Android 3.0 Honeycomb – More a Tablet PC ?
Google launched its Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet yesterday. Loyalists of Apple can breathe a sigh of relief as this one looks more akin to a tablet PC than an iPad. The basic feeling that one got after seeing the tablet yesterday was, it is not as simple as an iPad. Unlike iPad’s homescreen which looks pretty simple and uncomplicated, the homepage of Google’s tablet is flooded with various widgets that span over multiple pages.
The on-screen virtual desktops, action bars, docks and floating panels all make the tablet a PC when compared to Apple’s slim iPad. Also, the apps on the tablet are constantly polling data which reduces the battery power substantially. The Android Honeycomb tablet has a few additional apps that are not available on iPad, like Google maps 5.0, pop-up notification system and an advanced camera app.
Google’s also taken a dig at iPad saying that its homescreen looks “like a warehouse of Apps”.
Apple Retina Display Set To Improve
Apple did announce last month that it was going to invest 4 billion dollars into various components that were going to be brought from three separate companies. Although it was not mentioned then which components were going to be purchased, it is now evident that the investment has gone into display components. The companies involved in the supply of the displays are Toshiba, LG and Sharp as revealed by the market researcher iSupply.
Apple’s latest investment is sure to make the lives of smaller mobile manufacturers difficult. It is quite evident now that Google Android is the most popular software being used in phone technologies. If Apple has to stand any chance against the elevating Android, it can only be through a higher resolution display.
Apple’s reason for buying from these companies is because of the higher resolution output that these companies bring on small screens.
Hogging The Limelight of Android 3.0 – Is Apple Doing A Microsoft?
With both Samsung and Motorola ready to unveil their next Android 3.0 Honeycomb sensations in the next couple of weeks, we begin to get leaked news from various sources reporting the launch of iPad 2 and the iPhone 5. If we observe carefully, we can observe a kind of ‘Microsoftism’ in these tactics. Back in the nineties, Microsoft was always leaking news about a compelling upcoming product of theirs a day or two before IBM or Novell had a launch planned. To be honest, this actually works wonderfully well, especially for Apple’s merchandise.
One would certainly want to wait another month or two to get his/her hands on an iPad 2 rather than an Android. But, all said and done, Google is enjoying a dream run with their Android OS and the results are evident with Android overtaking Symbian as the world’s most popular phone OS.
Now that the dirty games have started, the war is certainly going to spice up.
iOS 4.3 Beta Three Now Released
Only a few hours ago today, Apple has released the third Beta version of Apple iOS 4.3. This version is now available for all iPhone, iPad anf iPod Touch users. It was only in the last month that Apple released the first and second beta versions of 4.3 with added new features. Although, there is still no guarantee that the third one is going to be last and stable one.
So, what’s new with the third beta version? To be honest, when compared to the previous releases, this one only comes with two new features and eliminates a few details from the old ones. One of the promising new features is the option to cancel the download of Apps at any given time during their download.
Ironically, the jailbreak of iOS 4.3 beta three is also available now.
Apple’s App Store Restrictions Not To Hurt Amazon
We received the news yesterday about Apple’s restriction on Sony’s Reader regarding its applications on App store and how it was going to affect Amazon. The restrictions imposed by Apple definitely did not go down too well with Sony as they complained that the restrictions were imposed on a very short notice. However, Apple has come up with a clarification and has stated that there has been no change in developer rules and guidelines. Apple has reiterated that all they need to know about an App, like Amazon is if they have the ability to sell ebooks of their own, which Amazon does any way.
Apple has said that such Apps would be allowed on App store if only these Apps are also ready to list the ebooks available on Apple as well. Sony’s available ebook app is definitely a competitor to Apple and the Inc. is making sure that they hold their grip on the App store.
Apple iPad 2 Release Expected in both CDMA and GSM Versions?
Another pulsating rumor that has just surfaced is the production of two second generation iPad versions – CDMA and GSM. While the CDMA version is going to use a Qualcomm chip, the GSM version will make use of a Infineon chip. Apple Inc. is expected to launch the iPad 2 in the first quarter of 2011, reported a website from Taiwan. This news comes just in the wake of the World Mobile Congress that is going to take place in Barcelona from February 14-17 this year. At this Congress, both Motorola and Samsung are expected to launch their respective Xoom and Galaxy 2 tablets that run on Google’s Android OS.
Though no official confirmation of the news about the launch is available from Apple yet, it is being rumored that the production of 2nd generation iPads is already on the way and around 5 million units are expected to be produced during the first quarter.
Come June or July, Expect The Apple iPhone 5 Release?
If everything goes as planned, Apple would be preparing to launch the iPhone in June or July this year after it finishes its annual product cycle. According to reports from The Chinese Commercial Times, it is being rumored that Apple has put the iPhone 5 into production and 10 million units are being prepared for shipment for the official launch. The Commercial Times has also stated that the mass production of the eagerly awaited iPad 2 is going to begin this month in China and even the second generation iPads could be launched by April (the announcement is due).
The old manufacturing associates of Apple – Foxconn and Pegatron are also rumored to be involved in the production of both iPhone 5 and iPad 2 and come May, the handset would be unveiled to the public eye. Probably, Apple will be facing a fierce competition from its Android rivals.
Apple Hit With Another Law Suit
A Californian resident is suing Apple for violations of privacy. According to the law suit filed by the litigant, Apple’s been alleged of sharing information about user’s browsing history and other private data of the user like user id, password, current location, contacts and even the name of the owner with advertisers. This information is collected by Apple when users of iPod, iPhone and iPad access the App store. Apple’s privacy policy clearly states that the information collected from the user would only be used for the betterment of service and advertisement, but the information is in no way going to be shared with third party advertisers. But, the law suit states that Apple is actually violating rules through the way it is sharing user’s information with advertisers. An official comment about the same is yet to be received from Apple.
Not a week ago, another Californian also has filed a suit against Apple for selling flawed products. While Apple need not be too worried about these suits, these incidents are sure bringing a smile on the faces of its competitors.
White iPhone 4 Issues Explained by Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple and the man who revolutionised personal computing in the seventies has revealed the issues that the much eluding white iPhone 4 is having. Wozniak has been able to explore the problems with the white iPhone using the Foxconn white iPhone conversion kit that was sold by the 17 year old high school student Fei Lam a few months ago. Wozniak discovered that the white colour was actually posing problems to the camera and the proximity sensor.
The pictures taken by the camera while using a flash are apparently coming out clouded which explains that there is a problem of light leak as rumored earlier. Along with this, the proximity sensor is also being troubled by the white color which is causing a lot of problems to Apple. Well, no other phone has been so eagerly awaited just keeping in the color in mind.
If things don’t work out as expected, iPhone 5 is going to be out before we can lay our hands on a white iPhone 4.
Sony eBook Store Blocked on iOS App Store
According to a report published in The New York Times, Apple has blocked Sony‘s Reader application that lets users read and buy ebooks from other online stores. Apple has told Sony that no purchases outside the App store were going to be entertained and any purchase was to only go through Apple, revealed Steve Haber, President of Sony’s Digital Reading Division. Mr.Haber has expressed his disappointment at Apple’s move to limit Sony’s ereading to only one store and said that this move was completely opposite to Sony’s intentions about their device. The one to lose out heavily because of this move by Apple would be Amazon which also sells ebooks on the App store.
Only within a day or two after Patrick Lo has severely criticised Apple and Steve Jobs for not opening their doors to other developers, this latest move has actually come as a shock for many analysts.