BlueStacks Android emulator expands to Windows XP and Vista

If you’re still holding on to your ancient Windows XP machine and you’ve got a hankering to try out the impressive BlueStacks app emulator, today is your lucky day. The software is expanding support to older Windows versions, XP and Vista, and it already supported Windows 7. Other than the expanded platform support there isn’t much new, since the premium version and the OS X version are still in development.You can download the software from their website.

BlueStacks got a lot of attention when they debuted their Android emulator, which allows quick and easy access to free Android apps. Users can also move apps from their Android phone to BlueStacks on their computer using a software portal. The performance isn’t great at the moment – you’ll need a powerful computer to run games smoothly – but the ability to run Android apps relatively painless ly on desktop hardware is alluring. It’ll only become more so as Windows moves into the tablet realm with Windows 8.The software is already showing up on at least one ViewSonic tablet.
AMD agrees. The processor company invested 5.6 million dollars into the company to spur its development, and help create a viable base of touch-enabled apps for x86 netbooks and tablets. With all this interest comes some very exciting times for BlueStacks – we’ll probably be seeing them at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. We’ll be on the lookout for more feature and platform updates.

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Android gets AirPlay-like streaming via xBounds

One of the things that make it easy for iOS users to shoot music and other content around the home or office with no wires is AirPlay. I would imagine that many Android fans have thought something similar to that would be nice. A new device called xBounds has landed that will let you shoot video from an Android device out to a larger screen. The device even supports multiple player gaming.

The xBounds device is a little HDMI dongle that hooks to the TV and has WiFi tech inside. The Android device connects to it using software and a WiFi network, that WiFi network can be encrypted. Once the Android tablet or smartphone is connected to that xBounds HDMI dongle you can stream any video content you want over to the TV or display. The cool part is that you can stream both video games and streaming video content like Netflix or purchased movies.

The content on the external display reacts in real time along with the actions on screen. You can see in the demo video below the developer of the device playing Angry Birds with no lag between the smartphone screen action and the big screen. This would certainly make for an easier way to stream you movies to the TV than having to use HDMI output. The developer kit for xBounds sells for 998 euro and the consumer kit sells for 99 euro. The price is certainly the biggest downside to the xBounds system.




[via SlashGear]

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Android.com Gets New Design, Easter Egg Discovered

If you haven’t already noticed by now, Android.com has gotten an overhaul. It makes the site more inviting and user friendly, giving users a rundown of Android and its market ecosystem. Platform features are highlighted in an aesthetically pleasing way but there isn’t much here we don’t already know… except for one thing. At the bottom right of the site is a little Android robot and hovering your mouse over it makes it do interesting things. It can wave, it can do the moonwalk, it can juggle and more. The most interesting are the series of semaphore flag signals it shows. It spells out “Adroid” (no typo) but were not sure where the”n” is. I’ll leave you to find out what else it can do over at Android.com. [via 4android.ru]

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Android gets more IT developer interest than iOS and Windows Phone 7

Even the most ardent of iOS evangelists can’t argue with Android’s worldwide success, to the tune of a full 50% sales market share as of last quarter. It looks like developers, specifically in the IT area, are taking notice. When IBM gave a survey to IT pros on which platform they were more interested in, Android won by a landslide, beating out both Apple and Microsoft in their relevant areas.

That’s very interesting, given that it’s also undeniable that there’s more money to be made in direct sales on iOS (at the moment, at least). Android is beating out iOS by a solid 20%, though responders were able to answer for more than one platform in the survey. 70% of responders said they were interested in developing for Android, while 49% were interested in iOS. Just 35% were interested in Windows Phone 7, though to be honest, even that’s a little surprising given its market share at the moment.
IBM is an interesting one to make the conclusions it does in the survey, namely that “Developers looking to increase their mobile skills would be smart to look to Android.” Remember that IBM is no longer producing consumer-level hardware – Lenovo now owns the ThinkPad brand, and they’ve produced several Android tablets under their IdeaPad brand. The IBM study just serves to highlight what you, dear reader, already know: Android is crushing it in the app world as well as hardware.
[via BGR]

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Harness Android Open Accessory Protocol with Electric Sheep

If you are the sort that likes to tinker and come up with your own accessories and apps for your Android device electric Sheep will tickle your fancy. Electric Sheep comes from a company called SparkFun and can hook to your Android device using a USB port. The little Electric Sheep board takes advantage of Android’s Open Accessory Protocol.

The board will give the user access to the phone systems for developing accessories and apps for different uses. The board also allows interaction with a microcontroller like Arduino. The Electric Sheep board will work with any Android device, not just smartphones. It has a USB header onboard for direct connectivity.
The board uses an ATMega1560 microcontroller and bootloader. The USB-host connector allows for easy connection to the Android device using a USB port. Electric Sheep is compatible with Arduino IDEA and HandBag. It is also Arduino-shield compatible. The Electric Sheep board is priced at $79.95 per unit.
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Kindle Fire Source Code Now Available And Ready For Download

Well, that wasn’t too long at all. Complying with the AOSP agreement, Amazon has released the source code to the recently release Kindle Fire. While this may not mean too much for your average Joe or soccer mom, this is how developers and modders are able to create custom ROMs, kernels and generally make some really cool stuff happen for a device. While that’s not totally certain, it is the first steps to making that happen. Now, all we can do is wait to see if the Kindle Fire can be rooted and we may see some custom ROMs cooked up for the device in the very near future.
If you want to take a peak at the source code, head on over to the source link for the download.
[Via BriefMobile]

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Sharp’s 7-inch Android tablet breaks cover

Back in mid-September, we got word that the Sharp Galapagos 5.5-inch and 10.8-inch tablets had been killed off. These tablets never sold very well. Sharp hoped at the time that its 7-inch Galapagos tablet would be better received by the Android tablet buyers out there. I have my doubts about that, but the Sharp Galapagos 7-inch tablet has now been seen in the flesh.

The tablet has a 7-inch 1024 x 600 screen and packs in a Tegra 2 processor with dual cores. The device has 1GB of memory and it has 8GB of internal storage. A microSD card slot handles more storage if you run out. Other features include WiFi, Bluetooth, and WiMax connectivity. That WiMax connection allows the tablet to get onto the speedy network wherever it goes.
It also features a hot spot function that will allow the connectivity to be shared with up to seven other devices. The battery inside the tablet is rated for six hours of video playback and about 7.5 hours of still image perusing. Sharp also integrates HDMI output for shooting content to a TV. Pricing is unknown and a lot of the success will depend on the cost. The tablet will apparently hit Japan first on September 12, almost exactly a year after the other two tablets were axed.

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More than 50 percent of all smartphones sold worldwide run Android

The global domination of Android has seemed inexorable for the last year and a half, and now new research tells us what we’ve long suspected. According to Gartner, more than half of all smartphones sold worldwide use Android as of the third quarter of 2011. To be exact, 52.5% of all new smartphones sold come with Google’s OS in one form or another, with 60 million units and change being sold in the three months period. That’s an almost 200% rise over the same time span last year.

As far as manufacturers go, Nokia remains top dog in the overall market, selling 105 million devices including smartphones and “featurephones”. Samsung is hot on their heels at 78.6 million, with LG in a distant third at 21 million. Apple, ZTE, Research in Motion, HTC, Motorola, Huawei and Sony round out the top ten. Again, the placement includes featurephones, though in Apple and RIM’s cases the distinction doesn’t matter. Samsung is the largest manufacturer of smartphones at 24 million, with Apple following at 17 million.
Android has essentially doubles its market share in terms of sales over the last year. When compared to other operating systems, Android’s lead becomes even more dramatic. Nokia’s Symbian OS still powers 16.9% of smartphones, with Apple’s iOS trailing at 15%. Nokia’s market share is down a staggering 20 points year over year (though they’re transitioning to Windows Phone 7), while Apple lost 1.6. Blackberry has just 11%, while Samsung’s in-house OS Bada is actually beating Microsoft’s combined Windows share, at 2.2 and 1.5 percent, respectively.

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Android’s strength is also its weakness: Decentralization

For years, I’ve been on the sidelines of the exploding mobile market. While I’ve been obsessed with and up to date on mobile technology, I’ve never had a Sidekick or a Blackberry (or even a Razr) because of the costs. Only now am I upgrading my phone to something “smarter”.

The Backstory

Android’s market share skyrocketed during its short lifespan. After operating for two years, Android Inc. was acquired by Google in 2005. Google publically unveiled the Android distribution in late 2007. Four years later, Android is now estimated to make up almost 50% of the worldwide smartphone market (according to Canalys). Apple’s iOS, on the other hand, is estimated to make up only 19% of the mobile market-share. So, how did Android manage to overtake iOS, despite publically launching months later? The answer is decentralization.

Decentralized Distribution: The Good

Android found strength in mass distribution. Google captured the hearts of companies like HTC, Samsung and Motorola by giving them a competitive platform for free, unknowing that Microsoft would eventually collect hefty royalties. This gift saved them in many ways, and brought intelligent phones to a lot of new pockets. At the bottom of the barrel, you can snag an Android phone for under $100 without a contract. Top of the line offerings like the Droid Bionic (pictured below) cost upwards of $300 USD even with a two year contract at Verizon. That’s the great thing about Android, it works with (almost) any budget.
Unlike iOS, Android isn’t a one size fits all product. Besides the open price range, Android’s flexibility appeals to different tastes and allows for manufacturers to innovate in their own way. Our own Social Media Editor, Sherilynn Macale, took advantage of her Galaxy SII’s customization abilities and showed them off in her article on moving from iOS to Android (warning: her phone’s mind-numbingly cute). As you can see, there are hundreds of available themes and hacks that iPhone fans could only dream of.
Android is also carrier agnostic, and benefited from the iPhone’s slow movement beyond AT&T in the U.S. Now that the iPhone has spread to 3 carriers, this advantage is slowly disappearing.

Mixed Results: The Downside of Fragmentation.

The worst aspect of Android is the freedom different carriers and manufacturers have. Just from the marketing end, the variety of similar looking devices creates customer confusion, and the worst Android implementations are usually the cheapest. Crappy hardware leads to a terrible experience, which makes everyone want to move on to something else.
Hardware isn’t the only problem. UI replacements vary by manufacturer, and include Motorola’s Motoblur and HTC’s Sense. These implementations limit customization possibilities and provide a bland experience. It’s hard to imagine the idea of computer manufacturers creating their own MS Windows overlay, so why is this commonly done with Android? Unfortunately, a lot of the time these UI replacements are necessary. For example, the HTC Status (aka Chacha, pictured below) has a small screen and needed an optomized UI.
OS fragmentation is another issue. Google relies on manufacturers and carriers to dictate when and if a phone gets an update, which kills the hype of new upgrades and further abstracts the Android experience. OS fragmentation also alienates developers, who must release multiple versions to assure compatibility with all devices.
Here’s the ultimate problem: “Device envy” seldom happens because Android spreads itself too thin. Because there are so many options, there’s never one single product to lust after. The iPhone is just that: one OS and one hardware unit. The iPhone oozes envy because it is a single, tangible entity. When someone says they have an Android phone, it can mean almost anything in terms of quality and sophistication. There is a disconnect between the strong Android brand and the products outside companies throw together for a cheap buck.

That Windows Phone? Is Android’s Biggest Competitor

I’m a sucker for aesthetics and haven’t spent much time on a PC since Vista came out. Awhile ago, my Dad had early iterations of the Windows phone for work, and if I remember correctly, it felt like they slapped a desktop OS into a Blackberry. Time has passed and Microsoft is further behind in the race than it ever should have been. But despite Ballmer (or because of Ballmer), I have faith in the newest release of Windows Phone 7. I’m particularly a fan of Nokia and its beautiful hardware design. If given the choice, I’d almost favor a Nokia N9 filled with iOS 5, just because it feels fresh. (Don’t miss our West Coast Editor, Matthew Panzarino‘s post from yesterday: Nokia Lumia 800: The first device that would make me give up the iPhone)
The biggest threat to Android may be Microsoft, because even though the iPhone continues to grow in popularity, it will likely never monopolize the market. Now that WP is up to par and available on many devices and carriers, Android is no longer the only way to escape Apple’s preachy fans. If WP starts picking up steam, carriers will promote fewer Android phones and average consumers will buy the new product that access Facebook and email the fastest.
If Android does retain its mobile market-share, while growing on tablets (things can only get better at this point), it will at the very least survive a long while. But if Microsoft blows its chance with Windows Phone, something else will step in as Android’s new threat.

Conclusion

Decentralization is both a blessing and a curse. It’s gotten Google far very quickly, but may end up causing a slow down later on. The iPhone and Android are both stronger than ever before, clearly hurting RIM’s share, and only time will tell us what survives. After harping on all of Android’s problems, the solution is still unclear. Now that Android has achieved market dominance, I feel Google needs to start enforcing a more unified user experience. They need to create something consistently brag-able.

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Schmidt: we’ll support Android partners in lawsuits

Google exec Eric Schmidt has been partying hard (and presumably doing some work too) in Asia this week. We’ve had some great quotes, including the claim that Motorola won’t be favoured, the assertion that Android preceded the iPhone (technically sort of true), and some waffle about Siri affecting the way we searchonline.

Now, during a stint in Taiwan, Schmidt has been reiterating Google’s support for its Android partners in the war against Apple.

Of course, Taiwan is home to one of the most prolific Android handset manufacturers, namely HTC. It’s well into double figures this year alone. Encroyable.

"We tell our partners, including the ones here in Taiwan, we will support them," Schmidt revealed. "For example, we have been supporting HTC in its dispute with Apple because we think that the Apple thing is not correct."

Earlier this week, Schmidt responded to the late Steve Jobs’ claim (via his biography) that Google had “f**king ripped off the iPhone”, saying: “I think most people would agree that Google is a great innovator and I would also point out that the Android effort started before the iPhone effort."

Yeah, it might’ve started before, but it’s a question of how Android evolved to compete with iOS. There’s no denying the similarities.

Anyway, that’s for a series of judges across the globe to decide; I'm merely a lowly commentator.

via: PC Pro

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For the kids: Toys ‘R’ Us Reveals $200 Nabi tablet

Kids love smartphones and tablets. If you’ve ever taken your six-year-old to dinner and whipped out your smartphone, you know this to be true. The combination of a shiny gadget and a touchscreen is irresistible. But handing over $700 worth of HTC Jetstream to tiny hands that have been known to destroy anything that they can touch is a hard prospect indeed. Enter the Nabi, a safe, kid-friendly tablet from Toys ‘R’ Us designed to allow the youngins to have their fun while you keep your peace of mind.

The Navi Nabi features a 7-inch, 800 x 480 screen running a heavily customized version of Android, crammed into an ultra-protective case. Specs are nothing to write home about, and that’s for sure: a 533Mhz ARM processor can’t handle too much, even if it is dual-core. You get 4GB of storage, a single forward-facing camera, and a WiFi-only connection, a 3,000 mAh battery and that’s it – very Spartan.
The important thing about the Nabi is the software. The locked-down environment allow access to selected apps and games, a specialized “safe” web browser and access to the Nabi App store, populated by safe and simple games and educational apps. You can customize the tablet with whimsical cases, two of which are shaped like bears. Now the real question is, is the Nabi a better kid-friendly solution than buying an Amazon Kindle Fire or a Lenovo A1 and loading up some specialized software like Zoodles?  You’ve got until December 1st to decide – that’s when the Nabi goes on sale for $199.99.

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Android dominates in Southeast Asia as smartphone sales leap 1,000%

Android has charted an unprecedented 1,000 percent increase in sales over the last year in Southeast Asia as the Google owned operating system topped the region’s smartphone industry.
The figures, which come from a report from GfK Asia cited by ZDNet Asia, have seen Android rise to the top spot as the only OS to have seen “unwavering” growth in Southeast Asia during every month over the last year.
The explosive growth reported by GfK, whose data is compiled from tracked sales in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines, has taken Android’s sales beyond those of Nokia’s Symbian and RIM’s BlackBerry which it previously trailed as recently as the first quarter of this year.
The three OSes have a combined 90 percent market share, but Android on its own is thought to account for almost 40 percent of the region’s smartphone market, which GfK estimates to be worth $1.5 billion. The industry is booming in the region with overall smartphones sales up 120% in the last year after 4.7 devices were sold in the third quarter of 2011.
The growing range of Android’s devices, which increased this year from 50 to 170, and handset partners is a key source of its success according to GFK’s Benedict Hong:

With the ongoing engagement and partnership model between Google and major manufacturers, we can expect more innovative Android smartphones to swamp the marketplace; at least, until there is another major breakthrough that can shake the dynamics of the smartphone OS industry.

Despite its impressive growth, Android is still yet to break BlackBerry’s dominance in Indonesia’s lucrative market or topple Nokia who still reigns in Vietnam’s smartphone industry.
All signs point to Android’s continued dominance in Southeast Asia and the Asian continentas a whole where shipments of its devices have been tipped to triple this year, according to ABI Research.
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt is currently in Asia on a tour that has seen him meet with operators and mobile industry executives in Taiwan and South Korea. Mobile has figured prominently on Schmidt’s agenda as the company looks to develop Android’s position in key markets in the continent.

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Schmidt commits to “open Android”, says iPhone started late

In a visit to South Korea, Reuters reports that Google boss Eric Schmidt wanted to reassure the native home of Samsung that the company’s upcoming acquisition of Motorola wouldn’t impact its relationship with other Android manufacturers. “The Motorola deal will close and we will run it sufficiently and independently,” he said,”it will not violate the openness of Android.” Schmidt also took a moment to comment on the late Steve Jobs, whose official biography is causing much speculation on the early days of Android and the iPhone.

This isn’t the first time Google has reassured its OEM partners of its continuing neutrality in the Motorola Mobility purchase, but considering Schmidt’s audience, the repetition is understandable. Google has also committed to protecting its partners from Android-based litigation, though Motorola is the only manufacturer that has yet to sign a patent licensing agreement with Microsoft. Apple doesn’t want to deal with anyone: they’re suing Samsung, HTC and others over design patents all over the world.
Speaking on Steve Jobs’ biography, Schmidt had nothing but good things to say about the late Apple CEO. He did take a moment to get in a quick dig at the iPhone, though, noting that development on the original Android system (before Google bought the start-up company) pre-dates all known development on the iPhone. “I would also point out that the Android effort started before the iPhone effort,” said Schmidt. Technically this is true: even though the first commercial Android device wasn’t available until 2008, Andy Rubin founded the original Android, Inc. company way back in 2003. Schmidt refused to comment on the biography itself, and it’s worth noting that Schmidt served on the Board of Directors for Apple from 2006-2009, and had considerable personal interaction with Steve Jobs.
[via SlashGear]

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Samsung and Android continue their bullish run

Analysis reports from Nielsen and research firm, IDC have brought to light the changing trends in the smart phone market, with Samsung and Android coming on top. In terms of platforms, Nielsen has reported that Google’s Android is the only smart phone platform to expand its market share in the United States in the past three months.
Android achieved a 4 per cent increase from their Q2 result. Android is clearly the most popular platform in the United States, with 43% of the smart phone users of the United States using an Android powered device. Of all mobile subscriptions in the US, 43% users own a smart phone.
Despite not releasing a new iPhone in Q3, Apple maintained its 28% market share of iOS. With the release of their latest iPhone, the iPhone 4S, the Cupertino giant will be hoping for an upward trend in sales in the holiday season. Among other smart phone platforms, RIM’s BlackBerry’s dismal run continues, with the Canadian company powering just about 18% of smart phone devices.
This is a 2 per cent drop from their Q2 result. Windows Mobile suffered a similar or perhaps worse fate, with a 2 per cent drop in usage bringing its share down to 7%. Clearly, the usability and efficiency of Android and iOS is snatching market share from almost all the players in the smart phone business.
The IDC analysis presents a correlated result, with Samsung finally achieving what was previously rumored- overtaking Apple in Q3 as the largest smart phone maker of the world, with Finnish giant Nokia at 3rd position. Samsung recorded a mammoth leap in its share of smart phones all over the world, with 20% of all smart phones being produced by Samsung, up from 8.8% last year. Understandably, Apple recorded a 2 per cent drop to 15%, and Nokia’s share plummeted to 14% from 28% last year. Taiwan based HTC broke into the top 5 with their share rising to 11% from 7.1% the previous year.
In terms of numbers, Samsung sold 23.6 million smart phones and Apple, 17.1 million smart phones. IDC’s senior research analyst, Ramon Llamas remarked that Samsung will face a challenge from Apple’s latest iPhone 4S, which also translates into cheaper previous models of iPhones. Nokia’s latest Windows Phone releases will give the company a ray of hope, analysts said. And with HTC making rapid growth, there is no clear leader yet in the smart phone market and the expanding smartphone market means that the current leaders have not yet solidified their market share, leaving the field open for companies to overtake each other.
A huge portion of Samsung’s success game from their Galaxy S line of phones, including the Samsung Epic Touch 4G and the ATT Samsung GalaxyS II.

Related articles

• Samsung blows past Apple to take No. 1 smartphone spot in Q3 (tech-gadget.co.in)
• Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy Note (goandroid.co.in)

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Can Android compete with the iPod Touch, and does it need to?

Earlier this week we reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0, an Android device with the iPod Touch squarely in its crosshairs. It’s not the first, either: Samsung, Archos and innumerable smaller companies have released phone-sized Android devices designed primarily for media and app consumption, just like the Apple device. So far, they’ve failed to make a dent in the low-cost, high-function section of the market.

Part of the reason is that Apple so kicky dominated it when the iPod Touch was released in 2007. That isn’t to say that Apple invented the large-screen media player; Archos had a solid following for its codec-rich media players before, and they still do. But the combination of a low price and access to thousands of apps proved hard to resist, especially for those who didn’t want or couldn’t afford a smartphone’s monthly data plan. In that sense it’s perfect device for kids, who might not be trusted with a phone that costs $500 to replace. To date, the iPod Touch has sold more than 60 million units.
Despite an Android app environment that’s quickly become just as rich as iOS, the Touch is still untouchable in its market space. Android media players have better specifications, more capable software, expandable memory, and until the latest generation, better screens as well. What makes Apple so unbeatable here? Part of it is certainly the phenomenal marketing machine at Cupertino, but that alone has failed to stem the tide of Android on smartphones, and more recently, tablets.

In many ways, Android is a victim of its own success. With entry-level Android phones mostly free on contract, who would want to buy or carry around an extra device? And for someone willing to spend $200-300 on a new iPod who wants an Android alternative, low-priced tablets like the Nook Color and the upcoming Nook Tablet provide a similar experience with a much larger display at a similar price. With the 3-5 inch media player market squeezed from the bottom and the top, there isn’t much room for an in-between gadget like the Galaxy Player.
But does there need to be? For someone budget-conscious who’s committed (or stuck) to the Apple universe, there’s only two avenues to iOS without signing a contract: the $200 iPod Touch, or the $500 iPad. That’s a big gap in price and functionality. Switching to Android opens up your options considerably, mostly in the cheap tablet space. Unless you’ve absolutely got to have a WiFi device that fits in your pocket – like a phone, without the phone – why wouldn’t you go bigger?

And things are only getting better for Android tablets, especially on the low end. Right now if you’ve got a maximum budget of $300 for a tablet, odds are you’re getting Gingerbread, not Honeycomb. But once Ice Cream Sandwich is open sourced, all the cheap inexpensive tablets and in-between devices should start shipping with an interface that’s meant to be used on a 7-10 inch screen. Again, you sacrifice some portability, but in a device that can’t connect to a cellular service without help, does that really matter?
In short, Android tablets aren’t competing with the iPad, at least on the low end. They’re competing with the iPod Touch. And if the pre-orders of the Amazon Kindle Fire are any indication, they represent a serious threat to Apple.

Tablets are naturally good at what the iPod Touch does: simple, cheap consumption of media, web and apps. So far Froyo and Gingerbread tablets have been cut off from official support for the Android market, barring a few high-profile exceptions like the HTC Flyer and the original Galaxy Tab. But with the Amazon Appstore showing up on more devices, not to mention the $199 Amazon Kindle Fire itself, access to apps and media is becoming less and less of a problem. Maybe Google will even relax its requirements and allow more device to carry official Google apps once Ice Cream Sandwich becomes open-source. We’ll see.
Is there a space for small Android media players? Certainly. The problem is that that niche and the mindshare is filled so perfectly by the iPod Touch that manufacturers have a hard time justifying the competition. With Android tablets coming into their own and filling the media player segment, the drive towards creating phone-sized media devices is smaller and smaller. Tablets make great media consumption devices, and cheaper ones will begin to invade the iPod Touch’s market very soon. If on the other hand you’re one of the few Android enthusiasts who’d prefer a WiFi device to a phone on the same form factor, be sure and lets your desires be known – preferably by purchasing one.

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Apple CEO dismisses Kindle Fire as “more Android fragmentation”

Never let ‘em see you sweat, huh Apple? In a recent interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook, a question was posed about the disruptive power of the Kindle Fire, which many see as the first tablet to pose a threat to the iPad due to its $199 price. Cook responded that the Fire simply represents more fragmentation, and that that will lead more consumers to Apple’s walled garden of hardware and software.

There’s a bit of an issue with Cook’s reasoning, however. One, Android software is thriving despite the fragmentation issue, largely because most apps released will work on Android hardware running 2.2 or later, now comprising more than 85% of the devices sold worldwide. And two, Amazon’s approach to the Kindle Fire is basically its own walled garden – a closed-off boutique of media and software that can only be purchased directly from the company. Sound familiar? Sure, it’s technically running Gingerbread, but how many of the hundreds of thousands of people who pre-ordered know that, and how many simply care that the Fire can get them movies, music, books and apps at less than half the price of the iPad?
Apple has already lost the battle in the smartphone market, and signs are appearing that their stranglehold on tablets might be slipping. Current estimates give Android 27% of worldwide tablet sales in Q3, to the iPad’s 67%. This isn’t the first time that Cook has been dismissive of Android on tablets either: back in January he called Android competitors “bizarre” and “vapor.” With Amazon expected to ship at least a quarter-million Kindle Fires on launch day, and a capability of delivering 5 million during the holidays, it’s easy to see why Cook might want to start engaging in a flame war with a soon-to-be rival.
Don’t worry, Apple – if you lose yet another mobile market to Android, you can always just sic the lawyers on Jeff Bezos.
[via SlashGear]

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Google Offers expands with new Android app

Google’s home-grown deal engine Google Offers is getting a mobile makeover. Google released its first official app for the service in the Android Market today, and you can download it now for free. The local-driven deal finder has been available for a while on the web and via an email list, but now you can get live updates sent directly to your phone. Keen-eyed readers will note that yet again the Ice Cream Sandwich interface makes an appearance, just like in recent updates to Google Reader and Google+.

Probably the most useful feature is the live update that appears in your status bar. It’s basically an alternative to Google Offers’ daily email, and should help some of us cut down on the volume in our Gmail accounts. Featured Offers and Recent offers are available, though it has to be said that the local listings aren’t nearly as comprehensive as Groupon or Living Social, which both offer their own local deal apps.
Upon installing, Google Offers immediately uses your location to recommend local deals. An integrated QR code reader will let you see if there’s a better price available online, and thankfully, you can disable the notifications if you want to browse deals passively. The app automatically keeps track of the offers you’ve redeemed in the “My Offers” section. Initial reviews are overwhelmingly positive, so why not give it a try – you’ve got nothing to lose but retail prices.

Related articles

• Google+ app gets an official update with ICS user interface enhancements (goandroid.co.in)

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Kobo Vox available now, beats Kindle Fire and Nook Color 2 to market

The e-reader tablet market that the original Nook Color opened up last year is about to explode, and dark horse Kobo doesn’t intend to linger around the starting gate. The company’s Kobo Vox reader, with a form factor and specs that fall roughly in line with Barnes & Noble and Amazon’s offerings, is available online at retailers across the U.S. and Canada. The Android Gingerbread based tablet is tied into the Kobo bookstore, and costs $199.99 – almost exactly the same price as the upcoming Kindle Fire.

Like its competitors, the Vox isn’t designed to light the world on fire with powerhouse specifications. A 7-inch, 1024 x 600 screen is optimized for book and periodical reading, while a modest 800Mhz processor and 512MB of RAM should cover basic web browsing and non-gaming apps well. Like its full-color competitors, the Vox has Wifi and no 3G connection. 8GB of storage will hold plenty of books, and if you fancy movies, music or extra apps a MicroSD card slot should have you covered. Kobo’s customizations to Gingerbread make it ineligible for the Android Market, but the company is claiming “Access to over 15,000 free apps” via its own custom app store.
Kobo is claiming that users will have “unencumbered access to Android 2.3,” with an emphasis on “Freedom”. Does that mean that third-party apps will be enabled via side-load? Will the Kobo’s source code become available any time soon? We’ve reached out to Kobo for clarification and are currently awaiting a response; we’ll be sure to let you know what they say. The Vox is available in black, pink, green and blue, but it looks like their online orders are backed up at the moment, and there’s currently a 5-day wait for shipment.
With Amazon’s Kindle Fire shipping out on November 15th and the Nook Color 2 announcement likely on the 7th, those looking for cheap, reader-specific Android tablets will soon be spoiled for choice.

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Microsoft provides justification for lawsuit against Android

According to statements released by a senior attorney being employed by Microsoft, the large number of patent related lawsuits between companies in the mobile industry is very understandable as it is caused by the nature of related laws in the United States. He suggested that the software giant will be expected to go on with its litigations against the Android mobile platform from Google. Microsoft’s deputy general counsel, Horacio Gutierrez, has told the media that the protection of patents is very necessary in the business. He stated that Microsoft already holds the patents for many features which add to the efficiency of smartphones, for using which Android should pay royalties to Microsoft.

The strong stance of Microsoft comes at a time when it is also signing agreements for licensing with Samsung and HTC, and in turn generating much more income from these deals than it does from its Windows Phone mobile OS. Very often, the legal battles related with patents are with the aim of striking such agreements, as most manufacturers would prefer to agree to licensing than shutting down the production of their devices altogether after injunctions and bans.

However, the instances of such legal recourses have increased many times during the last couple of years, which has prompted arguments over how the patent system affects the innovation and reforms in the market. Gutierrez categorically denied that Microsoft is waging a war against the Android platform, stating that the patent disputes take place when the involved technologies are extremely disruptive. He said that these cases are unique to the current time and situation and that the patent system in the US doesn’t need to be redone.

One of the possible solutions which have been proposed, the America Invents Act, is an attempt to cleanse the patent related regulations as it grants the rights of intellectual property on the basis of earliest filing rather than the first invention. This new Act in the federal jurisdiction might prevent some of the lawsuits from proceeding as the patent applications are speeded up by the law; however it is unlikely that it will keep the likes of Microsoft from pursuing lucrative rewards from patent litigations. Microsoft, being one of the biggest technology companies of the world, has a huge patent portfolio, thus manufacturers like HTC and Samsung agree to pay Microsoft settlements instead.

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