New iPhone with Better Camera and Touch Sensitive Casing to be Released in July?
Don’t count out the iPhone just yet. Despite Apple getting busy with the “possible” launch of its highly anticipated iSlate, it seems that Apple is not forsaking the iPhone yet. Rumor has it that a new iPhone may be coming out. Actually it’s a pretty reliable rumor that even Bloomberg is running a report about it.
According to an interview with Goldman Sachs Group, Analyst Robert Chen said that a new iPhone with a more advanced camera and a touch sensitive casing will probably be available as early as June. Chen said that Apple is going to put a lot of innovation in both the hardware and software components of the new iPhone. The new iPhone will have a new plastic casing that is similar to the Apple Magic Mouse.
Steve Dowling, spokesman for Apple refuses to give any comment on the alleged rumors and speculations though.
What is clear is that if Apple is really planning to come up with a new iPhone, a 5 megapixel camera or perhaps even better would be the most likely option to make it competitive with the Google Nexus One.
Mr. Chen also said that production for the new iPhone is about to commence by April to make it ready for release by June or July. And yes, the new iPhone will naturally come with a new version of the iPhone’s operating systems.
Google Sold Only 20,000 Nexus One Units
According to analytics firm, flurry.com, Google was able to sell only 20,000 units of Nexus One during the first week after it was released. So, if you bought the Nexus One, consider yourself lucky because your unit belongs to the first 20,000 Nexus One units sold.
But that is not the story of this blog post. We are here to tell you that considering that we’re talking about Google’s supposed “first phone” and also its very first attempt on selling a mobile phone, that 20,000 units sold is way too low. And we’re not even comparing the Nexus One first week sale to the figures of other “celebrated” smartphones. These incude the iPhone 3GS, Motorola DROID and myTouch 3G.
Flurry’s report was based on its monitoring of the usage of more than 10,000 developer applications on Android platforms. It tracks more than 25 million end user sessions per month, and part of that 25 million are actual Nexus One users.
Now here is what we can’t help but do anyway . Comparing Nexus One’s first week sale to its competitors. 1.5 million units of iPhone sold, 250,000 for the Motorola DROID and 60,000 for the first Android phone, the MyTouch 3G. And so with those unit sales, it seems that Google sold very few Nexus Ones units.
Is it a failure? Well, if those numbers are just your basis, well then Google failed. But then, there are other things to consider. Google’s marketing strategy is one of them. The decision to sell the Nexus One on their own, from their site is probably working against Google. Or perhaps, there would be more buyers if Google release the phone to other countries.
Yes, it’s too early to tell and to judge whether Google on its latest undertaking. For me, it’s a consolation that I belong to the group of owners who bought the first generation Nexus One. And that is despite the issues and problems reported by other users.
Google Nexus One Problems Escalate
It’s barely a week since Google Nexus One was released and made available to consumers from the U.S., U.K., Hong Kong and Singapore. Some early users have already posted their reviews of the Nexus One. They are varying reviews, I should say. But perhaps what’s appaling right now is the number of Nexus One users who are experiencing several issues with their units.
And who do they turn to? Actually it’s a vague area, somewhat pretty confusing. Let’s lay down the facts.
Google Nexus One was manufactured by HTC but distributed by Google from its online web store. If it were an ordinary mobile phone, once the manufacturer has released the phone to its distributor, usually cellular network provider, the after sales support is transferred to the mobile carrier.
But in the case of the Nexus One, HTC has already released the units to Google and Google has released them either as unlocked units or under T-Mobile service plan.
For those who bought the T-Mobile version, their in luck because T-Mobile has the responsibility to act upon issues and complaints. Although there are reports that customers are being passed on back and forth, to and from by both HTC and T-Mobile who don’t want to take responsibility.
Those who bought the unlocked versions were not luckier as well. Google accepts only complaints by email. And some were already disgruntled by the lack of response from Google.
What are the complaints? Several issues were raised at the Google Help Forum. But the most prominent of these issues seems to be the malfunctioning 3G connectivity. HTC even admitted the indeed there is a problem with this feature.
What Now?
For a first time distributor of a mobile phone, Google’s failing mark may seem understandable – first time jitters, so they would say. But then, come to think of it, Google is not a start-up. It’s a big company, as big if not bigger than Apple, which also happens to have other products – not just the iPhone.
If Apple can handle after sales support for the iPhone, there’s no reason why Google couldn’t. Or was it because of lack of preparation on Google’s part?
But if you’re a company as big as Apple, it is not a reason for failure. Ops, Nexus One may not be failing yet, but with the way things are going on, it just might be heading towards that direction.
So, have you decided whether you are going to buy the Google Nexus One? Or you just did?
Apple iSlate Release Confirmed Indirectly by Orange France VP
You all probably know by now that Apple is holding a big event on January 27. But what we are all not certain about is what Apple is going to announce on that day. Although of course, rumors abound that it’s none other than the much awaited Apple Tablet or iSlate. Now, while the Apple folks are so steadfast in not divulging any information about it, Orange France VP Stephane Richard was not. Mr. Richard apparently sort of confirmed that Apple indeed is announcing the iSlate in the coming days.
The confirmation was implied during an radio interview with Mr. Richard. French radio station Europe1 asked Mr. Richard about the rumors that have been going on regarding Apple’s announcement of the iSlate. To which Mr. Richard answers – yes. He even said that Orange customers stand to benefit from said Apple announcement.
Transcript of the interview in French was translated into something like:
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: According to weekly Le Point, in a couple of days Apple will be launching its tablet computer …
Stéphane Richard: Yes.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: … equipped with a webcam.
Stéphane Richard: Yes.
Jean-Pierre Elkabbach: Are Orange customers going to be able to enjoy it?
Stéphane Richard: Of course!
Making the confirmation even more credible was a video of the said interview.
So there you go folks. What we are all waiting now is Apple’s official announcement. With Microsoft and HP’s announcement of a rather not so exciting Tablet PC/ HP Slate during the CES 2010, and Google’s rumored announcement of a Chrome Tablet, there is definitely no stopping Apple from launching its much awaited Apple Tablet or iSlate. And so the countdown begins.
Should You Get a Google Nexus Phone?
Are you thinking of getting a new Google Nexus One Android smartphone? Should you?
Right now, there’s of course a ton of coverage about Google’s new “iPhone killer,” which most article headlines suggest really isn’t an iPhone killer. It’s apparently a great phone, with features the iPhone doesn’t have, but it may not live up to its hype, and some feel the phone is not revolutionary. The phone’s existence might actually hurt the Android platform.
Then again, Google seems to be going to great lengths to accommodate both carriers and Android handset manufacturers. Isn’t that revolutionary when they’re up against the iPhone’s more closed business model? Google is also willing to sell jailbroken Nexus phones to the consumer.
Now the Nexus One may have a small amount of storage capacity, but up against iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre and Motorola Droid, it has the lowest cost of ownership. But with Apple’s lead of three billion apps downloaded, how will Google catch up if Nexus One customers can’t get a phone delivered to the right address.
Now if you’re one of the many happy iPhone users that’s actually considering switching over to the Nexus One, you might want to read Google’s Scott Knaster’s tips for doing just that.
TweetDeck for iPhone Gets Updated with List and New ReTweet Style
Of all the Twitter apps that I have downloaded on my iPhone, TweetDeck is the one that I have constantly used. It’s one of the best and most robust Twitter iPhone app that I have used so far. In fact, I also have TweetDeck on my Mac. That’s how much I like TweetDeck.
And guess what, TweetDeck for iPhone has just been upgraded to version 1.3. With the version update are some great new features that you will surely appreciate including mobile retweets, Twitter lists, view on map, location features and more.
In brief, here’s what each of these new TweetDeck features can do:
- Keep up with your favourite Twitter Lists – add your own Twitter List or List you subscribed to on a new column
- Mobile retweets – lets you choose how you want to retweet a post, that is using the old style or new style of posting a retweet. TweetDeck remembers your first preference and maintains it in your succeeding retweets until you change your preference
- Location features – you can now geotag your tweets based on your current location; needs activation
- View on Map – takes all the geo-coded tweets from the column of your choosing plot them on a map, this helps you find out where all your Twitter followers are at the moment
Aside from those new features, TweetDeck did some tweaks and fixes.
If you have not downloaded a Twitter app for your iPhone, you might want to check out TweetDeck. [iTunes Link]
No Intel Inside, Difficult to Use and Cost, Apple iSlate News Round-Up
Microsoft may have beaten Apple in the race to announce a tablet PC/Slate, but the fact that there are many aspects of the Microsoft Slate, which is now known as the HP Slate that are not really innovative and groundbreaking. In fact, many may have been disappointed about what Microsoft just announced.
So, somehow, Apple setting a later date to announce the iSlate (March 27) will work positively for Apple. The disappointing announcement by Microsoft will most probably heighten the excitement and anticipation over the Apple iSlate.
What’s the latest buzz about the iSlate? We’ve rounded up some of the rumors, issues and other related information about the iSlate that hit the web this week and found three major points.
First, the iSlate will not be using Intel chips. Apple will instead utilize a processor manufactured by P A Semi, a company which it bought in 2007. So, it’s a big loss for Intel especially since the iSlate is a much awaited device which if we are all lucky will not be as expensive as the Apple MacBooks. If Apple decides to make the iSlate as an affordable tablet, then it’s a big win for them and big loss for Intel.
Then, another rumor leaks out recently as reported by Cult of Mac. Coming from an Apple employee, the iSlate UI will have a steeper learning curve since it will be very different from the OS X or the iPhone PS.
And finally, how about some juicy analysis of how much the iSlate will cost, well at least the cost of manufacturing it considering all the required parts. According to the report, it will be something around $340. But that is definitely not going to be the iSlate’s market price. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported that the iSlate might cost up to $1000. Let’s just hope that WSJ is wrong this time. But if it’s true, then Apple might as forget about releasing the iSlate. It’s too expensive for a computing machine in a 10-inch tablet form.
So, now we wait for the big Apple announcement on the 27th.
Samsung Galaxy Spica Joins the Android Crowd
Android (ver. Android 1.5)Aside from the Nexus One, another Android Phone just debut, this time at the CES 2010 event. Samsung has launched its latest Android phone called the Samsung Galaxy Spica.
The Samsung Galaxy Spica boasts of a slim and compact form factor and with its Android platform gives you seamless connectivity and access to various Google such as Gmail, Maps, Google Search and more. It also supports popular social networking sites including Facebook and MySpace. This phone is loaded with an 800 MHZ processor and supports DivX. Of course you can also download various applications from the Android market.
This Android phone also features DNSe 2.0 that provides better sound quality. For your listening the Galaxy Spica has a 3.5mm ear jack.
Complete specs of the Samsung Galaxy Spica are as follow:
- Android (ver. Android 1.5)
- 3.2” HVGA(320×480) TFT Display
- 3MP autofocus camera
- 180MB Internal Memory
- microSD expansion card
- video and audio playback
The Samsung Galaxy Spica is a HSDPA 3.6Mbps (900/2100)
EDGE/GPRS (850/900/1800/1900) phone. It runs on 1500 mAh battery. While this maybe a nice Android device, the Samsung Galaxy Spica is still not as feature-packed as the Nexus One. Unfortunately, pricing and release date of this Android phone are still unknown. Although, we’re pretty much sure that it will be much cheaper than the Nexus One.
Google Nexus One Available Now with T-Mobile Service
As expected, Google has officially announced the latest Android handset, and Google’s very own – Nexus One. For the past couple of weeks, the Nexus One has been gracing the headlines with rumors, image leaks, hands on impressions and even reviews from those who were lucky enough to have received the early versions of the device.
If you’ve been closely following the hype built up by the Nexus One, you probably know many things about it already. But of course, nothing could be better than the official announcement as well as official specs coming from Google.
So, here it is, full official specs and technical features of the smartphone that could probably challenge the iPhone. Here’s a quick rundown of the Nexus One specs:
- 3.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen WVGA AMOLED touchscreen
- Qualcomm QSD 8250 1 GHz
- Android Mobile Technology Platform 2.1 (Eclair)
- 512MB Flash, 512MB RAM
- 4GB microSD Card
- 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, 2x digital zoom, LED Flash, geotagging, video capture at 20 fps
- Haptic feedback
- Active noise cancellation headphone
- SIM card slot
- Micro SD slot
- Promity and Light Sensors
- AGPS
- Accelerometer
- Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n)
- Bluetooth
And since the Nexus One is running on Android 2.0 Platform, the device will have access to thousands of mobile apps available at the Android market. Plus of course more Google-centric applications including direct acesss to YouTube, Google Maps, and more.
If you’re in the U.S., you can now order the Nexus One with T-Mobile service using Google Checkout faciity.