Android has finally overtaken Research in Motion and the Blackberry as the dominant platform of smartphones. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

In the war for supremacy in the market for smartphones, the Android operating system has finally toppled Research in Motion and the Blackberry line. Google’s popular Android line has spread quickly, overtaking Apple and Microsoft products within months of the the first launch of an Android phone. More than types of 170 devices use the Android system.

Blackberry loses some juice among consumers

The Blackberry line of phones made by Research in Motion has held the the top spot for sales of smartphones for a long time, but the company has finally been dethroned, according to CNN. The Google based Android platform has surpassed RIM in sales after steadily outpacing all other domestic competition and safely pulling into the lead with more than 31 percent of sales. The first phone using the Android operating system was the HTC G1, which was released in November 2009 and carried exclusively by T-Mobile. In early 2010, Android had only a 7 percent share of the smartphone market, but the platform has enjoyed constant growth since its introduction. An Android OS is now the base of more than 170 types of phones and tablet computers across numerous carriers.

Other phones have their jobs cut out for them

Of the four popular smartphone platforms in the U.S., the only one that has constantly grown market share is Android. Research in Motion at one point sold 42 percent of all smartphones, but RIM sales have dwindled to 30.4 percent between February of 2010 and the end of January of 2011. Windows phones have been constantly on the decline, and now make up less than 10 percent of the smartphone market. Apple, with its flagship product the iPhone, has held fairly constant. An estimated 350,000 new Android devices are activated daily. The Symbian OS offered by Nokia held a larger share of the market than Android until late 2010, when Symbian sales finally were eclipsed by Android.

Android Nokia phone not likely

Just about every phone company makes an Android phone, as Google licenses it for free, and adapting it is fairly easy for any developer, but Nokia isn’t having it, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was recently announced that Nokia is planning to revamp its offerings by partnering with Microsoft and installing Windows Mobile on Nokia phones. Microsoft is reportedly going to pay Nokia $1 billion for the rights to put Windows Phone 7 on Nokia devices, which could be a net benefit for both companies if it is successful.

Sources

CNN

Los Angeles Times

Steve Jobs let iPhone competitors have it at an Apple earnings conference, citing Apple's sales dominance. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Steve Jobs recently participated in an Apple earnings press conference. During the discussion of how well Apple Inc. stock is doing, Jobs took time to let loose on RIM (Blackberry) and Android platforms. He touted the fact that Apple sells more units of the iPhone than either platform and has better software to boot. An Apple event is scheduled soon, called “Back to the Mac” The event will likely discuss upcoming computers from Apple.

Jobs blasts RIM and Android at Apple earnings meeting

Steve Jobs made a surprise visit to a recent Apple earnings press conference. Earnings for Apple Inc. for the fourth quarter were substantial. He opened by saying he usually doesn’t attend such meetings, but he couldn’t resist talking about the first $20 billion quarter for Apple, according to Apple Insider. He also took some time to slam the competition. He pointed out that the iPhone outsold RIM Blackberry by 2 million units, and that Research In Motion had too far to go to catch up. He also pointed out that Android smartphones by Google activated 200,000 units a day to Apple’s 275,000.

Android tablets to die quickly

On the heels of the best quarter ever for the Apple stock price — AAPL just hit $300 a share — Jobs also felt he would weigh in on gripes about software and tablets. He said that Google’s claims about the iPhone being “closed” and Android being “open” were misleading. He also pointed out that the Android tablet PCs due out soon will be “dead on arrival” because a 7-inch screen is only a bit bigger than a smart phone. He opined that because Apple makes everything in house, the iPad is more bang for less buck than the competition.

Getting ‘Back to the Mac’

An Apple event is scheduled for Wednesday. It is called “Back to the Mac” and the topic, according to CNET will be the new hardware and Mac operating system.

Sources

CNET

Apple Insider

The Motorola Droid Pro may well give Blackberry users a true alternative. Image: Titanis / Flickr / CC-BY-SA

Scientists have long been seeking the “missing link” — and it has been found, at least in the Droid Pro. With the operating system of a Droid, and the form and function of a Blackberry, the Droid Pro is making waves. Specifically designed for businesses, Droid Pro has been called the the “killer” of RIM’s business dominance.

Droid Pro features

The Droid Pro by Motorola was announced as a part of a six-phone rollout by the manufacturer. A built-in keyboard and portrait-style layout make the phone look and feel much like a traditional Blackberry. The Android operating system supports a 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM and global roaming. What makes the Droid Pro truly business-ready, though, is the full enterprise support. Multi-VPN network support, complex passwords and on-board encryption are all built into the device.

Droid Pro crosses the Blackberry line

The line that has kept many businesses and governments using Blackberry devices has been security. Research in Motion, the Canadian company that makes Blackberry devices, is well-known for its nearly uncrackable encryption. Combined with strong support for business functions, and the Blackberry has been the undisputed king. The Droid Pro, however, may well give RIM a run for its money.

Is Droid Pro the Blackberry kill shot?

With more and more consumers already defecting from Blackberry devices to Android devices, some are saying that the Droid Pro may well prove to be a “kill shot.” This, however, most likely will not be the case. Though Android is a powerful operating system, and the Droid Pro has built-in security features that make it attractive to the business consumer, it may not match up. The intricacies of RIM devices are what make Blackberry popular, and with the Blackberry PlayBook soon to hit the market, the rivalry will most likely continue in earnest for a long while.

Sources

Droid Life
Venture Beat

The Blackberry family could well include the Blackpad tablet. Image: Flickr / Honou / CC-BY

Rumors have been swirling around the Blackberry Blackpad. The keynote speech at Blackberry’s DevCon today may very well officially announce the Blackpad. There are still conflicting reports about when the device will be released, or if it will even be announced today. Either way, the Blackpad is sure to make some waves.

Why Blackberry needs the Blackpad

RIM, the Canadian company that makes the Blackberry, has found itself in a difficult spot the last few years. The Blackberry was originally designed and intended for business and government use. The tight security and business-heavy features made it very popular with that niche. Somewhere along the way, though, regular consumers started using the handsets. In order to stay financially secure, RIM has had to balance high performance with consumer-friendly design. With more customers defecting to Android or Apple devices, RIM and Blackberry need a big seller to keep their stockholders happy.

What is the Blackpad?

The Blackpad is, in short, an iPad competitor. A tablet computer with touch-based interface. The Blackpad hardware most likely will not make an appearance at the Blackberry developer conference. The details of the device may well be discussed, however. The screen will most likely be 7 inches, though 9.7 is also a possibility. There will also be either one or two cameras for videoconferencing. The biggest news is that Blackberry is developing a new operating system just for the Blackpad. You may not even need a no fax payday loan to buy one; the price may be lower than the iPad.

Who is the Blackpad for?

Though everyday consumers provide a large customer base for the Blackpad, RIM remains a business-based company. Blackberry is working with Amazon to create a new music application, and the Blackpad will reportedly be “equally targeted.” The biggest benefit is that the Blackpad could be released as a stand-alone device or on one of the four cellular networks that Blackberry already uses. In other words, no need to be tied to just one cell carrier for your tablet compatibility. The Blackpad is not the only competitor, though, as the WePad, Google Tablet and Samsung Galaxy Pad are both set for release soon.

The Obama internet bill will give government greater authority to listen in. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The Obama Internet policy is taking a bit of a different turn aside from calling for greater broadband access. Currently, the Obama administration and law enforcement and security agencies are pushing for new regulations of the Internet and the telecommunications industry. If these new laws pass, it will grant the government greater access for surveillance purposes. Basically, it will mean that fewer means of communication will be beyond the all watching eye of Washington.

Obama Internet spying agenda

There is a bill that is planned for next year, according to the New York Times, that will expand wiretap and surveillance powers for law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The White House is on board, and the Obama Internet surveillance bill will likely go to Congress next year. The bill will mandate that all methods of communication be designed to allow government surveillance. The reason is that some communications, especially those on the Internet, are encrypted and private.

Not good for developers

Though this law would certainly favor large companies that have the engineering staff to handle new specifications, startup tech firms will be at a disadvantage. The recent ban of the Blackberry in several countries was due to Research In Motion having designed the phone so e-mails and texts are encrypted, private communications. RIM, along with other tech companies such as voice over internet protocol company Skype, would have to re-engineer products to allow for government intervention. Law enforcement and intelligence officials have complained that their surveillance abilities are “going dark,” as fewer people rely totally on phone communications.

All hearing ears

There are few methods of communication, aside from speaking in person, that are not subject to domestic surveillance. Granted, Obama has not had a scandal similar to the Bush domestic spying controversies. The government maintains that its requests for access are not unreasonable, nor unprecedented. A greater degree of surveillance may seem a great tool for catching criminals in the act, but can easily be misused.

Sources

New York Times

The Blackberry Torch 9800 adds updates to the Blackberry Bold. Image: Flickr/liewcf

Research In Motion, the Canadian company behind the Blackberry, has announced its newest phone — the Blackberry Torch 9800. Slated for release on the AT&T network on Aug. 12, the Blackberry Torch tries to re-brand the Blackberry as a tool for both businesspeople and consumers. Some of the features on the Blackberry Torch 9800 seem like big improvements — but others have reviewers wondering why RIM bothered at all.

The basics of the Blackberry Torch 9800

The Blackberry Torch 9800 maintains many of the things that Blackberry phones have become known for. The QWERTY keyboard is housed in a slider-style case. The messaging and web browsing functions are still solidly in place, though updated. The Blackberry Torch also feels and acts much like previous Blackberry phones, with a similar size, weight, and interface. The security features on the Blackberry Torch 9800 also remain in place.

Updates in the Blackberry Torch 9800

The biggest selling point of the Blackberry Torch 9800 is going to be the new Blackberry 6 operating system. This update includes many new features on the Blackberry Torch that users have been asking for. There will be a universal search, and social networking and messaging will be integrated. There is also a new web browser based on WebKit that is reportedly more efficient than other browsers when it comes to data usage. The new browser also supports pinch-and-zoom browsing. Finally, the Blackberry Torch 9800 will come pre-loaded with the Blackberry App Store (and, on AT&T, a separate AT&T app store) to customize the phone with specially developed apps.

Concerns about the Blackberry Torch 9800

Though the Blackberry Torch 9800 integrates many requested updates, RIM may very well find itself still fighting for life in the smartphone market. The Blackberry is and has always been designed and developed for business and government use — strong security and no-frills interfaces. By adding more consumer-friendly features, RIM hopes that the Blackberry Torch will kick-start sales. However, the tiny screen with almost half the resolution of other smartphones combined with the few-frills email interface may be the downfall of this granddaddy of smartphone makers.

The newest Blackberry Bold 9650 - without the trackball - is set for a May 23 release. Image from Flickr.

The second-most popular smartphone maker, Blackberry, has announced that the Blackberry Bold 9650 and Blackberry Pearl 3G will both be hitting the market soon. Both the Blackberry Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G are improvements on existing Blackberry models and will include upgrades such as Wi-Fi. The Bold 9650 is set to be released on May 23 for $299.99 – so now is the time to get guaranteed payday loans if you would like the newest Blackberry.

The Blackberry Bold 9650

Set to be released on the Sprint Network on May 23, the Blackberry Bold 9650 is built on the same technical chassis as the Blackberry Tour. The Bold 9650 looks very similar to the Tour. However, the sticky and often replaced trackball has been swapped out for an optical touchpad. Bold 9650 will also include Wi-Fi capability. The Bold 9650 include multi-national phone suppoprt, GPS, Bluetooth, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and a 2.44 inch screen, just like the Blackberry Tour did. For jetsetting payday loan lenders and businesspeople the Blackberry Bold will easily cross national boundaries.

The Blackberry Pearl 3G

The Blackberry Pearl was the first Blackberry phone that got a market share for a wider audience than smartphone users – and the Blackberry Pearl 3G is set to continue that tradition. The first U.S. phone that has 802.11n Wi-Fi, the Pearl 3G is designed to connect with 3G HSPA networks or available Wi-Fi connections. The zippy processor, 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS and Bluetooth mesh with RIM’s Blackberry O.S. to give the Pearl 3G full-featured smartphone support. At the same time, the Pearl 3G is said to be available in 2 models – the 9100 with a 20-button keypad and the 9105 with a “traditional” 14-key pad. This will be the first Blackberry that will use a phone keypad – an attempt to ease the transition for first-time smart phone users.

Blackberry Pearl 3G release delayed

While the Blackberry Pearl 3G has been announced, the release of the phone is sure to be a while. The Wi-Fi alliance has yet to certify the Pearl 3G, so RIM has some testing and technical approvals to be completed before the Pearl 3G can hit shelves. AT&T and T-Mobile are set to debut the Pearl 3G, though neither carrier has provided a release date or price for the Pearl 3G.

RIM Blackberry vs. iPhone vs. Android

Research in Motion – the makers of the Blackberry – and Apple – the makers of the iPhone – have been locked in a cell network battle for years. While Blackberry first created smartphones for general use, iPhone was able to bring app development and “fun” smartphones to the general public. The Blackberry Pearl 3G and Bold 9650 are sure to prove popular, but with so many new entrants into the smartphone market, one has to wonder who will come out on top. What do you think?

For anyone looking to save cash today, there are money drains everywhere. The world of technology is vast and has a lot to offer. It is constantly parading new items and services in front of consumers, hoping they will consider them the next “must-have” products. 2010 is promising to be just like former years in that technology is pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

A few short years ago no one had heard of an iPod or flat-screen TV. They made due with tapes and regular 30” TV sets. Now, things are much different and the world is moving quickly into a high-tech society where every month brings new products to make live easier and more streamlined. It can be difficult to sort through the options, but there are some items that are on the brink of extinction. Cutting them out of a budget can provide substantial savings.

New items that probably won’t last

Don’t be fooled. Every item costs and its relevance in upcoming years may or may not be evident. Here are some items to walk away from:

• DVDs. Video stores are dying out. Back in September of 2009, Blockbuster announced that it is planning on closing about 22% of its stores by the end of 2010. The days of renting movies are quickly coming to an end. With cheaper high-tech options like Netflix and iTunes, it makes more sense to leave DVDs at the store. For example, DVDs sell for about $20 but you can buy a subscription to Netflix for just $6.99 a month and watch as many movies as you want. Sure the movie doesn’t belong to you, but a lot of people stopped collecting movies a long time ago.
• External hard drives. In today’s world a lot of information is kept on disc. Many consumers are using external hard drives to free up space on their desktops and laptops. The external drive is an option, but newer and more efficient options are coming into the market. For example, Carbonite.com and Mozy.com are two websites that allow users to store their data online. It’s a great and reliable option for information and the good news is that it’s retrievable from any location where internet service is available. Saving money by not buying an external hard drive and putting that money into a monthly internet service that stores information can be a wise decision. Although external hard drives are reasonably priced, finding cash today is found by making changes in small areas. Combining the little savings, adds up.
• Smartphones other than the iPhone and BlackBerry. There have been smartphones other than iPhone and BlackBerry on the market, but they haven’t taken off nearly as well. The problem with that is many developers know which phones are most popular and most likely won’t put dollars into creating new applications for lower-selling phones. According to ComScore, the BlackBerry holds about 40% of the market on smartphones and iPhones hold 25%. That leaves just 35% for other brands.
• Newspaper subscriptions. Newspaper advertising revenues have declined in 2009 by 17.7% according to the Newspaper Association of America. Overall newspaper reading and subscriptions are down due to most people turning to the TV, online resources or the radio for up-to-date information. Carl Melvill of WXTR Radio in Pittsburg said, “Newspaper is out of date no matter how quickly they get it to the stands. TV is closer to moment by moment and radio is even closer.”

Outdated products

There are many other items that are going the way of the dinosaurs, including compact digital cameras, CDs, college textbooks and non-Energy-star rated appliances. Every one is showing nascent signs of phasing out in the market. For those who want to start raising cash today, cutting these out of a budget can bring added savings.

Need Cash Today? Apply Here!

Soon BlackBerry users will have another option. Image from Flickr.

Verizon products have gotten a lot of attention lately, as the controversial Droid commercials directly target the iPhone. Now, people are paying attention to the new BlackBerry model, the Storm2. You can purchase the phone at verizonwireless.com/storm starting Wednesday and download the latest enhancements for all versions of the BlackBerry.

Reuters reports that the Storm2 has several new features, including a new, smoother design with chrome accents. Righ now verizonwireless.com/storm is having a big sale on BlackBerrys, no doubt trying to unload as many of the old model as possible before rolling out the new one.

A pretty penny

People might have to take out pay day loans to get the BlackBerry Storm2, as the price is $279, but there is a $100 mail-in rebate. But make sure you’ll get your refund back in time to repay your loan. Verizonwireless.com/storm doesn’t have any information about the new model that comes out Wednesday. In fact, it doesn’t even mention there is a new product coming out.

It seems to me that it would be a good idea to allow people to pre-order the Storm2, but apparently that’s just not how Verizon wants to do business. Reuters reports the BlackBerry Storm2 has a whole host of updated features and new software options.

Storm2 versus Droid?

This week also promises to deliver another enhanced smartphone that will run on the Verizon network. The Droid, made by Motorola, has turned a lot of heads with it slogan “Everything iDont, Droid does,” a clear attack on the iPhone.

Many iPhone users are dubious that the Droid will be superior to the iPhone. However, some people who have never before wanted a smartphone are considering a Droid purchase, thanks to the fact that the Droid appears it will be more like having a small computer in your pocket that you can use to make phone calls. BlackBerry was the first to  make a solid name for itself in the world of smartphones, but who will be the next?