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BetaNews.Com (5 non lus)

Analyst says iPad is fastest adopted consumer electronic device ever

Publié: octobre 5, 2010, 10:43pm CEST par Ed Oswald

By Ed Oswald, Betanews

Derided by some at its launch as a device with no market, Apple's iPad has now proven to be one of the most successful consumer electronic device launches ever, according to Bernstein Research retail analyst Colin McGranahan. He expects the device to have a sell through rate to be about 4.5 million units per quarter.
This is far faster than the iPhone, which sold one million units in its initial launch quarter, and far ahead of the 350,000 DVD players sold in its first year, CNBC reported Tuesday. Repeating the statements of some analysts that the iPad would not be a runaway hit, he mused "by any account, the iPad is a runaway success of unprecedented proportion."
Bernstein is extremely bullish on the device, saying in 2011 it should become the fourth biggest consumer electronics category with sales of $9 billion in the US next year. This would put it ahead of the game console and cellular phones, a stunning number considering the initial uncertainty.
McGranahan went further to say that the iPad is not only hurting PC sales -- notebooks notably have taken a hit according to most analysts -- but the TV and digital camera sectors may also be affected. Essentially, it's all an issue of disposable income.
"It is the rare American household that would spend $600-plus dollars on an iPad and buy a TV or a PC or a digital camera in the same month, or the same quarter, or maybe even the same year," he wrote in a research note to clients.
Seeing that Apple has been so successful, it should not be a surprise that Microsoft is eager to compete. CEO Steve Ballmer told attendees of a talk at the London School of Electronics that its partners would have slate PCs available by the holidays.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
AT&T announces first 4G-capable laptop devices

Publié: octobre 5, 2010, 9:57pm CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

Though AT&T hasn't launched its next generation HSPA+ or LTE networks yet, the carrier Tuesday introduced the first LaptopConnect devices that will support the technologies.
The first LTE-capable device will be the USBConnect Adrenaline from LG, and the first device supporting HSPA+ will be the USBConnect Shockwave from Sierra Wireless.
The USBConnect Adrenaline can be used on the AT&T 3G network right now, but will support LTE once the network is ready to go. AT&T estimates that LTE will be available in select markets beginning in 2011, but has not specified further.
The Adrenaline also has a built-in GPS transciever, and a microSD memory slot supporting up to 32GB memory cards. It will be available for $49.99 after a two-year service agreement, minimum data plan and mail-in-rebate.
Like the Adrenaline, the USBConnect Shockwave is usable on the 3G signals available today, but will be able to take advantage of the faster HSPA+ network when it rolls out later this year. With a two-year service contract, AT&T is giving the Shockwave away for free.
"With the planned deployment of HSPA+ technology later this year, combined with the continued rollout of expanded backhaul, AT&T will have increased our 3G download or upload speeds multiple times in five years," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Mobile Phone Portfolio, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "We have purposefully planned our path to LTE to create a wireless network where the transition from 3G does not give customers wireless whiplash."
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Android leads RIM, iPhone in US sales, Nielsen says

Publié: octobre 5, 2010, 9:41pm CEST par Ed Oswald

By Ed Oswald, Betanews

Android grabbed the top spot in market share among smart phones sold in the past six months ending in August, data from Nielsen released on Tuesday showed. The platform made up 32 percent of all sales in the month, outpacing Apple, who made up 26 percent of sales, and RIM, which had 25 percent.
RIM had held a sizable lead in the survey until June, staying in a range of 31 to 37 percent of the market since January. However, Android had either increased or maintained its share in every month, unlike Apple, who generally fell during the year. Apple's only saving grace was the release of the iPhone 4, it appears.
1,744 recent acquirers were polled for the study. The data seems to confirm findings by ChangeWave announced last month which indicates consumers are increasingly finding Android devices more "desirable."
Overall, RIM still held the top spot in market share with 31 percent of the market, followed by Apple with 28 percent. Android devices made up 19 percent of the market in August, data showed. This portion of the study consisted of 3,563 respondents that owned a smartphone between January and August 2010.
For those watching the horserace between Apple and Google, it's clear the latter has the upper hand. Android phones have likely been outselling the iPhone since at least April if the data is to believe, and likely before since the survey takes into account sales in the past six previous months.
Even so, the iPhone on its own remains the most popular smartphone model: it far outsells any single BlackBerry or Android device.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Will you buy Windows Phone 7?

Publié: octobre 5, 2010, 7:39pm CEST par Joe Wilcox
By Joe Wilcox, Betanews

It's a question I've asked before, but it comes with new urgency. Microsoft will officially launch Windows Phone 7 in six days, on October 11th, with main event in New York City. The analysts give Windows Phone 7 little to no hope of catching rivals. Gartner predicts Microsoft's mobile software will fall below "other" by 2014. But analysts peering into crystal balls, and often seeing fantasy futures, won't be considering a Windows Phone 7 purchase. You will.
So I simply ask: Will you buy a Windows Phone 7 smartphone? But a yes or no answer isn't good enough. I want reasons. Particularly for potential buyers, what are three reasons (more if you like) why you will buy into the Windows Phone 7 cosmos? For regular Betanews readers who are Microsoft fans, this is a great opportunity to rally for your company. But be smart, by being specific. Share what you hope to gain from a Windows Phone 7 smartphone rather than generally congratulate Microsoft or assert that somehow, someway the WP7 stormtroopers will retake the palace. Please answer in comments -- or, better, by email: joewilcox at gmail dot com. I'll compile the best responses into a separate post.
That said, the yeahsayers will have to share space with the naysayers. For people not planning to buy a Windows Phone 7 smartphone, I ask for reasons, too. And, please, don't stink up comments or my inbox with horse poop. Provide good reasons why you won't buy into the Windows Phone 7 cosmos. If you want to be taken seriously, don't write "iPhone rocks" or "Micro$oft sucks." Provide thoughtful reasons.
This isn't rocket science, people. You buy stuff everyday, comparing this to that and compiling reasons (if just in the noggin) for why this over that. I understand that without a complete list of launch devices, prices or carrier calling/texting/data plans, you will be somewhat limited explaining why or why not.
Yesterday, to Betanews colleague Tim Conneally's post about the October 11th launch, Prospero Uno gave a reason for not buying a Windows Phone 7 smartphone: "I was actually fairly bullish on the Win Phone 7 right up until they announced the AT&T exclusivity. I thought it had great potential, and I still do. It's just that Microsoft has squandered that potential." He doesn't like AT&T, which U.S. exclusivity isn't confirmed, by the way. Lots of people considering iPhone have expressed similar reservations about AT&T. The point: Like many buying decisions, factors unrelated to the product might affect or be your reasons.
As a little incentive, I've compiled some of my past Windows Phone 7 stories. I'm hoping to incite Microsoft fans to unite against my more negative stories and give those positive reasons why Windows Phone 7. :)
- "The bright spot in Microsoft's mobile OS disaster is..."; Sept. 27, 2010
- "Are IDC and Gartner mobile forecasts trustworthy?"; Sept. 13, 2010
- "5 things Microsoft can do to save Windows Phone"; July 5, 2010
- "Windows Phone 7 is doomed"; July 2, 2010
- "Windows Phone 7 Series actually looks pretty good"; March 15, 2010
- "Got a Windows Mobile phone? There's no Windows 7 Phone Series upgrade for you"; March 2, 2010
- "Windows Phone 7 is a lost cause"; Feb. 17, 2010
- "Windows Phone 7 Series: The good, the bad and the ugly"; Feb. 15, 2010
So, again, please respond in comments, or e-mail joewilcox at gmail.com.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010
Skype releases Android app to the public: the pros and the cons

Publié: octobre 5, 2010, 6:49pm CEST par Tim Conneally

By Tim Conneally, Betanews

Tuesday, popular instant messaging and VoIP chat client Skype officially launched its Skype application for devices running Android 2.1 and up. While Skype is one of the most popular VoIP clients, bringing it to the Android platform has been quite problematic. With this release, we see those problems have persisted.
What it does
Skype for Android lets users log into their Skype accounts, sync their contacts with the native Android phonebook, see what contacts are online, send instant messages to contacts, make free skype-to-skype voice calls over Wi-Fi or 3G data connection, place calls to non-Skype numbers for a low rate, and receive incoming calls on their Skype number.
Why it's important
Skype has proven to be an affordable solution for international calling, and is therefore very popular in Europe and Asia. Prior to the release of Skype for mobile devices, users could only place calls on their PCs. It wouldn't be uncommon, for example, to stay in a youth hostel and find lots of young travelers chatting loudly into their notebook computers with friends and family back home. With the application on their phones, it becomes a more natural and convenient experience.
Why it's problematic in the United States
Since Skype piggybacks on a data connection and does not go through the billable circuits of a carrier network, it means users have the ability to talk a lot without paying a lot. This is something the mobile carriers do not take lightly.
Because Android is meant to cater to the needs of device manufacturer and carrier alike, the option to block VoIP applications is left open to the carriers, just as it is on the Apple iPhone.
Skype had been testing its service on Android as far back as 2008 according to reports, and the first version of Skype Lite for Android launched in January 2009. The app, unfortunately was little more than an instant messaging client.
Andy Rubin, co-founder of Android and Google's Vice President of Mobile Platforms made it clear that it wasn't Android, it was the mobile carriers that were forcing Skype and other VoIP apps to be Wi-Fi only solutions.
Early in 2010, U.S. carrier Verizon approved unlimited Skype-to-Skype calling over 3G, for Android and BlackBerry users. So Verizon Android users have had access to the Skype application for nearly 8 months, and customers of other carriers who use this application will only be able to place VoIP calls over Wi-Fi.
In short, everyone in the US who could use Skype to its fullest have had access to this app for months.
Other Problems
Device support looks to be especially problematic for the Skype application right now, as well. Many users have reported that there is no support for Samsung Galaxy S phones, and Skype UK blogger Peter Parkes said devices need a minimum screen resolution of 480x320 pixels, so devices like the HTC Wildfire and Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini are not supported.
Skype says the app runs smoothly on the HTC Desire, HTC Legend, Google Nexus One, Motorola Milestone XT720 (Droid X,) and Motorola Milestone (Droid.) So far, the main body of users excited to have Skype are HTC Desire owners, but even many of them have complained about the 15MB size of the application and its inability to be launched from SD memory.
Furthermore, Skype for Android is not available in the Android Market in China or Japan, even though the app supports Japanese and Simplified/Traditional Chinese languages.
Who benefits from this release?
Skype users in areas of dense Wi-Fi coverage, users who don't mind having to be locked into a hotspot, or users where VoIP-over-3G is allowed can all enjoy a reliable and surprisingly high-quality voice calling service.
The application is available for free in the Android Market or can be downloaded by pointing your mobile browser to skype.com/m.
Copyright Betanews, Inc. 2010