Android Authority |
- A quarter of Americans own a tablet and one third own a tablet or an eBook reader
- LG to intro full HD displays for 5-inch phones and 7-inch tablets at CES 2013
- Best Android games of 2012 according to Google featured on Google Play
- Christmas Day 2012 boosts Android and iOS activations 2.5x higher than in 2011, totaling 17.4m
- AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 2 multi-window update now available
- Toshiba Excite 10 tablet users report getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade
- Galaxy Note 2 fun new ad shows the phone in its natural habitat: the office
- State of the mobile industry: Ecosystems
- Know Your Type: Tool for understanding your Enneagram type
- Toshiba’s new lens to allow refocusing of images taken from smartphones after they are shot
| A quarter of Americans own a tablet and one third own a tablet or an eBook reader Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:33 AM PST
With 19% of Americans owning an eBook reader (like a Kindle or Nook) but 25% owning a tablet it means that consumers have decided that multi-function devices (which can act as eBook readers as well as mobile Internet devices and games machines) are more preferable than just a simple eBook reader, even though tablets are at least double (or even three or four) times the price. A quick bit of maths also shows that many people own an eBook reader and a tablet which is to be expected as the reading experience on dedicated eBook readers, with their e-ink displays, is far superior to that of reading on a tablet. Also the ability to sync books and current locations across multiple devices including an eBook reader is brilliant. Whenever I am asked if it is worth buying an eBook reader as well as a tablet, I always advise yes. Most people are sold on the idea once I show them that you can sync the furthest page read and access all your books equally from the Kindle Android app and from the Kindle device. I always use this scenario: you are reading at home on your Kindle device, then you need to go out but while you are waiting for the bus/train/plane/coffee/wife etc you keep reading your book on your Android phone or tablet. Then when you get home and pick up the Kindle device it will move to the last page you read while you were out! Tablet adoption is soaring (it more than doubled over the last twelve months) which can only be good news for Android. With the persistent rumors of $99 devices coming from the likes of Google and Acer, 2013 could be the year of the tablet (assuming the devices are usable). Related Posts |
| LG to intro full HD displays for 5-inch phones and 7-inch tablets at CES 2013 Posted: 28 Dec 2012 02:01 AM PST
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) used to be the go-to place for manufacturers to showcase the latest and greatest Android phones and tablets, but in the past year or so, the likes of Samsung and HTC have taken their main spectacles elsewhere. Nevertheless, the upcoming CES 2013 still has some worthy gadgets to look forward to, particularly if you're keen on taking part in the 1080p display revolution. Here’s what LG plans to bring to the event. Although the world hasn't exactly warmed to LG's first 5-inch offering, the Optimus Vu, the Korean is reportedly set to debut a 5.5-inch phone in January. All we know of the device so far is that it'll sport a full HD screen (1,920 x 1,200 resolution) with 403 ppi. The yet-to-be-named device will be duking it out with other monster-sized phones, such as the 5.5-inch ZTE Grand S and the 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate. At CES, LG is likely to show off the 5.5-inch display, and possibly even launch the rumored phone. Finally getting the hint that some of the best-selling Android tablets in the market come in a 7-inch form factor, LG will introduce at CES a 7-inch display that will boast a 1080p resolution with 324 ppi, besting Nook HD's screen with its 1,440 x 900 resolution and 243 ppi density. Lastly, we also hear that LG is prepping a new 4.7-inch display that'll come with a 1mm thin bezel. A phone equipped with such a display would look like the Nexus 4 and the Optimus G, but most likely has a narrower body. Any of the devices above pique your interest? Related Posts |
| Best Android games of 2012 according to Google featured on Google Play Posted: 27 Dec 2012 09:44 PM PST
You turn to the list of the so-called best ones, of course. Google itself has put up its own official list titled, “Games We Love: Best Games of 2012.” The selection covers everything from strategy to shooters and even racing. The total number of games in the list is 12. Half of them are free, while half of the paid ones are available for under a buck. But the best part is, you may download and install each and every single one of them now, if you want to. And you don’t even have to make your way to Google Play to do it. Check out the direct links to download the best games of 2012 according to Google down below.
It’s also worth checking out the Best Apps of 2012. And if it’s available in your country, go see the list for Music and Movies as well. Related Posts
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| Christmas Day 2012 boosts Android and iOS activations 2.5x higher than in 2011, totaling 17.4m Posted: 27 Dec 2012 09:37 PM PST
Christmas Day is obviously the biggest day of the year when it comes to smartphone activations. However, this year, we saw an enormous increase in activations compared to last year. On Christmas Day alone, there were 17.4 million activations, which is 2.5x the number we saw a year ago. This points to our society's overwhelming shift towards smartphones and tablets in the past few years. Flurry Analytics, the group responsible for the data, achieves these statements by monitoring 250,000 apps. This monitoring gives them access to data that includes about 90 percent of all activated devices. The data usually checks out when compared to announced figures put out by Google and Apple, but if it doesn't, the group adjusts the data accordingly. To really put the popularity of device activation on Christmas Day into perspective, Flurry tracked activations throughout the entire month. The results showed that on Christmas Day, activations exceeded the rest of the month by 332 percent. Consequently, a similar increase in app downloads occurred, with app downloads on Christmas Day being 112 percent higher than app downloads throughout the rest of the month
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises was that on Christmas Day, there were actually more tablets activated than smartphones. This is interesting because generally, speaking, tablets are adopted as second devices to accompany smartphones. This translates to prove that more existing users were updating their arsenals as opposed to new users trying out smart-devices for the first time. It also shows that Google's and Apple's latest tablet pushes have been working.
When all was said and done, the biggest winners were iPads and Kindle Fires. While some may think this is surprising due to Google's latest Nexus releases, it really isn't. This is due to the fact that the majority of Google's Nexus line was sold out leading up to and all the way through the holiday season. Related Posts |
| AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 2 multi-window update now available Posted: 27 Dec 2012 09:29 PM PST
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is fitted with many interesting and useful software features that can’t be found outside the Galaxy line. A great example of this is the multi-window feature, which as its name suggests, allows users to run different apps through multiple windows all on the same screen. In the U.S., it has already been added to the Note 2 through Sprint and T-Mobile. And now, it has finally been made available to users under AT&T as well. It appears that AT&T has fulfilled its promise of rolling out the multi-window software update to users of the Galaxy Note 2 as earlier reported. This small update is now available for download over the air, and according to the official statement, allows users to “divide the screen into two active "windows" creating a split screen that enables fluid multitasking between applications.” AT&T has still not announced when it plans to upgrade the Samsung Galaxy Note 2′s software to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. And if you’re a Note 2 user under AT&T, this can be a little frustrating. But at least now you’ve got the multi-window feature to tide you over until such time that the next “office upgrade” becomes available. Related Posts |
| Toshiba Excite 10 tablet users report getting Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade Posted: 27 Dec 2012 09:18 PM PST
Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Users of the Excite 10 have also reported receiving the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean upgrade on their own tablets as part of an ongoing software upgrade rollout that started earlier this week. Apparently, Toshiba first released Jelly Bean for the Excite 10 in some parts of the U.S. over the weekend, with availability coming to other regions as the days went by. And the upgrade rollout is still ongoing. It is expected to go on for about 3-4 weeks. The Jelly Bean upgrade brings a number of new features, UI enhancements, and speed improvements that are bound to make the Excite 10 a much better tablet all around. If you own and use this particular Toshiba tablet yourself, simply check your device’s Settings menu for information on the availability of the upgrade software in your area. That shouldn’t really be necessary though, as Toshiba is continuously rolling out the new software to users automatically. Related Posts |
| Galaxy Note 2 fun new ad shows the phone in its natural habitat: the office Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:59 PM PST
Over the past few years, Samsung has been improving its marketing efforts in general and its commercials in particular. We hope that the recent departure of Samsung USA’s marketing boss won’t spell the end of Sammy’s hilarious, yet sometimes controversial ads. Here’s the latest ad for one of Samsung’s flagship devices, the Galaxy Note 2. The Korean company heavily promotes the Note 2 to business users, so naturally, this ad shows how the supersized phone can be used by mobile workers for… just about everything. Worry not, the minute-long clip isn’t all work and no play. Check it out below. Related Posts |
| State of the mobile industry: Ecosystems Posted: 27 Dec 2012 02:42 PM PST
As we all know, the mobile landscape is stiff with competing ecosystems. With Android and Apple leading the way, Windows is intent on making a strong showing. Amazon has their own ecosystem, but can something so tightly controlled be a long-term success? While we may never see a truly dominant ecosystem, the new battleground that is mobile will be an important one to gain the lead. Google v. Apple v. Microsoft v. AmazonAppleWhen the smartphone game started, it started with Apple. They released the iPhone, and the world went bonkers. It was the coolest thing anyone had ever seen. Now we have a slew of options, and each tie into a competing ecosystem. With each having their own merits and pitfalls, the choice is yours… but which one has the goods and which one(s) are just along for the ride? Apple has a very protected and coddled iOS system, and they do a wonderful job of making sure that their services work seamlessly with their devices. Considering they were the first wildly popular ecosystem for mobile, it stands to reason that they will have a bulk of the market share. As the world tilts toward mobility and accessibility, the ecosystems must adjust. Apple's iOS has long been a standard for the end user experience, and should be applauded for what they accomplish. Does that mean Apple is the best because they have a proprietary system that works well with their devices? Not at all.
MicrosoftLet's remember that in terms of smartphones and ecosystems… Windows beat everyone to the punch. Their very popular Samsung Blackjack came out a full year before the first iPhone. It was a good phone with a bad operating system. Windows was a bit like a dog chasing cars back then; they weren’t really sure why they were doing it or how to do it best, but they knew they had to. That phone, and all Windows phones until recently, were little more than a way to sync those pesky Microsoft Office files to your device. Until Windows Phone 7, all a Windows phone did was force a desktop UI onto a tiny screen, and it just didn’t work. What Microsoft lost was time, and valuable market share. Had they embraced mobile all those years ago, we'd probably be talking about the next Windows phone rather than the new Android iteration. What the iPhone built, and Android took to the next level, Windows will never get back — the experience. Had Windows succeeded, we may never know what an app is. The world may be stuck in that mid 90's time-warp of file folders and USB syncing. Microsoft doesn’t really have an ecosystem, because they don't take mobile seriously. They are making the same mistakes they always made in trying to make a phone use an OS designed for the desktop. It just isn’t smooth or friendly, and offers very little. While Windows 8 is their best effort yet, it's still buggy and lacks widespread support from the ever-important third party developers.
AmazonAmazon has a very popular device line in the Kindle family, which is tied firmly to their ecosystem. They took a page from Apple, and a severely hijacked OS from Android. They have a controlled environment with a lot of things to do, and their media library is truly amazing. Cheap devices, and a lot of stuff to do on them… it sounds utopian. What Utopia is controlled so tightly, though? You are slave to the Amazon world, and while it has a lot to offer, it falls short in many respects. You can't get access to many Google services, and many developers don't write apps for it. The devices are meant to get you Amazon services. It really only shines when you have an amazon Prime membership, and now you're talking about an annual maintenance cost for this ecosystem to be viable.
Android has a rapidly growing fan base and with good reason. Android is tied into Google services, and those services are free. You don't pay anything other than the cost of the device, but what you get in return is truly special. The access is nearly unlimited, and most developers have come to embrace the Android platform. While you don't get Play Store on a Kindle, you do get Amazon apps on an Android device. The choice to be open source was a good one for Android and Google. While being open is a great idea, it has it's drawbacks. You have what could be too many choices. Let's take something as simple as file storage. I could choose to utilize the Google Drive app that came on my Nexus device, or download something like Dropbox. I can also utilize Microsoft’s SkyDrive, or Amazon's Cloud drive system. The list goes on, and it's the gift and the curse. While people have the freedom to choose what really works for them, they can get confused and upset at the myriad of choices. While I may be a fairly savvy user, many are not and need to be guided. Fortunately, Google recognizes this and has taken steps to ease people into Android starting with the Ice Cream Sandwich iteration of Android. Since then, users have had a much easier time of setting up their devices and shown all their devices and the Android ecosystem has to offer. Even now, Google offers "music matching" for those users switching to Android from another operating system. You simply let the program access your files, and it finds the matching music file on Play Store.
Media content — who brings the goods?We want to listen to music, watch movies, and read books on our devices. Our phones and tablets are entertainment devices, and we want to take advantage as best we can. An ecosystem is often only as good as the media we can enjoy on it. While Apple has long been the standard here, Amazon has made a very strong showing. Google's Play Store is increasing content every day, but still has a lot of ground to make up. Amazon has what many consider the best overall selection of media. From music to movies, books to magazines, they have a great all-around selection. While iTunes may trump them in music or magazines, Amazon has a very robust library of media to suit everyone's needs. Failing to find what you need on either platform is difficult, and that says quite a bit for how seriously they both take their ecosystems. What Play Store may be lacking in media content, they make up for in apps that access content. Aside from movies, you can do anything else Amazon has on offer with an Amazon app from the Play Store. If you want to watch a movie on your Android device, there is always Netflix or the limited (but growing) selection on the Play Store. There is a Kindle app for Windows 8, but it's buggy. Windows does have their Xbox utility for media, which has a fair sampling of movies and music to choose from. You can expect Microsoft to continue to build on that platform, as Xbox continues to be a cornerstone of their strategy. The wildly popular gaming platform isn't going anywhere, but hasn’t caught up to the mobile landscape yet. There are a few games for mobile available via Xbox, but nothing of note.
AppsAndroid has really come through in the past year or so with apps. The open source platform is gaining ground every day, and developers are starting to embrace it as a viable source of revenue and exposure. While we used to wait for iOS apps to be ported over (often poorly) to the Android platform, it is now treated as on par with iOS in the app landscape. While Android still waits for some apps to make the move from iOS, there are plenty of offerings that come to Android first. You'll be hard-pressed to go wanting for an app in the Play Store. Amazon has a nice lineup of apps, though usually only the most popular of Android apps are available. If you really like Angry Birds, Amazon is your place. If you like Google services like Drive or Maps, you will be seriously disappointed. Doing a search for many Google services leads to an app I’ve never heard of. I trust Google stuff… I know Google stuff. Using MapQuest instead of Google maps? No thanks, Amazon. While it feels awkward to make excuses for Windows, considering they had every advantage to get a handle on this mobile thing years ago, it's worth noting that they are new to the mobile scene in terms of apps. Their app offering is currently pretty bad. The world operates on apps, and Windows simply doesn’t have them yet. Apple may still rule the app landscape with just about every offering under the sun, but Android is a close second. Amazon and Windows have yet to truly embrace apps, which could prove fatal when competing against the likes of Apple or Android.
Who controls the market?The quick answer is a five letter word I don't like saying. The long answer has to do with the rest of the world, and where they stand in this landscape. While the United States may be the epicenter for data consumption, the rest of the world deserves just as much respect. If we're truly a global economy, then we need to show a little love to our friends across the various ponds. As an example, let's take a look at Play Store. The UK Play Store is just now getting magazines. In a normal discussion on Google+, you will find people from all over the world who simply want to be able to enjoy the same services we do stateside. Services like Field Trip or Play Movies don't work in most other countries… even in Canada, which I don't even consider a different country. Why is that? Simply put, it's a big job and they were taking care of their home turf first. Android and Amazon are making strides in embracing the world market, but let's be honest in that Apple once again has a foothold. Apple has been in the game longer and had a large head start on everyone, and they do a wonderful job of embracing other markets. While I don't think that anyone is necessarily being ignored globally, there is definitely plenty of room for all ecosystems to stake their claim. The world is clamoring for the services they read so much about. The first ecosystem to truly embrace emerging markets will be the one that reigns supreme. If we are going to consider who controls the market, we have to consider who has the strongest current representation outside of the US… and that's Apple. With a healthy head start on the rest of the industry, it's no surprise that they have the best showing, but even at that… nobody has true worldwide domination. Apple may have a lead, but by no means a stranglehold.
Can Google win?In any competitive arena, our mind tells us someone must win. In this scenario, that's not necessarily positive. With competition comes innovation, and innovation has got us to the point we're at now. If any one ecosystem were to reign supreme, it would be devastating to the future of mobile technology. What's more important to consider is whether or not the leader of the pack is doing the right things for the industry. If those worldwide sales figures hold steady, Google and Android will retain a firm grasp on the market which gives them the best implemented ecosystem. So, how are they doing it? Again, an open platform really rules the day here. Google has many partners, and those partners have used Android to build their own platforms. Two of the largest manufacturers, Samsung and HTC, have their own versions of Android on each of their phones. While those are altered versions, they are still Android. In Samsung, Android has a strong ally with which to partner for devices. Google has a variety of services, all free to use for Android users. There is no charge for Maps or Navigation, Drive or YouTube. Everything is free to use, and while this is clearly a means to gain followers, it's also an example of Google giving freely to it's users. Where other ecosystems may charge for cloud storage or data backup, Google provides all that free of charge. ConclusionIf we're considering things as they are this very minute, Apple is the market leader. They had a healthy lead on all competitors, and it shows with their market share. Android, however, is set to take that title away very soon. Amazon and Windows both have very decent ecosystems, but their global implementation is poor. Where Amazon and Apple hold massive leads (media), Android is making serious strides. All ecosystems continue to improve all the time. Where an ecosystem wins is across multiple platforms, and that's a large reason Apple is leading the way. Their OS iterations for mobile and desktop are similar and work flawlessly together. Amazon has the most ground to make up here, and it really is their Achilles’ heel. Aside from the Kindle devices, Amazon has nothing else in the way of presence. Microsoft is taking a page from the Apple book and utilizing the PC market to have a cross platform OS. While a noble idea, it's just not very good. Microsoft just can't seem to truly understand that a phone is not a computer. In consideration of platforms, and having a presence on all fronts, Android is in the best position to overthrow Apple. While it is a daunting task, consider the one thing you're probably doing right now. More than likely, you're using a web browser to read this story. Chrome is fast becoming the most popular web browser on Earth, and that's a very important step towards ecosystem domination. If you can impress with a browser, people will become interested in your other services. The Chrome browser is available on any Apple or Windows computer, subversively eroding their respective user bases and giving Google a cross-platform presence. If we're revisiting this in one year's time, we will undoubtedly be discussing Google's meteoric rise to the top. They are poised to assume a leadership role, and rightfully so. Their ecosystem is quickly growing, and has the largest upside. The Android ecosystem openly embraces new and different things, and that gives us choices. Even if you use Android wholly, you still have a myriad of choices you simply don't get anywhere else. Android really is the best of all worlds in the ecosystem comparison, and that's why it will come out on top. Related Posts |
| Know Your Type: Tool for understanding your Enneagram type Posted: 27 Dec 2012 10:00 AM PST
Understanding human behavior is a very important factor not only in business but also in relationships. It helps you adjust to your environment and blend into your corporate ecosystem or community better. It also makes it easier to know what to say and how to say things during difficult situations. Yet, understanding behavior isn’t all that easy. It becomes even more difficult to create a holistic explanation of behavior without having to mix and match some personality theories. However, if you’re interested to know your personality type without having to sign up for a day course in Personality Psychology, then I have the perfect app for you. Know Your Type by Ginger Lapid-Bogda is an educational app that can help you better understand yourself. The app is straightforward, easy to use, and easy to navigate. It features the Enneagram, a personality typology that introduces nine personality types. Know Your Type will help you understand what the Enneagram is and how it works, as well as help you find out what personality type you have. You also get to see each type’s strengths and weaknesses. Check if you’re a Perfectionist, a Friend, a Performer, the Unique One, an Expert, a Questioner, an Energizer, a Rock, or a Harmonizer by selecting the Find your Type option. You can check out the Diagram option to see a visual representation of the Enneagram and read about each type. Other than knowing your personality type, the app also gives you tips on how to reduce stress and improve how you interact with others. The Excel at Interactions option lets you see the similarities and opposing qualities you have with other types. It will even give you tips on how you can better get along with people of other types. If you want to see the different types in action, you can also check out videos of individuals with different personality types describe their characteristics and behavior. If you’re interested to know some famous people who have the same personality type as you do, you can check out the Famous People option. And, to help you keep track of your friends’ and colleagues’ (or even your boss’) personality types, you can add them to the apps’ People I Know option. You can also test yourself on how much you know about each personality type. In addition, the app refers you to additional resources if you’re interested to learn more about the Enneagram and how you can use this personality typology to help you interact with others more effectively. It’s important to remember, however, that like most personality theories, may they be esoteric or academic, the Enneagram may not always predict human reactions in a very accurate manner. It is a tool to help you understand yourself in the context of your immediate society. If you’re looking for a quick way to start understanding yourself during the holidays, you can try the Know Your Type app for US$3.00. It’s a nice holiday gift for yourself or your friends who want to go soul searching. Related Posts |
| Toshiba’s new lens to allow refocusing of images taken from smartphones after they are shot Posted: 27 Dec 2012 09:57 AM PST
Have you ever wanted to have the functionality of a Lytro Light Field Camera on your mobile device? Well, if you have, then you will be pleased to know that at least one company is working on making it a reality. According to the Asahi Shimbun, Toshiba is working on an image sensor for smartphones and tablets that will allow users to refocus on images that have been already shot. While the Lytro camera was a big device utilizing a sensor capable of providing the same functionality, in a smartphone, this would be a real breakthrough. The module for such a camera that Toshiba is said to be working on is in the shape of a cube which measures 10mm. The small size makes it suitable for handheld devices. While the module is 10mm, the image sensor itself is 5mm x 7mm and consists of over 500,000 miniature lenses. Each of these half a million miniature lenses capture a slightly different photo and all of these photos are combined at the end. This allows the image to be refocused after it has been taken using special software.
Right now, Toshiba is looking for smartphone and tablet manufacturers to integrate its new lens into their future devices. The company hopes to commercialize its new lens by the end of 2013. While we are not sure whether this new kind of lens will be a success when used in smartphones, it is certainly a nice feature which should be included in today’s devices, which are increasingly replacing digital cameras. Perhaps one day we will see a Galaxy smartphone or a Nexus tablet with this new kind of lens and be able to refocus images taken from our Android devices on the fly. Related Posts |
New research just released has confirmed what everyone already knew, that eBook reading is on the up, printed book reading is declining and that the tablet has entered the mainstream. In terms of actual numbers it looks like this: the number of people who own either a tablet or eBook reader grew from 18% in late 2011 to 33% in late 2012. While the number of Americans who own a tablet (including Android and Apple devices) is some 25% of the population, up from 10% in late 2011.
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