A S. Korean attorney’s mission to sue Apple over privacy issues just proves one thing (among perhaps many): noteworthy or not; some people are never going to be completely satisfied… no matter the degree(s) that any given company works towards ensuring that they are doing the ‘right thing’ (now… whatever that might actually be is a completely different matter entirely).
From Tech News World: http://goo.gl/O9xBS
A lot is being / has been made about Google’s purchase of Motorola’s patents regarding cellular technology (aside from the hardware expertise the firm also acquired within their, now-former, mobile division) including how this move might drive developers to more fully embrace Microsoft / Nokia, etc. as an alternative to Android (for that matter in the same fashion that they were in all probability originally / previously drawn to Apple…)
That said; until a smartphone launched by Redmond (independent of the hardware that it runs on) is a bonafide market hit (even marginally so whereas real sustained interest / traction results) RIM certainly is not a viable option… In other words, Google is the current avenue (for those developers who don’t want to simply just embrace Apple and/or are looking to capitalize further within the application-space itself).
No offense to Microsoft / Nokia and/or RIM but it’s a two-horse race at this point in time. And, if one of the aforementioned vendors or another unknown firm suddenly gains traction… it should ultimately benefit both consumers and the developer community itself (which at this juncture is a big ‘if’).
From CNN: http://goo.gl/xgHw0
In yet another hacking incident, the (San Francisco Bay Area) BART system was struck by hackers whereas some of their subscriber’s personal information was publicly exposed.
Granted; there’s a pro and con argument to both sides of this equation (which is not the point of this post) as much is ‘at what price success?’ In other words, when / where is the line (if there even is one) between an effective protest (and the ensuing positive outcomes that it might generate) vs. an ineffective protest (and the people that far too often have nothing to do with the object of said hacker’s ire other than their background information being exposed due to it being stored within a system, etc. that was compromised?)
From the Mercury News: http://goo.gl/OTqHO
Clearly, Nokia is; has and continues to get hammered within the global smartphone market as firms such as Apple (obviously) Samsung and HTC, etc. (due to the rise of the Android OS) erode their (now former) market dominance. Yet; the Finnish firm finished in the top spot globally for this past quarter with Samsung and LG taking the second and third positions respectively. That said; perhaps all the ‘gloom and doom’ reports of Nokia’s imminent demise are slightly premature? Perhaps; if they’re not… the company has to be due for a spectacular collapse, right? Moreover, if the Microsoft / Nokia partnership does actually pay-off (a big ‘if’ at this juncture) it’s also possible for them to still be a serious player within the market (thereby, extension, changing Redmond’s mobile fortunes in fairly short order… which is something that they were not able to accomplish solo that’s for sure). Whatever the end result… the Symbian OS is / will soon be obsolete as Nokia moves to Windows Phone 7 as their choice.
As far as Samsung and LG; these two S. Korean juggernauts are boosted by the sense of national loyalty; savvy marketing; timing and the Android OS (with Samsung being the clear-cut favorite between the two due to the popularity of their Galaxy Galaxy smartphone). Conversely, LG has yet to really hit a home-run in the OECD-markets with a handset that’s generated as much attention as Samsung. Nevertheless, this is not to say that they’re unable to release a big-hit. It could simply be the fact that they’ve yet to do so and/or capitalize on all of the aforementioned variables that their Korean breathan have / has capitalized on.
Finally, there’s Apple’s iOS and the entire iPhone experience which both continues to lead the firm’s success as well as in all probability will expand it via the 5G launch this coming September. It’s Apple that spearheaded and blew their competition away via being the first market entrant (that fully harnessed / utilized the smartphone application developer community) and it is still essentially their game to lose… In sum; if this company has shown anything it is that they are not going to stand pat.
Lots to consider as this space always presents many variables for all parties therein. Who knows what’ll ensue next? And, if anyone does… they could certainly achieve massive success via predicting and/or even better yet defining the smartphone segment moving forward (hint, hint; Apple, Samsung, Nokia, HTC, etc. are clearly all trying to do so as it now stands). Time will tell who’ll stand and who’ll go by the way-side…
From ZDNet Asia: http://goo.gl/C61Td
If it is indeed true the era of the PC has come to an end… it can be added to the list of the typewriter; vinyl (records) tubes and the Walkman as but a few of the once ‘cutting-edge’ innovations that are now considered obsolete.
From the Register UK: http://goo.gl/QKeP4
Google’s Android OS has made more than just a splash in both the smartphone and tablet-space (with consumers) as it has captured roughly 20% of the tablet market itself.
Nevertheless, despite being a viable alternative to Apple’s OS; nothing other than a lot of introductions of alternative / ‘me-too’ plays within the tablet-segment have been put forth (aside from Samsung which as a result of their respective efforts have become the ire / target of Apple’s on-going litigation).
Capturing market-share is never a bad thing; however, being a follow (while an option for those that grow tired of only one choice) doesn’t equate to always improving upon that which debuted initially. In sum: dominance within this space looks to still be determined more by whether or not Apple stumbles (or consumers / developers turn towards other options, etc.) than anything else.
From TG Daily: http://goo.gl/282cl
With Amazon, the Financial Times and Vudu all releasing HTML5 apps (on the same day no less) perhaps Apple is now more of a firm ‘on the dark-side’ than the cool; alternative that’s not mainstream (e.g., Microsoft) company it once (obviously) was!?
Long story short: Apple is certainly acting more and more like their supposed hated nemesis (in Redmond) that they railed against than they are the underdog who (once) stood up and took them on (via leading an ‘idealogical-battle’ for consumer mindshare).
From Beta News: http://goo.gl/uq6I3
Apple winning a preliminary court injunction thereby preventing Samsung from selling their Galaxy Tab 10.1 (in the EU) is clearly another win in their on-going battle with their (closet) market rival.
Towards that end; it’s clear that neither side is going down without a fight. Moreover; it is also very apparent that Apple is going to do everything within their respective power(s) to ensure that they maintain they market dominance within this space period.
From ComputerWorld: http://goo.gl/Tfvxf
The reasons why Redmond is failing at gaining (mass) consumer attraction within the smartphone space are both numerous and simple.
Nevertheless; the underlying reason is essentially two-fold: one) trying to cram the desktop onto a handset (for how many years now) is obvious; two) application developers (overwhelmingly) have focused their efforts on Apple and (most recently) Google.
This is not to say that there’s no chance for Microsoft to generate some modicum of success within this market (there is). It’s more to say that as the early loss-leader within this market segment they really didn’t anything more than that (lose). And, just losing is certainly no formula for turning X into a success (that requires vision; timing; panache; luck and, most certainly, a superior product being offered).
From eWeek: http://goo.gl/YW4Zb
A UK-based firm has set a goal to provide 3 million people (in Africa and South Asia) with their own phone numbers whereas they will be able to log in to a network (via the Cloud) and use a phone without being dependent on the simple reality (for countless individuals) that they do not own an actual (mobile) handset.
Clearly, this is a market that is woefully underserved and one that has the potential to generate an ROI via word of mouth marketing and/or the simple fact that being ‘poor’ does not equate to not being able to use technology (let alone become prosperous as a result of utilizing it within an entrepreneurial capacity).
From Movirtu: http://goo.gl/QAg9B
