Google's November Assault on Microsoft and Apple
By Anton Wahlman, Contributor - 09/21/12 - 7:30 AM EDT
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- It is easy to be blinded by the recent high-profile gadget launches of Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL).
Microsoft has shown different versions of Windows 8 for smartphones, tablets and PCs, which it will begin shipping around Oct. 26. Apple delivered the iPhone 5 along with new software for all of its hardware form factors.
Lurking behind the scenes, however, is Google (GOOG), which I believe will unveil a bevy of products to compete very strongly against Microsoft and Apple. I believe these products are likely to be announced as early as October, and would be available in U.S. retail within approximately 30 days thereafter -- basically, by Thanksgiving.
See if Cramer and the Real Money Pros are trading (DELL)
These products based on Google software will fall into three categories: PCs (laptops and desktops), tablets and smartphones. Let me describe them in turn:
1. PCs
Several PC brands that may be guarding themselves against a consumer and/or enterprise backlash against Windows 8 are likely to start producing Google PCs imminently. Samsung and Acer are already in production, but one can envision others joining this bandwagon.
I view Lenovo, Asus and Dell (Dell) to be the most likely ones, but others are also possibilities, including Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), Sony (SNE) and Toshiba, just to mention a few.
Google offers the simplest possible PC software, especially compared to Microsoft and Apple. With a Google PC, I cannot see a scenario where you would ever be in need of tech support. Basically, it boots up much faster than an Apple iPad and it "just works."
Google laptop and desktop prices are and will be competitive with Windows, which means they are much cheaper than Apple. However, you also have to consider that with a Google PC you don't have to buy any additional software or service/support plans. Your lifetime total cost of ownership, or TCO, will be a lot lower with a Google PC.
So far, Google has not marketed its PCs very well. They only recently started appearing at Best Buy (BBY) and most consumers don't even know that a Google PC exists, let alone why they would be better than Microsoft/Windows and Apple/Mac.
Starting this November, this is likely to change. Market share shifts typically take several years to become material, but I think it will start to become measurable in the months following these imminent launches.
2. Tablets
Android tablets are a dime a dozen, but very few of them run the most recent and by far the best version of the Android operating system, the 4.1.1 version called "Jelly Bean." Starting this November, this will change -- dramatically. The current main 4.1.1 Google tablet offering made by Asus has a small 7-inch screen and no cellular/LTE connectivity.
By November of this year, we should see eight-, nine-, 10- and 11-inch Android tablets running Android 4.1.1 (or higher) and offering cellular/LTE connectivity from a long list of hardware makers. Most likely, they will be offered from most of the following: Samsung, HTC, Sony, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Huawei and Motorola, which is of course now a division of Google's. Perhaps even others.
Google's value proposition will be that these Android tablets will be offering a more PC-like flexible operating system experience than Apple, on hardware that will be equal to -- or in some cases better than -- Apple, but at prices that almost approach the value offered by Amazon's Kindle tablets. The sheer diversity of form factors offered by these Android tablets will dwarf the offerings from Apple, Microsoft and Apple.
3. Smartphones
The fragmentation among the Android smartphone experiences has become a running joke in the industry, and even society at large. The interface looks different if you're buying a Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG and so forth.
Even worse, the software support for any Android model that hits the market can best be described in one word: orphan. Upgrades are rarely seen, if ever, and if they do show up, they tend to be six to 12 months too late, which is an eternity in the computing world.
In other words, Android fragmentation has become a total catastrophe for Google's ability to compete with Apple and Microsoft in the long term, despite that measured strictly in terms of units shipped -- 500 million or so -- Google is already in the lead. In order for this lead not to collapse in 2013, Google has to change course and right these wrongs.
Come this November, I think we will see the first evidence that Google is fixing the Android problem. The story here is in many ways similar to Google's tablet story.
Whereas in the past most of Google's smartphones were launched running one- to two-year old versions of the Android operating system, this November we should see a more uniform launch of Android 4.1.1 (or newer) smartphones from a long list of hardware makers: Samsung, HTC, Sony, LG, Huawei and Motorola (owned by Google itself), just to mention the more prominent ones.
By Google inducing its hardware makers to launch on the latest version of the Android OS, it will come a lot closer than before to matching the uniformity of the software experience offered by smartphones from Apple and Microsoft.
But that may not be the only benefit and trick of what Google has in mind for its future smartphones:
Whether this November or some time in 2013, Google may dramatically expand its "direct sales" model of both devices and service plans. Consumers can save a lot of money by purchasing a Google Nexus smartphone from Google already today for $349 and using it with an all-you-can-eat SIM card for $30, $45 or $60 per month depending on carrier and features. This can often save a consumer $1,080 over two years compared to a contract-subsidized plan, making for a huge net savings still.
The problem for Google is that today it offers only one phone for these attractive service plans. It's a good phone alright -- the Samsung Galaxy Nexus (GSM global unlocked version) -- but it would be much more attractive to have models in all sorts of sizes and shapes from HTC, Motorola, LG, Sony and others to do the same. This may be what will happen this November.
To summarize, I believe it is likely that Google will launch a broadside worthy of a comprehensive computing portfolio -- PCs, tablets and smartphones -- this October/November that will compete very strongly against the recently upgraded offerings from Microsoft and Apple.
If Google does what I have outlined here in my suspicions and suggestions, it will likely be taking market share on all fronts going into 2013.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Is there a problem here? Apple on a hiring spree for its iOS Maps
Source says Apple is aggressively recruiting former Google Maps staff
Posted by Shane McGlaun on September 24, 2012.
Apple has been catching a lot of flak over the quality of its maps for iOS 6. Apple replaced Google Maps data in the latest version of its operating system with its own maps. According to a source cited by TechCrunch, Google has been aggressively recruiting people with experience working on Google Maps.
Apple is reportedly aggressively recruiting these people to get them to come work on its own mapping product. Apple is using recruiters to lure away Google Maps employees who work for the search giant on contract. The source says that many of those individuals appearing eager to take Apple up on its offer in part for the opportunity to build a new product rather than perform “tedious updates” on the mostly completed Google Maps.
I’m sure the allure of working for one of the most valuable companies in the world, and a behemoth in the tech industry doesn’t hurt. According to the source, when attention at Google Maps turned to indoor mapping, workers at Google were less interested, and a lot of the staff began looking for other opportunities.
Apple is said to be offering great competitive salaries, and some positions include full coverage of moving expenses to come to Cupertino. If Apple is successful in landing multiple ex Google employees, it will certainly help to improve its currently lackluster map offering. I wonder how Google feels about Apple hiring away workers familiar with its Google Maps application.
Posted by Shane McGlaun on September 24, 2012.
Apple has been catching a lot of flak over the quality of its maps for iOS 6. Apple replaced Google Maps data in the latest version of its operating system with its own maps. According to a source cited by TechCrunch, Google has been aggressively recruiting people with experience working on Google Maps.
Apple is reportedly aggressively recruiting these people to get them to come work on its own mapping product. Apple is using recruiters to lure away Google Maps employees who work for the search giant on contract. The source says that many of those individuals appearing eager to take Apple up on its offer in part for the opportunity to build a new product rather than perform “tedious updates” on the mostly completed Google Maps.
I’m sure the allure of working for one of the most valuable companies in the world, and a behemoth in the tech industry doesn’t hurt. According to the source, when attention at Google Maps turned to indoor mapping, workers at Google were less interested, and a lot of the staff began looking for other opportunities.
Apple is said to be offering great competitive salaries, and some positions include full coverage of moving expenses to come to Cupertino. If Apple is successful in landing multiple ex Google employees, it will certainly help to improve its currently lackluster map offering. I wonder how Google feels about Apple hiring away workers familiar with its Google Maps application.
Publishers blame ad agencies for poor mobile sales.
Frustrated with poor mobile sales, publishers blame ad agencies
By Robert Andrews
Sep. 23, 2012, 7:01pm
Publishers are seeing mobile audiences growing fast – but revenue is yet to catch up, and it’s the ad industry taking the blame.
Mobile makes up a fifth of reader traffic for 87 percent of publishers, but only 29 percent of them are seeing the same proportion of revenue come from mobile, according to respondents to a census issued by the UK’s Association of Online Publishers (AOP).
Asked to name the main inhibitors to mobile revenue generation, a majority blamed “agencies’ attitude toward mobile” (55 percent) and dependency on low-yield ad networks (52 percent).
Clearly, the two groups have much work to do if they are to realise the platform’s full potential. This can’t go on forever – many publishers are becoming worried about migrating their audience from web to mobile in lieu of the latter offering an equivalent business model.
AOP director Lee Baker says:
“We are going to see some fundamental changes to the mobile ad market over the coming year as ad agency attitudes catch up with publisher investment and mobile audience size.
“Ad revenues will experience massive growth, doubling within 12 months of agencies recognising the opportunity in the mobile market.”
For many readers, mobile news consumption means disaggregated consumption through apps like Flipboard and Pulse. Some publishers are concerned about effectively giving away their ad sales to those apps in this way. The New York Times, for example, has struck a partnership with
Flipboard.
The fear isn’t stopping publishers from ploughing ahead with mobile content developments. Of AOP census respondents, 91 percent and 85 percent of them said tablets and mobiles, respectively, represent their greatest opportunities for revenue growth in the year ahead, with 62 percent saying they would make the majority of their sites optimised for mobile.
The census was completed by 90 percent of the AOP’s membership, comprising publishers of over 1,500 digital brands.
By Robert Andrews
Sep. 23, 2012, 7:01pm
Publishers are seeing mobile audiences growing fast – but revenue is yet to catch up, and it’s the ad industry taking the blame.
Mobile makes up a fifth of reader traffic for 87 percent of publishers, but only 29 percent of them are seeing the same proportion of revenue come from mobile, according to respondents to a census issued by the UK’s Association of Online Publishers (AOP).
Asked to name the main inhibitors to mobile revenue generation, a majority blamed “agencies’ attitude toward mobile” (55 percent) and dependency on low-yield ad networks (52 percent).
Clearly, the two groups have much work to do if they are to realise the platform’s full potential. This can’t go on forever – many publishers are becoming worried about migrating their audience from web to mobile in lieu of the latter offering an equivalent business model.
AOP director Lee Baker says:
“We are going to see some fundamental changes to the mobile ad market over the coming year as ad agency attitudes catch up with publisher investment and mobile audience size.
“Ad revenues will experience massive growth, doubling within 12 months of agencies recognising the opportunity in the mobile market.”
For many readers, mobile news consumption means disaggregated consumption through apps like Flipboard and Pulse. Some publishers are concerned about effectively giving away their ad sales to those apps in this way. The New York Times, for example, has struck a partnership with
Flipboard.
The fear isn’t stopping publishers from ploughing ahead with mobile content developments. Of AOP census respondents, 91 percent and 85 percent of them said tablets and mobiles, respectively, represent their greatest opportunities for revenue growth in the year ahead, with 62 percent saying they would make the majority of their sites optimised for mobile.
The census was completed by 90 percent of the AOP’s membership, comprising publishers of over 1,500 digital brands.
Scratches. Is the new iPhone 5 that bad?
CHATROOM
Does Your New iPhone 5 Scratch Easily?
By Jamie Condliffe, Sep 24, 2012 5:02 AM
SHARE
So, you've got the new iPhone. You've been downloading apps all weekend. It's a joy to use. But... we're hearing some reports that suggest the latest iPhone picks up scratches faster than data flows through its new Lightning connector.
Some folks are saying that their phones have picked up plenty of scratches on the back and sides after just a weekend's use. Others are even claiming that there are scratches on the handset straight out of the box, lurking beneath the protective film wrapper.
Ever wonder the difference's between iOS 5 and 6?
Lab Tests: iOS 6 and iOS 5 performance differences
We test the latest operating system against its predecessor to see whether it speeds up our devices
By James Galbraith | Macworld.com | 24 September 12
We've heard a lot about the 200-plus new features in iOS 6, but how will this upgrade affect performance? To find out, I grabbed a stack of iOS devices from the Macworld Lab and did some before-and-after testing to see whether iOS 6 performance was faster, slower, or the same as under iOS 5.1.1.
See also: iPhone 5 unboxing
iOS 6 benchmarks: Geekbench
Results are scores. Longer bars are better.
iOS 6 benchmarks: Page Load
Results are in seconds. Shorter bars are better.
I ran a series of six tests on an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and a third-generation iPad. I found subtle performance differences between the two versions of iOS. GeekBench scores with iOS 6 were within one percent of the iOS 5.1.1 scores. Page load times were less than half a second faster using the new version of iOS.
iOS 6 benchmarks: SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark
Results are in seconds. Shorter bars are better.
There were, however, three tests that showed larger differences. The iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and third-generation iPad were all 20 percent faster at the SunSpider 0.9.1 JavaScript benchmark when running iOS 6. The iPhone 4 was 17 percent faster on this test in iOS 6.
iOS 6 benchmarks: GLBenchmark Egypt Offscreen
Results are in frames per second. Longer bars are better.
iOS 6 benchmarks: GLBenchmark Pro Offscreen
Results are in frames per secon. Longer bars are better.
The GLBenchmark test also showed real performance differences, but the results werent as cut and dried as the JavaScript results. The iPhone 4 displayed the same number of frames per second in the Egypt Offscreen Test, regardless of the version of the iOS. The Pro test, also run offscreen, showed iPhone 4 performance that's practically identical. The iPhone 4S was less that 1 percent faster on the Egypt test, but 2.5 percent faster on the Pro trials when running iOS 6. The iPad 2 was 4 percent faster in the Egypt test running iOS 5.1.1, but the Pro test results were nearly identical.
See also: Should I buy an iPhone 5? Here's what you will, and won't get
The third-generation iPad showed the biggest performance difference, unfortunately, it wasnt in the ideal direction. iOS 5.1.1 outperformed iOS 6 by just under 3 percent in the Pro offscreen test, the Egypt offscreen test was nearly 11 percent faster under the old OS.
iOS 6 benchmarks: WebVizBench
WebVizBench, an HTML 5 benchmark, showed identical performance for the iPhone 4 and iPad 2, but significant gains in performance for iOS 6 on the iPhone 4S and third-generation iPad: 20 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
While these results may sway your decision to upgrade your iOS, at least we now know that there is no significant performance downside to doing so.
Check back soon for battery life results for these devices, as well as test results for the new iPhone 5.
We test the latest operating system against its predecessor to see whether it speeds up our devices
By James Galbraith | Macworld.com | 24 September 12
We've heard a lot about the 200-plus new features in iOS 6, but how will this upgrade affect performance? To find out, I grabbed a stack of iOS devices from the Macworld Lab and did some before-and-after testing to see whether iOS 6 performance was faster, slower, or the same as under iOS 5.1.1.
See also: iPhone 5 unboxing
iOS 6 benchmarks: Geekbench
Results are scores. Longer bars are better.
iOS 6 benchmarks: Page Load
Results are in seconds. Shorter bars are better.
I ran a series of six tests on an iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and a third-generation iPad. I found subtle performance differences between the two versions of iOS. GeekBench scores with iOS 6 were within one percent of the iOS 5.1.1 scores. Page load times were less than half a second faster using the new version of iOS.
iOS 6 benchmarks: SunSpider JavaScript Benchmark
Results are in seconds. Shorter bars are better.
There were, however, three tests that showed larger differences. The iPhone 4S, iPad 2, and third-generation iPad were all 20 percent faster at the SunSpider 0.9.1 JavaScript benchmark when running iOS 6. The iPhone 4 was 17 percent faster on this test in iOS 6.
iOS 6 benchmarks: GLBenchmark Egypt Offscreen
Results are in frames per second. Longer bars are better.
iOS 6 benchmarks: GLBenchmark Pro Offscreen
Results are in frames per secon. Longer bars are better.
The GLBenchmark test also showed real performance differences, but the results werent as cut and dried as the JavaScript results. The iPhone 4 displayed the same number of frames per second in the Egypt Offscreen Test, regardless of the version of the iOS. The Pro test, also run offscreen, showed iPhone 4 performance that's practically identical. The iPhone 4S was less that 1 percent faster on the Egypt test, but 2.5 percent faster on the Pro trials when running iOS 6. The iPad 2 was 4 percent faster in the Egypt test running iOS 5.1.1, but the Pro test results were nearly identical.
See also: Should I buy an iPhone 5? Here's what you will, and won't get
The third-generation iPad showed the biggest performance difference, unfortunately, it wasnt in the ideal direction. iOS 5.1.1 outperformed iOS 6 by just under 3 percent in the Pro offscreen test, the Egypt offscreen test was nearly 11 percent faster under the old OS.
iOS 6 benchmarks: WebVizBench
WebVizBench, an HTML 5 benchmark, showed identical performance for the iPhone 4 and iPad 2, but significant gains in performance for iOS 6 on the iPhone 4S and third-generation iPad: 20 percent and 7 percent, respectively.
While these results may sway your decision to upgrade your iOS, at least we now know that there is no significant performance downside to doing so.
Check back soon for battery life results for these devices, as well as test results for the new iPhone 5.
How RIM's CEO sees the upcoming BB10 OS
“One Touch, One Finger” Is How Thorsten Heins Describes BlackBerry 10 Usability
Sep 24th, 2012 by Ronen Halevy
Its days like this that I wish I could understand Italian. Paul let us know that Corriere Della Sera had an interview with RIM CEO Thorsten Heins where he talked about RIM and BlackBerry 10. One of the most interesting quotes he used was calling the BlackBerry 10 experience “One hand, one finger” in explaining the “incredible ease of use” of the OS. It has been designed to be used with one hand using one finger. Its sort of a nice simplification of the “BlackBerry Flow” concept RIM has been using as a description for BlackBerry 10 usability.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
iPhone 5 video camera review
iPhone 5 video camera review
By Leanna Lofte, Monday, Sep 24, 2012 a 1:48 am
The iPhone 5 is not only equipped with an iSight camera that takes great 8 megapixel, f2.4 pictures, but also records incredible 1080p HD video as well. The FaceTime camera has also been improved and will finally record 720p HD video. Of all the improvements to video recording with the iPhone 5, however, the ability to take photos while simultaneously shooting video is definitely the cherry on top.
To see examples of the iPhone 5's cameras in action, check out the video above! Then follow along after the break for my full review of the iPhone 5 video cameras.
Video recording with the iPhone 5
One of the noticeable changes you'll see when recording video with the iPhone 5 is that the UI has been adjusted to take advantage of the screen's 16:9 aspect ratio. The video you're recording will completely fill the screen and all your controls will appear as transparent buttons so that you can see everything that's being recorded. While recording video, there are only 3 items on the screen, the record button, the elapsed time, and a new button for taking pictures.
Simultaneously recording video and taking photos with the iPhone 5
One of the special features of the iPhone 5 is the ability to take photos while simultaneously shooting 1080p HD video. To do so, simply tap the camera icon while recording video. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the camera shutter was very fast even when recording video at the same time. As is demonstrated in the video, it's super easy to rapidly take photos while recording video.
Personally, I have opted out of recording video in the past because I didn't want to miss out on a great photo, but now that I can take photos while recording video, that'll never happen again.
Front facing camera quality of the iPhone 5
Although the main iSight camera on the iPhone 5 didn't receive any big upgrades in quality, the front-facing camera has greatly improved. For the first time, the iPhone's FaceTime camera now records in 720p HD video. It's definitely not as good as the rear-facing iSight camera, but compared to it's predecessor, the new FaceTime camera does a phenomenal job. In the past, I've just recorded myself with the rear-facing camera even though I couldn't see myself just because I hated the poor quality of the front-facing camera. Not anymore. If I need to record myself talking to the camera, I'll use the front-facing camera from here on out.
Low-light video recording with the iPhone 5
A big weakness of every iPhone's video camera has been the quality of video that was recorded in low-light scenarios. Unfortunately, but as expected, this continues to be a weakness with the iPhone 5. Although special situations, like the clip of the burning candle, can produce stunning results, everyday poor indoor lighting will result in low-quality, grainy videos. You can still capture memories, but the quality won't be anything to brag about.
The bottom line
The iPhone 5 may not have received a huge boost in quality over the iPhone 4S, but since the iPhone 4S does a great job at recording 1080p HD video, that's ok. The beauty is that the same great quality is delivered in a much thinner package. Additionally, the larger screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio improves upon the video recording experience. Although the rear-facing iSight camera didn't receive significant improvements over the iPhone 4S, including in low-light, there's no denying that the front-facing FaceTime camera on the iPhone 5 blows the iPhone 4S away. Of all the changes, however, my absolute favorite is the ability to take photos while recording video.
Is the iPhone 5 capable of recording professional-quality video? No. Is it the best portable video camera I've ever owned? Absolutely.
Leanna Lofte
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)