Android and Me » blackberry

Android now found on 51% of U.S. smartphones

Anthony Domanico — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:09:58 +0000

Android has finally broken the 50% market share hurdle, according to a quarterly report from comScore. Android continued its phenomenal level of growth for the quarter ending in March 2012, climbing 3.7% since the December survey. Android’s growth continues to come at the expense of RIM and Microsoft, who saw declines of 3.7% and 0.8% respectively. Apple’s iOS gained just over 1% to make up 30.7% of the U.S. market.

Android’s biggest challengers in the future will be Microsoft and RIM, who will both release major new platform revisions in the fall. With consumer sentiment increasingly against these companies, however, it appears the smartphone OS market will be a two-trick pony for at least the foreseeable future.

Can Android break 60% in coming months, or do you think we’ll start to see the market plateau after too long? Sound off in the comments.

Android continues to grow at the expense of RIM, Windows Phone, and Symbian

Anthony Domanico — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:55:17 +0000

comScore has just released their report on the state of the mobile industry for the three months ending January 2012. The report shows continued growth for the Android operating system, with a total smartphone market share of 48.6% in the U.S., up 2.3% from the three month period ending October 2011. Apple also saw growth in its iOS platform with 29.5% of users using Apple’s platform, a 1.4% increase.

The big losers of the month continue to be RIM, which saw a decrease of 2% to 15.2%, Windows Phone (down 1% to 4.4%), and Symbian (down 0.1% to 1.5%). Android’s continued ability for growth will likely come at the expense of RIM, which will need nothing short of a miracle in OS 10 to stop their market share from falling into the single digits.

We should soon see Google’s Android operating system hit the psychologically-important 50% in the next 1-2 reports, with more and more users ditching their Blackberries and entering the current decade. OS 10 isn’t due out until much later this year, perhaps as late as Q4, which is also when Microsoft will launch Windows Phone 8, which will be Microsoft’s biggest test as to whether consumers will begin adopting the Windows Phone platform.

All in all, great news for Android fans. You can read comScore’s full report by clicking the source link below.

Develop an Android app, submit it to BlackBerry App World and get a free PlayBook

Dustin Earley — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:54:04 +0000

RIM wants Android apps in their BlackBerry App World market so bad, they’re practically giving away PlayBooks to developers who submit them. What’s that you say, they actually are giving away PlayBooks? Oh RIM, what’s happened to you?

Instead of building quality hardware, pairing it with quality software and attracting users and app developers the old fashioned way, a clearly desperate RIM is giving away PlayBook tablets to any developer who submits their Android app to the BalckBerry App World market.

You see, RIM has developed software for the OS running on the PlayBook that allows Android apps to be ported to BlackBerry with just a few simple clicks. Apparently, RIMs plans to leech from the Android Market isn’t turning out quite like they imagined. Even after drastically lowering the price on PlayBooks, RIM still can’t get rid of them. So why not give them away in exchange for apps?

RIM’s future is still very uncertain at this point, but a free tablet is a free tablet. Need an ereader for your kids? A $500 coaster? A chew toy for your dog (just kidding, don’t give your dog a PlayBook to chew on)? You have until February 13th to submit your app and take advantage of this generous offer.

Android users: dropping deuces and ladies’ panties

Edgar Cervantes — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:21:23 +0000

Today’s survey statistics involve quite a deal of comic ‘relief.’ Not only are we dominating the smartphone market, but we’re also beating everyone in other fields. According to a couple of surveys, it seems Android users are most likely to use their phone while in the toilet and to have one night stands.

Smartphones & Toilets^[1]

The first numbers come from marketing agency 11mark. This survey relates to the use of smartphones in the lavatory, and it seems Android users are the ones to do it the most. 87% of surveyed Android users admitted to using their smartphones while sitting on the toilet. We don’t happen to be much more prone to do this, compared to BlackBerry and iPhone users.

84% of BlackBerry users admitted to doing the same. iPhone users brought up the rear at 77%. As you can see, we’re all a bunch of smartphone kings, controlling our life from the throne. But it also seems BlackBerry users are most likely to answer calls while in the toilet; a whopping 75% of them say they’ve done so. This is a bit high compared to Android users at 67% and iPhone users at 60%.

It might also be interesting to note that there’s not much of a gender gap with this habit. The survey proves that men and women are almost as likely to fall in this category. 74% of men and 76% of women surveyed said this was something they did.

Smartphones & Relationships^[2]

Now let’s move out of the restroom (unless you guys like to do the following there, too), and on to the bedroom. The next survey was held by Match.com (a popular dating site) and is about relationships and smartphones. (Survey held in Canada). In this survey, we Android users are categorized as “The Seducer.”

It seems Android users are the most likely to get close and personal on the first date. 62% of studs admitted that they’ve had sexual relations during the first night out. iPhone users stand at 57%, while BlackBerry users are lonely at 48%.

But just as we start loving quick, it seems we also stop loving quick ; Android users are also the most likely to have one-night stands. 55% of the participants admitted that this is something they have done before. And we’re also the ones most inclined to visit dating sites (72%).

It also seems iPhone users like having relationships within the workplace and like to call you right back the day after your first date. (Come on guys, some time to breathe can’t hurt!). If you’re the dreamer type, you might want to go with a BlackBerry user. 67% of these guys believe in love at first sight (and they’re more likely to get their drinking on on the first date – 72%).

Wrap-up

These percentages make me wonder if Android users are much more likely to be single. The love life survey paints a picture of us as social butterflies looking for affection. I also wonder if we’re flirting with our significant others while in the toilet. Now that would make for a very intimate relationship.

What you guys think of this? Do you feel like you’re more comfortable with intimacy as these surveys suggest?

References

Via TechnoLog ↩
Via Venture Beat ↩

RIM CEO talks about Android, needs a reality check

Edgar Cervantes — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:26:25 +0000

RIM’s success has been declining since the iOS and Android operating systems started skyrocketing. Currently, Blackberry devices hold a dismal position in distribution charts, and Research in Motion is in desperate need of rescue. In an attempt to seek a newer approach, past co-CEO’s have gotten off their thrones, and allowed Thorsten Heins to take over the Canadian company. It seems like RIM will need a bit more than this man’s leadership to get out of that hole, though.

One of Thorsten’s first duties as CEO included sitting down for an interview with Kevin Michaluk from CrackBerry. In the interview, RIM’s CEO goes into what he sees coming in RIM’s future. When asked about the possibility of BlackBerry building on Android, he responded the following:

Just take a look where the Android OEMs are. I leave this to you. Take a look at their recent announcements and what you will immediately see is there is just no room for differentiation because they are all the same.

What we choose is the harder way. I get it. Did we miss on some commitments? Yes, I admit that. That happens in high tech. This is not baking cookies. This is building high tech products. From time to time your aspirations and your development timelines hit some bumps in the road that were not foreseen. But I think going down that path is exactly right for BlackBerry and its customers.Thorsten HeinsRIM CEO

Needless to say that Thorsten is completely wrong. Android fans frequently brag about the amount of options the little green robot offers. Yes, most devices are black slabs, and usually have 4 buttons below the screen. There is no doubt that it is the most flexible when it comes to innovation, though.

We have seen a plethora of designs here. Dual-screen devices and even BlackBerry-esque ones are just the beginning of the list. Not to mention the fact that most manufacturers design their own UI overlays, and (whether we like it or not) it gives a different feeling to all Android smartphones.

We are not here just to point out that Heins’ opinion of Android is wrong, though. We all have our preferences. The issue here, with all due respect, is that this CEO seems to be a bit out of touch with reality.

It first hit me during his introduction video, where one of his first statements was that “if they continued doing well what they are doing, he sees no problem with RIM being among the top 3 players.” I believe the contrary – unless RIM makes some good changes soon, it will probably disappear off the face this little place we call Earth, relegated to the likes of Symbian. I am not the only one that says it, and certainly, the numbers don’t lie.

There are reasons why RIM has been considering licensing its services (with rumors of RIM probably licensing its software) to other operating systems. Undoubtedly, RIM has great services, especially for Businesses, but their hardware sales have been abysmally decreasing. We believe that these products have not been able to keep up with the evolution of the smartphone market in general.

I remember my first BlackBerry device, about 5 years ago – it looked almost identical to the latest and greatest BlackBerry phones. The software’s look and feel is unbelievably similar, as well. Then they released some designs like the Storm, followed by the Torch, with a closer resemblance to your typical black slab smartphones. Yet RIM CEO Thorsten Heins believes that Android-related products and services are “all the same.”

Don’t get me wrong. Competition is a good thing, and we want BlackBerry/RIM to come out of this hole. And we will have to wait and see what improvements RIM can make. We simply don’t know if Thorsten’s plans and views have what it takes to do this. Other operating systems are currently focusing on Enterprise solutions, as well.

In sum: You do need some changes, RIM, and you need them quick.

Samsung rumored to buy RIM to make Android better, not BlackBerry

Dustin Earley — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:19:35 +0000

According to a new rumor from Jonathan Geller at BGR, Research In Motion may be looking beyond licensing parts of its BlackBerry operating system and moving on to selling entire divisions or more. According to Geller’s sources, Samsung is very interested in the company. But it wouldn’t be to make BlackBerry devices with Samsung hardware, it would be to make Android devices with BlackBerry software.

When you look at why manufacturers decide to heavily customize their Android devices, it really boils down to one thing: Differentiation. While Samsung already has TouchWiz and an entire portfolio of Samsung-only apps, claiming exclusive rights to already popular BlackBerry software would give them a leg up against the competition. If Samsung was to outright purchase RIM, they could pick and choose how they integrate BlackBerry services and apps into their Android apps.

Earlier this week, Samsung announced plans to merge their Bada OS with Tizen, an open-sourced Linux-based OS backed by Intel. But with RIM rumored to be asking for more than $10 billion for a full sale, it’s highly unlikely Samsung would be open-sourcing BlackBerry services if they were to acquire them.

We already know 2012 is going to be an interesting year for Android and other popular companies and platforms, but if Samsung were to buy RIM, I don’t think interesting would cover it. What do you think? Are RIM and Samsung a match made in heaven, or is this all just hot air?

Gartner’s Q3 report shows Android doubled market share in one year; iOS, BlackBerry, WindowsPhone all down

Dustin Earley — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:34:45 +0000

Gartner has just released their latest research report on smartphone operating system market share after Q3, and the numbers are surprising.

In just one year, Android’s market share has doubled from 25.3% to the current 52.5% share of the total market. Without even comparing those numbers to how rival companies fared, owning half of all market share is astonishing. In Q3 2010 over 20 million Android devices were sold. This year that number tripled to 60 million. Much of Android’s growth can be attributed to the growth of the market overall, along with Android’s wide availability, but a fair share came from its competitors.

Nearly every major operating system has slipped in market share since Q3 2010. That includes Nokia’s Symbian (16.9%), Apple’s iOS (15%), RIM BlackBerry (11%), Microsoft’s WindowsPhone (1.5%) and everyone else lumped into the “others” category (0.9%). The only platform other than Android with numbers on the rise is Samsung’s Bada OS, up to 2.2% from 1.1% last year. According to Gartner, that means Bada has a higher market share than Microsoft, who has sought out alternative ways to profit from the smartphone industry.

These numbers will all surely change once Q4 is over and done, but don’t expect much fluctuation. There’s no way anyone could totally put a stop to the kind of momentum Android has gained. It’ll be interesting to see how the iPhone 4S, Mango and RIM’s latest BlackBerry affect Android’s market share.

RIM shows how easy it is to port Android apps to BlackBerry; does anybody really care?

Dustin Earley — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:13:29 +0000

RIM has been touting upcoming Android app compatibility on the PlayBook for quite some time now. We’ve seen demos and they’ve made announcements, but the process has – for the most part – been shrouded in confusion. Today, RIM cleared some of that confusion up by posting a video detailing just how easy it is to port Android apps to BlackBerry.

To port an Android app over to BlackBerry, all you have to do it download RIM’s BlackBerry Packager for Android, put in your developer information and upload your APK. The BlackBerry Packager then converts your APK to a BAR file if everything is compatible, and you’re good to go. The advantages of a streamlined process like this are certainly there. Developers can write an app once and have it work on multiple platforms right out of the gate. Some of the disadvantages, like an abundance of spam spilling over onto BlackBerry devices, will likely be sorted out once the service starts to take off.

The question of the hour isn’t directly related to spam or how quick the porting process is, though. It comes down to, “Who cares?” RIM is falling fast. They’re in a death spiral, losing market share left and right, and there’s no end in sight. Why should developers spend time porting apps to BlackBerry devices if they’ll barely end up getting used? So they can update and fix bugs for two platforms? I’m no developer, but RIM’s lack of success with the PlayBook might lead me to think my time could be better spent on the actual platform I’m developing for. If Android app compatibility is the best thing RIM and BlackBerry have going on, the company may be in more trouble than anyone knows.

Video: One chat app to rule them all; ChatOn finally available

Edgar Cervantes — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:45:28 +0000

Last August, Samsung announced one of the most promising Chat apps that we’ve seen. It did not arrive in September, as we expected, but Samsung’s new chat application has finally been released. This application is called ChatOn and could be one of the best chatting applications, if it gains enough momentum.

Take text, picture and video messaging, along with multi-platform support (not to mention it’s free) and you’ve got yourself something going on. As we reported a few months ago, this could be a great option for everybody, as long as most people adopt it. There are multiple chatting apps, but most are not as full-featured as ChatOn, and many are not supported on multiple platforms.

As of now, ChatOn is only available for Android, Bada and Samsung feature phones. But Samsung mentions that iOS and Blackberry support is coming soon. All these platforms will be able to share text, pictures, video and more amongst each other, so let’s hope everyone picks it up soon.

If you want to start using this app, head to the Android Market and download it. We’ve placed a link and QR code for you below. Let your friends know, too! The app is new, so most people won’t have it. Check out the video to see what ChatOn is all about, and let us know what you think. Will you be using ChatOn? Do you think there’s a better option?

ChatON Samsung Electronics Ltd. PLAY QR POWERED BY APPAWARE

Google teams up with the government to tackle BlackBerry security

Dustin Earley — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:31:10 +0000

Research In Motion and BlackBerry have long been considered the undisputed kings of mobile security. BlackBerrys are the go-to devices for the government when it comes to classified communication. If Google has any say in the matter, however, it won’t be that way forever. Google wants to take Android security to the next level, making it the default platform for government and military use.

Google, along with George Mason University, is working very closely with the NSA to develop a top level security certified version of Android. A “hardened” kernel has already been developed and is being tested for its Federal Information Processing Standard 104-2 certification. Eventually, Android will have a higher security clearance than BlackBerry.

The Army, Justice Department, White House and FBI have all shown interest in using the new high security Android in both tablets and phones. The government is looking to push communications away from radios and towards smartphones. According to Michael McCarthy, operations director of the Army’s Brigade Modernization Command’s Mission Command Complex, the move from radios to phones is “potentially a multi-billion dollar effort.” Android will be a huge part of that.

With the pace at which things are currently going, the highly secure version of Android should be available by 2012. Android devices could be deployed as soon as late March of next year.