Tencent (0700.HK) has released a version of its instant messaging (IM) software QQ compatible with Google’s (Nasdaq:GOOG) Android operating system for mobile handsets, Donews reported March 31.
An unnamed Tencent executive confirmed rumors that the company is about to release a version of its QQ IM software for users of Apple’s (Nasdaq:AAPL) iPad, TechWeb.com.cn reported.
Early indications suggest that Apple’s soon-to-be-released iPad is a bona fide consumer device, but increasingly it appears that the tablet computer may appeal to business users as well. According to a recent survey of 2,443 adults with mobile phones, the first reason for using a tablet computer is work, not play.
The survey, commissioned by Sybase and conducted by Zogby International, found–not surprisingly, really–that people like portable devices that combine consumer and business functions. It also found that people would like greater access to their work applications on mobile devices. More than two-thirds of the survey respondents with smartphones said they would be more productive if they had access to twice the amount of information and applications they have now.
Meanwhile, the hype surrounding the iPad, which is scheduled to hit the shelves April 3, is soaring. Barclays Capital is estimating that nearly 5 million iPads will be sold in 2010, John Paczkowski at All Things Digital reports.
For more:
- see the Sybase press release
- read John Paczkowski’s post at All Things Digital
With Apple poised to release its anticipated iPad tablet device on Apr. 3, the computing giant is reportedly scrambling to line up media partners to supply television programming, digital news and related content optimized for the new unit. Citing sources familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reports that media firms approached by Apple are still weighing the benefits of working with the computing giant against the threat the iPad poses to their traditional revenue streams–sources indicate Apple is still negotiating with potential broadcast content partners to secure a price cut on TV shows users available for iPad download, while the company has temporarily shelved efforts to work with newspaper, magazine and textbook publishers to create new print formats optimized for the tablet UI. An Apple spokesperson declined comment.
When Apple first confirmed the iPad’s release in January, CEO Steve Jobs promised a “magical and revolutionary” experience encompassing games, web surfing, ebooks, video and print media–however, plans to offer TV subscriptions were mothballed due to limited interest from media partners, and sources say Apple is now negotiating to drop prices of television shows available in its iTunes digital storefront from $1.99 and $2.99 to 99 cents. Publishers and broadcast execs also express concerns over Apple’s decision to withhold iPad support for Adobe Systems’ Flash multimedia platform–in a blog entry following the snub, Adobe marketing group manager Adrian Ludwig argued that “without Flash support, iPad users will not be able to access the full range of web content, including over 70 percent of games and 75 percent of video on the web.”
The Wall Street Journal adds that Apple does remain on track to fully stock its new iBookstore, debuting in conjunction with the iPad. Deals are reportedly in place with major and independent publishers including Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster, and it’s expected iBookstore will offer a product inventory comparable to rival ebook efforts from booksellers Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
For more on Apple’s iPad content woes:
- read this Wall Street Journal article
Apple began taking pre-orders for its “magical and revolutionary” iPad tablet computer Friday morning, and according to a post at AppleInsider.com, the not-fully articulated device started selling at an estimated 25,000 units an hour. Apple said there will be 150,000 apps available for it–including productivity apps–from the moment it hits the shelves April 3.
Conceding that the iPad falls squarely in the realm of consumer gadgetry, Tony Bradley at PCWorld offers a few ideas on how it might be used to help a company’s workforce. For one, sales reps can pull up customer data, keep track of calls and answer leads on the iPad by using an app from Salesforce.com. For another, road warriors can use a FedEx app to make shipping labels, schedule shipments and monitor their progress.
Meanwhile, Bradley’s colleague at PCWorld, Galen Gruman, questions why anyone would pre-order a device–for $500 to $830–before even knowing what capabilities might be restricted on it. Gruman recalls previous Apple launches that left users less than satisfied. The original iPod Touch, for example, didn’t offer much in the realm of calendar alarms or email alerts, and it didn’t come with a microphone.
The iPad will surely evolve as users demand new features, and early indications suggest the device could garner the enthusiasm of the iPhone. Meanwhile, tablet computers in general hold out the potential to supplant laptops for many users, much like laptops have supplanted desktops. Enterprise IT teams should take note.
For more:
- see the Apple iPad apps announcement
- see the AppleInsider post
- see Tony Bradley’s post at PCWorld
- see Galen Gruman’s take at PCWorld
Apple has apparently boosted the maximum size of an iPhone app download over 3G from 10 MB to 20 MB. Previously, users who wanted to download an app larger than 10 MB had to switch to a WiFi connection.
The most obvious reason for the limit in the first place was likely to preserve bandwidth. However, many have speculate that Apple has made the change in anticipation of the iPad, which is set to debut in late March.
The thinking behind that is iPad application downloads will be larger than typical iPhone apps populating Apple’s App Store. Due to its 9.7-inch screen, iPad apps will have to support higher-resolutions graphics, especially for games. In the meantime, it appears iPhone users will be able to enjoy downloading larger apps while on the go using 3G.
An Apple spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
For more:
- read this Wired article
- read this CNet article
Despite growing concern over the longterm prospects of Adobe Systems’ Flash after Apple refused to include support for the multimedia platform in its forthcoming iPad tablet device, at least one analyst believes Flash will continue to thrive within the software developer community. Frost & Sullivan analyst Mike Lee tells ZDNet Asia that Adobe’s efforts to extend and enhance Flash’s presence across multiple platforms will keep the runtime alive–he also said the HTML5 specification, viewed by many as the heir to Flash’s crown, still faces some significant obstacles, with some browsers (including Mozilla’s Firefox) failing to support the proprietary video codec H.264, which is embedded in HTML5 and commonly deployed by video sites like YouTube.
Lee also contends that while the HTML5 and Ajax languages are responsible for building more interactivity into websites, most game developers remain focused squarely on Flash. ”There is no alternative platform yet, for [creating] these interactive games other than Flash,” Lee said. “Flash is a complementary technology to web standards and will continue to maintain that status.” (Earlier this week, during Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s keynote appearance at the 2010 Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, the digital service giant confirmed its Android mobile operating system will feature full support for Flash 10.1 later this year.)
Apple’s distaste for Flash technology is the stuff of legend: In March 2008, Apple CEO Steve Jobs contended the iPhone requires a media player more robust than the existing Flash mobile solution. That’s almost complimentary compared to what Jobs reportedly had to say about Flash during a town hall meeting with Apple employees soon after the iPad premiere last month: Citing a source in attendance, Wired reports Jobs dismissed Adobe as “lazy” and added that Apple doesn’t support Flash because it’s so buggy. Jobs went on to blame Flash as the culprit behind most Mac crashes, and said that the platform is facing extinction as the world moves to HTML5.
Adobe marketing group manager Adrian Ludwig responded to Apple’s decision to exclude Flash from the iPad by turning to the Adobe Flash Platform Blog, writing “It looks like Apple is continuing to impose restrictions on their devices that limit both content publishers and consumers. Unlike many other ebook readers using the ePub file format, consumers will not be able to access ePub content with Apple’s DRM technology on devices made by other manufacturers. And without Flash support, iPad users will not be able to access the full range of web content, including over 70 percent of games and 75 percent of video on the web. If I want to use the iPad to connect to Disney, Hulu, Miniclip, Farmville, ESPN, Kongregate or JibJab–not to mention the millions of other sites on the web–I’ll be out of luck.” Adobe says in the second quarter it will release Packager for iPhone, enabling application developers to adapt their Flash-based efforts for both the iPhone and the iPad.
For more on Flash’s future:
- read this ZDNet Asia article
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