Microsoft Needs To Get Aggressive With Windows Phone Right Now

For the past few weeks, I have been experimenting with the Windows Phone 8.1 beta on a Nokia Nokia Lumia 1520.  For those that are unfamiliar with it, the Lumia 1520 is Nokia’s current flagship “phablet” that’s packing a massive 6” FullHD, ClearBlack IPS LCD, a 20MP PureView camera, and a 2.2GHz quad-coreQualcomm QCOM +0.27% Snapdragon 800 SoC. Unlike previous-gen Windows Phones, which have generally lagged behind competing Android-based devices in terms of their hardware specifications, the Nokia Lumia 1520 can hang with the best of them. The Lumia 1520 is fast, offers great battery life, the screen and camera are excellent, and the device is generally a pleasure to use, once you get used to the Windows Phone interface, of course.

With the Windows Phone 8.1 beta installed on the Lumia 1520, however, it becomes a different—and much better—device. A number of the shortcomings of the stock Windows Phone 8 installation are addressed, which makes the phone more user-friendly. Some new features make it easier to personalize the device as well. There’s a new action center, which finally brings a proper notification shade to Windows Phone. There is also an updated keyboard, the Cortana digital assistant (similar to Siri), and new storage and data related “Sense” apps that make it easy to track things like data usage, free storage space, and Wi-Fi networks. I’m not sure if this is a feature exclusive to the Lumia 1520, but the ambient light sensor on the phone now does a much better job of detecting when the phone is being used outdoors, in direct sunlight. The contrast, color saturation, and brightness are altered on the fly when the phone is in direct sunlight, which makes the device’s screen infinitely more readable outdoors.

The point of all of these changes is to not only bring more features to the Windows Phone platform, and add some things that are already familiar to users of competing platforms like Android and iOS, e.g. the notification shade, a digital assistant, background images, the workflow keyboard, etc. In my opinion,Microsoft MSFT +1.23% is on the right track. Windows Phone 8.1 is significantly more user friendly and the platform is so fast and fluid I can’t go back to Android for my personal device. I still keep a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 around essentially for gaming, but the Nokia Lumia 1520 is now my daily driver. There are so many things I like better about Windows Phone at this point, it’s going to take an amazing device to get me to switch back to Android.

I had tried to make the switch a few times in the past, but couldn’t bring myself to do it permanently, because I felt using the Windows Phone platform meant making too many sacrifices versus Android or iOS. I no longer feel that is that case, with my particular use model.  This won’t be true for everyone, but as someone who uses his smartphone mostly for e-mail, web browsing, managing a few servers and desktop PCs, and using social networks, Windows Phone 8.1 is great. There are still far fewer apps available for the platform versus Android and iOS, but at this point, the only things I really miss are a few games, hence the reason I also keep a Note 3 on hand.

If Windows Phone was able to win me over, it should be able to convert a large number of consumers as well. And it seems to me as if now—RIGHT NOW—is a perfect time for Microsoft to get far more aggressive with their Windows Phone push. I’m sure some of you will disagree, but I get the sense that many Android loyalists aren’t quite as enthusiastic about the platform and its flagship devices as they once were. The Samsung Galaxy S 5 and HTC HTC One M8, for example, didn’t seem to generate nearly as much excitement as previous-gen flagship devices did. Apple AAPL +1.18% is also a few months off from releasing the iPhone 6 (assuming that’s the device’s name) and the perception of the iPhone 5s has gone from cutting-end, to old hat. The buzz around Amazon’s just announced Fire Phone also seems to prove the smartphone market is itching for something different.  All of these things point to an opportunity for Microsoft and it’s (select few) Windows Phone partners.

Microsoft has a golden opportunity that could generate significant momentum for Windows Phone as we move into Q4 and the holiday buying season. The company needs to get Windows Phone 8.1 onto as many current-gen devices as it can and significantly amp up its marketing efforts. Microsoft needs to get an array of Windows Phone-based devices onto every major carrier as well. And it also needs to do a better job of educating sales people on the benefits and features of Windows Phone.  Building off of the Xbox One’s momentum could help lure in younger consumers, who may find Windows Phone’s Xbox integration and Smartglass features attractive. Associating Windows Phone with the recently released Surface Pro 3 and showing off the synergies possible with Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone would be advisable as well.

There is no magic bullet that’s going to propel Windows Phone into the stratosphere, but the market conditions are right for Microsoft to make and aggressive push to gain some more traction. The time to act is now.

Android To Abandon Headphone Jack? New Audio Output In Android 5.0

Earlier this month Apple sent shockwaves through the tech sector when it released a new specification allowing it to make Lightning headphones and skip the traditional 3.5mm headphone jack entirely. Well now Google can do the same.

USB Audio Headphones

Google brushed over the feature during its I/O 2014 keynote yesterday, but in a slide from its presentation (pictured below) it quietly announced Android L would bring support for ‘USB audio’. And just like Apple’s proposed use of the Lightning connector, audio over USB has potential upsides.

Most notable is the potential to increase performance. How this would work is USB (and Lightning) headphones would be able to bypass a handset’s (typically poor) digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) and allow higher quality powered DACs to be integrated directly into headphones.

Up until now DACs have previously been of interest primarily to audiophiles, but with significant power able to be sent over these standards the moves from Apple and Google could change that. Similarly the Lightning and USB ports could be used to power headphones with noise cancellation allowing for slimmer, lighter form factors.

There is also the potential for app integration effectively creating ‘smart headphones’. The fruits of this will be down to developers’ imagination, but examples could include triggering specific apps when headphones are connected and tying that app launch to different locations.

There are also health implications with headphones potentially able to fit sensors and monitor heart rate, perspiration and even electrical signals from the brain. Then again this functionality could be duplicated with existing wireless technology.

Money Driven?

By contrast, cynics would argue the move by both Apple and Google is motivated by the desire to trigger significant growth in the headphone sector. Apple has a clearer motivation for this with its purchase of Beats, but Google may be tempted to enter the sector itself.

Conversely while Apple could rake in millions from Lightning port licensing fees, Google’s use of microUSB (and soon the reversible micro USB 3.1 standard – below) would likely preclude that and is therefore more likely to be motivated by a desire to drive another area of ‘smart’ technology.

So is Google just copying Apple? Actually no. From a product roadmap perspective it would be virtually impossible for Google to react so quickly to Apple’s specification submission earlier this month. Furthermore the Nexus 5already supports USB audio.

Practicalities

But how practical is this? A common question when Apple’s Lightning headphone specification was announced was: how you do simultaneously listen to headphones and charge your device? Neither company has spoken up on the topic, but the key may lie in the past.

When headphone jacks on phones were still largely proprietary Sony addressed this by allowing headphones to plug into the back of the connector on its chargers. An elegant variant of this would seem likely.

Of course what is unavoidable is fragmentation. Many users have a combination of iOS, Mac, Android and Windows devices and needing to have different headphones for each (especially if Microsoft joins the fray) will be infuriating and, potentially, expensive. It is also likely to lock users tighter into specific ecosystems as a consequence.

In my opinion it also feels totally unnecessary. The future for headphones and earphones is being wire-free and there are a number of open, smart wireless standards where it would make more sense to focus time and resources. Fragmenting the wired standard when it is only likely to last another 5-10 years in any case seems needlessly disruptive.

 Don’t Panic

But if all this has you hot under the collar don’t panic. For those tied to their headphones I wouldn’t expect either company to ditch the trusty headphone jack from its devices any time soon.

For Google in particular it has to rely on handset manufacturers having the confidence to make the jump. And even then I would only envisage the headphone jack being dropped should customers have shown enough willing to switch and Lightning/USB headphone sales had gained enough traction.

Despite these caveats it is clear both companies are now actively looking for alternatives to the oldest universal technology standard still in use and given most users have no complaints with the 3.5mm jack they will face a battle to succeed.

No-contract Windows Phone 8.1 Nokia Lumia 635 for AT&T and T-Mobile available for pre-order from Microsoft

Microsoft has begun taking pre-orders for the AT&T and T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 635. The budget smartphone is one of the first Windows Phone smartphones to ship with Windows Phone 8.1.

Nokia's entry-level Lumia 520/521 has been the most successful Windows Phone smartphone. The budget handset is offered pre-paid from carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T in the U.S. The handset can be purchased for well below $100 and offers users a Windows Phone smartphone that offers some impressive specs and features at a very affordable price and no contract.

The smartphone can also be upgraded to the upcoming Windows Phone 8.1 OS; we created a guide in case you're looking to try out Windows Phone 8.1 on your current Windows Phone 8 smartphone.

If you were interested in what is sure to be another big hit for Nokia, the Microsoft Store is now taking pre-orders for the T-Mobile and AT&T Nokia Lumia 635. Microsoft hasn't revealed just when those pre-orders will ship, but considering Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be released in the coming weeks, an official launch can't be far off.

The Nokia Lumia 635 features a 4.5-inch 480 x 854 Gorilla Glass 3 ClearBlack display with a pixel density of  218 pixels per inch (ppi). It's powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, Adreno 305 GPU (graphics processing unit), and 512 MB of RAM. It has 8 GB of internal storage.

The Nokia Lumia 635's camera capabilities include a 5-megapixel rear camera that can record 720p HD video. Its removable 1830 mAh battery will provide up to 14 hours of talk time and up to 648 hours of standby time. The  dimensions of the 635 are 129.5 x 66.7 x 9.2 mm, 78.5 cc (5.10 x 2.63 x 0.36 in) and it weighs 134 g (4.73 oz).

The Nokia Lumia 635 also benefits from having a 4G LTE radio, which will allow users to access AT&T and T-Mobile's 4G networks.

Interested customers can pre-order the no-contract AT&T Nokia Lumia 635 from Microsoft for $99, while the T-Mobile Nokia Lumia 635 is priced a little higher at $129. We'll keep you updated once we hear any information on an expected ship date.

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Google will implement new ‘kill switch’ feature in next version of Android

Say what you want about the iPhone, one of the phone’s single greatest features is the ability to prevent the device from being factory reset and used by another party as their own (without permission, of course). But in a statement issued today by Google, the search giant will finally be implementing a similar feature for the next major Android release.

But Google isn’t the only one. Microsoft will also be joining Google in offering this “factory reset protection solution.” It’s unclear whether the new security feature will join existing ones found in the Android Device Manager, but we’re sure to learn more during Google I/O kicking off in a few more days.

This is all in an effort to curb smartphone thefts and couldn’t have come at a better time. A recent reports showed a 19% drop off in iPhone thefts from 2013 to 2014 thanks to Apple’s kill switch feature on their devices. Don’t forget, a new bill introduced in February is looking to require all phones sold in the US to include kill switch functionality. Senators believe that this is the only way to truly prevent smartphone thefts, making it common knowledge that would-be smartphone thieves are getting little more than a shiny new brick.

While we weren’t expecting to see “the next version of Android” debut until later this year (for Android Silver or another Nexus device), Android 4.4.4 made a surprise appearance today on Nexus/Google Play edition devices. It’s possible the kill switch could arrive in yet another version of KitKat, or in the next major Android release (Android 5.0 Lollipop or whatever you wanna call it). We’ll have to wait until we hear more from Google.

Windows Phone 8.1 the innovations overview

SoftBank to cut smartphone charges in Japan

SoftBank Corp, Japan's No.3 mobile carrier, will cut its smartphone charges in Japan with a flat rate for unlimited voice calling and cheaper data plans, in a sign that price competition may be starting to pick up in Japan's mobile market. 

The lower rates, to take effect next month, are similar to reductions this month by rival NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's largest wireless provider. Regulators have grown increasingly critical of the three dominant carriers, blaming them for high smartphone fees and oligopolistic practices. 

The authorities' complaints came at an awkward time for SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, as he tries to convince US regulators that a proposed acquisition by his Sprint Corp, the No.3 US mobile carrier, of No.4 T-Mobile US Inc would boost competition in the US market, by giving the top two carriers more of a run for their money. 

In addition to flat-fee unlimited voice calling, SoftBank will offer options allowing users to roll over unused data communications to the next month or to share them with family members. 

It also will launch special offers or discounts for family plans, long-term users and subscribers aged 25 and under. 

A voice-only smartphone service will be priced at 2,700 yen ($26.33) per month, while data plans will run from 3,500 yen per month for 2GB up to 22,500 yen for 30GB. 

Japan's wireless carriers had typically offered only high-end smartphone plans with minimum charges of 5,700 yen per month for 7GB of data communications. The communications ministry has charged that the uniformly high fees showed there was insufficient competition in the industry. KDDI Corp, the second-largest carrier, is also considering offering flat-rate, unlimited calling, sources familiar with the matter have said.

Apple antitrust compliance off to a promising start: monitor

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A worker climbs outside an Apple store in Hong Kong April 10, 2013.

CREDIT: REUTERS/BOBBY YIP

(Reuters) - Apple Inc has made a "promising start" to enhancing its antitrust compliance program after being found liable last year for conspiring to raise e-book prices, but more work is required, a court-appointed monitor said Monday.

The assessment came in the first report issued by the monitor, Michael Bromwich, who found himself the subject of a bitter fight by Apple to put his work on hold while it pursues an appeal.

In a 77-page report filed in U.S. District Court in New York, Bromwich said the relationship between his team and Apple has "significantly improved" since a federal appeals court in February rejected the iPhone maker's bid to halt his work.

But Bromwich said while progress had been made in enhancing Apple's antitrust compliance program as ordered by U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, his team has only been able to speak with a limited number of company employees.

The monitoring team has been unsuccessful in speaking with senior members of Apple and "still lacks a significant amount of the information it needs to fulfill its monitoring obligations," he said.

"Based on the information Apple has provided to date, our view is that Apple has made a promising start to enhancing its antitrust compliance program, but that Apple still has much work to do," Bromwich wrote.

A lawyer for Apple declined comment. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bromwich, a former Justice Department inspector general, was appointed by Cote as monitor in October, three months after she found the company liable in the civil antitrust case.

The judge had in July found that Apple played a "central role" in scheming from late 2009 into early 2010 with five publishers to raise e-book prices and impede competitors such as Amazon.com Inc.

The publishers previously agreed to settle with the Justice Department and pay more than $166 million to resolve related states attorneys general lawsuits and consumer class actions.

The publishers included Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group Inc, News Corp's HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Penguin Group (USA) Inc, CBS Corp's Simon & Schuster Inc and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH's Macmillan.

Apple had fought against Bromwich being able to carry on in his role as monitor, contending he aggressively and improperly sought interviews with top executives and broad access to company documents.

But in February, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York rejected Apple's bid to put the monitor on hold.

In the wake of that ruling, Bromwich said "there has been a shift of tone in our relationship with Apple," and Apple has demonstrated "a greater commitment to resolving lingering disputes."

The report said Apple has fulfilled a requirement by Cote to appoint an internal antitrust compliance officer, hiring Deena Said, a former in-house attorney at Hitachi Ltd.

But Bromwich said Apple needs to take further steps to achieve the court's goals, including improving its record-keeping procedures and provide more information related to training of its personnel.

Apple continues to challenge the monitor's activities at the appellate level. It is also appealing the liability finding as it faces a July 14 trial on damages. Lawyers for the plaintiffs say they are entitled to $840 million.

The company sought permission late Monday to appeal a order by Cote last month granting class certification in the consumer class action.

The consolidated case is In Re: Electronic Books Antitrust Litigation, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 11-md-02293.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)