Tablet war tests brand loyalty

IT'S a showdown that started in the courts and Apple's iPad and the Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 have now taken their stoush to the shelves.

While there are plenty of other Android tablets available - by Motorola, Sony and Acer, among others - the Galaxy is nearest to the iPad in terms of price, design and function. And, it appears, sales. The Galaxy has only been on sale for just over a month and customers are snapping it up - at least anecdotally, given Samsung and Apple won't release sales figures. Ben McIntosh, general manager of computers at Harvey Norman, said the Galaxy was the second-best selling tablet after the iPad. ''They are selling extremely well. We can't keep enough in stock,'' he said.

Nevertheless, Apple's tablet was selling about 50 per cent more than the Galaxy, he said.

Good Guys Brighton manager Xen Elias said the Galaxy was the best-selling Android tablet but sales ''would probably be ten-to-one in favour of the iPad''.

''I think people who aren't cluey on the products go for the iPad over the Samsung because of the brand name,'' he said. The fact that the Galaxy had missed the Christmas season because of a losing court action by Apple had also hampered the Galaxy's sales, he said.

It's no surprise the Galaxy is selling well, given the demand for a tablet of Apple quality, but free of the tightly controlled Apple ecosystem - iTunes, iCloud, the Apple app store. Many analysts think that, technically, the Galaxy is a better tablet. ''The raw grunt of the hardware is where most of the tablets have an edge over iPad 2,'' said the editor of e-magazine MacTheMag, Matthew Powell.

The Galaxy's camera and video are also clearly superior. The Samsung's front camera, for video calls, is 2 megapixels; the back camera, for photographs, is 3.1 megapixels. The iPad's resolutions, by comparison, are just 0.3 megapixels for the video and 0.7 megapixels for the camera. ''The camera on an iPad 2 is woeful, utterly woeful, but I don't think people buy tablets for the camera,'' said Mr Powell.

The other hardware differences are subtle. The Samsung weighs slightly less. It has a plastic backing unlike the iPad's all-metal finish.

And while the Galaxy's touchscreen shows higher resolution - 1280x800 compared to the iPad's 1024x768 - Mr Powell remains a fan of Apple's. ''Nothing compares to the screen of an iPad 2 at the moment. The clarity of an iPad 2 is the best out there by far.''

And there's little pricing difference. The cheapest iPad, wi-fi-only with 16GB of memory, is $553 at Harvey Norman; the wi-fi-only 16GB Samsung is $572. The iPad doesn't run Flash animation and video; the Galaxy does. Ultimately, said Mr Powell, the major difference between the tablets is the long-running generic argument of whether Apple's iOS software and ecosystem is superior to the more open Android platform.

''What it comes down to, essentially, is whether you want Google apps and Gmail or whether you want to be in Apple's ecosystem with iCloud.''

That's also the view of telecommunications analyst Paul Budde. ''I don't think it's to do with which tablet is better or not,'' he said. ''I think it's more to do with people's attitude towards Apple and to the other side, Samsung and Android.

''I don't think in terms of the quality of the devices there's not much difference.''

When Choice magazine rated tablet computers last year, the iPad came out on top, followed by the Acer Iconia Tab and the Motorola Xoom. The Galaxy came in fourth. Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn said customers should keep an open mind. ''Don't automatically assume the iPad is right for you. Check out both. You may well find for whatever reason that the Samsung might work for you. Don't presume that the iPad owns the whole market.''

Source : http://www.smh.com.au/business/tablet-war-tests-brand-loyalty-20120121-1qbbp.html

App inventor for Android becomes open source

Summary: Google and MIT have released App Inventor for Android today on an open source basis.

Google and MIT have announced an initial free and open-source release of the ‘App Inventor’ source code for Android.

In the same week that Google announced it will be closing its Picnik image editing service, Urchin web analytics tool, social graph API, Needlebase and several other products, it seems this tool has also been given the boot as a Google service.

The search engine giant has continually expanded its business and influence, so it stands to reason sometimes projects will be shuttered or released in order to allow Google to strengthen other areas. For those that would like a crack at improving software or products, making the App Inventor open source gives others this chance.

After Google first announced its plans to bin the development platform, it found a new home atMIT labs, in order to allow continued use for educational purposes. The labs already host Scratch— an interface designed to create apps, games or animations.

App Inventor assumes users have zero programming knowledge, and allows developers to create mobile apps for a variety of functions through a drag-and-drop visual interface.

According to the MIT blog:

There’s currently little supporting documentation yet, and we’re not accepting contributions to the code right now. That will happen later, after the MIT Center of Mobile Learning opens their App Inventor server to the public. We hope to nurture a robust and active open-source project eventually, but for now we don’t want to distract the MIT developers from their efforts to complete and deploy the large-scale public server.

An accompanying Google group for would-be developers has also been established to help open-source developers if they wish to use the code, and BuildingAndRunning is an additional resource to help people get started.

The released code will be updated by Google to mirror what is running at the latest MIT experimental system.

MIT isn’t ready to accept code contributions from the open source developer community, but anyone can download, build, use, and modify the App Inventor for their own needs. In the future, these users will also be able to contribute to improving the development tool.

If people create modified versions of the code, according to Google they are free to use both the term ‘App Inventor’ and the puzzle-piece Android logo in their work.

Source : http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/app-inventor-for-android-becomes-open-source/14801

How Much Does Windows Phone 7 Cost?

Not only does Microsoft now milk money out ofmore than 70%ofGoogle(NAS:GOOG) Android devices sold domestically, but the software giant also demands a hefty price tag for its own Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. The amount of those Android licensing fees has been estimated between $10 and $15 per device from popular OEMs such as Samsung and HTC.

Chinese gadget maker ZTE has inadvertently tipped part of Microsoft's hand by disclosing that it pays Mr. Softy between $20 and $30, after converting from euros. The tidbit was revealed by ZTE UK portfolio manager Santiago Sierra at the U.K. launch of the ZTE Tania Windows Phone, and it's the first time any manufacturer has divulged Windows Phone licensing figures.

Unsurprisingly, ZTE explicitly said that creating a Windows Phone costs more than a comparable Android one, because of its "different cost structure." While open-source Android is obviously free, there are some other implicit costs associated with building an Android phone.

When a manufacturer wants to build an Android phone, it can get the OS for free but has to do a lot of legwork picking hardware and making sure the software integrates properly with the hardware. That's not to say Google doesn't work with OEMs; it certainly collaborates with major makers such as Samsung, HTC, andMotorola Mobility(NYS:MMI) .

Shortly after it announced the Motorola acquisition, someslides were leakedshowing that Google favors some device partners (including Motorola) that build to Google's specifications. With as many Android OEMs as there are, it's unrealistic that Google gives them all this level of attention.

In contrast, that Windows Phone license fee will also get an OEM more support from Microsoft in terms of providing precise specifications that it will need to produce the phone, and it also provides software drivers and code along with the OS.

With Microsoft just having reportingearnings, you'll notice that the company's Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD) grew its revenue by 15% to $4.2 billion. Windows Phone and related patent-licensing revenue is included in EDD, along with Xbox and Skype. EDD's revenue growth was attributed to the latter two, while the 21% drop in EDD operating income was partially due to payments to Windows Phone partnerNokia(NYS:NOK) .

Windows Phone doesn't look like it's paying off quite yet. While WP7's market share still lags Android, at least Microsoft is bringing in dollars from both.

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/01/21/how-much-does-windows-phone-7-cost/

Android this week: Acer A200 tablet; a must-have app; Ice Cream Sandwich rolls out

Android was everywhere at this month’s Consumer Electronics Show, but the downside to the event is that many products don’t hit retail shelves for months. Acer took a decidedly different approach by launching the A200 tablet at CES and getting it in stores soon after. A 16 GB version of the A200 is now available at Best Buy for $349, or $100 less than last year’s A500 slate. But outside of the price drop, there isn’t much that’s different in this 10.1-inch tablet refresh.

Just like the old A500, Acer chose a 1 GHz dual core processor and the Honeycomb version of Android for the new A200. The device is lighter and keeps the many ports from the prior model: Full-sized USB, microSD card slot and micro USB jack to name a few. Gone is the rear camera on the A200, but it does keep a 2 megapixel front-facing sensor for video chatting or images. At this price, the A200 is surely worth a look and will be even more attractive once Acer pushes out the expected software update to Android 4.0; possibly as early as next month.

Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi tablet owners don’t have to wait for a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich, however. The company began to roll out Android 4.0.3 to the Xoom this week and will continue to push the software out in waves. The updated software could help give new life for the first Android tablet, which arrived nearly a year ago to generally mediocre reviews.

How much will Android 4.0 improve the experience on a Xoom tablet? That will vary by each individual’s needs, but overall the device is better with the updated software according to Jason Perlow of ZDNet. He used a enthusiast-created version for two weeks and then got the official upgrade a few days earlier than consumers. There are still some rough edges in the operating system, he says, but most will welcome the improved interface on their tablet.

While I wait for Android 4.0 to appear on my own 10.1-inch tablet, I’m enjoying Android 4.0 on my smartphone and this week found a new app that I consider a “must try”, if not a “must have” for Android devices. Wikipedia finally debuted its Android app this week and while you could use a browser to access the online encyclopedia, I find thefree app in the Android Market much better. Simple sharing of Wikipedia entries, support for offline article reading and GPS-powered local Wikipedia results all add to the experience.

Source : http://gigaom.com/mobile/android-this-week-acer-a200-tablet-a-must-have-app-ice-cream-sandwich-rolls-out/

With Android, Have Samsung Learned From Their Symbian Mistakes?

The Samsung i8510, running Symbian

I can’t help but feel that Samsung have been here before.

The operating system that powers their critically acclaimed smartphone range is not under their control, but a third party. That third party is telling everyone of the level playing field and the economy of scale benefits it will have, but another manufacturer is moving ever closer to full integration of the hardware and software, threatening Samsung.

Then, the operating system was Symbian, and while the organisation was part owned by Nokia, Samsung, Ericsson, Sony Ericsson, Matsushita, Psion and Motorola throughout its history, Nokia built up it’s stake until eventually buying out all the partners in December 2008. Symbian’s public goal was always to be platform neutral and to let manufacturers make differentiations at the software level. But Nokia played their cards inside Symbian far better than Samsung, steering the project closer to their vision and becoming the dominant partner… at which point Samsung left.

Now, the operating system is Android, and while the Android core is managed by Google at arms length from partners including Samsung, HTC, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola, the purchase of Motorola’s mobile division by Google (and the assurances that there won’t be any favouritism) must feel like a little bit of history repeating itself.

There are two clear differences this time around though. The first is sales. Nokia had the lion’s share of Symbian units, and with Android the Samsung Galaxy range is definitely at the top of the Android pile – much like Nokia’s N95 was the leading Symbian phone (before the world went touch-screen slabs).

The second difference is that there’s no place to go if Samsung decide to move to another platform. Symbian is a practical dead end (and is now fully owned by Nokia in any case); iOS is a non-starter for obvious reasons; WebOS failed in the marketplace and unlikely to get another chance.

Samsung do have Bada, a mobile phone platform that’s more suited to the advanced feature phone market, but I fear that the merging of Bada with Intel’s Tizen is going to cause more headaches for the platform, and making it stable for commercial use will take years – and then you have the problem of getting people to develop apps for the handsets.

And then there’s Windows Phone. Samsung do have a number of handsets already on the platform (including the Focus S, which looks so much like a Galaxy S II that UK networks reportedly wouldn’t stock the device as it would cause confusion in their retail stores). But there’s a problem there. Microsoft may be keeping all the Windows Phone hardware partners in check, but one of them is getting a lot more coverage than others. Nokia.

There’s no bolt-hole for Samsung this time. Whatever Google and Motorola get up to, Samsung are going to have to stay on the train. That’s good for Android, but it’s not good for Samsung. While the sales and acclaim will continue for the next year or so, they are not completely in control of their own fate. Samsung must have brainstormed the “what if” scenarios. Can they get Bada/Tizen ready for the smartphones, will the acceleration of Windows Phone prove a useful level at any negotiating table, or will they accept the Motorola issue with Android and ensure things are different this time around?

Every year is an interesting year for those of us watching the smartphone world – and where Samsung go next is just one of the stories that I can’t wait to see play out.

Source : http://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2012/01/21/with-android-have-samsung-learned-from-their-symbian-mistakes/

GOOGLE'S ANDROID AND SOCIAL NETWORKING: 'PLUSES' AND MINUSES

Google Plus, the social network platform designed to compete with Facebook, has around 90 million users, the Web giant said Thursday.

That's more than twice as much as Google Plus boasted three months ago when it had about 40 million users, The Associated Press reported.

Google still has a long way to catch up to Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook, whose user base climbed to an astonishing 800 million last fall. And not everyone is convinced that Plus will emerge as a significant threat to Facebook.

“The engagement levels on Google Plus are pathetic compared to the larger platforms on social media,"The New York Times quoted Stifel Nicolaus analyst Jordan Rohan as declaring. “The company will argue with different statistics, but most would discount what they say as an overly optimistic view."

Google's quarterly earnings Thursday failed to meet analysts' expectations despite what the Times reported reflected record-breaking revenues of $10.58 billion at the 13-year-old company. One of the concerns was that the search-engine king obtained less money per click on its online advertisements, and increased operating expenses also may have played a factor in Google's declining stock price following its earnings announcement. 

The mobile Android software for smartphones and tablet computers is one of the platforms driving growth at Google, which Fortune has rated the No. 1 company for which to work. CEO Larry Page, the AP reported, said Android is running on 250 million smartphones and other devices. Android, however, may be one of the reasons Google's operating expenses are rising.

"You've got to ask yourself, 'Where is the money going? What are they spending it on?' I have a feeling it is on platforms like Chrome and Android, and things like that," Reuters quoted Fort Pitt Capital analyst Kim Forrest as stating.

Mountain View, Calif.-based Google is poised to significantly enhance its stake in the wireless market though its pending $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility, the handset maker. Some analysts, however, are concerned about the deal's impact on Google's financials and whether the acquisition will alienate some handset manufacturers that compete with Motorola Mobility and helped Google get on the map with Android.  

“Motorola really is going to be a tough one to swallow. It’s going to wreck their income statement," the Times quoted BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis as asserting.

Source : http://www.vision2mobile.com/news/2012/01/google-plus-android-growing.aspx

Android share doubles iPhone in U.S., Samsung most popular vendor

Google’s share of the smartphone market in the United States is now nearly double that of Apple’s iPhone according to new data published Friday. A new report from market research firm iGR states that 47% of U.S. smartphone owners have Android devices while 24% own Apple’s iPhone. The company also found that Samsung is the most popular brand among Android users in the U.S. followed by Motorola, HTC and LG. Less than half of Android users researched the mobile OS before purchasing their smartphones according to the study, and 27% said Google’s reputation was a key factor when they made the decision to purchase an Android phone. ”Understanding why consumers select specific brands and certain smartphones is critical to the success of OEMs in the highly competitive U.S. handset market,” iGR Research Analyst Sarah Thoman said in a statement. “While a user’s current handset brand influences the selection of a new Android smartphone, many other factors also come into play. For example, handset display quality and functionality also highly influenced the smartphone purchase decision.” IGR’s press release follows below.

New iGR Research Shows Samsung as Most Preferred Android Device Brand Among Consumers

Consumer Surveys Also Show That 45 Percent of Android Users Researched the OS Prior to Purchase and Specifically Wanted an Android Device

AUSTIN, TX, Jan 20, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — The popularity of the Google Android smartphone operating system (OS) has increased significantly in the last few years. New iGR research shows that, at present, 47 percent of U.S. smartphone users have an Android device, followed by 24 percent who own/use an Apple iPhone. Of the major brands supporting Android, Samsung has the highest brand preference among consumers, followed by Motorola, HTC and LG. ZTE and Huawei ranked toward the bottom of the brands studied, although note that these brands currently sell comparatively lower volumes in the U.S. market.

iGR’s new research also shows that 45 percent of Android users researched the OS prior to purchase and specifically selected an Android device when they bought a new smartphone. It also appears that Google’s reputation is driving Android sales — 27 percent of Android users said that they selected an Android smartphone because they believed that Google was a “reputable company” and therefore inferred that Android must also be reputable.

These findings, as well as others relating to consumers’ Android brand preferences and impressions, are presented in iGR’s new market study Android Brand Preferences: U.S. Consumers, published in January 2012.

“Understanding why consumers select specific brands and certain smartphones is critical to the success of OEMs in the highly competitive U.S. handset market,” says iGR Research Analyst, Sarah Thoman, who authored the study. “While a user’s current handset brand influences the selection of a new Android smartphone, many other factors also come into play. For example, handset display quality and functionality also highly influenced the smartphone purchase decision.”

iGR’s new study, Android Brand Preferences: U.S. Consumers, addresses several key topics:

• The number of Android smartphones sold in the U.S. in 2011 (by quarter)
• Why consumers buy Android smartphones
• The profile of the typical Android smartphone user
• The handset features users like on Android smartphones
• How consumers rank Android OEM brands and why
• How the user’s current device brand impacts that user’s Android smartphone purchase
• Which Android OEM brands are associated with the major mobile operators

Source : http://www.bgr.com/2012/01/20/android-share-doubles-iphone-in-u-s-samsung-most-popular-vendor/