Would A Double Dip Recession Be A Good Thing For Mobile?

Consider how well certain companies did in the last recession, it's possible that should we enter a second recession in the US, it may well mean that companies that are ready for it could do well and even better once economies around the world start to grow again.

In the last recession, Apple promised to innovate its way out and it certainly did.  Macs continued to outpace PC sales even to this day.  Out of the recession came the iPhone 4 and the iPad.  Trust me when I tell you that Apple may be up for another recession.  It's international growth engine continue to hit on all of its cylinders.  

Certainly Google with its massive search lead could also weather any recession nicely.  It still has to contend with the Android lawsuits that its partners are facing and that uncertainty should only be a blip if that at all.

Microsoft's Office and Windows empire might take a hit.  At the same time, the next Windows Phone update, Mango, is just about to reach the market with Nokia spearheading the charge.  And Windows 8 for ARM-based chips will also be coming our way soon.  I see them in a similar position as Apple.

No one wants a recession.  But these guys may be among the few that will not only weather it but also thrive.  And depending on how long the second recession lasts, they could emerge in much stronger positions than ever.  While I hardly consider RIM and HP second tier players in the mobile market, they will need to be surgical about how they muddle through the recession.  

In market that will be particularly important is China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan).  A recession for China means a couple of percentage off its growth.  And there is no reason to believe that China will go into a recession even if we do here in the West.  Apple is particularly well positioned among the mobile giants.  Those who can afford iPhones and Macs will continue to eat them up.  Those in China who can afford $5 latte are not going to be too concerned about what happens on Main Street and Wall Street, USA.

Google is seeing its fortune shrink in China and Microsoft could use its position as a global tech leader to make inroads just when its competitors might be handicapped for political (like Google) or financial reasons.  

As for Google, Android can take even a greater share of the mobile market on the low end.  To Google, it doesn't matter if Android devices are selling for $50 or $300.  As long as it is able to sell ads, it will continue to doing very well.  

So, who else in the mobile warr do you think could do well or will falter through a second recession?  

Can You Fault Someone For Protecting His/Her Intellectual Property? Further Apple Innovation Will Put More Distance Between It and Competitors

Apple's patents are about putting some distance between itself and its competitors.  Apple's products carry with it's the DNA of the original Mac philosophy of "just works", ease of use, and elegance in its designs.  

What anyone else does about their own designs and functions matters very little to Apple as long as they do not infringe too much on Apple's work.  And more than just Android being a threat in the market, Apple felt that Android's dominance happened because a competitor like Samsung came in and copied not only key functions but also how it looks and feels.

And while I don't agree with Apple 100% on this issue, you cannot help but feel that there are similarities between the iPhone 3G and 3GS with the Galaxy phones.  

You also have to ask where would Apple's competitors go if they did not help themselves to some features like multi-touch?  I am not excusing their behaviors but only to point out that their recourse would be to reinvent the wheel so to speak or to invalidate Apple's patents.  

No matter how Google rants or talk about patent reforms, one thing that will no change is this.  There is a reason the concept of patents exist.  It's to protect the inventor's intellectual property.

And judging by the lack of innovation coming out of Apple's competitors, I see Apple distancing its iOS devices from competing products even more.  The only way to end is thing is not play by Apple rules.  Innovate and change the game entirely.

Auto-Correction Like iPhone Available For Macs Running Lion; Could Make Us Worse At Spelling

In pre-Lion, any version of OS X, there was no auto-correction and when we got that in iOS, I had wanted to have that be made available natively to the Macs for years.  And with the arrival of Lion, that feature has come.  At first, I had not noticed.

It was only when I read Macworld's post on turning it off that I realized it was there.  

For instance, I typed in "this is noly a test".  In the past, my Macbook would have left it there until I make a correctly.  Now, this is what I see "this is only a test".

So, why would anyone want to turn it off?  I understand the issue that the feature might insert the wrong word from time to time but I see that more likely to happen on the iPhone more than on the Mac.  

I might consider turning this feature off for only one reason:  if my spelling gets worse.  Seriously, I have already seen my spelling worsen in the last couple of years.  In the past, I would attempt to be more careful spelling out a word or at least attempt to sound out words that I don't know or hardly use.  These days, I just muddle through it and do a spell check after the fact.

With the auto-spelling correction feature, I won't even have to do that.  However, I may have to reread the doc more carefully to make sure the auto-correction inserted the right word.

I know this much.  Had this feature been available to me in elementary school, there was no way I'd be considered for a spelling bee contest.

Proof That Google Was Not Straight With Us About Nortel Patent Situations

It appears Microsoft is not willing to let this drop.

Earlier, I wrote that Microsoft's general counsel disputed Google's assertion that Rockstar, the group that included Apple and Microsoft, won the Nortel patents impede Android.  Well, Microsoft tweeted and provided a picture of the e-mail in which Google turned down Microsoft's overture.

Here is the tweet link.

I'm going to give Google the benefit of the doubt and see what they have to say about this.  The date in the e-mail was October of 2010.  I had assumed that the bidding was more recent.  Given that it had been a while since the overture and Google never reconsidered, it showed that Google's plans for the Nortel patents were to serve as defensive weapons.  

This is turning into a firestorm for Google.  And it is really making Google look pretty bad right about now.  More than a few blogs, including this one is chiming in on the matter (WPCentral, Electronista).  

For the moment, I can't say that Google can say anything or offer an explanation that would counter what Microsoft is saying.  And it's difficult to say this because Microsoft is supposed to be the bad guy here, right?

Google Turned Down Chance To Join Apple And Microsoft In Bidding For Nortel's Patents

Well, well, well...what have we here?  Let's recap.  Today, on Google's official blog, Google trashed Apple, Microsoft, and others for using patents to prevent competition and for gaining up on Android.  For the record, I agree that the motives behind Apple and Microsoft joining forces to make slow down Android and make it more expensive than, well, free.

Well, we all knew that Apple would not respond this these charges.  And in no uncertain terms, Google's blog post was very angry and left no room for that doubt that it was not happy with the results.  So instead of Apple speaking up, Microsoft spoke up for the team.

Microsoft's General Counsel Brad Smith said Google was asked to join with with them.  The eventual winner was a coalition of companies dubbed "Rockstar":  Apple, Microsoft, RIM, and Sony.  When offered the chance to join with them, Google turned it down.  

Furthermore, Electronista made a very valid point:  if what Microsoft's counsel is true, it would weaken any DOJ decision that might go against the winners in the Nortel bids.  On top of that, had Google won the bids, it could have insisted that that previous agreed upon patent terms be broken up.  That being the case, Google's plan, had it won, would have been to sue anyone else that stands in the way of Android.

Basically, Google would be doing what what it now accuses its competitors of doing.

Like I've said before, the companies that have sued Android device makers are not patent trolls but companies that are protecting their products.  The best thing for Google and the Open Handset Alliance is to out-innovate its competitors.  

I am sure there is more to this story than what Microsoft and Google has said.  Apple won't be saying a word at all on this matter.  Hence, the ball is back in Google's side of the court.  What I also would like to know is why Intel joined Google and whether it was also afforded an opportunity to join Rockstar but also turned it down.

Google Blasts Apple, Microsoft, And Oracle, Rages Against the Machine

Google's official blog was just updated with the most direct shot at the patent wars and against Apple, Microsoft, Oracle, and they mentioned other companies (who are they?).  

Google crying about Nortel patents...on some level, I agree with them.  Those above companies are coming after Google for various reasons and fight proxy patents wars or directly used Google as in Oracle's case over Java infringements and licensing.  And yes, the companies that rallied around Apple for the Nortel patents were gaining up on Android.  

Let me repeat that again:  the companies mentioned in the Google blog, with the exception of Oracle, are gaining up on Android.  They don't like the way it looks, they don't like the way it smells, and they don't like that it's free.  And while Microsoft seems content with royalty payments, Apple isn't interested in any resolution short of making sure Android makers do not infringe in its patents.  For Steve Jobs, it's not money he wants. 

At the same time, there are no free lunch...Google should innovate and if Apple or Microsoft infringes on their patents, sue them right back. It's how the world works, no?

Google is trying to strengthen its patent portfolio...that's the way to do it beat this thing.  Also, if Google can succeed in changing the rules of the game, that would be well within their rights to do it.

However, I doubt this blog post will generate much sympathy.  As I have brought up regarding the Nortel bids, where were Google's Open Handset Alliance friends with their billions?

Galaxy Tab Banned From Sale in Australia - A Foreshadowing Of Future Bans In the US?

I haven't really paid attention to the patent wars outside of the US but perhaps I should.  Samsung is currently prevented from launch the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia because Apple had won an injunction against Samsung.

Initially, Samsung wanted to launch the tablet in the next week or so but has not put that off indefinitely until the legal proceedings are completed or a temporary stay on appeal.

Apparently, the Australian legal system works much faster than it does here in the US.  So, it does give us a glimpse of the future should Apple win some kind of a legal injunction against other Android device makers.  This is what it will look like.

This is a victory for Apple.  At the same time, you have to wonder just how many 10" Galaxy Tabs Samsung will sell going up against the iPad 2.  It have might made more sense to stop the sales of the smartphones.

Source:  Bloomberg via Appleinsider.