GidoGeek

It has a cursor! →

After realizing Flash wasn’t as big of a selling point as they initially expected, Android tablet makers have to find new unwanted features to market their products with. Lenovo, is the first to uncover a new ‘iPad-killing’ feature to include in their Android based ThinkPad: A cursor/mouse. Check the second video in the source link around 01:48 to see for yourself.

And boy does the first video look painful.

Tim Stevens:

Ultimately the usability is reasonably good

Really Tim? Look at that first video again (especially the first 30 seconds) and think about that statement. Would you seriously consider that usable if you were forced to work on that ?

“Protecting the Ecosystem” →

Motorola has long made the best modems a consumer can buy for their home DSL/Cable connections — Google now owns that. That prospect scares me as the last thing I want is a party with a vested interest in what, where, and how I browse the Internet to be standing between me and the Internet. Google is now that party — of course they may never leverage it, but do you really believe that?

(via Shawn Blanc)

Best Android device yet ? →

What a horrible rip-off. Here is a video.

Taylor Martin switched back to an iPhone →

As much as I love the Android platform, it’s time for a break. In the past year, I’ve owned over 25 Android devices, both tablets and phones. I eat, sleep and breathe Android at the moment, and it’s time to take a step back and diversify. Being on another platform is a welcomed change. Fear not, faithful followers. I still have an Android phone that I will use on a daily basis, but it will not be my primary.

So that’s where all those Android device activations come from. (via Daring Fireball)

The Android tablet problem →

It seems I’m not the only one taking all these Android tablet reviews with a huge grain of salt. Marco tears down Ars Technica’s review of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

This, not how closely a manufacturer can mimic the iPad’s hardware, is what reviewers should be asking about each new tablet: Why would a significant number of buyers choose this instead of an iPad?

Or, more generally: What will cause enough people to buy this that developers will beat down the door to make great apps for it?

Joanna Stern reviews the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and.... →

She doesn’t hate it.

Some of my observations:

Does that mean it’s better than the iPad 2? In some respects, yes. Its camera takes better shots and it’s lighter to hold, but Honeycomb’s trailing app selection continues, and will continue to, hold back even the most miraculous Honeycomb hardware.

First, if you are buying the iPad 2 for the camera You’re doing it wrong™ (sorry couldn’t help myself).

Second, here is what she had to say about the initial Galaxy Tab back in November 2010 for Engadget:

But we can also assuredly say that the Tab is the first true competitor to Apple’s iPad…. Put simply, without that ecosystem and support from Google, Samsung is left to its own devices — literally.

It’s somewhat sad to see that 7 months later this statement still holds true. The initial Galaxy Tab ran Android 2.2 while the latest iteration of the Galaxy Tab runs Android 3.1 (Honeycomb). So Google, in a way, stepped up their support. Still no apps though. I wonder why that is?

Last:

If you’re in the market for an Android tablet, the Tab 10.1 is hands down the sleekest money can buy.

Translation:

If you’re in the market for a Android tablet, the Tab 10.1 iPad 2 is still hands down the sleekest money can buy.

Even though my comments might suggest otherwise it’s a great review certainly worth the read.

The Heist sold over 500,000 Paid downloads in 1 week →

Phill Ryu:

In just a little over 6.5 days, The Heist has racked up a staggering 501,813 sales at 99¢, totaling well over $300,000 in revenue. To put that in perspective, our last chart-topping app, Voices, managed to clear 300,000 sales… in its first month, meaning The Heist has been outselling it at a rate of nearly 8 fold! Makes us wonder if we outsold the entire paid Android marketplace this week

Sony Ericsson to sell Dropbox-powered Android phones →

So I’m guessing we won’t be hearing Apple announce they bought Dropbox at WWDC. Still awesome news though. I love dropbox and highly recommend it.

NFC Breakdown →

Richard Gaywood wrote a nice and clear explanation of what NFC is and why you should care.

I do wonder if this road ends with Apple acquiring Square and integrating the latter’s staff and know-how into whatever NFC plans they have internally.

Microsoft has received five times more income from Android than from Windows Phone →

Horacle Dediu:

Microsoft gets $5 for every HTC phone running Android, according to Citi analyst Walter Pritchard, who released a big report on Microsoft this morning. Microsoft is getting that money thanks to a patent settlement with HTC over intellectual property infringement. Microsoft is suing other Android phone makers, and it’s looking for $7.50 to $12.50 per device, says Pritchard.

If this is true Microsoft is either Doing it Wrong™ with Windows Phone 7 or Doing it Right with patent extortion.

I’m wondering if it might not even be more profit’s per phone then Google is making out of Android.

How Google controls Android →

Nilay Patel:

It’s also clear that Google places tremendous value on collecting location data, and it acted swiftly when it determined Skyhook’s deal with Motorola might threaten its ability to collect that data. Hell, one of the headings in Google’s summary judgment brief is “Skyhook was not entitled to deprive Google of its contractual right to collect location data on Motorola Android devices.” Can’t say it much plainer than that, really. And Google’s doesn’t hesitate to use its muscle to get what it wants from OEMs — it revised Samsung’s app license to specifically require Google location services be installed and used by default. Whether or not Google’s behavior is anti-competitive is a matter for the court to decide, but it’s definitely aggressive.

Marco.org: Great since day one →

A very interesting comparison between Android and iPhone by Marco

I never make technology-buying decisions based on future promises, rumors, or potential. I let other people be the bleeding-edge extremely early adopters, and I stick with what I know will work and stay out of my way. I don’t buy things that are “getting better”, because they usually don’t. Whatever caused them to be lacking in their current release will usually prevent them from being great in future releases. I buy things that are great today. They’re usually things that have been great since day one. And, more often than not, they’re Apple products.

I couldn’t agree more with this.