How to Silence iPhone's App Store Criticism Once And For All

I've come up with a workable way for Apple, and just about every mobile platform to solve app store issues regarding approval, First Amendment issues, and general criticisms about walled gardens. No matter if it's Android or WebOS, there is a level of walledness involved. Of course, there is Apple's walled garden with a moat filled with crocodiles and and plasma turrets, some obvious, some hidden.

How? Two app stores. One for approved apps and one for apps that are rejected or ones from developers who never bothered submitting for approval.

And I think it will work better for Apple than what they've current got now. More at On Apple.

Booksellers, Especially Barnes And Noble, Are Becoming Tablet Players

This morning, Barnes and Noble offers a glimpse into what the future of booksellers will do to remain relevant in the changing world of readers. Since the Nook, Barnes and Noble has introduced a second reader, Novel, this one also based on Google’s Android platform, called Novel for $199.

I’m not here to bore you with a detailed piece about it. You can go to CNet for that. But and Noble’s strategy is coming clear. It means to not only be a bookseller, digital or physical, but it is transforming into a mobile player.

With the line blurring between readers and tablets, Barnes and Noble is leveraging its name to take advantage of the young tablet sector. And I think they’ll be big.

Barnes and Noble superstores are where people go to buy not only books but to congregate. It is a family-friendly environment and the people who work there are generally folks who are knowledgeable and offer great services. It’s a brand that has loyal followings and is trusted.

Now, if I’m Google, Microsoft, or Apple, I would take a long hard look at Barnes and Noble as well as Borders. Why? Borders has more than 500 superstores while Barnes And Noble has more than seven hundreds.

Both companies are super cheap if you want to expand into the retail market. Apple can purchase one of the brand and put in Apple stores as well. For Google or Microsoft, it also makes sense. Either of these companies, with one purchase, can catch up to Apple’s retail presence.

Not only that, Borders’ market value is much cheaper than Barnes and Noble’s $1.2 billion. If one of three mobile companies I mentioned purchases Borders and the other two follows, it can force them to pay a premium and waste a vast amount of their cash in the process. I know that all three companies are cash-rich but any time you make the other guy pay more, it’s a win for you.

Apple-Borders Or Google-Barnes and Noble. Or MS Borders? What do you think?  Microsoft certainly needs to play a little catch up.

Note: Given how Barnes and Noble will soon have two Android-based ereaders, it makes sense for Google to pull the trigger on this idea of mine.

Another note: For Microsoft, I'd offer a full range of Microsoft products as I suggest Apple should do in these superstores. It can sure help make a splashing for Windows Phone 7 products.

Flash War: Onxo Tweets About Apple, Adobe, Flash, & HTML5

Here's an aggregate of today's tweets that I put up called "Flash War".

The day started looking quite promising as the media latched onto "reports" from "sources" that the FTC and the Justice Department are negotiating with each other about who should look into whether Apple did anything wrong not wanting substandard apps in the iPhone platform.  I think iAds could also be thrown in.

However, there is certainly no indication that an investigation would even be initiated.  After all, Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor and advisors to other administrations, believe the FTC has better things to do than to investigate Apple (okay, the Justice Department is another issue).

The tweets:

• Flash War: Adobe mouthed off to the feds to get them to look at Apple's SDK agreements. Stupid, stupid, stupid... (part 1)
• Flash War: Adobe should shut up and work hard to make Apple regret it. Go crying to others is just weak (part 2)
• Flash War: Apple is now pissed. How does getting the government involved help Adobe? (part 3)
• Flash War: At the end of day, Adobe pissed off one of its better partners. Apple has billions to kill Adobe if needed (part 4)
• Flash War: Look for Apple to develop its own creative suite. Legions will follow. Adobe, dumb, dumb, dumb… (part 5)
• Flash War: Macromedia buy by Adobe was a bad bet. Apple will be developing own html 5 tools (part 6)
• Flash War: Adobe needs to shut up and circle wagon and innovate like crazy. Only way to out-Apple Apple. (Part 7)
• Flash War: Vids of Flash on Android. Very short. Both promising and worrying. (part 8) http://bit.ly/99ak7z
• Flash War: Scribd will abandon Flash & move to HTML 5 start tomorrow. 200K of the most popular docs will be ready. http://tcrn.ch/aJBWqG
• Flash War: ARM blames Adobe for slow smartbook beginning. Reason? Flash & Air delay since 2009. Effort also hindered by interests in iPads
• Flash War: Adobe will need Google to stave off Flash death. Probably can't wait for Chrome OS to be available later this year.
• Flash War: ARM had hoped Linux & Flash will be weapon against Intel's netbooks. Linux sales disappoint. But Flash was a no show.
• Flash War: Here is more on ARM's disillusion with Adobe and Flash. http://bit.ly/bp5nsB

Bottom line: Adobe has a lot to offer the Internet and computing in general. Instead of waging a publicity war that it isn't like to win, Adobe should put the energy into innovating its products. And if Flash on non-iPhone mobile platforms do shine, that'll just shut Steve Jobs up, won't it?

Note: You can follow my twitter feeds here at paul_onxo.

After iPad, Who's Next?

This iPad week whether mobile warriors from other camps like it or not. But it'll be over eventually and another platform will get the attention. So who might that be?

Amazon with Kindle? Sony with a slew of Viao tablets powered by PSP 2? Nintendo surprising us with DS tablet or Microsoft mashing Zune, Xbox , and WM7 into a revolutionary alternative to mobile computing?

How about HTC, Dell and HP? Well, I don't have much hope for these three based on what I see near-term but I like to be surprised.

More at Onxo Mobile Devices for analysis on who has the best chance of offering a complete mobile computing experience.

Mobile App Wealth To Jump In 3 Years

According to a report from commissioned by GetJar, a bit self-serving since it's an app store but doesn't make it untrue, app business could explode by 2012 to the tune of $17.5 billion. Here are quick facts from the report:

• 92% Growth year over year from 7 billion downloads in 2009 to 50 billion by 2012.
• $17.5 Billion by 2012 - a market value greater than the CD market of nearly $14 billion.
• Asian app downloads will exceed Western regions but will require a different monetary models.
• Europe will hit $8.5 billion by 2012.  North America will hit $6.7 billion in the same time frame.
• Advertising-based apps will account for 28% of app revenue in 2012 - up from 12% in 2009.
• Average selling app price in 2009 is $1.90 but will decrease by 29% by 2012.

One of the highlighted fact in the report is who will come out ahead at the end of the day.  It is unclear how many app stores will spring up and who will be left standing.  The report believes a mere few will be left by 2012 to share the app revenue of $17.5 billion.

Even now, Google, Apple, and others are attempting to create an device-app-content ecosystem to cultivate as much as the demands of mobile users as possible.  I'm sure Android Marketplace, Apple's App Store, and a couple others will be around.  It'll be interesting to see if any of the more independent variety will be around and what kind of impact they may have.

So, anyone still looking to get into the app business, now's the time.

More at Business Wire, CNet News.

Fees, LTE, And Billions For Good Apps, And One More Thing

There's something big that's happen today in the mobile world but I don't seem to remember what it can be. We've got the Nexus One already. Something about Facebook being the most visited mobile social site? No, that's not it. Zune phone? No, that's in March or something.

Oh, I remember now. It's the SOTU address tonight and you can watch it on your iPhone or iPod Touch if you download the White House app (onxo:  government mobile). For the rest of you mobile warriors, you can listen to the President's address tonight on radio, your mobile devices via NPR, or do it old-school: watch it on your Flash-enabled browser.

By the way, a few mobile news everyone's gonna want to be interested in. By 2013, mobile apps will account for $15 billion dollars of mobile revenue. So, for anyone who has a fart app or, rather, something slightly more useful, there's a market for that.

However, I'm not sure that number is accurate. $15 billion based on 16.2 billion downloads. The research outfit that came up with this also assumes that 15% of the download will be paid. That's 2.43 billion apps that are actually paid for. That comes out to $6.17 per app. Obviously, they don't know about the major of the $.99 app in the iTunes app store. (Mobile-Ent)

Personally, I think a $3 average is more likely. That's put my estimate somewhere south of $7.5 billion. Still, not bad at all.

Also, the FCC is gunning for ATT, Google, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon on the exorbitant termination fees these guys are charging. Google and VW seems to think they ought to profit a bit more than what they would otherwise charge for selling the device outright.

Finally, CNet has a very good post on what's the state of the wireless network upgrade with various providers.  Lately, believe WiMax shows more promise than LTE given that 3G networks still have a lot of room to grow in terms of speed and stability.  Also, Clearwire has indicated that it isn't necessarily married to one particular technology.  I see a hybrid WiMax-LTE chip in the future, don't you?  (More at CNet)

Yeah, that's it for mobile news.  Still I think I'm forgetting something huge that's going to change the mobile world as we know it.  If I can only remember...see, I was so excited about it that I couldn't sleep last night.  And now, lacking sleep, I don't remember what it is.  Oh well, if I only had a tablet or a slate or a pad handy, I could have written it down in a form of a digital diary.

Maybe someone should develop just such a device.  Hey, Steve Jobs, boy, have I got a great idea for your next "...one more thing...".

A Word On Tech Rumors - Nexus One and iTablet

I love rumors as much as the next mobile warrior.  As you know here, Onxo doesn't talk about rumors but we're okay in blatant, even wild, speculations.  And right now, folks in the Internet are going nuts over Apple's iTablet and Google's Nexus One.

Fine, I just want to tell everyone to enjoy the holidays and the new year celebrations along with a healthy diet of tech rumors.  But come next Tuesday when Google's press event unveiling its own Android phone and then again on January 26th when Apple's likely to unveil the iTablet, be prepared for some indigestion.

First, Google's going to show the world on January 5th what Android 2.0 and its own hands at mobile design can produce to change the world of mobile computing and experience. That much we know is a fact.

But last night, rumors started flying around about pricing and contracts and I can tell you a lot of folks are going to be disappointed come Tuesday. See, before that, along with others, I was really giddy over the prospect of Google changing rules of the mobile market the way Apple did with the iPhone and now it is beginning to look less like Google's going to be doing much of that.

I remain hopeful that the latest disappointing rumor is merely an attempt to mislead the public and we'll still be wowed. Honestly, $530 for an unsubsized Nexus One and $180 for a very restricted voice and data plan from T-Mobile isn't going to wow people next week.

Now, for the iTablet. Haha, jokes on us if Steve Jobs wakes up on the morning of the 26th and decides the iTablet (or iSlate) isn't good enough for him and uses the 26th event to talk about the great Christmas Apple just had and walks off the stage and leaves his minions to introduce the next Macbook update.

That is the reality of Apple rumors. It takes one guy to start speculating (like us but someone more influential) and for the rest of blog world to catch fire. I've got my own iTablet speculations but I always make sure people know that. For some tech folks, they like to report what they talk about to Wall Street guys as if they've seen the Apple tablet. You know as well as I do that Wall Street guys mostly take their cues from the blog guys. And when the analysts simply talk out of their behinds, they're almost always wrong about Apple.

So, I simply want to put a dose of reality into all this going-ons. I love to see Nexus One at $99 with no contract running on Google's secret white spaces network supported by ads. I love for Apple's iTablet to be 10" running OS X as well as iPhone apps for 15-18 hours of rigorous use while weighing in at 1 pound or less with iChat video and VOIP while giving me the option to watch streaming video from iTunes. All for $500.

Chances are that a majority of that ain't gonna happen. Nevertheless, I insanely hold out hope. Heck, I still believe in Santa, it's just that he doesn't visit me because I've been naughty.

Kindle 3.0: Apple iTablet Killer

That's right. Forget the Kindle killer from Apple. Obviously, Apple's forthcoming iTablet can kill the Kindle with ease. No doubt about it. The Kindle 2 and the DX are mere ebook readers. And not even out (nor is there concrete evidence that it exists), the iTablet is already being dubbed to be the ereader that any serious book reader will need and then some.

You know, the Kindle killer. Well, I submit the following: Kindle 3, an iTablet killer.

Alright, it's not likely but it's not out of the realm of possibility. First, Kindle has a wide following if you believe Amazon that it is the most gifted item ever in its store. Second, it's got a wide lead on anything else on the market.

The original Kindle was lame but Kindle 2 did get enough folks onboard. With Kindle 3, with more features, than the original Kindle and Kindle 2, it ought to get even more folks interested in digital reading and the thousands of Kindle owners to upgrade.

So what features will Kindle 3 need in order to stop the iTablet in its tracks:

• Color - the iTablet will have color and the Kindle needs it as well
• Touch - needs touch.  The iTablet will support Apple's famed multi-touch features
• App store - will need to support apps.  also, allow users to order Amazon items directly.
• ePub support.  Get rid of DRM
• Long Battery life - needs to exceed iTablet's own battery life rumored to be in the mid-teens of hours.
• Something to match the iPod Touch models.  Maybe 3-4 inches.  Call it "Kindle Mini"
• Needs better wireless support - bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and better data plans.
• Needs a full browser
• Needs to have Google apps or something along that line to match MobileMe
• Launch its own cloud services for the Kindle.  

You're going to say "a lot of these features are things that the iTablet will have and Amazon is simply playing catch up". Well, you would be correct in a manner of speaking. However, I think that simply by keeping apace with iTablet, Amazon should manage to shift some of the craziness to the Kindle and establish it as an alternative to the iTablet.

Look at RIM. Even with the iPhone craze, Blackberries as a whole still outsell the iPhone, albeit with some clever "buy one get one free" deals.  I am betting if Amazon creates a viable counterattack to the iTablet, it can use the momentum Apple's tablet creates for its own use.

And Perhaps with Kindle 4, Amazon will really be able to establish the Kindle brand as a tablet that also reads books.

Gizmodo Wants the Apple Tablet To Look Like This (Me, too)

Here's a fake video of the Apple tablet. I repeat: FAKE. And like Gizmodo, I want it to look and do all those fancy things you're about to see.

And it's more than just a bigger iPhone.



Have a great weekend. Hopefully, someone will pick up on this and trying to make this tablet work.

More at Gizmodo.

Gameloft And Others Cut Back on Android Dev

Gameloft, as well as other developers, are cutting back or abandoning Android app development all together.

This is what I'm afraid of. Right now, I don't see a lot of people getting excited about their Android phones. It's as simple as that. Android is one of the most exciting mobile platform on the market today for the media, bloggers, and armchair quarterbacks, but it just isn't generating the same kind of excitement among users as the iPhone and iPod Touch is doing for its users.

I've spent $$$ on my iPhone apps while I've spent less than $20 on my G1. Why is that? Here's a couple of reasons:

1. Even at 10K strong in the Android Marketplace, the few apps compare favorably in use, feel, and looks as even mediocre apps in the iTunes app store.
2. I don't know if any app I buy now will work with my future Android devices. Already, there is a lot of fear of fragmentation is what I'm hearing and reading about. Just thinking about the Microsoft Windows Mobile situation.

Basically, Google created a huge potential and has yet to made it work for developers as well as users. You can't blame users or developers for this.

Gameloft is reporting the iPhone has already grown to 13% of its revenue while iPhone apps are selling 400 times better than Android apps. One can attribute that the fact that the iPhone has been in the market two years longer than Google's mobile platform. Maybe.

However, after a year, I believe Apple had been bragging about one billion downloads.

Well, I attribute that to the beta-ish status of the G1. I am hoping the new devices like Droid and others running Android 2.0 will realize the full potential what Android can do.  We'll see what Google does to help its developers and it better come through big time.

Note:  Google is in the mobile market to sell ads and be a player in mobile search.  It gives away its apps for free.

Microsoft Needs To Say "Enough!"

Microsoft Needs To Say "Enough!"  No more screwing around.

It's time for Redmond to start changing rules and find another way to become relevant in the mobile sphere.  If you spend any amount of time on the Internet going through tech and gadget blogs, virtually everything you've read about is Android, Apple, Google, more Android, and iPhone.

I've read a few Windows Mobile mentions but mostly about how irrelevant WM has become in light of the surge of iPhone and the Android platform.

That's not to say that RIM should be fine with it.  Two main topics regarding the No. 1 smartphone maker in North America did not put the Canadian company in a positive light.   One was about how Storm 2 has failed even before it is out as Verizon Wireless concentrated on the Droid launch with Motorola.  And what's the other one?  Oh, it's just that the Apple is within striking distance of overtaking RIM as the number one device maker in the US.  Both negative and competing platforms still manage to get attention in the posts.

But back to Microsoft.  What's Redmond to do?  I don't have a solution but I do know that this cannot continue or else, desktop or office suite dominance, it will not matter in a few years as more folks rely on their mobile devices to conduct their personal and business affairs and continue the march away from desktops, laptops, and even netbooks.  (Chrome OS will likely gain a lot of attention in the netback segment even as Microsoft is trying to get folks to upgrade to Windows 7).

One example to look at is what Palm has done with Pre. While Palm came out with a good competitor to just about anything that was on the market.  But it lacked many things that others on the market had like its own music and app store.  At least at the time when it debuted in June, the app store was virtually nonexistent.

For Microsoft, Zune HD was a move in the right direction but it was mere a piece of a complicated puzzle.  With Danger, Zune, and the forthcoming WM 7 in the right mix, it can be a force to be reckon with in the mobile landscape.

However, Microsoft cannot afford to simply copy of what Apple has done with the iPhone ecosystem.  The fact that Apple can create a walled garden is uniquely an Apple experience.  Microsoft will likely be looking to partners to help flesh out the hardware as it offers the software (including games) portion.

I think this debate has not be settled and continues at Microsoft.  Can they continue to rely on partners or go at it alone, at least, in the initial part of their roadmap to reclaim relevancy in the mobile market?  It has demonstrated that it can make a first rate mobile device with Zune HD.  So don't be surprise when Zune HD continue to evolve with more functions and software.

And don't be surprised if Zune component of the mobile strategy gains a more robust gaming ability.  With the Tegra chip power the ZHD, it is a powerful system that so far is largely under utilized.

At the end of the day, Microsoft needs to provide an unique experience only Microsoft can provide.  It has an arsenal of impressive technologies and a very deep pocket.  But the window of opportunity is closing and it better hit it out of the park with when Windows Mobile 7  is launched.

WM 7 has been delayed more than a year.  I am hoping it was a year well spent.  I simply sensed that the old thinking about mobility at Microsoft has to be thrown out and something new be reborn.  Maybe Microsoft needs to let something go or break any mold they've been using so that something new can be reborn.  

Note:  Something new at Microsoft.  Hmm...here's my honest opinion about Steve Balmer.  Get rid of him.  He's no good for Microsoft and as a shareholder, I cringed every time he speak and then proven wrong weeks or months later about competitors or prospectives of Microsoft's own product.  Dude has got to go.  He's still living in the Windows 95 era.  

How Google Can Get Back At Apple: May Google Voice For the Mac

For Apple, it's about the users.  In recent years, it's about the mobile users.  But with the recent flap over Google Voice, ATT, and Google, Apple seemed to be on the defensive, this is especially true in light of the fact that Google's letter to the FCC demonstrated on the surface that Apple rejected Google's iPhone app for Google Voice.

This is still being sorted out by the FCC and the interested parties and there is no telling where it's headed.  While hopeful, I'm a bit concerned as well.  I'm not sure everyone has the mobile warriors' best interests at heart.  Perhaps the FCC has good intentions but we all know what good intentions really are.

So, if I'm Google, I'll create an Google Voice application or Dashboard app like this one (not an official Google app) for the Mac.  Make it work the way it was meant to on the iPhone.  Show the world, the iPhone users, what Google had intended for the iPhone users.

Integrated with Growl or other Google applications.

This will push pressure on Apple and its partners on GV.  I'm convinced Apple isn't alone in all this though it has no problems diminishing Google's growing mobile penetration.

RIM Sells Soul To Verizon To Compete

The title of Yahoo's tech article "Verizon Debuts VCast App Store, Partners With RIM" isn't what mobile warriors can except when the time comes to actually using it.

I can't believe this to be the case.  RIM shouldn't be in bed with Verizon or any other wireless carrier this way.  RIM has its own app store, Blackberry App World, and, somehow, it sold its users to the leading wireless gatekeeper and for what?

I am not sure this is good for mobile users in the long run.  Verizon Wireless talks a nice talk but so far their actions don't jive with their words.  In the past, they spoke about having an open network but actual practice says otherwise.

Just so you know, VCast App Store will be the default app store on all smartphones sold by VW.  Users will have to add other app stores on their own if they don't wish to use Verizon's.  What does that say about VW's definition of "open"?

Didn't the federal government as well as others around the world sued Microsoft for using its position to push IE on computer makers and, thus, users?  What exactly is VW doing differently?

You can bet that when the iPhone finally makes it onto the VW's LTE network, Apple will be operating its own app store.  Otherwise, there you won't see the iPhone there.

And right now, Blackberries are all that VW has that's holding the line against ATT.  Other than the fact that people don't like ATT.  So RIM should have been in a stronger bargaining position.

VW said its app store promises greater visibility and traffic.  No, duh.  It'll be the only store allowed when the phone is sold to the user.  VW said it wants to differentiate itself from other app stores.  What's the point?  It's the only store allowed unless the users figure out how to add other stores.

Oh, RIM, what are you doing to us?

Source:  Yahoo News

Google: Webapps Is the Future

App stores are numbered. Soon, they will go the way of the dinosaurs and only webapps will exist. That's Google's position on mobile, and, perhaps, even for desktop OS.

When the iPhone came out, Steve Jobs said developers can create for the iPhone. Webapps. There were grumblings. A lot of grumblings. The Safari, then and now, simply could not support the level of sophistication and graphics that the native iPhone apps now have.

But webapps are the future. Do I agree? Sure. After writing about it over at On Android, I decided to give Apple's webapp directory another look. I picked out a few that allow mobile warriors to be substantially productive and even have fun as there are many Web-based games.

I suppose the main issue is timing. When will webapps truly mature to the point that allow users to feel comfortable spending the bulk of their mobile computing within a Web browser. And can webapps as well as native apps co-exist? Perhaps what Google failed to address is how will developers be paid for their apps on the Web?

Currently, there are not too many consumer oriented Webapps that charge users for use. I've downloaded tons of games from the iTunes app store. Can such an experience for free and especially paid games be duplicated within the browser as it relates to the cost of purchasing the game?

I'm sure there are tons of people out there with the right pay-grade who are thought all this through or are in the process of working it out. Until then, games, utilities, or productivity apps, I think it wise for folks to start getting used to treating their browser as a platform.

Source: On Android

Analyst: ATT Will Be Toast Without iPhone

Citing a Wired survey as an example in which ATT 3G speed trails its rivals, Walter Piecyk of Pali Research really hit it on the money. Without the iPhone exclusivity, ATT would be in a lot of trouble. Folks, in particular iPhone users, will not tolerate the horrible service, changes, and sub-industry standard network connection.

Despite what Apple says in public about how they love ATT (maybe they do since ATT pays Apple gobs of money), Apple would sooner be rid of them given the poor network ATT puts forth.

For ATT, the general feeling is that its executives are trying to milk the cow for all its worth so long as the iPhone is exclusive to its network. It's not about building long-term relationships with its iPhone customers. If they were, they would be trying very hard (or even harder than they are now) to try to address issues users have bought up.

And this isn't really about the iPhone specifically. It was the lack of network reliability that I left it for T-Mobile in the first place. And just recently, ATT was booed by attendees at Apple's developer conference for not having key iPhone features ready when the newest iPhone, the 3GS, went on sale. In fact to this day, ATT has not provided details on tethering and MMS and provide only a vague "later this summer" time frame.

So, what will happen when Apple starts offering the iPhone on Verizon as most expect it to happen when the 4th generation wireless, LTE, goes online? This is what should be keeping ATT executives up at night as well as their shareholders.

LTE will come to Verizon at least 9 months before ATT even gets started. If a deal is indeed struck between Verizon and Apple, iPhone 4G will be available only through Verizon. ATT will be struck with nothing. Millions will flock to the Verizon and its LTE network. Many of hundreds of thousands will be former ATT customers.

And that is assuming that ATT does not suffer delays with its LTE rollout. The word is that ATT is looking to lock up the iPhone through 2011. Why? Because the iPhone 4G should be out around that time. ATT is looking to lock up users through 2013 when it should have its own LTE network running, thereby, mitigating the damage of the iPhone on other networks and defections.

Piecyk was kind in saying that ATT will add subscribers but at a slower pace. I'm predicting that if ATT doesn't get its act together, it will see a net loss once it no longer have exclusivity to the iPhone or even the iPhone to see in the coming years.

In fact, it may already be too late.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Note: I am always skeptical of analysts especially those on Wall Street. This guy may be a hack working for Verizon Wireless. But in general, the dude's not far from the market on ATT. Just visit forums dedicated to the iPhone and you'll find thousands of posts about ATT's 3G performance and its lack of quality customer service.

Another note: Over at On Apple, I've kept open the possibility that the iPhone might find its way onto another network in 2010, specifically T-Mobile. It all depends on when in 2010 ATT's deal with Apple ends in 2010 and whether Apple decides to throw them a bone and extend the deal through 2011. If the deal does end at midnight of December 31, 2009, Apple can deploy the iPhone with T-Mobile and use this as a bargaining chip against future negotiations with Verizon and ATT.

Last Note: Read the comments from the Los Angeles Times article. It's not about the iPhone and ATT. It's all about ATT. Not one supporting ATT. It's that bad, folks.

AT&T Says Its For Net Neutrality (Provided They Can Define What "Neutrality" Means)

"ATT has also publicly supported the notion that these Net Neutrality rules should also apply to wireless Internet access. In fact, Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president of legislative affairs for ATT, said as much during a panel discussion hosted by a Washington Post reporter in November."

This was taken directly  from a CNet News post questioning ATT's role as our mobile gatekeeper.  Oh, don't worry. Our fellow mobile warriors who subscribe to Verizon Wireless are also subject to the same treatment. Essentially, the wireless providers believe our mobile access is open so long as the wireless providers have a say in how we use it and what we use it for.

How anyone can say their company, ATT in this case, is for net neutrality but chooses how subcribers use thei network and which apps they can use on the network is just outrageous. The MBL app can stream games over 3G but iPhone users can only view video from their Slingplayer app over a Wi-Fi network. And, the TVU, TV.com, and OrbLive apps run freely all over ATT's 3G network.

Considering that smartphone users pay more than  regular cell phone users, it stands that we expect more. Gatekeepers be damned.

It's my hope that this this nonsense ends when the 700Mhz network comes online. In short the FCC had stipulates that the new network would have to be open. While I am always hopeful that wireless access would eventually be open and neutral, it won't be because our self-appointed gatekeepers didn't try their hardest and dirtiest to keep that from happening.  

Via Cnet


Note:  I am glad CNet has given this issue a look. I hope new news outlets will continue to keep an eye on this and press the wireless providers for answers and not their focus group approved responses.    

Pre Reviews - Links Available

It's time already. Some lucky folks with great number of readers, smarter I suppose, got their hands on Palm and Sprint's Pre before everyone else.

Engadget and Gizmodo both come out with their reviews at just about the same time. I guess it was probably some sort of embargo placed on them.

Anyway, the gist is that WebOS is very impressive though work needs to be done. It's pretty much the same story for the iPhone OS in the first year and Android 1.0/1.5 now. The app store is a bit bare given the beginning of the Pre but Palm needs to get more folks excited about developing for the Pre.

The hardware, according to Boy Genius Report and the two above mentioned reviews, feels cheap. Wow, I thought the G1 felt cheapy. And the Pre was worse. Of course, not everyone can come out and hit a grand slam Apple did with the iPhone. Still, it's the first gen Pre. Still, this is Palm's shot at getting back into the smartphone game. It may well be Palm's last shot.

Both reviews have different takes and worth reading to see whether the Pre is for you or if you just want to read and see if your current phone or mobile device measures up.

As for the competitive landscape in the mobile market, a lot will change in the next couple of months. Pre will go on sale this Saturday while Apple will come out with the next iPhones soon (late June/early July) and T-Mobile is slated to put G2 on the market around the same time frame. Windows Mobile 6.5 and RIM will follow after that. It's great to see so many of these guys trying for our hard-earned money.

In conclusion, the Pre is exciting and I'm looking forward to see if I can get my hands on one to play with soon.

Here's a CNet video review worth watching.

Reviews: Gizmodo, Engadget, BGR, PC World

Zune HD A Taste of What's To Come For Windows Mobile

Over at On Apple, we posted a "don't worry" opinion on what Zune HD means for iPod Touch developments and Apple fans.

However, it's not like we're saying Zune HD isn't a great hardware.  We just don't think it's the right comparison with the iPod Touch given Microsoft's own admission that Zune HD doesn't have a full-blown mobile OS and we've yet to see what else it's capable of doing, storage capacity (thought we think it'll be between 16-32GB), and how long the battery life will carry an user through the day.

We firmly believe that Zune HD, though a potentially formidable video player to be sure, is merely a taste for mobile warriors of what's to come from Redmond.  If you visit Gizmodo's first impression with the pictures and video, you'll see that Microsoft's risky decision to integrate Zune with Windows Mobile or even Microsoft's zPhone (Zune phone) later on may work out better than anyone believe (let's not kid ourselves.  A Zune phone is forthcoming).  In the past, Onxo wasn't sure that it was that integrating Zune and Windows Mobile was a move Microsoft need to make nor one that was likely to work out well.

Whatever Microsoft's answer to the current mobile offerings in the market (Android, Blackberries, iPhone, and Pre which has yet to be released), it's obvious that a lot of work was put into this.  There's no doubt that Zune HD has elevated mobile video entertainment to another level with the OLED screen.

What remains to be seen is what Windows Mobile 7 can hold up its end of the bargain in this two-prong OS.

What I'm curious about is the roadmap that Microsoft has laid out for mobile computing, mobile entertainment, and, lastly, Windows or the Xbox.

First the mobile realm.  The iPhone has garnered  a lot of attention with the surprising move into casual gaming, I'm still a year or two away from really believing that Apple's mobile platform has the staying power in gaming against entrenched veterans.  So the iPhone gaming may not be Microsoft's concern.  Rather, its foes Microsoft is more familiar with:  Nintendo and Sony.  It's a good bet that mobile gaming devices from Nintendo and Sony will make leaps with their next upgrades.  We've not heard anything yet regarding Zune HD's gaming capability and we might not until Windows Mobile 7 is out.

It's safe to assume that all three video gaming giants will have gaming stores for wireless downloads like Apple's iTunes app store.  Microsoft will have an advantage in that its OS is a mobile platform whereas Nintendo and Sony's platforms are largely gaming in nature.  We'll have to see if Microsoft does go with a dedicated gaming device at the end of the day, like the DS or PSP, or modeled Zune/WM's gaming potential after Apple's strategy.

If Microsoft does decide to stress Windows Mobile's mobile computing capabilities and relegate the integrated Zune capability into the role of a sidekick, then it's natural who it's competitors will be.  In this case, we won't know until Microsoft has phones and mobile devices with WM 7 installed in the market.  WM 7 maybe going up against Android 2, iPhone 3.0, WebOS 1.0, fall 2009 Blackberries if it comes out early 2010.  Closer to the middle of 2010, the comparisons will be totally different at that time.  At that time, Zune's media capabilities will be at a disadvantage.  Also, keep in mind that Apple is pretty good at upgrading the iPhone OS every two or three months with new features.

I've also wondered if Microsoft will aligned a Zune gaming device (likely powered by Windows Mobile) closer with Windows or the Xbox.  Or neither.  Microsoft can make Zune Marketplace open to all of its proprietary platforms and provide users the choice of deciding if they want to play their music over the PC or Xbox.

A bit confused?  Yeah, me too.  Most folks have left the Zune for dead but months later, Microsoft surprises us with the Zune HD (did I mentioned that in the case of Zune HD, the "HD" is for the HD radio and has nothing to do with video?).  It is proof that Microsoft has finally decided on a strategy for its mobile platforms.  For Zune and WM fans, and mobile users in general, the mobile computing, and maybe gaming market is going to get really exciting in 2010.

Note:  In Microsoft's press release, there were a lot of missing details.  Maybe I'm an optimist but I hope Microsoft purposely left out information for competitive reasons and it is saving it all for a final announcement a la a special Zune event in the fall.  Love to hear more about its current functions (unannounced ones, I hope), storage, battery life, and pricing.

Source:  On Apple

Should Sony And Nintendo Worry About Apple, Now?

I've long been in the camp that doesn't believe the iPhone platform is a threat to Sony or Nintendo.  I'm a little less so now but there have been moves by Apple in recent months to position the iPod Touch as a gaming machine in addition to being a great iPod.

Here's the number to consider:  37 million iPhones and iPod Touches sold through the latest quarter.  And the momentum is set to increase as Apple is due to release their next iPhone, iPod Touches selling better than expected, and over 9,000 games in the iTunes App Store.  Oh, did I mention how easy it is to download a game?  Any game?

At last count, PSP stands at 50 million while DS is at 100 million units sold.  Granted that DS and PSP has about three years' head start on Apple, we also have to be mindful of that fact.  PSP and DS are dated technology as far as gaming goes.  We can pretty much be sure that Apple will refresh its hardware on an annual basis.  

Those are just the facts that I want to point out before going further.  So, let's ask again:  should Sony And Nintendo Worry About Apple, Now?

Well, they definitely have to keep an eye on Apple.  And once DS2 and PSP2 comes out and Apple continues to hold its own, then they need to worry big time.  At issue isn't just gaming but what these gaming handhelds are capable of achieving.  Let's examine each issue that Apple has done right to make the iPod Touches and iPhones potential gaming competitors to the DS and PSP:

• iTunes App Store.  Just about everyone's making one.  And in a few months, we'll know where things stand for RIM and Android since they've got the only viable operating stores for their platforms.  In about a year, we'll see Microsoft and others join the party.  But I have a feeling things won't be as rosy as iTunes.  Sony and Nintendo will have to take a hard look at how their handhelds and games ecosystem best fit their fans.  I've got a lot of confidence in Nintendo to innovate but over the years Sony has failed to challenge Apple in media and hardware design, particularly with their unfocused attempts at dethroning the iPods.
• Ease of creating apps.  35K Apps as of today.  Over 9K are games.  In about six months, I can see that number move up to 15K.  One of the biggest complaints developers have about developing for the PS3 is how difficult and cumbersome it is.  Nintendo and Sony would have to match the support, tools, and appeal that developing for the iPhone has.  Here's one thing they can start from the beginning:  learn from Apple's insane-make-no-sense approval process.  That'll go a long way in making developers feel secured.  And as it traditional in the gaming industry, Nintendo and, in particular, Sony will need to secure exclusive titles.  Mario and company will need to really step it up.
• Multimedia functions.  Forget about out-mp3ing the iPod function.  However, they will need their own libraries of music and video.  

Here's what Sony and Nintendo has to focus when Apple becomes a real threat:

• Go where Apple won't go.  You've got buttons.  Use them in ways that Apple can't.
• When the new systems come out.  When your app store start chugging along, stop playing defense.  Nintendo will do whatever it wants.  I love that fact.  Sony will be tempted to react.  It needs to make Apple and Nintendo react for once.  
• Add ebook and TV functions to the systems.  
• Add wireless connection.  I'm not just talking about Wi-Fi.  Change hthe dynamics of mobile communication and gaming are today.  With rumors swirling about Apple's iPhone-less device for Verizon, this is something that Sony can excel at as well.  A gaming device with always on connection to the Internet and the Sony gaming network will go a long way in getting gamers hooked.  
• Leverage the Mii and Playstation networks.  What's Apple got?  MobileMe?  Right...

In examining Apple's advantages and how Sony and Nintendo can continue to put distance between their respective gaming handhelds from Apple's mobile devices, we can sort of see the different visions each company sees for mobile gaming in the future.  Each will leverage its own technology and properties neither the other two cannot duplicate.  

At the end of the day, there is likely going to be little change in the mobile gaming industry even if Apple manage to insert itself as the third wheel in the market.  Apple is about selling hardwares.  Nintendo will try to appeal to a larger gaming audience.  Sony will like fits somewhere in the middle.  

Perhaps not in a year or two.  But somewhere down the line, Apple's gaming potential will need to be taken seriously.  By the end of the year, the number of Apple mobile devices may well reach 60-70 million.  The next billionth app downloaded isn't going to take 10 months.  

Apple: Baby Shaker - Worst App Approved Ever!

Update (3:22PM) Apple has removed the app, which never should have been in the app store to begin with (CNet) - I believe an apology from Apple is still warranted. Somebody should have asked that at the financial call this afternoon.

Update (8:37PM) This is not front page news. Well, it's on the front page of ABC News. I'll say this again. Of all the moronic things to do, Apple can't do worse. RIM, Palm, Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Nokia, Google, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, and China Mobile thanks you, Tim Cook. Of course, it'll be stupid if anyone of these companies try to capitalize on this. Apple needs to make a statement on this.

Of all the fucking stupid things Apple can do, this is probably the worst. I'm talking about an app called "Baby Shaker". It's an app that allows you to shake the iPhone until the baby in the app stops crying.

Slingbox Player, not approved but this app is?!?! What the hell are these people thinking?!

The company, Silakosoft is selling it as "See how long you can endure his or her adorable cries before you just have to find a way to quiet the baby down!"

Apple, I want this app gone and it has to be done today, you morons!

Via: CNet, Krapps

You can contact Apple with this link about their stupidity and taking down this app.

Note: As of noon PST, the app is still there. Everyone needs to let Apple know how stupid they are for letting this through and it needs to be off the app store by the end of the day at the latest! I wonder how stubborn Cupertino will be in the face of this.

Another note: A reviewer actually complained about the lack of features for the app and that it wasn't dramatic enough. Geez...