Saturday, 6 September 2014
Over 85% of Generation Y Own Smartphones
Most people would guess it. A large number of people in Generation Y own smartphones. Also known as Millennials, these people were born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, which makes their median age around 25 or 30. While many used personal computers (PCs) at one point in their lives, they have been at the center of the transfer of computing to tables and smartphones. According the Nielsen, the migration from old technology is nearly complete. More than 85% of these people own smartphones.
Millennials are one of the largest population segments in the U.S., totaling about 77 million, on par with Baby Boomers. And these young consumers are the largest segment of smartphone owners. In the second-quarter 2014, 85% of Millennials aged 18-24 own devices and 86% aged 25-34 own them, an increase from 77% and 80%, respectively, in second-quarter 2013.
Based on current ownership and growth, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Samsung have reason to be optimistic about future sales, particularly if members of Generation Y replace their smartphones with new models as rapidly as they seem to have in the past. Certainly sales of the new iPhone 6 will be a marker for the trend.
Another trend that should encourage smartphone manufacturers is that overall ownership across all parts of the population is high:
We all live increasingly on our smartphones. In the U.S. — where 171.5 million people (71%) own such a device — smartphones have become the staple of everyday life and the on-the-go tool of choice for consumers looking to catch up on emails, tap their social networks or even tweet about a recent sports game.
The preference for operating systems for these devices continues to favor Google Inc. (NASDAQ; GOOG) over Apple:
In second-quarter 2014, Android was once again the top operating system, with over half of U.S. smartphones (52%) running the operating system. Apple, meanwhile, remained the top smartphone manufacturer with 43% of Americans owning an iPhone.
There is plenty of evidence the age of the PC has been replaced by the age of the smartphone. Nielsen has done nothing more than to reinforce that.
Friday, 5 September 2014
Microsoft unveils Lumia 830 & 730 'selfie' phone
BERLIN: Microsoft will seek to draw more people to its internet-based services with two new mid-range smartphones it unveiled, including one designed to help people take better selfies.
Both devices are under the Lumia brand Microsoft bought from Nokia. They run the latest version of Windows Phone 8 and feature Cortana, a Siri-like voice assistant available to help with directions, calendar appointments and messages. Many of those interactions will steer users to Microsoft services such as Bing search and OneDrive storage.
Microsoft bought Nokia's phone business in April as it seeks to boost Microsoft's Windows Phone system, which has had little traction compared with Apple's iPhones and Google's Android system. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has made mobile phones and Internet-based services priorities for the company as its traditional businesses Windows and Office software installed on desktops slow down or decline.
Microsoft used the IFA technology show in Berlin to announce the new Lumia 730 and 830 phones.
The handsets won't have all the technical advances found in Microsoft's pricier flagship, the Lumia 930 phone, which is known as the Lumia Icon in the United States. The 730's rear camera takes 6.7MP shots, while the 830 is 10MP. By contrast, the 930 phone is at 20 megapixels, one of the highest in a smartphone.
But the 730, in particular, will have features designed for better selfies. The front camera used for selfies will be 5MP, higher than the 2MP found in the 830 and many other phones.
For even better shots, it'll be possible to take selfies with the rear camera. Users won't be able to see themselves on the screen, but an app called Lumia Selfie will use face-detection technology and beeps to guide users on where to hold the camera. Samsung's upcoming Note phones will have a similar feature, along with software to stitch multiple shots on the front camera to fit more people in.
The 830 has a 5-inch screen, measured diagonally, and supports 4G LTE cellular networks. It will cost about 330 euros ($435).
The 4.7-inch 730 will cost 199 euros. It will have 3G connectivity and slots for two SIM cards, an important feature in emerging markets where wireless plans vary widely such that users switch services often to get the best deals. A 4G version will be known as the 735 and will cost 219 euros. That will have just one SIM slot.
The new phones will start shipping in September, though not necessarily right away in all markets. Typically, Lumia phones make it to the US under different model numbers.
Thursday, 4 September 2014
Apple Explores Augmented Reality Navigation For iPhones
Apple has two new patent applications out today (via AppleInsider) that show it’s been working on boosting the iPhone’s navigation abilities with augmented reality features. The patent describes a way that the iPhone could use its camera in combination with on-device software to generate virtual maps of your surroundings, which are overlaid on a real feed, and which can do things like provide a look inside surrounding buildings.
The patents describe a way to use GPS, Wi-Fi and sensor information to pinpoint a user’s position and then download a 3D model of their surroundings, including points of interest. To compensate for the fact that using sensor data alone would likely result in an imperfect matching of virtual and real environment (as has been the case in other similar AR mapping apps), Apple uses live video feed from the iPhone’s camera, and lets a user actively match up virtual elements with their real-world equivalents in the resulting image. Once it’s locked in with a match, users can do things like virtually “peel back” the outer layers of buildings to reveal their interiors.
Apple already offers its “Flyover” feature in iOS Maps, which provides a 3D representation of satellite imagery for a more interactive cruise through city streets, but it has yet to employ AR tech. AR apps that similar functionality to that described in these patents has been used before, by companies including Layar and other startups, but Apple’s system is clearly designed to make it less rough around the edges and more of a utility than a neat tech trick.
iOS Maps could use some flashy features to help it stand out, but I wouldn’t expect this one to make its way out to shipping software anytime soon. Still, it’s an interesting direction, and could work together nicely with Apple’s indoor positioning ambitions.
Wednesday, 3 September 2014
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