Android OEM strategies in 2015: which OEM’s are heading in the right direction?
The year 2015 has been a mixture of rebirth and, arguably, stagnation, depending on the OEM in question and who you ask. Some players have largely kept the same strategy, for better or worse, while others have started to plant the seeds of change with shakeups in design and software. We have to wonder, which OEMs are heading in the right direction, and which aren’t?
Before we ask that question, let’s take a look at each OEM and highlight their basic strategy for 2015 so far.
Samsung
One the biggest examples of change in 2015 can be seen in Samsung. While the company’s button layout and UI design has largely stayed the same in 2015, they have considerably evolved their design language and streamlined the software experience starting with the Samsung Galaxy S6. At the same time, they have also made some stark changes in their product philosophy with the decision to cut microSD and removable batteries from their key 2015 flagships.
Not everyone is a fan of the changes Samsung has made, but there’s no denying that people are now buzzing about Samsung in a way they simply weren’t in 2014.
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HTC
An example of a company that has done little to change their strategy this year is HTC. Despite continued hard fiscal times, HTC did little to raise the bar with its 2015 One M9 flagship. The year isn’t over just yet, and HTC may have a few cards up its sleeve, but ultimately the lack of change is probably a big surprise to fans who were hoping to see something a bit more awe-inspiring from the troubled handset maker.
Bottom-line, HTC’s reluctance for change has led to many would-be consumers dismissing the brand as a viable option in 2015.
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Motorola
Starting with the Moto X, Motorola has been firmly planted in the philosophy that experience is really what matters, not the specs or even the shiny extras. This had led to the company focusing on customization, pricing, user-friendly software, and a near-stock experience that flies.
In 2015, Motorola has kept this philosophy, while taking a few steps forward. The Moto G introduced Moto Maker support and waterproofing, while the Moto X Style (aka Moto X Pure Edition) has followed the trend of bigger QHD displays, and yet at the same time managed to cut pricing down to as little as $400 without sacrificing any of the elements that have made the Moto X series a popular choice for Android fans.
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LG
The year 2015 has been all about change for Samsung. In contrast, LG’s 2015 strategy seemingly is to see whatever Samsung is doing, and offer the opposite experience. This has meant a continued push for microSD and removable backs, the continuation of plastic bodies (though they’ve also offered premium options like the LG G4 leather back option), and, while they optimized the software, the LG UI is as feature packed as ever.
While LG is rumored to have a super-premium phone that might make some more aggressive changes when compared to the LG G4 and its earlier 2015 releases, this year LG seems content to continue largely doing the same as it has in past years.
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Sony
For the most part, Sony has followed a similar strategy as LG and HTC in 2015, namely kept things pretty status quo. While the Japanese giant did slow things down a little by only releasing the Xperia Z4 (aka Z3+ or Z4V) in select regions, the company has continued to push the same overall aesthetics and experience. That said, the latter half of 2015 has now introduced a small shift for the company.
The Xperia Z5 family largely looks the same as its predecessors, but the company did surprise the world with the first 4K smartphone, dubbed the Z5 Premium. The software experience has also become even more stock-like than in the past, retaining many of the menu choices and material design influences found in stock Android. The biggest difference is now custom icons and the presence of select Sony apps.
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The rest of the pack
These are obviously far from the only OEMs out there, though they are arguably the biggest and most popular, at least in the western world.
As an honorable mention, ZTE has made some pretty big shifts this year with the Axon, a nearly OnePlus One-priced flagship with a lot of potential. Huawei is also looking to turn its attention further to the North American market releasing at least a few US-focused devices this year, and will introduce a Nexus flagship later this month, at least if rumors prove correct.
We’ve also seen Alcatel change its direction by bringing us the Idol 3, one of the first Alcatel OneTouch devices to actually be worth our attention, due to a competition of good looks, solid hardware, and an aggressive price. And then there’s Asus, which has kept a similar direction in 2015, but taken it to a whole new level with the ZenFone 2.
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Who is heading in the right direction, who isn’t?
To be fair, the answer to that question is completely subjective. Looking at the strategies, Samsung is the OEM that has made the most aggressive changes this year, though it remains unseen if whether or not these changes will truly pay off in 2015 and beyond. Motorola has kept to its guns, while making a few refinements in its strategy that has really put the company in a good place. LG falls somewhere in the middle.
With minor changes in strategy, LG has yet to “fall on hard times”, but the LG G4 hasn’t been a runaway success either. That said, LG has the Nexus 5x and likely one other flagship coming our way before the end of the year that could help further push the company upward in market dominance. Out of the bigger OEMs, it is Sony and HTC that have disappointed the most this year. Though the two companies are both falling further down the ladder, neither seems to be making the bold moves needed to turn their perspective ships around.
What do you think, which OEMs do you feel are heading in the right direction in 2015? Which aren’t?
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Latest Android distribution numbers posted, Lollipop now resides on 21% of all devices
Google has just released an update to the Android distribution numbers, giving us a good look at how many active mobile devices are running each version of Android. Currently, 21 percent of all Android devices are running Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher, which is a 2.9-percent increase over last month’s numbers.
As for the other numbers, 39.2 percent of Android devices are running 4.4 KitKat, which is only a .1-percent decrease from last month. Jelly Bean currently resides on 31.8 percent of all devices, down from 33.6 percent from last month. Ice Cream Sandwich has also seen a .4-percent decrease from last month, now sitting at just 3.7 percent. Gingerbread is still holding on at 4.1 percent of all device (down from 4.6 percent in August), and yes, Froyo is still installed on some Android devices as well. It’s only at .2 percent (down from .3 from last month), so we should see it drop off the distribution numbers chart sometime relatively soon. Any Android versions with less than .1 percent distribution are not shown.
It’s certainly great to see Lollipop becoming more widely adopted throughout the Android ecosystem as we near the official launch of Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
ZTE partners with AT&T to create the carrier’s first plug-in mobile hotspot for the car
ZTE has just partnered with AT&T to create the carrier’s first plug-in Wi-Fi mobile hotspot for the car. This new device is called the Mobley, and it will allow up to five mobile devices to connect to the internet using high-speed data from AT&T on the go.
The Mobley connects to your vehicle’s OBD II port and should work with most vehicles made in 1996 and later. Once you plug it in for the first time, you won’t need to fuss with any extra charging cables or additional cords – your vehicle will automatically power the Mobley, giving you quick access to a Wi-Fi connection whenever you need it. And since there’s no need to charge the device, it will automatically turn off when the car is off.
The hotspot will be available from AT&T on Friday, September 11th for free with a new two-year agreement, or for $99.99 without a contract. You can add the Mobley to the Mobile Share Value plan for an additional access charge of $10 per month, or connected with a DataConnect plan with monthly charges of $20 for 1GB or $30 for 3GB.
For more information, head to the link below to learn more about the new ZTE Mobley mobile hotspot for the car.
The Xperia Z5 Premium has 4K: A picture-perfect product , or not?
Have you heard the latest re-invention in the street?
Take me on a journey with the rhythm in my feet
Takes me to the left and it takes me to the right
Posing as a savior if you fall across the nightBlink and You’ll Miss a Revolution by Cut/Copy
While we may never know exactly what major shake-up was being described, Cut/Copy has arguably, years earlier, defined that which Sony brought forth at its IFA 2015 conference last week. Indeed so minute a mention was it given during their press event that if you dared shut your eyes for even a split second, you’d miss it entirely: The Xperia Z5 Premium has a 4K display. Yes, a 4K display. This is big if not positively enormous. In fact, the only thing small about what’s going on here is a diminutive 5.5-inch screen that will house such a pixel perfect panel.
Ahead of IFA, the tech world has been up-in-arms over the possibility of Sony’s “surprise” with many doubting the possibility of such. As it now official, we take a look at Sony’s motivations for going 4K and whether such a jump was really needed.
Why 4K?
A strange strategy
Performance problems
Is 806ppi even tangible?
Wrapping up
Gameloft and Hasbro joining together to make TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends mobile game
Gameloft and Hasbro are partnering on a mobile game called TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends. The game will be for smartphones and tablets, and is aimed at providing trivia fun for all ages.
Trivial Pursuit is one of the most popular board games in the world, but is now finally making it’s way to mobile in the form of TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends. The game is basically the same as the original Trivial Pursuit, but brings a new social aspect to it.
Some new features of the game are:
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Duel mode: Challenge your friends or other players to a quiz-off in real-time!
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Blitz mode: 4 players compete in a test of knowledge and speed
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Events mode: Take on brand new, specially-themed quizzes every week. Score big to climb the leaderboards and earn exclusive rewards
The game is not out yet, but is coming soon. It will be available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android and Windows Phones.
Press Release:
PARIS, September 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ —
Gameloft, a leading digital and social game publisher, and Hasbro Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) announce the launch of the TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friendsmobile game. One of the most popular trivia games in the world will be soon available globally on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android and Windows Phone. The TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends mobile game brings a whole new social dimension to the original game, offering players endless fun with fast-paced gameplay wherever they are. With new relevant content, the TRIVIAL PURSUITmobile game invites everyone to get in on the trivia action.
The TRIVIAL PURSUIT game has been a favorite since the 1980s and the newTRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends mobile game will let fans enjoy the beloved trivia game with new questions and completely new ways to play! Players will also discover all-new customization options for a fun and social gaming experience on their smartphone or tablet that they can enjoy in short bites.
The TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends mobile game includes thousands of new questions and introduces new challenges such as:
- Duel mode: Challenge your friends or other players to a quiz-off in real-time!
- Blitz mode: 4 players compete in a test of knowledge and speed
- Events mode: Take on brand new, specially-themed quizzes every week. Score big to climb the leaderboards and earn exclusive rewards
“The TRIVIAL PURSUIT game is one of the most well-known trivia games the world,” states Gonzague De Vallois, Senior Vice President Publishing at Gameloft. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Hasbro to bring a new mobileoffering with fun social features that allow fans from around the world to play and interact with each other wherever they are.”
“We have seen the popularity of trivia games continue to rise, and are thrilled towork with Gameloft to offer fans a new way to experience the TRIVIAL PURSUIT brand on the platforms they engage with most.” States Mark Blecher, senior vice president of business development and digital gaming at Hasbro.« The TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends mobile game offers our fans new and exciting ways to play, bringing friends and family together in town or across the globe with content everyone can enjoy.”
The TRIVIAL PURSUIT & Friends mobile game will be available soon for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android and Windows Phone.
About Gameloft:
A leading digital and social game publisher, Gameloft® has established itself as one of the top innovators in its field since 2000. Gameloft creates games for all digital platforms, including mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (including Apple® iOS, Android® and Windows® devices), set-top boxes and connected TVs. Gameloft operates its own established franchises such as Asphalt®, Order & Chaos, Modern Combat or Dungeon Hunter and also partners with major rights holders including Universal, Illumination Entertainment, Disney®, Marvel®, Hasbro®, Fox Digital Entertainment, Mattel® and Ferrari®.
Gameloft is present on all continents, distributes its games in over 100 countries and employs over 5,200 developers.
Gameloft is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris (Euronext: GFT.PA, Bloomberg: GFT FP, Reuters: GLFT.PA). Gameloft is traded OTC in the US (sponsored Level 1 ADR ticker: GLOFY).
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences, by leveraging its beloved brands, including LITTLEST PET SHOP, MAGIC: THE GATHERING, MONOPOLY, MY LITTLE PONY, NERF, PLAY-DOH and TRANSFORMERS, and premier partner brands. From toys and games, television programming, motion pictures, digital gaming and lifestyle licensing, Hasbro fulfills the fundamental need for play and connection with children and families around the world. The Company’s Hasbro Studios and its film label, ALLSPARK PICTURES, create entertainment brand-driven storytelling across mediums, including television, film, digital and more. Through the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, including philanthropy, Hasbro is helping to build a safe and sustainable world and to positively impact the lives of millions of children and families. Learn more at http://www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro & @HasbroNews) and Instagram (@Hasbro).
HASGP
Press Contact :
Mandy Paez
Gameloft U.S PR Manager
mandy.paez@gameloft.com
+1-415-852-7209
Source: PR Newswire
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Adblock Browser returns to the Play Store, adds iOS support
You may have heard of Adblock Plus, the most popular advertisement blocker extension for Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Internet Explorer. Today, the company is expanding upon that. After being previously taken down, the Adblock Browser has made a return to the Play Store.
The Adblock Browser aims to let users browse with freedom. When designing the browser, the company put a clean experience at the top of their to do list. From initial testing, it can be said that the Adblock browser is one of the cleanest browsers to date. It’s fast, responsive and clean, which makes for a great user experience. However, Adblock focuses mostly on the basics and may not be as advanced or feature rich as some other present day browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera and Microsoft’s newly announced Edge browser. But features aren’t everything, it depends what’s best for your personal use. And with Adblock browser you can count on a safe and clean way to search.
For the first time ever, Adblock is available on iOS, so iPhone and iPad users can enjoy the ad free experience. Adblock has a small head start on Apple, which is likely readying a version of Safari with Ad blocking capabilities to be announced tomorrow at its scheduled conference. Google and Mozilla on the other hand incorporated the ad blocking service nearly two years ago. Android users can download Adblock Plus at the link down below.
Source: ABP
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Rdio hits Harman/Kardon and Denon connected speakers, Samsung TVs
If you prefer Rdio’s brand of music streaming, there are some new options for connected speakers and smart TVs that play nice with the service. The audio subscription (including its free tier) is now available on Harman/Kardon and Denon audio gear and Samsung’s line of smart TVs. What’s more, Rdio will soon launch on connected TVs from Hisense and LG as well. These devices join Rdio’s list of in-home tech that already includes the likes of Sonos, Roku, Amazon TV, Chromecast and more. The music app also plays nice with Google Cast, so you can employ it on compatible speaker setups from LG and Sony.
Filed under:
Internet, Software
Source:
Rdio
Tags: audio, denon, harmankardon, music, musicstreaming, rdio, samsung, streaming
What to expect from Apple’s ‘Hey Siri’ iPhone event
Gosh, is it September already? The impending leaf death and the moaning of young’uns going back to school are usually accompanied by shiny new Apple gewgaws to gawk at, and this year is no exception. We’ll be schlepping cross-country to bring you all the news from Apple’s “Hey Siri” event at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern on Wednesday, but before we grab our boarding passes and all our cameras, let’s recap what we think the company’s got in store for us.
New iPhones with a familiar twist
Anyone hoping for a massive design overhaul has at least a year to wait — the two new iPhones, the 6s and the 6s Plus, should look just about identical to the models we’ve already got. The only major exterior differences are subtle ones, like a near-imperceptibly thicker waistline, a new rose gold finish and a shift toward the same 7000 Series aluminum used in the Apple Watch Sport. Sorry. Still, that just means we’re getting plenty of under-the-hood improvements. Expect to see some new silicon in the form of a new A9 processor made by Samsung coupled with 2GB of RAM (finally bringing it in line with the iPad Air 2).
We don’t know how fast the A9 is going to be clocked, but snappier performance is table stakes in a game like this and at least one sketchy rumor claims it’s about 20 percent more powerful than last year’s A8. Meanwhile, a tipster on Weibo first posted details of the new iPhones’ 12-megapixel camera back in July, a notion that’s been accepted and expanded on in recent weeks. The camera upgrade also means the new iPhones will be able to shoot 4K video, a feature that’s already found its way into most flagship Android phones. Throw in a screen-based selfie flash and a modestly improved FaceTime camera and you’ve got the photographic situation in a nutshell.
And then, of course, there’s Force Touch. We’ve already gotten a taste of it in the Apple Watch and a slew of updated MacBooks, but the feature is expected to get a little more nuanced when it makes its way to these new iPhones. 9to5Mac reports that the 6s and 6s Plus will be able to pick up three distinct levels of pressure — a tap, a press and a deep press — with a little help from an updated version of Apple’s Taptic Engine. Let’s not mince words: This has the potential to be the biggest change in how we interact with iPhones since the launch of the App Store seven years ago. Reports suggest that Force Touch will be very subtly integrated into the system as a whole, acting as a way to access actions and shortcuts for supported apps. This might not sound like a huge deal, but developers will flock to it and it’s in line with the “get things done faster” philosophy Apple embraced with its Watch.
The iPad finally goes Pro
The first mention of a super-sized “Pro” iPad model started floating around in 2013, and it looks like its time has finally come. If all those rumors hold true, we’ll be looking at a tablet with an enormous 12.9-inch display onstage soon — that’s even larger than the Surface Pro’s spacious screen. While we’re talking Surface similarities, Apple reportedly has a keyboard cover and a Force Touch-sensitive stylus ready to go with this premium slab, although you’ll probably have to buy them separately.
A pro-level version of the iPad will need more than just a big screen to set itself apart from its punier siblings, and that’s where 9to5Mac says the new A9X chip comes into play. It’s said to be a big step forward from the already-powerful A8X chipset in the existing iPad Air 2, but the big question is how much more oomph does it pack than the A9 found in the iPhone 6s. Here’s hoping the answer is “loads.” This thing should also come with a lot of custom iOS 9 enhancements to put that screen to good use; among other things, we’re hearing it can run two full-size iPad apps side by side. Alas, don’t expect to waltz into an Apple Store and buy one the day after the event: Production delays have been part of the iPad Pro narrative for months and the best guesses now have pegged a late fall launch.
Then there’s the slightly neglected iPad Mini line, which was hardly touched last time — all it got was a new color and a Touch ID-laden home button. Feh. The scuttlebutt this time ’round suggests Apple’s tiny tab will sport the same specs and sleek design we got in last year’s iPad Air 2. Better late than never, we guess.
The OS-man cometh
New hardware also means new software to power it, and we’ve already got a solid grasp on what’s new in iOS 9. Now all that’s left to wait for is an official release date, which Apple will probably drop toward the end of the event tomorrow. We’ll also likely get a firm launch window for watchOS 2 as well, which brings a handful of new watch faces and support for native Watch apps to your wrist. Does anyone care to make a bet?
Reaching deeper into your living room
The Apple TV is no “hobby” — not anymore. It’s a cheap, easy-to-use Trojan horse that funnels more of Cupertino’s content into our lives and it’s getting a pretty hefty upgrade. On a hardware level, the next-gen Apple TV should be bumped to either 8GB or 16GB of internal storage and get the same A8 brain as the current generation iPhones. That trademark black chassis should shed a few millimeters in the process, but the really neat physical changes might happen on that once-chintzy silver remote. TechCrunch suggests it’ll have embedded Wii-like motion-control sensors, which developers will probably have a field day with as they build apps for display in the platform’s new App Store. And yeah, as you probably guessed, the unholy combination of a motion-sensing controller and an app store means we’re likely to see gaming take on renewed importance onstage tomorrow.
Waggling your remote isn’t the only new way you’ll be able to interact with an Apple TV. In addition to having a touch-sensitive pad wedged into its top quarter, the remote will have a microphone so you can chat up Siri. If reports hold true, you can ask Siri to search for specific actors or titles with your voice — it’ll then scour multiple sources for content that fits the bill. The age of universal search is upon us, and it couldn’t have happened soon enough. After all, pecking out titles like Scrotal Recall with the d-pad on existing Apple TV remotes was always, always a pain in the ass. In a way, the Apple TV is being molded into something more like the NVIDIA Shield TV set-top box; you won’t hear us complaining about that. The thing is, this new version of Apple’s squarish hockey puck isn’t expected to play nice with 4K video content. The move isn’t completely insane — there’s still a dearth of ultra-high-res content out there — but it is a little puzzling considering the new iPhones should be able to record at that resolution just fine.
In the end…
This represents the lion’s share of what Apple will probably talk up in a massive auditorium tomorrow, but there’s always the chance CEO Tim Cook will pull out something completely random. The only way to know for sure is to park it here and join us bright and early(ish) tomorrow — let’s just take it all in together, shall we?
Tags: apple, event, ios, ios9, ipad, ipadpro, iphone, iphone6, iphone6plus, iphone6s, iphone6splus, mobilepostcross, preview, whattoexpect
Ubisoft is building a tiny indoor theme park in Malaysia
If you were excited about Nintendo’s deal to put its characters in Universal theme parks, chew on this: the publisher behind games like Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance and the Raving Rabbids games is building it’s own amusement park. No kidding — Ubisoft has partnered with RSG, a Malaysian park developer, to create a 100,000+ square foot indoor facility in Kuala Lumpur featuring Ubisoft-themed rides, attractions and shows.
Believe it or not, this isn’t as unprecedented as you might think. Last year Ubisoft partnered with a France’s Parc du Futuroscope to create a Raving Rabbids ride, and Sega built a similar indoor theme park in Dubai. Don’t expect a Disneyland for video games, though — the proposed park’s footprint is small enough to fit inside a Walmart, Target or Home Depot store. Can a theme park survive on the power of third-party video game franchises alone? We’ll find out in 2020.
[Image credit: AFP/Getty Images]
Via:
Rock Paper Shotgun
Source:
Ubisoft
Tags: amusementpark, assassinscreed, gaming, malaysia, rabbids, themeparks, tomclancy, ubisoft, ubisoftg, videogames
Adblock Browser for Android now officially available in the Google Play Store
Adblock Plus is by far the most popular way to block advertisements on desktop, so it should be no surprise to see the service finally make its way to mobile devices. After being available on Android in open beta form for some time, Eyeo, the developers behind Adblock Plus, have finally brought its Adblock Browser to the Google Play Store for all to download.
Similar to the experience you’d find on a desktop, Adblock Browser for Android lets you browse the Internet more quickly without running into advertisements wherever you go. You’ll be able to whitelist specific websites to ensure they’re not taking a revenue cut, and you can even choose to block all advertisements for every website you visit. This new app claims to be able to load webpages much faster while also saving precious battery life and mobile data.
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Along with a number of other ad-blocking services, Adblock Plus was removed from the Google Play Store in 2013 for breaching the Google Play Developer Program Policies. The company has successfully found a way to re-list the app in the Play Store without getting on Google’s bad side. There are a few notable differences between Adblock’s previous app and this new browser, though. Adblock Browser is a browser replacement, which will block ads from only within the app itself. Adblock Plus (the app that was removed) was interfering with ads in a third-party application, which certainly caused quite a stir at the time.
Related: Google found a way to bypass Adblock in YouTube
Apple is holding its big press event tomorrow, where the company is expected to explain how iOS 9 users will be able to block advertisements from within Safari on mobile. Adblock’s new browser app coupled with the news that will likely come from tomorrow’s Apple event will not only allow users to block more ads, but will also likely impact the income of online publishers all over the web.
If you’re interested in the new app, head to the Play Store link below.
AIVAnet 