More money made from mobile ads on Android than on iOS for the first time ever
One of the primary ways that app developers make money from their apps is from mobile advertising. This is especially true of apps which are free to download and don’t contain any in-app purchases. For a long time it has been conventional wisdom that app developers make more money on iOS than on Android. However things started to change about a year ago.
At the beginning of 2014, we witnessed a big change for mobile advertising: Android overtook iOS as the top platform for traffic. In the world of mobile advertising, “traffic” means the number of mobile ad impressions served. Now a year on and Android dominates the market. Over 65 percent of all mobile ad impressions go to Android devices, which is a huge growth from the 42.8 percent of Q1 2014. In comparison iOS devices get around 22 percent of the ads, of which 17 percent going to iPhones and the rest going to iPads and iPods (i.e. models in the iPod Touch range).
However, although Android was getting more ads, the amount of money made by developers was still higher on iOS. App developers get money in several different ways depending on the mobile advertising platform and the types of ads displayed by the app. Primarily the developers make money when a user taps on an advert, or alternatively there are some schemes where the developers gets money per 1000 ads shown.
45.77 percent of mobile advertising revenue comes from Android, while 45.44 percent comes from iOS.
Until now the combination of the number of taps and the price paid by advertisers for their adverts to be displayed meant that iOS generated more income for developers. But that has changed. For the first time ever, Android is leading revenue generation, albeit by a hair’s breadth.
According to Opera Mediaworks, the advertising arm of the web browser maker, 45.77 percent of mobile advertising revenue comes from Android, while 45.44 percent comes from iOS. It has derived these numbers from its own mobile advertising platform, however it more than likely reflects the overall trend in mobile advertising across all the platforms.
Are you an app developer with apps on both iOS and Android? See any changes in Android income recently?
Carphone Warehouse’s ‘iD’ mobile network launches tomorrow
Carphone Warehouse is launching its “iD” mobile network tomorrow, and in preparation it’s revealed new details about its contracts and how they differ from the competition. For starters, they’ll be separated into four tiers: Shockproof, TakeAway, Go To and SIM Only. The Shockproof tier starts from £7.50 per month and is designed to help you avoid expensive bills. To do this, iD will cap your usage automatically, while offering a customisable “buffer” just in case you find yourself craving a few extra GB. TakeAway, meanwhile, will offer plans from £25.50 per month with free roaming in 22 countries — that’s more than Three’s “Feel at Home” initiative, if you’re keeping score.
For data-hungry users that rarely leave the UK, iD will have Go To contracts from £13.50 per month (12 month contract) and £11.50 per month (24 month contract). All of iD’s plans come with 4G as standard, but Carphone Warehouse is yet to break out exactly how much data you’ll be getting for your money. Finally, the virtual mobile network operator (VMNO) will also be selling SIM-only plans from £7.50 per month, or £5 per month if you’re only interested in data. Like Three, this will also include unlimited data plans — one contract it’s highlighting offers infinite data, 2,000 minutes and 5,000 texts for £20 per month.
Until we see a full breakdown of pricing and available handsets, it’s hard to judge Carphone Warehouse’s new offering. Its SIM-only unlimited data plans and TakeAway roaming contracts could prove attractive, and that’s perhaps no coincidence given its new network is being powered by Three. Still, Carphone Warehouse is entering a fiercely competitive space at the moment, filled with well-funded newcomers and potential mergers. Its network of high street stores should give its new brand plenty of exposure, but to succeed, it’ll need to significantly undercut or outmatch all of the UK’s major carriers.
Filed under: Wireless, Networking
Source: iD
OnePlus to announce China-only HydrogenOS on May 28th
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What comes after Oxygen? Hydrogen, apparently. Last month, Chinese smartphone manufacturer, OnePlus, released OxygenOS for its OnePlus One devices with the intention that it would cover pretty well all One handsets across the globe. As it turns out, OxygenOS won’t really be around in China as OnePlus is going to release HydrogenOS there and has started sending out invites to an event on May 28th.
For those who didn’t catch OxygenOS’s release, OnePlus basically released a slightly modified version of Android 5.0 for the OnePlus One, presumably with some nice optimizations built in. We’d assume that HydrogenOS would mostly be the same as OxygenOS with a few regional flourishes – China has been a fan of the MIUI theme layout, much like a iOS homescreen, so we’ll have to see whether OnePlus takes HydrogenOS down that path or not.
What do you expect HydrogenOS to look like? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Zol via TalkAndroid
The post OnePlus to announce China-only HydrogenOS on May 28th appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
A game that explores the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease
You’re standing in a living room. It might be your living room. Something’s not quite right — for every object you recognize, there’s another you don’t. Normally, if you get this feeling while playing a video game, you’re in the middle of a horror, awaiting the inevitable jump scare. In Forget-Me-Knot, however, you aren’t evading an enemy, but instead trying to piece together memories of a life that, thanks to Alzheimer’s Disease, you barely remember.
Developed by Alexander Tarvet, a student studying Game Design & Production Management at Abertay University in Dundee, Scotland, Forget-Me-Knot is designed to raise awareness for those suffering with dementia. “Through playing Forget-Me-Knot the player gets an immediate sense of the confusion the character feels,” Tarvet tells MOTD. “The player is in exactly the same position as the person with Alzheimer’s — both have to explore the room and try and piece together an understanding of photos and letters through clues left on shelves and in drawers.”
Games’ ability to help the player to understand different perspectives on life is somewhat under-utilized. Notable examples of similar endeavors include Dys4ia and Depression Quest, which focus on the creators’ struggles with gender dysphoria and depression, respectively. Like Forget-Me-Knot, Ether One (available for free through PlayStation Plus this month) looks at the effects of dementia, but does so in the context of a more traditional adventure game. There’s no word on whether Tarvet plans to take the game any further, but given the positive reception so far, some sort of release seems likely.
Filed under: Gaming
Via: BoingBoing
Source: Alexander Tarvet
London’s ‘Boris bikes’ get an app for paying and planning rides
Using one of London’s “Boris bikes” isn’t as simple as, say, taking the Underground or catching a bus. You have to find a docking station with an available bike, work out your journey time and how much you’ll be charged, and then find another drop-off point that’s close to your destination and not already full. To make the process a little simpler, Santander and Transport for London (TfL) are launching an app for iOS and Android. You can use it to find your nearest docking station, check how many bikes are available and pay for your next ride. Once you’ve selected a 24-hour or annual pass, a unique release code will be sent to your phone, which can then be used to unlock a two-wheeler.
To give you some peace of mind, the app will log exactly when you took out the bike — which could prove useful, because even with a 24-hour pass, TfL will charge you extra for rides that last more than 30 minutes. The app can also help you plan your journey, hopefully avoiding any nasty charges, confirm when you’ve returned a bike, and offer a breakdown of recent hires and how much you’ve spent. We’re still waiting for the scheme to support Oyster cards and contactless payments, but this is definitely a start.
[Image Credit: Steve Bardens/ Getty Images for Santander]
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Santander Cycles (iOS), (Android)
OnePlus to announce HydrogenOS in Beijing on May 28th
It’s just over a month ago that the OnePlus finally released the OxygenOS for the One handset after numerous delays. While the OxygenOS firmware is meant for international One handsets, OnePlus has just announced it will release a new ROM called HydrogenOS for the One handset in China.
As you can see from the image below, the HydrogenOS ROM is scheduled (don’t laugh) to be announced in Beijing on May 28th. While specific details are scarce, it will be based on Android 5.0, and if it follows the OxygenOS formula, HydrogenOS should be a fairly lightweight ROM concentrating on battery and performance optimizations. The OnePlus CEO has stated that the new OS won’t be yet another iOS copycat. What do you think? Will the HydrogenOS firmware be released on time?
Come comment on this article: OnePlus to announce HydrogenOS in Beijing on May 28th
These are the Oppo R7 and R7 Plus
Oppo is taking a leaf out of LG’s book by revealing information about the upcoming R7 ahead of the phone’s official unveiling on May 20. More than that, Oppo just confirmed the existence of another device launching the same day: the supersized R7 Plus.
The R7 and R7 Plus have been revealed in a couple of ads that are already airing in China. Oppo seems happy to show off its new devices, which is a refreshing change following years of secretive, over the top releases.
Oppo even released a couple of press shots of the new R7 and R7 Plus, showing that the Plus version packs a fingerprint sensor on the back, similar to the Oppo N3. The R7 Plus will also feature on-screen navigation screens, while the Oppo R7 keeps the capacitive keys (though users will likely be able to switch to on-screen navigation if they wish). Both phones seem to feature metallic unibody constructions, with 2.5D glass on the front. The R7 is expected to feature a 5.2-inch display, while judging from the images, the Plus version will be closer to 6 inches.
VOOC fast charging, one of the key features of the Oppo R5 and Oppo Find 7 before it, will, of course, be included in the package. Qualcomm’s Quick Charge tech has made fast charging widely available on modern flagships, but Oppo’s approach is superior, according to the Chinese company.
The TV commercials also hint at some sort of fast focus technology for the camera, though we’ll have to wait for the official unveiling for clarification.
Now that we have the first real look at the Oppo R7, and its surprise companion, the R7 Plus, what are your first impressions?
China’s smartphone market reaching saturation as Apple takes top spot
A new smartphone market share report says that smartphone shipments in China fell 4.3 per cent in the first quarter compared with a year ago. Since 2011 China has been the world’s largest smartphone market and was in many ways a green field sector. Most people buying smartphones in China have, until now, been first time buyers. But now it seems that the market has reached saturation and from here in China is now an upgrade market.
The new numbers come from research conducted by International Data Corp (IDC). Other, rival surveys, suggest that China’s smartphone market continued to grow during the quarter, but at much slower levels than previously. Either way, it is clear that this is a turning point.
According to Apple’s financial results for Q1 2015, the Cupertino company sells more iPhone in China than it does in the USA. Now, the new data shows that Apple has pushed Xiaomi off the top spot to become China’s largest smartphone maker by market share. It was IDC that ranked Xiaomi as the top smartphone OEM in China for Q4 2014, with the company taking a 13.7% market share. At the time IDC reckoned that Apple had a 12.3% market share.
IDC also reports that Samsung has fallen to fourth place in China for Q1, a big drop from its #1 position of a year ago.
Xiaomi has traditionally focused on the low-end of the Chinese smartphone market, however recently it has also been targeting the top end. Just last week the company launched its $480 Mi Note Pro. The new device features a 5.7 inch Quad HD LCD display, a Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, a 13MP camera, a 3090 mAh battery, and LTE category 9. The company has also been working to expand beyond China.
Over the past year, Xiaomi made the jump to its first markets outside China, and is now operating in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. It entered the Indian market in July 2014, and it has managed to become an established player in that cutthroat market, having sold a million devices in the first six months.
Now the $46 billion company is looking towards another large, dynamic market: Brazil. Talking to the press in Taiwan, Hugo Barra (a native of Brazil) said Xiaomi will begin selling its affordable devices in Brazil within three months.
IDC also reports that Samsung has fallen to fourth place in China for Q1, a big drop from its #1 position of a year ago. However Samsung is still optimistic about its sales in China. “While there are signs that the explosive growth of smartphones in China will slow this year, the vast majority of China’s 885 million mobile users are using low-end and mid-range smartphones,” Samsung said in a statement. “This leaves plenty of room for upgrades to high-end phones as China’s market matures.”
China’s smartphone market is big, but it isn’t getting bigger
China’s such a big country that there’ll always be an insatiable demand for smartphones, right? Not according to research firm IDC, which believes that the nation’s phone market has contracted by four percent in the last year. The outfit’s merry band of spreadsheet-wranglers believes that the majority of Chinese people now own a mobile device, and as such, will only buy a phone when they want to upgrade.
The company has also drilled down into the winners and losers for the first quarter of the year, with no surprises as to who has come out on top. Apple is sitting comfortably on the number one spot, having shipped nearly 15 million devices in the first three months of the year. Sitting just behind it, however, are local brands Xiaomi and Huawei, which shipped 13.5 and 11.2 million phones in the same period. It’s a sadder tale for Samsung and Lenovo, both of which saw its shipments fall by a painful 53 and 22 percent, respectively.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Cellphones, Apple, Samsung, Lenovo
Via: TechCrunch, WSJ
Source: IDC
This is probably Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S2
Several months ago rumors began to mention the next generation Galaxy Tab S products. In particular, the talk of the town was teaching us that Samsung would be utilizing a 4:3 aspect ratio, premium materials (a metal frame essentially) and the latest and greatest specs. As the weeks have passed, information has slowly leaked out, and now we find ourselves with what might be a first look at the finished product. Albeit it a press render.
This leaks comes to us via @onleaks, and as you can see, the tablet looks… A lot like the Galaxy Tab A series which has already been announced and released in several key markets around the world. Assuming this is the final product, it raises a somewhat odd question coming from Samsung: why does this premier premium product look like a baseline-budget one? Last year’s Galaxy Tab S series featured an exclusive design (reminiscent of the Galaxy S5) that looked night-and-day different from the Galaxy Tab 4, Galaxy Tab Pro, and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014/Pro 12.2 devices which came before it.
When last we heard, it is expected that in addition to a QHD SuperAMOLED screen, the Tab S2 series will come with an Exynos 5433 32-Bit CPU, but it may be replaced with the 7420 given the latter’s 64-bit processing — something that will come in handy with the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop build that they will be running on. Category 6 LTE will be supported on cellular models. The device will include 3GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage with microSD support up to 128GB. The 8-inch model will have a 3,580 mAh battery, the 9.7 inch, a 5,870 mAh unit. Both models will have an 8 megapixel rear camera and 2.1 front camera, according to the leaks.
Galaxy Tab S
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Assuming this leak is genuine, could Samsung be standardizing its tablet offerings? Might we be missing something (like the possibility of a glass back)? Moreover, what would this mean for Samsung products released later this year? Will they look similar to the S6?
AIVAnet 