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Why Is Blackberry Courting Android?

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Could it be that RIM is giving up on the Blackberry OS and is about to pull a Nokia by courting a rival? Probably not, but apparently the ailing smartphone giant is courting Android (or at least apps running upon Android Market).

Well according to ShopSavvy’s flurry logs someone in Waterloo, Ontario (Canada for the geographically challenged oh and BTW it wheres RIM is based) has been running ShopSavvy for Android on various BlackBerry devices. Here are the details:

• BlackBerry 8300 ran ShopSavvy on January 31, 2011
• BlackBerry 8600 ran ShopSavvy on January 17 and 24, 2011
• BlackBerry 8520 ran ShopSavvy on February 7, 2011

Earlier this month Rachel King wrote a ZDNet story suggesting that BlackBerry’s new PlayBook tablet is going to support Android apps. This makes sense since BlackBerry OS can support Java Virtual Machines  and it would be pretty easy to compile Android in one of the them. (Official ShopSavvy Blog)

Blackberry App World already boasts 20,000 apps (and counting), although with Windows Phone 7 catching up (Microsoft just surpassed 8,000 apps), RIM is probably worried about being surpassed and being viewed by consumers as “limited” due to a lack of third party apps.

While making Blackberry “Android friendly” would help boost RIM’s appeal to the masses, it would also kill off Blackberry App World as developers would have little incentive to create apps for RIM.

If RIM does court Android while “retaining” its app store, it would signify a huge win for Google as well as developers, as Blackberry lovers might be more open to purchasing Android apps.

(Hat Tip: BGR)

Originally posted on February 24, 2011 @ 6:32 pm

Another Reason Not To Buy Android: Netflix

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If the draconian rules upon iOS are Apple’s weakest points, Android’s can be summed up in one word: apps.

Despite the fact that Android is going to dominate the mobile verse, it looks like Google’s hack friendly OS will not have the privilege of carrying one important app.

The good news is, manufacturers were showing off Netflix on Android devices this past week at the Mobile World Congress and it looks as good as you would expect. What’s the bad news, then?

If you already own an Android device, Netflix likely won’t work on your device. As a matter of fact, it will only work on new devices and possibly not all of those. We’re placing a bet right now that “Netflix included!” is the tagline of the next successful generation of Android phones. (via RWW)

Since Netflix is in the streaming movie business, they probably are avoiding creating a universal Android app due to the fact that the mobile OS is “DRM unfriendly” (as hackers are constantly manipulating the software).

Either way, Google needs to find a way to discourage companies from embracing select Android’s devices again, as it not only fragments the ecosystem (something Steve Jobs argues), but encourages people to seek rival platforms like iOS and Windows Phone 7.

Hopefully Netflix will change their mind and embrace the Android Market overall as excluding devices based upon the lack of DRM is not only silly, but reduces their overall reach.

Originally posted on February 17, 2011 @ 5:43 pm

Android Grows Up, Offers Developers A Reason To Join

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Despite dominating the mobile universe and offer the largest app store after Apple, the Android Market as a whole looked mediocre when compared against their iOS rival.

Previously the only way to locate an app without utilizing a smartphone was via third party sites or word of mouth (i.e. tech blogs or the news) making discover-ability difficult.

Now it looks like Google may not only have remedied that issue, but also added a few extra features that put Android Market on par with Apple’s App Store.

Starting today, we have extended Android Market client from mobile devices to every desktop. Anyone can now easily find and share applications from their favorite browser. Once users select an application they want, it will automatically be downloaded to their Android-powered devices over-the-air. […]

After months of hard work by the Android Market team, I am extremely pleased to announce the arrival of In-app Billing on Android Market. This new service gives developers more ways to monetize their applications through new billing models including try-and-buy, virtual goods, upgrades, and more. (Android Developers Blog)

Truth be told both of these features should have been launched months ago, as their absence probably explains why premium Android apps have performed so poorly when compared against their iOS brethren.

Unfortunately Android’s premium market is still small compared to Apple’s, as the former is only available in 32 countries which is pathetic compared to Apple’s 90 nation reach, although hopefully carrier billing can help make it easier for Android developers to put food on the table.

Users can visit the Android Market online at market.android.com, and while Google still has a few more quirks to fix before it can fully match Apple, it looks like developers may soon have a viable alternative to Apple’s walled garden.

Originally posted on February 3, 2011 @ 2:20 pm

Nokia Giving Up On MeeGo?

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After being birthed from an alliance between Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo, Nokia reportedly may abandon MeeGo altogether instead of using the prized mobile OS to compete against Android as well as iOS devices.

Nokia has stopped developing its first smartphone using the MeeGo operating system, two industry sources close to the company said.

In a leaked internal memo, Chief Executive Stephen Elop wrote: “We thought MeeGo would be a platform for winning high-end smartphones. However, at this rate, by the end of 2011, we might have only one MeeGo product in the market.” (Reuters)

This isn’t good news for Nokia who hasn’t designed a decent smartphone ever since iOS was first unveiled to the world.

While the company undoubtedly makes some of the best phones around (hardware wise), the company has never excelled at software which seems to be the achilles heel for the company.

Betting on Symbian is probably equally foolish, especially in light of Android’s rise which could make the company obsolete half a decade from now.

Nokia’s only hope may lie with ditching Symbian for Android, although it wouldn’t be surprising to see the company choose Windows Phone 7 OS instead (given that their CEO Stephen Elop use to work for Microsoft).

Originally posted on February 9, 2011 @ 2:12 pm

Skype Courts Palm Pre 2 On Only One Carrier?

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For those of you who have not given up on webOS, you’ll be delighted to hear that Skype has finally released an app for Palm Pre 2 fans.

Unfortunately they are once again playing favorites with select carriers, which means a large number of Pre fans will be out of luck.

We’re working constantly to bring Skype to as many mobile devices as possible, and we’re excited to announce that Skype is now available on the Palm Pre 2 from Verizon Wireless. […]

All calls run on the largest and most reliable wireless network in the US, which helps to make sure that call quality is top-notch, and lets you use your favorite accessories, including Bluetooth headsets. (Official Skype Blog)

Palm Pre 2 fans upon other carriers attempting to download Skype will be greeted with a friendly “Skype is not available for your phone” despite the fact that they run the same exact mobile OS.

Skype isn’t saying when their app will be available for the rest of the Palm Pre tribe, but hopefully the company will consider exiting Verizon’s walled garden lest they lose out customers to rivals like Google Voice.

Note: If anyone has any tips/hacks for porting Skype to Palm Pre 2 fans on other carriers, feel free to enlighten us in the comment section below!

Originally posted on February 25, 2011 @ 3:33 pm