Samsung vs. Apple

Summary:
For years, Samsung and Apple have been during it out on the courts of the world law suit after law suit, patent after patent. Although these law suits never affected consumers,recently Apple put Samsung in a choke hold in the U.S.. Just recently, Apple gained the power to stop all sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Samsung's flagship tablet.

Analysis:
This is a major blow to Samsung as the iPad's only competitor can be controlled by Apple. Luckily the ban would only happen in the U.S., but unfortunately they can ban the tablet in the U.S.. Although I have no details on exactly why it was banned, it is safe to assume that it probably another patent dispute.

Questions:
1. Do you think Apple will ban the device immediately?
2. What patents do you think caused this?
3. Do you think Samsung has some hold on Apple patents.

The Samsung Galaxy SIII is here

Summary:
The highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy SIII is here, Samsung's highly anticipated flagship phone of 2012. The phone was announced on May 3rd in London at Samsung's UNPACKED event. The phone is said to be inspired by nature with elements in the shape, as it is inspired by a pebble, or the lock screen, which makes ripple to unlock the phone.

The phone is a powerhouse with its specs:

• 4.8" Super AMOLED HD 720x1280 display 
• 1.4 GHz Quad-core Exynos Processor
• 2100 mAh battery
• 8 Megapixel Camera
• 16/32 GB Internal storage (Expandable to 64 GB)
• NFC Chip
• Ice Cream Sandwich OS

The phone also comes with some cool features like S Voice, which is basically Samsung's take on Siri. It also comes with pop-up play which allows you to watch a video on a little movable screen while using your phone.

The phone is to be released on May 23rd internationally and some time in June in the U.S., although it's already been confirmed that the U.S. variant will not feature a dual-core Exynos processor, but a dual-core Qualcomm processor.

Analysis:

The wait is over and Samsung put a show with their Apple-sized release of their new flagship phone. The phone does offer features we never would have guessed, but also offered a few disappointments as well.  First off, the form factor was never expected, people were hoping more for a more rectangular phone than with rounded edgings, also there was speculation on whether or not the buttons on the bottom were going to be on the screen or be physical, as you can see it seems like customers aren't ready for on screen buttons. Second, the body of the phone was speculated to be some higher end material like ceramic, but instead Samsung went with the same cheap plastic. Last, the pixels of the screen, yea a small issue, were speculated to be in a RGB matrix rather than PenTile, meaning that the screen looks more pixelized with the PenTile.

Questions:

1. Is there anything you don't like about the phone?

2. How much would you be willing to pay for the phone?

3. Is there anything you feel Samsung should have added?

Sources:

http://androidadvices.com/samsung-galaxy-s3-leaked-picture-specifications/

Could the Samsung Galaxy SIII be here soon?

Summary:
Samsung's flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy SIII could be out quicker than expected. The Samsung galaxy S series has been the best selling Android device to date, and sometime in May, Samsung is to announce their next addition, the Samsung Galaxy SIII. There has been tons of speculation of what it will have and look like.

Analysis:
Currently, there has been speculation on an invitation by Samsung for an event, what's special about the invitation is that it teases saying "Come and meet the next galaxy" giving speculation on whether they refer to the Samsung Galaxy SIII or not. Although if it is this does bring speculation to the event Samsung is also hosting on May 22nd which could also be the Samsung Galaxy SIII, I guess we'll have to wait and find out while Samsung teases the internet.

Sources:
http://www.littlegreenrobot.co.uk/news/samsung-to-unveil-galaxy-s3-on-may-3rd/

Project Glass

Summary:
Google just recently unveiled a video of a future product that is literally a pair of glasses that basically put a screen on life. These glasses create an augmented reality which allows you to use applications in real time that aren't just on a screen, but on you. There is currently no official information on when this would be released or for how much, but there is speculation that it will be released between Q4 2012 or Q1 2013. There are photos of the product and co-founder of Google, Sergey Brin, was actually wearing them to the "San Francisco Dining in the Dark" charity event.

Analysis:
This product can/will revolutionize the market. To take something out of science fiction, something we wouldn't have thought possible for decades, is actually becoming a real product. As revolutionary as it is I feel like there are many problems with it. For instance, is it going to try to kill the smartphone? Will Google implement Android into this? Are there any health issues? Can this be used by people with prescription glasses already? In the end, we'll just have to wait to see how thing ends up.

Reflection Questions:
1. Would you use this?
2. Would you trade this for your smartphone?
3. What feature seems most interesting to you?

1. http://www.phonearena.com/news/Googles-Sergey-Brin-wears-Project-Glass-prototype-at-a-party-pictures_id28825
2. http://www.phonearena.com/news/Google-unveils-Project-Glass-to-the-world_id28762

What's happened so far

Overview of wiki:
My wiki was created and finalized today. I've found out that Android is a unique Operating System in that it can do some crazy tasks that you wouldn't expect an iPhone, or even a computer to do. Android is very customizable, there is nothing in Android phones that you can't change, from your lockscreen, to the speed of your processor, everything can be taken and manipulated to better suit your needs. With this the Android ecosystem is very diverse as there are countless Android phones competing in different aspects, that this causes the creation of intuitive and innovative devices each with their own "special features".

Overall reflection:
I am excited with this project as I have found that Android can do countless tasks and is so different in a good way from iPhone's. Android has shown to me that it is an interesting topic to say the least. There is so much information that make Androids themselves that it may not be possible to cover every aspect to compare one to another as I've also found out that not all Android phone's are the same either. They are differentiated in hardware and software, that for some their only similarities is that it was built on Android. I am very pleased with this subject and I am looking forward to keep researching about it.

Wiki-https://sites.google.com/site/hvdroid1/

Introducing Google Play

Summary:
Google has just recently changed the Android Market to Google Play. Changes include a new icon, universal integration of Google Books, Music, Movies, and Android Apps, and a 7-day sale of bestselling Paid Android Apps for $.49 and a $.25 Paid App that switches off everyday.

Analysis:
It's a fresh change for Google as they are moving towards the synchronization of devices (Smartphones, tablets, smart TV's, and computers). This really isn't a big leap for Google as most, if not all, sections of Google Play were integrated already in the Android Market. On the upside, they do have a fairly large sale on famous apps that go for as high as $6.99 for only $.49. I'm only neutral on the new icon or name as it doesn't change anything about Google Play (The New Android Market).

Reflection Questions:
1. Do you believe it was necessary for Google to go through with this change?
2. Do you think that the $.49 sale will be a success or failure for Google?
3. (Poll) Are there any of these paid apps that may interest you?
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/promotion_2012_03_06_AppsFavorites?feature=banner#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDIwMSwibnVsbC10b3BfZmVhdHVyZWRfbXVsdGlfX181X3Byb21vXzEzMzE0ODgzOTI1ODciXQ..



Sources:
Google. "Introducing Google Play." YouTube. YouTube, 06 Mar. 2012. Web. 11 Mar. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZxbmEHW7M>.
Google. Play Store. Google. Web. <https://play.google.com/store>.

Mobile World Congress: The Next Evolution of Smartphones

Summary:
Mobile World Congress is an international trade show for smartphones internationally. From today, February 26th, to March 1st, major smartphone companies, like HTC and LG, will be announcing the next step in smartphones in Barcelona, Spain. Now this is a major event for Android (maybe because they make up most of the booths) as this is the introduction of a new standard in smartphones and a major release in the smartphone market.


New technologies include the introduction of Quad-core processors, which will make these new phones powerhouses and allow for the development of some new crazy, power-intensive applications. Larger, higher-resolution screens that are currently surpassing the resolution of some laptops. There will also be the movement toward the Android Operating system, Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0, into a variety of phones (Ironically there is currently only 1 phone with this operating system and it has only been out for almost 2 months).


Smartphones aren't the only ones taking it to the next level, tablets are also expected to be announced at MWC. So far, Samsung has already released the the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, which is basically a tablet about the size of the iPad with a stylus that has a little bit more functionality like doodling and notes.


Analysis:
This event seems huge and I don't wan't to miss a thing. I want to see how the addition of Quad-Core phones will change the applications that are to be released. What I also found really cool (Fun Fact:) is that Samsung actually just released a phone with a projector on its bottom, I'm not necessarily sure how convenient that is, but hey that's definitely something show off on your phone. What i personally like about this is that these phones come out at the approximate time my contract ends, so one of these newly announced phones may be mine.


I'll make sure to keep an eye out for any game-changers, but for now it looks like LG is conquering with powerhouse phones that are definitely going to have an impact on the future smartphone markets.


So will Samsung remain #1? Will they release any game-changing products? Or Will LG dominate the battlefield? Stay tuned to find out!


Reflection Questions:
What new things do you think will come with these new phones? What are you expecting/ want to see? What's your favorite smartphone brand?


Source: Baig, Edward C., . "Big mobile show kicking off in Barcelona." http://www.usatoday.com. USA Today, 2012. Web. 26 Feb 2012. <  http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/story/2012-02-24/mobile-world-congress/53233132/1  >.
            T., Nick. (2012, 02 26). www.phonearena.com. Retrieved from http://www.phonearena.com/news/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-10.1-is-real-more-evidence-surfaces_id27318