Mobile infrastructure must catch up with user needs and demands. Ubiquitous mobile computing is all around us, not only when we use smartphones to connect with friends and family across states and countries, but also when we use ticketing systems on buses and trains, purchase food from mobile vendors, watch videos, and listen to music on our phones. As a result, mobile computing systems must rise to the demand. The number of smart phones will exceed the number of PCs in 2014.
Some time in the next six months, the number of smartphones on earth will pass the number of PCs. This shouldn’t really surprise anyone: the mobile business is much bigger than the computer industry. There are now perhaps 3.5-4 billion mobile phones, replaced every two years (versus 1.7-1.8 billion PCs replaced every 5 years).It means that mobile industry can sell more phones in a quarter than the PC industry sells in a year. After some years we will end up with somewhere over 3bn smartphones in use on earth, almost double the number of PCs. The smartphone revolution is changing how consumers use the Internet: Mobile browsing is set to overtake traditional desktop browsing in 2015.
It seems that 4G has really become the new high speed mobile standard widely wanted during 2013. 3G will become the low-cost option for those who think 4G option is too expensive, not everyone that has 4G capable device has 4G subscription. How the situation changes depends on how operators improve their 3G coverage, what will be the price difference from 3G to 4G and how well the service is marketed.
Mobile data increased very much last year. I expect the growth to continue pretty much as projected in Mobile Data Traffic To Grow 300% Globally By 2017 Led By Video, Web Use, Says Strategy Analytics and Cisco Visual Networking Index: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update, 2012–2017 articles.
When 4G becomes mainstream, planning for next 5G communications starts. I will expect to see more and more writing on 5G as the vision what it will be destined to be clears more. Europe’s newly-minted 5GPPP Association plans to launch as many as 20 research projects in 2014, open to all comers, with a total budget of about 250 million euros. The groundwork for 5G, an ambitious vision for a next-generation network of networks that’s still being defined, and the definition will go on many years to come. No one really knows today what 5G will be because there are still several views. Europe’s new 5GPPP group published a draft proposal for 5G. 5GPPP is not the only group expected to work on standards for next-generation cellular networks, but it could become one of the most influential.
The shifting from “dumb” phones to smart phones continue. In USA and Europe smart phone penetration is already so high levels that there will not be very huge gains on the market expected. Very many consumers already have their smart phone, and the market will be more and more on updating to new model after two years or so use. At the end of 2013 Corporate-Owned Smartphones Back in Vogue, and I expect that companies continue to shop smart phones well in 2014.
The existing biggest smart phone players will continue to rule the markets. Google’s Android will continue to rule the markets. Samsung made most money in 2013 on Android phones (in 2013 in West only Samsung makes money from selling Android), and I expect that to continue. In 2013 Apple slurped down enormous profits but lost some of its bleeding-edge-tech street credit, and I expect that to continue in 2014.
The biggest stories of the year 2013 outside the Samsung/Apple duopoly were the sale of Nokia’s mobile phone business to Microsoft and the woes of BlackBerry. BlackBerry had an agonising year and suffered one of the most spectacular consumer collapses in history, and I can’t see how it would get to it’s feet during 2014. Nokia made good gains for Windows Phones during 2013, and I expect that Microsoft will put marketing effort to gain even more market share. Windows Phone became the third mobile ecosystem, and will most probably keep that position in 2014.
New players try to enter smart phone markets and some existing players that once tried that try to re-enter. There are rumors that for example HP tries to re-enter mobile market, and is probable that some other computer makers try to sell smart phones with their brands. In the Android front there will be new companies trying to push marker (for example OPPO and many smaller Chinese makers you have never heard earlier). Nokia had a number of Android projects going on in 2013, and some former Nokia people have put up company Newkia to follow on that road. To make a difference in the market there will be also push on some smaller mobile platforms as alternative to the big three (Google, Apple, Microsoft). Jolla is pushing Sailfish OS phones that can run Android applications and also pushing possibility to install that OS to Android phone. Mozilla will push on with it’s own Firefox OS phone. Canonical will try to get their Ubuntu phone released. Samsung is starting to make Tizen powered smart phones and NTT DoCoMo could be the first carrier to offer a Tizen powered device. None of those will be huge mainstream hits within one year, but could maybe could have their own working niche markets. The other OS brands combined do not amount to 1% of all smartphones sold in 2013, so even if they could have huge growth they would still be very small players on the end of 2014.
As smartphone and tablet makers desperately search for points of differentiation they will try to push the limits of performance on several fronts to extremes. Extreme inter-connectivity is one of the more useful features that is appearing in new products. More context-aware automatic wireless linking is coming: Phones will wirelessly link and sync with screens and sensors in the user’s vicinity.
You can also expect extreme sensor support to offer differentiation. Biomedical sensors have lots of potential (Apple already has fingerprint sensors). Indoor navigation will evolve. Intelligent systems and assistive devices will advance smart healthcare.
Several smartphone makers have clear strategies to take photography to extremes. 40 megapixel camera is already on the market and several manufacturers are playing with re-focus after shooting options.
In high-end models we may be moving into the overkill zone with extreme resolution that is higher than you can see on small screen: some makers have already demonstrated displays with twice the performance of 1080-progressive. Samsung is planned to release devices with 4k or UHD resolutions. As we have seen in many high tech gadget markets earlier it is a very short journey to copycat behavior.
It seems that amount of memory on high-end mobile devices is increasing this year. To be able to handle higher resolutions smart phones will also need more memory than earlier (for example Samsung lpddr 4 allows up to 4 GB or RAM on smart phone as now high-end devices now have typically 2GB). As the memory size starts to hit the limits of 32 bit processors (4GB), I will expect that there will be some push for chip makers to start to introduce more 64 bit processors for mobile devices. Apple already has 64-bit A7 microprocessor in iPhone 5s, all the other phone-makers want one too for their high-end models (which is a bit of panic to mobile chip makers).
You will be able to keep your mobile phone during some flights all the time and browser web on the plane more widely. At some planes you might also be able to make phone calls with your mobile phone during the flight. Calls on flights have been theoretically possible, and United States has recently looked at mobile phone calls allow the flights.
In year 2013 there were many releases on wearable technologies. Wearable is a trend with many big companies already in the space, and more are developing new products. It seems that on this field year 2013 was just putting on the initial flame, and I expect that the wearable market will start to heat up more during 2014. The advent of wearable technology brings new demands for components that can accommodate its small form factor, wireless requirements, and need for longer battery life.
The Internet of Things (IoT) will evolve into the Web of Things, increasing the coordination between things in the real world and their counterparts on the Web. The Internet is expanding into enterprise assets and consumer items such as cars and televisions. Gartner suggests that now through 2018, a variety of devices, user contexts, and interaction paradigms will make “everything everywhere” strategies unachievable.
Technology giants Google Inc. and Apple Inc. are about to expand their battle for digital supremacy to a new front: the automobile. The Android vs. iOS apps battle is coming to the automotive industry in 2014: car OEMs aren’t exactly known for their skills in developing apps and app developers don’t want to develop so many different versions of an app separately (for Ford, General Motors, BMW, and Toyota). I am waiting for Google’s response to Apple’s iOS in the Car. Next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Google and German auto maker Audi AG plan to announce that they are working together to develop in-car entertainment and information systems that are based on Google’s Android software. The push toward smarter cars is heating up: Right now, we are just scratching the surface.
For app development HTML5 will be on rise. Gartner predicts that through 2014, improved JavaScript performance will begin to push HTML5 and the browser as a mainstream enterprise application development environment. It will also work on many mobile applications as well.
1,857 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple Closes U.S. Ad-Spending Gap With Samsung
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/04/08/apple-closes-u-s-ad-spending-gap-with-samsung/
Samsung is the still the king of the U.S. smartphone marketing race, but the Korean giant’s rivals closed its huge lead with an advertising blitz in 2013.
All told, seven of the top U.S. smartphone makers spent a tad over $1.3 billion last year on ads across TV, print, online, radio and outdoor venues, up 33% from 2012 spending of about $1 billion, according to ad research and consulting firm Kantar Media.
The numbers reflect the rising intensity of the smartphone race and highlight the growing role that device makers play in wireless marketing
At No. 3, Nokia went on a marketing binge as it announced a merger of its devices and services business with Microsoft, and spent $221 million, more than 15 times what it spent in 2012.
The ad binge seems to have helped Microsoft, LG and Nokia the most
Tomi Engdahl says:
PayPal releases mobile payment app for the Samsung Galaxy S5 fingerprint reader
http://gigaom.com/2014/04/11/paypal-releases-mobile-payment-app-for-the-samsung-galaxy-s5-fingerprint-reader/
Now that Samsung’s Galaxy S5 is available, it’s time to make use of the integrated fingerprint scanner. PayPal is doing just that, releasing its app made specifically for biometric authentication.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon Preparing to Release Smartphone
Retailer Has Plans to Announce Phone in June, Begin Shipping By End of September
http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303873604579495940522902678-lMyQjAxMTA0MDEwMTExNDEyWj
Amazon.com Inc. AMZN -1.70% is preparing to release a smartphone in the second half of this year, according to people briefed on the company’s plans, part of a broad push into hardware that would pit it against Apple Inc. AAPL -0.74% and Samsung Electronics Co. 005930.SE -1.09%
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon’s Hard Sell: Gaining Developers for Its Coming Smartphones
http://recode.net/2014/04/11/amazons-hard-sell-gaining-developers-for-its-coming-smartphones/
As Amazon prepares for the launch of its first smartphones, the company faces a daunting task: Ensuring that the devices have an app ecosystem compelling enough to win over consumers.
Sources familiar with Amazon’s plans have confirmed to Re/code that the company does indeed intend to debut a smartphone in the second half of this year, as the Wall Street Journal first reported.
These same sources said the company is also developing a second, cheaper smartphone for emerging markets, which it plans to debut at a later date.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Tests a Way to Follow You to the Mall
Internet Giant Working With Advertisers to Match Web Users to Their Purchases at Stores
http://online.wsj.com/news/article_email/SB10001424052702303847804579479672289163220-lMyQjAxMTA0MDEwMTExNDEyWj
Retailers have long struggled to determine whether online ads fuel sales in their bricks-and-mortar stores. Now, Google Inc. GOOGL -1.63% is testing a way to solve that puzzle.
A pilot program launched by the Internet giant is helping about six advertisers match the anonymous tracking cookies on users’ computers to in-store sales information collected by data providers like Acxiom Corp. ACXM -2.99% and DataLogix Holdings Inc., according to people familiar with the test.
Online advertising has grown into a $117 billion-a-year business, and Google is the industry’s leader, with ad revenue of $50.5 billion last year.
Google’s new pilot program, dubbed In-Store Attribution Transaction Reporting in AdWords
Google rival Facebook Inc. FB -1.06% has been tapping data on physical-store sales since late 2012 to demonstrate the effectiveness of advertising on its site.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chrome beta for Android makes it easy to send web video to Chromecast
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/11/chrome-35-beta-chromecast-support/
Google has rolled out a Chrome 35 beta that lets you deliver “some” clips from the browser to a Chromecast-equipped TV.
Tomi Engdahl says:
We need phones that help us stop killing each other while distracted
Modern smartphones should do more to reduce phone-while-driving accidents and deaths
http://www.itworld.com/mobile-wireless/414278/we-need-phones-help-us-stop-killing-each-other-while-distracted
Tomi Engdahl says:
“Brightest Flashlight” Android app disclosed location of 50 million people, but FTC imposes no fine
http://gigaom.com/2014/04/09/brightest-flashlight-android-app-disclosed-location-of-50-million-people-but-ftc-imposes-no-fine/
What happens if you install secret tracking software on the phones of tens of millions of people and sell their location to advertisers? Not much, if a new FTC order is anything to go by.
The free app, which was installed by at least 50 million Android users, transmitted users’ real-time locations to ad networks and other third parties. It was, in other words, a stalking device disguised as a flashlight.
Tomi Engdahl says:
“Brightest Flashlight” Android app disclosed location of 50 million people, but FTC imposes no fine
http://gigaom.com/2014/04/09/brightest-flashlight-android-app-disclosed-location-of-50-million-people-but-ftc-imposes-no-fine/
What happens if you install secret tracking software on the phones of tens of millions of people and sell their location to advertisers? Not much, if a new FTC order is anything to go by.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chrome Remote Desktop for Android beta being tested
http://gigaom.com/2014/04/13/chrome-remote-desktop-for-android-beta-being-tested/
Google continues work on its Android software that connects and controls a remote computer. Private beta testing is underway so the application should be launching in the near future.
Remotely accessing a computer isn’t new and there are plenty of options to do so. One of the newest is coming from Google however: The company has been working on an Android version of its Chrome Remote Desktop app for nearly a year and a full release is likely imminent. A select few beta testers are using the software, which provides remote control of a Windows or Mac computer from an Android phone or tablet.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Here’s What Android Looked Like Before the iPhone
http://recode.net/2014/04/13/heres-what-android-looked-like-before-the-iphone/
One of the more interesting documents that came to light during the Apple-Samsung document last week was an early internal Google document on what Android looked like as of 2006 — before Apple had unveiled the iPhone.
Android, at that point, was based on Linux 2.6, and didn’t actually have support for touchscreens.
“Touchscreens will not be supported,” Google said in a 2006 specification for Android devices. “The product was designed with the presence of discrete physical buttons as an assumption. However, there is nothing fundamental in the products architecture that prevents the support of touchscreens in the future.”
The document also notes that Android would use Microsoft’s FAT 32 file system
Tomi Engdahl says:
Camera Phone. Camera Phone History.
http://gsmserver.com/articles/cameraphone.php
A camera phone is a mobile phone which has a camera built in. Philippe Kahn invented the camera phone in June 1997. The first commercial camera phone was the J-SH04, made by Sha
The Camera Phone was invented on June 11, 1997, by Philippe Kahn when his daughter Sophie was born. Kahn integrated a miniature camera into a Motorola cell phone and, as his wife Sonia Lee Kahn was in labor, broadcast pictures of the newborn baby around the world.
Tomi Engdahl says:
China’s Quest for ‘MIPS in Wearable’
At stake is Ingenic’s survival and future of MIPS
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1321860&
Let’s be blunt: Not many serious players in the electronics industry today are sanguine about the survival chances for MIPS processors in a global mobile market where, in the last decade — almost single-handedly — ARM has built its formidable ecosystem.
Against that backdrop, the industry can’t help but ooze with pessimism as it regards Ingenic Semiconductor, a Beijing supplier of its own MIPS-based mobile SoCs.
Armed with a homegrown MIPS CPU core, the Chinese fabless company, founded in 2005, flew under the radar until 2010, when it burst into the then-emerging tablet scene and went public in China. Despite initial success in e-books and tablets, Ingenic abandoned the tablet market in late 2012. Today, Ingenic is betting its life on the yet-to-be-defined smartwatch market.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Glass for Parkinson’s: 10 Findings
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1321878&
Google Glass shows promise as a tool for improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease, but recent testing conducted through Newcastle University in the UK underscores the extent to which social hurdles complicate wearable technology’s emergence from the lab. Although Glass isn’t yet available outside the US — where it’s only available through Google’s Glass Explorer program — researchers from Newcastle University and the University of Sussex have been testing Glass with Parkinson’s patients using five donated devices.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google looks to LTE and Wi-Fi to help it lube YouTube tubes
Bandwidth hogger needs tube embiggenment if it’s to succeed
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/04/14/google_looks_to_lte_wifi_to_boost_youtube/
There were reports last week that Google is considering taking an MVNO mobile network and using it as a fall back for a Wi-Fi first service – in the areas where it has fibre in the ground in the US.
Faultline thinks this is a great idea.
If Google really wants YouTube to be the “daily destination of a generation” (its words) it needs to help existing MNOs deliver YouTube without eating up half of their bandwidth
As viewing moves slowly from TVs to portable devices, YouTube has to make the same journey or die. And if it wants YouTube to be made up more of TV channels (it now claims 500 channels with at least 1 million subs each), then it needs collaboration with LTE providers, not competition.
So the rumour also has it that Google wants such collaboration with mobile operators in partnership, rather than just hitching a ride over their networks.
In other countries Google may find it easier to woo mobile operators with collaborative deals, given the growing impact of YouTube videos on their bandwidth.
With Android users consuming so much mobile network capacity, at least some accommodation between Google and mobile operators can be expected and there have been rumours of talks already – for example involving France Telecom.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Is 2014 the Year We Hit the Technology Tipping Point?
http://www.workintelligent.ly/technology/trends/2014-3-10-technology-tipping-point/
Earlier this year, Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer said more users would access its content on mobile devices and tablets than on personal computers. That’s the type of trigger that has her and many pundits proclaiming 2014 as a “tipping point” for technology.
Is 2014 the Technology Tipping Point? Let’s look at a few things that are impacting the scales in 2014.
Mobile’s Shift Is Well Underway
Sparking New Business Models
Make Friends With The Machines
Tomi Engdahl says:
7 Mobile Technology Skills You Need to Master
http://www.workintelligent.ly/technology/mobile/2014-4-14-7-mobile-technology-skills/
As mobile technology becomes more and more mainstream, workers need these important skills for the new world of work.
MANAGING BATTERY LIFE (AND EXPECTATIONS)
GETTING DECENT IMAGES OUT OF YOUR PHONE CAMERA
KEEPING YOUR STUFF READY OFFLINE
MANAGING ALERT NOISE
SENDING, DOWNLOADING, EDITING FILES
CAPTURING IDEAS, CONTACTS & CONVERSATIONS
HOW TO SECURE YOUR DEVICE
Moving Forward
Tomi Engdahl says:
5 Reasons Why Your Company Should Create a Business App
http://www.workintelligent.ly/technology/mobile/2014-4-7-create-business-apps/
Creating unique apps catered to your business is the latest buzz. But does it really make sense for your product and will you see the return on your investment? Get the 411 on why mobile apps are a great way to connect to your customers.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple’s Passbook passes are being used by Windows Phone 8.1 and Microsoft Wallet
http://www.imore.com/windows-phone-81-somehow-working-apple-passbook
When Apple introduced Passbook in iOS 6 they billed it as a way to store all your tickets, coupons, boarding passes, loyalty programs, and other cards all in one place. It’s hard to imagine they expected that place to one day be Microsoft Wallet, but thanks to Windows Phone 8.1 that appears to be exactly what’s happening.
Passbook passes are just collection of data that get rendered into a card and displayed in Apple’s Passbook app.
Apple code-signs their Passbook cards, and it’s not yet clear if Microsoft is simply accepting Apple certificates or accepting any pass regardless of whether it’s signed or not.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Windows Phone 8.1 review: A magnificent smartphone platform
It’s a 0.1 update that feels like a 2.0 update.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/04/windows-phone-8-1-review-a-magnificent-smartphone-platform/
For the growing number of Windows Phone users, Windows Phone 8 was a frustrating release. The major difference between Windows Phone 7.5 and Windows Phone 8 was invisible to end users: merely a kernel swap, going from Windows CE to Windows NT.
Strategically, this was tremendously important for Microsoft. The company is on a trajectory to have a common operating system core across phones, tablets, desktops, and TVs (with the Xbox One console), enabling developers to have substantially the same code running across all these different systems.
But being strategically important doesn’t really matter a whole lot to end users
Tomi Engdahl says:
Microsoft starts accepting developer submissions for universal Windows apps and Windows Phone 8.1 apps
http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2014/04/14/microsoft-starts-accepting-developer-submissions-universal-windows-apps-windows-phone-8-1-apps/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Glass Kit Kat update arrives ahead of tomorrow’s big sale, but removes video calling
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/14/google-glass-kit-kat/
Unfortunately, there’s also one feature that has been removed in this update — video calling. According to the Glass team that’s based on wearer feedback and since less than 10 percent of people were using it, the feature is gone until they (or someone else working on Glassware) can make it better.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Altergaze: Mobile Virtual Reality for Your Smartphone
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/278203173/altergaze-mobile-virtual-reality-for-your-smartpho?ref=card
Turn your iPhone or Samsung into a virtual reality interface with this brand-new 3D printed accessory
The Altergaze is a new virtual reality interface that uses your smartphone power to deliver a high quality mobile VR experience. Apart from the lenses and screw, it is completely 3D printed, made to fit any smartphone, and very customisable. It can be used either as a handheld or headset device.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Over third of Galaxy S5 upgrades come from iPhone owners
Almost 38 per cent of people upgrading to the Samsung Galaxy S5 online were iPhone owners
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/samsung/10764742/Over-third-of-Galaxy-S5-upgrades-come-from-iPhone-owners.html
Over one third of individuals upgrading to Samsung’s Galaxy S5 handset through a trade-in site were iPhone owners.
Mobile trade-in site CompareMyMobile witnessed a 210 per cent rise in customers trading in their iPhone 4Ss in order to get their hands on the newly-released Samsung flagship device.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon’s Smartphone: A Tracking Tool in Disguise?
http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1321916&
The Wall Street Journal report last week that e-commerce giant Amazon is planning to enter the smartphone market with its own handset expected for June is stirring a lot of debate regarding the company’s pricing model in what looks like a saturated and well-served market.
According to the report, a smartphone with four front-facing cameras or sensors has been demonstrated to developers in Seattle and San Francisco over the last few weeks, with the capability to track the user’s gaze, augmented reality features together with a glasses-free 3D-viewing experience.
Sure, the smartphone market is already dominated by a handful of players, all trying to leverage their hardware to scrutinize and influence consumers’ spending habits.
ultraviolence says:
This website was… how do you say it? Relevant!!
Finally I’ve found something that helped me. Thank you!
Tomi Engdahl says:
This 1981 Computer Magazine Cover Explains Why We’re So Bad at Tech Predictions
http://time.com/60505/this-1981-computer-magazine-cover-explains-why-were-so-bad-at-tech-predictions/
First, it reminds us that the smartwatch is not a new idea. Even in 1981, tech companies had been trying to build them for awhile: Tinney’s creation is a pseudo-logical extension of ideas expressed in real devices such as HP’s HP-01, a “personal information assistant” introduced in 1977. (Of course, people have been obssessed with the notion of strapping advanced communications gadgetry to their wrists since at least 1946, when Dick Tracy got his wrist radio.)
Here we are in the 21st century. The tech industry has lately made progress on this smartwatch idea, but it’s still not a problem that anyone’s completely solved, which is why it still isn’t part of everyday life. You could do a “Future Computers” cover today and put a concept smartwatch on it, just as Byte did in 1981.
Back then, a pundit who started talking about gigabytes of storage or high-resolution color screens or instant access to computers around the world or built-in cameras and music players would have been accused of indulging in science fiction.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google drops Glass video calling in Android 4.4 Kitkat update
First it giveth, then it taketh away
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2339891/google-drops-glass-video-calling-in-android-44-kitkat-update
GOOGLE WILL UPDATE its augmented reality eyewear Glass to Android 4.4 Kitkat this week, but the upgrade will remove the spectacles’ video calling feature.
However, the update will remove video calling on Glass, with Google admitting that the feature isn’t living up to its high standards.
Google added that it doesn’t know when the feature will be returning, but advises wearers of the spectacles to keep an eye on Myglass for incoming apps with similar functionality.
Tomi Engdahl says:
LG G3 to trump Galaxy S5 with 2K resolution display
But won’t match Samsung flagship when it comes to performance
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2339705/lg-g3-to-trump-galaxy-s5-with-2k-resolution-display
the LG G3 reportedly will feature a 5.5in 2560×1440 qHD screen, with a pixel density of 530ppi.
However, it remains to be seen whether the human eye will be able to tell the difference between the 2K display of the LG G3 and the Full HD display of the Galaxy S5.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon Preparing to Release Smartphone
Retailer Has Plans to Announce Phone by June, Begin Shipping by End of September
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303873604579495940522902678
Tomi Engdahl says:
‘Black market’ for stolen smartphones exposed
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-26979061
A black market of shops and traders willing to deal in stolen smartphones has been exposed by a BBC London undercover investigation.
He was able to give a device a new IMEI number – effectively changing the phone’s fingerprint – meaning it could be used as normal.
And restoring the phone’s default software removes “find-my-phone” protection.
Mr Roughley said: “Just a few mouse clicks and the phone is turned from a paperweight back to a useable device again.
“A phone stolen this morning could be back on the streets by this afternoon, packaged up as a second hand legitimate phone.”
A fundamental redesign of smartphones to place the IMEI number on a ‘read-only’ part of the device would prevent this. But Mr Roughley said manufacturers have been reluctant to do this.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Belgium bans Uber, threatens €10,000 fine for each attempted pickup
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/15/belgian-uber-ban-10k-fines/
The UberPOP ride-sharing service has been on shaky ground there since its February launch
Tomi Engdahl says:
Xiaomi clones Kickstarter project for its new one-button Android controller (update)
http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/02/xiaomi-pressy-clone/?ncid=rss_truncated&cps=gravity
Last October saw Pressy — a one-button Android controller that plugs into your device’s headphone jack
Apparently Xiaomi was paying attention, because the Chinese firm has teased an eerily similar product of its own that follows Pressy’s look and functions
The metal cylinder plugs into a Xiaomi headset jack, and the button’s function can be configured to perform 10 different tasks (taking a photo or dialing a specific contact, for example) based on 10 different click types.
As Tech in Asia reports, Xiaomi’s version is called the MiKey, costs 4.9 Yuan (or $0.79) and will launch abroad this April 8th.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The standard 3.5mm headphones (no in-line controls on the cable) use the configuration of (from left to right)
TRS- Tip, Ring, Sleeve. The pinout for these connections is: Left Audio, Right Audio, Ground.
Connection types for headphones with a mic (and newer ones with volume control) are configured in
TRRS- Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve.
On TRRS there are 2 types-
1. The original TRRS configuration was created by Nokia and has a pinout of Left Audio, Right Audio, Mic, Ground.
Apple came along and in typical elitist fashion changed their pinout to Left Audio, Right Audio, Ground, Mic.
This is why many apple headsets will not work with android, because the last 2 connections, for Mic and Ground are switched. The issue is with the hardware.
Apple headset has specific resistance set between the MIC and Ground cable to create pulses for your headset control buttons.
The way that volume is increased/decreased occurs by sending signals down the Mic channel.
Additionally, Apple has patents on their TRRS connection- in fact on the resistances
Sources:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s3/189523-final-soultion-why-most-headsets-wont-work.html
http://mashtips.com/apple-headphone-on-android-or-windows/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Samsung executive says Galaxy S5 to outsell S4, sees second quarter rollout for Tizen phone
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/16/us-samsung-elec-sales-idUSBREA3F09320140416
Tomi Engdahl says:
Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung and Carriers Back Anti-Theft Measures for Smartphones
http://recode.net/2014/04/15/apple-google-microsoft-samsung-and-carriers-back-anti-theft-measures-for-smartphones/
With several states and municipalities considering various mandatory “kill-switch” laws for mobile devices, the wireless industry announced a voluntary commitment to include new anti-theft technology on phones starting next year.
The commitment, announced Tuesday, has the backing of the five largest U.S. cellular carriers as well as the key players in the smartphone device and operating system markets, a list that includes Apple, Google, HTC, Huawei, Motorola, Microsoft, Nokia and Samsung.
Those signing the pledge agree that devices going on sale after July 2015 will have the ability to remotely wipe data and be rendered inoperable, if the user chooses, to prevent the device from being reactivated without the owner’s permission. Lost or stolen devices could later be restored if recovered. The carriers also agreed they would facilitate these measures.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Mobile-First Became Mobile-Only in the Emerging World
http://recode.net/2014/04/14/how-mobile-first-became-mobile-only-in-the-emerging-world/
A surprising number of U.S. Internet companies still operate without a real mobile-first strategy, though nearly everyone thinks they have one. Whether they know it or not, their businesses are on a respirator, especially if they have any thoughts about growing outside the U.S.
Outside of the States, especially in emerging markets like Brazil and India, consumers aren’t shifting from desktop computers to mobile devices like we’ve seen in the U.S.
I’m not the first to point this out, of course, yet, amazingly, many still don’t seem to get it. In these markets, desktops are an afterthought, because — unlike in the U.S. — hundreds of millions of consumers leapfrogged the PC era altogether, joining the connected world in earnest through their mobile phones.
“Mobile-first” is an often-empty term — like “viral,” “native” and “social” — that’s thrown around without much thought into what it really means. Mobile is a foundation, not a feature. It may hurt your wallet to even consider, but maybe your product should be reimagined for a mobile environment, not just adapted to fit a small screen.
Even Facebook still faces debate about whether it is truly — and finally — a mobile-first company. The answer is yes — not just because mobile ads now account for a majority of Facebook’s total ad revenue, but, more importantly, because the site’s mobile apps (plural) now offer a first-class user experience (not always the case) that rivals the accessibility of the desktop experience we’ve grown used to.
Tomi Engdahl says:
This is Amazon’s smartphone
BGR gives the world an exclusive first look at the unannounced smartphone Amazon is set to debut in the coming months
http://bgr.com/2014/04/15/amazon-smartphone-photos-specs-kindle-phone-exclusive/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amazon’s Smartphone To Feature Unique But Limited 3D Effects
http://techcrunch.com/2014/04/15/amazons-smartphone-to-feature-unique-but-limited-3d-effects/
Amazon has long been working on a pair of smartphones.
According to our source, the flagship device, Duke, is powered by a heavily modified version of Android. It’s FireOS with extreme 3D parallax effects, similar to those found on iOS but greatly exaggerated. The screen itself is not 3D, but rather simulates a 3D effect.
By way of four corner-mounted, front-facing cameras, a user can tilt the smartphone left or right to browse and access hidden side panels.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Telefonica, Blackstone Launch Axonix, A Mobile Ad Exchange Built On Defunct MobClix Tech
http://techcrunch.com/2014/04/15/telefonica-blackstone-launch-axonix-a-mobile-ad-exchange-built-on-defunct-mobclix-tech/
Telefonica, the Spanish carrier with operations in 24 countries and 323 million customers, is making its latest bid to expand its business beyond basic mobile and telephone services, by moving into ad tech.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google targeting Project Ara modular phone for January 2015
http://www.cnet.com/news/google-targeting-project-ara-phone-for-january-2015/
The company wants a base “gray phone” model of its Project Ara modular smartphone available by early next year.
Eremenko told an audience of around 200 people at the Computer History Museum here that the general public won’t have to wait long for their first shot at the Project Ara “gray phone.” It’s scheduled to go on sale in January 2015 for around $50.
Project Ara is the code-name for the smartphone project that would allow people to swap out physical components as easily as you can download a new app, one of the big ideas to come out of the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division at Google.
Project Ara is not intended to be just another smartphone, he said, but as customizable and expressive of the user’s personality as apps and software. Project Ara is the first step toward Google’s vision of a future where smartphone hardware components can be bought from an app store like Google Play.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/15/5615880/building-blocks-how-project-ara-is-reinventing-the-smartphone
Tomi Engdahl says:
Connectivity & Sensors: Smartphone Essentials
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1321925&
Today’s blog will discuss the accelerometers, e-compasses, and gyroscopes found in today’s smart devices. Since July 2012, Teardown.com has published 83 Deep Dive teardown analyse
Clearly, accelerometers and compasses have a quantitative edge over gyroscopes, but we are seeing more frequently the combination of accelerometer and gyroscope in one package.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Intel’s mobile chips make giant losses
Last year, the unit made more than 3.1 billion dollars in losses. Less than $ 1.4 billion of net sales.
Forward Concepts comments that the massive losses can be viewed in two ways. First of all, it can be a huge wasting of resources and focus on the wrong things.
More likely is the fact that Intel has just determined to see the mobile chips at any cost. The company believes that the road narrows to a PC processors all the time and end time.
Source: Elektroniikkalehti
http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1216:intelin-mobiilipiirit-tekevat-jattitappioita&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bill Gates vs. Google Glass: Pending patent would thwart video snooping
http://www.geekwire.com/2014/bill-gates-vs-glassholes-pending-patent-thwart-video-snooping/
Google is offering its Google Glass for sale to the public for the first time today, in a limited-time promotion
A newly surfaced patent filing, listing the Microsoft co-founder as an inventor, proposes to equip computer and device displays with technology for detecting and responding to any cameras in the vicinity by editing or blurring the content on the screen, or alerting the user to the presence of the camera. It doesn’t refer specifically to Google Glass, but generally addresses the increase in video cameras in our society.
It’s the second patent filing in a series
Tomi Engdahl says:
Children can swipe a screen but can’t use toy building blocks, teachers warn
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/apr/15/children-swipe-screen-toy-building-blocks-teachers
Teachers call for research into effects of tablet addiction amid concerns computer habits are hindering progress at school
“Teachers talk of students who come into their classrooms having spent most of the previous night playing computer games and their attention spans are so limited they might as well not be there,” Kinney said.
“I’ve spoken to a number of nursery teachers who have concerns over the increasing numbers of young pupils who can swipe a screen but have little or no manipulative skills to play with building blocks – or pupils who can’t socialise with other pupils, but whose parents talk proudly of their ability to use a tablet or smartphone.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
‘Kill switch’ may be standard on U.S. phones in 2015
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/16/tech/mobile/ctia-phone-kill-switch/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
The “kill switch,” a system for remotely disabling smartphones and wiping their data, will become standard in 2015, according to a pledge backed by most of the mobile world’s major players.
Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft, along with the five biggest cellular carriers in the United States, are among those that have signed on to a voluntary program announced Tuesday by the industry’s largest trade group.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Heartbleed Bug—Mobile Apps are Affected Too
http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/heartbleed-bug-mobile-apps-are-affected-too/
The severity of the Heartbleed bug has led countless websites and servers scrambling to address the issue. And with good reason
All the extended coverage of the flaw begs the question, “Are mobile devices affected by this?” The short answer: yes.
Mobile apps, like it or not, are just as vulnerable to the Heartbleed Bug as websites are because apps often connect to servers and web services to complete various functions. As our previous blog entry has shown, a sizable number of domains are affected by this vulnerability.
Suppose you’re just about to pay for an in-app purchase, and to do so you need to input your credit card details. You do so, and the mobile app finishes the transaction for you.
Suppose you decide to do so, and tap ‘OK’. Chances are your app will open the website on their own, through their own in-app browser, and have you log into the social network there.
We scanned around 390,000 apps from Google Play, and found around 1,300 apps connected to vulnerable servers. Among them are 15 bank-related apps, 39 online payment-related, and 10 are online shopping related. We also found several popular apps that many users would use on a daily basis, like instant messaging apps, health care apps, keyboard input apps–and most concerning, even mobile payment apps.
Tomi Engdahl says:
These Android, iOS, and WP8 apps are affected by the Heartbleed Bug (updated)
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/heartbleed-bug-apps-affected-list/#ixzz2z7uXcSls
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google’s 3D mapping Project Tango prototype gets the teardown treatment
It may not be finished, but it’s easier to fix than the Galaxy S4
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2340317/googles-3d-mapping-project-tango-prototype-gets-the-teardown-treatment
Google Project Tango gets the teardown treatment
iFixit decribes Project Tango as “basically a camera and sensor array that happens to run on an Android phone,” with the device’s camera set-up boasting a 4MP RBG/IR camera, a 180 degree rear-facing fish-eye camera, a 120 degree front facing snapper and two computer vision co-processors.
It’s unclear when Google’s Project Tango will make it into the hands of consumers, but 200 developers already have prototype devices.