Apple And Android Now Make Up 75 Percent Of U.S. Smartphone Web Traffic
November 25, 2009
“When it comes to the mobile Web, increasingly there are only two mobile platforms which matter: Apple and Android. According to AdMobs October, 2009 mobile metrics report, the iPhone/iPod Touch and Android phones accounted for 75 percent of mobile Web traffic in the U.S., as measured by all the mobile ad requests it tracks. That number is up from a combined 65 percent in September, 2009.The iPhone is miles ahead of everyone else, but Android is quickly rising as a strong second. While Android phones managed to increase their share from 17 percent in September, 2009 to 20 percent in October, 2009, the iPhone and iPod Touch gained even more, going from 48 percent to 55 percent share. Meanwhile, during that same month the Blackberry s mobile Web traffic share went down from 14 percent to 12 percent, and Palms webOS shrank from 10 percent to 5 percent.On a global basis, the iPhone OS now accounts for 50 percent of all mobile traffic, up from 43 percent the month before. Android has an 11 percent global share, which makes it third globally after Nokia/Symbians 25 percent share. The U.S. makes up 49 percent of all the mobile Web traffic, according to AdMobs stats. Thus strength in the U.S. translates to strength in the worldwide numbers.As major new carriers come onboard, the numbers can shift dramatically. Since Verizon launched the Droid two weeks ago, that single device now makes up 24 percent of all Android mobile Web traffic. The HTC Dream, which is the oldest Android device, is the only one with more, at 36 percent of Android traffic. I wouldnt be surprised if the Droid passes that within the next two weeks. AdMob was recently acquired by Google for $750 million. Hopefully, it will continue to share this mobile market share data in the future.” via techcrunch.com
Google Maps Navigation now available for Android 1.6
November 25, 2009
“A few weeks ago we launched Google Maps Navigation (Beta) as a free feature of Google Maps on Android 2.0 devices. Today we’re expanding availability of Google Maps Navigation to devices running Android 1.6 (Donut) and higher, such as the T-Mobile myTouch 3G and the G1.Google Maps Navigation is an internet-connected GPS system with voice guidance and automatic rerouting, all running on your mobile phone. Using Google services over your phone’s data connection brings important benefits to GPS navigation users, like using Google search (typed or spoken) to enter your destination; fresh map, business, and traffic data; and satellite and Street View imagery along your route.This release also includes the new Layers feature, which lets you overlay geographical information on the map. View My Maps, transit lines, Wikipedia articles about places, and more.So if you’re traveling this Thanksgiving, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of an internet connection, whether it’s free Wi-Fi at the airport or Google Maps Navigation in your car.If you have a phone running Android 1.6, you can download an updated version of Google Maps from Android Market to use Navigation today. Google Maps Navigation is in beta and is currently available in the United States. Some features of Android 2.0 are not available on Android 1.6, for example, the ability to use the “navigate to” voice command as shown in our demo video. However, you can still create a shortcut that will allow you to launch Navigation and start getting directions to a specific place from your current location with just a single touch from your home screen. For example, you can create a “Home” shortcut to quickly navigate home, no matter where you are. Just use the “Add” menu item from the home screen, then choose “Shortcuts”, then “Directions.” Please visit our forum to give us feedback, or our Help Center to get help using Google Maps Navigation.”via googlemobile.blogspot.com
First look at Sony Ericsson Kurara U5
November 24, 2009
“This models development commenced at around the same time with the Satio (or IDOU, its original codename). Over at Sony Ericsson they never thought theyd manage beat their competitors to the market, and they didnt the Samsung i8910 HD has been around for a while now and has seen some decent success already. So, what can Sony Ericsson bring to the table to beat Samsung technology-wise? Basically, nothing. The Kukara offers a similar display, yet with worse image quality, since it doesnt boast AMOLED technology, nor does it offer a huge amount of bundled storage space.” Read more here:
TomTom Updates iPhone Application with Text to Speech
November 24, 2009
“TomTomslatest version of the TomTom app for iPhone and iPod touch (version 1.2) can be purchased on the App Store this month. The new version will also be made available for free to existing TomTom app for iPhone customers. The TomTom app for iPhone and iPod touch including maps of the US and Canada is available for $99.99.
Our latest update adds the most highly anticipated advanced features to the TomTom app. These major enhancements and new features will be a great complement to its easy-to-use and intuitive interface, turn-by-turn spoken navigation and unique routing technology, said Benoit Simeray, TomToms senior vice president, on-board mobile. Were also pleased to be able to offer this major update to existing TomTom app for iPhone customers for free. via slashphone.com
Europe Gets Palm Pre webOS 1.3.1, Fixes SIM Incompatibilities
November 24, 2009
“Right on cue, webOS 1.3.1 has been turned loose on European Palm Pres, finally bringing sweet, sweet parity to the world of webOS. The full changelogs for the UK, Irish, German, and Spanish models are up for perusal, but the really good news for international importers of the unlocked German Pre is that an option is now available to manually configure your wireless Internet & MMS APN details, putting an end to those nagging SIM incompatibilty issues. Hit up the Preferences menu in the phone app, and under Network you’ll find an option for Manual Settings.It also wouldn’t be an update without issues: something appears to have broken the App Catalog, with your correspondent having been denied access since updating a few hours ago. Here’s hoping Palm fixes it yesterday. ” via palminfocenter.com
Spotify music service launches Symbian S60 client
November 24, 2009
“Spotify has arrived on Symbian – the music service du jour is now complementing its Android and iPhone offering with a Symbian S60 client. Available only to premium subscription members (9.99 a month), the client will let you stream music on request to your handset, or you can download music to listen to when you are offline and out of coverage (ie on the London Underground). [NB. comment thread broken and awaiting Rafe attention]
We’ll be having a more detailed look at the client this week and how it compares to Comes with Music and other streaming music services, but for now Spotify members can head over to http://m.spotify.com/ on their handset and give it a whirl. For now, here’s the preview video Spotify demoed last month of the service.” via allaboutsymbian.com
New Quad-Core iMac “worth the wait”
November 24, 2009
Reviewer James Galbraith (macworld.com) gives the new quad-core 27-inch iMac computers with Intel Core i5 and Core i7 Nehalem processors 4.5/5 mice, calling them worth the wait. In performance tests, writes Galbraith, the 2.55GHz Core i5 iMac was the fastest standard configuration Mac weve ever tested and the Core i7 showed even greater performance prowess.
“The Obama Time Capsule”
November 24, 2009
A custom coffee table book by co-author and publisher Rick Smolan takes you back to and into the story of Obamas rise to the presidency. Says co-author and publisher Rick Smolan: Every component of this project, from photo editing to design to video, was created entirely on a Mac.
Cutting Health Care Costs on a Mac
November 24, 2009
Using a Mac Pro as the keystone of his rural radiology practice in Bemidji, Minnesota, Dr. Hilton Bakker is able not only to reduce the costs of his own practice but those of the hospitals who use his services. Says Bakker: If hospitals can use Mac technology to do radiology cheaper, thats my goal. Health care costs too much. If I can do my little bit to make it cheaper, thats cool.
Nokia N900 Firmware v1.2009.42.11 Update
November 23, 2009
“The Nokia N900 has received the first public update taking the device to firmware version v1.2009.42.11. Now, this may seem odd for a handset that isnt even in stores yet but the update effects those devices sent out early. Find out more about the Nokia N900 Firmware v1.2009.42.11 update after the jumpThe Nokia N900 is a 3.5-inch smartphone with touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard that uses the Maemo 5 operating system, the first such Nokia device to use this version of the OS.The Nokia N900 Firmware v1.2009.42.11 update apparently weighs in at a whopping 165MB and is only available via Nokia Software Updater (NSU), which in our mind is the only way to share updates of this size.The guys over at nokiaexperts who already have a sample Nokia N900 have pointed out that future updates should at least offer the option of Over The Air (OTA) updates. As for the Nokia N900 Firmware v1.2009.42.11 update itself, it seems that after a slight rocky start the update has improved the stability of the device, as well as helped add longer battery life to the system.To carry out the update, youll need to sync your Nokia N900 and check the Nokia Software Updater to see if your factory release is covered by the update. Before carrying out any update its worth making a backup of your Nokia N900, just to be on the safe side.” via noknok.tv