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All posts tagged "ios"


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Did Google Steal Android from Apple? Why Jobs Was Wrong.

Posted by Craig Horlacher in "Android Talk" @ 01:00 PM

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and...Product-221142/

"But the fact is that Apple could never have existed if not for the ideas and creations of other companies. And there's nothing wrong with that."

Since iOS 4 was released I've seen a number of articles saying that Google stole ideas from Apple for Android. This article points out that all computer systems around these days were preceded by something else. The main point is you can't say that Android stole ideas from iOS and iOS didn't get ideas from anywhere outside of Apple. I think that's a valid point and is how we get a lot of innovation today. Companies improve products they were not the first to develop.

Read the article and let me know what you think. Follow the "Read more" link for the rest of my thoughts on this topic.

Read more...


Monday, October 3, 2011

iOS Market Share Still Increasing

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 05:00 AM

http://9to5mac.com/2011/10/01/safar...e+Intelligence)

"Net Applications has come out with new numbers showing mobile OS market share."

You can see a little dip there in February of 2011, but iOS is back on the rise, and the only other one on an upward course is Android. While not as steep, a rise just the same. I think the other ones should just give it up. I doubt they are going to be around much longer anyway if this keeps up. What are your thoughts?

Tags: software, android, ios

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Which Smartphone Operating System do You Prefer?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 10:30 AM

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/01/...ext-smartphone/

"In a recent report from Nielsen, Google snagged 40 percent of the smartphone market, while Apple captured approximately 28 percent -- up just barely .01 percentage point from last year."

The only thing that surprises me about this is that there are so many that desire RIM for their next smartphone operating system. Maybe that and the fact that 30% of the late adopters aren't sure what they want. You would think that with all of the information out there, this percentage wouldn't be as high.


Monday, August 22, 2011

Mozilla Has Another Option (They Hope) For You App Fans

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 03:00 AM

http://9to5mac.com/2011/08/19/mozil...t=Google+Reader

"Apple and Google are clearly the two front-runners competing for market share in the mobile world, which is why it's no surprise we think of iOS and Android when we think of apps. With the growth of the smartphone industry also came the resurgence of native apps (thanks largely in part to Apple's App Store which still dominates the space). However, Mozilla hopes that web apps will soon mature to provide a comparable experience for end users and an even better alternative for developers."

It's no secret that some are switching to web-based versus app based access due to what they deem restrictive guidelines in the Apple App store. This would make this move by Mozilla a pretty astute one, and since it is across all platforms it would appear to be a benefit regardless of your phones operating system. The plans are for the APIs to interact with your phones address book, contacts etc so you would have the same functionality as if you were using a native app. The only difference is that it would be in your browser and would work the same on an iPhone, Android or Windows phone platform. I really don't have a preference per se, since I use very few apps that work with Internet access anyway, so if I'm using a browser or an app, as long as it functions the same why would I care? The only reason I can think of would be one of security or stability, since the apps on the iPhone go through approval process. What are your preferences? Or does it matter to you? If it does matter, I'm curious why.


iOS Versus Droid

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 02:00 AM

http://blog.hunch.com/?p=51781

"The topic of smartphone operating systems can be as divisive as politics or the Mac vs. PC debate. (Just add snide comments about dropped calls.) We delved into our Teach Hunch About You (THAY) questions to figure out what we can learn about Android vs. iPhone users, and our friends at Column Five Media performed some of their infographic magic on the resulting data."

I know, I know, the graphic says Droid vs. iOS, but I am kind of biased the other way, which makes sense since iOS owners are 39% more likely to be high maintenance. At least according to this latest Teach Hunch survey. I prefer to think of it as leading the way, which also makes sense since iOS owners are 27% more likely to lead. I found this an interesting read, entertaining if nothing else.


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Ilium Software Offering eWallet GO! for 99 Cents/Free

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Software" @ 03:03 PM

http://www.iliumsoft.com/ewalletgo

"Do you have too much info to remember? Do you wish you could take all your passwords, credit cards, account information and logins with you - so they're handy when you want them? But keep them safe - so you don't have to worry about intruders finding them? You need eWallet GO!TM If you want secure, easy, mobile storage for all your info, just grab eWallet GO! and take your passwords with you everywhere you GO!"

Well now...here's a good deal! Effective now and running until the 21st of this month, you can get eWallet GO! for a mere 99 cents on Windows Phone 7, Android, and iPhone/iPod Touch devices. On Windows and Mac versions, the software is free. Sweet! Jump here to find the version you need. The OS X version is in the Mac App store, and the Windows version requires registration for the free download. On iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7, you'll find it in their respective app stores.


Friday, July 22, 2011

Contacts in Your Phonebook Come Alive: Application Announcement – LiveContacts – for iOS, Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian OS

Posted by Darren Blade in "Windows Phone Software" @ 10:07 AM

http://www.facebook.com/pages/LiveC...225523594142852

"Appfortel, the Russian developer of mobile applications is proud to announce the release of a unique Beta-version service for organizing your contacts – LiveContacts – in mid-summer 2011. The LiveContacts application will contain a number of functions aimed at livening up your address directories and supporting the contacts in your phonebook in an actual and “animated” way. Today, from hundreds to thousands of contacts are stored in phonebooks of large megacities’ representatives. Many of them quickly become outdated – time has an impact on all kinds of information. Changes can be observed in surnames, workplaces, addresses, jobs and positions, telephone numbers, and other contact data."

A new way in presenting your contacts (Livening them up!) is on its way to you from "Appfortel" LLC, a Russian start-up who wants to breathe life into the staid contact apps on a number of handset platforms, namely Windows Mobile, Android, iOS & Symbian. I contacted Denis Pushkar to confirm whether their Press Release was correct with Windows Mobile, and it is. It looks like the Appfortel code warriors are giving some love back to the Windows Mobile device users; Windows Phone 7, at this point, is not getting the App. The service and respective platform apps are due to start appearing around the end of July.

I still have my Omnia II hiding in the paper tray on my desk. I may just, get a chance, to Liven it up with LiveContacts when released. The scant details hint that a web service is used, and pulling contact details like contact linking on WP7. More details when Appfortel's website goes "Live" soon, here and here.

The remainder of the press release is after the break. Read more...


Thursday, July 14, 2011

Android Losing Developer Share to iOS

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 08:58 PM

http://9to5mac.com/2011/07/14/flurr...verizon-iphone/

"The second-generation Apple tablet and the arrival of a CDMA version of iPhone 4 on the Verizon Wireless network together worked like magic to re-new interest in the iOS platform."

So even though there are reports of unhappy developers, iOS continues to be the platform that developers are using. Android lost about 8% in developer support from Q1 to Q2, dropping from 36% to 28% according to the survey. Interesting that we are seeing these developments after the Verizon iPhone arrival, so perhaps the huge numbers that Android was able to achieve prior were just because no one wanted to go to AT&T and would rather go Android. Now that they have a choice, they appear to be moving to iOS, at least the developers are seeming to move that way. What are your thoughts?


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

WWDC Survey from Piper Jaffray and the Results Are Interesting to Say the Least

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 06:00 AM

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...te_for_mac.html

"A new survey of attendees at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference found that nearly half of iOS developers attending the conference support Android, while just 7 percent write applications for the Mac."

Interesting survey to say the least, done by Piper Jaffray at the WWDC last week and released Monday. 45 developers were polled about a variety of topics. One interesting tidbit, while 47% of them also write for the Android platform, they prefer the monetization and ease of development via the Apple way versus how Google handles it. This comes on the heels of another survey that shows of all developers, 67% write for Android while 59% write for iOS. Both are up over last years survey by roughly 10%. That is a lot of growth, and while Android is outpacing iOS, they also found that iOS users are more likely to purchase apps.

Granted, these are developers that all develop for iOS, but 51% of them also said that they saw greater potential for growth from iOS than Android. If you were to ask the 47% who write for Android however, 66% of them say Android has the higher potential. These are all just opinions of course, but educated ones from people that have been in the application business so you can't just write off what they say. I think the biggest point of all of this is that only 7% actually are writing for Mac. What do you think that is saying for the Mac platform?


Monday, May 23, 2011

Web Version of Google Maps for iOS and Android Now Available

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 02:00 AM

http://www.electronista.com/article...id.web.version/

"Google wrapped up on Friday with a long-requested version of Google Maps for smartphones. Both Android and iOS users can both track their individual location with the usual Google Maps layers, such as satellite maps and traffic, as well as get directions. Place pages have their own optimizations and tie in properly with the map."

This was released Friday and works anywhere Google Maps exists. On top of that, the one big advantage is the continual updating you get from web versions over apps, which require updates from either Apple or Google. Sign-on to Google and you get access to all your favorite locations, saved maps and landmarks.


Monday, May 16, 2011

Seagate Debuts GoFlex Wi-Fi 500GB Drive....To The Cloud!

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 09:30 AM

http://gizmodo.com/5802169/seagates...blet-over-wi+fi

"It must be scary, offering traditional storage in these cloud-based times. Seagate's obviously thought long and hard over this one, and whacked Wi-Fi into their new GoFlex 500GB drive, so you can store/draw from your data-bank, using your phone."

Billed as the "first battery powered hard drive to have Wi-Fi capabilities," the thought is that this will allow you to save some money on the purchase of your device since you won't need as much storage if you carry this drive around with you. I can see advantages (ie no cables to mess with) but I certainly don't see people purchasing this so they can save some room on their portable device, since they would now have to carry around two items instead of one. You can pre-order this $199.00 USD drive now through Amazon.com [affiliate link], with an expected ship date between three and five weeks. In conjunction with this drive, Seagate will also offer interfaces for portable devices but for now the only one that is available is the universal version for iOS devices called the GoFlex Media App [link]. An Android app will be available soon, but in the meantime you can access the drive via your web browser. What are your thoughts on this device? Is it something you would buy in order to save you some money on your portable device purchase? Or is this something you might use as part of your home setup?


Saturday, May 14, 2011

I Take My Android Phone For Granted Compared to iOS!

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Android Talk" @ 09:00 AM

http://lifehacker.com/5801862/top-1...one-doesnt-have

"We love both Android and iOS, but the open nature of Android just means it can do things others just can't. Here are our favorite Android apps and features that you won't find on its Apple-clad brethren."

Lifehacker has an article up today highlighting 10 things that Android has over iOS, and as an Android enthusiast since early 2009, I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I forgot about most of these. Not forgot in the sense that I don't know they exist - forgot in the sense that I use them all and just assume they should be part of any premium Smartphone experience. While I might only use some of these (advanced automation features, removable storage) once in a blue moon, others (such as widget support, custom launchers and ROMs) are absolutely essential to me. Don't get me wrong, I own an iPhone - but only for the few apps that I don't have an Android equivalent (the iPhone has never been my daily driver). And these days, those apps are few and far between!

So Androiders - what do you find essential on this list? And iOS users - what do you wish your OS had (Or what does your OS have that I should be insanely jealous of?)!

Tags: features, android, ios

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Developers Losing Interest In Developing for Android

Posted by Michael Knutson in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 05:30 PM

http://macdailynews.com/2011/04/26/...ablet-concerns/

"Appcelerator and IDC surveyed 2,760 Appcelerator Titanium developers from April 11-13 on perceptions surrounding mobile OS priorities, feature priorities, and mobile development plans in 2011. The survey reveals that developer momentum is shifting back toward Apple as fragmentation and tepid interest in current Android tablets chip away at Google's recent momentum gains."

More interesting statistics, guaranteed to generate at least some some controversy. According to these sources, interest (for Android) is waning in developing cross-platform applications, at least in what may be considered more generic apps. Disappointing and fragmented Android sales have no doubt impacted development for smaller companies that don't have resources to commit to multiple platforms. iOS interest is still high, followed by Android, then, surprisingly, Windows Phone 7. As with all statistics, I'd expect these numbers to fluctuate, and maybe even match up to tablet sales. Competition for the number three position may be the most spirited, with MS, RIM, HP and others lagging far behind Apple and Android, but with possibly compelling products on the horizon.


Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Android Widens Lead on iOS

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 07:58 AM

http://www.cultofmac.com/report-sma...d-android/92085

"Google's Android smartphone OS now has a double-digit lead on Apple, according to a new survey released Tuesday morning. Android is used by 37 percent of smartphone users, compared to the iPhone, owned by 27 percent of smartphone users, found a March survey by measurement firm Nielsen."

From number 3 with 22.7% of the market in October of 2010, to leading the market in March of 2011 with 37%, Android OS now has a double digit lead on Apple iOS. Also, the number of people planning on purchasing Android over Apple is increasing, now at 31.1% from 25.5% in 2010. In the same survey, 30% of consumers surveyed said they would be buying an Apple iOS smartphone, which is a drop from 32.7% in 2010.


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Google Adds Undo Feature to iOS and Android Devices

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple Software (iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad)" @ 10:30 AM

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/04/...-gmail-web-app/

"Google has recently added an "undo" bar to its web app for iOS and Android devices. You can navigate to the web app by heading over to http://mail.google.com in Safari on your iOS device."

I think we all could have used the "undo" feature at least a time or two in various situations, and now for Gmail at least you can use it to undo one of four actions: archive, delete, add or remove a label, or move a message/conversation. When any of these actions is done, via the web app, you get a small window of opportunity to "undo" it when the yellow bar displays as it is in the above image. After that time though, you are out of luck.


Friday, April 8, 2011

So How Are You Using Your Tablet?

Posted by Jeff Campbell in "Apple iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad" @ 11:30 AM

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archive...e_our_ipads.php

"Google has released results of a survey (PDF) on user behavior with regard to tablet computers, the vast majority of which are iPads. Responses indicate that tablet ownership significantly changes our media consumption habits and computer use."

Wednesday we posted a story about how the iPad might be killing consumer PC sales and asked the question of you, was this true for you? What do you use your iPad for and did it replace your PC? There were varying answers to our question, and now this study comes out that shows just how people are using their tablets. In this study (available here in PDF form) it says that for 43% of the responders, the tablet has replaced their PC. Also interesting to me is that playing games tops the list. I would have thought "consuming entertainment" or one of the reading categories would have displaced that, or that they would have at least been higher on the list. But that is my perspective I suppose, since that is what I use my iPad for most of the time. How about you? Does this go along with how you use your tablet or do the results surprise you?


Friday, March 18, 2011

Android Browser 52% Faster Than iPhone Browser Or Maybe Not...

Posted by Jason Lee in "Android News" @ 06:00 PM

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-2...044325-264.html

"A Web performance company has concluded that a high-end Android smartphone, Samsung's Nexus S, is faster at Web browsing than an iPhone 4. Apple, though, says the company's methodology has a significant problem."

Many of you former Windows Mobile users may remember Blaze Software of Blaze Browser fame. Well the Blaze folks have run a very through browser speed test between the Android and iOS browsers. Turns out that Android renders most pages about 52% faster than iOS. Pretty crazy, huh? Well maybe it is. Not long after the results of this test were published Apple fired back saying that the test was flawed. You see, the test was performed using a custom app on each device that called the embedded HTML rendering engine. When you call the embedded HTML rendering engine on Android you get the browser, on an Apple device you get something called UIWebView. Apparently, this isn't exactly the same thing as Mobile Safari and doesn't share its "web performance optimizations".

This may invalidate the browser speed test but it brings up some rather interesting questions. Why is UIWebView so much slower than Mobile Safari? Perhaps because third party iOS applications can only use this UIWebView and not the Mobile Safari engine? Apps like Skyfire or any other third party browser are now by default going to be much slower than the native Safari app. Seems fair doesn't it?


Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Use 'Em and Leave 'Em: 26% of App Uses are One Night Stands

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Android News" @ 04:00 AM

http://www.localytics.com/blog/post...used-just-once/

"The resulting analysis shows that for customers using an app for the first time between January and March, about 22% of them never open the app again. In the second and third quarters, the rate of one-time usage is flat at 26%. One-time usage grows to over 28% in the fourth quarter, but some of those customers may still use the app again in early 2011."

Admit it - you've used an app once and then never bothered to click again. We all do it, although it's interesting to see the data presented here. I suspect we aren't seeing significant differences between those rates above, and I also wonder how much of this depends on app segment. One thing is for certain, it's a lot nicer to have app stores now that let us try before we buy and give us comments and ratings. I recall my early WinMo days of "that looks cool, buy it". I probably spent around $100 (over 3 years) on apps I never used more than 3 times.


Friday, January 14, 2011

All Those Ads Add Up: Android Passes iOS In Ad Impressions

Posted by Jason Lee in "Android News" @ 06:00 PM

http://techcrunch.com/2011/01/13/mi...pression-share/

"This has been a significant few weeks for Millennial Media. The ad network just closed a $27.5 million investment round, announced that the company had tripled its revenue in 2010, and today, is releasing one of its more noteworthy monthly reports. Millennial, whose ads reach 63 million of a total of 77 million mobile web users in the U.S., or 81 percent of the U.S. mobile web; is reporting that for the first time in the company's history Android surpassed iOS as the largest Smartphone OS on the Millennial network in terms of impression share."

Android's latest step in its process of world domination is complete. This week Millennial Media reported that for the first time ever Android has surpassed iOS in total ad impressions. This can only be a good sign for Android users as ads are where the money is and money brings developers and developers bring really cool software for us to play with. :)

Tags: ads, android, ios

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Should Your Next Mobile OS Cost You Money?

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Articles & Resources" @ 06:00 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/08/...pdate-cost-you/

"All too often, the question isn't whether a particular device is great, it's whether the manufacturer and carrier have committed to upgrading it -- quite often to a version of its operating system that hasn't officially been announced. It's a recipe for confusion and paralysis among consumers that really don't have a great reason to be putting off their purchases -- they just want a reasonable assurance that their new phones aren't going to be regarded as "obsolete" in six or nine months. And why shouldn't they?"

A really thought-provoking piece from Engadget's Chris Ziegler - he proposes that, since smartphone hardware has largely plateaued in terms of baseline features, it's time to for software to take on a larger role in the ecosystem. Part of that is for companies to charge for new versions of an operating system. Myself, I'd have no problem at all with this - assuming, and that's the key word here, that operating system updates were delivered in a reliable manner that would work a variety of hardware...and would be unencumbered by mobile operator bloatware. We pay for new operating systems on our desktops and laptops, so why not on our phones? Vote in the poll that Engadget has set up - and sound off here on why you would, or would not, be willing to pay for a new OS for your phone.


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