This is the reason I like iPhone..

Pure and simple baniya reason.. almost all Android phones looses their value in couple of months whereas iPhone still keeps its value not only as new phone but most importantly it's resale value.. Even now, unlocked used iPhone 4 which would be minimum two years old will sell in secondary market easily for $250.. enough to cover subsidized cost of new iPhone 5 from AT&T. If you have iPhone 4S you may easily get $360-$370.. All the models I am talking are base 16GB base models.. New iPhone 5 with contract costs $199+tax. Without contract off course will cost you $599+tax.

More importantly, they like hot cake.. at least in our company mailer alias they do.. Where as, Android phones.. I tried only once and had hardly any response..

Whatever people may say.. I am still big fan of iPhone franchise.. best part of these phones is that they deliver what they promise without any flaw.. and user experience is ultimate.. there is no doubt about that.. I am still very much upbeat on Apple for just this reason.. I still feel that most of the surge in recent Android phone sales in US is mainly because of people's desire to change.. Most of the folks I have seen getting new Android phone come back to iPhone after their use. Android phones may have tons of additional features as compared to iPhone.. but.. but...............

AT&T

Price of ‘Facebook phone’ cut to 99 cents

AT&T has cut the price of the HTC First phone, which is preloaded with Facebook applications, to 99 cents from $99.99 less than a month after the phone’s launch. AT&T, the No. 2 U.S. mobile service provider, said the price cut took effect Wednesday. The company is the exclusive U.S. wireless carrier for the phone, made by Taiwan’s HTC and launched April 12.

An AT&T spokeswoman said price-cutting promotions are not unusual. But operators typically wait longer than a few weeks after a launch before discounting phones.

Richard Windsor, an independent analyst, said in his Radio Free Mobile blog that the price cut was a worrying sign for social network Facebook and its future in mobile.

“The final verdict on Facebook Home was brutally handed down yesterday with AT&T slashing the price of the HTC First from $99 to $0.99,” Windsor said.

The War of Next Big thing Between Apple and Samsung

As per this article on WSJ.. nothing extra ordinary.. WSJ Author/reviewer in-fact urges customers to check out HTC-one instead defaulting to S4!!! That is biggest slap in a way for S4.. especially from my perspective.. couple of months back I had written off HTC as a company all-together.. Now.. it seems that HTC is emerging back.. So far I have heard great reviews about HTC One.. yet to read any single bad or below average review about HTC One..

In fact HTC was one of the first good, cheap smartphone manufacturer.. even before the launch of iPhone.. iPhone really spoiled their market.. But it seems that they are going back to their roots and building great phones and capturing some market back from both Samsung and Apple. I think even their alliance with FB is also helping them.. I am definitely going to test it.. one of my very good friend has bought HTC One recently and I would definitely borrow it for few hours... I am sure many of my friends will also get S4 as well :-)

Good news is that, this smartphone market pie is so big that there is room for many players at the same time and they can satisfy different type of customers with varied needs.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323735604578440824138699526.html

However, USA Today's review seems to be much more favorable.. Author/reviewer liked in particular Dual Action camera mode.. Capturing your own reaction for the event happening and also some drama mode where you can focus and follow one particular person..

Seems that they have fixed Display issue.Apparently, S3 had little bit dimmer screen.. This time S4's display has all the great reviews..

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/baig/2013/04/24/samsung-galaxy-s4-review/2104959/

Both the authors complain that S4 has lot of features and it seems overly complex and confusing. I think in a race to compete with iPhone, Samsung is injecting all kinds of features into their flagship phone.. Which may be true and applicable to many customers.. especially in Asia.. which is still solid stronghold of Samsung. They have really made it big screen and I would love to use it more as iPad mini kind of.. If I go with S4 or its equivalent, my primary reason would be screen size which I can use it as my iPad mini replacement.. So far I am okay..

However, in race to prove themselves better than iPhone.. they miss the whole point of iPhone's popularity.. it is simple and whatever feature they put in there.. it works and it works beautifully.. and most of the customers (including your truly!!) love it.. I am sure there must be many other customers who like all kinds of features offered by Samsung and HTC.

So far, I am still iPhone fan and have no plans to go back to Samsung or Android for that matter. However, I am really happy to see great phones from iPhone's competitors.. as it definitely raises bar for iPhone 5S and I hope to see super great iPhone 5S in near future..

Is it really a Triumphant Return or Forced Return?

Before I begin on my main topic.. I am really happy that Google map is back. I hope Apple will update iOS so that we can use Google map as default map on iPhone. I was/am totally fine with Apple maps in US. However, during my India trip, I did felt pain. As most of you know, I still enjoy and love driving in India (it is just much more thrilling to drive in India..).. So during my last trip I borrowed my Sister-in-law's car and was on my own. As I was in Delhi / Noida after a while, I did needed navigation system. Asking "paan wala" was beneath my reputation.. I had my International roaming data plan and was confident with iPhone.. However, Apple maps royally screwed me over there.. It simply didn't worked. I could only get some overview out of it but no navigation or real good help.. Chrome/Google maps on safari were mostly non functional.. So bottom line.. I am really happy to have it back..

Having said that.. I still feel that it was Apple map which forced Google to update their mapping feature.. otherwise there was no way they were going to add turn-by-turn navigation. It was literally competing with their Android's base feature. Whatever we say about Apple maps.. it did forced them to update and helped us all by making Google Maps on iOS much better then what it used to be. Moreover, in US, I really like Apple maps.. it is totally fine with me while driving... I tested it and liked much better..

It will be good lift for Google. still I feel that we will see its usage on iPhone much less than before. While you are browsing or searching in safari and you get some address.. if you click on that address it is going to open native Apple maps only.. unless you copy that address or go back to Google maps application and search it again there.. you are not going to get Google maps.. same is true with address book.. if you click on saved address it will still open Apple maps.. Unless.. Apple makes some setting updates and integrates with Google maps as it has integrated with Facebook and Twitter.. Let us see..

Bottom line.. if Google had played nicely.. we would still have them as native mapping service in iPhone. At least I think so..

TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Google Maps app back on iPhone

Service provides lift for Apple, big gain for search giant

By Brandon Bailey

bbailey@mercurynews.com 

Eager iPhone owners rushed to download Google’s new Maps app, driving it to the top of the most-popular list in the iTunes store Thursday and marking a triumphant return for one of Apple’s biggest rivals. The new app, which became available in the iTunes store Wednesday night, may be a short-term boon for Apple if its release helps soothe the many complaints that Apple has heard from iPhone users over the last six months — ever since Apple replaced an earlier Google Maps application with Apple’s own flawed mapping service on the most recent version of its signature smartphone.

But analysts said the upgraded Maps app is also a powerful tool for Google, as the Mountain View Internet giant seeks to cultivate a profitable relationship with millions of smartphone owners who have chosen Apple’s iPhone over competing devices that run on Google’s Android operating software. “Thank you, Google!” read the first of more than 12,000 mostly favorable reviews that iPhone users posted after downloading the new app Thursday. 

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

The new Google Maps app, which became available as a download Wednesday, is shown on an iPad.

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Even so, Cupertino-based Apple will undoubtedly keep working to improve its own mapping technology as it battles Google for supremacy in the mobile computing market. More than half of all smartphones used in the United States are Android devices, while slightly more than a third are iPhones, according to the research firm comScore. 

Analysts say location based services are increasingly important for both tech giants, as more people access the Internet on mobile devices. But Apple’s homegrown maps service was widely criticized for offering buggy responses and inaccurate information, in contrast with the mapping technology that Google has developed and refined over more than a decade. 

“If anything, this puts more pressure on Apple to sort out their own maps,” said Carolina Milanesi, a consumer technology analyst with Gartner. “Maps are a key part of the future of mobility. They can’t just throw in the towel now.” 

Google doesn’t charge consumers to use its Maps app. But Milanesi said data from the app provides Google with valuable insights into its users’ interests and travels. It also could help Google introduce them to other services and ultimately show them paid advertising. 

Unlike Google’s old Maps app for iPhones, the new version invites users to log in with their Google Gmail account, which would help Google exchange more information with them. While the login is optional, Milanesi said she expects many people will use it. 

Google also announced it will release a software development kit that independent app builders can use to incorporate Google’s mapping technology into other mobile services. 

Google’s old mapping service was extremely popular with independent developers who build apps for the iPhone and iPad, said Nolan Wright, co-founder of Appcelerator, a Mountain View firm that makes software used by app builders. The IDC research firm reported over the summer that 80 percent of all mobile software applications have features that are keyed to the user’s location. 

Wright cautioned that “it remains to be seen” whether developers will embrace the new Google app for Apple’s IS platform. Apple’s own maps are still the default service on iPhones and iPads, which means users must take the extra step of downloading Google Maps if they want to use it. Wright said some developers may be cautious about using Google’s maps until they see how many people use it. 

Apple also has an advantage over Google because Apple’s maps are embedded into Apple’s operating system, which means other Apple services such as Siri will use Apple maps by default, said Charles Golvin, a mobile-technology expert at Forrester. 

Golvin said that means Google’s new app still won’t provide “as fluid an experience” when compared with the Apple service, or even the old Google app, which was the default service on iPhones until it was replaced. On the other hand, Google’s new app includes popular features, such as turn-by-turn directions, that Google has long offered on Android phones but were not part of Google’s old app for iPhones. 

Apple has apologized for the flaws in its maps and replaced an executive who oversaw the project. But Golvin said “the maps problem continues to be a black eye for Apple. It remains to be seen whether Apple’s customers will return to using Apple’s maps once they address all the problems there.” 

Investors seemed to agree with Golvin’s assessment that the new iPhone app is “a win for Google.” Google’s stock rose $5.14, or 0.7 percent, to close at $702.70 Thursday. Apple’s stock fell $9.31, or 1.7 percent, to close at $529.69. 

Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022; follow him at Twitter.com/ BrandonBailey. 

iPad Mini.. mixed reviews..

There are so many reviews of iPad mini. Mostly it seems great product, other than some dissatisfaction about display. I was happy with even original iPad and iPad so no personal complains. However, once you make your customers addicted to something better, it is difficult to reposition something older. There is/was bound to be that reaction.. Off-course.. Apple's product managers have to have jobs.. without roadmap of retina display in next release they will be out of job..

It will be interesting to see if they can continue to keep this price point. Especially, now Google Nexus 10 is almost in same price range.. Knowing Google, it has to be great product and it has potential to take away market share from both iPad and mini as well. $399 is really great price point for 10 inch tablet and within next one or two iterations it can easily be iPad killer.. We need it do well.. without that Apple is not going to reduce mini's price.. Though I have very strong feeling that Apple will do another refresh of iPad lineup sometime early next year. There is so much action in tablet area that they will have to abandon their yearly refresh cycle and move half yearly cycle..

As we can see with iPhone5 that Apple's quantum leap era is over. They have very few new and really innovative and disruptive ideas left. Apple is left with minor enhancements in processing power, speed and size/form-factor. Honestly, only difference between, iPhone 4S and 5 is screen size. Which, to be honest, I liked from 4S better. That doesn't mean that I am going back to 4S. I think it is just nostalgia.. I will get over soon. There were big differences between iPhone 4 and 4S.. but in my view nothing major between 4S and 5.

I think, iPad mini is going to be super hit any how.. or it is already.. but Apple really needs to work with major disruptive improvement in their current line ups. That includes everything.. Form factor is one aspect.. but they need another iPhone or iPad type of product. It could be software or hardware.. doesn't matter.. At the same time continue to focus on quality of their products and details of each aspect. They simply can't let that aspect go away.. I have been hearing and noticing a lot about quality degradation.. In short term it will not impact them, but if they continue this trend, they will soon become another microsoft..

Here is the best link from WSJ which summarizes most of the decent iPad mini review.. enjoy!!


This link summarizes iPad Mini's review:
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/10/31/ipad-mini-review-roundup/

iPad Mini Review Roundup

By Matthew Lynley

AFP/Getty Images

Does the iPad Mini outmatch the other smaller tablets?

The decision is in on the iPad Mini.

So far, reviewers across the Web have praised the size of the device, saying it is more comfortable to use and has an excellent build quality.

However, it comes at a price — a low-resolution screen that is more on par with the iPhone 3GS than the newer iPads, which pack a “retina” display.

“Ew, the screen is terrible,” Apple blogger John Gruber wrote, citing his wife — and saying his initial reaction matched hers.

Here’s the general consensus of reviewers around the Web:

Display

This is the chief complaint, but it’s to be expected given the downgrade from the current larger iPads. The iPad Mini has a 1,024 by 768-pixel display, compared to 2048-by-1536 pixel resolution in the larger iPads. “It feels like an iPhone 3GS display cut to iPad size, including the fact that the pixels seem deeper from the surface of the glass,” Gruber writes.

“Since Apple AAPL -1.44% is the company that’s gotten our eyes used to the hey-look-no-pixels trick of the Retina display, it’s hard to take a step back and not notice,”The Verge’s Josh Topolsky writes. “I don’t think the lower resolution is a deal-breaker in this product, but it is a compromise you have to be aware of. It simply doesn’t look as clear as other products on the market.”

“If you’re an obsessive over crisp text, you’ll notice the fuzziness,” CNET’s Scott Stein writes. “Yes, the non-Retina Display means text that’s less sharp. It feels like a disconnect on a device so clearly targeted at reading. Yet, hold the iPad Mini back a foot and increase the font size, and you probably won’t notice.”

Size

In contrast, the size — a few inches shorter than the traditional iPad — is cited as a massive strong point, making it feel more comfortable than the traditional iPad. “The Mini with the Smart Cover1 on is almost exactly as thick (or as thin, if you prefer) as an iPad 3 or 4 without a cover,” Gruber writes. “Combine that with the weight and it’s just plain fun to hold.”

In terms of app usage, ” 99 out of 100 times while using it, this wasn’t an issue, but it did take some getting used to in places,” Topolsky writes.

Still, the iPad Mini might be a bit too big to hold one-handed, writes Engadget’s Tim Stevens. “This editor, who wears XL gloves, had no problem palming the littler iPad, but when we handed it to other, dainty-fingered people they sometimes struggled to hold it securely. The scrawny bezels on either side actually exacerbate this issue to some degree, as those who must loop a thumb around the front of the device when holding it are forced to put that thumb right on the display.”

Build

“But the iPad Mini is a far classier, more attractive, thinner machine. It has two cameras instead of one,” writes The New York Times’ David Pogue. “Its fit and finish are far more refined. And above all, it offers that colossal app catalog, which Android tablet owners can only dream about.”

Still, the build of the device might be a little unwieldy with the Smart Cover built in, says Topolsky. “I actually had a little trouble holding onto the device when I wasn’t using the Smart Cover due to the back being as smooth as it is, and the frame being so thin.”

“Regardless of your feelings of the Mini’s price, or its A5 processor and non-Retina 7.9-inch display, here’s what you’ll notice when you pick it up: it’s really shockingly nice to hold,” Stein writes.

For reading

Given that it’s around the size of a Kindle, there will be some similarities drawn — especially when it comes to reading. “For reading, all of these apps work great on the iPad Mini. Font sizes on some websites can be a little small (tiny type that is legible on retina displays is just smudgy on non-retina ones), but most sites look just fine,” Gruber writes. “The Mini feels optimized for reading.”

Apps

While the price is a little steep, “The App Store is Apple’s great gold mine, and the iPad Mini’s price seems to be banking on you knowing that. And, in that sense, the iPad Mini may be worth its price,” Stein writes. This is pretty much what users should expect from Apple, since it’s a favorite among app developers.

Performance

The iPad Mini uses a chip that’s a couple generations old, and its specs are about on par with the iPad 2. Nevertheless, it still packs a punch, according to reviewers. “I’d say iPad 3-caliber performance in a $329 radically smaller device is pretty good,” Gruber writes. “I was not expecting iPad 3 performance in the Mini. But it’s there, and that makes the iPad Mini great for games.”

The trade-off is that it has a better battery life, though. “Apps do load more slowly but most are still up and running within a second or two and when it comes to general web surfing tasks the iPad mini easily kept up with our taps and swipes,” Stevens writes. “So, perhaps not the greatest performance in the Apple lineup, but there is one place where it bests the rest: battery life.”

The final verdict

Dan Gruber, Daring Fireball: For anyone else — those who own an older iPad 1 or 2, and those who have yet to buy their first iPad — the iPad Mini’s display will garner no complaints. I prefer the Mini over the full-size iPad in every single regard other than display resolution, and though I (and many of you) obsess over display resolution, it’s not an issue in the mass market.

Josh Topolsky, The Verge: The iPad mini hasn’t wrapped up the “cheapest tablet” market by any stretch of the imagination. But the “best small tablet” market? Consider it captured.

Scott Stein, CNET: If you want the full, polished Apple tablet experience in a smaller package, the iPad Mini is worth the premium price. Otherwise, good alternatives are available for less money… If the iPad Mini had a Retina Display, a newer A6 processor, and a slightly lower price, it would be the must-have Apple gadget of the year. Even without that, it’s still incredibly appealing. Its $329 price still makes it one of the least-expensive iOS gadgets Apple makes.

David Pogue, New York Times: Over all, the Mini gives you all the iPad goodness in a more manageable size, and it’s awesome. You could argue that the iPad Mini is what the iPad always wanted to be.

Walt Mossberg, WSJ: Every app that ran on my larger iPad ran perfectly on the Mini. I was able to use it one-handed and hold it for long periods of time without tiring. My only complaints were that it’s a tad too wide to fit in most of my pockets, and the screen resolution is a big step backwards from the Retina display on the current large iPad.

Tim Stevens, Engadget: This isn’t just an Apple tablet made to a budget. This isn’t just a shrunken-down iPad. This is, in many ways, Apple’s best tablet yet, an incredibly thin, remarkably light, obviously well-constructed device that offers phenomenal battery life.

Countdown.. 6 more days to go!!!

Six more days to go.. it is almost there.. long wait.. it better be worth waiting.. Let us see which rumors were true.. I am hoping for slightly bigger form factor. I think, iPhone is mature enough that they can have multiple form factors as well along with multiple hardware releases to offer more choices to customers in terms of price and capabilities.

All other phone makers are scrambling for the phone to be launched before iPhone5 launch. Nokia, I heard was big disappointment.. Galaxy Note2.. Don't know if it is out or not.. should be coming out soon. Apple is banking big on this iPhone launch and hope that they have stuffed enough features for those expectations.. also.. I hope this won't have iPhone4 type of antennae bugs or some other bugs..

Keeping my fingers crossed.. I might be ordering it on the very first day of online launch.. keeping my fingers crossed..

Cheers!!!

DEBUT DATE?

Apple hints at newest iPhone

Shadowy image on invitation ramps up anticipation

By Patrick May and Troy Wolverton

Staff writers

Ready or not, here comes the iPhone 5.

With its trademark flair for anticipation-laden showmanship, Apple on Tuesday sent out media invitations for a Sept. 12 event in San Francisco. It offered up few details, except time (10 a.m.) and place (Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, its traditional launchpad for new products).

But this time, in an unusual bit of hat-tipping, Apple included the shadow of the number 5 directly beneath the big 12 for the date. At the top of the invite were the words: “It’s almost here.” 

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APPLE

Apple’s media invite hints at a Sept. 12 unveiling for the anticipated iPhone 5.
===============================================================

“A new iPhone is in line with all of our expectations,” said ISI analyst Brian Marshall. “Frankly, the iPhone 4S is a bit long in the tooth from a technological standpoint. For example, most smartphones now have the larger 4-inch screens, so I’m sure we’ll see the new iPhone with that larger screen as well.” 

Marshall estimates Apple will sell 41 million iPhone 5s in its December quarter and possibly more if its supply chain can keep up with what is expected to be crushing demand worldwide for the Cupertino tech giant’s latest product. 

“They could sell 50 million or more that quarter if things go right,” he said. 

An Apple representative did not respond to a call seeking comment. 

The date and subject of the Sept. 12 media event have been widely rumored in recent weeks. In addition to having a larger screen than previous iPhone models, the new phone is expected to have a radio that will allow it to connect to newer, highspeed 4G LTE networks. 

Analyst Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray said in a note to investors that Apple could sell millions of its new phone right out of the gate. “While we do not yet know the confirmed ship date of the iPhone 5, previous reports have suggested a September 21 ship date,” Munster said. “If the 21st ship date is true, the company may be able to sell 8 million iPhone 5s before the end of the quarter, assuming no supply issues.” 

By comparison, Apple sold 1 million units of its first iPhone in the first 74 days after it its June 2007 release. 

Apple has unveiled a new iPhone once a year. The company debuted the iPhone 4S, its most recent model, last October. 

Shares of Apple rose on the news. Apple closed up nearly 1.5 percent in trading Tuesday, ending the day at $674.97 a share. 

Contact Patrick May at 408-920-5689 and follow him at Twitter.com/ patmaymerc. 

Enough of this Patent War Nonsense..

Regardless of my personal feelings toward any of these latest smartphone companies like Apple/Samsung etc.. I think this is high time that they sit together and resolve or dismiss these patent war non-sense. Instead of focusing on patent war they better focus back on innovation and new development and make some good progress in technology and its usability. Both of them are great companies and have enough potential to grow beyond their own dreams. Pie is too big. there is place for everyone in it.

Even though, personally I am of Apple camp on device loyalty and kind of agree with their Patent claims.. but I hate them for initiating this patent war with Samsung and other companies. This is ridiculous and if they don't stop it soon.. my hatred can overcome the love for their devices and force me to change to Android camp.. Even though, I know that I will miss my iPhone or hate clumsiness of Android.. but still I will switch to Android to make a point.. and who knows.. after using couple of months, I may start liking Android so much that I may simply become Android camp person forever ;-) Android is not that bad either and they have cleaned it up a lot already to make it work like a charm..

I honestly don't want to hear such news about patent war anymore.. DONE.. Done..

APPLE LOSES IN JAPAN

An about-face in phone wars

Patent claims rejected as Samsung shows that battle is far from over

By Hiroko Tabuchi

New York Times

TOKYO — A Japanese court Friday rejected patent claims made by Apple against Samsung, a victory for the South Korean company after its crushing defeat in the United States last week and a reminder of the global scope of the patent war between the two technology giants.

With a judge in South Korea having handed down a split decision in a patent case earlier, Apple and Samsung remain neck-andneck in legal disputes spanning almost a dozen countries.

For both companies, Japan makes up a far smaller proportion of sales than the all-important U.S. market. But the Tokyo ruling suggests that despite Apple’s victory in a San Jose federal courtroom — which included a $1 billion judgment against Samsung — jostling between the two companies for the upper hand in the fast-growing smartphone and tablet segments is just beginning. 

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TOMOHIRO OHSUMI/BLOOMBERG NEWS

Apple iPhones, left, and Samsung Galaxy smartphones sit side by side at an electronics store in Tokyo. After its huge defeat of Samsung in the U.S., Apple lost its patent lawsuit in Japan.

The Tokyo District Court ruled that Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and tablets did not violate an Apple patent on technology that synchronizes music and videos between gadgets and servers. 

Apple had sued Samsung in Tokyo last year in a case that sought 100 million yen, or $1.3 million, in damages. 

Apple has filed other patent suits in Japan against Samsung, including one alleging the South Korean company copied Apple’s signature “bounce back” effect when a user scrolls to the end of a list on the iPhone and iPad. Apple has also asked for an injunction that would prevent Samsung from shipping some Galaxy smartphones to Japan. Samsung, as in other countries, has countersued Apple in Japan, saying both the iPhone and iPad infringe Samsung patents. 

In a statement, Samsung Electronics, based in Suwon, South Korea, said the ruling had validated its claims that it had not copied Apple. 

“Samsung has strongly asserted that its technology is altogether different and does not infringe on Apple patents. The ruling recognizes the legitimacy of Samsung’s assertions and is highly valid,” it said. 

Apple representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. 

Still wildly popular, Apple hardly needs a lift in Japan. Its iPhone was the top-selling smartphone in Japan in 2011, while Samsung’s Galaxy series trailed in the No. 5 spot — behind smartphones made by Sharp, Fujitsu and Sony Mobile, according to the MM Research Institute, based in Tokyo. Globally, Samsung is the largest smartphone-maker. 

But even in Japan, the operating system used by Samsung and other smartphone-makers, Android from Google, has grown steadily, posing a collective challenge to Apple. Android captured 58 percent of the Japanese market, compared with the 38 percent market share claimed by Apple’s iOS in the first quarter of 2012, according to the global research firm Nielsen. 

Many analysts see Apple’s suits against Samsung as a proxy battle against the Android platform, which Apple developers have derided as being an iOS copy. 

The patent war between Apple and Google has brought a debate about the future of technological innovation — one that intensified after the nine-member jury in California ruled in Apple’s favor Aug. 24. The jury said Samsung smartphone and tablet products violated Apple’s patents protecting designs and functions, including the rectangular shape and rounded edges of the iPhone. 

Some experts say such rulings will force smartphone-makers to focus on innovating rather than copying, while others say designers could now be stifled by the need to second-guess constantly whether new designs or functions violate other companies’ patents. 

Meanwhile, Japanese electronics- makers have figure d littl e in the smartphone patent wars, underscoring how negligible a threat they currently pose to either Apple or Samsung in the sector. 

Samsung, the world’s largest seller of smartphones, and Apple, the world’s second-largest, together control a little more than 50 percent of the global smartphone market, the research firm Strategy Analytics said in July. 

Japanese smartphone-makers like Sharp and Fujitsu, on the other hand, have little presence beyond Japan’s shores. 

BAD Apple :-(

Will leaving EPEAT impact Apple? May be.. May be not.. This will be interesting.. let us see if people love design and form-factor or their mother nature.. I am sure Apple will come with some better explanation and may be better environment friendly option while they ditch EPEAT logo.

In short term, it is not making any difference. If you look into details, looks like, they knew that iPad/iPhone is not going to be approved which is one of the big business segment for them.. So why not ditch it completely.. May be plant some trees somewhere else to offset this logo?

GLUED-IN BATTERIES AT ISSUE

Uproar ripens as Apple turns less ‘green’

Tech leader’s pullout from registry of eco-friendly products spurs backlash

By Dana Hull and John Boudreau

Staff writers

After establishing itself as an environmental leader among consumer electronics companies, Apple’s abrupt withdrawal from a prominent “green” product registry has set off a furor in the blogosphere and could modestly cut into the company’s computer sales.

Apple’s decision may be tied to the design of the new Mac-Book Pros, which have batteries glued into the case and can’t be disassembled for recycling — a violation of the green certification standards of EPEAT, a nonprofit product rating group backed by many manufacturers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“I’ve had some conversations, and Apple has said that their design direction is not compatible with EPEAT standards,” the group’s CEO, Robert Frisbee, in an interview Monday. “It’s kind of odd since they've helped design” the standards. 

Greenpeace spokesman Casey Harrell said Apple “has pitted design against the environment — and chosen design. They’re making a big bet that people don’t care, but recycling is a big issue.” 

Harrell described the Cupertino company’s withdrawal from EPEAT as “unfortunate,” noting that Apple in the past has introduced eco-friendly design features such as using aluminum instead of plastic in the casings of their products, which makes recycling easier. 

Apple has often boasted that its computers and laptops achieve “gold ratings” from EPEAT on its environmental reports. It’s withdrawal will eliminate numerous products — 39 laptops, desktop computers and monitors — from the well-known green registry. 

Apple’s decision has flummoxed cities like San Francisco, which can no longer buy Apple computers because its procurement rules require EPEAT approval. 

“I don’t know why Apple would choose to go this route. It’s really bad for EPEAT, and it’s really bad for anyone trying to do green purchasing,” said Chris Geiger, the city of San Francisco’s toxics reduction coordinator. “We strongly believe that eco-labels are essential for green purchasing, and Apple just withdrew from the list. We want to register our displeasure and urge Apple to reconsider.” 

To meet EPEAT standards, products must be easy to disassemble into separate components by recyclers. Companies like Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Samsung have participated in developing the organization’s standards, and EPEAT’s registry of products has long been a green procurement guide of sorts for the federal government, cities, large corporations and colleges and universities. 

Apple has offered no explanation for why it would glue the batteries into the new MacBook Pros or in other ways make its products difficult to disassemble, but the company has a long history of designing products to discourage tinkering by their users. 

It notified EPEAT of its withdrawal in a letter Thursday, but didn’t elaborate on its reasons. An Apple representative Monday declined to comment, saying only that the company remains committed to the environment. 

Based in Portland, Ore., EPEAT is a nonprofit organization funded by major PC manufacturers and the EPA that awards electronic products a stamp of approval if they meet the group’s minimum requirements for energy efficiency, use of toxic materials and disposal. 

Apple was long criticized by Greenpeace and other groups for failing to eliminate hazardous materials from products. But it eventually became a leader among tech companies for eliminating toxic chemicals from its computers. Still, it has faced criticism from Greenpeace for allegedly being slow to abandon coalpowered energy for its everexpanding server farms. 

EPEAT standards do not currently cover smartphones or tablet computers, which represent a fastgrowing portion of Apple’s business. But standards for those products are being crafted, Frisbee said, hinting that Apple’s phenomenally successful iPad may not be in compliance. 

“There’s an issue with the cementing in of batteries on the iPad,” he said. “If you can’t separate the toxics from recyclables, it doesn’t qualify. Other manufacturers have been able to find ways to stay within the EPEAT requirements. It’s a little confusing as to why Apple, which has always been the leader, has chosen a different direction.” 

Barbara Kyle, the national coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, a San Franciscobased group that promotes green design and recycling of electronics products, also wondered if Apple was withdrawing from EPEAT because its new products cannot be easily disassembled. 

“What does a recycler do? The first thing is they take apart the product to remove the hazardous stuff. They absolutely need to be able to open it up,” Kyle said. “If you can’t even take the battery out, or if you’ve glued in the battery with industrial strength glue, that is not designing with recycling in mind.” 

Gartner analyst Van Baker said Apple’s pullout from EPEAT will have little impact on its bottom line. He added that Apple has good “environmental credibility” for a consumer electronics company. 

“Let’s face it, the EPEAT label is pretty far down the purchase criteria list for most people,” Baker said. “I’m sure Apple will point to other things, such as the fact all the materials they use are free of any pollution.” 

Contact Dana Hull at 408920-2706. Follow her at Twitter.com/danahull. 

iPad mini? Really?

I am big fan of iPad mainly because of it's form factor, display, graphics rendering and excellent user interface. This smaller iPad, may be needed to compete with Google Nexus 7 and Aamzon Fire tablets.. As per this article it is similar to iPod and iPod mini concept. To be honest, I never liked iPod mini as well. May be it is my own form factor which makes me like only bigger form factors ;-) I do love my iPhone and have never able to use my 7 inch tablet over it..

I hope that this new iPad mini turns out to be better experience than other minis out there. I would have preferred that Apple continue with their older versions at cheaper prices to cater for lower end market. That would give them broader spectrum in terms of price range but won't give them form factor spread. This form factor IS unique differentiation for iPad any how.. I don't know, why they want to loose it.. May be, I should do MBA so I can understand their strategy..

However, I very strongly feel that it won't have good impact on Apple in long term. It may in turn start eating their own market instead of growing it overall. Moreover, impact of content on smaller screen size will further diminish their iTunes/Cloud eco-system value. In short term it will definitely help them and I do expect some share boost if analysts haven't already factored iPad mini in..

What I remember from older days that Jobs was totally against smaller form factors.. I am still supportive of his idea of iPad's form factor. I still believe that new management is focused on Stock price and that is the reason for all the new product line introductions instead of focusing on details and quality of the products. It is too early to see the direct impact of shift in change.. I hope that this doesn't happen as I really love Apple for the value they create out of their products is amazing and quality is usually much better than similarly configured devices.

SHIFT IN STRATEGY

Apple eyes smaller, lower-price iPad

With 7.85-inch screen, mini device would be designed to block competitors

By John Boudreau

jboudreau@mercurynews.com 

Apple may be on the verge of rewriting its iPad strategy by rolling out a smaller and less expensive model this fall, a move analysts say could further distance it from competitors already struggling to play catch-up.

A chorus of news organizations and analysts believe Apple is building an iPad mini — its display screen could be 7.85 inches instead of the current 9.7 inches — resembling the strategy it deployed for the iPod, in which the company offered digital media players with varying features and prices, including the low-end $49 iPod shuffle.

That move blocked lower-end competitors from grabbing market share from Apple, said Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin. “It shows Apple is not afraid to segment its products,” he said.

While no one knows for sure what Apple’s next moves are until they announce them, industry experts increasingly believe a smaller iPad is in the offing.

Investors on Thursday appeared happy with increasing speculation that Apple is preparing to sell a smaller iPad. Shares of Apple closed up nearly 2 percent to $609.94.

Apple is not going to stand still as more tablet competitors try to encircle it, said Bajarin, noting Google’s new move into the market with its Nexus 7, a 7-inch device that starts at $200. Microsoft is planning to roll out a series of tablets called Surface.

Rumors about the development of a 7-inch iPad have been around for years. The market, though, may be right for one now, experts say. The late Steve Jobs dispar­aged a smaller-screen tablet in a 2010 conference call with analysts, saying it is too big to compete with an iPhone but too small to provide a good user experience. But technology and markets change, analysts say. 

Brian White, an analyst with Topeka Capital Markets, said there are a number of reasons why Apple would add a smaller iPad to its product offerings, including increasing its ability to tap deeper into developing markets such as China and taking a step to realizing Jobs’ vision of transforming the multibillion-dollar textbook industry by providing cheaper devices for K-12 students. 

“As you drop the price point and size, you are opening up consumers you weren’t addressing before,” he said. His firm’s research indicates a market exists for smaller iPads that sell for $250 to $300. 

White also believes a number of current iPad owners would be willing to buy the smaller model. Women, for instance, would like to be able to slip a slimmer iPad into purses while men could carry a smaller model inside sport coats, he said. 

“There will be some who want both” iPad models, White said. Although Jobs once inveighed against a smaller iPad, the Apple co-founder was known for changing his opinions, White said. And, he added, Jobs instructed CEO Tim Cook to run the company as he sees fit. And that could be shifting Apple’s iPad strategy. An iPad mini could cannibalize 10 to 20 percent of sales of the more expensive model, White said. But a cheaper iPad would also bring new customers to the Apple ecosystem, which frequently results in future sales of its other devices, observed Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu. “This would be a competitor’s worst nightmare,” he said. “They already are having a hard time competing with the current iPad.” Apple’s latest model starts at $499; its older version is offered at $399. A less expensive iPad would take away the price advantage of competitors, Wu said. Last year, Apple had 62 percent of the tablet market, according to IHS iSuppli. Overall, the tablet market is expected to soar this year to 124 million units, up 90 percent from 65 million in 2011, the market research company projects. 

Apple’s ability to stay ahead of competitors allows the company to sell high volumes of new products. This enables the company to aggressively price its products while maintaining large profit margins, Wu said. He estimates the company’s profit margin on the new Retina display iPad is a bit under 40 percent, whereas the profit margin on the older model is about 40 percent. Competitors, on the other hand, have profit margins that range from 20 to 25 percent on their tablets, Wu said. 

Apple plows its large profits back into research and innovation in a way other consumer electronics companies can’t, he said. “That’s what makes Apple so dangerous,” Wu said. 

Bajarin said Apple learned the importance of creating a dominant computing platform — from Macintosh computers to iPhones — after Microsoft’s Windows franchise took over the global PC market decades ago. 

“They are dedicated to doing that, and this is part of that strategy,” he said of a smaller iPad. 

Contact John Boudreau at 408-278-3496. 

Finally I can use my favorite browser on iPhone: The Chrome!!

YES!!! I am really happy to use my favorite browser on my favorite device.... iPhone.. Google launched Chrome as App on iPhone.. Supposedly to counter Apple's move to replace them as their default search engine and as default map. We will come to this issue later but for now let me express my happiness and joy of using Chrome on iPhone.. for most of the users it is not big deal.. in fact I know many folks who like chrome but they don't use it for the sake of privacy issue surrounding Google's data tracking policies.. However, for me, Chrome is one browser which is super fast and asks for least amount of plug-in downloads and more importantly understands me.. senses what I am going to do next and propose next step automatically.. I don't care how much data it collects and send it to Google. I any how feel that openness is best policy.. and as long as I am not doing anything illegal or supposedly morally bad.. I don't care.. I use this very blog to express my happiness or sadness or frustration to entire world any how.. so why do I care if anyone is tracking me or not.. as long as they deliver and simplify my life further I don't have any problem with tracking or privacy... as long as it is mutual.. as long as they give me back something in lieu of taking and collecting my data, I am fine..

I think we went too much into this privacy nonsense..

Coming back to another topic, which I feel is an indicator of Apple's arrogance and greed and foolishness.. Replacing Google as their default search engine and map.. Do what you are best at.. get other's best and don't try to mess up with their best..  I don't think that Apple understand this for now.. they will soon.. the same arrogance, greed and pride and sense of doing everything on their own, sank Sony.. that despite best in many technologies.. they are a dying company.. Apple.. on the other hand is on rise for now.. but if they don't accept the fact that this era is about collaboration and co-operation and leveraging best from others.. they will go Sony way soon.. Pie is way to big.. you don't want to even attempt to eat it all.. that thought itself will kill you before you even attempt it. I think, Apple needs to just stick to their best.. they create best machines and they are best in marrying hardware with software.. they are best in providing user experience.. this user experience is not just all of it their.. it is best because they provide framework which can be leveraged by other great players like Netflix, Facebook, Google and many other smart and small companies on their devices and provide fulfilling feeling to users.. If you try to restrict it.. or constrain it by trying doing on your own.. you are going to be next Sony..

INTERNET

Google’s Chrome browser comes to Apple’s gadgets

iPhone, iPad users can access software and Drive feature

By Brandon Bailey

bbailey@mercurynews.com 

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple fans can now use Google’s popular Chrome browser on their iPhones and iPads, the Internet search giant said Thursday, while announcing several initiatives aimed at making it easier for people to spend more time in Google’s “cloud.”

Google also announced it will compete with Amazon and other commercial tech companies by renting out data center capacity for software developers or Internet businesses that need lots of computing power and don’t want to build their own.

But most of the focus was on software Thursday, the second day of Google’s annual I/O conference, after a previous day that highlighted new consumer hardware products from the Mountain View company. Google, which is increasingly competing with Apple, Amazon and Facebook for the attention of Internet users, showed off new features for the Chrome browser and for Drive, its online service for storing and working with documents, photos and other digital material.

Chrome is already the world’s most-used Internet browser, according to the research firm StatCounter, which reported that Google’s browseredgedpastMicrosoft’s Internet Explorer last month. Google says the number of active Chrome users grew from 160 million users last year to 310 million in June.

Those numbers should grow further now that Chrome is available for Apple’s popular mobile gadgets, where a version of Apple’s Safari browser has been the default choice for most users. Having Chrome on Apple devices could protect Google’s search advertising business, added Ben Schachter of Macquarie Securities in a report, even if Apple goes through with a rumored move to replace Google as the default search engine on Apple’s browser. 

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STEPHEN LAM/REUTERS

Google executive Sundar Pichai said the company wants to make it easier to use its software “across all your platforms.” 

In an interview, Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney said Chrome, which is known for speed, may not perform as well on Apple devices because of differences in Apple’s operating system. Even so, he added, “the smart thing” for Google is “to be available on as many devices as they can.” 

Google senior vice president Sundar Pichai echoed that point Thursday when he said the company wants to make it easier to use its software “across all your platforms and all your devices, so that you can live online in the cloud, seamlessly.” 

As an example, Chrome already has a feature that remembers bookmarks and other settings. But Google vice president Brian Rakowski demonstrated that the browser can also remember recently visited sites and show them on other computers and smartphones, provided the user signs on with a Google account. 

Drive is also available for Apple’s mobile gadgets and has new features that let users work on files when they aren’t connected to the Internet; changes are uploaded automatically when the user is back online. Product manager Clay Bavor also showed off Drive’s search feature, which works with documents and even pictures. 

Contact Brandon Bailey at 408-920-5022; follow him at Twitter.com/ BrandonBailey. 

Is Samsung Galaxy S3 really iPhone Competitor?

S3 is getting great reviews so far and is considered to be most formidable competitor of iPhone 4S. Looking at its feature set it seems to be really great machine. Biggest differentiation seems to be screen size and quad core processor on hardware side and numerous extra features related to touch on software side.

I haven't tried it yet, but I am not big fan of extreme processors. Unless processor power is properly channeled and used all the extra cores are merely nice to have. So it will be really good to see how the marriage between hardware and software is.. that you can figure out only after using it out. all the specs and number are merely marketing gimmicks.

Having said that, I am sure it will put more pressure on Apple to launch bigger screen size iPhone. At least variant with bigger size. For all practical purpose, iPhone is my lifeline and I don't see any problem with screen size as well. But I think there is scope for some extra real estate on phone side. let us see what is in store for iPhone 5. We should be knowing it soon... I guess, June or July?

Coming back to Samsung, it is always good to see great competition in the market. that is what drives innovation. I hope that S3 will turn out to be great phone in market as well. Sad that it is not getting launched in US first.. In my view they should have launched in US as well. They could have taken some advantage of iPhone 5s pending launch and could have gathered lot of iPhone customers who are ready for upgrade cycle, which is typically 20 or 21 months. Assuming, these people upgraded within couple of months of iPhone launch, they would be ready for upgrade and could have opted for S3 instead of waiting for iPhone 5. I am sure Samsung's genius marketing guys must have thought about everything..


Samsung’s latest model emerges as iPhone competitor

Phone will sell in 145 countries, company’s biggest launch so far

By Peter Svensson

Associated Press

NEW YORK — The latest phone in Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy line, which has emerged as the biggest competitor to Apple’s iPhone, will go on sale in Europe on May 29 and in the U.S. this summer, the company said Thursday. The Korean company showed off the phone at an event in London Thursday. It has a high-definition touch screen that’s nearly twice the size of the iPhone’s, but thinner and lighter than Apple’s phone. Samsung said the phone will go on sale in 145 countries with 296 phone companies, making it the company’s biggest launch so far.

In the U.S., Japan and Korea, the phone will use fourthgeneration, or 4G, networks for faster data downloads. Samsung didn’t say which carriers would sell it, but the previous Galaxy model was sold by all four national U.S. wireless carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile.

Like previous Galaxy phones, the new S3 will run Google’s Android software. The processor, or “brains” of the device, will be upgraded to include four computing cores. The iPhone and most other high-end phones are “dual-core,” but there are some quad-core devices on sale already.

The added computing power will be put to use in the S3’s expanded voice-command features. When the phone screen is off, owners will be able to “wake” it up by saying “Hi, Galaxy.” They can then give further spoken commands. When Apple launched the iPhone 4S last year, it also made advances in voice recognition a central selling point.
Samsung doesn’t release phone shipment figures, but most analysts believe its smartphones outsold Apple and its 35.1 million iPhones in the January-to-March period. Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley believes Apple and Samsung together accounted for virtually all the profits in the phone industry in the first quarter, with three-quarters going to Apple by virtue of its singular focus on the high-priced iPhone.

Can Samsung takeover Apple in Smartphone Segment as well?

Samsung is already number one in overall cellphone market share. First time they overtook Nokia in World's largest Cell phone manufacturer. Nokia is trying a comeback and it would be interesting to see in next couple of quarters, how this will shape overall cellphone market. Along with Nokia & Samsung, it is Microsoft as well, whose future is at stake. Cell phones are already accounting for close to 50% of revenues of companies like Samsung and Apple.

As of now, Samsung is clear winner in overall Cellphone market. However, they face uphill battle with Apple's flagship iPhone. It will be difficult to compete with iPhone in terms of overall value and satisfaction. Unless, Apple goof's up big time in coming years, which they can as Steve Job's is not around and I am already feeling that new management is more focussed directly on share prices instead of customer satisfaction, usability and attention to details. We have to accept that nothing is permanent and current iPhone's dominance will go down sooner or later.

At the same time, Samsung is coming up with really great phones with really cool and great features and trying to compete hard with iPhone. However, in my view they need to focus more on some really great selected features and make them really easy and standardize across the board. They also need highlight and focus where Apple restrict's iPhone... and moreover, build some really cool and easy to use ecosystem. Bring some standardization across the devices so accessories can be useful. One feature which I really envy from Android phones is simplicity to play HD videos (1080p) directly to HDTV using HDMI cable.. But still, it has clumsy UI, especially as compared to iPhone. They need to work on reduction in number of clicks needed to accomplish things..

I haven't played too much on Samsung phones except to my stone age Blackjack long time back. Which was really clumsy phone based on Windows CE (or whatever it was called) and voice quality was so bad that I took a vow to never use Samsung phone. Only feature which I used to like was tethering of it which used to give me great internet connectivity to my laptop. However, with iPhone, 99% of time you don't need tethering, you can literally do everything on it, despite its lower screen size. I hope my nephew who works in Samsung is reading this and will soon send me some great samsung phone to try so I can write better review ;-)

Hope to see real good competition in coming days.. which should result in really cool phones for all of us. I hope, Motorola/Google will also churn out great phones in coming days.. so will Nokia with their MS collaboration... future seems to be great!!!


Samsung cellphones beat out Nokia’s

By Andrea Chang

Los Angeles Times

Samsung in the first quarterbecametheworld’s largest cellphone brand for the first time, overtaking longtime market leader Nokia. In the smartphone segment, Samsung remained in second place behind Apple, according to market research firm IHS iSuppli.

The South Korean electronics giant shipped 92 million cellphones worldwide in the first quarter, compared with 83 million for Nokia. While Samsung’s shipments declined by 13 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011, Nokia’s dropped by 27 percent.

In the smartphone segment, Apple shipped 35 million units in the first quarter compared with 32 million for Samsung. Apple’s smartphone shipments declined 5 percent from the fourth quarter, compared with 11 percent for Samsung. First-quarter declines in the shipments of smartphones and cellphones reflect normal seasonal patterns, in which sales decrease after the peak holiday period in the fourthquarter. “With cellphones now accounting for more than 40 percent of Samsung’s overall revenue, it’s clear that the company’s continued investments in smartphone hardware and software R&D are paying off,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst of wireless communications at IHS. Lam noted that Samsung’s performance was even more impressive because its latest Galaxy S III handset has yet to be launched, with shipments set to start in May. “This indicates Samsung is likely to make further progress in market share in 2012,” he said.

Does Video Chat has potential to be a killer App?

Lot of work is going on to make Video Chat/Calls ubiquitous as phone calls. Recently Google announced that they are opening Google+ Hangouts for developers to build apps on it. Lot many other companies are trying to build and incorporate video chat/talk much simpler.

Question is.. is there that much potential for these video chats/talks. Do customers really want video calls to be that much. Let me know your experience if any.

In my view, it will still take long time for us to start using video, if et all it really kicks off. I may be wrong as well. But currently my understanding is based on couple of facts/observations I have noticed.
 - Most of the folks are still not ready for video calls. many times they may not be in situation or place where they can really use it.
  - Secondly, we are yet to see really good video quality and really easy to use devices.

Best candidates are Portable/touch devices like iPhone/iPad/etc.. They have great potential to be part of our life. They are becoming good part of our life already and soon Laptop will have status of what currently desktops have. Even these devices needs some more improvements. Like better (HD) front camera. Apple's facetime is one good example of ease of use but it has limitations about apple device. But it is really good and works great when you have decent wi-fi signal. To solve this, another app which came was Tango which works across the board on iPhone and Android devices. It also has some cool features but I found it more problematic than Facetime. Still in time to come, it will get better. These apps (facetime/Tango) works more on devices' address book looking for phone numbers and emails where counterparts of these apps is already there. So it is great and easy to use.

There is no doubt that video chats are better in terms of  overall user experience. However, they are complex to use and mostly many times people can't do. I remember that once our office conferencing system started turning on video by default and people started taping the camera of laptop as it was sometimes embarrassing. Even now, I barely see anyone turning on webcam during our work meetings. Again, it is just my view or experience. But the fact is that you really need to be intimate with the person whom you are doing video chat. We are accustomed to voice and are happy with it mostly.

Don't know if the hype around video will really turn into reality ever.. I would really like it to.. I do enjoy doing video conferences with good friends and family members. In fact next generation type of video conference should include 3D chat where they can project other person's hologram and make it more closer to reality. That would be really nice!!

Here is the story which stimulated all the ideas and thoughts..

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20273524/google-hangouts-video-chat-app

DEVELOPING VIDEO CHAT

Focused on making connections

Google+ Hangouts opens to developers’ apps in hopes of engaging users on social network

By Mike Swift

mswift@mercurynews.com 

Christine Egy Rose realized she was on to something powerful. Instead of the awkward monosyllabic two-minute exchange her 3-year-old son Jackson typically had over a video chat link with relatives, he spent a full 50 minutes happily working on a shared drawing with his grandmother in Florida, using the video chat’s embedded drawing feature that Egy Rose was developing.

Egy Rose’s mother-in-law, feeling so much closer to the little boy in California, was almost in tears by the end of the chat.

“We don’t have the Sunday night dining room table anymore — at least a lot of families don’t — and the three of us didn’t,” Egy Rose, CEO of the video chat and collaborative play startup Scoot & Doodle, said in an interview with fellow co-founders Patty Chang and Sarah Stone Waters. “We wanted to re-create that for our families.”

With Google on Wednesday launching the first half-dozen apps from independent developers for the “Hangouts” video chat feature of Google+, the Internet giant hopes to increase the time people spend on the social network and create a popular platform that will ultimately grow to hundreds of video apps, or more. Hangouts allows up to 10 people to connect on a video chat.

By adding software apps to Hangouts, independent developers like Scoot & Doodle hope to make video chats more like an inperson, shared social experience, allowing apps to transform video chats, just as they revolutionized cellphones. 

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KAREN T. BORCHERS/STAFF PHOTOS

Christine Egy Rose, right, CEO and co-founder of Scoot & Doodle, shows her children Cate, 8, and Jackson, 3, her new Hangouts app.

“It’s really the starting gun,” Vic Gundotra, the executive who heads the development of Google+, said of Wednesday’s platform launch. “No one has ever done a multiuser video service for the whole world for free, let alone open it up to developers and see where they take it. It takes a company like Google, at Google’s scale, to do something like this, and let’s see what happens.” 

In opening Google+ Hangouts to independent developers such as Scoot & Doodle, Google is cribbing a page from Facebook. When CEO Mark Zuckerberg opened Facebook’s platform to independent developers in 2007, no one knew it would trigger a revolution in social games that spawned successful companies such as Zynga. More recently, Facebook also has offered shared-experience services, such as a feature launched in January that allows friends to listen to the same song at that same time. Facebook has also partnered with Skype to provide video chat. 

Engaging users 

At more than 100 million users, Google+ is still a fraction of the size of Facebook’s 845 million users. But an even bigger issue for Google+ is poor engagement, with recent data from comScore showing users average just three minutes a month on Google+, compared with seven hours a month on Facebook. The Hangouts feature is “one of the four or five pillars that we have that really drive engagement,”Gundotra said. “It fundamentally changes the interaction when you can see somebody’s eyes, which is why we said social is much more than just status updates. That’s why we invested so much in video technology.” 

Among the other Hangout apps launching on Google+ Wednesday will be “Aces Hangout,” a virtual deck of cards, allowing a person in the Bay Area, for example, to play a game of poker through a video chat with a cousin in Denmark and an aunt in Denver, as well as other apps to play games or share documents. 

“Google is really hoping to drive engagement with its network, and getting people to stay online and use its services more is absolutely something it wants to do,” said Irene Berlinsky, an analyst with IDC who follows video chat. Along with Skype, Google is emerging as “really the two big gorillas” of video chat, she said. 

Egy Rose, Chang and Waters don’t fit the stock profile of Silicon Valley startup entrepreneurs — they are not 20-something men, and they are not engineers. Egy Rose and Chang are former NBC television news producers — Egy Rose with “Meet the Press” and Chang with “Dateline” — while Waters was a designer for clothing companies such as Old Navy and Abercrombie & Fitch, but had never designed for the Web. 

All three, however, are the mothers of young children and what ultimately became Scoot & Doodle (The company got its name from the nicknames for Egy Rose’s two kids.) started out as an attempt to solve a social problem — the difficulty of staying close to children and adults separated by geography or divorce. 

“We knew the problem was enormous,” Egy Rose said. “Everyone we talked to was experiencing that.” 

The three founders worked early on with educators and scientists from the MIT Media Lab, San Francisco’s Exploratorium and the Stanford Institute of Design K-12 Lab to gain insights about how to connect children and adults, and they began to focus on shared activities such as drawing and 

art. One early idea was to create a kit, including arts and games, to help busy parents or distant grandparents connect with children. But around this time, Egy Rose and Chang, who were partners in a Silicon Valley video consulting business that did corporate videos for large Silicon Valley companies, got advice from a mentor who suggested they focus on the Internet as the way to bring families together. 

Selling the idea 

But as they made the rounds looking for investors in Silicon Valley to talk about using video chat to create “a collaborative playspace,” it was tough to get traction. 

“We knew we had a big problem: We’re all women, we’re all close to 40, we all have children, and we don’t have technical backgrounds,” Chang said. As they met with potential investors, “we had people say things like, ‘You girls are cute, but it’s not going to work.’” Ultimately, they signed on engineers Brian Ng and Kenji Morrow to create a five-person startup that is now based in San Francisco. And, by chance, a mutual acquaintance introduced them to the Google+ team. While a beta version of the product is also on the Scoot & Doodle website at scootdoodle.com, it’s not yet open to full public use. Which means that the Google+ launch Wednesday marked the coming out party for the three founders in front of a potential audience of millions. 

The startup is still exploring revenue models, but wants to build audience for its product first. “We are committed to learning from the people using the product,” Egy Rose said. “We will land on the right solution.” 

Contact Mike Swift at 408-271-3648. Follow him at Twitter.com/swiftstories or facebook.com/mike.swift3. 



KAREN T. BORCHERS/STAFF 

Christine Egy Rose, from left, Patty Chang and Sarah Stone Waters are co-founders of Scoot & Doodle. The startup has made an app for Google+ Hangouts.