Tablet: People Are Starting to Get It But It Could Be Too Late for Everyone (Except Apple And Amazon)

Here’s a quick thought from all the information we’ve gathered since the launch of the iPad 2 to this week’s unveiling of the Kindle Fire.  People are finally getting it.  What?

You cannot just manufacturer and sell a tablet and think that people will fall in line.  One might have thought that the success of the iPad 2 and failure of the Xoom to be apparently.  One might have thought HP killing off Touchpad a little over a month after its release would be lesson enough.  One might have thought RIM’s drumming in the market and the shipping (not sales) figure of the Playbook would be enough to teach us about the tablet market and mobile computing.

It has taken Amazon’s Kindle Fire with its low low $199 price and all the contents its bring to bear for people to start realizing where the future of mobile computing and entertainment is headed.

People are just starting to realize specs alone are not enough.  Dazzling demos are good for the blogs but doesn’t jive with Main Street mobile warriors.  People are just beginning to realize but it could be too late for everyone else.

After all, this is a process.  It’s taken Apple over a decade and they’re still working on it. It has taken Amazon five years or so starting Kindle and its still got a long but promising road ahead.

This idea that you have to create an ecosystem is beginning to sync in.  Does Google still have a shot?  Can Microsoft create a coherent solution with all its incompatible parts?  What about everyone else, HTC, LG, Sony, and Samsung?  Where does this leave Nintendo?

Is it already be too late?  Let's examine this over the weekend.

Sprint Could Position Its iPhone to Steal Users From Rivals - Wireless Data And Fact It's Not AT&T

This morning, I read a post how Sprint could have issues streaming users from its other three major US carriers.  Stealing from T-Mobile users will be like taking candy away from a baby.  But it will be tougher to do the same to AT&T and Verizon but not impossible.

First, there is no LTE iPhone yet and so no one can claim that advantage.  And everyone is has a 4G network, supposedly.  But it's not true.  AT&T and T-Mobile's 4G are nothing but pure marketing.  

Second, Sprint is the last major carriers to offer true unlimited wireless data plan.  I think that alone could be a major selling point.  It's one with me when I decided to go with Verizon for my iPhone upgrade.  More AT&T users would have made that jump had they not already been locked away by two-year sentences.  

GottaBeMobile conducted a survey that showed a majority of users who wants an iPhone already has a Sprint contract.  Does it means that those who don't have a Sprint contract do not want an iPhone?  It's really important to know just who they are surveying.  Also, there are more than a 1 million T-Mobile users with the iPhone.  They are more rip than at any other time to want to get out.  

With Sprint and Verizon added as an iPhone carriers, they've got two additional choicea.  With Sprint added as as an iPhone carrier, they've got a carrier who still offers unlimited data access.

Source:  GottaBeMobile.

iPhone Mock-Up - Again, Only A Mock Up

Let me be clear, these pics from giga.de that Macrumors linked to are only mock-ups.  I want to be very clear.

Still, they look nice and could give us an indication of where the next iPhone's design may be headed.  You might say to youself, "I've seen this before".  Probably.  It looks a lot like the iPod touch except thicker.

Notice it's only the same size as the other iPhones.  Perhaps they don't believe that a bigger screen is in the works.

It's something to look at.  I hae to say that I rather like the box.  Smaller and saves more space than the current box the iPhone 4 comes in.

Facebook May Be Cozying Up With Apple For iOS 5 Launch - Guess Who They're Targetting

Android fans, no fear here - HTML 5 works just as well on the iOS devices as they do on Android phones.  However, Techcrunch is reporting that Apple and Facebook may be presenting the new mobile HTML 5 platform that Facebook has been working on.  

What's interesting is that Apple and Facebook, one consumer tech giant and one privacy violating giant, are teaming up after a rumored fallout over Apple's failed Ping social network.  And they're working together because they feel they have to:  to go up against Google.  

Even if Facebook does eventually release an app for the iPad, I reckon we'll see one for Android as well soon after.  And this HTML 5 platform should be pretty viable on most mobile platforms, especially iOS 5 and Android since they both use Webkit as the basis for their browsers.

Source:  Techcrunch.

Brazil's iPad Plant Probably Not Going To Take Off

I'm gonna call this one out now.  Brazil will not be making one single iPad this year.  

High taxes, lack of skilled workers, and stagnation is to blame.  Too bad.

Source:  Reuters.

Chat With Your iPhone: Any Reason Why It Won't Work With iPhone 4?

Is there any reason why the rumored voice chat feature in iOS 5 will only work with up the updated hardware, iPhone 5?  What about the iPad 2?  This is purely speculation on my part so take it as some pleasurable reading with your morning coffee and muffin before you dive into the day's work.

A couple of days ago, the Apple blog world flared up with word of a new feature called "Assistant" in iOS 5, a feature previously rumored about but never confirmed.  Assistant, is possibly an integration of Siri, an app that Apple bought more than a year ago, into the OS.  Siri is a voice command app that allows the users to search for results simply by speaking into it.

Tech Fatigue Or Good Enough

At times, I feel like it's time to appreciate just what we have already. I am not talking about life in general. While that applies, specifically, I mean tech. Coming from someone who is focused on tech, it sounds strange.

Not at all. I like that the arms race among mobile companies, hardware, software, and services, to continue at its current pace unabated, I merely meant that as individual users, we are allowed to slow down and focus on the more pressing mobile needs at hand without thinking the next Android or iPhone will so it better.

Sometimes, an app is an app no matter if it's running off a Blackberry that has a physical keyboard or via touch only. Sometimes, an older app works better without needing to be tinkered with.

And speaking of newer hardware, most of us would probably upgrade on an annual basis if not for for the financial consideration of being locked into multi-year contracts. Chances are, most mobile fans are not utilize the mobile devices to their fullest potentials. Consider just how the different apps have come out in the last year and whether you've fully embraced using them. For instance, have you integrated some of your social life with the apps - checking in, looking for deals, create a photostream of your time out with friends or vacation? And if so, what new features in new hardware help with that? Could it be done with mere software updates to the mobile OS?

And if not, why upgrade at all?

Or even if none of the above applies, why the impulse go upgrade? Better and bigger screens? Longer battery life is always a big deal to me, how about you? Or do you simply crave a faster device for gaming?

I think those of us who think, live, breath, and write about mobile can get carried away by the constant news and updates from the mobile world. It's what makes this biz and hobby so fun, intriguing, and exciting. Sometimes, it is okay to get off this train a bit and simple appreciate what we already have and make the most of it.

I know folks still on the original iPhone and the G1. I've seem old old Blackberries as well still in use. They know that mobile tech has vastly improved but their gears serve their current needs.

While there could be some fatigue involved for some mobile users, and that's just fine. Hang on to your current devices and ignore the requests to update the apps so you can give yourself a breather or if you simply like the way things are now.

And when you're ready to upgrade, there will always be a new phone or app just waiting for you.


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