Thursday, December 13, 2012

Android Authority

Android Authority


Expect at least five companies to announce 1080p smartphones in H1 2013

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 02:19 AM PST

HTC, we applaud you for being the first company to launch a 1080p smartphone, but be warned, the competition is coming. According to our favorite Taiwanese rumor site DigiTimes, during the first six months of 2013 we’re going to see 1080p handsets from Samsung, Sony, LG, Huawei, and ZTE. Samsung is likely going to use their own 1080p AMOLED screen technology, whereas Sony is going to use LCDs from JDI since they’re one of the three companies that actually make up JDI. LG is said to be making their own 1080p panels, and just yesterday we published a report that said Innolux will begin mass producing 1080p LCDs during the first quarter of next year.

This brings up an important question: Should you buy a new smartphone right now? If your device is on the brink of failure, if your screen is broken, or if you hate your phone so much that you want to throw it against the wall every time you pick it up, then it might be a good time to get something new. But if you can wait, just a few months, then you’ll be rewarded with what will undoubtedly be the most impressive looking panel your eyes will have ever seen.

Some of you might think that 1080p is overkill and that 720p is just fine. We heard the exact same arguments when 720p phones came out. People said such a high resolution was insane and that 800 x 480 was more than plenty. To those people we have a terse message: progress doesn’t care about your opinion!

Who’s going to make the best 1080p phone? That’s a hard question to answer. We’ve already seen the Butterfly/DNA, but rumor has it that it’s going to get refreshed. Then there’s the elephant in the room, Samsung’s Galaxy S IV.

Decisions, decisions. Next year is going to be incredible.

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Google Maps now on the iPhone. Finally!

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 01:53 AM PST

Google Maps iPhone-w600

Any iPhone users out there? You might find this interesting. Google has recently announced the launch of its official Google Maps application for iOS. This comes after Apple opted to ditch Google Maps in favor of its own Maps application when it released iOS 6 along with the iPhone 5. This also comes after three months of ridicule, finding of alternatives, fired executives and managers, and lost travelers in Australia (just this week!).

Reworked app. Google says they have reworked the iOS from ground up, and is not simply an HTML5 wrapper, like some of the previous Google apps on the iOS platform (like the old Gmail). As such, expect Maps to be faster, smoother, and more functional than before. While iOS users found the mobile web version of Google Maps to be a temporary replacement before, the new native app should be miles ahead in terms of performance. Case in point: it uses vector graphics, which should both increase speed and reduce data usage compared with raster images.

Revamped interface. The interface has been drastically revamped, and is now more minimalistic than ever. Users are greeted with a search box at the top. Additional features can be accessed by pulling out a tab from the bottom right or swiping left with two fingers. The new app features turn-by-turn navigation, transit assistance, as well as traffic conditions in supported regions.

API access for developers. Apart from the app itself, Google is offering developers access to the Maps app through two sets of APIs, which will enable developers to access Google Maps from within their own apps instead of the stock iOS 6 map application. As such, we can expect Google’s own iOS apps to use Google Maps in the future. Users who don’t have Google Maps installed will be brought to the App Store when the API call is accessed from within a third-party app.

Design plus data. As The Verge‘s Dieter Bohn puts it, design and data ultimately set Google Maps as the clear winner over Apple’s own mapping iteration. “Google has taken everything it has learned about app design and performance in the past year and baked it into Maps.” This applies to both iOS and Android.

No iPad app for now. Sadly for iPad users, you folks will have to wait a bit longer, as this release is exclusively for iPhone and iPod Touch 4th gen users for now (requires iOS 5.1 and up). It seems Google has made good on its promise to have Maps available before the year ends. Now it’s a question of whether Apple will be able to bake in their improvements to Apple Maps to compete with Google’s own offering.

Now what’s interesting here is that mapping will no longer be a differentiator for Android manufacturers. The previous lack of a Google Maps app would be a deal breaker for users choosing between the iPhone 5 and an Android smartphone. But now, both Android and iPhone users can now enjoy the same benefit from Google’s in-house map offering.

Have you checked out Google Maps for iOS 6 lately?

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Caltech students invent terahertz chip that gives your phone x-ray vision

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 01:14 AM PST

Students at the California Institute of Technology have invented a new chip that spits out terahertz waves at a rate of roughly 300 times per second. What does that mean for consumers? In the not too distant future, you’ll be able to buy a phone with a camera that can see through certain materials. Our headline says “x-ray vision”, but that’s a bit misleading. An x-ray is defined as a wavelength that measures between 0.01 nanometers and 10 nanometers in length. Terahertz waves on the other hand, they’re between 1 millimeter and 0.1 millimeters.

What are the practical uses of such waves? The students say you’ll be able to take a picture of a piece of chicken you’re eating and get an accurate measurement of how much fat is contains. Your phone will also be able to identify drugs, explosives, and weapons hidden inside everyday object. That might not sound too compelling, but then again the internet was invented so universities could easily exchange research papers. Today we have 1080p video streaming, Skype calls, and more social networks than we care to count.

When will this technology realistically reach mobile phones? This writer used to work in a research lab and is all too familiar with the painful transition that academic research needs to go through to end up in the private sector. He’d say at least half a decade, probably a full decade just to be on the safe side.

In the television show Star Trek the members onboard the space traveling vessel had devices that they could point at pretty much damn near everything and get a detailed profile of what it is they were looking at. The research that these students have published brings us one step closer to that reality.

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Sony releases a new GIF creator called MotionGraph; $0.99 on Google Play

Posted: 13 Dec 2012 12:29 AM PST

There’s a division within Sony called “Sony Digital Network Applications”. Today they released an application called “MotionGraph” that lets you easily create animated GIF files. Here’s how it works: You record a brief video, trim it down, and then use your finger to select which parts within the video actually move. The rest of the video stays static. If that description was too confusing, then just watch the video below:

Now normally companies create software that they put on their devices and their devices alone in an attempt to drive sales. You don’t see Samsung offering S-Calendar on the Google Play Store, and you definitely don’t see HTC offering their Sense UI widgets on there either. But Sony is taking a different approach, one that we’re happy to see. They’ve decided to let anyone download their application, though they are asking people to pay $0.99. We don’t think that’s a lot of money.

And in case you’re wondering, no, MotionGraph isn’t the first animated GIF creator. Nokia released almost the exact same application for Windows Phone 8 earlier this month. They call it “Cinemagraph”. You can obviously see who inspired who here.

But back to Sony’s business model, we hope more companies learn how to share. The iPod became popular when Apple decided to offer their music management application iTunes on Windows computers. Android is popular because Google lets anyone build Android phones. We know handset makers like to make their devices stand out, but we feel they should do that by improving their hardware design and picking the right components. Writing good software is hard, so why would a company who is in the business of manufacturing AMOLED panels be good at it?

Exactly.

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Google has no plans to support either Windows 8 or Windows Phone

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 11:26 PM PST

Anyone remember the late 90s and early 00s, when Apple was just starting to get their groove back, but PC users made fun of the company because all the cool and interesting apps were on Windows? The same thing is happening today, but with Microsoft.

Windows 8 is confusing everyone, Windows Phone sales are negligible, and all that makes developers question why they should bother supporting Microsoft’s platforms when it’s clear that Android and iOS are the future.

Clay Bavor (pictured above), the Director of Product Management for Google’s Apps, recently gave an interview to the UK site V3. When he was asked about making the company’s apps available on Windows, he said:

“We have no plans to build out Windows apps. We are very careful about where we invest and will go where the users are but they are not on Windows Phone or Windows 8. If that changes, we would invest there, of course.”

That’s the most brutal statement Google can make because it sends a signal to the entire industry that Microsoft’s operating systems are worthless. You have to remember, Google is a services company. It’s in their interest to make sure their services are accessible on every platform under the sun. For them to shun Windows Phone, and more importantly Windows 8, is tantamount to the kiss of death.

Can Microsoft turn things around? Of course they can. They’re a company that doesn’t give up. The first XBOX was such a terrible product, but the second generation, the XBOX 360, is widely heralded as being one of the best consoles to ever come out. Windows Vista was complete garbage, but then Windows 7 proved that Microsoft knew how to make a good desktop OS. Sure, Windows 8 may be a bit rough around the edges, and Windows Phone 8 might be a little incomplete, but there’s always the future to look forward to.

And who knows what Android 5.0 or 6.0 will be like by then!

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HTC on the Windows Phone vs Android debate, specs and design DNA

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 07:36 PM PST

Sense is here to stay.

“We’re very proud of HTC Sense …”

After difficulties in the market for a year or so, HTC seems to be back on track. But it’s not all Android goodness that’s keeping HTC afloat these days, with the company’s partnership with Microsoft for the flagship Windows Phone 8 devices, as well as HTC’s cross-licensing agreement with Apple. Of course, there’s the flagship HTC Butterfly that’s keeping Android fans excited.

But going beyond specific devices like the Butterfly and the 8X, what’s going in the collective minds of HTC’s executives when they plan out smartphone (and tablet) designs, business strategies and corporate alliances? Jeff Blagdon of The Verge recently had a sit-down with HTC’s chief product officer Kouji Kodera to have a peek at how HTC is keeping the two platforms — Android and Windows Phone 8 — in balance.

Here are a few highlights.

Does the HTC 8X borrow from the Nokia “school of design?” Kodera seems to be aware of the perception that HTC is borrowing from Nokia in terms of their handset designs for Windows Phone. Conveniently, he carries a Lumia 920 around, just to prove a point. And it’s this: much like the fashion industry, the mobile industry will usually follow a certain design DNA, or a few concepts from a common source. In fashion, designs, colors and trends are often decided years in advance (because the industry has to source materials and produce components). It’s similar in the mobile industry, to some extent. This is especially true in the case of both Nokia and HTC, with both companies having worked closely with Microsoft.

But when queried on just how much influence Microsoft exerted on HTC’s design, the answer was “zero.”

On stock Android interface. HTC is one of those mobile companies that have popularized their own skin as their own “brand” across different platforms. HTC Sense is here to stay, Kodera says. “[I]n general, we're very proud of HTC Sense, and we'd like to continue shipping it on every device.” Those who prefer the vanilla Android look and feel are likely to be disappointed.

Less is more. Samsung seems to be the one company that has profited from selling a broad product line — from low-end to top-ranging device. But not everyone can make a big difference, especially if you’re not selling tens of millions of devices. For HTC, the less number of models sold, the greater exposure for each. According to Kodera, the company prefers to have a small product line to ensure “some real differentiated factors to the market, rather than just bringing many new products.”

Now this might have an implication on HTC’s relationship with carriers, who seem to prefer having a wide product line as possible. But Kodera says carriers are changing, in terms of seeing “different success models.” T-Mobile’s switch to “Value” plans, for instance, is one example I can point out.

On Microsoft’s marketing muscle. Windows Phone 8 is not exactly free, and nominally costs more than Android to license. But Kodera says HTC is looking at its partnership with Microsoft in terms of value. Sure, Android is free, although manufacturers pay royalties to certain software patent owners. “While it's true that Windows Phone has a license fee and that the core Android OS is free, once you add software your license fees go up accordingly,” says Kodera.

Additionally, Microsoft is actually active in promoting and advertising their platform. “The biggest difference is that Google doesn't do any advertising for Android, while Microsoft pays to promote Windows Phone on its own,” adds Kodera. He explains that HTC is playing on the strength of the product and “whether or not people will buy them.”

On tablets. Kodera says HTC has experimented with tablets, and the company is still “interested.” HTC has made a lot of concepts — some of which actually ended up as failures in the market. At this point, the product chief says the company will continue focusing on development and building a product that works. “[W]e will re-do it as many times as we need until we get a concept and a product that we feel comfortable with.”

On specs and screen sizes. Smartphones are becoming bigger and bigger, but design seems to have hit the ceiling of 5-inches without sacrificing usability and practicality. Still, it does not mean that screen specs will stagnate. “[P]ixel density is going to keep going up,” says Kodera. It’s a matter of time.

What do you think of HTC’s views on the smartphone industry and development? Will they be able to rise up from the ashes and eventually get out of the doldrums in the next year or so?

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Kindle Fire for sale to Amazon Moms only

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 02:34 PM PST

kindle-fire-hd

Amazon recently offered a $50 off on the Kindle Fire HD Tablet sale but the deal has expired. Now, Amazon is offering a similar promotion to all Amazon Prime and Amazon Moms members. This gives you a great excuse to go out and try the Kindle Fire  just in time for Christmas!

Savings are as follows:

  • Kindle Fire: $20 off – $139
  • 7-Inch Kindle Fire HD: $25 off – $174
  • 8.9-Inch Kindle Fire HD: $50 off – $249

If you've been looking for the opportunity to purchase a Kindle Fire but you missed out on the original deal for the 8.9-inch HD model, then this is your next and maybe even last chance to pick one up for Christmas.

The Kindle Fire is a good entry-level device for those who are interested in purchasing a tablet this holiday season, but don't want to spend a lot of money up front.

The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 sports a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and options for either 16 or 32GB of storage. Plenty of power for the price! So hurry before they run out of the inventory!

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Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Oppo Find 5 [video]

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 02:11 PM PST

Galaxy S3 vs Oppo Find 5 featured

When it comes to Android smartphone comparisons, this particular matchup is definitely one of the strangest you'll encounter.

In one corner we have the best-selling Android smartphone of all time (particularly noteworthy given the impressive market share that the OS holds in the market): the Samsung Galaxy S3. Launched back in May in Europe and June in the U.S., the third incarnation of the Galaxy S series is the landmark Android smartphone for 2012.

An impossible but otherwise very interesting study would reveal by how much did the legal dispute between the South Korean manufacturer and U.S.-based Apple, a stage where the Galaxy S3 has avoided negative decisions thus far, improve Galaxy S3 sales. But that's part of another story, one that's contrastingly that much better known to our regular readers.

In the other corner, we have the Oppo Find 5, an Android smartphone that, when officially announced by the ambitious Chinese manufacturer has captured the tech blogosphere center of attention thanks to a set of very impressive technical specs.

Although the Oppo Find 5 is currently available only in China, the device might make it to Western markets as well. However, even if the Oppo Find 5 doesn’t hit other countries, readers from various parts of the world can use this vs piece as a tool for creating a better picture of the grand scheme of the mobile technology world. After all, China recently became the largest Android market of them all!

Specs

galaxy s3 vs oppo find 5 specs sheet

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S3 features a 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display running at a 720p resolution. Unfortunately, the S3 cheats when it comes to its 306 PPI (Pixel Per Inch) density, as it does not use a regular RGB matrix, but a PenTile arrangement instead.

samsung-galaxy-s3

Just to make sure the elephant in this section is noticed, the Samsung Galaxy S3 doesn't have a display that impresses when compared to more recent flagship smartphones, and the PenTile technology might just be the reason. For example, Samsung's other best seller, the 5.5-inch display on the Galaxy Note 2 outshines the panel on the Galaxy S3 in picture quality.

On the other hand, the Oppo Find 5 is chronologically the second Android smartphone to offer an interesting generation of displays, the intensely debated 5-inch 1080p type. HTC was the first manufacturer to go down the 440 PPI path with the HTC J Butterfly / Droid DNA.

Oppo Find 5 front (2)_600px

In fact, the Super LCD 3 displays featured by the HTC J Butterfly / Droid DNA and the Oppo Find 5 actually come from the same manufacturers, meaning that the picture quality is, for all accounts and purposes, equally impressive.

Verdict: the Oppo Find 5 has a better display than the Samsung Galaxy S3.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is not a bad looking piece of Android hardware, but it is reasonably safe to assume that it will not win the 2012 Design Awards. The Galaxy S3 measures 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm (5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 in) and weighs 133 grams.

Oppo Find 5 vs Galaxy s3 3_1600px

Darcy LaCouvee and his insanely popular drop tests have proven that Samsung's best selling smartphone does not fare well on impact against rough surfaces.

In the Chinese corner, the Oppo Find 5 is noticeably wider and taller than the Galaxy S3 thanks to its larger display, and just a hair thicker. The overall design does not impress, and although no unit has been dropped (mercilessly might I add) on hard concrete yet, it is hard to believe that resistance to impact will be one if this smartphone's stronger qualities.

Oppo Find 5 vs Galaxy S3 side 6_1600px

Verdict: As there are no major differences in build quality, this section should be decided by your personal prefference

Internal Hardware

CPU, GPU & RAM

Although the Oppo Find 5 was the first smartphone announced to use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro SoC, the exact same 1.5GHz quad-core Krait CPU – Adreno 320 GPU has since reached the market under the hood of the LG Optimus G, the LG Google Nexus 4 and the HTC J Butterfly / Droid DNA.

Thanks to the Snapdragon S4 Pro, Oppo Find 5 is very responsive, although some strain on the GPU should be expected when running graphically intensive games on its 1080p display. According to benchmarks, the Oppo Find 5 performs right on par with the Droid DNA.

Here is how the Oppo Find 5 performs in the AnTuTu benchmark:

oppo find 5 AnTuTu

The International version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 uses Samsung's highly successful Exynos 4 Quad platform, one that joins together a 1.4GHz quad-core A9 CPU with a Mali 400 MP GPU, while the US, LTE-enabled version uses the now previous top of the line SoC from Qualcomm back from roughly six months ago, the Snapdragon S4.

Although the international version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 is still a very powerful smartphone, especially at the CPU level (and noticeably faster than the U.S. version), the Snapdragon S4 Pro SoC is the next best thing in the smartphone world.

The U.S. version of the Galaxy S3 features 2GB of RAM, while the international version carries half that amount, "just" 1 GB.

This is how the Oppo Find 5 fares against other top-end smartphones (the Galaxy S3 included) in the popular AnTuTu benchmark:

oppo find 5 benchmark

Just to put things in perspective, Samsung's reaction to the S4 Pro is called the Exynos 5 Dual and has already reached the end-market under the hood of the Samsung Google Nexus 10 and the Samsung Google Chromebook. So far, benchmarks show that Samsung has another winner.

Internal and Expandable Storage

The Galaxy S3 comes in 16GB / 32GB / 64GB versions and can work with MicroSD cards up to 64GB of size. The Galaxy S3 has a serious advantage over the Oppo Find 5, which comes only in a 16GB version, with external card support.

Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S3 has an 8MP sensor in the front and a 1.9MP front facing camera. In the other corner, the Oppo Find 5 has a primary camera that takes pictures of 13MP in resolution, and a 2MP secondary camera.

Theory, as well as experience, tells us that we shouldn't expect a major improvement in picture quality with the 13MP sensor on the Oppo Find 5. However, both take decent point-and-shoot-then-Instagram pictures.

Although the standard photo quality is not by too many degrees better than what you get with the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Oppo Find 5 camera can shoot video at 120 fps (frames per second), meaning that one can take blur-less ultra slow motion videos. In addition, the Oppo Find 5 primary camera can work in HDR (high dynamic range) mode, a first on smartphone cameras.

Battery

The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes equipped with a removable 2100mAh battery that provides decent battery life intervals at moderate usage, while the Oppo Find 5 has a non-removable 2500mAh battery. If Oppo has managed not to optimize the Find 5 worse than the HTC J Butterfly, we should be looking at decent battery life intervals with the Chinese-bound Android smartphone as well.

Verdict: The Oppo Find 5 comes with a faster SoC and roughly all around better specs

Android Version & Software Tweaks

First and foremost, Oppo can be congratulated on its decision to keep the custom UI as low profile as possible. Here a quick peek of the home screen:

SCR_2012-12-12-16-57-53

However, despite the fact that both our contenders run an Android Jelly Bean version (the Samsung Galaxy S3 was launched with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich but has been since updated – in most markets – to Jelly Bean), this a place where the Samsung Galaxy S3 shines.

Although TouchWiz (Samsung’s custom UI) has received plenty of negative feedback, it looks like Samsung has satisfied its fan base via a unique set of software functions, called Smart Functions. We’ve discussed them into further detail in the previous article here, but some of the critically acclaimed tweaks include Smart Stay (a tweak that ensures the display stays on as long as you look at it) and S Beam (an NFC file sharing function between Galaxy S3 / Galaxy Note 2 smartphones).

Furthermore, with the release of the Samsung Premium Suite for the Galaxy S3, the reference smartphone for 2012 has gained a whole new range of useful functions such as enhanced Facebook integration, an S3 compatible version of the True Multitasking feature as it can be seen on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, and others.

Here is a video showcasing the Premium Suite for Galaxy S3:

Verdict: Although both smartphones run Android 4.1.x Jelly Bean, the Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with a unique suite of software functions that enhance the entire Android experience!

Conclusion

As one can notice, the Oppo Find 5 completely dominates the Samsung Galaxy S3 in a vast majority of the sections we have approached. While this loss does not make the Galaxy S3 a poor smartphone, one thing it does point out is that the Android ecosystem is evolving at an ever increasing pace.

If a relatively unknown manufacturer (even on the Chinese market) such as Oppo can release a smartphone that clearly kicks the behind of the best selling Android smartphone ever, and all that in roughly 6 months since the latter was released, can you imagine what the big boys can do in 2013?

What are your thoughts on this interesting battle? Is Oppo to be congratulated for the Oppo Find 5? We think so, but feel free to disagree with us via the comment section below!

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Fido may soon carry the Samsung Galaxy S3

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:48 PM PST

Samsung Galaxy S3

Looking to get the Samsung Galaxy S3 in Canada? If you have Fido as your carrier, you’ve probably noticed that this isn’t an option. The good news is that this situation might be changing soon.

The news comes from a leaked image received by Mobile Syrup, which shows a Fido nameplate for the S3:

Galaxy S3

Interestingly enough, the nameplate suggests that the flagship Samsung smartphone will ship with ICS not Jelly Bean. While not the end of the world, that means you won’t get Google Now and other Jelly Bean features right out of the box. Luckily, all you’ll need to do is perform a simple update.

So when is the Samsung Galaxy S3 coming? It is hard to say for sure, but hopefully sooner rather than later. That said, with the nameplate being the only evidence that the S3 is even coming, I’d take this all with a grain of salt for now.

Would you pick up the Galaxy S3 through Fido if this rumor proves true?

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Google winning the Android vs iOS war ‘pretty clearly,’ Eric Schmidt says, but it’s not quite so

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:19 PM PST

banner-nexus-4

In an interview with Bloomberg, Google's former CEO and current chairman Eric Schmidt talked about the company's Android mobile operating system especially in comparison with its main competitor, Apple's iOS, a rival that Google is apparently "clearly" beating.

Sure, Android has the lion's share of the overall smartphone market when it comes to device activations – which are still at 1.3 million per day – but does this mean everyone else is losing the battle, especially Apple?

Under normal conditions, we'd take Schmidt's statements as regular top exec talk, but considering that the former CEO did make some pretty controversial similar commentaries in the recent past regarding Google products, Android included, let's dismantle the bullshit from his current statements.

What Schmidt said…

Talking to Bloomberg, he basically said that Google is crushing Apple in the smartphone business in a similar manner Microsoft did with the same competitor in the PC business 20 years ago:

Booming demand for Android-based smartphones is helping Google add share at the expense of other software providers, Schmidt said yesterday in an interview at Bloomberg's headquarters in New York. Android snared 72 percent of the market in the third quarter, while Apple had 14 percent, according to Gartner Inc. Customers are activating more than 1.3 million Android devices a day, Schmidt said.

"This is a huge platform change; this is of the scale of 20 years ago — Microsoft versus Apple," he said. "We're winning that war pretty clearly now."

[…] "The core strategy is to make a bigger pie," he said. "We will end up with a not perfectly controlled and not perfectly managed bigger pie by virtue of open systems."

According to Schmidt, Android is winning "clearly" even if Google had to make some sacrifices when it comes to some aspects of the overall ecosystem.

But is Google really winning the battle? Is Apple about to surrender the mobile business to Google? What about the other players?

While we cover everything Android-related here, I don't think we have reached a point in this continuously evolving mobile environment where we can say that Android has won and iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, and other competing mobile operating systems were defeated.

google-apple-microsoft

Removing the bullshit…

Yes, Android is winning when it comes to overall market share, but it's winning in a competition where Apple is not really an active player.

Google’s mobile business strategy

Google went into the mobile business with one clear goal in mind (among other objectives): to setup the playground for the future. Realizing that the future of computing will not contain "heavy" machinery like desktops and laptops, Google skated to where the puck was going when it comes to Internet browsing and Internet consumption – heavy smartphone and tablet use – to make sure its Search business, or the only way Google is making money right now, will still be making money when the hordes of Internet users will choose portable devices to get their web browsing fix.

Google had to make sure it has a foot in the door in the "post-PC" world, and that it's one step ahead of its competitors when it comes to mobile search, considering what mobile search will mean for its bottom line. There's nothing wrong with that, and you can't blame Google for doing whatever it can to stay ahead of its Search rivals.

That's why Google had to make its mobile OS open source so that OEMs will be able to easily adopt it, modify it and build interesting devices around it, from low- to high-end, so that any potential buyer could afford one such smart device and use it, among other things, to browse the web, click on ads, make money for Google.

And Google isn't making any money off of Android sales – or better said, it's yet to make any serious money considering that its most recent devices are sold at cost – but Schmidt isn't saying anything about that.

And then there's the Motorola $12.5 billion purchase, which is yet to offer Google any advantages in the mobile business, whether we're talking about patent wars or Android device sales. We're not even going to go in Motorola Nexus handsets and tablets on this ones.

Apple’s mobile business strategy

Apple, on the other hand, has a different business model. The company is first a hardware company that also builds its own software for the devices it makes, smartphones and tablets included.

Apple wants to make money off of device sales, and its iPhone and iPad are currently its best-selling products, devices that are responsible for a large chunk of its revenue, and devices that did not exist 5 years ago – whereas Google's Search is rather old.

Therefore, Apple is not competing in the mobile market share game, which Google is winning clearly, but in the profit share game, which Apple is winning clearly. And where Samsung is also winning clearly, at least compared to Google.

In simpler terms, the battle is not over by a long shot mainly because Google has the market share, and Apple has the billions. The former can further cement its lead and turn Android users into faithful followers, while the latter has all the money in the world to create whatever products it wants and even contest Google's strong overall mobile market share. Imagine only what a Nexus-like cheap iPhone would do to that market share in case Apple decides to go that way. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Nexus_4_vs_iPhone_5

The Google-Microsoft comparison…

Microsoft is clearly – no pun intended – one of the tech giants of our recent past, present and upcoming future, but maybe Google should steer away from comparing Android to Windows. Because Microsoft is having a tougher time adapting to the “post-PC” era, some 20 years after it emerged victorious over Apple. Google doesn’t want to follow in Microsoft’s footsteps, does it? This is not to say that Microsoft is in a bad place right now, only that it failed to live up to our expectations in recent years when it comes to smart mobile devices.

Getting back to the Microsoft vs Apple element, we’ll remind you that Windows was not open source and wasn’t offered free of charge like Android. Microsoft wanted to make money off of its computer OS and the accompanying software it created for PC use – just like Apple wants with its hardware/software bundle. And Microsoft did not create Windows as a means to deliver an advantage in a future battle – mobile search in Google’s case with Android – but as a cheaper alternative to Apple's computer and OS.

Microsoft's OEMs partners and/or customers had to buy Windows, and other software made for the OS, and the more people joined in the fun, the higher the profits and market share for Microsoft.

At the same time, Apple did not manage to remain competitive, and lost market share to Bill Gates & Co. But at the time it was losing the market share battle Apple didn't have the same cash reserves it has now either. Hence, it was losing the profits battle also. Apple was nearing bankruptcy and it took several years for the company to get back into shape, so it couldn't really stop the Microsoft expansion. Whereas now it can just fight Google for quite a few more years before approaching bankruptcy, because those billions in the bank can always be invested in more R&D and new products.

And then Microsoft must have taken everything for granted, failing to foresee that the next battle that needed to be fought was in mobile.

"Clearly winning" and end-users…

From a different point of view, we don't want any mobile OS to come out as the clear winner – which, in this writer's view would mean having a firm grip on profits and market share. Because once we get there, competition will dwindle, and without proper competition, we can't have innovation and even better products. We don't want a single company to be the ultimate provider of a certain service or products. We want choice, competition and better products.

That can't really happen once one company would be in a "clearly winning" position. Microsoft was almost there in the PC business, but it failed to eliminate rivals and look into the future.

On the same note, if we were to look only at the Android ecosystem, we'd find Samsung in such a position. The South Korean giant is selling the most Android handsets and is making most of the profits. And those numbers are growing quarter after quarter. That's definitely laudable when looking at Samsung alone, but not necessarily good for Android. Rivals like HTC, LG, Google (Motorola) and others really need to step it up and steal both market share and profits from Samsung, so that never along the road, will Android be confound with Samsung.

Other Schmidt statements…

Finally, and the main reason we’re taking Schmidt’s recent statements with a grain of salt is the fact that this isn't the first time Google's former CEO comes out with such talk that can turn against him later down the road.

He did say a few years back that the Nexus One was a one time thing for the company, but we all know what followed soon after that: the Nexus S, or the second Nexus handset. Then came the Galaxy Nexus and now we're looking at the fourth Nexus-branded smartphone, the Nexus 4 and hopefully not the last.

Google TV

About a year ago he did say that Android Ice Cream Sandwich will become the OS of choice for developers instead of iOS. That did not happen, and ICS is yet to get the main slice of the Android pie.

Then he prophesized that Google TV will be one of the main players in the TV business, with the majority of TV owners having it on their TVs by mid-2012. Google TV is still a product that's yet to find its way, and while we don't have exact numbers for Google TV deployment at this time, it's clearly not where Google would like it to be.

So when he says now that Google is clearly winning the battle with Apple in a Microsoft-like fashion, let's doubt it for now, as the battle is far from over. What’s happening though is that Android devices are overall selling better than the iPhone. But since not all Android OEMs are profiting from the Android revolution, market share alone is not enough to win the battle.

Related Posts

Android Phone Fans

Android Phone Fans


Google Sound Search now available in the Play Store, brings cross-device syncing

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 05:32 PM PST

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Good news for music lovers always ready to discover some new tunes. Google has just released their Sound Search app into the Play Store today, mimicking the functionality found in popular apps like Shazam or Soundhound. Once reserved for devices running stock Android, Google’s Sound Search widget lets users easily identify music no matter where they are — that is, as long as the device is running Ice Cream Sandwich or above. So, whether it’s bumpin’ at the club or playing on the radio, Sound Search makes for easy music identification and from there, easy downloading from the Google Play Store.

And if for some reason you didn’t want to download music at the moment it’s identified (data limits can be brutal), Sound Search also lets you saved your tagged music for later. You could even pull up your tagged history from another device, making purchasing music from the Play Store easier than ever. Now, if Google can get to releasing even more stock Android apps, we could have near-stock experience for our non-Nexus devices.

[Google Play Link]

Voxeet for Android aims to trump call quality of Skype

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:55 PM PST

Skype might have a seemingly deadly grip on the VoIP conferencing market, but that won’t stop competitors from trying their hand at taking it on. Voxeet’s claim to fame won’t be through multi-way video conferencing or a robust text-based chat platform. Instead, it’s starting its humble trek as a straight forward calling app. Their x-factor? Crystal-clear VoIP technology that they say is so impressive that people might drop Skype in droves just to use.

They call it “Natural Conferencing,” and it uses a proprietary algorithm for delivering high definition audio between multiple parties. Voxeet promises it can eliminate the annoyances that tend to come with your typical VoIP experiences, such as voice echoes, robotic voice syndrome, voice overlap and more.

An even more interesting element of Voxeet is its “Immersive 3D” sound technology that can detect who’s speaking at any given moment and deliver their voice to specific sides of your ears. For instance, if you want to hear the call moderator on your right ear and have others come in from the left or the middle Voxeet will facilitate that with ease.

Even cooler is the ability to seamlessly transfer your call to your mobile from the desktop version of Voxeet. There have been a ton of scenarios where I’ve needed to tell someone that I’d call them back because I was switching to mobile, so something like that is nothing to sneeze at.

Voxeet acknowledges its software is probably best served for folks who find themselves on regular conference calls with colleagues, and that’s fine — it’d be a tough job to get all your casual friends to migrate to a platform without video chat. But give it a shot with your co-workers or a buddy or two, and see if Voxeet’s promise of a superior conference call experience can live up to its own claims. Find it in the Google Play Store.

Google Zeitgeist page features Droid Gangnam Style easter egg

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 01:21 PM PST

If you have been on any tech blogs today, you have likely seen plenty of stories about Google’s Zeitgeist 2012. Google has detailed the most searched items for the year and even put together a quick video highlighting popular terms (and pitching a few Google products in the process).

The video and list are both worth checking out, but the highlight of Google’s page is tucked away at the very bottom. Hover over a nondescript banner of Google’s colors and you will find none other the mascot of the year’s most popular mobile OS doing the year’s most popular dance. Yes, that’s Gangnam Droid, coded up out of CSS and web magic. Pretty darn cool, Google, pretty darn cool.

[Google Zeitgeist via JSFiddle.net]

Is Google blocking explicit results from Image Search, regardless of SafeSearch setting?

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 12:33 PM PST

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A wise man once said, “Hell hath no fury like a man’s porn takeneth away.” While Google isn’t necessarily blocking porn sites from showing up in the normal web search, some changes Google made today to their Image Search is enraging a few lazy pr0n surfers. Users are noticing that, regardless of their SafeSearch filter setting, Google Image Search is no longer displaying the typical explicit images that come from from the usual search queries. Before you freak out, no this isn’t the Mayan apocalypse, and this isn’t Google censoring the web. Google’s just tweaked some things. In a statement to CNET, Google had this to say on the changes to their image search algorithm:

“We are not censoring any adult content, and want to show users exactly what they are looking for — but we aim not to show sexually-explicit results unless a user is specifically searching for them. We use algorithms to select the most relevant results for a given query. If you’re looking for adult content, you can find it without having to change the default setting — you just may need to be more explicit in your query if your search terms are potentially ambiguous. The image search settings now work the same way as in web search.”

Now, I wouldn’t really know, but I’d assume when people go searching for their evening “reading” material, the last place they travel is to Google image search. Of course, it’s also been awhile since I was in 6th grade. No matter. Do you guys think Google might be overstepping their boundaries by double filtering SafeSearch? Does anyone find it unfair that you now have to search extra hard (no pun intended) when looking for explicit material? What’s next? Searching for “Apple” brings 5 pages of fresh produce before presented with the evil logo we’ve all come to loathe? Guess there’s always Bing.

[GoogleGoogle SafeSearch]

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City jumps back into the Play Store

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 12:20 PM PST

Seemingly everyone who frequents the Google Play Store was excited to know that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was headed to Android, but an unfortunate blunder plagued Rockstar’s launch and forced the game developer to pull the title. It was originally explained to be an error with the authentication process which meant the game was inaccessible to anyone who bought it. Rockstar said we probably wouldn’t be waiting much longer than the end of this week to see i back in the Play Store, and we’re happy to say that particular estimation was accurate.

You can grab Vice City for $5 right now, and it should come without many issues as long as you have a phone decent enough to play it. It’ll cost you 1.4GB of bandwidth so be sure to stick to WiFi if your carrier charges for data overages. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was originally released for the PlayStation 2 in 2002, and this year marks its 10th anniversary. Rockstar’s celebrating that by bringing the fables of Tommy Vercetti to mobile for one very attractive price point.

Vice City for Android will be even better than it was on consoles with its updated, high resolution visuals and adjustable graphics. The game is compatible with gamepads like the MOGA, or you can customize the on-screen controls however you want in case Rockstar’s default configuration isn’t to your liking. Get over to the Google Play Store and grab this one before it disappears before our very eyes again.

[Google Play Store]

Report: Google to sell over 1 million Nexus 7 tablets in December

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 11:54 AM PST

According to a report from Digitimes, sales of Google’s Nexus 7 tablet are on pace to surpass 1 million units for the month of December. The boost from a November estimate of 800,000 to 900,000 tablets shipped can be attributed to strong holiday sales. It also comes a month after Google revamped its Nexus 7 lineup with larger storage options and the addition of a 3G-enabled model.

Overall, from information gathered from Google and ASUS’ supply chain partners, an expected 2-4 million Nexus 7 slates will have shipped by the end of the fourth quarter of 2012. December will mark the first time Google has surpassed the 1 million monthly sales mark since the tablet launched back in July. An estimated 2-3 million units had been sold as of the end of October, putting a total year-end figure somewhere in the 4-7 million range, surpassing Google’s initial goal of 3 million.

In comparison, the same report sees Amazon moving 3-4 million Kindle Fire tablets over Q4 and Apple’s manufacturing partners have plans to ship a combined 3.5 million iPad mini slates between November and December. The uptick in tablet demand coincides with a decreased number of notebook shipments.

 

Google pulls Nexus 4 factory images from developer site

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 10:40 AM PST

Google has pulled factory image files for the Nexus 4 from their developers resource page. At this time it is not clear exactly why Google decided to remove the files, but there are two main lines of thought. Either Google discovered a critical issue in an already buggy Android 4.2.1 build or the removal could be part of an effort to strip vestigial LTE connectivity from the handset.

The latter case is at least plausible considering Android 4.2.1 factory images remain live for Google’s other Nexus devices. A lack of regulatory approval by the FCC could be forcing Google’s hand in issuing a software update to make it harder for hackers to connect to North American LTE airwaves.

At the very least, the move is curious. The Android 4.2.1 software is already available on Nexus 4 handsets and removing the images, which serve as a method for restoring the device to its original factory settings, won’t do much to alleviate any issues owners are currently experiencing. Will Google return the Android 4.2.1 build as is? Or will we not see another until the next version of Jelly Bean is released?

[Google via TheAndroidSoul]

Verizon Galaxy Note 2 bootloader unlock method now available

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 09:47 AM PST

Just as we told you this past Monday, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 for Verizon has had its bootloader unlocked. Our beneficiary, Adam Outler, teased us earlier this week with his progress, but wouldn’t let us in on the full details of the unlock until he revealed it this morning on XDA TV. There was a guessing game, initially — either it would be a hardware mod or a software mod — but Outler eased our souls this morning when he revealed that we wouldn’t have to physically crack the device open in order to gain a full unlock.

Outler proudly exclaims that the Verizon Galaxy Note 2 has gone from “the most secure device on the market, to the least secure device [publicly] available.” Outler has been particularly rebellious throughout the process as his driving motivation was to stick it to Verizon and the carrier’s unhealthy obsession with locking devices down. He even went as far as naming one of the tools needed to unlock the device the “Suck it Verizon Odin Package.”

The Verizon Galaxy Note 2 gained a root method just a couple of days after it launched, but a full bootloader unlock will allow developers to do so much more. Custom recoveries, custom ROMs and more will all be the result of Outler’s hard work, and if you think that deserves a beer or six for him you can donate to his XDA user account appropriately.

If you just want to break the chains on your device and let it roam around in smartphone peace and tranquility, though, be sure to head to the thread for everything you need. Remember to read the instructions fully and carefully before getting started, and remember that your device is your responsibility — anything that happens as a result of applying this unlock is your own fault, and no one is liable for any damages but yourself. That said, have fun!

Motorola attacks Samsung in latest ad campaign

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 09:02 AM PST

In this day and age you pretty much expect the likes of Samsung, HTC, Motorola and others to attack Apple — and vice versa — but it’s become a bit taboo to see the aforementioned Android-loving OEMs attacking each other. Well, Motorola’s taking the charge against the biggest Android player in the game.

The OEM has gone after Samsung in its latest advertising efforts, though don’t expect a fifth round knockout type of scenario here (sorry, Pacquiao). This episode is a bit more mild than that, but no less interesting. Motorola claims “it’s not easy downloading from another galaxy” on its Facebook page, boldly displaying a Galaxy S3 trying to get through a download of Angry Birds Rio while the Motorola DROID RAZR HD already has it installed.

The image used to portray this suggests the Galaxy S3 only gets half signal bars while the Motorola RAZR enjoys full strength signal bars at any given time, but that is terribly misleading, no? For starters, location location location — that plays a bigger part in signal strength and download speeds over 4G LTE even if Motorola’s radios happen to be more solid than the ones Samsung use (though these two use virtually the same circuitry so we’re not sure what to make of that one).

It’s no surprise Motorola didn’t publish how it came about this particular result. The OEM could have tested the Galaxy S3 in a low coverage area, then proceeded to perform the same test on a RAZR MAXX HD in a full coverage area. We wouldn’t know that, of course, because Motorola is not required to tell us, but more power to them if they can get a few more sales out of it. And although Motorola’s image doesn’t show any branding, the simulated software image certainly suggests they’re comparing this to the version of the S3 that’s on the very carrier that has exclusive DROID RAZR MAXX HD rights — Verizon.

Motorola took things a tad further on its website, though the marketing plan there is less tricky than the one they deployed on Facebook. They claimed that the RAZR MAXX HD has 20% more battery life than the Galaxy S3 — this is true as the MAXX HD has a 3,300mAh battery compared to the S3′s 2,100mAh battery. They also boast the MAXX HD’s superior build quality — can’t really get mad at that with all the Kevlar sitting on the back of this thing.

Finally, overall innovation and impressive design are touted over the Galaxy S3, though this is highly subjective and we’d argue that Samsung’s S3 is in the same class as the DROID RAZR MAXX HD in this regard.

We can’t say what compelled Motorola to get a bit more bold in its marketing tactics, but we kind of like it. Even though the speed claims are a bit fishy they do have a couple of points over Samsung’s Galaxy S3. Sure, Samsung has another device that completely outclasses any of the RAZR devices, but the Samsung Galaxy S3 is still Samsung’s primary bread and butter and Motorola has no problem letting you know that it has a device that can stand toe to toe with it. What do you guys think?

[Motorola via Facebook, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

In ‘war’ with Apple, Schmidt says Google is ‘clearly’ winning

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:46 AM PST

While CEO Larry Page is a bit more reluctant to openly talk about Google’s competition with Apple, chairman Eric Schmidt wasn’t shy about voicing his thoughts in a recent Bloomberg interview. In comparing the current mobile landscape to the home computer market of the 1990s, Schmidt said that Google is “winning that war pretty clearly now.”

As was the case with Microsoft so many years ago, Google is relying on hardware partners, advertisers, and developers to create an expansive ecosystem that is attractive to more and more users. The model is working, with a recent Gartner report revealing that Android’s stranglehold on the market grew to 72 percent in the third quarter of 2012. It’s a dominance that is expected to extend for several years.

Schmidt said, “the core strategy is to make a bigger pie,” but admitted, “we will end up with a not perfectly controlled and not perfectly managed bigger pie by virtue of open systems.” Apple’s strategy, on the other hand, has always been to offer software and hardware as a packaged deal, seeing one as the natural extension of the other. In the early days of home computing this model prevented the company from overtaking Microsoft, but a successful string of relatively cheaper products like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad have helped to grow their business as a whole.

Many argue that Android will ultimately be doomed by its size, scope, and fragmentation, with the entire ecosystem eventually buckling under its own weight. While that could be a reality someday down the road, Schmidt and company will be riding their wave of success for the foreseeable future. But Google shouldn’t rest now. They may think the war is over, but we’re sure Apple sees things a little bit differently.

[via Bloomberg]

Snag the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 for as low as $250 from Woot

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:09 AM PST

Most looking for a great deal on an ASUS-manufactured Android slate will turn to the Nexus 7, but if you act within the next 14 hours you can upgrade your act without spending much more than you would for the Google-branded device. As Tech.Woot’s deal of the day, the ASUS Transformer Pad TF300 can be yours for as low as $249.99 for the 16GB model. The 32GB model isn’t much pricier at $279.99.

Woot was also offering a combo deal that included that ASUS keyboard dock, but it appears as though the option is now sold out. What you get is a refurbished version of the quad-core Tegra 3-powered tablet with a 10.1-inch display, 8MP camera, and ability to combine with the previously mentioned docking station for a more laptop-esque experience. The Transformer Pad ships with Android 4.0 out of the box, but a Jelly Bean update has been made available.

Act quick if you’re looking to snag the spiritual big brother to the Nexus 7 for a very similar price. I’m sure more than a few Android fans wouldn’t mind seeing this bad boy as a gift under the Christmas tree, either.

[via Tech.Woot | Thank, Josh!]

Amazon Mom Prime members can get up to $50 off a Kindle Fire device [DEALS]

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 08:06 AM PST

Moms who want to get some holiday reading done or nice gift for children will be happy to know that Amazon has cooked up some nice deals for you. You can get up to $50 off a Kindle Fire device for being a member of Amazon’s Mom program with Prime access.

You can get the base Kindle Fire model for $20 off to make it $139, the Kindle Fire HD for $25 making it $174, or you can get the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 for $50 making it $249. The Kindle Fire HD 8.9 4G is also included in this deal but Amazon didn’t specify whether or not this would have the same $50 discount as the WiFi model.

Those wanting to take advantage of the deal need only enter FIREMOMS with any of these tablets in your shopping cart inside the promotional code field at checkout. Note that the deal can only be had once per account, and that you only have until the end of the day on December 18th to take advantage. You’ll also get a one-month trial of Kindle FreeTime, Amazon’s parental control service for its Kindle devices which will allow you to control your kids’ usage habits.

The Kindle Fire tablets feature dual-core processors with 1GB of RAM and a host of storage options depending on which device you’re after. The base Kindle Fire only nets you 8GB, but the Kindle Fire HD can be had for anywhere between 16GB and 32GB. The 8.9 inch models come with 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.

You’ll definitely want to rely on Amazon’s Cloud Storage for the lesser options so you can store your music on the go. And video content is streamed through Amazon’s Instant Video collection so you can watch your favorite movies and TV shows without having to give up storage space. Head to Amazon if you want to take advantage.

Dual-screen YotaPhone features both LCD and E Ink displays

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 07:31 AM PST

How’s this for an interesting take on smartphone form factor? Russia’s Yota Device has let slip a few detail about an upcoming Android-based smartphone featuring both LCD and E Ink displays. The handset, which is naturally dubbed the YotaPhone, pairs the two screen technologies by replacing what would traditionally be the back of the phone with the secondary screen, a logical solution to a problem others have attempted to solve with convertible clamshell devices.

As far as specs, the LCD portion of the device is rated at 720p resolution and measures in at 4.3 inches. The E Ink screen matches the size of the “front” display and is rated at 200dpi. Both are constructed with Gorilla Glass for extra toughness. Internally, the phone will rock a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4, 2GB RAM, and 32GB of storage. The LTE-enabled YotaPhone also sports a 12MP camera with complimentary HD front-facing camera.

But haven’t we learned our lesson about dual-screen devices? They have done little to capture the hearts of users in the past. Sure, what we have seen so far have been mostly shoddy implementations from manufacturers like Kyocera, but who is to say the YotaPhone will do any better? And is there really a point in having a secondary E Ink screen if it only measures in at 4.3 inches? I guess if you are doing a lot of reading it makes sense, but if having the option is that important, you likely own an E Ink-based e-reader already.

Right now the YotaPhone is pegged for a tentative Q3 2013 release in Russia, with a potential for European and US release as well. By the time Q3 rolls around, however, we doubt two screens will be enough to keep the handset afloat given its decidedly mid-range spec sheet.

[via Engadget]

Fuhu’s Nabi XD to bring a 10 inch “tweener” tablet for the holidays

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 07:14 AM PST

Fuhu, the same company who brought us the nabi Jr. tablet late last month, has announced forthcoming availability of the nabi XD. No, the tablet does not exist for the sole purpose of making you laugh uncontrollably (though a few funny games might do just that). The nabi XD is Fuhu’s tablet for “tweeners,” those children who aren’t young but not particularly too old, either.

It’ll feature a 10 inch display with 1366×768 HD resolution and NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor. It’ll also feature 10-hour battery life, both front and rear cameras, NFC, Bluetooth and more. For software, it’d be running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean but not without Fuhu’s customizations on top of that.

It’s a “smart 3D” user interface called “Kanzi,” and it utilizes grids to display whatever apps, widgets and gadget you want depending on where you are and what time it is. These element automatically update with live information if the widget supports that. It sounds a tad like Windows Phone’s Metro UI in that regard.

The tablet will be compatible with a “pad-folio” accessory that turns the device into a notebook. The pad-folio features an integrated silicone keyboard cover that protects it while offering a nice typing experience at the same time. We’re also told that the tablet and keyboard are made out of aluminum so build quality should be no concern here.

We’ve got a late December window for availability, though Fuhu says this will be a limited launched. A full launch won’t come until mid January. We’re not sure just how “limited” things will be but hopefully a pre-order opportunity will spring up. As far as pricing goes, a 16GB model can be had for $250, while 32GB will cost you just $100 more. Read on for full press details.

Fuhu, Inc. Unveils nabi™ XD: The World's First Android Ultraportable for Tweens at $249

 

Fuhu, Inc. defines a new market for tablet users with its nabi™ XD, positioned as a tween's first tablet with a keyboard dedicated to homework, gaming, social networking and kid-safe browsing

 

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Dec. 12, 2012 – Fuhu, Inc., the leader in tablets made just for kids, today unveiled the new nabi™ XD: an ultraportable tablet that combines the best of a notebook and tablet PC with an amazing 10.1-inch high-definition in-plane-switching (IPS), five-point capacitive touch screen. Positioned to be your tweens' first portable computer, nabi XD features an NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 4-PLUS-1™ quad-core processor, Android™ 4.1 Jelly Bean, front and back cameras, near field communications (NFC) technology, 10-hours of battery life and the 10.1-inch screen – all for only $249. The nabi XD is a first of its kind, an Android ultraportable tablet with productivity apps, incredible console quality gaming, modified parental controls for browsing and a dynamic and intelligent gadget-based user interface that adapts based on the time of day and location.

 

Featuring the NVIDIA Tegra 3 4-PLUS-1 quad-core processor

nabi XD features a beautiful 10.1-inch IPS 1366×768 HD capacitive touch screen running the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. The NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor with a 5th battery saver core helps extend battery life so that nabi XD can go up to 10 hours between charges.

 

nabi XD introduces an affordable yet incredibly powerful, ultraportable hybrid tablet and notebook solution with pad-folio and integrated silicone keyboard cover

nabi XD features a sleek aluminum body that mirrors nabi's trademarked flared corner design built for a long a productive life. Fuhu designers and engineers spent countless hours ensuring that each nabi is built with unmatched precision — meticulously thinking through every little detail. The result is a beautiful, thin, light, polished and refined look that feels incredibly strong and durable. Combined with its patent-pending optional pad-folio and integrated silicone keyboard cover that provides a traditional typing feel, nabi XD is your tweens' ultimate first tablet PC.

 

"Smart" 3-D User Interface

In partnership with Rightware®'s Kanzi® user interface solution (UI), nabi XD is taking UIs to the next level. A tiled grid of dynamically updating gadgets, widgets and apps headlines the new UI. Pin as many gadgets as you like and move them around just the way you want. Define time and location based rules that dictate when and where your favorite gadgets show up. Want news in the morning and games in the evening? Create a rule for that! nabi XD's UI lets you create multiple home screens each with your own layout of widgets, gadgets and apps. nabi XD's home screen gadgets are designed to give you the most relevant information that you want, when you want it. Set rules for your home screens based on GPS locations, Wi-Fi networks and time, allowing you to define which home screen is the most relevant for any situation.

 

Incredible Gaming Experiences

nabi XD will be the first of the nabi family of tablets to feature NFC technologies. NFC allows you to sync devices simply by touching them together – Great for Bluetooth syncing or sync nabi's exclusive family of 16 figurines with your nabi XD and challenge them to amazing battles while leveling up your unique character. Watch out for the Battle KINABIs™ game and figurines made for nabi XD!

 

"nabi XD features the most powerful specifications and brilliant display of the nabi tablet family. We are excited about what these new features bring to gaming and content," said Fuhu's CEO Jim Mitchell. "nabi XD represents a real transition in personal portable computing with an introduction of an Android-based productivity and gaming device."

 

Pricing and Availability

The 10.1-inch nabi XD will be available late December in limited release and mid-January nationwide. The 16 GB model will be priced MSRP $249 and 32 GB for MSRP $349. Pad-folio and numerous other accessories will be available mid-January ranging from MSRP$19.99 and MSRP$89.99.

OPPO Find 5 announced with 5-inch, 1080p display and 13MP HDR camera

Posted: 12 Dec 2012 06:40 AM PST

Today OPPO introduced the world to their latest smartphone offering, the Find 5. The Find 5 features a focus on minimalist, industrial design and top-teir specs to match. The highlight of the handset is its 5-inch, 1080p IPS display, which matches the likes of HTC’s Droid DNA/Butterfly. The screen sports a pixel density of 441 ppi.

Other specs include a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro clocked at 1.5GHz, 2GB RAM, and 16GB of internal storage. A 13MP rear camera features hardware-supported HDR photos and 120FPS video capture. The OPPO Find 5 runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

OPPO says that they “create products in the intersection of romance and technology,” and hopes to create an intimate connection between the user and phone with quality materials and design. The body of the Find 5 is made of a single piece of stainless steel manipulated 12 times then plated in a black chrome finish. Clean lines and minimal bezel aim to make the phone a delight to hold.

There isn’t a whole lot of info on when and where the Find 5 will be available. A press release only states it should reach global markets sometime in early 2013.

Quality Meets Style with the OPPO Find 5 – The Fifth Element Unfolds

OPPO Find 5 Unveiled With 5" 1080P Screen, 13 Megapixel HDR Camera and More

BEIJING -December 12, 2012 -At the OPPO Find 5 "The Fifth Element" Launch Event held in 798 Art District today, OPPO introduced one of this year's most mysterious and anticipated mobile products, the OPPO Find 5. The all new, industry leading OPPO Find 5 was announced to an audience of over 500 members of the international press, OPPO fans, developers, and partners, in what marks a spectacular end of year for the mobile industry.

See – like you've been blind all along
The OPPO Find 5 features a 5.0" 1080p IPS screen with a staggering 441 PPI pixel density, allowing you to experience a world of crystal clarity and the most realistic colors. With OGS technology that combines touch sensors with display, colors are more vivid and lifelike, and you'll feel as if the screen contents are floating on its surface.

Despite its large screen, the OPPO Find 5 is easy to hold thanks to its super slim 3.25mm bezel. When the screen is off, the front becomes a borderless sheet of pure black, mysteriously calming yet satisfying to the eye.

Touch – and your fingers won't stop
Industrial design has always been one of OPPO’s core strengths. An example is the Find 5 front frame. Although it only weighs a mere 6.3 grams, the front frame alone takes four hours to craft. Starting with a 210 gram piece of stainless steel, it undergoes 12 manufacturing processes, after which it is given a black chrome plating in a 1470 °F (800 °C) vacuum environment. The result from this demanding process not only protects the screen from impact, it also contributes to the Find 5's amazing look and feel.

The overall design of the Find 5 is minimalist, relying on straight lines and simple shapes that removes distractions, while at the same time being built using the best materials and techniques available, giving OPPO Find 5 a simple and understated, yet refined and premium look and feel.

Cherish and share, the beauty from every journey
On the backside, OPPO Find 5 comes with the most advanced 1/3.06-type 13-megapixel camera sensor available on the market, adept at taking great photos in low light conditions. With market-leading Stacked CMOS technology, it features an f/2.2 aperture, 4-layer coating and blue glass filters. On the front, Find 5 it is fitted with a 1.9-megapixel camera.

OPPO Find 5 is the world's first smartphone with hardware supported HDR photography and video recording. It redefines smartphone video recording, with its capability of recording video in 120 FPS, five times the speed that the human eye can perceive. Apart from videos being silky smooth in normal playback, they will also be smooth during slow-motion playback and clear during freeze-frames. In addition, the camera on the Find 5 is capable of taking 100 photos at 5 per second with Burst Mode.

OPPO Find 5 will bring you into a new era of wireless sharing. With NFC functionality, gently touching two phones will pair them in less than a tenth of a second, 50 times faster than Bluetooth pairing. OPPO's NFC SmartTags with preset actions will add simplicity and convenience to your life. Find 5 also supports Wi-Fi Display and DLNA, two technologies that allow you to wirelessly project screen contents onto your television in HD.

Listen, and rhythm will touch your heart
Find 5 comes with the powerful Dolby 3D surround sound technology and the exciting Dirac HD technology, combination of hardware and software usually only found in high-end audio and cinema sound systems. With Dirac, you will clearly hear a difference, and become immersed in music the way the artist originally wanted to express it.

Love, for it is the Fifth Element
OPPO never set out to create the most powerful phone. Internally, we have always said that we create products in the intersection of romance and technology, and Find 5 is a product that OPPO employees worked passionately and relentlessly on. Just like Plato was convinced of quintessence, an element beyond thematerial world, there is more to the Find 5 than the mere sum of its parts. There is an element beyond the purely rational, and that element is love. OPPO Find 5 is infused with of our love, a love we wish to explore with the world.

OPPO Find 5 is set to launch in early 2013 across selected markets.

OPPO Find 5 Specifications

  • Network: UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA+/HSPA+42 (850, 1700, 1900, 2100MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz)
  • Processor: Qualcomm APQ8064 Quad-Core 1.5GHz
  • Display: 5.0" 1080P 441PPI IPS (1,080×1920)
  • Memory: 16GB ROM, 2GB RAM
  • Camera: Main: 13 megapixel Stacked CMOS sensor with HDR, Front: 1.9 megapixel, 120 FPS video recording, f/2.2 aperture, blue glass filters
  • Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth, NFC
  • Features: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), GPS, Wi-Fi Display, DLNA, Gyroscope, Digital compass, Microphone, Sensors (light, proximity, magnetic and gravity)
  • Battery: 2500 mAh built-in lithium-ion battery
  • Included Accessories: Power adapter, USB Cable, Headphones

About OPPO
OPPO is a globally registered technology brand with a long history of serving customers in North America, Europe and Asia. With offices in 6 different countries, we deliver products that receive praise from all over the world. Our core value is to explore with courage and never stop finding, and since entering the mobile market in 2008, we have been restless in our pursuit of the latest technology, the highest quality and the most user friendly products. For more information, please visit http://en.oppo.com.