Text Messaging still No.1

In a recent survey by Access Systems, 73% users indicated text messaging to be the most important feature in a phone, 61% for Internet access and 63% for emailing. This totally trumpets the music features with only 34% preference and video capability at 34%.

Well its really comes as no surprise obviously, even though some people do get blind sighted by flashes of glitzy gizmos. But a phone is all about communication first and foremost. Adding an mp3 player to it is secondary, or didnt you already know? And while Apple has in fact managed to come away with just the right mix with iPhone, right look and right interface for its device... it does however, let you down in the main function: communication. Primarily text or email, basically anywhere you need to have more keystrokes than just dialing a number, you'll have a bit of a struggle with the iPhone, unless you have fingers that look like knitting needles. Or you text like this guy does on his ancient phone, using a pencil!

Though it may be hard for some users to admit it because their iPhone so cool and er... they've already spent a real good sum of money on it. The novelty does wear off for some, specially those who actually do need a serious phone, particularly smartphone users.
Bottom line: a phone HAS to be good for "communication"
I've never had any problems communicating with people, and I think its cuz my phone does the job for me quite well:

Bilal
http://elanist.com/bilal/

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iPhone 3G Complaints Start Early

Apple claims more than a million units got sold within three days of its launch. But this time it seems that iPhone has some serious quality issues, literally end-to-end.

Much lower battery life (roughly 3 hours less than its predecessor), mostly attributed to being 3G and its push mail feature. Some users suggest turning it off. Some sources have tried to brush aside this problem, claiming that its battery life is still better than other mobile phones. But its quite interesting to note that they compare it only with Windows Mobile phones. Ok why is that a surprise? Secondly, I don't believe its accurate to call iPhone a "smartphone". Its a mobile infotainment device, and yes has the capability of becoming a smartphone, once it has the right software available. But its not a smartphone *yet*, and would not be fair to compare its efficiency and battery life with other smartphones, even Windows Mobile phones.

Problems with its Safari browser freezing up or frequently taking back to home screen.
Even the beautiful display didn't escape quality issues. Many users have been complaining their 480 x 320 has a dead pixel or two.
Many of the expensive third party iPhone accessories cant be used with the new iPhone 3G.
Even MobileMe (iPhone equivalent of Exchange) has had its own issues.
So much so that Apple has decided to drop the word "push" from MobileMe's description.

Worse of all, even reports of iPhones being bricked! so be very careful when doing any firmware updates on it.

I am sure Apple will sort these issues out over time, and these problems would not deter most users. But then again, what sort of users are we talking about? Face it, majority of the users are not getting the iPhone because of its capabilities. Those who do get caught up in the hype and buy it for its capabilities as a "smartphone" end up selling it off pretty quickly. I've seen such examples among my friends.

One of my really cute friends, Valerie (i'll post her shots another time), once asked me "is iPhone a good phone?" I promptly replied "its a cool phone". That just about sums it up. Sure I love the beautiful sleek design, the nifty user-interface. All very nice, I love it. But when I wanna communicate or do something useful where you need an actual "smartphone", I would quickly put it aside on the desk and pick up my trusty old E61 in a heartbeat or would get the newer N71. When I need a feature rich smartphone with massive multimedia capabilities, I don't have to think twice before getting the powerhouse N96 or even N95 8GB. No comparison.


Bilal
http://elanist.com/bilal/

smartphones hot in Japan!

its official: 30 million smartphones sold in Japan based on Symbian OS in 2007.
Thats a ridiculously high number, considering those are 30 million smartphones not just regular mainstream mobile phones.

This goes totally against some speculations last year that Symbian market share in Japan may start to reduce because NTT DoCoMo had started to show some interest in other mobile phone OSs as well. But looks like NTT DoCoMo is way too comfortable with Symbian to show any real interest in any other smartphone OS, due to "The robustness, security and ease of customisation of Symbian OS...".

Certainly cant be good news for other smartphone OSs like Windows Mobile that are still trying to catch up(far from being a real competitor judging from the market share graph below), not because Japan is such a big market for smartphones, but it is has long been the most advanced market for mobile phones by far. Whats interesting to see is Linux has had a much bigger market share than Windows Mobile.

Nov 2007
• Symbian • Windows Mobile • Linux

Bilal

http://elanist.com/bilal/

BOOHOO For You!

found this interesting little jap cartoon at Engadget Mobile. its actually about the japanese smartphone makers making fun of western (american in particular) about how backward their phones are. it comes with this "[Warning: Psychedelic video could induce epilepsy]":



so did you get epilepsitic? epileptic? elliptical? episeptic?

boohooforyou.com



Bilal
http://elanist.com/bilal

Cash Prizes for Flash Lite developers

well if you are into developing for Flash, now there is better and more interesting incentives for you to flex your expertise a bit: Ca$h. The upcoming games portal playyoo.com has just offered a prize fund of $25,000 for Flash Lite games.

They also have setup a a sneak preview currently on offer section on their website to download some of their current cool stuff directly onto your smartphone. I've read that this game "Dawn of the Fly" is rather addictive but I havent tried it myself yet.


Flash Lite is already available on all the major smartphone OSs, but majority of the smartphone models supporting Flash Lite at the moment are running S60 on Symbian.

You can get basic information on Flash Lite on Adobe's website and for tools, SDKs and detailed stuff, Nokia has setup a forum for Flash Lite developers.

Bilal Zaheer
http://elanist.com/bilal

Making love to a plastic doll

Ok check this, touch screen is expected to be a prominent feature in most mobile phones by 2011 with upto 200 million units. Well that doesnt work for me unless it comes with tactile feedback (or haptics as they call it). Ever tried writing email or sms with touch screen? or played any games using touch screen? eugggghhh!! thats like making love to a plastic doll! I'm sure lot of you guys know how that feels like right? no feedback no response, no "feel'! sounds like someone you know?

No, if you want touch screen it BETTER come with tactile feedback so that at least you know what you're touching! As far as I know, so far only Symbian S60 has the capability for mobile phones, as demonstrated by Nokia last month. And hopefully we should be able get our hands on some of these feedback babies in the coming spring. Lets see when the rest can catch up.



I know what most of you are thinking now, "if only someone could make plastic dolls with tactile feedback".

Bilal Zaheer
http://elanist.com/bilal/

the Android is finally here

Less than a month ago I had posted about the upcoming, so called "iPod killer", from Google. Which infact is a software and not a device. Well its just had its debut! Yep, Google has finally launched its open source mobile phone OS and Google's CEO Eric Schmidt is really making some big claims about it. Thats great news for smartphone users (and I hope some day for PC users!) and certainly not good news for properietry OSs... well... Windows Mobile. The SDK will be out later this month and phones supporting Android wont be out till late next year. Google had actually bought over Android over two years ago, the interesting thing is, the founder of Android, had also started a company which made its own smartphone device with full email, browsing and messenger capabilities. Hiptop has its quite a few limitations of its own of course.
Did you know that Starhub had its own Hiptop device? its not a suprise they discontinued it though. The version pictured below is the T-mobile's Sidekick II.


So you think Google might still come out with its own "iPhone" or Windows Mobile killer device just yet? The smartphone scene is getting more and more interesting.

Bilal Zaheer
http://elanist.com/bilal

N95 Vs iPhone (seriously!)

few days back I had posted a video clip from CNet giving a comparison betweenNokia N95 and the iPhone. It looked like a pretty close call. But there is this guy named Steve Litchfield who is considered some sort of an online legend when it comes to testing mobile phones. And I gotta say, his recent comparison of the two smartphones is quite detailed with some really interesting preceding discussion on the comparison as well. In Steve's own words "Nokia N95 8GB is simply awesome as a piece of technology, winning by a landslide (over the iPod) on data connectivity, camera, video camera, GPS and application openness".

In a nuttshell, in his comparison it does seem like that the iPhone sure is a pretty cool device... but not really for a smartphone user. Its not as useful or even convenient compared to a serious smartphone like the N95 in terms of functionality and interface. I am sure once the SDK is launched in february there could be a lot of cool software available for the iPhone, but that still may not help alot because that is something already quite elementry and should have been available from the start and yet would not around for another 2 quarters. Secondly, without the tactile feedback (or "hetptics" as they are being called), the iPod is really not as user friendly for any serious smartphone user. Cant waite to see what sort of phones Nokia would come out with the new heptic Symbian 60 phones! Windows Mobile phones are not even on the scene yet. Imagine comparing an upgrade to the N95 with touch screen and heptics with the iPhone or any other smartphone. Now THAT would be totally kick ass!

Bilal Zaheer
http://elanist.com/bilal

Feedback Touch Screens ...and Nokia N95 Vs. Apple iPhone

Hey anyone tried a feedback touchscreen before? like anyone wanna share their experience of the iPhone interface yet? Looks like Symbian is "touch sensitive" too now. Nokia is has already come up with their own touchscreen interface, but they've taken a step further: Tactile Feedback. What the #&*$ is that? well thats the reason why touch screen never really caught up in 25 years! On touch screens, you cant feel what you're touching, which is what even iPhone is sort of "suffering" from. But the touch screen on Nokia not only gives feedback, but each "button" or touch could feel different! so your hand knows what its doing with the phone! haha. Certainly looking forward to check it out!

There is an interesting comparison from CNet between the Nokia N95 and the Apple iPhone. I would say its a pretty close call. I guess its more about how a person wants to use their smartphone.



Anyone heard of any plans for Windows phones coming up with feedback touchscreen?

Bilal Zaheer
http://elanist.com/bilal/