All About Android 49

All About Android Episode 49

All About Android 49: An Intervention

Tons of Mobile World Congress news, "choice" versus "fragmentation", Andy speaks, and more.

Guests

• Tim Schofield
  • acsyndicate.net

Topics

• MWC News: Google coyly hints at Jelly Bean Android codename with... jelly beans
• Blog post from Andy
• Andy Rubin: 850k Android activations a day, 300m total devices, 12m tablets: "I wasn't trying to go and commoditize a bunch of people and make all their products look the same."
• Google’s Smartphone Dominance, Tablet Weakness And Surprising Mobile Ad Numbers
• Google to 'double down' on Android tablets in 2012, says Andy Rubin
• RELATED: Google may enter tablet market with 7-inch design
• Android and Motorola after acquisition

• Google to Sell Heads-Up Display Glasses by Year’s End
• Google's HUD glasses expected to go on sale this year
  • We've heard about Google's Heads-up Display glasses before but New York Times is now reporting that these augmented reality glasses might hit the market by year's end AND that the glasses will in fact be Android based. Pricing should hit somewhere in the same range as current smartphones ($250-$600). Along with the visible screen, expect to see 3G/4G connectivity, GPS, motion sensors and a low res camera. Some features include Latitude location sharing, Google Goggles search and of course maps that showcase things nearby.
• Google Hiring Augmented Reality Experts Amid Rumors of HUD Glasses

• Amazon Appstore proving lucrative for developers, according to new report

Hardware

• MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS ROUNDUP
• HTC comes back to form with HTC One X, One S and One V
• HTC One X for AT&T pictures, video, and hands-on preview
• HTC One S hands-on at MWC 2012
• HTC One V pictures and hands-on preview
• Qualcomm delivers graphics boost with Snapdragon S4 ‘Pro’

• Huawei Ascend D quad
• Huawei MediaPad 10 eyes-on

• Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 700 series and Transformer Pad 300 series announced
• Asus Padfone available in April: it's a phone, tablet, and laptop — with a stylus headset

• Samsung Galaxy Beam
• Good video of the beam
• Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 4.2
• Samsung announces Galaxy Tab 2 (10.1)
• Samsung announces Galaxy Note 10.1 at MWC
• Samsung executive Hankil Yoon: "we're not doing very well in the tablet market"
• RUMOR: Samsung Galaxy S III

• LG at Mobile World Congress 2012
• LG Optimus 4X HD hands-on
• LG Optimus Vu to take on Galaxy Note
• LG in talks with Google for Nexus device
  • When asked about LG's plans to get into the Nexus game, Ramchan Woo, head of LG's smartphone division, told CNET "We're having discussions. We're working on it."

• The Rest
• Sony Xperia P and U
• Acer Liquid Glow hands on - entry level 3.7inch phone available in Pink, White or black
• 8GB Nook Tablet is official at $199; Nook Color drops to $169

Email

• Android Measuring Stick (pxldot) - good stats on Android version distribution over time

"EDITED:Choice is good. It always has been and always will be. Just look at the auto industry. We have choice. Many models, many shapes and sizes, many appearances. In Apple's world it's fragmented. To the rest or the world it's choice.

Yes, choice in the Android world makes it more difficult for developers? Well, so what? Same thing with cars. Do you hear the windshield wiper companies complain? Do you hear the tire manufacturers complain? Do you hear the aftermarket in-dash car stereo companies complain? NO. The word fragmentation is never uttered with regard to the automobile industry. The windshield wiper companies just make many different sizes and shapes. The tire companies make many different models. The car stereo companies make different models. Did you ever pick up a Crutchfield catalog and see the word fragmented in it?

...

I hope you never use the word fragmentation again. The word is CHOICE. And I, as a consumer, hope that choice is never taken away from me.

Regards,

Chuck "

• G+ post on this discussion

"Peter Daly (Shot Control)

For better or worse, 75%+ of Shot Control users (405 active installs) seem to be a result of your App Arena coverage, so it's actually a pretty good analysis of the devices and OS levels of your audience. Your audience that is interested in photo apps may not be the same as your overall audience, I don't know.

• Key stats for your audience, using Shot Control as a proxy sample:
  • Almost half are on Gingerbread
  • About 25% are on ICS (4.0+)
  • About 17% have a Galaxy Nexus..leaving an interesting gap when compared to overall ICS
  • About 9% have a Galaxy S II
  • Other phones have < 4% share"

Apps

• Google Docs for Android gets real-time collaboration

• Box for Android updated, new UI and collaboration features along with 50GB free for everyone

Android Arena!

• Last Week's Poll
• This week's face-off: Grab Bag
• Jason - Any.DO (free)
• Ron - Handy Scanner Free PDF Creator (free)
• Tim - Cerberus (free for now)
  • (Giveaway) "Cerberus" Reaches 100K Downloads – Free Paid Licenses For All Hurry, Limited Time Left)
• Eileen - Triple Town (free)
• This Week's Poll

Sponsors

Netflix

• ad times: :21-:37 and 24:25-26:43

Production Information

• Edited by: Jason
• Notes:

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