There’s a New Tablet Player on the Horizon
And the name? HTC-With the help of Google, of course. With the new lineup of Android phones on its way this year, HTC has apparently decided they like Google products enough to use them for more gadgets-namely an HTC Tablet powered by Chrome OS. It looks as HTC & Google will be making an announcement, complete with a working prototype of the HTC competitor to the iSlate-the as of yet still non-existent Apple version of the tablet-at the upcoming 2010 CES about the device and Smartmouth reports that HTC and Google “…has several working models of a touch tablet, including one model based on the new Google Chrome Operating System…”

I’s a Real Tablet-What’s Under the Hood?
Well, some are based with the Android, and another with the Chrome OS, so from that standpoint alone, it will be fast. Combine those with a Qualcomm processor, and you’ve got yourself a lightening fast tablet. It is also said the HTC tablet will incorporate new Adobe software as well, something an Apple device would never have the pleasure of having. Poor Apple, they know what they are missing, yet don’t care what the customers want… But more on that below.

The iSlate Rumor
Over the last 10 years or so, and more so in the last 2 years, the rumors have been flying heavily about an Apple Tablet in the works. The problem is, however, the rumors have yet to see even a patent or an FCC approval. In most cases when rumors start making the rounds, one of those two things usually see he light of day within a few months. But, with the tablet supposedly in the works from Apple, neither of these things have even been heard of.

Yet most people and analysts believe an Apple tablet to be on its way for this quarter of 2010. Some news outlets, analysts and bloggers have even put a price on the non-existent tablet, stating it to be affordable-very unprofessional in my eyes. What is it, an affordable piece of air? Well, yes, that is all it is at this point.

But, what I want to know is what is the iSlate going to be good for? Lets talk about Adobe Flash and Apple… Not allowing flash is part of the iPhone TOS! Clause 3.3.2 of the iPhone SDK TOS agreement specifically states: (Directly from PDF of TOS via Wired Magazine)

“…an Application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means, including without limitation through the use of a plug-in architecture, calling other frameworks, other APIs or otherwise. No interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple’s Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s).”

WTF?!?! That is censorship and complete non-sense if you ask me. Apple is just being a bit old-fashioned. I mean, I really don’t understand how the iPhone does so well if there is no Flash support… Anyway, back to the supposed HTC tablet-that DOES have flash support. How does Apple expect to keep iSlate customers when they now know they will never be able to access 90% of the internet? What the Hell is an iSlate going to be good for? Just to have the Apple name around and be seen as an upper-class citizen? I don’t think so…

The Real Reason for the Tablet
Advertising and Marketing-that’s it! Until Apple even asks for approval from the FCC for the tablet, it shouldn’t be speculated so damn much. There will never be one if there isn’t by now. It’s all just a play on advertising. Every time tablet rumors fly, stocks jump and soar through the roof. And with the recession, of course there are more rumors. It’s the only thing keeping them alive! Why does no one see that?

At Least the HTC “Tablet-to-Be” is Real
I mean, at least HTC has a prototype! No one has even seen so much as a single part, or officially drawn blueprint of the tablet form Apple, have they? Nope! Not a one. HTC has a few working prototypes to boast, and they will at the up-coming conference, rightfully so. So I say forget Apple, and see the rumors for what they are. Just another way for Apple to milk more money out of its customers-without even selling them anything!

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What’s the deal?
Well, it’s no surprise that Dell is offering up a smartphone to its massive and mostly impressive collection of electronics. But what is surprising is this is the second time they are doing it. Earlier in the year, according to PC World back in a May post, the initial project was canceled due to “Lack of interest from carriers.” So they are apparently going to try it again with the release of the “Dell Mini 3.” They are releasing it first in China, through China Mobile, later this month and then in Brazil, with Claro, in the end of December. It is directly because of this lack of interest they have o plans as of yet to release in the US Not to say they won’t, just not until at least the middle or end of 2010, again according to PC World.

Dell Mini 3

What’s Under the Hood?
Not too much is known about the Mini 3 as of yet, but I can tell you that it has a 3.5″ display with 360×640 resolution and in China it’s mobile OS will be based on the oPhone OS which is a variation on Google’s Android platform. All that is known about the phone for Brazil is that it will be based on the Android platform as well, but there are no actual specs as of yet. Dell claims it will “…offer flexibility and customization” of the smartphone, to all involved.

And the Verdict Is?
Again, another Smartphone that will not make it to the US. At least for another year or so. But this time, I really can’t blame them. The US is a very competitive market and if one of the bigger companies don’t pick it up right away, like Verizon or AT&T, it most likely won’t make it here. And until we can get some real specs on it, I really can’t say one way or the other which way you should go with it. So, when I do get some specs, I will update them here and until then-good luck finding one!

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What’s The Deal?
It is being said that this is the first phone (aside form the Palm Pre) that has any significant possibility to over take the iPhone. And with the recent targeted attacks from Verizon against Apple and the recently “leaked” photos of the new Android based Smartphone itself, the iPhone just might want to run for the hills.

What Is So Great About the Motorola Droid Smartphone?
Well, for starters, this deal is a three way team up between Google, Verizon and Motorola. Some of the biggest names in the mobile phone industry. And all three have taking down Apple’s iPhone clear in their line of sight. Verizon has launched DroidDoes.com, a targeted campaign on the offensive against everything that the iPhone doesn’t do. According to Engadget, in a new commercial that was recently aired,

Verizon once again goes with similar iPhone themes (music and font in this case) to attack all of the things that the AT&T/iPhone can’t do or doesn’t physically have. Some of the gems in the commercial include “iDon’t have a real keyboard”, “iDon’t run simultaneous apps”, “iDon’t allow open development”, and “iDon’t have interchangeable batteries”.

Also in the recent past, AT&T customers were apparently pining for a merger of Verizon and iPhone. This is because of the dropped phone rates being at up to 30% with the AT&T service. Unfortunately, the FCC is stating that this amount of dropped calls is “normal.” Normal, maybe, but good enough for iPhone customers paying a hefty sum for the services? I don’t think so.
Some Of The Touted Features of the New Verizon Motorola Droid Smartphone
Well. there are so many features that it has, but only room for so much. So here is a list of the few main features-it’s major selling points against the iPhone. What the iPhone Doesn’t have:

1) A full pull out QWERTY keyboard AND a full Touchscreen Keyboard
2) A new Maps Application
3) A 5 megapixel camera WITH flash
4) Native sync support with Exchange and Facebook
5) A full UI makeover
6) 800×640 screen resolution
7) Support for running multiple apps at once
And the Best Feature of All:
8)The first smartphone ever with GOOGLE ANDROID 2.0!

In other words, just like the commercial said, everything that iPhone doesn’t do, Droid Does!

So What Is Going To Happen Now?
Well, through all the targeted attacks at iPhone, the commercials, website, and the like, it wouldn’t seem that a Verizon service with the iPhone would seem likely. But as stated on DailyTech.com, “stranger things have happened.”
And The Verdict Is?
Run iphone…RUN!! Verizon Motorola and Google are coming to get you! And I really don’t think they could’ve picked a better time to roll out the phone either… Right before the holiday season and just when all the controversy over the Google Voice app getting rejected was heating up… SLAM! Right back at ‘cha Apple! that’s what you get for making Google mad. They team up with Apple’s biggest competitors and give it all they’ve got. And lets not forget about the Palm Pre making its own waves against Apple in the recent past… Good luck Apple, you are going to need it this season…

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And don’t forget to check back tomorrow for the latest in up and coming news in the mobile industry.

Finally, I get to talk about this Google/Apple thing.

Luckily for me, the controversy is still going strong, so I still get to report on a still hot topic. As a matter of fact, just a day or two ago, there was a new update on the situation. All of this back and forth between Google and Apple is turning it into a “he said she said” situation, with a little bit of AT&T and the FCC thrown in for good measure.

So What’s the Story?

Well, for starters, let me give a little background on the situation. Apparently, Google had applied to Apple to offer the Google Voice iPhone application that had been created to sell in the iPhone’s App Store. Google stated that the app would “enable users to send international text messages and make inexpensive calls.” Google was violently rejected. Apparently, according to Apple, they rejected this specific one and started pulling others form the store because “…Google has duplicated some of the proprietary content and code…” Google claims that they were denied because the service simply did not live up to the standards of Apple’s high app prices.

So the FCC decided to step in as they sent letters to all companies involved (As it turns out, the FCC was already on both of the companies tails for the board of directors stunt that they both pulled, more on that in a future post…). Google also stated, after a request concerning the Freedom of Information Act, that

“Apple’s representatives informed Google that the Google Voice app was rejected because Apple believed the app duplicated the core dialer function of the iPhone. The Apple representatives indicated that the company did not want applications that could potentially replace such functionality.”

And after the FCC stepped in to ask questions, Apple counters that

“Contrary to published reports, Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application, and continues to study it. The application has not been approved because, as submitted for review, it appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail.”

So What’s The Real Deal?

Well, as of right now, today, Apple is still claiming that they are reviewing the application and they also claim that they never officially rejected it in the first place. But apparently Google has proof otherwise which they stated in their written response to the FCC.

What Does All This Have To Do With iPhone Users?

Well, for starters, Apple is limiting the services that it will be offereing to iPhone users. For a company who claims to have great customer service, why then would they do that? Well, to be blunt, they are afraid. Because it’s so blatantly obvious that Apple is rejecting these Voice applications because of the pricing structure involved. The Voice app is so very cheap, that it would completely crush anything else offered in the app store. Apple claims that Google’s Voice app is just basically a repeat of other functionality already included in the phone, and that is a reason why it was rejected.

But think about this… Apple approved Skype, which has all of the same functionality as Apple’s AND Google’s apps. So why not deny Skype too? And why not deny any other VoIP application? Also, the Voice application is not the only application belonging to Google that has been pulled. There was one called Latitude that was pulled because of its “identical functionality” as iPhone capabilities. And then there is an app called Textfree, that is exactly the same as iPhone’s text program. Yet it is up and running just fine. Why don’t they ban that one too?

So What’s The Verdict?

Well, I think that it is obvious. Apple is afraid that Google will steal its thunder. There is no real good reason why they should have denied, banned, or taken down any previously approved applications made by Google. I believe that I will be proven right when I state that the only reason that Apple is playing these games is because they are afraid that Google will make Apple lose too much money

Who knows? Maybe Apple is just a little too High Class for a Google app… But then again, Google has a reputation for giving their customers exactly what they want. Peace of mind, great products, at unbeatable prices, usually meaning FREE. And Apple is afraid. It’s that simple. Apple is afraid.

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Check back tomorrow for the Windows vs. iPhone App Store Wars…

What makes me think this way? Well, not the hardware. Even the little chrome on the iPhone 3G does not make the hardware that good: Only a mediocre camera, no exchangeable battery and still no upgradeable memory: Most Android phones can easily beat Apples cool gadget.

It is rather a software issue: When you switch on Android, no matter if 1.5 or 1.0, is still looks and feels like most Google products. It looks like a beta version. This is not a big deal with Google apps in general, but to a customer buying a phone like that it is just as experience they do not really appreciate.

This is due to the fact that you’d expect it to be shiny, well designed, and nice. All other phones, like the Samsung Jet S8000, or even a Nokia N97, look way better when using it for the first time. Android 2.0 is supposed to change everything. Have a look at the amazing user interface that will come with Rachael, and you will see what Android is capable of. But not now, at that ist he key issue. I would not wnat to buy a product that is one sunny day in the future capable of running a cool OS, I want this to be in my hands now.

So, Google guys, hurry up. Or some sleaky device like Palm Pre will take your market share. Their Web OS already looks as cool as it can get. Why don’t you do this? A touchscreen phones is as much about eye candy as functionality.