Googe Android vs. Apple iOS - A Different Take

While enjoying sushi and drinks with a friend the other night, she let me play with her new Android phone that she had just picked up that day to replace here aging Blackberry.  I've been an iPhone user since day three of the first iteration, and I currently carry an iPhone 4 for daily use.  In the nearly four years that I've been using Apple's handset, it may have been lost on me that not everyone experiences the polished user experience that iPhone users have grown accustomed to.  She had a lower end LG handset powered by Android and moments after launching the browser, I noticed the "jaggy" scrolling.  The keyboard was also constrained due to the small size of the handset and therefore very difficult to type on.  In short, the user user experience was lacking.  If this were one's first exposure to Android, they might be either delighted or disappointed depending upon their previous phone.  


While I will admit that Android does have some high end handsets that are very compelling. They also have low end handsets that offer a very poor user experience. Despite the persistent rumors, that isn't a market that Apple is competing in. Android is a free OS coded by Google and now available on 90+ handsets.  It should not be a surprise that they have passed Apple who makes only two models where they do the hardware, OS, and custom silicon in house.

To put things in perspective, Apple has added $100 billion to their market cap in the past nine months (the only company including Exxon to do so). In contrast, Google's entire market cap is around $196 billion as of today.

Apple is focused on providing the best user experience in class. It's not for everyone, but they will continue to push the envelope in industrial design and user experience.  Google is focused on being in everyone's hand and pocket so that you use their services. They derive almost all of their revenue off of search, and obviously love all of the iOS users who frequently use their products as well.


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Updated Facebook Messaging

I requested an invitation to Facebook's new messaging product the day after they announced it on November,  15th, and I finally received the opportunity to upgrade this morning when I logged into Facebook.  Upon on first glance, I really like the new messaging product.  Grouping all of your communication with one person into a single conversation, giving you an @facebook email address, and allowing quick replies by simply pressing enter are all nice touches.

However, I use the Facebook iPhone app much more than I do the desktop version that is pervaded by an increasing number of ads.  Therefore, I was curious as to how/when the iPhone app would be updated.  It seems that Facebook updates it remotely the first time you open the app on your iPhone after upgrading online.  I noticed a highlighted circle, that appeared briefly,  around messages when I opened the app.  When I clicked on messages, I noticed the upgraded version that appears above.  Very slick!

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Verizon Lands iPhone 4 and Why I'm Staying with AT&T

When the original iPhone was launched in June 2007, it was announced that AT&T would have a five year exclusive with the revolutionary handset.  This was quickly forgotten by the tech press though who would report rumors of an imminent launch of iPhone on Verizon every six months or so.  It seems the agreement may have been modified, as Verizon announced yesterday that they will be carrying Apple's handset beginning on the 3rd of February.

What we know about the Verizon iPhone

With the exception of a newly designed antenna (necessitated by Verizon's CDMA technology), the handset is the same one that AT&T customer's have been enjoying for nearly 7 months now.  The iPhone 4 on Verizon will also launch with a Personal Hotspot feature which allows the user to connect up to five devices via wi-fi to the iPhone's broadband signal.  Because this is simply a software tweak, I expect this to make it's way to AT&T very soon.

Things to Think About Before Switching

1)  Verizon's version of 3G, known as EVDO, is an older technology and slower than AT&T's HSPA 3G.  ATT has almost completed upgrading their entire network to HSPA+ which will provide theoretical speeds of up to 7.2 mbs, so the gap is widening.  Verizon does have the country nearly blanketed with their slower version of 3G though.  I'm able to consistently get speeds of 2.5-4 mbs with my iPhone 4 on AT&T, so I'm staying put for now.

2)  AT&T technology allows simultaneous use of voice/data, whereas Verizon does not.  When you get a call on Verizon, data will cut out unless of course you are using wi-fi at the time.  This may not seem like a big deal at first sight, but there are many times when I find myself using both.

3)  The CMDA iteration of the iPhone also isn't friendly for globe trotters or business people who frequently travel outside of the country.  One of the best ways to save cash when traveling abroad is to simply buy a prepaid SIM card at Vodaphone, T-Mobile, or one of the local carries and simply place it in your GSM iPhone.  Lacking a SIM tray, you won't be afforded this luxury with the Verizon iPhone.

4)  There is also the question of upgrades.  Veteran iPhone users are well aware that an annual refresh occurs every year in the June/July time frame.  With the iPhone launching on Verizon in February, will the 5th iteration be available to iPhone customers a short 4 months later?  It doesn't seem likely.


For the above reasons, I'm staying with AT&T.  The noticeably slower 3G coupled with less flexibility for traveling globally makes it a no go for me.  If, however, you live in SF or New York where capacity on AT&T is constrained due to the enormous success of the iPhone, then perhaps Verizon will be a good option for you.  In areas where both offer good coverage and the AT&T network isn't strained, you will enjoy markedly faster 3G on ATT.

MobileMe and iPhone firmware 2.0 to drop 1 July

I'll have to go against the grain and the blogosphere here and predict that we will see the launch of both MobileMe and the iPhone 2.0 firmware tomorrow 1 July. My reasoning is as follows:

1) Steve said in the WWDC that we would see both of the above in "early July". July 11th is not early July.

2) Many Me. com e-mail addresses are already working (mine was working this past Saturday) meaning that Apple is already in the process of transitioning existing .Mac users to the new MobileMe.

3) Apple frequently releases products on either Tuesday or Friday. The 1st just happens to be on a Tuesday.

4) While on stage at the WWDC demonstrating his great music app, one of the developers let slip that it would be available in a "few weeks" in the app store. A few weeks from June 9 would also point towards 1 July.

5) While browsing Apple's product listing for MobileMe shortly after WWDC, it stated to have your data backed up by 30 June to ensure a smooth transition. This has since been removed.

6) While updating apps on my jailbroken iPhone last Wednesday (June 25th), I noticed that TTR (formerly Tap Tap Revolution) has both a new name - Tap Tap Revenge - and a new icon. Also, after updating, a new message popped up stating that TTR would be available in the App store very soon. TTR is being developed by a group headed by Mike Lee who is formerly of Delicious library fame. His new company goes by the name of Tapulous and is rumored to be developing up to 30 different apps for the iPhone.

To be fair and balanced, there are also a couple of arrows pointing to a July 11th release.

1) Apple’s official press release now mentions 11 July as the release date of MobileMe and the firmware upgrade.

2) Some speculate that Apple may be coinciding the updates with the launch of the iPhone 3G to increase the likelihood of current owners upgrading. The reasoning is that after playing with apps available via the app store for a couple of weeks, users will be more than content with their first generation devices and less likely to upgrade.

The good news is that either way we will soon have a brand spanking new version of the iPhone firmware to play with very soon.

Welcome to my Blog

Hello and welcome to my new blog where I'll be sharing my musings related to my beloved iPhone and the tech industry in general. At times, I may also opine on a menagerie of subjects as diverse as sports, Google Adwords, business, and social networking.