Androids can beat Apples?

Androids can beat Apples iphone 4s

The iPhone 4S has copped a lot of flack for being a ‘catchup’ product, but I think that ignores a key Apple advantage.

After the iPhone 4S launch, Gizmodo US’ Mat Honan wrote how he was disappointed with the iPhone 4S. At the time, I was too. The iPhone 4S launch was itself a little flat, and the phone wasn’t quite the hit for six that might have been expected after eighteen months of development time. Slowly, however, my opinion is changing.

As rapidly seems be becoming the norm, I should launch into this with a couple of simple starting caveats and requests. Firstly, if you could kindly keep the troll/fanboi comments to a minimum, I’d appreciate it. In one sense, knock yourself out, but really, hasn’t it all been trolled before? More pertinently, I’m making the below observations with no hands-on time with an iPhone 4S yet. Believe, me, I’m working to rectify that any way I can, but it’s an important caveat for reasons that should shortly become clear.

There’s been a lot of criticism and comparison made between the iPhone 4S and existing Android handsets, given that one of the selling pitches for the iPhone 4S is the use of a dual-core A5 processor, and dual-core on Android is nothing new. Some of that’s fair comparison — we are, after all, talking about smartphones in the smartphone market — but some of it misses what might be a critical point — optimisation.

Androids can beat Apples iphone 4s

If there’s one trait that defines Apple, it’s control. Just as Google’s all about information (its, yours, mine) and Facebook’s all about being social (and privacy be damned), Apple’s a company that works from a central control mantra. Apple knows exactly what’s going into its products at every single level, and it’s a key reason why there aren’t that many Apple product lines at any one time. To draw things back to last week’s launch, one of the most surprising things to emerge was the fact that the iPhone 3GS didn’t become obsolete. It’s pretty clear that this is solely so Apple can have a “$0” phone in the States; I wouldn’t advise anyone to rush out and buy a 3GS today. I figured the one thing you could have put money on last week was that the 3GS was about to be made redundant, because usually, Apple has relatively few product lines so that it can focus its development efforts on that hardware alone.

Androids can beat Apples iphone 4s

There’s a reason why Mac OS works well on Mac hardware; it’s because the hardware is entirely predictable from Apple’s viewpoint, and that means they can write very specific optimisations around that hardware. It’s a benefit that Windows doesn’t entirely have, simply because the variety of hardware on offer means it’s all but impossible to program efficiently for all of it. No, I’m not saying Macs never crash. They do. But the Mac OS experience on an actual Mac versus that on a Hackintosh is quite markedly different.

The same is true in the iOS sphere as well. Only a couple of Pods and Phones to code for with a simple set of code bases? That gives you lots of room to code in ways that only make sense to that hardware, because it’s never going to run on other hardware. That gives Apple a potential edge when it comes to any processor, including dual core ones, and especially when using a processor they’ve used before. They can tweak the operating system to work as seamlessly as possible with the hardware, and it’d be foolish to think that there isn’t code sitting in iOS 5 right now directed right at that purpose.

Androids can beat Apples iphone 4s

That’s why a direct comparison between a dual core Android phone and a dual core Apple one isn’t quite as cut and dried as it might seem. Yes, both platforms have dual core options, but the way that the underlying code approaches them can be radically different; Apple’s control over its hardware platform means that it may be able to eke out more performance on its platform than the specifications suggest. If we were talking an iPhone running Gingerbread, it’d be an entirely different story. But to compare dual core phones for a second, if I was offered a Galaxy S II, HTC Sensation or LG Optimus 2X — all dual-core Android phones — I’d pick the Galaxy S II in a heartbeat, because in my own experience it’s the phone that gets the most out of its dual core processor. Same underlying operating system, but there are differences that change the eventual end user experience.

Optimisation is an argument that naturally enough cuts both ways; Apple’s control is both a blessing and a curse. They may get better performance out of a dual core part because they’re only writing for a limited set of hardware specifications, but at the same time the open nature of the Android platform allows for tweaking under the hood that’s harder to achieve with iOS. The work of teams producing custom ROMs does allow hardware to be tweaked for better performance and that shouldn’t be overlooked either. But to write the iPhone 4S off as simply playing catchup ignores one of Apple’s key market advantages.

iPhone 4S with Steve Jobs

iPhone 4S with Steve Jobs

Two huge things happened in the world of Apple this week – the launch of the iPhone 4S and the passing of Steve Jobs –  so I’m going to choose one question about each of them.

The first question comes from Facebook user XaZavia P – “Why do you think Apple did not introduce an iPhone 5, but a 4S?”

It’s a question on many people’s minds and one that, I admit, is puzzling me as well. If you’ve been watching my videos or reading my articles, you’ll know that I fully expected an iPhone 5. I thought the idea of a 4S was absurd – why would Apple make us wait so long only to release a tweaked iPhone 4? When I tuned in to the October 4th event, I did so with the thought that I would see a device with a teardrop shaped aluminum body with a larger screen and an 8 megapixel camera.

iPhone 4S with Steve Jobs

In retrospect, it’s clear that I was being a bit too optimistic. I, like many of you, got taken in by the massive amount of rumors and failed to look objectively at the situation. Now, though, I can see that an iPhone 4S isn’t such a terrible idea after all (obviously it wasn’t – pre-orders are at a record-breaking high).

If I had to guess at the top reason Apple chose to go with the 4S as opposed to the 5, I’d say that the iPhone 5 just probably isn’t ready yet. There’s no doubt in my mind that an iPhone 5 is in the works. Though, Apple has a history of perfectionism – it’s not going to sacrifice either the aesthetic aspects or the technical specs of the device for anything, and the company is more than willing to delay a gadget’s release date until it’s absolutely perfect.

The 4S was probably much easier to manufacture and design because most of the hard work was already done when the iPhone 4 was first created. The physical design and look of the 4S are identical to the 4, so there was no need to change anything (aside from tweaking the antennae). The A5 chip has been around since the iPad 2, so all Apple had to do was toss it into the 4S. In fact, the only real physical change the company had to worry about was the camera, and it’s had more than enough time to fit it into the iPhone 4 body.

The second question comes from Facebook user Gabriel F. – “What do you think the fate of Apple will be now that Steve Jobs is gone?”

Steve Jobs was a genius and he’s the main reason Apple is what it is today. There’s no getting around that. With that in mind, though, Jobs had not been in the best of health for quite some time, and there’s no way that he did not envision and plan for a time when Apple would have to carry on without him.

Jobs spent his time heading Apple surrounding himself with people who shared his opinions, goals and views for the company’s future. Sure, he was the driving force behind many of our favorite gadgets, but he certainly didn’t do it alone. Many immensely talented people still call Apple their home – people like Jony Ive, Scott Forstall, and Tim Cook – and they’re going to use everything they learned from Steve Jobs to continue Apple down the path that he set it on.

iPhone 4S with Steve Jobs

Obviously Steve’s resignation as CEO a few months ago was a blow to the company, and his death this past week was no less than devastating, but I believe Apple will be alright. The iPhone 4S has shattered all previous pre-order records, with AT&T reportedly processing 200,000 pre-orders in the first 12 hours. This, I think, is only the beginning of what’s to come.

This is a new era for Apple. Granted, it’ll be different without Jobs at the wheel, but I honestly believe it’ll be great magical.

Apple iPhone 4S Preorders a Hit, Pushing Delivery Dates Back

iPhone 4S with Steve Jobs

Apple’s iPhone 4S is such a hit that US retailers are pushing back delivery dates on some models of the new smartphone.

In a statement, AT&T said it received more than 200,000 preorders for the phone in the first 12 hours, making it the most successful iPhone launch the company has ever seen. Indeed -- the demand was so high that both Apple’s and AT&T’s online stores went down for brief periods early Friday, when the phone went on sale for preorder.

So many people have already ordered the new phone that Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and Apple online stores are telling customers they’ll have to wait a little longer. The original delivery date was slated for Oct. 14 when the iPhone 4S was announced on Tuesday, but Apple has now pushed back expected delivery one to two weeks.

On its website, AT&T now says the ship date for preorders of the iPhone 4S could be as much as 21 days out, with even preorders of the older iPhone 4 8GB -- now selling for $99 -- expected to ship in 10 to 14 days.

iPhone 4S with Steve Jobs

Sprint’s website says the 16GB version of the iPhone 4S will be in stores Oct. 14 but is sold out for preorder, although the 32GB and 64GB models are still available for online purchase.

Verizon’s site says the 16GB version is available for delivery Oct. 21, whereas the other models are still available on Oct. 14.

The extraordinary demand is likely due in part to the long wait consumers have had to endure between iPhone iterations. The iPhone 4 launched in June 2010 and in recent months anticipation for the latest version has been almost palpable.

iPhone 4S with Steve Jobs

The iPhone 4S is priced at $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 32GB version, and $399 for the new 64GB version, all with a two-year contract.

An unlocked contract-free version of the device that works only on supported GSM networks will be available beginning in November. The prices for the unlocked iPhone 4S are $649 for the 16GB model, $749 for 32GB, and $849 for 64GB. Apple is selling the unlocked iPhone 4S already in some countries, such as the U.K, Germany, France, and Canada.

iPhone 5 release date is the “death day” of the Android?

A new opinion report is suggesting the death of Android courtesy of iPhone 5.

Game Over Android, according to PC World blogger Tony Bradley, even calling the popular Google mobile operating system a copycat of Apple’s iOS/iPhone platform.



Of course, it’s like an article written with fanboyism knowing that he called the Android a “copycat” while enumerating his reasons why the so-called death of Google’s mobile OS is coming, or happening when the iPhone 5 hits the United States market. If I’m not mistaken, he’s talking about the possible decline of Android in United States only, and obviously doesn’t include the rest of the world including the emerging China market.

Bradley thinks that Verizon’s inclusion as one of Apple’s iPhone 5 launch partners will destroy the momentum of the Android (including Verizon’s own Droid branding), explaining that a lot of Verizon customers are still not jumping the ship and buying the iPhone 4 because they’re aware that the iPhone 5 is coming. The author of PC World also added that the possible unlocked iPhone 5 will attract more customers because they can insert their own SIM card, and giving the user the opportunity to choose a carrier.

So here’s my question, if the iPhone 4 is really a “super popular” device compared to other Android handsets, then what’s the reason behind the 2.9% market share decline ONLY of the Google operating system after Verizon introduced the iPhone 4? And after introducing another iPhone 4 last April, the white iPhone 4?

Plus, another iPhone 4 was introduced recently, the unlocked iPhone 4, which is also considered by some as a T-Mobile iPhone, and yet, the momentum of the Android is still up and running. MacWorld even posted an article explaining how to use an unlocked iPhone and a T-Mobile SIM, and yet, customers are buying HTC Evo 3D, or HTC Sensation 4G or Samsung Galaxy S II via online retailers, etc?

The secret of Android is availability and variants, because not all customers want a full touchscreen smartphone, and not all customers are fans of iTunes, and there’s Amazon helping Android to grow with their very own Android application market place, plus, a lot of smartphone customers want to view flash content.

Another reason given by the anti-Android blog is the iOS 5. Apparently, the iPhone 5 will include this new iOS update that wil introduce new notification system (that exactly works like the Android’s), better syncing, cloud-based services including the “Picasa-like” photo sharing feature of the iCloud, and the iTunes Match.

Obviously, majority of Apple customers are “non-techy” users, or customers that are not into a device that is congested or tweakable, while Android attract more yuppies, tech enthusiasts and tech-loving community that love to hack, root and unlock their devices. iOS 5 is still “a closed” device, and will remain closed (you can’t still change the keyboard and use third-party keyboards). Period.

Knowing Apple, I’m expecting that the iPhone 5 is an upcoming piece of art, and a lot of customers will surely love the design, whatever it is, because it’s an Apple product with an iconic Apple logo. But not all customers love Apple, or love the Apple ecosystem, that’s why the Android grew, and will continue to grow because it’s more open that iOS. Of course it’s not a perfect operating system (Fragmentation, ehem), who’s perfect in this world? You?

Apple and Android can coexist, and Android will not die on the release date of iPhone 5, trust me. Nokia CEO Stephen Elop even admitted that Apple allowed Android to grow. He said: “Apple created Android, or at least it created the conditions necessary to create Android. People decided they could not play in the Apple way, and they had to do something else. Then Google stepped in there and created Android… and others jumped on the Android train.”

Android’s market share will surely get a decline post iPhone 5, but it will get a bounce back after a couple of months because there’s still a huge percentage of customers that still want an option, it’s called “freedom.”

IPhone, Android location-logging feature sparks privacy concerns

Revelations about how Apple iPhones and Google Android phones keep precise track of each user's whereabouts every day is sending shock waves through the tech and privacy communities.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass.,sent separate letters late last week to Apple CEO Steve Jobs asking him to supply details about how and why iPhones and iPads compile and store detailed time-stamped logs of each user's location.

And Markey on Saturday called for a formal congressional investigation of both Apple and Google. "Unprotected personal location information could be a treasure trove for troublemakers," says Markey.

The letters to Jobs came after two British researchers, Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden, revealed their discovery of a location-logging mechanism quietly introduced by Apple for iPhones and iPads in early- to mid-2010.

On Friday, Google came under scrutiny. The Guardian disclosed the existence of a similar location-logging feature on Android phones, a discovery made by a Swiss researcher, Magnus Eriksson; and the Wall Street Journal verified evidence gathered by Los Angeles-based researcher Samy Kamkar, showing how most Android phones worldwide have been actively sending GPS location coordinates, as well as the coordinates of any nearby WiFi networks, back to Google for at least the past six months.

Apple did not respond to interview requests. Google's senior manager of public affais, Chris Gaither, said the company is not doing interviews. Instead, the search giant issued a brief statement confirming that location data is being transmitted back to Google servers but asserting that it refrains from tracing such data to specific individuals.

Meanwhile, the tech and privacy communities are abuzz with discussions. One big risk for Apple patrons is ifyour iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen, says IDC applications development analyst Al Hilwa. "It makes it super easy to come up with schemes to spy on users, such as people spying on spouses or bosses spying on employees," says Hilwa.

Apple and Google are in an intense competition to dominate one of tech's hottest new sectors: services pivoting around knowing the precise location of the consumer. Revenue derived from so-called location-based services are expected to swell to $8.3 billion by 2014, up from $2.6 billion in 2010, according to tech industry research firm, Gartner.

Allan, the British researcher, last week stumbled upon a file stored on the hard drive of his MacBook laptop containing 29,000 time-stamped locations—a log of everywhere he had traveled in the previous 300 days. The file originated on his iPhone and was automatically copied to his laptop when he synced the two devices.

Alan's research partner, Warden, created a software application that plots the time-stamped location data on an interactive map. The application is simple to download and free to use by any Mac owner. Warden is working on a version for people who sync iPhones to Windows PCs.

"We don't know exactly what triggers the logging," says Warden. "We see logging happening with intervals as frequent as every couple of minutes to much longer, and we don't know what the pattern is."

It is not clear whether Apple intends to somehow make this data available to location-based marketeers. Location data is being increasingly used to personalize online ads, to help parents keep track of their teens, and to help prevent mobile payment scams, says Chenxi Wang, cybersecurity analyst at Forrester Research.

"None of these scenarios justify storing a year's worth of location data," says Wang. "It continues to surprise me how companies always elect the privacy-invasive features as default."

Kankar, the Los Angeles researcher, says he has discovered that all recently purchased Android phones are set up to continually report specific GPS coordinates as well as the coordinates of WiFi networks in nearby homes and businesses back to Google.

He says Google can correlate timing and frequency of phone usage to pinpoint an Android owner's home address. "If your phone is at the same location during night hours, they know where you live," says Kankar. "If your phone location is on the move, they can guess that you're in a car and even calculate how fast your car is moving."

Kankar says Android handsets also continually track coordinates of any nearby WiFi systems, even those that are encrypted. "If you have an Android phone, Google knows where you are," says Kankar. "Even if you don't own an Android phone, but your neighbor does, Google can triangulate who you are by tracking your wireless network."

The only way to disable such tracking by your Android phone is to disable the GPS and Wireless functions, he says.

But most people, especially those under 30, aren't apt to disable cutting-edge features, says Fran Maier, president of TRUSTe, which certifies website privacy programs.

On Wednesday, TRUSTe plans to release survey results showing 44% of 18- to 20-year-olds say they feel secure and in control when using their mobile devices. "Privacy is a big deal now, even among younger people," says Maier. "But they believe they're smarter and more adept at managing their information than older people."

Even so, Sen. Franken notes in his letter to Jobs that "there are numerous ways" location data "can be abused by criminals and bad actors." And Rep. Markey asks Jobs if he is concerned about how the "wide array of precise location data logged by these devices can be used to track minors, exposing them to potential harm."

Tech analysts and privacy experts say Google is likely to face similar questions. "There appears to be this enormous industry operating behind closed doors with business models premised on the collection of massive amounts of detailed information," says Hilwa. "Only governmental regulatory bodies can inject sanity back into this state of affairs."

Nokia launches new Symbian smartphones and Nokia Ovi Store Hits 5 Million Downloads A Day

 Nokia Corp. on Tuesday launched its first smartphones to run on the updated Symbian software with new icons, enhancements and a faster browser.

Nokia said the two models -- the E6 and X7 -- have longer battery life, better text input and new Ovi Maps applications with improved search and public transport routes.

The Nokia E6, with a standard QWERTY keypad and high resolution touch display, is aimed at corporate customers, while the Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused handset with a 4-inch (10-centimeter) display made for games.

The world's largest cellphone maker did not price the handsets.

Markets seemed unimpressed by the announcement, which comes as Nokia continues to struggle against stiff competition, especially from Apple Inc. and Research in Motion Ltd.

Nokia stock fell more than 3 percent to 6.08 euros ($8.80) on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

More than 200 million phones, with 150 million more expected on the market, use Symbian technology, seen by some developers as clumsy and dated. At the end of last year, it was surpassed by Android as the world's No. 1 smart phone software.

Nokia said the new, faster Symbian software, known as Symbian Anna, will be available for previously released top models, including the N8, E7, C7 and C6-01 devices "in coming months."

In February, Nokia and Microsoft surprised the industry by announcing they were joining forces to challenge major rivals. Nokia said it will use Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Phone software as the main platform for its smartphones but will continue to develop and use the new Symbian software.

But they have a tough battle ahead.

The iPhone has set the standard for today's smartphones and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerrys have become the favorite of the corporate set. More recently, Google Inc.'s Android software has emerged as the choice for phone makers that want to challenge the iPhone.

A key challenge will be to produce quality devices with a hip factor that helps position Windows Phone as an attractive alternative in a market where image plays a central role.

Windows Phone 7, launched last year, has a lot of catching up to do both in the number of users and "apps" available for the phones.

Nokia, which claims 1.3 billion daily users of its devices, said it hopes the partnership with Microsoft will lead to capturing the next billion users to join the Internet in developing growth markets.

Last year, the Finnish firm retained its No.1 spot as the world's top mobile phone maker -- a position it has held since 1998, selling 432 million devices -- more than its three closest rivals combined. But market share has continued on a downward spiral -- from a high of 41 percent in 2008 to 31 percent in the last quarter of 2010.

Also, its share in smartphones has plunged -- to 30 percent at the end of 2010 from 40 percent a year earlier. And, at the end of last year Nokia and the Symbian platform was surpassed by Android as the world's No. 1 smartphone software, according to Canalys research firm.

Nokia, an Espoo-based company, near Helsinki, employs 132,500 people.

After quite some brouhaha over the Nokia and Microsoft partnership it appears that Nokia at present is just making news with its Ovi Store. In a recent release Nokia shared pretty impressive stats on the number of downloads at the store; 5 million downloads a day. That’s more than just impressive, meaning that Nokia is still a force to be reckoned with.

Those numbers also bring a lot of encouragement for developers given the fact that 158 of them from 41 different countries have managed to hit the 1 million download mark. I am not going to go further back in history but the Store has grown to over 40,000 apps, almost 8 times in the last one year with almost a 1,000 apps being added daily. As a brand, Nokia is still the leader when it comes to smartphone users with the numbers reaching a staggering 200 million. But why the spike in the number of downloads?

There can be many reasons, free applications, are obviously the main. But I guess the option to have operator billing enabled for users to make purchases is another major reason. Especially for the fact that no one wants to go through the hassle of taking the longer route of buying these applications. This could be due to security concerns, despite stores promising to provide the most secure payment methods.

The benefits aren’t just for developers or the Nokia Ovi Store but also for the operators, since Nokia’s devices are integrated to over 112 operators spread over 36 markets. Add to this the coming of in app payments also being extended to the S40 devices, which will increase the number of downloads exponentially.

There is definitely a lot of growth out there for the entire Nokia community. Just last November we reported on the Nokia Ovi Store figures. Back then the daily download figure was at 2.8 million a day. This means that in five months that figure has almost doubled.

New Novatel Wireless MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot 4082

• Service Provider: Sprint
• CDMA 1X, EV-DO, WiMAX
• 850, 1900, 2600 Bands
• 802.11x
• Mac Compatible

Good battery life. Useful status indicators. MiFi OS is largely unrealized potential. The excellent Novatel Wireless MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot 4082 is a fast and easy way to get multiple devices online with Sprint's unlimited mobile broadband.

The Novatel Wireless MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot 4082 for Sprint ($99.99) is an easy way to get laptops and other Wi-Fi devices on Sprint's 3G or 4G networks. It's slim, classy-looking, and has good battery life and performance. That makes it our current Editors' Choice for wireless hotspots on Sprint.

Physical Features, Setup and Administration
The Novatel 4082 is an attractive little gadget. At 3.5 by 2.4 by 0.5 inches (HWD) and 3 ounces, it's about the size of a deck of cards, with a soft-touch black bottom that sits on little feet, and a brushed-metal top. The Power button is on the top; turn on the unit, and a small e-ink screen lights up showing signal strength, battery status, GPS status, along with how many devices are connected. On the front edge, there's a single LED that flashes blue for 4G and green for 3G, a MicroSD card slot, and a USB connection/charging port. Just turn the hotspot on, wait about 35 seconds for the connection light to turn green or blue.

If you go to the MiFi home page (192.168.1.1), though, you'll find a range of options. There's MAC filtering along with password, channel and 802.11b/g/n mode setting, port filtering, port forwarding, and DHCP settings. Power settings let you control when the MiFi goes to sleep and activate a Stealth Mode where the display and blinking LED are always off. It's all pretty easy to use.

The 4082 runs Novatel's MiFi OS, a stripped-down version of Linux which lets you run apps on the device. Right now, it's limited to showing map and weather widgets when you load up the MiFi's home page, but I'm hoping for more ambitious ideas like VPN access in the future.

The router can also share files stored on a MicroSD card you plug into the front of the device. My 32GB SanDisk card worked fine, and I connected five Macs and PCs to the shared drive.

Performance
In my tests, the 4082 booted in about 35 seconds, and connected to Sprint's 3G or 4G network (whichever was available). I found the 4082 had no problem dropping down to 3G or even 2G, and returning to 4G when coverage became available.

Speeds were on par with a Sierra Wireless 250U USB modem (Free, 4 stars) when used with a Samsung NF310 laptop; that was a pleasant surprise, as MiFi speeds are typically lower than those from USB modems. But all of my tests may have been affected by the low 4G speeds I was getting in general; in 10 tests in our New York City office, I never saw a download speed above 3Mbps on either device.

The 4082 offers at least a 100 foot range, but I got the best speeds when I was 50 feet or less away from the hotspot. After 50 feet, speeds dropped off noticeably by 20-50 percent at 75 and 100 feet. I was able to get 4 hours, 32 minutes of solid 4G streaming on one charge of the 1500 mAh battery. That's a pretty good result.

Network and Conclusions
We're working on our big Fastest Mobile Networks story soon, which will give you a picture of Sprint's 4G nationwide speeds relative to other carriers. But Sprint's $59.99-per-month 3G/4G service plan offers one big advantage over AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Cricket: truly unlimited data usage, at least on 4G, so you can use it as an alternative to a home connection if you like. 3G usage is restricted to 5GB per month, after which you pay 5 cents per megabyte.

The Novatel Wireless MiFi 4082 is the best Sprint hotspot so far, and right now Sprint is offering a $50 rebate, lowering the total price to $49.99. But I'm left wondering what will happen when I compare it with Sierra Wireless's new Overdrive Pro ($99.99, minus another $50 rebate), which has an informative LCD screen and an optional booster dock which pumps up its reception. The MiFi is smaller, and will probably likely get better battery life; right now, it looks like the best pick for road warriors. Either way, you won't regret buying it. But if that booster dock seems intriguing for home use, check out the Overdrive Pro.

Microsoft offered Windows Phone 7 users download 12 apps a month from Windows Phone Marketplace store

Some 36,000 individuals and studios are members of Windows Phone developer community, with 1,200 more joining every week

Windows Phone 7 Windows Phone 7: there are 11,500 applications available on the Windows Phone Marketplace store.

Microsoft may be keeping its cards close to its chest on sales of Windows Phone 7 handsets, but the company has released some stats on its smartphone operating system, with the aim of persuading app developers to throw their weight behind it.

In a long post on the Windows Phone Developer Blog, Microsoft's Brandon Watson outlines some of the numbers that he says illustrate WP7's momentum. For example, 36,000 individuals and/or studios are now members of the Windows Phone developer community, with 1,200 more joining every week.

Some 40% of these registered developers have already published their first app or game for WP7, meaning 60% have not yet done so. Watson also says that the average time to certification – meaning the time it takes to get an initial pass or fail – is 1.8 days, with 62% of apps passing on their first attempt.

There are now 11,500 applications available on the Windows Phone Marketplace store, with 7,500 of those being paid apps, while 1,100 are using Microsoft's mobile advertising tools to generate revenues from in-app ads.

Watson makes an interesting claim too: "Based on the conversations we are having with some of our developers, many are telling us that they are seeing more revenue on our platform than competing platforms, despite the fact that we cannot yet match the sheer number of handsets being sold."

It is hard to evaluate that claim without knowing which developers are saying this, of course. Microsoft has consistently pitched WP7 as a potentially lucrative platform for developers, where there is less competition (for now) than iPhone, and a greater willingness to pay for apps than Android. The message certainly isn't falling on deaf ears, but more specific examples are required to judge how well Microsoft is delivering on that promise.

Watson adds that Windows Phone 7 users are downloading an average of 12 apps every month, although there is no further information on how many of those are paid versus free, or any stats on the actual revenues being generated on the Marketplace by developers. More information is likely to come at Microsoft's MIX11 conference, which starts on 12 April and is likely to put an emphasis on making developers feel comfortable on WP7.

"We look forward to further increasing the engagement and transparency with our developer community, including more visibility into the update release schedules, roadmaps, access to early builds of the new OS and more time with our team," he writes.

If Microsoft is to prove analysts like IDC and Ovum right – who as we reported yesterday both see Windows Phone growing to the point where it will be hot on the heels of iOS (or even ahead of it) in three or four years' time, developer relations will be a critical element to get right.

Games developers had their say earlier this week, but if you've released an app through Windows Phone 7, now would be the time to pitch in.

Why 3-D Smartphones Are the Best Bet for 3-D Adoption

 At the recent CTIA Wireless conference in Orlando, Fla., two major manufacturers jumped into the 3-D market, a market that has been mostly dominated by TVs until this point. While it may seem counterintuitive to relegate 3-D shows to a small smartphone screen, 3-D smartphones might actually have the best chance of promoting 3-D adoption among consumers.

The display
Portability is one of the most important considerations. While 3-D content would look better on a large screen, people can't carry their 3-D TVs around with them. Passing the time on a boring plane ride with a 3-D movie is one of the perks of a 3-D smartphone.

It also widens the customer base because those who would have said they don't have time at home to watch a 3-D movie might want to stream a 3-D show to their phone while traveling.

But there's an even more important benefit to the 3-D smartphone displays: They don't require 3-D glasses. The glasses for 3-D TVs are expensive (many over $100 each), require batteries and are usually not numerous enough for an entire family. The 3-D smartphone bypasses every one of these problems by negating the need for glasses and making the viewing experience personal.

It's not a perfect solution. The screens on the two major 3-D smartphones – the HTC EVO 3D and the LG Optimus 3D – use parallax technology, which has certain flaws. For instance, the screens must be viewed straight on; turning them even a single degree distorts the image. However, these flaws are a relatively minor concern. It's far easier to turn your wrist a bit to adjust the viewing angle than it is to search the couch cushions to find that second pair of 3-D glasses.

The price
Currently, 3-D TVs are very expensive, costing thousands of dollars — and that's before you buy the 3-D Blu-ray player and the extra glasses. 3-D smartphones, on the other hand, will be subsidized by carriers, just like any other phone, making them much cheaper alternatives. There's also no need for disc players and DVRs because of the next point.

The content
A phone's mobile network provides an automatic content delivery system. Movies and shows can be purchased for download or rented for streaming with relative ease, and users don't have to be sitting in their living room either.

For now, there is still very little content for 3-D mobile devices, though that will likely change. Sprint representatives at CTIA indicated the carrier plans to create a content portal for the HTC EVO 3D, and T-Mobile will likely do the same for the LG Optimus 3D. If there is enough content available soon after launch, consumers will flock to it because of the ease of finding and playing movies and TV shows.

The camera
Both the EVO 3D and the Optimus 3D have dual cameras that allow the user to shoot their own 3-D images and video. And the 3-D display lets them view it instantly. As long as the cameras work well (all indications are positive so far) then 3-D phones offer the full package: the ability to not only view but create 3-D content. 3-D TVs can't do that.

Of course, there are 3-D camcorders reaching the market, but they are inferior to 3-D smartphones because of the next point.

The price/functionality quotient
The biggest benefit of getting 3-D media through a smartphone is that the device does so many other things as well. The screen may be smaller, but you're getting far more functionality for a cheaper price: phone calls, texting, Internet browsing, hundreds of thousands of apps, FM radio and more.

While there are different implementations of these features in some new Internet-connected TVs, the interface is invariably clunkier and less fully featured than what you find in a simple 3-D smartphone. For this reason alone, 3-D content makers have a better chance of selling their products because people will likely have a 3-D-capable smartphone sooner than an everything-capable 3-D TV.

It may still take a while
While the benefits of 3-D smartphones are obvious, they may remain a rarity for a while. It's still unclear if people are truly interested in 3-D content, regardless of whether or not it requires glasses. The available 3-D content will need to multiply exponentially, and the parallax screens could be further refined. But if anything can inspire 3-D adoption among American consumers, the new 3-D smartphones can.

Apple Releases New iOS 4.3.1 Update

Apple has released the iOS 4.3.1 update which deals with certain graphics and mobile connectivity issues as well as provding some minor enhancements.

The minor security and performance update was released to coincide with the launch of the iPad 2 in 25 countries including the UK. Apple released the update a week or so earlier than many had expected. The update brings security and performance enhancements to Apple's iPhone 4, iPad, iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch.

According to the company, the update fixes a graphics glitch found on the fourth generation iPod Touch, patches several bugs related to activating and connecting to some cellular networks, fixes an issue with the Apple Digital AV Adapter that caused images to flicker and fixes bugs that caused problems while authenticating some enterprise web services.

There had been some reports that the software would improve the iPhone's battery life, though this is yet to be confirmed.

It is still not clear whether the update fixes vulnerabilities that were being exploited by developers to jailbreak iOS devices. Apple would also would not confirm if the issue fixes a critical bug in the Safari browser that was discovered and exploited in the Pwn2Own hacking contest.

Iphone 5 : what's new

The iPhone 5 is said to be getting a bigger screen, NFC and a new antenna.

Another day, another iPhone 5 rumor. This time it comes from the China Times ( translated ), which is claiming that a prototype of Apple's next iPhone is already in the trial stages of production and will be packing a slightly larger screen, a Near Field Communications (NFC) chip, an A5 processor, and a tweaked antenna design that will combat attenuation when it arrives later this year.
The news, which was picked up by GadgetsDNA , comes following months of on-again, off-again news that Apple is exploring NFC in its products, with a larger goal of building out a payment network that will let consumers use their phones to pay for purchases at retail locations. Competitors like Google have already begun supporting NFC in the Android OS, with hardware makers like Samsung and Nokia having shipped NFC-enabled devices. Meanwhile, the payment tools that will find a place at retailers are being readied.
Guesses that Apple intended to drop an A5 processor into the next iPhone began almost as soon as the chip was introduced with the unveiling of the iPad 2 at the beginning of this month. Shortly following the release of iOS 4.3, crafty code sniffers were also able to find mentions of the processor as part of the build for a yet-to-be-announced device in the iPhone family.
This is also not the first time there have been murmurs about a new antenna design. Readers might remember the iPhone 4 antenna became the center of attention shortly following the phone's release, after a number of tests confirmed that signal strength could be affected by gripping the phone. Apple responded by holding an event to share data about the issue and demos of it happening to other smartphones, as well as to announce a program that would provide iPhone 4 buyers with a free case, or a return of the device. The company then made slight tweaks to the exterior, wraparound antenna between the GSM and CDMA versions of the iPhone; expectations remain that the design for the next iPhone will continue that trend.
As for the larger screen, the China Times report builds on a story in Digitimes from mid-February claiming that the iPhone 5 would sport a 4-inch screen, adding a half inch to the existing 3.5-inch display that has remained constant throughout all four generations of the iPhone. The validity of this rumor was further strengthened a few weeks later, with a purported 4-inch screen part showing up on a Chinese reseller's Apple parts site.
Along with the iPhone 5 rumors, the China Times also adds that Foxconn parent company Hon Hai Precision Industry plans to expand its operations into Sao Paulo, Brazil, specifically for the creation of products for Apple. That facility is said to be opening in 2013. The closer proximity to the U.S. could make for a significant change in shipping of products to the States and South American countries, as well as help keep up with some of the demand for products like the iPad 2, for which Apple now lists a lead time of 4 to 5 weeks for new orders.