Category Archives: Competitors

May
13
2013
2
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The Future of Android

Posted by at 9:38 am

android logo white outlineIn March, Google announced that Sundar Pichai would be taking over its Android division, effective immediately. Pichai replaced Andy Rubin, who is now working on other projects within Google. And up until a few days ago, Pichai had remained rather quiet in his new role.

But the 40-year-old graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology and Stanford has finally revealed his plans about the future of Android in an exclusive interview with Wired. Find out what’s in store for the world’s most popular mobile operating system ahead.  (more…)

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May
13
2013
18
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The Facebook Phone is Dead

Posted by at 8:57 am

htc-first-slide-01That didn’t last long.

Just five weeks after the HTC First was released, the first handset to feature Facebook Home, the device is reportedly on the chopping block.

BGR, citing a source within AT&T, reports that the carrier will discontinue the so-called “Facebook Phone” as soon as HTC’s contract for reserved display space within its retail stores expires.

AT&T is making this move due to “shockingly bad” sales of the HTC First, which has been far outsold by the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S4. The carrier’s decision to drop the price of the HTC First to 99 cents on a new two-year contract was made to clear as much inventory of the handset as possible.  (more…)

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May
10
2013
36
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Will the Next iPhone Feature a Higher-Resolution Display?

Posted by at 7:05 pm

iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 has an excellent Retina Display. Even today, compared to the likes of the HTC One and Galaxy S 4 (which each have a larger, 1080p display with a significantly higher pixel density than the iPhone 5), the iPhone 5 holds its head high. This is partially due to the excellent color reproduction and saturation levels of the iPhone, as well as the decent pixel density.

So while the latest Android devices feature incredibly high-resolution displays, will Apple be forced to increase the resolution on their screens to compete? Most agree that the 1080p displays are great, but offer little to no major advantage over displays like the iPhone 5′s. While HTC and Samsung both have excellent panels on their flagship devices, they aren’t so excellent as to be considered vastly superior to what Apple – and others, like Nokia – ship.

It’s a matter of marketing, ultimately. Do you think that Apple will be forced to include a higher-resolution display on their next smartphone in order to compete properly, or is it just not a major factor that consumers care about?

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May
10
2013
10
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Opinion: Don’t Expect an iTunes Windows 8 App Any Time Soon

Posted by at 2:25 pm

windowsblue-100019270-gallery

In an interview with CNN Money, Tami Reller of Windows said that Microsoft has been trying to get Apple to build a native iTunes application for Windows 8. ”The welcome mat has been laid out,” she said, but the Cupertino corporation is apparently reluctant; she says you shouldn’t expect it to come “any time soon.” (more…)

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May
09
2013
10
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Amazon Developing 3D Smartphone, Streaming iPod Competitor

Posted by at 6:08 pm

amazon-android-devices-illustration

Amazon – a company that was best known for their online marketplace and hosting solutions until two years ago, when the company unveiled the Kindle Fire – is reportedly developing a new smartphone, as well as a competitor to the iPod.

The smartphone supposedly will include a 3D screen as a primary feature, while the iPod competitor will rely on Amazon’s admittedly-great online music streaming service. Both devices would likely follow Amazon’s recent trend of selling hardware at-cost in hopes of making it up later on content sales, which would make both devices very cheap to purchase outright.

One of the devices is a high-end smartphone featuring a screen that allows for 3-D images without glasses, these people said. Using retina-tracking technology, images on the smartphone would seem to float above the screen like a hologram and appear three-dimensional at all angles, they said. Users may be able to navigate through content using just their eyes, two of the people said.

[The Wall Street Journal]

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May
09
2013
8
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3 Android Smartphones Shipped For Every iPhone in First Quarter

Posted by at 11:17 am

Android-Eating-AppleThe latest numbers from research firm Canalys are in for worldwide smart mobile device shipments, and Android continues to hold a significant lead. A staggering 183.7 million Android devices were shipped in the first quarter, accounting for 59.5 percent market share. Meanwhile, Apple shipped an estimated 59.6 million devices for 19.3 percent share of the market.

Microsoft finished a close third place behind Apple, capturing 18.1 percent of the market on shipments of 55.9 million devices. It’s important to note that Canalys factors in notebooks alongside tablets and smartphones, so much of Microsoft’s success lies in its strength in the PC market. On the contrary, Windows Phone handset and Microsoft Surface tablet sales have been dismal compared to market leaders Apple and Samsung.  (more…)

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May
08
2013
15
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The Facebook Phone Doesn’t Appear Very Promising

Posted by at 10:53 am

HTC FirstThe so-called “Facebook Phone” that was rumored for several months — if not years — was released a number of weeks ago, yet it appears to be already facing struggles.

Dan Graziano for BGR writes:

AT&T this week slashed the price of the smartphone from $99 to $0.99 with a new two-year agreement and reduced the off-contract price from $450 to $350. Although no sales data has been released, the recent price cut suggests that Facebook may be in the midst of its First big mobile flop.

While a price cut on the HTC First is not necessarily indicative of poor sales, it could very well signal that Facebook is the latest culprit of a mobile space that is dominated by two companies: Apple and Samsung. BlackBerry and Windows Phone could have told you as much.

[BGR]

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May
07
2013
11
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Will the Lumia 928 Match Up Against iPhone 5, HTC One and Galaxy S4?

Posted by at 6:43 pm

lumia928

We’ve already seen a few leaks of the impending Lumia 928, which should become Nokia’s flagship handset when it lands on Verizon, presumably in the next few weeks. Thanks to various advertisement leaks, we know that it will feature a stellar camera, combining technology from Nokia’s 808 Pureview, as well more proprietary technology to provide for excellent low-light performance.

While every ad that leaked before today has been fairly light on actual details, a spread in Vanity Fair at least gives us something more concrete. The image, which depicts a beautiful black slate against a beach background, doesn’t reveal the design of the device, which supposedly is going to be different from the Lumia devices of the past.

But does this device interest you? Or is Nokia still shipping a less-than-capable OS on amazing hardware?

[Engadget]

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May
07
2013
37
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Nintendo Thinking Backwards, Continues to Shun iOS and Android

Posted by at 5:21 pm

gpsphone 8

Nintendo has been synonymous with video games for several decades, yet the iconic game maker refuses to launch its classic titles on iOS or Android. Instead, the Japanese corporation wants to do the very opposite.

Rather than port its own games to popular devices like the iPhone, Galaxy S4 or HTC One, Nintendo is encouraging developers to port their smartphone games to its household Wii U console.  (more…)

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