Category Archives: Android

iOS App Revenue vs Google Play

February 8, 2013Android, Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

App Annie released inJanuary 2013 itsindex covering revenue from mobile app sales in the App Store and on Google Play. While Apple was able to hit record revenues in December, increasing revenue by one-third during the month and growing by one-fifth from Q3 to Q4, Android posted even stronger growth doubling revenue quarter-over-quarter.

Despite stronger growth for Android, the App Store earned 3.5 times as much revenue as Google Play during December 2012, according to the report. Bloomberg noted that App Annie doesn’t provide exact figures for revenue, as it currently sells that data, but the report did provide a break down of revenue by country and publisher. Apple has previously said the App Store was bringing in around $333 million per month between June and December.

If Google Play had more tablet apps it would be interesting to see how different or smaller the gap would be.

Amazon new currency

February 6, 2013Android, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Amazon has announced that in May a new virtual currency, that will be used inside apps and games for the Kindle Fire tablet family, called Amazon Coins.

Amazon is asking developers to submit their apps and games for approval by April 25, ready for the arrival of Amazon Coins the following month. Software that’s already available won’t need to be modified to accept the new currency, and developers will continue to earn their 70% share on Amazon Coins — just they do with real money.

This is an interesting move by Amazon and another blow to Google.

Does Size Matter

February 4, 2013Android, Apple, RIM, Tech News, WindowsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

At the moment there are two operating systems in the lead, iOS and android. The iPhone is a 4 inch pocketable powerhouse. The size appeals to the vast the majority. What it isn’t is a compromise.

On android the top android manufacturer is Samsung. Their strategy is large screens. Take the Note and Note 2. The S3 is huge. But then they make the S3 Mini and scale down the components. Why can’t android make a top flight phone that isn’t around the 5 inch mark.

So if Google went hell for leather and made a state of the art 4 inch android phone, then Apple might have a real nightmare.

I hear some of you say, what about the new Blackberry Z10 or HTC Windows 8S. These are both around the 4 inch mark and probably are helping draw crowds in to them because they are not Goliath phones but manageable handsets. Actually I like both of these for the comfort and fit in the hand.

What do you think? Should there be a top end 4 inch android or should everything top end be around 5 inches?

Apple in 7th Place

February 4, 2013Android, Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Uswitch has just released data for January showing that the iPhone 5 ranked 7th in the UK.

In first place was the Samsung Galaxy S3, then the mid-range Samsung Galaxy Ace and thenSamsung Galaxy S2, all outselling Apple’s flagship handset.

In a surprising turn, Nokia’s Symbian-based Nokia 100 and C2-01 were in fourth and fifth place, ahead of the Windows Phone-running Lumia 800 and 610 – which were eighth and ninth respectively.

LG’s Google Nexus 4 phone also topped the iPhone by taking finishing sixth in overall sales, according to uSwitch.

Maybe the iPhone 5’s high price is damaging sales, in other words price does count especially as the S3 is cheaper and does more in some ways. In addition, UK shops and pushing Samsung as the better phone over the iPhone.

Whichever way the cookie crumbles, competition is healthy.

50m downloads

February 2, 2013Android, Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Temple Run 2 has hit 50m downloads across all platforms. In such a short space of time this has beaten the record set by angry birds.

That’s a very impressive number and shows that if you create a great game that’s easy to pick up and play, along with stunning visuals, success is possible.

Even more incredible in the fact the game is produced by 2 people.

Free Games via HTC & Playstation Mobile

February 2, 2013Android, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

HTC and PlayStation Mobile are offering customers in select countries* using an HTC smartphone with Sense 4+ one free game per week through the end of February.

All you need to do is head on over to the Playstation Mobile download hub to get the PlayStation Mobile for Android App and set-up your Sony Entertainment Network account.

This week’s free game is “Cubixx.” A reinvention of the classic action-puzzle game Qix, Cubixx challenges you to cut away the surfaces of a mysterious cube and free the energy within. With 20 mind-boggling levels of increasing difficulty, Cubixx is sure to challenge you with split-second decisions as you climb the high score table to claim your position at number one.
Don’t forget to check back on Wednesday for the next free game.
* PlayStation Mobile is currently available for HTC owners running Sense 4+ in Japan, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia.

6 inch Phablets

February 1, 2013Android, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Pantech and ZTE have each released new Phablets, 5.9 and 5.7 inch screens. Shortly we will see 6 inch plus Phablets.

Is this size really a new long term prospect, or just a short term fad? I have asked myself who is buying these large bricks and the answers aren’t clear cut.

If you have one of these devices, they cannot be used one handed with ease. Typing on the landscape keyboard will probably be a challenge.

Surprisingly men are buying these phones. Well that’s not a surprise. But also women too, especially the younger generation. Maybe with all the media activities and Internet uses size is lost when a big screen makes a world of difference. Also, for women these wielding phones can be tucked away in handbags. Men are reliant on big pockets. So you can forget tight jeans.

But what if you had a phablet, would you need anything else. That is no PC or tablet. You can see the future will be in mobile connected devices, and quite possibly Phablets will be the norm going forward. The number of devices being sold is rapidly rising, thanks to Samsung’s Note series.

I personally like the large screen phones. Now if only Apple would release one that would be bliss.

Below are the photos of 2 new Phablets from Pantech and ZTE. Both look very respectable.

iOS iPhone iPod Apps

February 1, 2013Android, Apple, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Following on from my last post about Apple edging android in the app contest I thought it a good idea to re post the what’s on my iPad and iPhone articles. So first up is what’s on my iPhone. Now I will clarify that I don’t put all the apps I own on the iPhone. If I did I would need 5 more screens of folders.

Below is the screen shots. Any questions let me know. As you can see a reasonable variety.

Since posting this @shongum recommended Marine Transit for ships.

Apple vs Android Apps

February 1, 2013Android, Apple, Jan 2013, Tech NewsGavin Fabiani-Laymond

Much has been written about the Apple iOS Apps vs the Android Apps available and which is better and which has more. This number of apps is only a guide. The quality, depth and breadth is more important.

I have spent a considerable amount of time looking into the different apps on the operating systems and included my own experiences too. I have purchased nearly 1,500 apps on iOS and 700 now on android, just as a reference. I have owned and used the latest of both operating systems from the iPhone 5 which I use currently and the Samsung S3, my last phone. Before the S3 I had the Note and prior to that the iPhone 4S. I have used both size and owned both size iPads and Nexus 7.

I am going to start this article with the conclusion and then explain why. So in conclusion the iOS app selection tops android. With the tablet configuration iOS wins hands down. With smartphones whilst the number of apps on both platforms is huge, it is the breadth and depth where IOS really has a larger edge over android. However, android does have a win over iOS in terms of game emulators. On iOS they do not exist really, but on android they are several superb options. Also on the android platform you can use play station or other game controllers to play some of these games. That’s more to do with the open aspect of android hardware and software. The other aspect where android apps have an edge over iOS apps is the ease of sharing data throughout the system, with better use of background multitasking. The other consideration is Google apps and services. Google is really trying to create a superb user experience.

Now, I know some of you are going to say my favourite apps are on both platforms. That may be the case, but it is often updated or available first on iOS. Another challenge is that whilst that app is not available on android, there is an android equivalent that is just as good. And that’s a fair challenge.

But look at the the categories available on both. Then think about apps for women, apps for men, for children, for specialist interests and so on. What you will find is that on iOS the offerings are far greater with more depth, quality and breadth. This isn’t a question of looking at the top 50 in both app stores, this is about going deeper into sub categories of sub categories. Previously when I did this comparison, I only looked at my apps and were the equivalent available on both operating systems. This time I went far deeper in to the types and quality of the app offerings. I must admit, I really thought iOS wouldn’t have a clear advantage but overall it really does and if I am being honest by a decent margin except for apps that are game emulators or share data.

What I do believe is that this gap will totally close and the offerings will be down to personal preference and the services the two operating systems offer.

Samsung just bought 5% of Wacom