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Sorry Google, Evo 4G Is No iPhone Killer (Android)

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Often seen as the premier Android phone due to its 8 mpx camera (complimented by its front facing camera, albeit 1.3 mpx), it looks like Sprint’s Evo 4G smartphone (powered by Google’s Android) is not selling as many units as some thought.

[A] Sprint employee used the inventory system to figure out exactly how many EVO 4Gs were sold and posted that number online, resulting in a speedy investigation by Sprint HQ and the employee’s immediate termination. […]

“according to sprint we as a [company] have sold 66,483 theres a whole bunch of stores though that dont have any more inventory i [sic] dont think any major city sprint does” (Mobile Crunch)

Last year Apple sold one million iPhone 3GS’s on its first opening weekend, a figure few (if any) Android devices have yet to match individually (with the closest rival probably being the original Droid).

While this news will probably not convince Android fanboys and girls that the Evo 4G is not an iPhone killer (as some of my friends are insisting that Evo makes the iPhone worthless), nonetheless these sales should help Google in its quest to displace Apple as the center of the mobile universe.

Either way it will be interesting to see whether the iPhone 4 launch is able to douse the Android fervor, as the public will be able to decide for themselves if Apple’s walled garden is superior to Google’s open platform.

Originally posted on June 14, 2010 @ 6:15 pm

Google Chrome Takes Bronze, Dethrones Apple

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Google may be losing the smartphone wars against Apple, but as far as the browser wars go it looks like Google Chrome may have displaced Apple’s Safari as the third most popular browser in the US.

Google’s internet browser Chrome has overtaken Apple’s Safari in the US for the first time on a weekly basis according to StatCounter, the company which provides free website analytics. The firm’s research arm StatCounter Global Stats reports that for the week beginning 21 June Chrome overtook Safari to claim third place in the US browser market. (Business Wire)

Currently Google Chrome ranks third globally, with only the mighty Firefox and IE ranking ahead of the nimble browser. [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 28, 2010 @ 3:12 pm

Despite iPhone 4, Android Sales Continue To Rise

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While Android’s official number of sales are not as impressive as Apple’s (who sold 600,000 iPhone 4’s the first day), nonetheless it looks as if Google’s mobile OS is finally emerging as the counterweight to the iDevice.

There are now 160,000 Android devices being activated every day — up from the 100,000 number he gave us at Google IO in May.

And on top of that, the Android Market now officially hosts 68,000 applications (which of course includes keyboards, skins, ringtones and other thing you wouldn’t consider to be apps). (Android Central)

If Google can maintains this rate of growth, they may actually attract more developers and hopefully better Android apps (as the ones thus far are not exactly made for their eloquence).

Android still has a long ways to go before it can dethrone iOS as the world’s most popular mobile OS (at least on a decent smartphone that is, and no RIM doesn’t count).

Either way Android’s rise will force Apple and Microsoft to create awesome smartphones, which translates into better phones for everyone (and hopefully cheaper prices as well).

Originally posted on June 23, 2010 @ 3:26 pm

Apple Changes iPhone Policy, Begins Sharing Your Location Information

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iPhone Location Based ServicesLocation based services have taken over the cellular market in the last several years and now Apple has decided that your location information may be worth a bunch of cash. Apple changed their company license today to state that they now store “the real-time geographic location of your Apple computer or device” and that they have the right to share it with “partners and licensees.”

Apple is working to calm customer fears, claiming that all location based data is “collected anonymously in a form that does not personally identify you.” It’s a statement that should seem familiar to Facebook users who were told the same thing months ago, only to find out that their profile information and the profile information of their friends were being shared with advertisers.

Unlike Facebook, there is apparently no way to opt-out of the Apple policy. Actually that’s not totally true, you can refuse to ever download another app for the life of your device and then stay away from the iTunes store, at which point you aren’t forced to agree to the companies new terms of service before proceeding with purchases. [Read more…]

Originally posted on June 22, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

Google Voice Goes Public

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Heralded by some as a potential Skype killer, Google has finally allowed the masses to sign up for Google Voice without having to scout for an invite online (provided you live within a certain country that is).

A little over a year ago, we released an early preview of Google Voice, our web-based platform for managing your communications. […] Today, after lots of testing and tweaking, we’re excited to open up Google Voice to the public, no invitation required. […]

Just to clarify, though we’ve opened up sign-ups, Google Voice is still limited to everyone in the U.S. for now. (Official Google Voice Blog)

For now Google Voice acts more like a forwarding service than a true VoIP phone service, so for now Skype currently has the edge over its deep pocket rival.
[Read more…]

Originally posted on June 22, 2010 @ 3:06 pm