Google's Android Phones Challenge Apple iPhone For Smartphone Market Share

At a media forum on Thursday July 8, 2010 at the Allen & Co's Sun Valley conference, Google executives Larry Page and Sergey Brin informed Journalists that Steve Jobs was re-writing Android's history to align with Apple's interests. They argued that contrary to Steve Jobs claims Google had been working on Android long before the iPhone was launched in 2007.

According to Mr. Page: "We had been working on Android for a very long time, with the notion of producing phones that are internet enabled and have good browsers and all that because that did not exist in the market place. I think that the characterization of us as entering after the iPhone was introduced is not really reasonable. " Google co-founder Larry Page opined that that Mr. Jobs claim that Google went into the phone business in order to challenge Apple iPhone was false.

However, a review of smartphone history will show that Google acquired Android in 2005 and began making phone prototypes soon afterward. Informed sources say the model of the Android phones that Mr. Jobs saw at that time looked more like the Blackberry. This suggests that Google's initial idea may not have been to make phones that look like the iPhone.
Now the question most industry watchers are asking is if Google had been working on an Android powered phone why they did wait until September 2008 a year after the iPhone was launched to introduce the G1 phone? In addition, the facts suggest that it was because of tensions over Google's entry into the phone business that may contributed to the exit of Mr. Eric Schmidt from the Apple board. Analysts believe that Google may have been working on an android powered phone before the iPhone was introduced but the iPhone seemed to have given them better insights as to how to perfect their own smartphone. This is especially true given the resemblance of the Nexus one to the iPhone.

A further confirmation of Google's motive for launching the Android phones could be gleaned from comments they made at the Google I/O conference held last May. At the event, Google explained that they introduced Android to consumers so that Apple would not acquire enormous influence that could become draconian.

In addition, the facts seem to suggest that Google went into the phone business following the realization that future of computing would be in portable devices like phones and tablet computers. As a result, they went into the phone business with the goal of dominating web search on that platform just like they had done on the desktop. This notion is supported by Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google in published comments he made in an interview with the UK Guardian newspaper on June 25th 2010. In that interview Mr. Schmidt suggested that he wants Android to be the Windows of Mobile.

Also in that same interview Mr. Schmidt made critical comments about Microsoft Windows and said: "You have to ask how on earth Windows Phone - which will have a paid-for licence - is ever going to attract any handset makers, but it must be loudest for developers considering whether the shrinking, forwards-incompatible pool of Windows Mobile phones is really worth bothering with".

In contrast, Apple appears to have gone into the phone business as a re-positioning strategy and with a goal to make huge revenue from the sale of the smart phone hardware itself. Also with the advent of the smart phones, Apple realized that there was a huge potential in the area of mobile Advertising. This was why they sought to acquire Admob. While Apple was negotiating to buy Admob which is a mobile Advertising company Google quickly stepped in and acquired Admob. As a result Apple went ahead to acquire Quatro wireless which is Admob's biggest competitor. In reaction to Google's acquisition of Admob Apple has re-written the rules of its mobile Advertising platform called the iAd therefore shutting out Admob, which had been acquired by Google.

As the smart phone war rages on Bloomberg, news reports that Apple has sold more than 50 million iPhones since its introduction. According to Apple CEO, Steve Jobs the latest version, iPhone 4 has sold more than 3 million units since its June 24, 2010 debut. Analysts believe iPhones account for nearly 35 percent of Apples $42. 9 billion revenue. Also, the iPhone has over 200, 000 applications with over 5 billion downloads till date.

The rapid growth of applications on Apple's ecosystem could be traced to the initial incentive the company offered to developers. For example at the beginning, in order to encourage Applications that will run on the iPhone, Apple made an indirect investment by virtue of a $100 million venture-capital fund set up by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Today Apple has paid over one billion dollars to developers since inception.

Apple's success has spurred other players in the smartphone market like HP, LG, RIM, Google, Palm, Nokia, and Microsoft to develop mobile stores where customers with mobile platforms can pay and download applications.

Just like Apple, Google has been, achieving success with its Android powered smartphones as sales have continued to rise dramatically. A confirmation of Android's growth could be gleaned from the positive comments made by Google's Senior VP of Product Management, Jonathan Rosenberg in July 2010. According to Mr. Rosenberg there are 160, 000 Android-based devices being activated daily. He stated that Android search grew by 300 percent in the first half of 2010, with strong growth expected to continue in the second half.

Mr. Rosenberg added that overall revenue jumped by 24 percent year-on-year and profit increased by 19 percent, as well. Informed reports show that as at May 2010, there were 50, 000 Android Apps but today they are over 70, 000 and by the end of the year they should reach 100, 000. In addition, Google has tried to encourage developers of applications for the Android operating system through a contest. Also according to data made available by Andro Lib, Android users have downloaded more than one billion application till date.

Interestingly, another measure of the success of Google Android phone could be seen from positive figures posted by HTC the Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer in the second quarter of 2010. The company in July 2010 announced that its net income rose by 33 percent for the second quarter, and total revenue was 58 percent more than last years figures. According to the Wall Street Journal for the second quarter of 2010, HTC made a profit of $268 million.

The rise in the profit of HTC is a reflection of the success of Google because analysts believe that it is Android phones that are driving the company's growth. The wide acceptance HTC's Google Android powered phones like Evo 4G, the Droid Incredible, the Google Nexus One, and T-Mobile-My Touch 3 are helping to position HTC as a leading smartphone manufacturer.

A pointer to the rapid growth of Google's Android could be discerned from the fact that Comscore reported on July 8 2010 that Google's Android platform grew by 44 percent from February to May. According Comscore in the three three-month time frame from December to February, Android had a mean market share of about 9 percent of smartphone's in the United States. However, in the following three-month time frame, from March to May, Android market share grew to about 13 percent.

Remarkably inspite of the increase in Android's market share Comscore report showed that as at July, 2010 that RIM was number one with 41. 7 percent share of U. S. smartphone subscribers, followed by Apple with 24.4 percent share. Microsoft was 3rd with a 13.2 percent share; Google's Android was 4th with 13 percent and Palm was 5th with 4.8 percent market share. Market analysts say a review of the totality of the Market will tend to suggest that Android is growing at a rate that will see it outpace all its competitors.

The Google -Apple face off in the smart phone market is turning out to be like Apple -Microsoft war of the 80's and 90's. In the Apple-Microsoft war of the 90's Microsoft gained competitive advantage over Apple because while Microsoft was forming partnerships with PC vendors, Apple kept its operating system closed for use in only its own computer systems. In that kind of arrangement Microsoft Windows soared in market share while Apple stagnated.

In the present case Google's Android platform is growing rapidly because it is free so many handset manufacturers are showing a preference for it. Also and is available on multiple-carriers like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. However, the Apple iPhone Os runs only on a single device -the Apple iPhone and on one carrier ATT. Experts believe if this trend continues it that may lead to slow growth for the iPhone in future.

Industry sources say, it may only be fair to make comparisons between Apple iPhone and other smartphones running on Android on an individual basis to determine how well each one stacks up against the iPhone. Experts believe that collectively the smartphones running on Android may eventually have more market share than the Apple iPhone smartphone which is a single device, but individually none of the Android phones would likely outsell the iPhone which is regarded as the fastest selling smart phone in history.

A pointer to what the future of the smartphone market will look like is contained in recent report published by IDC, a Market intelligence company. According to IDC's analysis by 2013 Symbian will be number one mobile OS worldwide, while Android will be the No. 2. IDC predicts that Android may likely achieve the fastest growth of any mobile operating system ever.

Software Engineers: How The App Store And Android Store Started Their Careers

The iPhone didn't just change the way people utilized smart phones, it adjusted the way smart phones were produced. PDAs were once regarded as smart phones capable of conveying text messages and emails with their built-in QWERTY keyboards that made them a hit. What PDAs lacked was the multi-functionality that smart phones of today offer, severely limiting a PDA's usage to a few applications. The iPhone's App store made it possible for average, everyday individuals to create applications which iPhone users could purchase, allowing developers to earn a name for themselves while helping larger companies thrive in new markets. The App Store managed to make smart phones more flexible, encouraging competitors such as the Android and RIM to follow suit and introduce their own digital store fronts.

Small-Time Developers

Apple's business model centered around giving both small and big-time programmers the tools necessary to develop applications that people could own. Each developer was supplied with the Dev Kit tools by Apple for free, allowing programmers to create programs and price them how they wanted. Typical programmers that discovered something missing from the App Store could make a program other users may have found useful, such as radio stations or music programs that recommend music, opening the way for small-time companies to experience big-time success. Mobile alternatives of popular computer programs were showing up; these included movie editing apps, photo apps, and even word-based apps. The tools discovered with Apple's Dev Kit made it possible for individuals to develop the programs they wanted, even if the kit did not include all the mobile application testing tools needed to create successful mobile applications. The Dev Kit had its boundaries, but that did not stop programmers from experiencing huge success with the applications they developed.

Programming

Online application stores gave average developers the chance to experience success, and those with limited software development training a chance to engineer programs for popular online stores such as Apple, RIM and Android. Say you were a novice programmer with no prior knowledge of a load test; most developer's kits supplied instructions for how to conduct tests to eliminate bugs. With the launch of the online application stores, developers also needed to be educated how to market and price each program to compete with rival companies.

Flexibility

When the App Store launched, it may have modified the way customers used mobile phones, but companies such as Android also helped produce accessible programs that individuals could buy and use. Each online application store may have different applications, but they all offer flexibility for the user, making it possible for someone to purchase programs they enjoy. The App Store made it possible for average business owners to pay bills on their mobile devices, while students could get programs to help them study better.

SOASTA, cloud testing pioneer, provides the industry's leading mobile application testing service used by organizations to optimize the performance, scalability and reliability of their websites and web applications. SOASTA CloudTest leverages the resources of the Cloud for load and performance testing. CloudTest accurately simulates traffic hitting a website or application from outside or inside the firewall, testing both lab and production environments. CloudTest Analytics combines key performance metrics with monitored system data for identifying issues while a test is running.

Top 5 Multiplayer Games for Android

Gaming on mobile devices is more popular than ever with the revolution of smart phones and tablet computers. You can tell by viewing the stats of the top multiplayer games for Android and iPhone that this trend is here to stay, gaming is not strictly the territory of traditional consoles and handhelds.

The ability to link up with friends and play together via mobile devices, no matter how near or far, is convenient and technologically impressive. If you haven't become addicted yet, you haven't played some of the best games out there.

Cestos

This game is played with multiple players controlling marbles. The players decide the direction and velocity of the marbles. Once all the players have locked in their route, the marbles are released all at once. The goal is to miss falling through pits or being blown up by the hidden land mines. This depends on the particular map you are using, but each game is intense, fun, and exciting. This requires a heavy amount of strategy and skill to master, but can be picked up and played by anyone.

You can customize your marble avatar, join the chat lobby and "friend" others to play. There are many avid fans of Cestos, so there is never a shortage of competition.

Parallel Kingdom

This game is a mix of strategy and role playing. You can interact with others and chat with friends.

Parallel Kingdom uses your GPS location to put you in a virtual world. This is a free game, but offers all of the fun and excitement of a paid Android app. Of course, you can buy add-ons, but the free version is exhilarating as well.

Gang Wars

Gang Wars is a fun and entertaining multiplayer game that can be used with iPhone and other Android phones. The goal is to complete jobs and each quick cash and gain experience. You can invest in properties to earn an hourly income.

Just as with any Gangsta game, you can buy weapons to gain power and fight your enemies. When you have defeated them, you can take their money and gain the respect you deserve.

Some great features are the live leaderboard rankings so you can see where you stand with other players. You can also locate other players and send shout outs to friends you play with often, although they're really your enemy when it comes to Gang Wars.

Modern Combat 2

This Call of Duty game allows up to 10 players to interact at once online in FPS action. You can choose between different player modes and move up the ranks. There are weapons to be unlocked and reward messages.

One of the best features of this game is the instant kill slow motion affect. This makes for intense gameplay with console-like effects. Modern Combat 2 is one of the most popular shooting games available.

Wordfeud

If word games are your thing, join the 130,402 (and counting) others who clicked "Like" on Facebook. Wordfeud is a kind of crossword style word game available as a free download on the Android Market.

This multiplayer word game is a challenge. Invite friends from your contact list or play against random players.

Wordfeud supports iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android 2.2, 2.1, 1.6, and 1.5.

Now that you've had a chance to review the top 5 multiplayer games for Android, go to the Android Market and download one or two to try them out. Once you start playing, it will be difficult to stop.

5 Awesome Android GPS Apps

As the Android Market grew in popularity, many developers created useful applications. Even until now, they constantly upgrade their versions to keep the users attached to such applications. GPS used to be limited in big-time companies and major institutions, but with certain applications, you can enable your portable gadget to use the amazing GPS technology.

It does not matter if you own a smartphone or a tablet PC, as Android has got the figured out already. For as long as you use Android as your operating system, your choices of downloading the finest GPS application are endless. By using a GPS-enabled gadget, you are able to track a certain person or locate a friend.

What sort of GPS application should you choose, then? There are free applications, and there are those that come with a small price. Surely, you can find hundreds of them in the Android Market, but here are the 5 best:

1. Google Maps Navigation

Internet giant Google has invented many clever technologies, and Google Maps is certainly one of its finest inventions yet. This application is available for Android versions 1.6 and higher. Unlike other GPS applications, Google Maps allows you to take a look at locations using Street View or Satellite View. You can also zoom into the map if you want a clearer and more precise view. Even if you are in the farthest corner of the world, you can never go wrong with Google Maps.

2. Loopt

This portable Android version offers amazing features like receiving notifications when a friend is spotted at a nearby location. You can also toggle between map and satellite modes. With Loopt, it is possible to share information through social media like Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

3. Glympse

By using T-Mobile G1's GPS technology, fellow Glympse users can identify your current whereabouts, which they can share to friends, family and colleagues. What makes this application tick is that you need not register or login, so you need not share or add personal information. Adding friends is also not required. Glympse is quite safe, as viewing your location can only be seen for 15 minutes to 4 hours.

4. Locale

Many users are raving about this application, because of its convenience and simplicity. By using your location, your phone settings can be adjusted conveniently. Simple reminders like charging your battery and turning your phone to silent mode in cinemas are actually possible. This is perfect for people who tend to forget little day-to-day things, as you can configure your gadget to do whatever you want.

5. CoPilot

This is the perfect GPS application for the jet setter and the occasional traveler. With CoPilot, you can plan your routes and access maps, which can be downloaded to your gadget. If you have an SD card with a larger memory, you can fit the whole map of North America. Aside from its amazing features, CoPilot has a striking yet user-friendly interface. This application also allows you to use voice alerts, which you can take advantage of even while driving.

Growing Popularity and Demand of Android Application Development

In last couple of years, the Android phones have gained tremendous popularity all over the world. The only reason behind increased popularity and demand of Android smart phones is their in-built Android applications which are stylish as well as utility applications. Today, people are more bothered about the presence of Android OS in their phones rather than the model of mobile phones. It has all necessary information like Maps, Weather, E-mails, Navigation, Music, Shopping, and many other countless stuff. The growing fame of Android Applications is because of two things - its fun part and its usefulness.

Because of this constant growth of popularity of applications, they are also gaining similar level of popularity in the mobile application development. Many businesses and companies providing Android app development services have achieved benefits and generated great revenues from it.

Android is an open source platform for developing applications for mobile phones giving a wider range of opportunities to the Android application developers to develop new and innovative applications. Developing these applications is simpler as the source code is accessible by anyone being an open source and at the same time it is affordable for both - developers to build them and for customers to use them.

Another important reason of its popularity is more security options offered through some Android applications for the phone which makes calling, texting and browsing mobile phone safer. An application for Android phones named Orbot allows the users to access internet, instant messaging and e-mail without being monitored or blocked by mobile internet service provider. Android Operating System is available on many mobile phones unlike BlackBerry and Apple which gives customers more variety of devices like HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, and others to choose from. A wide range of devices are available at different range of prices making more flexible for users to select. This is increasing demand of Android application development in the market as majority of them prefer the hand set with Android OS rather than others.

The latest version of Android supports flash which will give users same experience as they get on desktops on their mobile phones. Many tools are available in the market of app development for using and easily implementing Android application development. The market for Android development is open for developers which has made it more popular amongst mobile application developers. For customized Android app development, the best option is to get it done by Android apps development experts. 

5 Awesome iPhone Apps Redesigned for Android

In the apps department, the iPhone is currently leading over Android phones. To date, there are about 230,000 apps available in the Apple Store for the iPhone device. In comparison, there are some 70,000 apps for Android phones. These numbers are changing daily, as more and more apps are added to each group. But according to industry experts, at the rate that apps are now being produced, it is likely that by the middle of 2012, there will be more Android apps than iPhone or iOS apps (iOS is the operating platform for Apple products such as the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad).

One reason why Android apps will soon outnumber iOS apps is that, simply put, there is greater demand for Android apps. In the smart phone market, Android has the indisputable lead. More phone manufacturers have adopted the Android operating system, while the only smart phone that uses the iOS platform is still the iPhone only. HTC, Samsung and Motorola all use Android in their smart phones, and seven of their models has made it to the top ten list of the most popular smart phones in the U.S. today. With more phones and more people on the Android bandwagon, apps developers have their hands full creating more Android apps to satisfy the huge market demand.

Not surprisingly, some iPhone apps have been converted into Android versions and installed in fully functional mode in Android phones. As a result, a number of the most popular iPhone apps now have their Android counterparts. Below are five of the trendiest and most useful apps that can now be found in both iOS and Android devices:

1. Dropbox - This is a very helpful "cloud" service that allows users to store files and then sync them automatically across various gadgets or computers. With a Dropbox account-which comes free, by the way-a person can have easy access to files he saved on his Windows PC, iPad, iPhone or Mac computer. This is a perfect storage solution as well as an answer to file-syncing problems of people who use multiple computing devices.

2. Evernote - This is a note-taking app that also employs "cloud-syncing" to update copies of important notes that a person may make and keep on multiple devices. Note-taking is an important function of smart phones (and indispensable at work), and with Evernote, a person always has access to all his notes no matter what device he has on hand.

3. Documents To Go - There is a free version of this document viewing and editing app for both iPhone and Android phones. The free app makes text and spreadsheet documents, similar to Word and Excel files. But it is not capable of making slideshows such as those in PowerPoint files. For those who want PowerPoint-like functionality, an upgrade to the full version is needed. This upgrade will also remove certain restrictions found in the free version.

4. Amazon Kindle - This mobile app lets a person browse through the very well-stocked Kindle bookstore. The app also lets one purchase, download and then read books he has chosen. The download time is quite fast, often taking less than a minute.

5. Pandora - This app is used to stream songs or audio files. The user can make his own playlist by searching for song titles or artist names.

Want to know what's topping the charts? Find the top free app and all the best ipad game at AppCraver.com, a website dedicated to app reviews for the iPhone, iPod and iPad devices.

Top 5 eBook Apps for Android

1. Amazon Kindle Android App

The Kindle App for Android lets you read all of your Kindle eBooks on an Android device, even if you don't own a Kindle eReader. If you do have a Kindle, you can read your eBooks on both the Kindle and Android device. Your reading progress will be synced between the devices with Amazon's "Whispersinc" technology. Like the Kindle itself and other Kindle apps, you can access free content and download eBooks for $9.99.

Download: Search for "Kindle" in the Android Market.

Android OS Version Supported: Android OS 1.6 or higher.

eBooks Supported: Amazon Kindle eBooks in the AZW format that are only sold at Amazon.com.

2. Barnes & Noble Nook Android App

The Android Nook App from Barnes & Noble lets you read all of the Nook eBooks on your Android device without having to own a Nook eReader. Barnes & Noble's Nook system is unique in that it will let you lend content with their "LendMe" software. You can also sample any of the Nook books for free before you buy.

Download: Search for "NOOK" in the Android Market.

Android OS Version Supported: Android OS 1.6 or higher.

eBooks Supported: If you want to read using the Nook App, then you should get eBooks from Barnes & Noble's Nook store.

3. Sony Reader Android App

The Sony Reader Android app comes pre-loaded with three classic titles and three excerpts from bestselling eBooks. You can sync your reading position, bookmarks, and highlights to Reader Daily Edition (PRS-950SC with firmware 2.0). Like the other apps, you can also read Sony Reader eBooks even if you don't have a Sony Reader.

Download: Search for "Sony Reader" in the Android Market.

Android OS Version Supported: Android OS 2.2 or higher.

eBooks Supported: If you want to read Sony Reader eBooks on your Android device, get them from Sony's "Reader Store".

4. Kobo eReader Android App

With the Kobo Android app, you can buy eBooks from inside the app and download them directly to your phone. Take your entire library with you on the go. You can find all of your favorite titles and authors in Kobo's large eBook selection.

Download: Search for "Kobo" in the Android Market.

Android OS Version Supported: Android OS 1.6 or higher.

eBooks Supported: If you want to use the Kobo Android app, you should download eBooks from the KoboBooks website.

5. Aldiko Android App

The Aldiko Android App gives eBook lovers an alternative to apps from the bigger book companies listed above. With Aldiko, you are not locked into one eBook store. Instead, you can buy eBooks from any eBook retailer that sells Adobe PDF or EPUB eBooks. You can download eBooks directly to your device without needing to use your computer. Import your own content and create your own eBook catalogs.

Download: Search "Aldiko: in the Android Market.

Android OS Version Supported: Android OS 2.1 or higher.

eBooks Supported: The Aldiko Book Reader supports Adobe-DRM ePub and PDF as well as non-encrypted ePub and PDF formats. You can get eBooks anywhere ePub and PDF eBooks are sold or available for free. You can also get eBooks from your public library (where supported).

All of these apps are solid solutions for eBook reading. Choose the one that will work best for you based on the eBook reader or mobile device that you own, and the eBooks that you've already purchased and downloaded.

How To Put Music On Iphone

How to put music to iPhone is something that a lot of people are going to want to know as the weeks go by. The Apple iPhone is going to be a very popular piece of hardware, and if you'd like to know how to get your favourite songs on it, you'd better read on.

The iPod took the world by storm, and now we have the possibility of a machine which can integrate your on the move entertainment with your cell phone, and even provide access to the internet.

If you are new to the world of hand held entertainment systems, you will probably want to know how to get music from two different sources. You will want to know how to take the music from your own collection and put that onto your new iPhone, and you will also want to know how to access the huge libraries of music available on the internet. You will need a computer to do either of these, but it can be anything fairly recent. From the internet, you can get a software program which will make a copy of your CD music to your hard drive, and then you will need a connecting lead to effect the transfer to your iPhone.

The first step will be to get your existing music transferred. This will not take too long, as the software programs called "rippers" are capable of transferring music at much higher speeds than normal playback. If your hard drive is large enough, you can rip the music from all of your CDs in one go, before transferring it.

The biggest challenge of how to put music to iPhone is with finding reliable sources of music to download from the internet. Many new people get caught in a very dangerous trap, by using P2P sites. These are against the law, and the quality of the downloads is really poor. Often files are not what they are supposed to be, and they can easily contain malware which can be dangerous to your computer. Join a reputable site, where you can pay once for lifetime access, and you will have a completely different experience.

By joining a good site like this, and ripping the tracks from your existing CDs, you will soon find that you have plenty of music to transfer to your iPhone. Connect your iPhone to the computer, use iTunes to make the transfer, and you will learn the last part needed in how to put music to iPhone.

This article should have made it a little easier to get your music onto your Iphone. Check out the links below to see some of the best Iphone download sites.

How to Hide Folders in iPhone

iPhone is a touch screen mobile phone that has been very well accepted amongst mobile phone users in a record breaking time. Its stylish and sophisticated features have decanted so much aliveness into this next generation of mobile phones. No doubt, iPhone is a truly influential mobile phone with loads of things to offer you. Either it is about communication features or about its pre-loaded entertainment functions; in both the cases iPhone for sure is a shot winner. iPhone mobile application development companies, especially those who are developing application to hide private stuff in your iPhone and to secure your files and other confidential data in your iPhone, are also doing magnificent job by developing the smartest and the most intelligent applications for the iPhone and for that they need to be given full credit.

The purpose of developing iPhone security application is to enhance the performance level as well as to secure the iPhone data so that it would not get misused even if you lost your iPhone. In the beginning when the iPhone just hit the floor, there were no applications available, but as the iPhone started out to gain recognition and fame, the iPhone developers came to the scene and they did somewhat outstanding by presenting their hi-tech wizardry approach in the development of applications for the iPhone.

Why do I Need to Hide Folders in iPhone?

Apple does not offer any default method to secure the data that you keep in iPhone, therefore it is important that you find a custom way to password protect and hide files, folders and other private stuff. This is because without a good iPhone security app, all your private videos, sensitive pictures and other important documents that you keep in your iPhone are very susceptible to get lost or stolen. Imagine what happens if a thief will get hold on your financial statements or your private pictures; or what happens if your boss finds out sensitive videos on your iPhone. All these are everyday scenarios and can be happen to you if you left your iPhone data unprotected.

folder lock for iphone is one of its kind iPhone applications because it not only offers security for the files and folders that you keep in your smart phone, but is also being endowed with many other attention grabbing features.

It is very easy to use and user gracious application that has a very detailed built-in instruction guide that will; guide you on how to get started with this application. To hide folders in iPhone with this app, all you need to do is transfer that folder from your PC or MAC to your iPhone; and you are done!

The application is smart enough to sort the transferred data in its relevant category so that you can easily access it.

Mark Neil is associated with New Software Inc that provides file lock software.

Siri for iPhone 4

One of the great new features on the iPhone 4S is the launch of Siri, the voice activation function which allows users to send text messages, call people and schedule meetings using their voice. iPhone 4S users can literally talk to their device and make it perform various tasks which previously needed activation through the phone's touch screen.

While iPhone 4S users are enjoying this wonderful new technology, iPhone 4 users are wondering if they can get their phones also to work using Siri. There has been a lot of discussion online whether Siri for iPhone 4 can ever be implemented.

Some hackers have claimed that they were able to port Siri to an iPhone 4. They had installed Siri and some of its Springboard files to an iPhone 4 and got the Siri port started up. However, they found that performance was not up to the mark. Siri apparently requires a special GPU driver which sadly is not present on the iPhone 4.

Many have also complained that Apple seems to want iPhone 4 users to not be able to use Siri, so that they would ultimately be forced to upgrade to an iPhone 4S. They base their claim on the fact that Apple does not authenticate voice commands sent to its servers from iPhone 4 devices using Siri.

Most technologists are of the opinion that Siri is just an App and not really a new technology. It is basically a software that can run on a variety of different devices as long as the devices can support it. They believe that it should not be extremely difficult for Siri to work on the iPhone 4 instead of requiring a totally upgraded phone like the 4S. Most of them are disgusted with the idea that Apple seems to have made Siri to work only on the 4S just to make more sales.

It is estimated that Apple sold a million iPhone 4S devices on the very first day of its launch. Another 4 million phones were reportedly sold over that first weekend. A large percentage of buyers would have bought the 4S just for the voice activation functions available through Siri. A lot of critiques feel that if those same functions were made available on the iPhone 4, Apple might not have seen such phenomenal sales of the 4S.

Only time will tell if Siri for iPhone 4 will become a reality in the future. Since Siri is only an App, it should be possible to port it to a similar platform with slightly lesser capabilities. Until then, Siri for iPhone 4 will probably be just a dream for many iPhone 4 users.

Best Verizon iPhone 4 Case - Otterbox Impact

Once you have purchased an iPhone 4, you want to do everything you can to protect it from scratches, dirt, dents and any other damage. One of the best cases you can get for superior damage control is the Otterbox Impact Silicone Case.

This is a tough case, offering maximum protection for your device. It not only protects from scratches and dings, but it can offset the effects of bumps and shocks, as well.

The outside of the case is constructed from a durable silicone material, while the inside offers inner coring to further protect your iPhone from more series damage like bumps and shocks. As an added measure of protection, self-adhesive clear screen protectors are included with the package, offering a total protection system for your iPhone 4.

Although the Impact Case is not as ultra slim as some other cases available today, it still maintains the sleek look of your iPhone and is surprisingly lightweight.

The case is available in six vivid colors to include blue, red, yellow, white, purple and pink. This allows for a fun, great looking case while offering top level protection at the same time.

Installation of your iPhone 4 into the case is quick and easy by simply sliding it right inside. The case snaps back into place and you are ready to go. The silicone surface of the case provides a nice grip to the phone, so you can hold it without it sliding out of your hand and it will stay put when you set it down.

As for using your iPhone 4 features, all buttons and controls work easily and effectively while in the case. The home button is completely covered by the case, but works the same as always. Volume controls are set up this way, too. By keeping the buttons and controls completely covered, they are spared from the effects of dust and dirt. Precise cutouts enable you to use the camera, microphone and jacks. There is a larger cutout located at the bottom of the case for speakers and a dock connector.

The bottom line is that you get all of the features of the Impact Silicone Case at a very affordable price, which makes the decision even easier to choose this case for your iPhone 4. If you want a very high level of quality protection for your phone, the Impact Silicone Case may be right for you.

iPhone 4S: Apple Incredible

The Apple iPhone 4S was launched Tuesday, October 4, 2011 and has the dual-core A5 chip which delivers much more power. The iPhone 4S is going to be for sale in black and white. The upgraded camera alone might be worth an iPhone 4S upgrade for a few, but Siri will be the killer feature that has the potential to change the way we interact with our devices.

While iPhone 4S is the 5th generation iPhone, it's only the 3rd major casing design in the product's history. Apple iPhone 4s will be the latest phone from Apple. Apple is rolling out the iPhone 4S gradually, although not as gradually as it did earlier models. The A5 chip will make graphics seven times speedier and deliver twice the processing power. Apple definitely borrowed heavily from Android notifications, and then expanded on what they could do. Apple today is among the world's most profitable companies, as the stock price continues to prove.

The upgraded camera alone might be worth an iPhone 4S upgrade for some, but Siri will be the killer feature which has the possibility to change the way we interact with our devices. Schiller emphasized the iPhone 4S's virtual shutter speed. The iPhone 4S can take its first picture in 1 second. The new and improved camera promises crisper, brighter pictures, thanks to the 8-megapixel sensor. Features like better white balance, faster photo capture, and less shaky video recording courtesy of the "video stabilization" feature.

Siri? That appears to be the most incredible thing I'll use. Siri is a personal assistant for the iPhone 4S that goes past responding to simple commands. Siri is unique in the fact that you are able to ask it familiar, natural language questions like "show me movie theaters in the area" and it will return a real, readable answer and a list sorted by proximity. Siri can do a huge number of things, from sending texts and emails to finding restaurants and obtaining directions from one place to another - things that could largely be done before by voice on other devices and platforms, but now you can do it from the palm of your hand.

iPhone 4S

iPhone 4S is going to be Apple's remedy to Android's increasing domination of the mid-end and low-end cost ranges. Although the iPhone 4S sports a quicker processor and an upgraded camera, and the feature that everyone will be discussing is Siri. The iPhone 4S will be available in both black and white.

iPhone Application Developer - Market Positioning

iPhone application developers are supposed to make hay till the sun shines on the iPhone.

The sale of iPhone is being boosted by built in features as well as add on applications available on the Apple Store. The demand of iPhone applications is going on increasing. On the other hand there are many mobile app developers that are now offering a wide array of app development services. Market positioning has now become necessary for most of the applications developers.

Some street smart ways for market positioning are as follows.

Offering free Applications:
The app developers usually offer free app just to create a space in the market for themselves. This strategy is usually adopted by the new comers. Even the experienced players resort to this strategy at times. The free applications may be offered free to the consumers but not to the businesses. This offer may be valid for a specific time limit only but may be charged for extended use. The app developer may resort to this strategy to create a base of subscribers.

Functionality:
Market positioning of the app is also possible on the lines of the functionality of existing application. The applications that are already on sale and operational are needed to be studied for their functionality. If they are not fulfilling the needs of the app buyers they can be improved upon and then offered as new application.

Professionalism:
The existing app may not have a professional look. This could be the major cause for limited marketing prospects of the application. The app developer may refine the look of the application, making it look more professional and attractive.

Potential of Niche Market:
iPhone app. can be developed either for mass public or niche market. The app. developers usually make a mistake by relating the niche market to limited potential and mass public market to unlimited potential. This is not true in all the scenarios. It is very much possible that the application for niche market may have a high potential. The applications for the medical services are the best examples of niche market applications with high potential. When the application developer is offering his/her services to a particular industry or niche market, after some years of experience it is very much possible that he/she may become a monopoly leader or at least a leading application developer for that niche market segment. This can help the application developer to create a strong footing base for the application developer to offer a range of services in the future.

When any iPhone application developer goes for market positioning strategy, it is a clear signal to those who want to avail the services that he/she is the best professional iPhone application developer for that niche market.

Rumors About the Apple iPhone 5 Mobile Phone

As the past releases have shown, any release of Apple is met by a lot of enthusiasm by the company's fans, particularly when it comes to the iPhone. What with rumors floating around about the Apple iPhone 5. As the date of the expected release of the smartphone draws nearer, anticipation about the model has now risen to a fever-pitch, with people speculating left and right about the possible features of the unit. This article takes a look at some of the things people are expecting to see in the Apple iPhone 5 mobile phone.

Expected features of the Apple iPhone 5 mobile phone

One of the features people are excited to see in the Apple iPhone 5 is a more powerful processor. According to sources, the iPhone 5 is expected to have a 1 GHz dual-core processor, the same processor that is installed in the iPad 2. This means that the iPhone 5 will be having a more powerful processor compared to the iPhone 4, which is not a lightweight when it comes to hardware.

Another rumored feature that people are excited to see is the iCloud, which allows the unit to seamlessly work with iTunes to make file transfers much easier. iCloud is also expected to make it easier for the iPhone 5 to connect with other digital devices for easy file sharing.

The camera is also expected to get a boost in the iPhone 5. Aside from having a higher resolution (with rumors pegging it at 8 megapixels, which is a huge improvement from the 5 megapixels of the iPhone 4), the smartphone is also expected to come with a built-in flash feature in order to make it compete with the latest Android phones. Rumors are also circulating about the iPhone 5 having a 3D camera, however, not a lot of experts believe that this feature will be released with this phone. A more likely feature that the iPhone 5 will have will be panoramic imaging support, as well as the ability to record high definition videos at 1080p.

Other rumors surrounding the iPhone 5 include talks about a powerful battery (which is highly likely, given the fact that the Apple iPhone 4 was given a boost from the iPhone 3G, as it had 40% more talk time), a bigger RAM, 4G network compatibility, a larger screen, and improved graphics. People are also expecting the phone to come both in black and white, as well as the iPhone 5 having a radically new design, with some speculating that the phone will have a teardrop design that is lighter and slimmer than its predecessors.

Because of the popularity of Apple products in general, it comes as no surprise that there are a lot of rumors circulating about the iPhone 5. However, Apple is yet to confirm or deny any of these rumors, so until the company releases more information about the unit (or until the iPhone 5 actually gets released), there are no definite features that people can expect from this model, a fact that does nothing to dull the anticipation of people about this smartphone.

Choosing an iPhone Repair Shop

Being the proud owner of an iPhone is only one side of a glamorous coin. When your iPhone needs a repair, it suddenly would seem too costly or you might think it is a burden. You must remember that the iPhone is a powerful appliance that can cater a wide range of facilities to its users, which makes it a valuable possession. Therefore, hitch up for a multitude of options that you have got to repair your precious iPhone.

Repairing an iPhone is tricky. There are two primary options. The first that you can try your hand at repairing it yourself at home using the online tutorial guide and the iPhone repair kits. The second is to locate a fine licensed iPhone repair service outlet that can repair your iPhone. The second option is a better one. Owing to the tiny, intricate circuits of the iPhone, it is better to give it to a professionally trained person, or you might end up damaging it a lot more than it was in the first place. Even those who generally repair other model phones cannot handle repairing the recent models such as the Next Generation iPhone 4. Hence, an iPhone needs special attention. Even though opting a good service store for an iPhone repair is costly, it is worth the money. You can even call the iPhone technician home to repair your iPhone in case you do not want to leave your iPhone at the repair shop.

The problems in your iPhone can be of any sort. The screen might be cracked or the LCD might have started to bleed strange colors or the battery might have suddenly died out. For all these problems do not attempt self-help, instead get professional help. If you go to an Apple store they may wheedle you into buying a new spare or a new iPhone rather than trying to repair the defective part. So, go to an iPhone repair shop. These places do not make you spend more money than is required.

You can begin shortlisting places for your iPhone repair. Ask around a bit at your work place, or enquire your friends, relatives etc. Note their references to various stores and choose what you think is the best. Though all this needs a lot of patience, it is made easy with a lot of options. Call the stores that you have shortlisted or consult the websites and carry out a small research. If it is too difficult for you to get to the service shop, you can call the technician home.

An iPhone repair shop is present in most of the major cities. You might have to live without your iPhone for at least 24 hours. Repairing an iPhone is almost an art. So, choose a repair shop that repairs iPhones too. What should have been the end of an old iPhone can be avoided with a good repair option. If it is a water damage or USB port problem or screen damage or volume control repair, you need to get to the right place for effective service. Call an iPhone service shop that is near you and get your iPhone working again.

iPhone 6

3D Hologram Projection Cube HoloAd at CES 2011 in HD

More About Android Application Development

With the recent introduction of android application development, companies offering software consulting services have shifted gears to support this latest technology that is the first of its kind as a open source mobile platform. Android is defined as a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. The Android SDK provides the tools and application programming interfaces that are necessary to begin developing applications on the Android platform using the Java programming language. In android application development developers are free to take advantage of the device hardware, access location information, and run background services. This is the biggest advantage of using open source software.

The android application development market is the fastest growing market in mobile technology with majority of its developers being young people under the age of 34. This growth is attributed to the fact that android phones are available in any cell phone network and which makes them accessible to many subscribers. Android applications can be distributed for a fee, free of charge, or monetized with advertising. They are usually based on GPS and Wifi, SMS and Email, usage of Google maps, browser and contacts, and multimedia.

Software consulting firms are now providing support for the android platform so as to stay up to date with the latest technologies. These consulting firms have observed that the increase in android application development is considered to be directly proportional to the increase in user population since the more the number of users the more the demand for android applications. Software firms have thus invested in acquiring skilled developers who are proficient in mobile applications.

The android market has the highest percentage of applications from third-party developers. However these apps have to ask for permission before accessing certain features such as reading and writing to users' memory cards and accessing users' address books.

Mobile application developers use the android software development kit and the android native development kit for android application development. Most of the android developers have good experience in mobile applications and this has greatly contributed to their success. Software consulting firms are committed to testing and learning new technologies and teaming up with interested clients to develop their applications. These firms will as a norm carry out a feasibility study before any project is initiated, and followed by project management which is carried out in phases. When implementation is completed and the client is satisfied the project is then terminated. Consultations on hardware and software can also be done separately.

webOS vs Android: Head to Head

Many early adopters of smartphone technology were blown away by the Palm Pre; it was a showcase of smartphone technology, and many of those same early adopters lauded its crisp feel and elegant presentation.

Fast forward to the present: Android and iPhone now dominate the smartphone arena, and webOS has been lagging behind in that arena somewhat severely. HP's new TouchPad, however, is a tablet that uses a new, revamped version of webOS that promises to be a true contender to the Android operating system. Is webOS a viable contender to Android in the tablet arena?

For the most part - yes! The webOS interface is very slick and smooth, and it has the same responsiveness that the Palm Pre did those years ago. Many of the problems that the earlier webOS versions had, like unstable multitasking, have been rectified for this latest incarnation of the operating system.

The operating system also feels very optimized for the tablet form factor, a problem that continues to plague Android tablets running 2.1 or 2.2 (though, to be fair, Google has stated that those Android versions are not intended for tablet use). It does, however, fare very well against Honeycomb, Google's own Android version designed for tablets; the two operating systems are more or less neck and neck in terms of speed, feel of use, and overall usability.

Where webOS is going to have a problem, however, is the number of apps available for the platform. Android's app catalog blows away webOS' app catalog; at last count, Android's app numbers extended into the hundreds of thousands, while webOS' numbers are more in the tens of thousands. It is a deficit caused by the lack of adoption surrounding webOS, true, but it is a deficit that will have to be faced by anyone looking to buy a webOS-based tablet in the future. Quite simply, the sheer amount of Android apps available are a huge value-add for the operating system.

This isn't an insurmountable advantage. Android had the same problem when it squared off against iOS. webOS is a very usable system, and with some effort and savvy marketing HP and other webOS backers could perhaps sway some developers to their side. It is, however, a problem that the webOS community needs to tackle smartly; at the moment webOS isn't as chock-full of apps, and users know it.

Other than that, webOS is a pretty worthy contender to Android. HP's TouchPad seems to be a pretty strong contender and is a great showcase of the webOS operating system itself. If webOS can boost app count and gain some market share, they could be a viable third tablet OS joining the fray; at the moment, however, Android maintains a slight advantage. If we had to declare a winner, we would have to crown Android - for now, at least!