Is Android Nokia’s Biggest Threat

Although the iPhone is currently raking in the profits for Apple, the numbers don’t seem to mean much to Nokia’s CEO who told the Financial Times he sees Android as the biggest threat to his companies future.

Android is on tons of phones and has enjoyed tons of success. There is no question Google will keep supporting it and it will only get better with time. Apple makes one phone, but it sells and people who want it will do with nothing less. Some say Android is fragmented, it’s too differentiated and there are too many updates. A lot of the apps that run on Android 2.2 wont work right in 2.1. Plus With the number of Android phones available you can buy a phone without really noticing what version it’s running and end up with a dated device that won’t do what you expect, it’s kind of a mess. But Google is working it out. Apple dosen’t have that problem, they make one phone one mobile OS and update both yearly.  Both OS’ are great, I use Android but I respect iOS. Which one is better? That’s a matter of choice. Why is Stephen Elop, Nokia’s CEO worried Android might be the next king of mobile OS'? Here’s what I think.

I think the thing you have to take into consideration here is that Nokia makes phones, they still make Symbian, but since their deal with Microsoft, they won’t be doing that anymore soon, so the only thing they’ll be left with is designing and manufacturing phones. Where they used to be a software/hardware developer like Apple, their now just making hardware like HTC and Samsung. So I can see the shift in focus, he told the Financial Times that Nokia has been very clear that their number one “competitive consideration” is Android. They not only have to compete with Apple but all the other companies designing phones and tablets using Android not to mention other OS’ like WebOS. So Nokia has some catching up to do if they want to bring WP7 up to speed.

So once Google works out the kinks and starts releasing yearly updates rather than chaotically whenever they have something new to show off, Android is going to be a force to be reckoned with, not only on phones but on tablets as well, which Nokia is going to have to start thinking about sooner or later in my opinion.

• By: kareem@techsual.com
• Source: Financial Times

Details on Sony’s PlayStation Phone the Xperia PLAY

 

Sony has announced all the details on their new Xperia PLAY aka the “PlayStation Phone” and it’s looking pretty nice.

The Xperia PLAY is set to be released this spring in the U.S and will be available on Verizon. It’s going to have a multi-touch screen with a 480 by 854 resolution. It runs a snapdragon 1Ghz CPU and has an Andreno 205 GPU. Sony is saying it will be capable of running full 3D games at 60fps for an estimated 5 1/2 hours.

The Xperia is going to run Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), will support up to 32GB microSD™ cards and comes with an 8GB microSD™ card.

You’ll get your games from the Android Marketplace and its going to launch with “Asphalt Adrenaline 6, Bruce Lee, Star Battalion, The Sims 3, and Tetris preloaded, along with a "legendary" PlayStation title. "More than 50 additional titles from top franchises at leading game publishers will be available for purchase at launch," According to the announcement.

The phone also has buttons, which I thinks is pretty nifty.

Check the links for related articles.

Article: Sony reveals more details of PlayStation Xperia phone

Article: Exclusive: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (PlayStation Phone) preview

Kyocera Sprint Dual Screen Phone Announced

Sprint announced it’s industry first, Kyocera dual screen smartphone today. The screen runs android 2.2 and features 2 3.5 inch touch screens.

Check the link for Engadget’s hands on review and video.

Article: Sprint's Kyocera Echo dual-screen Android phone announced, we go hands-on

Sprint Set to Release Dual Screen Phone

Sprint is expected to announce a new dual screen smartphone at their event tonight.

The phone is known as the echo. It features dual 3.5 inch touchscreen displays with a  pivot hinge according to Wall Street Journal. The phone is also expected to have the ability to drag from one screen to the other.

Hit the link for a full article.

Article: Sprint Set to Introduce Dual-Screen Smartphone: Report

Android Pwns Smartphone Market

 

The numbers are in from Q4 of last year and they are saying Android is king.

Reaching 32.9 million worldwide shipments makes Android the best selling smartphone OS out now. Nokia’s Symbian is now pushed back to second with 31 million and rounding out the group is Apple’s iOS, RIM’s OS, Microsoft's WP7 and Windows Mobile.

Hit the link for a PCWorld article with more information.

Article: Android Becomes Best-selling Smartphone OS, Says Canalys