Tag: android

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Fragmentation

One word that Apple always uses against Android is the F word. Not the one that rhymes with ‘Duck’. I’m referring to ‘Fragmentation’. They’re referring to so many Android phones from so many manufacturers with so many different features (e.g. screen sizes), and to top it off, so many versions of the core OS with different “skins” applied by manufacturers to, you know, differentiate themselves. They say it like it’s what will bring about the end of Android and that Apple doesn’t have it.

But fragmentation has already been with iOS since the original iPad release back in April 2010. It’s just that iOS 3.2 then came with a built-in mechanism for supporting apps with non-dynamic UIs (upscaling). The same mechanism was used by iOS 4 when the iPhone 4 and its 640×960 display came out.

Most developers quickly came up with updates that target the iPad and the iPhone Retina display. Now with the iPhone 5 and its 640×1136 display it will be the same: iOS 6 comes with a built-in mechanism (letterboxing) and developers will quickly come up with updates that target the new display.

For most developers and even some customers, fragmentation is not a big deal. It’s nothing new. Just look back at Windows and PCs: A huge variety of hardware? Use device drivers. An assortment of resolutions? Use dynamic layouting. Different graphics chips? Use OpenGL or Direct3D. Been there, done that. Survived.

For many customers, it is a big deal and quite scary. But that’s just what fragmentation is: a scare word that Apple marketing came up with. If you’re afraid, maybe you can use a better word: ‘Diversity’. Doesn’t sound scary anymore, yeah?

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Jelly Bean

Jelly beans are Jeanne’s favorite treat. And it could just be my favorite… mobile OS. Maybe :P Along with the Nexus 7 (and a host of others), Google has announced the latest version of Android: Jelly Bean. It’s an incremental update, carrying a version number of 4.1, but it offers a lot of updates:

  1. Project Butter has brought smoother and faster feeling user interface
  2. Improved notification center with expandable and actionable notifications
  3. Updated widget behavior
  4. Improved camera and gallery apps for easy photo snapping and sharing
  5. Improved keyboard behavior with with word prediction
  6. Added Accessibility options with support for external Braille input
  7. Enhanced Android Beam allowing transfer of photos and video
  8. Offline Voice recognition and typing
  9. Google Voice search is more intelligent than ever
  10. Updated Google Search user interface
  11. Google Now adds automatic information feeds to your device (weather, traffic, sports, etc)
  12. Bi-Directional text and additional language support
  13. Truly high-resolution contact photos
  14. USB audio output and HDMI multichannel audio output
  15. App encryption and Smart App updates

Source: GSMArena

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Google Nexus 7

Google has announced their much-anticipated own brand tablet. At $199 it competes squarely against the older Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and Amazon Kindle Fire. More importantly it moves closer towards the high-value price points set by the iPad. Way to go, Google!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 Amazon Kindle Fire Google Nexus 7
Size 193.7 x 122.4 x 10.5 mm 190 x 120 x 11.4 mm 198.5 x 120 x 10.5 mm
Weight 344 g 413 g 340 g
Display PLS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors IPS TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors LED-backlit IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
1024 x 600 pixels. 7 inches 1024 x 600 pixels, 7.0 inches 1280 x 800 pixels, 7.0 inches
Processor Dual-core 1 GHz CPU, PowerVR SGX540 GPU, TI OMAP 4430 chipset Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, PowerVR SGX540 GPU, TI OMAP 4430 chipset Quad-core 1.3 GHz processor, 12-core ULP GeForce GPU, Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset
RAM 1 GB RAM 512 MB RAM 1 GB RAM
Internal Storage 8/16/32 GB storage 8 GB storage 8/16 GB storage
External Storage Up to 64GB No External Memory No External Memory
Data Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Operating System Android OS, v4.0.3 (Ice Cream Sandwich) Amazon-customized Android OS, v2.3 (Gingerbread) Android OS, v4.1 (Jelly Bean)
Primary Camera 3.15 MP none 1.2 MP
Secondary Camera VGA none none
Video 1080p at 30fps none 720p at 30fps
Apps Android Market + access to non-market apps Amazon AppStore Android Market + access to non-market apps
Battery Standard battery, Li-Ion 4000 mAh Standard battery, Li-Ion 4400 mAh Standard battery, Li-Ion 4325 mAh
Battery Life 8h 8h 8h
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Nokia and WP8

So much for synergy. A few days ago, Microsoft announced WP8 to much self-generated fanfare and a bitter fact: You can’t upgrade older devices to WP7. Used to be that’s not so much of a problem. But iOS has shifted the customer expectation towards upgradeability being a necessity. The result: a lot of disappointment and a big drop in stock price for Nokia. For sure other WP7 device makers were also affected. And for sure they already have WP8 devices on the works. But Nokia had touted “special advantages” when it decided to partner with Microsoft. Don’t you just hate it when your strategic partner doesn’t strategize with you? Couldn’t Microsoft have handled it a little bit better? When Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich was announced, not all devices were expected to be able to run it. And even now adoption has been low. And yet that affair seemed better handled.

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Facebook Buys Instagram

Just when I though I could get away from Facebook, they’re buying up Instagram, my photo sharing network and app of choice. Knowing them, they’ll probably claim the pictures  (and everything else) you post are not yours. So I just might have to switch. And soon. Path?

On other hand, I’m happy for the founders of Instagram. From a valuation of $100M, then $500M, and now $1B in a matter of months. For sure the recent availability of the Android version of the app pushed the valuation up. That alone has the potential to almost instantly double it’s current user level of 30M. Not bad. Not bad at all.