Update On Curated Versus “Open” App Market: Fight Between Two Camps Continue

Just yesterday, another malware struck the Android Market Place. And personal data continues to be an issue with users and developers in a kind of warp sea-saw battle that has attracted Congressional interests (both good and bad and for political self-serving reasons). That has lead me to consider the state of app stores and if walled garden still deserves a lot of criticism or if more unsupervised ones are still the way to go.

To date, there isn’t a lot of attention about iPhone and iPad users suffering from wide-spread malware while Android users, to some extent, has had to be more careful about what apps they install. However, iOS users does have only one legal app store while Android users continue to enjoy options to get their app needs from multiple sources.

Having lived in both worlds, I have to say that I like being able to go about business free of whether my iPad or iPhone is being used to siphon off my private information. To some extent, malware and private info theft could be happen even with Apple’s curated setup but it isn’t as bad as as scary as what we are hearing about Android.

And since the dawn of curated versus freer choice argument, multiple app stores have sprung up and changes to even Google’s official app store has also taken place. So, where do things now stand?

First, let’s just state for a fact that Apple has hardly budged and any changes that Cupertino has made to the app store has been met with mixed reactions. So let’s just say that the iTunes app store has its virtues but it is definitely just as closed as before.

For Android users, Amazon now provides an alternative app store. However, likely Android default marketplace, it definitely has a aroma of iOS app store to it. For some, you might call it “stench”. And yet, it doesn’t feel as closed as Apple’s store and definitely inspires a bit more confidence in me than Google’s wide-open implementation. Because Amazon isn’t entirely closed, my distrustful nature has me thinking twice and doing a deep level investigation of any app I get from it. But I am definitely happier with Amazon than Google.

Meanwhile, Windows Phone 7 also has its own app store and I find software giant operate its app store to be closer to how Apple and Amazon operate their stores than Google operates Android Marketplace.

Having said all that, malware and privacy issues are something that all mobile warriors, regardless of platform, should be concerned about. As much as we’ve all been changed by mobile computing and the social aspects of it, we are closer to the start rather than the end of a social change in how we interact with technology. Over time, some issues like privacy may get resolved only to have others pop up that is more pertinent to society at that time in the future.

Still, while it might irks some users who want unadulterated access to apps and services, the rest of us mortal users could use a little help to fend off the darker elements of mobile computing.

Note: There is indication that Google is taking more proactive steps to curtailing certain apps. Some emulators have been pulled from the Android Marketplace and Google has taken tighter control of Android as well.

iCloud: This is Apple’s Last Chance To Revolutionize Mobile and Cloud Computing

Cloud is coming. That’s for sure and Apple has confirmed it just as much with its press release that Steve Jobs will also be headlining the keynote at next week’s WWDC event. Obviously, there is rampant speculation on what iCloud is and what it means for us Apple mobile warriors.

I reckon it’ll be tightly integrated into the Mac as well as the iOS devices. No brainer there. Beyond that, my speculations are just as good as any rumors/leaks that are flowing all over those “pipes” that power the Internet.

Regardless of what iCloud is, as a Mac and iOS user, I want it to be a seemless mobile computing experience unlike anything out there. Beyond what Google has available for its Webapps and Android. I want it to be many times better and more robust than the MobileMe experience I have had for the last few years.

The iCloud is Apple’s chance to bring its legendary innovative energy that has made the Mac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad a hit with and made Apple the most valuable publicly traded company in the tech sector. MobileMe has been a decent improvement over dotMac and while merely catching up to Google with iCloud would the very least Apple’s team can achieve, I surmise that for the fans, it would not be enough.

Tight integration with OS X and iOS is expected but it needs to go beyond that. If I wanted to, I can achieve the same goals using Google or Yahoo’s services on my Mac or iPad. If Apple is to do this, that $2 billion data center that it built out in North Carolina will have a lot to do with it.

How exactly can Apple achieve this? Honestly, it is gonna have to go one of those moments when Steve Jobs goes onto the stage and show us something that we didn’t even know we needed. That’s how good iCloud is going to have to be. If it was just about a music locker for streaming, I would not be the first to be disappointed.

For the last month or so, there has been talk about Apple advancing voice command as a part of iOS. I have been using Siri, a voice-enabled app for search, creating reminders, and booking tickets or reservations. Are we going to see a lot more from Siri?

Apple just released an update to enable its iWorks apps to work on the iPhone and iPod touch. I wonder if iDisk will achieve greater integration with associated hardware and as well as an increase in storage. Having just used Pages in my touch for a few minutes, it is already, in my opinion, one of the best writing tools out there. It was definitely a “wow” moment.

iCloud could also means a robust webapp experience. This is where I am totally expecting a grand slam. Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft has virtually owned the web as far as I’m concerned. In one broad stroke, Apple can bring the Mac experience via HTML 5 through Safari. I’m talking about iLife and iWorks in the cloud.

Am I expecting too much? No. This is definitely something that is right up Apple’s alley. In less than a week, we’ll know if I ought to be forking over my $99 annual due for an incredible mobile cloud experience or migrate over to Google for good.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod touch

Android Mobile Warriors Are Web Hogs And Blackberry Market Share Slide May Have Stopped

Here are some interesting facts about the mobile platforms and what the mobile users of each platform are doing with their smart handset.  The information are provided by Nielsen.  The takeaway for me is that Android users are downloading more music than I expected.  That's pretty awesome given the perception we are given about Apple's iTunes dominance.

• Android dominates the market at 36% followed by Apple at 26% and Blackberry at 23%.  Looks like the second half of 2011 could be an epic fight for second between the Canadian company and Cupertino.  
• Android users are wireless Web hogs.  It's not difficult to imagine that since Android has ran up quite a bit of ad impressions during this time.  The average Android users use 90 MB more data than Apple at 582 MB.  Surprisingly, WebOS users are not too far behind at 448 MB versus iOS users at 492 MB.
• iOS users download quite a bit of music but Android users spend 23% of the bandwidth doing the same thing.  That's a lot of music for a platform that does not have its own music store.
• iOS users spent a larger percentage of their data downloading more apps via wireless than Android.  However, there are reports that for developers, Apple's mobile users could be more profitable for them than Android users.
• WP7 ahdn Windows Mobile has  1% and 9% of the market share respectively.  It is not great but definitely a good launching point for Microsoft should its deal with Nokia pay off.  
• Interestingly, Palm OS still has 1% of the market share.  

The biggest surprise for me is iPhone and the lack of growth.  Keep in mind that the iPhone gained an additional carrier in the US.  And as everyone knows, Verizon is the biggest carrier in the US.  If anything, by adding an additional carrier, Apple has managed to keep the iPhone sales in line with Android sales, since neither platform grew.  

Right now, I eagerly look to the 4th quarter of 2012 when just about everyone will bring their best to the market:

• RIM will release new Blackberries powered by their newest OS.
• Microsoft's next Windows Phone 7 update, Mango will give it a lot of features that puts WP7 devices on par with current Android and iOS devices.
• Google will merge the smartphone and tablet OSes into one unifying OS much is Apple has done with its own mobile platform.  
• Apple's anticipated iOS 5 should bring new features that could set itself apart from its competitors while, hopefully, close the gap with Android where it is the weakest

In a way, this post is a summary of the smartphone and mobile device market.  What we've seen so far is a fight to a stalemate.  Depending on your perspective, it could be good or bad.  RIM held ground while Apple has at the very least stunted Android's growth while not doing much beyond that.  And for HP and Microsoft, there is hope for them yet as this market is clearly one that is growing and has plenty of room for more competitors.

More at Fortune, Electronista.

Sad Tablet Displays At Staples, Best Buy Could Be Why Only iPads Selling Well - Oh, iOS App Dominance Helps Too

I had to go to a few Office Depots and Staples today because I needed to print out a few post sized prints, four feet by seven feet.  Each store had almost different printers.  While there, I had a chance to look at the tablets that each are selling.

Let me just stick with Staples.  I saw posters for the Xoom and Playbook.  So I got distracted and decided to find the tablets first.  I had never seen a Playbook before and I was looking forward to it.  Well, I saw it after having to walk through half the store to find it.  It was virtually like that in most stores.  And worse than that, no tablets were working!  

Three of the Staples stores had both models.  But in two of the three stores, neither the Xoom or Playbook could be turned on.  I glanced around for help but there was no one interested in helping me.  Typically, at an Apple store, you get one or more of the retail people ask if you need any more within thirty seconds of being in the store.  Then at the 3rd Staples store, the Xoom was on but had apparently suffered some kind of kernel problem or something because it was frozen.  No buttons work.  The Playbook turned on and then decided to turn itself off.  

Now, I know that there are a lot of complaints about lack of native Honeycomb apps for Android tablets.  The Playbook suffered similar complaints but more.  However, if Google and its camp is going to trying to sell tablets and compete with the iPad in these kind of retail environment, they can forget about it.  The same goes for the Playbook  I have no doubt that RIM had seen initial success with the Playbook sales but it is hard to see a sustained effort.  

Apple needs competition and the presence of Android tablets and Playbooks, soon to be joined by HP's Web OS Touchpad, might be enough to make every major tablet platform innovate but if Apple's competitors want to take sales away from the iPad, they're gonna need to do a better job of it  Don't be surprise if someone decides to open up an Android store to compete and better compliment Android sales effort.  

Back On iPhone To Lock Unlimited Data Plan

I am back on the iPhone to lock up wireless data plans for which ever carriers I decide to go with.

I don't think I'll be going with an Android device ad my next phone anymore. It had become way too complicated a platform to use.

And with most carriers grandfathering plans these days, I think it's a good idea for me to lock things in while I can.

I am on T-Mobile's 3G plan now. We also have Verizon's unlimited plan. So I guess I am set. Not way I am going with AT&T and Sprint isn't going to alter it's plans any time soon.

Should the iPhone come to all the carriers this summer/fall, I would be good to go.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Would Apple Invite International Coverage for the WWDC Keynote Just For Demos And Previews?

Apple is inviting a lot for foreign journalists to the WWDC in San Francisco beginning on June 7th.  What's interesting is that we've known for months that there will be no new hardware introduction as it has been in previous years.  After all, the World Wide Developer Conference is about developers and software.  So why the hoopla over OS X and preview of the next iOS?

Well, it's hard to say.  It is not inconceivable for Apple to trying sneaking an iPhone in there.  But I highly doubt that.  Having just made that point, if Apple is trying to drum up world-wide coverage of the keynote speech (no one knows who's giving it so far), it better be much more than just about the next Mac OS Lion and what's going to be in iOS 5.  

And it definitely better not be just an intro with a bunch of demos.  That is not worth a trip across the pond or across the Pacific from Australia.  After all, it's not like they'll be going to LA or NY. This is San Francisco after all.  Right, not much going on there.

However, if Apple is to sneak in the next iPhone, that definitely would be something.  That's my pony wish with Santa and Easter Bunny all roll into one.  

New Windows Phone 7 Update "Mango" Has What It Takes To Go Against iPhone And Android

This is a very interesting day indeed as Microsoft outed the next Windows Phone 7 update.  Multi-tasking and more social friendly features are coming our way. 

 

What's also interesting is that Microsoft confirmed Nokia mobile devices running Mango is in the works.

 

What this means for the mobile landscape is anyone's guess right now.  It really depends on when Nokia gets their WP7 phones out on the market.  I'm gonna go ahead and say that they will be rushed out on a limited release in Nokia's backyard where home field advantage might still mean something.  If it does come out around the Holidays, it may have to contend with a newly released iPhone (4GS or 5) and whatever else Google has coming with an Android update that features Honeycomb UI.

 

What I'm interested in seeing if this will reverse Nokia's fortunes and, if so, at Apple or Google's expense.

Now, we'll have to see if Microsoft can actually deliver the update on time. That itself is the trickiest part of all.