 2010, suppliers said — a number much higher than the previous expectation of 5 million.
My forecast was for 1.5 million by the end of the first three months, and ten million by the end of the year. I think if Huberty’s right in the short-term, then she’s shallow on the long-run number. 2.5 million should convert to ~12 million units by the end of the year. The acceleration in sales is going to be incredible once the app scene picks up and provides a torrent of compelling reasons to own the device.
Source: appleinsider.com
Was it worth starting a fight with Apple to get beat 8 to 1?
(via appleinsider)
Source: images.appleinsider.com
AT&T Tops in 3G Wireless Testing
Ain’t that a kick in the head.
After registering the lowest average download speeds in our 3G performance tests last spring, AT&T’s network turned in download speeds that were 84 percent better than the numbers from eight months ago; in our latest tests, AT&T’s download speeds were 67 percent faster on average than those of the other three largest U.S. wireless providers — Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.
Source: MSNBC
Scientist: iPhone LCD Trumps Nexus One OLED
Interesting analysis by a professional display analyst:
Soneira said the Nexus One display is best-described as “punchy,” and he feels the AM-OLED screen comes across as more of a prototype than a final product.
I’d say that’s true of the Android platform across the board, including Nexus One, and not an issue only found in the displays. Not all kind words for Apple, though; it’s a very interesting piece overall.
Source: appleinsider.com
You want a “Giant iPhone”? iPad ain’t got nothin’ on Dell’s Mini 5.
(via Engadget)
iPhone, Android Wallpaper/Ringtone Wars Rage On
Android apparently leads iPhone 7-to-1 in wallpaper and ringtone downloads, according to some prestigious schmucks.
In its inaugural report on the behavior of its 30 million users, Myxer’s Boombox Report compares the traffic it’s getting from users of Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and Google’s (GOOG) Android devices. From 1 billion downloads over the last three months of 2009, Myxer discovered several trends that may or may not be significant:Visits from users on the Android operating system grew almost 350% from December 2008 to December 2009, compared to iPhone visits which grew 170% Roughly 70% of the ringtone downloads made by Android users, and 48% of downloads initiated by iPhone users, came from the Hip-Hop/R&B genre. In total, Myxer delivered seven times more downloads to Android devices than iPhone devices in Q4 2009.
This is terribly impressive, but here’s the problem: you can’t download ringtones directly to iPhone from their website even if users so chose. Ringtones can be made and imported to iPhone from either Mac or PC, or downloaded wirelessly through the iTunes Store. As for wallpapers, I guess Android wins there. So there’s that. I love reports like this, regardless of the companies or products, because they are based on such preposterous sample bases. Don’t believe every stat you read.
Apple responsible for 99.4% of mobile app sales in 2009
That’s compared to every other mobile platform. BREW, Symbian, Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile? All in the green spot. Yeah, I think we’re on the right horse in this race.
Source: Ars Technica
