Android Beats Out iOS for Customer Preference for the First Time.

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According to a new report put out by Nielsen, Android has overtaken iOS as the platform of choice for users planning to either get a smartphone for the first time, or get a new smartphone, in the next year.
In the July-Sept 2010 report, iOS was reported as the system of choice for 33% of users, while Android was the OS 26% were planning to purchase. However, in the surveys taken from January to March 2011, the tables have turned. Android has risen to 31%, while iOS has dropped to 30%. This is a big deal because it shows that Android is beginning to gain traction by not just luring customers from platforms like Blackberry and Windows, but it has started to solidly chip away at Apple’s customer base.
In terms of actual acquisitions, Android captured 50% of the market share, versus Apple’s 25%, showing Android still has a great deal of momentum with consumers that is only continuing to gain steam.
 

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Verizon’s 4G LTE Network Outages Cause Thunderbolt Users to Settle for 3G

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If you are one of the 500,000 subscribers using Verizon’s 4G LTE network, don’t be alarmed if you are no longer receiving an LTE signal where you once did. Verizon’s 4G services have been experiencing outages over night and this morning, meaning owners of the HTC Thunderbolt might have to settle with 3G for now. If you can’t even receive a 3G signal, well, that’s the phone’s poor 3G/4G switching rearing its ugly head.
We expect Verizon will have the issue cleared up shortly. They’d hate to have the shiny new LTE network still experiencing problems tomorrow when they launch their second LTE handset and first of the Droid line to deploy 4G.
 

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Google looking to hire a new manger for Games at Google division

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The number of reasons to use a smartphone that runs the Android OS are many from web surfing to business use. One of the most compelling reasons for a smartphone to many users is mobile gaming. Games like Angry Birds and others have graphics that are on par with some of the best portable game consoles. Google is set to start a new push into the gaming market and is searching for the perfect person to lead the charge.

IntoMobile reports that Google is searching for a new product manager to lead the new Games at Google business unit. The new business unit will reportedly be operated out of Google’s Mountain View HQ. The product manager will reportedly be responsible for designing the strategies used for game distribution and discovery. The manager will also focus on player identity, game mechanics, and other things.
It’s not clear if this is some internal effort by Google to build games on a first party nature or if this new product manager will be tasked with working with game developers. There is no word on when the new Games at Google initiative will launch at this point. IntoMobile thinks that the manager might be tasked in part with being sure Android games work on Chrome.

 

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Viewdle SocialCamera auto-tags friends for easy Facebooking [Video]

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Social networking integration is one of those elements that pushes Android ahead of the pack when it comes to smartphones, and Viewdle reckons it can make things even better with its new app, SocialCamera. A free photo app, SocialCamera allows you to instantly share images with Facebook, Twitter and other networks, using a carousel of shortcuts.

It’s actually the auto-tagging which is more interesting, however. After you’ve given SocialCamera an initial lesson as to who your friends are, subsequent shots are auto-tagged with their identity.
The video below explains it more thoroughly, or you can just download and try it yourself. Viewdle SocialCamera is a free download from the Android Market.
 

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HTC Doubleshot details surface

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I really love it when details of unannounced handsets surface by way of geeks that pour through user agent profiles. These are long lists of text that unveiled a few little details here and there about what the smartphone will be like. We still don’t have an actual photo of the Doubleshot to go along with the new specs that have surfaced, but a bit of info is better than none. The last time we talked about the Doubleshot was back in early March when it was tipped to be heading to the T-Mobile network.

The latest info that surfaced gives us a bit more to go on and may pique your interest for the new smartphone. The user agent profile shows that the smartphone will have a physical QWERTY keyboard and no soft keys. The smartphone runs Android Gingerbread for the OS. It will support JavaScript and has a pixel aspect ratio of 1×1. The screen resolution for the Doubleshot is 480 x 800.
Other features tipped include sound output and the device will accept text and voice input. Other details that Pocketnow reports are gleaned from an online benchmarking tool include a 1.2GHz CPU, a 6MP camera with HDR capacity. The publication also thinks that the Doubleshot name may refer to a 3D camera the phone has. Other features include WiFi and Bluetooth. The phone may hit T-Mobile in July.

 

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Qik Video Connect adds cross-platform Android & iPhone video calls [Video]

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Qik has launched the latest version of its video calling app, Qik Video Connect, promising cross-platform calls between Android and iOS devices. The new app – a free download – now allows you to see your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad 2 owning friends as you mock them for not having the latest Android.

There’s also video mail, the ability to share videos with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking sites, and support for the front and rear facing cameras on most devices. Qik has also boosted video quality and reduced battery life impact, and some phones – Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung Galaxy Player, Samsung Galaxy S, and Telus Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate 4G – will offer VGA quality streaming when done over WiFi.
You’ll need an Android 2.1 or above device in order to use the app – or of course an iOS device. Video mail is only free until June 1 2011, however, and will be a subscription service after that.

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Motorola DROID Bionic Slowly Being Wiped Away From OEM’s Site?

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Some odd activity is going on over at Motorola’s site today. The Motorola DROID BIONIC – a device headed straight for Verizon but was said to be cancelled for a more “enhanced” device – appears to be slowly disappearing from Motorola’s website. A link to the device’s main product page on their front-page carousel takes us to their overall phone support page for all of their products. Clicking on “Android Phones” under “Mobile Phones” in their main navigation bar takes us to a list of their Android-based devices where the DROID Bionic is missing.
We also stumbled across a link where it would appear that the page still exists, but looking closely at the link we were sent shows a different localeid – the original link doesn’t include this.
I’m not sure how accurate that may be, though, considering the device’s page is still up on MOTODEV. And the fact that they haven’t taken it off the front page carousel makes me suspicious of it just being an error, as well. Or they could just be making room for the Motorola Targa Who knows? We’ll be keeping our eye on this one. [Thanks Dave!] PS: No, Motorola, it most certainly isn’t the end of waiting. We’ve been waiting for this thing since January, after all.
 

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US Cellular Beats Verizon to the Punch – HTC Merge Launching April 29th

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I first heard about the HTC Merge last fall when someone leaked some pics of the phone on Verizon’s network. Since then, you can find the Merge on just about every carrier these days. Alltell wireless is taking pre-orders and Cellular South plans to release it soon. Don’t even get me started on Verizon, who has been sitting on this phone apparently for months.
Well, now you can add US Cellular to the bunch. Engadget received a screenshot from a US Cellular internal email showing they plan to release the phone this Friday, April 29th.
Just as a refresher, the Merge is one of HTC’s world phones compatible with both CDMA and GSM frequencies. It features a 3.8 inch screen, a solid 4-row QWERTY keyboard and Android 2.2 with HTC’s Sense UI for a topping. Looks like this phone could complete a solid Android lineup for QWERTY lovers no matter which carrier decides to snatch it up. Verizon, where you at?
 

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Acer Iconia Smart Passes FCC And Headed For AT&T?

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 Acer’s unique, 4.8 inch smartphone/tablet, the Iconia Smart. Acer promised we would see the phone hit stateside April, 2011 but the month is nearly over and some are left wondering exactly what happened? Well, it looks like the Iconia Smart has just passed FCC and while I don’t think we will be seeing an April launch, I do think we can expect the phone very, very soon. In case you needed a little reminder, the phone comes equipped with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB or ROM/RAM, 2MP front facing camera, 8MP rear facing camera and all the usual fixin’s. Oh, and who could forget the oddly long 4.8 inch, 1024×480 resolution display. It also appears the U.S. version of the Iconia Smart might be heading to AT&T seeing how its the only carrier who’s 3G bands support the phone’s 850, 1900 and 2100MHz frequencies.
Anyone interested in what Acer’s cooking or do you think the’ve had a little too much of what Kyocera might have been smoking?
 

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